I have AI set to hard and favors prospects, and I am using the most recent patch...
I have noticed that I can trade for good, young, high value and little to no experience and all options left closers/relievers (20-80 ratings scale), and pry them away from the A.I. AAA, AA etc for basically players that I would release.
For example, an AI closer/reliever with zero experience and 24 years old and ratings of say 30 to 40+ current ratings with a potential in the 50s to 60s (20-80 scale) and I can get them for most any no option left late 20s to early 30s year scrubs or trade them for any 20 current 20 potential most any reliever I have, even if they have no options left.
Remember, this is with trade difficulty on hard and favors prospects.
I'm able to trade a worthless (20/20) out of options low stamina (under 30) reliever to the A.I. for almost any future star reliever/closer that they have.
This trade AI aspect of not valuing high end prospect relievers needs to be looked into please. Thank you.
PS, I should note that I'm seeing this in the first week of starting a new team/franchise in 2018.