Quote from smilingsynic:
There is no need for a straddle here. Do EITHER the call OR the put--doing both is redundant, because on a strong move, both the call or put would go to parity (one would be worthless, the other would be ditm) anyway.
The only exception to this would be if you actually want to OWN the LEAPS straddle after the near term has expired. This would be a way to "lower your cost" while giving up some profit potential until the near term has expired. If the underlying took off, the profits from the long LEAPS straddle would be hamstrung by the short near-term straddle.
I do calendars (limit orders) whenever vega is low (it's been a good summer for these). I stick to selling the front month, buying one month out (now I would sell Sept, but Oct or Nov).