Shuffle Up: Shine on you Ian Desmond

The prices that follow are how I'd attack this middle infield (2B/SS) if redrafting right now. The games played to this point are an audition, not a ranking mandate. Expect to disagree with a lot of stuff, that's why we have a game. You know the preamble by now.

We'll use a 5x5 scoring assumption, as most reasonable people do. Don't worry about prices in a vacuum; what matters is how the players relate to one another. Assume similar-ranked commodities are equal.

Share your suggestions in the comments but remember the golden rule: no one gains (or loses) 15-20 percent of bonus value simply because you roster them.

Game on.

$31 Robinson Cano
$30 Jason Kipnis
$30 Dustin Pedroia
$28 Jean Segura
$25 Ian Desmond
$24 Brandon Phillips
$23 Hanley Ramirez
$22 Jose Reyes
$21 Ian Kinsler
$20 Matt Carpenter
$17 Ben Zobrist
$16 Howie Kendrick
$16 Jose Altuve
$16 Chase Utley
$16 Aaron Hill

Desmond has improved his baserunning and defense, while his offensive profile is in the same area we enjoyed last year. That's a high-rent neighborhood. And although Desmond was showing plenty of production batting fifth and sixth in the Washington order, the recent promotion to second is where we'd like him to stick, for our own selfish purposes . . . Carpenter gets an extra buck or two for all the position flexibility, and you also love seeing him parked at the top of a solid lineup. There's no need for a platoon partner here - his career OPS is .805 against lefties. We didn't know how much pop to expect right out of the box but he should be good for 13-16 homers. Enjoy the four categories, get your steals elsewhere . . . If the Phillies finally start the garage sale - and they desperately need to - Utley is one of the more interesting commodities to market. The Orioles and Dodgers would make a lot of sense as possible trade partners . . . Kinsler's run production has been solid when he's played, but eight homers and a 4-for-9 showing on the bases leaves us cold. And what's the chance he encounters another injury before the year is out? The upside isn't as juicy as it once was, and the downside never really goes away.

$14 J.J. Hardy
$14 Martin Prado
$13 Kyle Seager
$13 Elvis Andrus
$13 Asdrubal Cabrera
$12 Jhonny Peralta
$12 Jed Lowrie
$12 Jimmy Rollins
$11 Starlin Castro
$11 Nick Franklin
$10 Rickie Weeks
$9 Alexei Ramirez
$8 Michael Young
$7 Daniel Murphy
$7 Neil Walker
$7 Marco Scutaro
$6 Anthony Rendon
$6 Alcides Escobar
$6 Kelly Johnson

We'd like to see more category juice from Rendon, but he hasn't looked overmatched in The Show, while Danny Espinosa's lost season continues down in Triple-A (.180/.245/.247). The Nats have no reason to change this arrangement . . . Scutaro still has a pretty average, but the run production hasn't been much, he's dealing with a cranky back, and he's 38. The Giants might be the best stream-target west of Miami right now . . . Franklin is playing through a sore knee and very well, thank you - his full season pace would put him around 22 steals and 25 homers, along with a plus average. If the Mariners are smart, they'll bat him second for the rest of the year and leave him alone.

$5 Andrelton Simmons
$5 Brian Dozier
$5 Dan Uggla
$5 DJ LeMahieu
$5 Gordon Beckham
$4 Mike Aviles
$4 Omar Infante
$4 Erick Aybar
$4 Brandon Crawford
$3 Jose Iglesias
$3 Mark Ellis
$3 Jurickson Profar

Maybe Profar could be productive right away in the majors, but the Rangers don't have an obvious spot for him unless someone gets hurt. He's only played one game in the outfield thus far. He's also a work in progress on the bases, learning that aspect of the game (0-for-3). For every Bryce Harper who hits the ground running immediately (don't Trout me, he needed the 2011 experience, too), there are countless prospects who stumble and struggle and take their time . . . Dozier is starting to work the count better and he's contributed a surprising eight homers and eight steals (albeit on 14 attempts). His OPS is over .900 since the beginning of June.

$2 Zack Cozart
$2 Yunel Escobar
$2 Ryan Raburn
$2 Daniel Descalso
$2 Josh Rutledge
$2 Stephen Drew
$2 Darwin Barney
$2 Jordy Mercer
$2 Jeff Keppinger
$2 Pedro Ciriaco
$2 Logan Forsythe
$1 Derek Dietrich
$1 Emilio Bonifacio
$1 Pete Kozma
$1 Yuniesky Betancourt
$1 Maicer Izturis
$1 Adeiny Hechavarria
$1 Dustin Ackley
$1 Johnny Giavotella
$1 Brad Miller
$0 Nick Punto
$0 Didi Gregorius
$0 Ryan Flaherty
$0 Cliff Pennington

Last month for Gregorius: .197/.269/.211, no homers, one extra-base hit, three RBIs, no steals. Roto worthless. Check, please.

Courtesy Injury Ranks - Not for Debate
$20 Troy Tulowitzki
$16 Everth Cabrera
$12 Jedd Gyorko
$7 Derek Jeter