Trading - A Simple (I Hope) Question

Gudy2Shoes · 03-22-2026, 08:24 AM

I'm tinkering around with the game, trying to get used to the new features.

I started a standard game with the Mariners and all the default settings (other than how the ratings appear - I use increments of 5).

Two months in, and I'm trying to trade for Ryan Walker from the Giants. He fits my owner's desire for a hometown player. The Giants are ten games under .500, Walker is a 50/50 RP and is currently sporting a robust 6.33 ERA in 28 games (but he's got a .366 BABIP, so I'm hopeful a change of scenery might be in order).

I offer Cade Winquest, who my scout has as a 45/50 SP. He's 26, probably blocked in my rotation, is MLB ready for the back of a rotation right now, and seems like a reasonable offer for a scuffling 30 year old RP on an expiring contract.

The AI GM of the Giants not only flatly rejects me, but when I press the "Make This Work Now" button, the only player he'll accept as an addition to the trade is my 70/75 ace Bryan Woo.

Am I missing something? Is this just a product of the new trade mechanics built into the game? I'm all for a more difficult experience, but this might be a bit overboard.

Is the only solution to reduce the trading difficulty?

atlbrave1 · 03-22-2026, 09:04 AM

The developers have added some AI tweaks that limit early season trades. It’s possible that it is still too early in the season for that trade to be “wanted” by the AI. They are also looking into possibly tweaking some of that logic. That could be part of the problem. If that’s isn’t the issue, you could reduce the trade setting and see if the AI changes its request to a level you think is fair.

Personally I would want a little bit more than a 26 year old guy who will probably just be an up and down player (I.e. AAAA guy) for a major leaguer even if he’s struggling on an expiring deal. Obviously Brian Woo is too much, but in real life I’d be looking for someone younger with potential, maybe a 19-20 year old who is somewhere around #20 on your team’s prospect list.

Larryk007 · 03-22-2026, 09:17 AM

Does the AI take into account the trading date end when looking at pending free agents? A short term rental free agent should not have 100% value but some reduced amount in a trade.

Gudy2Shoes · 03-22-2026, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atlbrave1

The developers have added some AI tweaks that limit early season trades. It’s possible that it is still too early in the season for that trade to be “wanted” by the AI. They are also looking into possibly tweaking some of that logic. That could be part of the problem. If that’s isn’t the issue, you could reduce the trade setting and see if the AI changes its request to a level you think is fair.

Personally I would want a little bit more than a 26 year old guy who will probably just be an up and down player (I.e. AAAA guy) for a major leaguer even if he’s struggling on an expiring deal. Obviously Brian Woo is too much, but in real life I’d be looking for someone younger with potential, maybe a 19-20 year old who is somewhere around #20 on your team’s prospect list.

I thought about the early season factor.

For what it's worth, Winquest is currently rated as my #11 prospect. One of my favorite features of past editions was the "Make This Work" button. Giving me a subset of players to make the trade more palatable to the AI GM was fun. I'll have to try in another month of game time and see if July moves the needle for the Giants.

Bobfather · 03-22-2026, 01:56 PM

I would check trade difficulty. The Make it work button only hides in hard mode. Unless that has been changed?
I think the changes in early-season trades mostly effects AI to AI trading.

Guthrien · 03-24-2026, 05:46 PM

I really dislike the trade shopping being for all intents and purposes disabled early in the game. Would be great if this was optional. Realism and all that jazz but this game is in large part about active GM's, more active than real life in my experience watching others.

03-22-2026, 01:56 PM	#5
Bobfather All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Boston Ma. Posts: 1,810	I would check trade difficulty. The Make it work button only hides in hard mode. Unless that has been changed? I think the changes in early-season trades mostly effects AI to AI trading. __________________ I play out every game—one pitch mode.

03-22-2026, 08:24 AM	#1
Gudy2Shoes Minors (Single A) Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Golden Valley, MN Posts: 68	Trading - A Simple (I Hope) Question I'm tinkering around with the game, trying to get used to the new features. I started a standard game with the Mariners and all the default settings (other than how the ratings appear - I use increments of 5). Two months in, and I'm trying to trade for Ryan Walker from the Giants. He fits my owner's desire for a hometown player. The Giants are ten games under .500, Walker is a 50/50 RP and is currently sporting a robust 6.33 ERA in 28 games (but he's got a .366 BABIP, so I'm hopeful a change of scenery might be in order). I offer Cade Winquest, who my scout has as a 45/50 SP. He's 26, probably blocked in my rotation, is MLB ready for the back of a rotation right now, and seems like a reasonable offer for a scuffling 30 year old RP on an expiring contract. The AI GM of the Giants not only flatly rejects me, but when I press the "Make This Work Now" button, the only player he'll accept as an addition to the trade is my 70/75 ace Bryan Woo. Am I missing something? Is this just a product of the new trade mechanics built into the game? I'm all for a more difficult experience, but this might be a bit overboard. Is the only solution to reduce the trading difficulty?

03-22-2026, 09:04 AM	#2
atlbrave1 Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 296	The developers have added some AI tweaks that limit early season trades. It’s possible that it is still too early in the season for that trade to be “wanted” by the AI. They are also looking into possibly tweaking some of that logic. That could be part of the problem. If that’s isn’t the issue, you could reduce the trade setting and see if the AI changes its request to a level you think is fair. Personally I would want a little bit more than a 26 year old guy who will probably just be an up and down player (I.e. AAAA guy) for a major leaguer even if he’s struggling on an expiring deal. Obviously Brian Woo is too much, but in real life I’d be looking for someone younger with potential, maybe a 19-20 year old who is somewhere around #20 on your team’s prospect list.

03-22-2026, 09:17 AM	#3
Larryk007 All Star Reserve Join Date: Oct 2022 Posts: 551	Does the AI take into account the trading date end when looking at pending free agents? A short term rental free agent should not have 100% value but some reduced amount in a trade.

03-24-2026, 05:46 PM	#6
Guthrien Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 224	I really dislike the trade shopping being for all intents and purposes disabled early in the game. Would be great if this was optional. Realism and all that jazz but this game is in large part about active GM's, more active than real life in my experience watching others.