Here's an interesting one I've come up with today. It stems from the ability to get top prospects and younger players (22-23 yo). Let me also state here this has NO bearing for a recalc league. This can only be fictional or non-recalc historical. So here goes:
1) Trading = Very Hard
2) Favor Prospects
AI Evaluation is:
Ratings = 50
Current Stats = 25
Last Year's Stats = 15
Two Years ago = 10
(this because I recognize ratings are pretty powerful to prevent 39-40 yo's from getting big contracts)
OK, so the rule -->
1) When targeting a young player (under 26 yo), I must compensate with a player who's age is within 5 years of said target player
and has similar actual or potential values (more in a bit on this). I use stars so as not to nitpick (stars & rated for all players, not positions only).
2) Opposing GM must feel it is a
good trade - not just fair.
3) I attempt to meet the team's stated needs.
Alright, more on this actual/potential values thing. The target player's highest talent rating (actual or potential) must be met by one of the ratings of an offered player. I am currently considering more restrictions on an older player being offered, because they could have a high potential rating but their actual rating could indicate they are in decline.
So as an example, let me post a trade I am considering. It's 1962 and I'm the Orioles. I am targeting that young phenom from Boston - YAZ (
too late, you damn Boston fans - you can't save him now!!!)
Well, Yaz at 22 has four stars (both actual and potential). Remember this is
not recalc, so that only means but so much. Boston needs a 1B and some rotation help. I only have a handful of players with 4-star talent. Boog?? Get outta here! So how about 1B Jim Gentile (27 & 4.5 stars) and SP Steve Barber (24 & 4 stars). Well, the Boston GM (coaching off or on) loves that trade a lot. So that satisfies me. I could have shipped Gentile and a handful of lesser players and gotten the 'good' go-ahead sign, but I went this way.
Now, let's say Yaz was a 5-star potential player. I couldn't get him because my only 5-star player is RP Dick Hall, and he's 31 yo. Too old. Plus you could look at that RP issue. So let me add in here that a RP offered has to be 0.5 stars higher than the target. Deeper and deeper it goes....
The really interesting thing is that it can start to deplete your true talent level PRONTO. There are only so many of these types of trades you can pull off, so you better make good trades or you will soon be in deep doodoo.
So this method can somewhat guarantee the AI team gets some level of compensatory talent out of a trade. If it was a recalc league, that would still be a rip-off trade for Yaz, but it's not and who knows - Yaz could turn out to be a real stinker.
Just like that Babe feller....