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Simon_Nesbit · 08-31-2008, 08:33 PM

My favourite league (now nearly 80 seasons strong) I use the following:

Hard, favor prospects.
25 man roster, 50 man extended. (I hate losing younger players to rule 5, but without it, you build impossible depth).

I can make one trade offer per day in pre-season/free agency and the week before trade deadline. Any other time I can make one trade offer per month.

I can 'talk' to managers at any time (shop around).

I try and weasel every last bit out of a trade. 3-1, 4-1, 5-1. MR's to SP's, etc.

However:

I make deals based on how it benefits the other team. For example:

I have a 34-year old SS - great defense (6-time GG), above average hitting (career .320 hitter with decent power - though in definite decline). I also have a young (26) SS who's a future superstar (8/10/9) and is hitting .280 in a backup role. So it's time for the older guy (club legend too

) to move on.

So I look around.

I won't trade to any team in my Division.
I won't trade to a team that's unlikely to make post-season.
I won't trade to a team that doesn't have SS as a weakness, or has a SS that plays elsewhere.
I won't trade to a team where his salary will be beyond what they can afford in the future.
I won't trade to a team where his salary is substantially greater than that of other, better players.

I'm left with just two possible teams. As it's mid-season, I put an offer in to one - to see what they will give me.

By adding in two OF scrubs, and a decent long-relief type MR, I can swing a good SP prospect from their AAA club.

From their perspective - they are losing their 8th best pitcher, and getting in what would be their 14th - though without as much stamina, some supporting cast OFers, and a five-star SS, who might only have a season or two left.

If they do the trade, they would drop off a 21 yo 2B to AAA, who is entirely unsuitable to majors (2/3/4 current, hitting .140) and greatly strengthen their lineup.

They are 6 games back, but only 1 from the wildcard slot. Their pitching is relatively young (34, 26, 23, 29, 30, 32) and they have other young prospects (though aren't as good) who could step up.

I sit on this offer for a week, whilst I make a similar offer to the other team.

The other team is 14 games clear in 1st, and have a dominating lineup, though their pitching is only good. Their only hole is SS, they have a poor-fielding 34 yo SS who can't hit to save his life - he earns 350k, in a club with a 132 million payroll. And he's their best option?

They are VERY keen for the deal it seems, offering up their #2 pitcher (27, 8/7/7 now, 10/8/7 pot) straight up. They also put up their reserve 3B, who despite low ratings (5/6/5) is only 26 and has potential (7/8/8) to go with incredible defense.

The problem I have, is their rotation is old (35, 27, 36, 33, 29) and they have basically nothing in the system. Their starting 3B is 29, so their reserve is a much better option for them. They are also most likely to make the World Series - in which case I could be directly strengthening my opponent (should I get there).

In the end, I chose the first team's trade, for a couple of reasons.

1. If the trade allowed them to reach WS, they wouldn't be as good as the second team. I didn't want to create a 'juggernaut'.
2. The player I got in return, could stay at AAA, without having to clear waivers. He was also two years younger, allowing for some further development potentially.

Wow, that got long.

*****

In summary, I only trade if I can justify it as the other team. (It also helps you get to know the other teams and players, especially in fictional leagues).

08-31-2008, 08:33 PM	#43
Simon_Nesbit Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 260	My favourite league (now nearly 80 seasons strong) I use the following: Hard, favor prospects. 25 man roster, 50 man extended. (I hate losing younger players to rule 5, but without it, you build impossible depth). I can make one trade offer per day in pre-season/free agency and the week before trade deadline. Any other time I can make one trade offer per month. I can 'talk' to managers at any time (shop around). I try and weasel every last bit out of a trade. 3-1, 4-1, 5-1. MR's to SP's, etc. However: I make deals based on how it benefits the other team. For example: I have a 34-year old SS - great defense (6-time GG), above average hitting (career .320 hitter with decent power - though in definite decline). I also have a young (26) SS who's a future superstar (8/10/9) and is hitting .280 in a backup role. So it's time for the older guy (club legend too ) to move on. So I look around. I won't trade to any team in my Division. I won't trade to a team that's unlikely to make post-season. I won't trade to a team that doesn't have SS as a weakness, or has a SS that plays elsewhere. I won't trade to a team where his salary will be beyond what they can afford in the future. I won't trade to a team where his salary is substantially greater than that of other, better players. I'm left with just two possible teams. As it's mid-season, I put an offer in to one - to see what they will give me. By adding in two OF scrubs, and a decent long-relief type MR, I can swing a good SP prospect from their AAA club. From their perspective - they are losing their 8th best pitcher, and getting in what would be their 14th - though without as much stamina, some supporting cast OFers, and a five-star SS, who might only have a season or two left. If they do the trade, they would drop off a 21 yo 2B to AAA, who is entirely unsuitable to majors (2/3/4 current, hitting .140) and greatly strengthen their lineup. They are 6 games back, but only 1 from the wildcard slot. Their pitching is relatively young (34, 26, 23, 29, 30, 32) and they have other young prospects (though aren't as good) who could step up. I sit on this offer for a week, whilst I make a similar offer to the other team. The other team is 14 games clear in 1st, and have a dominating lineup, though their pitching is only good. Their only hole is SS, they have a poor-fielding 34 yo SS who can't hit to save his life - he earns 350k, in a club with a 132 million payroll. And he's their best option? They are VERY keen for the deal it seems, offering up their #2 pitcher (27, 8/7/7 now, 10/8/7 pot) straight up. They also put up their reserve 3B, who despite low ratings (5/6/5) is only 26 and has potential (7/8/8) to go with incredible defense. The problem I have, is their rotation is old (35, 27, 36, 33, 29) and they have basically nothing in the system. Their starting 3B is 29, so their reserve is a much better option for them. They are also most likely to make the World Series - in which case I could be directly strengthening my opponent (should I get there). In the end, I chose the first team's trade, for a couple of reasons. 1. If the trade allowed them to reach WS, they wouldn't be as good as the second team. I didn't want to create a 'juggernaut'. 2. The player I got in return, could stay at AAA, without having to clear waivers. He was also two years younger, allowing for some further development potentially. Wow, that got long. ***** In summary, I only trade if I can justify it as the other team. (It also helps you get to know the other teams and players, especially in fictional leagues).