Off the Books or Deal With It?

TheRockCT · 11-22-2004, 12:02 PM

I have a fairly simple question - I took the reigns from a GM in an online league who thought it was a spectacular idea to award a then 33-year old Manny Ramirez with a $13,606,250 contract good for 4 years.

I dealt with the contract last year, and I was rewarded (heh) with a .273, 16, 53, .786 OPS season from ManRam. Ratings are 62 Contact, 56 Power, 63 Eye (100 scale) and this is down 2-3 points in each category from last year. The league is a few weeks into the 2008 season, and the 4 year contract expires at the end of the 2010 season. I pulled a real Boston Red Sox technique and not only placed Ramirez on the trade block when I first acquired the team, but in the offseason this year placed him on waivers to see if anyone would bite whatsoever, but that went over like a lead balloon.

I'm leading my division to start the year, but this is unexpected and will likely fade faster than Ron Artest's career. I inherited a team badly in need of rebuilding, so this hot start is not going to last. I have a 38 in Fan Interest, a little over $15 million in cash, and as a team made just over $58 million profits last year with a measly $50 million payroll.

So what's the verdict? Cut him out of the books, or deal with it?

abailey3313 · 11-22-2004, 12:12 PM

Keep him, for now.

Hang on until at least the trade deadline, because if you keep winning, flukey or not, that should at the very least help your fan support.

Then, once the trade deadline gets closer, start shopping players other than Ramirez. If you need to rebuild, shop the very best player you have that you're willing to part with, and don't ask for a whole lot in return. Maybe ask for a middle of the road prospect or two who aren't necessarily guarantees. Try and get an owner to bite.

Now, suppose an owner agrees to send you two (or even one) decent prospects for the best player you have that you're willing to part with. Tell him you really like the deal, but feel like he might be getting too much since the prospect is hit or miss.

Try and get him to up his offer. Then, throw in one of those "I'll tell you what...", and see if you can't slip Ramirez in there.

It's a longshot, and you may end up in a lopsided trade, but it's better than eating salary for no good reason. At the very least get a prospect out of it, even if the prospect never adds up.

ctorg · 11-22-2004, 12:17 PM

One thing I have done in similar situations is try to trade him away for another washed up old star who has less years left on his contract. Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't.

TheRockCT · 11-22-2004, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctorg

One thing I have done in similar situations is try to trade him away for another washed up old star who has less years left on his contract. Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't.

Yeah, this was actually something I tried and came close to pulling off, but after a return e-mail that the GM was somewhat interested in working something out, I never heard from him again and he was soon out of the league for apparent abandonment.

Just seems like one of those baseball no win scenarios to me.

Cyclone792 · 11-22-2004, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRockCT

I have a fairly simple question - I took the reigns from a GM in an online league who thought it was a spectacular idea to award a then 33-year old Manny Ramirez with a $13,606,250 contract good for 4 years.

I dealt with the contract last year, and I was rewarded (heh) with a .273, 16, 53, .786 OPS season from ManRam. Ratings are 62 Contact, 56 Power, 63 Eye (100 scale) and this is down 2-3 points in each category from last year. The league is a few weeks into the 2008 season, and the 4 year contract expires at the end of the 2010 season. I pulled a real Boston Red Sox technique and not only placed Ramirez on the trade block when I first acquired the team, but in the offseason this year placed him on waivers to see if anyone would bite whatsoever, but that went over like a lead balloon.

I'm leading my division to start the year, but this is unexpected and will likely fade faster than Ron Artest's career. I inherited a team badly in need of rebuilding, so this hot start is not going to last. I have a 38 in Fan Interest, a little over $15 million in cash, and as a team made just over $58 million profits last year with a measly $50 million payroll.

So what's the verdict? Cut him out of the books, or deal with it?

Chris, you know I know exactly what league, team and player you're talking about, lol. Seriously though, toss me an email or hit me up on AIM around the trade deadline as I might be able to help you out since I'm on pace to just lose $20 mil in profit due to cash cap. At the deadline he should be down to approx. $32 mil owed over the rest of the contract, which may finally be low enough to be feasible. In the meantime, I'd say just keep him to try to stay on top of the division for as long as possible in order to get the fan interest up a bit - he still crushes lefties.

Fadilles · 11-22-2004, 01:16 PM

:hello: :hello: Well, you could always edit the file and give him a CEI and that way its a no lose situation for ya..

!!!!

TotalEnd98 · 11-22-2004, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fadilles

:hello: :hello: Well, you could always edit the file and give him a CEI and that way its a no lose situation for ya..

!!!!

Not in an online league, he can't.

William4192 · 11-22-2004, 03:40 PM

Uh..cheat??!? Great advice. I would not cut any one unless you REALLY need the roster space b/c you don't get anything for it.

11-22-2004, 12:02 PM	#1
TheRockCT All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: TN Posts: 1,083	Off the Books or Deal With It? I have a fairly simple question - I took the reigns from a GM in an online league who thought it was a spectacular idea to award a then 33-year old Manny Ramirez with a $13,606,250 contract good for 4 years. I dealt with the contract last year, and I was rewarded (heh) with a .273, 16, 53, .786 OPS season from ManRam. Ratings are 62 Contact, 56 Power, 63 Eye (100 scale) and this is down 2-3 points in each category from last year. The league is a few weeks into the 2008 season, and the 4 year contract expires at the end of the 2010 season. I pulled a real Boston Red Sox technique and not only placed Ramirez on the trade block when I first acquired the team, but in the offseason this year placed him on waivers to see if anyone would bite whatsoever, but that went over like a lead balloon. I'm leading my division to start the year, but this is unexpected and will likely fade faster than Ron Artest's career. I inherited a team badly in need of rebuilding, so this hot start is not going to last. I have a 38 in Fan Interest, a little over $15 million in cash, and as a team made just over $58 million profits last year with a measly $50 million payroll. So what's the verdict? Cut him out of the books, or deal with it? __________________ GM, Vermont Emperor Penguins - POTD POTD Champions: 2011, 2012, 2013 GM, Monterrey Aztecs* - NABA *NABA Champions: 2013

11-22-2004, 12:12 PM	#2
abailey3313 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 3,718	Keep him, for now. Hang on until at least the trade deadline, because if you keep winning, flukey or not, that should at the very least help your fan support. Then, once the trade deadline gets closer, start shopping players other than Ramirez. If you need to rebuild, shop the very best player you have that you're willing to part with, and don't ask for a whole lot in return. Maybe ask for a middle of the road prospect or two who aren't necessarily guarantees. Try and get an owner to bite. Now, suppose an owner agrees to send you two (or even one) decent prospects for the best player you have that you're willing to part with. Tell him you really like the deal, but feel like he might be getting too much since the prospect is hit or miss. Try and get him to up his offer. Then, throw in one of those "I'll tell you what...", and see if you can't slip Ramirez in there. It's a longshot, and you may end up in a lopsided trade, but it's better than eating salary for no good reason. At the very least get a prospect out of it, even if the prospect never adds up. __________________

11-22-2004, 12:17 PM	#3
ctorg Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 9,848	One thing I have done in similar situations is try to trade him away for another washed up old star who has less years left on his contract. Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't. __________________ My music "When the trees blow back and forth, that's what makes the wind." - Steven Wright Fjord emena pancreas thorax fornicate marmalade morpheme proteolysis smaxa cabana offal srue vitriol grope hallelujah lentils

11-22-2004, 01:16 PM	#6
Fadilles Minors (Single A) Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 51	:hello: :hello: Well, you could always edit the file and give him a CEI and that way its a no lose situation for ya.. !!!! __________________ Just remember I will always love you, Even as I tear your f*king throat away. Last edited by Fadilles; 11-22-2004 at 01:18 PM.*

11-22-2004, 03:40 PM	#8
William4192 All Star Starter Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 1,625	Uh..cheat??!? Great advice. I would not cut any one unless you REALLY need the roster space b/c you don't get anything for it. __________________ What is this about Rhode Island? It is neither Road or Island. Come check out the PBA. http://www.pioneerbaseballassociation.com Or email at pbacommish@pioneerbaseballassociation.com