I agree that if the other team comes to me with an offer to fill a need from my team, they should also provide a player or list of players they want back. I'd actually settle for something like "we need some prospects at these positions" or "we need a starting CF to help us win it all". This is probably extremely difficult to code. We already know the AI cannot handle one for many or many-for many when using Shop-a-player. Probably same logic used here. I'm not even sure the AI uses the colored indicators on the trade screen.
Where the major flaw lie is they will not take anything you offer. As I stated above, I've looked at their needs using the color lights on the trade screen. I filled their needs with five of my best prospects, one for each of their main needs as noted. Response was this is not enough. I added money. I changed out one player for a second high SP, than a third, and numerous other combinations too detailed to list here. Still no dice and no feedback to even indicate if I was close. (Yes I do know they will change the text when the deal is getting close. That did not happen. While at the same time my Asst. GM was throwing a fit saying we were not getting anything of value and that I should ask for more in return). In this situation, if the AI offered me the same deals I offered them, I would have taken them in a flash. In my book a five for one highly rated prospects change in my favor is a no brainer. Remember, I did not go to them, they came to me with the offer.
I've tried the same types of offers for Teams looking to win by offering my starters for positions they needed to fill while even agreeing to retain contact $.
Since I've never been successful when the fill the need offer is made, I found it easier to just stop using the feature. Why would I want to stress myself out attempting to make a deal when the other side came to me with the offer.
For this feature to work, the AI needs to be smart enough, as RchW indicated above, to come to use with a request for a player(s) they would take in return.
It is actually worse than you think. The AI does not have a needs list we can use to offer them deals. Thus it is actually one side in favor of the human (except in online leagues) if it actually worked.
Sorry for rambling a little (lot).
Malor