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The 2008 Major League Baseball season is less than two days away and the mock drafting and drafting season are packed, wrapped and awaiting a bow. Next up in the six-month journey we call fantasy baseball is managing season; more specifically, it`s time to trade!
As fun as making a swap sounds, it can also be one of the more frustrating, angering and time wasting parts of the game. In order to stay sane during this time, it`s suggested one avoid the following trade fouls that often times occur in leagues.
A good number of players are what I like to call hyperactive managers -- it`s impossible for them to not tweak their roster. Often times, the hyperactive manager makes the mistake of making a trade for nothing more than the sake of making a trade. This foul is most evident in the days after the draft and the first month of the season. Instead of trusting his drafting skills and being happy with the roster he put together, hyperactive manager is proposing and making trades like he gets an all expense paid trip to the Bahamas every time a leaguemate clicks the accept button. The thing is, each trade that is processed is a lateral move at best -- the player(s) coming to hyperactive manager`s squad may fill a hole, but only at the expense of creating a hole with the player(s) leaving the roster.
Often times the hyperactive manager breaks one of the most important rules of trading etiquette: not looking at the draft results before firing off his latest offer. Maybe I`m too proud, but even if I have a perceived hole on my roster, I`m not going to give up my third-round pick for your sixth-round pick to fill that need, especially a week or two after the draft. Talk to me in six weeks when I`ll have a better idea of where my team stands.
The most common and annoying offer to receive is the three spare parts for one superstar trade. Sure, that threesome currently on your bench has combined to score more points than my superstar, but here`s the thing: they`d sit on my bench as well because they`re no better than my current starters. Nobody in their right mind is going to accept David DeJesus, Raul Ibanez and Adam LaRoche in exchange for Prince Fielder; yet hundreds of similar offers were just sent in the time it took you to read the mock Chevette, El Camino and Pinto for BMW Roadster swap listed above. Remember folks, 12 wheels aren`t always better than four.
In theory, a trade is supposed to benefit both parties, but deals that appear equal aren`t always helpful to both sides. If one is to offer a fair swap they should first do homework on the squad they wish to make a deal with and check two things: that team`s roster and its spot in the standings. Sure, Jose Reyes for Johan Santana seems like an even deal, but it doesn`t make any sense for the team that has Santana to acquire Reyes if they`re set at the shortstop position. The same holds true for categories. No team that is already doing well in the runs and steals department is going to give up one of the game`s best pitchers to gain a few points in two offensive categories -- especially when a low ceiling doesn`t leave a lot of room to improve.
The final trade foul to avoid is a simple one: don`t offer up players that were just picked up via free agency, even as a throw-in. I can`t tell you how many times I`ve been offered a player -- we`ll use Eric Chavez as an example -- a few days after they were scooped up off the waiver wire. Here`s a thought: If I felt Chavez could be of value to my team, I would have grabbed him for free last week.
There is nothing more exciting in fantasy sports than going to your team`s homepage and seeing an awaiting trade offer. On the flip side, there is nothing more depressing than opening that offer and seeing one of the five draft fouls listed. For the good of everyone involved, let`s make this a foul-free managing season.
As fun as making a swap sounds, it can also be one of the more frustrating, angering and time wasting parts of the game. In order to stay sane during this time, it`s suggested one avoid the following trade fouls that often times occur in leagues.
A good number of players are what I like to call hyperactive managers -- it`s impossible for them to not tweak their roster. Often times, the hyperactive manager makes the mistake of making a trade for nothing more than the sake of making a trade. This foul is most evident in the days after the draft and the first month of the season. Instead of trusting his drafting skills and being happy with the roster he put together, hyperactive manager is proposing and making trades like he gets an all expense paid trip to the Bahamas every time a leaguemate clicks the accept button. The thing is, each trade that is processed is a lateral move at best -- the player(s) coming to hyperactive manager`s squad may fill a hole, but only at the expense of creating a hole with the player(s) leaving the roster.
Often times the hyperactive manager breaks one of the most important rules of trading etiquette: not looking at the draft results before firing off his latest offer. Maybe I`m too proud, but even if I have a perceived hole on my roster, I`m not going to give up my third-round pick for your sixth-round pick to fill that need, especially a week or two after the draft. Talk to me in six weeks when I`ll have a better idea of where my team stands.
The most common and annoying offer to receive is the three spare parts for one superstar trade. Sure, that threesome currently on your bench has combined to score more points than my superstar, but here`s the thing: they`d sit on my bench as well because they`re no better than my current starters. Nobody in their right mind is going to accept David DeJesus, Raul Ibanez and Adam LaRoche in exchange for Prince Fielder; yet hundreds of similar offers were just sent in the time it took you to read the mock Chevette, El Camino and Pinto for BMW Roadster swap listed above. Remember folks, 12 wheels aren`t always better than four.
In theory, a trade is supposed to benefit both parties, but deals that appear equal aren`t always helpful to both sides. If one is to offer a fair swap they should first do homework on the squad they wish to make a deal with and check two things: that team`s roster and its spot in the standings. Sure, Jose Reyes for Johan Santana seems like an even deal, but it doesn`t make any sense for the team that has Santana to acquire Reyes if they`re set at the shortstop position. The same holds true for categories. No team that is already doing well in the runs and steals department is going to give up one of the game`s best pitchers to gain a few points in two offensive categories -- especially when a low ceiling doesn`t leave a lot of room to improve.
The final trade foul to avoid is a simple one: don`t offer up players that were just picked up via free agency, even as a throw-in. I can`t tell you how many times I`ve been offered a player -- we`ll use Eric Chavez as an example -- a few days after they were scooped up off the waiver wire. Here`s a thought: If I felt Chavez could be of value to my team, I would have grabbed him for free last week.
There is nothing more exciting in fantasy sports than going to your team`s homepage and seeing an awaiting trade offer. On the flip side, there is nothing more depressing than opening that offer and seeing one of the five draft fouls listed. For the good of everyone involved, let`s make this a foul-free managing season.
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