Here's the deal, I'm not the most experienced owner, but I know my teams needs rebuilding due to aging players and a substandard minor league system before I took over.

<a style="color:black;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2101942" target="_blank">Timothy Sutton</a>
 is going to be a FA, and has said he didn't want to resign. So, instead of spending 20 mil a year I was expecting to get a type A compensation. While a great player, I didn't see myself spending that much to keep him when I needed to rebuild.

<a style="color:black;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1209736" target="_blank">J.P. Santiago</a> is an aging C who isn't good enough on D to play catcher anymore. Being in the AL I'd rather have a defensive specialist there, and I feel like I can find better DHs. So, he's been a guy I've wanted to dump for 2 seasons. Just not worth the money, and he's making my pichers worse. He's also on the delcine.

Here's who I got in return.

He's listed as a SS, but i'm considering him a CI/COF type guy

Current	-	5-11	202	59	63	65	70	59	9	61	64	54	59	85	89
Projected	-	5-11	215	77	71	78	84	65	9	91	71	54	73	85	89

Current	-	38	65	73	61	56	50	27	64	26	1	18	18	17	19	54	0	0	0	0
Projected	-	38	70	89	78	56	59	27	62	37	1	21	22	17	16	71	0	0	0	0

This guy is a reliever, and I usually hate trading for Rps, but he's about as good as it gets, and with his projections he can pitch over 100 innings a season.

Current	-	5-10	199	69	20	20	70	64	4	66	95	34	60	51	97
Projected	-	6-0	206	88	23	20	86	84	9	77	100	34	66	43	97

Current	-	10	6	10	10	7	3	54	54	33	73	60	69	88	76	77	72	0	0	0
Projected	-	14	6	10	13	11	3	68	54	38	99	76	87	97	88	77	90	0	0	0

I also got a third player - he's almost at projections (at least according to my sight), so just add a point or two to most categories and you'll get the idea..

<a style="color:black;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=3396808" target="_blank">Buck Smith</a>




So - the question is - if we make the assumption sutton was going to leave for greener pastures, and no one else in the league was willing to big for him (i don't know why), did I make a good deal for the future of my franchise? I know I got better than what would have been type A comp, without the question marks.

If you have to ask.......

i ask myself after every trade - even the ones i think I like. I'm just a nervous nancy when it comes to trades.

But i'm assuming that's your way of saying yes.

From my vantage point, you traded away an MVP-caliber RF and a very good C whose biggest liability is low DUR for a below-average 3B, a potential All-Star SuA (if he's 23 or above he's about as good as he'll get) and a decent fifth starter. I would've vetoed that deal, given your level of experience, if I were in the same world.

Live and learn.

Get a  mentor.

Without the ages and experience of the players you got, it's hard to know what if those projections are bullshit.   Buck Smith is pretty much what he's going to be.   I'd say he's a decent SP3/good SP4.    As for the other two, their current ratings tell me you got bent over without lube.   Even if they reach those projections, you still took it pretty hard. 

But, considering Sutton is leaving in 65 games, that may have been the best you could hope for.   Depending on my position, I'd have been reluctant to give you too much.   Nonetheless, you lost that deal pretty hard.

I request your emoticon for such occasions.

trobone is playing the part of Pinky.

Posted by MikeT23 on 6/23/2011 8:50:00 AM (view original):
Without the ages and experience of the players you got, it's hard to know what if those projections are bullshit.   Buck Smith is pretty much what he's going to be.   I'd say he's a decent SP3/good SP4.    As for the other two, their current ratings tell me you got bent over without lube.   Even if they reach those projections, you still took it pretty hard. 

But, considering Sutton is leaving in 65 games, that may have been the best you could hope for.   Depending on my position, I'd have been reluctant to give you too much.   Nonetheless, you lost that deal pretty hard.

+1 to the part about maybe being the best you could hope for. 

Assuming the very best about both of the prospects you got a decent but not special starting 3B, a very nice reliever, and a first-year SP3-4.  In my experience this is how deadline deals go-- in fact, in my experience this is how most stud-for-prospect deals go in HBD-- and you got much more than the type A compensation.  At 11 PM on deadline day you have to make this deal if it's the best offer you have on the table.

That said, depending on the personalities in your world you might have had a better chance at a real stud prospect if you'd made these moves early in the HBD season, like before the FA period.

trobone should have taken the speaking part in this one when the offer was sent:

as for the ages - both of the prospects are 19....

ok - i guess it's live and learn for me then.

i wanted to get something more than type A, but i guess i reached when i should have been patient

The reliever is very nice.  I love guys like that.

The 3B is only decent, maybe a bit better.  He'll frustrate you a bit with the low contact.....will have some nice seasons and some "what the heck was that" types.

Smith's vR is concerning.  He's a #5 type to me. 

You lost a low durability catcher, essentially. (but one that can rake).  He is 33, however, and with his mediocre makeup he's about to decline as a catcher a bunch.

If you have a AAA catcher you like and a bat coming up...you did OK.

But I'm not sure you couldn't have done nearly as OK in the Type A process.

I think you got a solid deal.  To be clear, the players you gave away are significantly better than the ones that you got back...but...If I was the other guy, I wouldn't have given up nearly that much to get one season of the MVP Sutton.  I don't think type A compensation (e.g. a #26 and a #41, overall, pick) for Sutton will net the guy players as good as Buck Smith and the RP.  He better win the WS this year.

I wouldnt be unhappy with that deal, altho you undervalued that catcher a bit. I wouldve just done that RF for the 2 prospects you got. You got better players than a Type A wouldve been for him, woulda asked more for the catcher tho