# Keeper Strategy & Inflation - When to keep or cut borderline values
**URL:** https://community.ottoneu.com/t/keeper-strategy-inflation-when-to-keep-or-cut-borderline-values/1256
**Category:** Ottoneu Fantasy Baseball
**Created:** [January 31, 2017, 5:48pm UTC](https://community.ottoneu.com/t/keeper-strategy-inflation-when-to-keep-or-cut-borderline-values/1256 "2017-01-31T17:48:28Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@krisngreen](https://community.ottoneu.com/u/krisngreen)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2017, 5:48pm UTC](https://community.ottoneu.com/t/keeper-strategy-inflation-when-to-keep-or-cut-borderline-values/1256/1 "2017-01-31T17:48:28Z")
My 5x5 league is heading into its second year and I’m in the midst of a rebuilding project after selling the farm to make a title push last year.
Based on some of the players that I’ve traded away that are expected to be kept (Betts $57, Rizzo $50 and Goldie $69), some owners are choosing to overpay for stars and move forward with bloated rosters, while other teams are taking a more conservative approach and rostering 26-30 and keeping $60-$100 in cap space. The current estimated inflation rate is 37%.
I’m planning to keep 21 players that account for a total of $156.
The following players I’ve yet to decide on as their prices are on par with expected inflation values:
- Jon Lester - $35.00
- Christopher Archer - $32.00
- Xander Bogaerts - $30.00
- Adam Jones - $29.00
- Dellin Betances - $16.00
- Arodys Vizcaino - $10.00
- Leonys Martin - $5.00
One strategy that I’m considering is keeping a light 21 man roster and heading into the draft with a war chest $244) and hope to get my fringe players and stud FAs (Harper, Stanton, Cutch) at a discount.
On the other hand, inflation may drive the price up on my fringe players and I may have to overpay for quality free agents.
**Questions** :
1. Which strategy above would you suggest that I pursue?
2. Which of the players listed above would you suggest I definitely keep?
3. Any thoughts on successful strategies that I’m not currently considering?
Thanks
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### Author:  [@LuckyStrikes](https://community.ottoneu.com/u/LuckyStrikes)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2017, 8:42pm UTC](https://community.ottoneu.com/t/keeper-strategy-inflation-when-to-keep-or-cut-borderline-values/1256/2 "2017-01-31T20:42:12Z")
If players like Betts, Rizzo, and Goldy are actually being kept at those prices, I would argue some of that inflation is already accounted for in those high prices, so you could potentially see some deflation in the auction, which is a good reason to cut many of the par players you’re on the fence about. I would lean towards keeping XB in that lineup above and cut the others, though I’m not a good judge on 5 x 5 values.
If you are rebuilding: [Advice for Rebuilding in Ottoneu](https://community.ottoneu.com/t/advice-for-rebuilding-in-ottoneu/97)