Chat Transcript

Are the Winter Meetings getting you excited for your drafts in the spring? What offseason news should Fantasy owners pay attention to?

Senior Fantasy Writer Eric Mack will make his chat debut on Thursday, Dec. 10 at 3 p.m. ET to answer your offseason Fantasy Baseball questions.

Feel free to submit a question in advance or stop by Thursday afternoon.

(12/31 19:00 PM) Hello, folks

(12/31 19:00 PM) Let's get this under way

(12/31 19:00 PM)Spike, Sudbury, Ontario - Where do you think Kevin Gregg will end up ? Will he close ?

(12/31 19:00 PM) Gregg is nothing more than a setup man in my book. His Fantasy value will be limited, unless a non-contending team is real desperate for a closer at this point.

(12/31 19:00 PM)sankee2715, warren new jersey - wat are the chances jason bay is going back to boston?

(12/31 19:00 PM) I figure Boston is the favorite, but the Mets could try to outbid them. Boston gets Bay.

(12/31 19:00 PM) Sorry... the chat is on hold for a little bit.

(12/31 19:00 PM) MichInPa, Scranton, Pa. - Are you the NY Mets making any progress on getting a LF and SP ? Why not go with the catchers they have with Santos and Thole ?

(12/31 19:00 PM) The Mets will try to get premium players, so it will take awhile. As far as the catchers go, Santos is a nice backup, but Thole isn't sound enough defensively yet to trust full time. Bengie Molina is likely to wind up a Met. I believe they made him an offer today.

(12/31 19:00 PM) sankee2715, warren new jersey - wat are the chances jason bay is going back to boston?

(12/31 19:00 PM) Boston wants him back and they usually get what they want. The Mets might try to outbid them, but it is hard to see Boston losing that battle. Bay returns to Boston.

(12/31 19:00 PM)MichInPa, Scranton, Pa. - Isn't Bay headed to Seattle or LAA ?

(12/31 19:00 PM) Mariners won't pay the premium and the Angels are going to focus on John Lackey, I say.

(12/31 19:00 PM) sankee2715, warren new jersey - what about john lackey/

(12/31 19:00 PM) I see him returning to the Angels .. again, unless the Mets or Yankees outbid.

(12/31 19:00 PM) Spike, Sudbury, Ontario - Where do you think Kevin Gregg will end up ? Will he close ?

(12/31 19:00 PM) I see Gregg as merely a setup man at this point. A small-budget non-contender could give him a shot, but that won't make him all that intriguing in most Fantasy leagues.

(12/31 19:00 PM) Edward, Toronto - Adam Lind in the minors never showed the type of power he did in 2009. Is this a mirage? I see him more as a .280-.300 hitter with about 25 HR and 90 RBIs going forward. Am I underestimating him?

(12/31 19:00 PM) I have always thought Lind was going to be an Aubrey Huff type. So, we both could be right. He can be a .300-30-100-100 annually, or he could slump like Huff has since his breakthrough year with the Rays. I tend to give a young guy like Lind a benefit of the doubt. He is a top 10 Fantasy outfielder to target on Draft Day.

(12/31 19:00 PM)MichInPa, Scranton, Pa. - It's my understanding that Lackey is looking for a 5 yr contract. What do you think the terms will be for his next and possibly last contract ?

(12/31 19:00 PM) I think he gets 5 years at $14 per, but I am no agent or GM. Just merely someone that makes guesses.

(12/31 19:00 PM) oops

(12/31 19:00 PM) I meant 4 years.

(12/31 19:00 PM) spray, new yorkcity - do you think it was a smart move aquiring Granderson?

(12/31 19:00 PM) Granderson has a lot of untapped potential still and is in the prime of his career at 28. It is hard to see the downside. If Ian Kennedy develops into a 15-game winner like I think he can, they Yankees might regret it slightly. Austin Jackson is a bit overrated in my book right now. A decent starting outfielder in the majors, but not a big-budget contender starter.

(12/31 19:00 PM)Kevin, Baltimore, MD - What are your thoughts on Jose Reyes? Any word on his surgery and how he's expected to be at the start of the season?

(12/31 19:00 PM) A lot of New York questions... They said Reyes will be ready for spring training, but you have to expect hiccups with him and all Mets during the Jerry Manual regime. They have serious training staff issues that were not corrected over the winter.

(12/31 19:00 PM)Canucklehead, Toronto - Where do you think Halladay will end up, and what should the Jays expect in return

(12/31 19:00 PM) It will be real interesting to watch the Halladay news after John Lackey signs. I think the Red Sox or Phillies have the most juice to acquire him, but the Jays need a major league ready starting pitcher, a major league ready position player and two prospects, in my book.

(12/31 19:00 PM)MichInPa, Scranton, Pa. - So you're saying that the Mets issues are not so much personnel but front office and support staff issues as well ?

(12/31 19:00 PM) I like most of the veteran talent the Mets have. I hate how little the staff gets out of them. They should be competing with a core of Jose Reyes, David Wright, Johan Santana and Francisco Rodriguez.

(12/31 19:00 PM) Gabe, Destin, Florida - Better season, Wade Davis or David Price?

(12/31 19:00 PM) Great question. Davis is the new money item, but Price's ceiling is still to high for me to undersell him. If Price is undersold in your league due to his so-so 2009 and command issues... buy, buy buy.

(12/31 19:00 PM) Thomas, Chi Town - In what order would you draft these 3 pitchers: Carpenter, Greinke, Wainwright

(12/31 19:00 PM) I rank it Greinke, Carpenter and Wainwright, but the order of the Cardinals could easily go either way. Greinke won't be on any of my Fantasy teams this year, because of the premium it will take to get him. I just don't like high-end pitchers on bad teams. Too much has to go right for them.

(12/31 19:00 PM) Zack Greinke, KC - What's my outlook for this year? Are my numbers going to be better, worse, or about the same?

(12/31 19:00 PM) You have to expect he will take a step back from his breakthrough Cy Young season, especially since he will be drafted in the top 3 pitchers but has little chance to be a 20-game winner.

(12/31 19:00 PM)Spike, Sudbury, Ontario - Is Emilio Bonafacio expected to start at 2nd base for the Marlins this year ? He could grab 35 bags with regular playing time and hit a respectable .260. Thoughts ?

(12/31 19:00 PM) It depends on a Dan Uggla trade. Bonifacio still needs to draw more walks, though. I don't like pinning hype on a player that has to slap his way to .300 to be a productive Fantasy player. Luis Castillo has rarely been a sought-after Fantasy pick. Bonifacio would be fortunate to develop into Castillo at this point.

(12/31 19:00 PM)KELLEY, NEW HAVEN CT - ARE THE NEW YORK YANKEES GOING TO GET ANYBODY ELES AND WHAT ABOUT THE METS HOW COME THERE NOT DOING ANYTHING

(12/31 19:00 PM) The Yankees are going to get a starting pitcher, I think. And, the Mets are putting their eggs in the biggest baskets at this point. Those players take the longest to acquire.

(12/31 19:00 PM) Gabe, Destin, Florida - Stephen Strasburg as the 20th best starting pitcher this year. Over or Under??

(12/31 19:00 PM) Under. I rank him outside of the top 50 starting pitchers due to uncertainty at this point. Is he top 25 capable? Absolutely. But again, a pitcher for the Nationals has to be real, real Tim Lincecum dominant right away to be on that elite level. I don't see it in Year 1. The hype will likely outdo the production early.

(12/31 19:00 PM)dlcb, New York - At $7 million, Soriano has to be the closer for the Rays, correct?

(12/31 19:00 PM) Yeah, Soriano is a great sleeper this spring. The Rays finally have a go-to guy and that's a great situation for save chances. J.P. Howell and Grant Balfour are better served as setup men.

(12/31 19:00 PM)Mike, Detroit, Michigan - In a cbssports free league, with what pick will Tim Lincecum be drafted?

(12/31 19:00 PM) In our standard scoring system, Lincecum is worth drafting as high as No. 2 overall (behind Albert Pujols) in a Head-to-Head league. In Rotisserie, Lincecum should stay out of the top 10, though.

(12/31 19:00 PM) Oliver, Philly - What's going on Eric? I've got the first pick, and im taking Hanley fo' sho. Smart or Dumb?

(12/31 19:00 PM) Our pick is Albert Pujols. But you will never be considered "dumb" for taking Hanley Ramirez, especially in a Rotisserie league.

(12/31 19:00 PM) Brandon, Iowa City - I have the #1 pick, do I take Pujols(the best player), or do I take Hanley because there are 12 1Bs that will put up good numbers. Im leaning towards Hanley right now. Thanks for the help

(12/31 19:00 PM) I don't worry about position in Round 1 ... or even Round 2. I want the best, most surest thing. There has been nothing more consistently outstanding than Albert Pujols this decade.

(12/31 19:00 PM) Tom, Phoenix - Which D'Back pitcher would you draft first, Brandon Webb or Edwin Jackson?

(12/31 19:00 PM) Great question. We have them ranked back-to-back around 30th overall. Webb has proven to be an elite pitcher, while Jackson merely showed to potentially be one in his breakout year. Take the potential with Webb and assume the risk. You can find the next Jackson breakthrough late.

(12/31 19:00 PM) TOM, NY NY - Were do you rank Gordon Beckham with his move to 2b.

(12/31 19:00 PM) Beckham's second base eligibility will get him moved up a few spots at third base, making him in the top 10 as a sophomore. I really like him and wouldn't be surprised to see him go .300-30-100-100-15. We project .270-24-87-85-10 and that would slot him ninth at second base. A .300-30-100-100-15 would make him top five at both spots.

(12/31 19:00 PM)MichInPa, Scranton, Pa. - Do you think Alex Gordon ever plays to potential ?

(12/31 19:00 PM) I am not giving up on Gordon and I actually love the fact he is still being dogged and underrated. It will help me get him late with the potential for a huge breakthrough out of a late-round pick. Our projections on Gordon are mediocre still -- only because he isn't proven.

(12/31 19:00 PM)Dennis, Loreauville,LA - will the yankess sign Matt Holliday and trade hughes & Joba for Roy Holliday

(12/31 19:00 PM) Even the Yankees cannot have everything. One thing a championship tends to do to a GM is slow his roll. The Yankees won without Holliday and Halladay, so why spend all that money? They can win without those two elite pieces that are going to take an overbid. The Yankees are in a position to merely bid that proper price ... and that makes them more dangerous long term, I say.

(12/31 19:00 PM)Aaron W, Siena College - Do you think trying to make it in the Sports Information and commentary field is a hard thing to do coming out of college? A more practical question, but hey I bet you have time for that!

(12/31 19:00 PM) Hahaha. Get a more lucrative line of work, please, for the love of ...

(12/31 19:00 PM)Matt, Dallas, TX - You like Granderson to produce better this year?

(12/31 19:00 PM) He will, but he will be overhyped on Draft Day and make outperforming his draft position difficult.

(12/31 19:00 PM)ace10, saint cloud,fl - for fantasy owers who will be the Z. Greinke in pitching this year

(12/31 19:00 PM) I am going to review last year's third-year starting pitchers in a column Friday and preview the next bunch of potential breakouts.

(12/31 19:00 PM) Jake Peavy and Scott Kazmir I believe are going to be undervalued on Draft Day.

(12/31 19:00 PM) Tommy Hanson could be real dominant in his first full season.

(12/31 19:00 PM) Clayton Kershaw is a third-year starting pitcher with top 5 potential.

(12/31 19:00 PM)ace10, st.cloud fl - who will play 3b for the angles now

(12/31 19:00 PM) Right not it will be Brandon Wood. So much power potential there. A real nice sleeper.

(12/31 19:00 PM)Chris, Indiana - Carpenter, Halladay, Cliff Lee or Lackey in 10 team H2H points based

(12/31 19:00 PM) Halladay, especially when he gets dealt to a contender.

(12/31 19:00 PM)Dennis, Loreauville,la - do you think the LAD will trade A. Ethier thank you

(12/31 19:00 PM) Ethier is staying.

(12/31 19:00 PM)Matt, Dallas, TX - Ok....more value - Ethier or Granderson?

(12/31 19:00 PM) It is very close now. Granderson has a higher ceiling with that lineup. In a keeper situation I would likely go with Granderson now. It was Ethier before the trade. On Draft Day, I would take whichever is available to m e later.

(12/31 19:00 PM)Brent, Wilton - Will Mauer repeat what he did last year?

(12/31 19:00 PM) I don't see how he can. That year was sick. But he is clearly the No. 1 catcher and worth a mid-first-round pick

(12/31 19:00 PM)Chris, Indiana - I guess I should of said pick 3 of the 4 to keep...Carpenter, Halladay, Cliff Lee or Lackey in 10 team H2H points based

(12/31 19:00 PM) Halladay and Lee are musts. I would go with Carpenter now, but if Lackey winds up with the Yankees or Red Sox, I would go with him.

(12/31 19:00 PM) Add Phillies to that mix. Lackey over Carpenter if he signs with the Phillie.s

(12/31 19:00 PM) or Phillies.

(12/31 19:00 PM)MichInPa, Scranton, Pa. - Your thoughts on Chapman ? And where he ends up.

(12/31 19:00 PM) Too early to tell. I don't see him in the top 50 among Fantasy starters at this point, though.

(12/31 19:00 PM) Certainly one of the top pitching prospects behind Stephen Strasburg, but more in the Madison Bumgarner area. Bumgarner is hardly a top 100 starter to target on Draft Day right now.

(12/31 19:00 PM)Dennis, Loreauville,LA - ok who will get Adrian Gonzalez

(12/31 19:00 PM) Mariners or Red Sox. Too close to call, although the Mariners might be more inclined to be aggressive on that front. There is talk the Red Sox might sign Adrian Beltre to play third base.

(12/31 19:00 PM)ace10, st cloud fl - in a 16 team leg. and you get a back in pick(13-16) what would you take for your first two picks? bat/pitcher, pitcher/pitcher or bat/bat

(12/31 19:00 PM) Hitter-Hitter in Rotisserie. Hitter-Pitcher in Head-to-Head leagues that reward big pluses and negatives for starting pitchers like our standard scoring system.

(12/31 19:00 PM)Joe, CT - Matt Wieters 2nd best C this year or do we have to wait awhile?

(12/31 19:00 PM) I have Wieters 8th at the catcher spot right now, with the potential to be top 5. He won't be the 2nd best in the AL even, with Joe Mauer and Victor Martinez too far out in front of him as steady veteran options.

(12/31 19:00 PM)chris, indiana - what are your thoughts on grady sizemore this year? Where should he be drafted?

(12/31 19:00 PM) Sizemore could slip into the fourth round. He could finish .300-30-100-100-30 and be first-round worthy. I would pick him in Round 3, assume some risk and expect him to perform like a second-rounder.

(12/31 19:00 PM)AMart, Miami, FL - Yo, Emack - if the Yanks gave up Austin Jackson, what hitting prospect do they have left to offer for Halladay? BTW - You hit like a girl.

(12/31 19:00 PM) Jesus Montero is a potential stud at catcher, if he stays at catcher. The Jays need catching in their organization, although they like Miami product J.P. Arencibia, who broke A-Rod's area homer records in high school. And, A-Mart, I hit bombs like A-Rod.

(12/31 19:00 PM)Justin, Saugerties,NY - If the Mets sign Jason Bay what draft pick would he go in a standard league

(12/31 19:00 PM) Bay would be dropped in our rankings significantly with the Mets. That is an awful park to hit in -- see David Wright last year. He is top 5 with the Red Sox and out of the top 10 with the Mets.

(12/31 19:00 PM)Joe, st louis, mo - do you think Carlos Gonzalez has a realistic chance to become a top 10 fantasy OFer this season?

(12/31 19:00 PM) He has a ground-swell of support, but I see him more of a top 20 guy long term -- not a top 10 one. He needs to put a full season together before you can really consider him that elite of a talent.

(12/31 19:00 PM) Bob, Olathe, KS - Will Gordon Beckham start the season with 2B eligbility? He didn't play there last year, but all indications are that he will move to 2B.

(12/31 19:00 PM) He will be 3B-only in our leagues on Draft Day. It will take him Week 1 to attain second base eligibility.

(12/31 19:00 PM)ace10, st cloud fl - will the rangers have a great or ok pitching stuff this year

(12/31 19:00 PM) The staff will be productive in Fantasy because of the offensive support. They won't have a great staff by any means, though. Rich Harden never reaches 200 innings. That will affect the other young starters and tax t he bullpen.

(12/31 19:00 PM) OK, I could do this for hours, but I need to go back to writing player updates, outlooks, doing projections, depth charts and re-assigning the Rule-5 draft picks from today. There were some interesting names to get picked. It looks like an intriguing Rule-5 draft class.

(12/31 19:00 PM) Thanks for all the questions. I am sorry I couldn't get to all of them. I look forward to more of these down the road. Happy Hollidays if I don't chat at you sooner.