I'm not sure if they still do the BHD mentor thing but I just started playing the game again and it seems like the team I picked up needs a lot of work and I'm not sure where to start. A lot of overpayed older players on the team and it seems like my minors are devoid of talent. I'm just looking for a place to start. Should I start offloading these players and have some garbage seasons and pour money into prospect and HS/CO draft?

Hardball Dynasty – Fantasy Baseball Sim Games - San Antonio Missions Franchise Profile

The team, is a 90+ win team with your eyes closed... i wouldn't start trading away pieces now, because you have a legit chance to compete.

That team should win a lot of games. However, you are right about there being a lot of money being paid to players who have started their decline. And a few of them are in the final year of their contracts. The last owner obviously liked to stock up on infielders and play them as outfielders. There is only one OF on the ML roster and three on the AAA roster.

If I were in control of that team, the first thing I would do is see if there is anything at all I can get for Marty Pavlik. Final year of contract, plus below average defensive ratings, plus two other better players at that position who both have more years left on their contracts, equals something I don't want. I know he is playing RF currently, but still. But before I do that, I'd edit his position to RF and not keep him listed as a SS. I'd also try to do the same with Cesar Ramirez, for the same reasoning. Final year of contract being the main thing. The problem is that it will probably be hard to move him considering his salary and very advanced age. So you probably won't get much. Although you never know.

You are also correct that you don't have many minor league players who should be expected to provide anything significant at the ML level in the future. You need some pitching prospects in a bad way. But again, your team is currently in win now mode, so I wouldn't start selling everyone. But you can bet that if your team hasn't won a title this season or next, then by the 3rd season, you will definitely be a seller.

Why would your first thought be "unload the players, have some garbage seasons and pour money into prospect"?

90 wins?  Did you look at the pitching?  There's a HiA pitcher in the ML's

Mike, because a lot of the players are past their prime and on the decline. My SP and BU is nothing short of mediocre really and I'm in a pitcher's park. There are plenty of better teams in my league and a WS is out of the question barring a St. Louis-esque run at the end of the season. Why wouldn't I want to start getting prospects now and plan for the years ahead? My player payroll is around 100m where there are teams with 60-70m outplaying me. Don't you think I could utilize the payroll better if I got rid of some those guys?

Well, let's put it this way:  When I take a team, my first thought is "What do I need to win?" not "Who can I get rid of so I can win 5 seasons from now?"   You're half a dozen games into your third season.   You took over a team that won it's division 17 out of 18 seasons.  Tearing down the foundation doesn't seem like a good strategy.  Maybe add a piece or two rather than subtract 10.

IOW, I think far too many people react with "I gotta tear this down and rebuild it" when they could simply rebuild it while winning.   If you start building with prospects today, you're not doing anything for 5-6 seasons because that's when the 2nd wave will arrive.  Who wants to lose for a real-life year and a half?

Hardball Dynasty – Fantasy Baseball Sim Games - Player Profile: Jimmie Campos notwithstanding .  .  . this looks to me like a team that is built to compete now. If you haven't already, I'd suggest finding a vet you can turn to with questions to help you keep the team competitive.

Having said that, if you want to rebuild, it's your dime, but if you prefer to do that, you might as well start with a team that really is in bad shape so you can experiment and make mistakes without other owners in your league getting the wrong idea.

This team will be much better than the 89-73 they were last season if you have time and money to make a couple of minor adjustments.  First of all, stop frittering away games by pitching Silva and Campos; use $2M to sign AAAA or low-ML SPs to round out your rotation.  Second, trade Pavlik (as Tex said) to anybody who will take the salary and for anything you can get, and add a SS who can actually field the position as a defensive replacement.

When you reach the playoffs, drop to a 3-man rotation (Mercedes, Dali, Jimenez), set them at short-ish pitch counts with quick hook settings, and watch apparently superior teams have real trouble getting rid of you as you let that strong bullpen pitch 4-5 innings a game.  You said you would need a St-Louis-esque run; if you manage this team in the playoffs like LaRussa would, it may have that kind of run in it.

Yep, this is a playoff team and possibly a WS champion.  This fire sale talk is nonsense.  Both Txchilidog and dedelman offer pretty darn sound advice.  Get rid of Campos and fill his spot with a cheap FA who has at least 50 control, 60 vL, 60 vR, and a couple of pitches in the 70s.  Optimize your lineups vs opponents' left-handed and right-handed pitching and you should win at least 95 games.

Don't just sit there Jim! Do something!

Thanks for the advice guys. I know it's only been 12 games but is there any reason why Hardball Dynasty – Fantasy Baseball Sim Games - Player Profile: Aramis Gil is hitting .174? Shouldn't he be a beast more or less or am I missing something?

Its early, bad hitters park.  Maybe he's face a lot of lefties.  Give him time.

You are definitely in a pitcher's park, so that will have some effect. I'm not sure what the stadium is for the guy who owned the team before you, and what its effects were. I wouldn't expect a repeat performance of his numbers from a season ago. That being said, that guy has great ratings and should put up some good numbers regardless of where he is playing. I would attribute this to simply an early season slump. I would expect him to go on a 10+ game hitting streak very soon.