Hey Struggles,
Just to clarify, I wouldn't want the game to import a player at his peak performance. Take Bonds, for example. I'd like to see him imported as he was in those early years with the "potential" set for what he "becomes".
I'm not as advanced as some on how the engine works, but I thought that was its intent with potential, and that potential is still based on "later seasons" as provided by Lahman.
And the Dodgers traded for lefty-Montanez while keeping Garvey. The Dodgers traded away one of their starting pitchers to obtain Montanez (.280-ish in June), apparently to platoon with Garvey (.320)?
You know, it would have been easier for me to invent my own little story if the two teams had just traded 1B. I'd borrow the story-line of the Padres/Cardinals swapping super shortstops Ozzie Smith and Garry Templeton. But to give up a starting pitcher for a 1B when your own 1B is an all-star hitting .320 in mid-summer? Apparently, LA accepted the trade because Monty was a left-handed hitter.
Hard to think up a story for that one
... unless Garvey was on his way out! But, no... no, Garvey stayed in LA. Okay, time to re-draft the story...