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KNOW YOUR OWNER!:  COMMISSIONER ODOM! Odom enjoys marijuana and the speed categories and is our new hero, whom has come to rescue us from the dark ages of the Turtora Dictatorship. Odom has made a habit now for two years running of compiling a roster RIPE for underestimating and then shoving it in the faces of all the folks that predict him to miss the playoffs. By making the playoffs. Still no playoff victories for either former co-owner of the greatest dynasty this league will ever see, but that feels RIPE for the changing. Will the commish’s newfound obligations to the league take a toll on his management style? Only time shall tell. But no. RIPE. BEST OF LUCK TO THE COMMISH IN THE UPCOMING SEASON! RIPE!

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KEY ADDITIONS!:  1B Daniel Murphy, 3B Evan Longoria, RP Edwin Diaz, SP Matt Moore, LF Eric Thames maybe, LF/CF DELINO DESHIELDS, CF Victor Robles maybe eventually

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KEY SUBTRACTIONS!:  SS Jean Segura, SP Jon Lester, SP Robbie Ray, CF Keon Broxton 😉 , LF Khris Davis, CF Manuel Margot maybe eventually or this year

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THE HITTERS!:  SOMEWHAT UNDERWHELMING UPON FIRST GLANCE, as per usual. Justttt the way Odom likes it. Your best hitter here is one of the most recent additions, the alternative lifestyle intolerant Daniel Murphy. Murphy just came off of a MONSTER season which I discussed a bit elsewhere on this site, and he’s very capable of putting together another top 20ish top 25ish fantasy hitter type season. GREAT GET for the X-Rayz there. Another solid get is Evan Longoria, who has seemingly altered his approach a bit to maximize power. His acquisition showed a nice willingness to address team weaknesses, and for that the X-Rayz should be commended. Also helping to flip that perceived power weakness, almost singlehandedly, will be Chris Davis and hopefully if KBO numbers are to be believed Eric Thames. That about covers your power. The speed side of things remains the X-Rayz bread and butter, with Billy Hamilton and Dee Gordon back and now joined by potential 2017 breakout candidates Jose Peraza and DELINO DESHIELDS. Jose Ramirez should also chip in his fair share of SBs, Ben Zobrist should chip in a little bit of absolutely everything, and HEY look at that the offense already looks a lot better than initially perceived. Fuckin’ magic eye Odom strikes again.

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THE ROTATION!:  LOOKING RATHER THIN, here. David Price is arguably the best pitcher on the staff and he will be out at least initially, whom knows if that elbow leads to headaches for the entire season or beyond. The reason I say “arguably” for Price is due to young buck Chris Archer, a bad man coming off a somewhat unlucky season in 2016. He should be due for some solid positive regression. BEYOND THAT THOUGH ehhhhhh. Tanner Roark is coming off of a really impressive 2016 and is probably due for a bit of R word, Matt Moore is coming off a fairly impressive campaign and might be even better with a full year at the friendly and HR-suppressing confines of AT&T but who can be too sure with that guy. And then you have Taijuan Walker and Steven Wright (UPDATE:  he gone), neither of whom I am very sure will even make it to Opening Day on this roster let alone be actually good fantasy pitchers (Taijuan probably the safer bet to still be on the team when this posts, and I can’t even tell which is the safer bet to not suck).

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THE BULLPEN!:  Simply put this is your best 4 man bullpen in the Backyard. Aroldis Chapman is either the best closer in baseball or the 2nd best depending on your feelings on a one Kenley Jansen, he will be great for the Yankees and strike out a lot of guys and throw the ball really fast and all of that good stuff. Setting him up will be Dellin Betances, arguably the most valuable holds guy in fantasy and at worst #2 behind former bullpen buddy Andrew Miller. Edwin Diaz was acquired this offseason WHICH IS ALMOST UNFAIR, considering the X-Rayz barely had to dip their toes into a 3-way deal to get him and considering he is filthy. He could very well leap into top 3 fantasy closer conversation by year’s end, is arguably top 5 now. And if you ask me you can say the sameeee damn thing for Kelvin Herrera, whom has been pitching behind Wade Davis for years but probably has the better stuff. He will get a chance to show that this year in KC. I spent the X-Rayz bullpen section talking about how they have the best bullpen but also namedropping other good bullpen arms and that felt right. Zach Britton. He is also a good bullpen guy. The X-Rayz have the best in the Backyard though, it is decided.

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THE OUTLOOK!:  AS USUAL you have to sort of squint to see the value in a lot of the X-Rayz roster and AS USUAL I am not going to bet against them finding ways to mix and match and make it work. Last season they were picked to finish dead last in some fake news preseason polls and they finished the regular season dead first, so yanno. It is possible the X-Rayz may have made one move too many and I never would advise someone heading into the season with only 5 healthy starters, BUT I think the X-Rayz will be able to rely upon guile and the oleeee speed formula to return to the playoffs once again in 2017.

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SEAN’S PREDICTION!:  10-6-2, 4th place. But if they up and grab a bye again I FOR ONE will not act surprised.