I'm 31-45 right now, and I'm not expecting a big time turn around. I have two veterans that are in the last year of their contracts who are having career years.  I figure I should try trading them to contenders to use as a rental. I've posted in the world chat about them being available a couple times, and I finally got an offer for one.  The offer is:

 Hardball Dynasty – Fantasy Baseball Sim Games - Player Profile: Christopher Rivera
$500,000
for
 Hardball Dynasty – Fantasy Baseball Sim Games - Player Profile: Julian Adams

I actually have a log jam at 3B/RF because I have a stud prospect who I finally brought up to the ML this season and I just got a guy back from an ACL injury a week or so ago.

I might as well get something for Rivera, right? I've posted about him in world chat a couple times now, the last time being a week ago.  What's the etiquette about this? Is it poor form to shop him one more time in world chat?  I have some time yet, the transaction deadline is still 12 (real) days away.  Or is this a good deal that I should jump on while its still on the table?  

Do most people wait until the trade deadline to make a deal, or do you try to make the deals early to make sure it gets done?

Shopping lousy players on world chat is kinda foolish.  It tips your hand and comes in the form of "this guy sucks please take him..." And then its even worse when you add "looking for prospects in return..."  Sure you are.  Like the old "wish in one hand, s--t in the other, tell me which one fills first"

I cant believe Rivera has put up the numbers he has over his career, I would have expected far worse.  You may be able to land a little more than Adams.  Losing the salary may be your best option.  If not just demote him to AAA and use him in a pinch.

Well you're not going to get draft compensation for Riveria.  I'm not sure the other guy amounts to anything, but he might make the show as a Setup/B guy, or possibly help as a throw in for a future deal.  You might not get much better out of anyone else, wouldn't hurt to counter for something a little better than Adams, but don't expect a flood of offers at the trade deadline.

Riveria is the kind of player who will fluctuate pretty wildly because of his contact rating and because he doesn't have an elite eye to help buffer his batting average.  Agree w/ taz, you won't see draft pick compensation, so it really becomes a matter of what's more useful for you.  The veteran or the guy coming back and whatever cash you might save (and whether you'll even get to use it).

To answer your broader question, you should determine what FA compensation you would get if your veteran is good enough (keeping in mind that a Type A doesn't always get you a 1st round compensation pick - it can go quite a bit lower if the signing team signs multiple Type A's), and then comparing that with your trade return.  If you have a guy that looks like he'll net you Type B, you might be able to get a prospect who was drafted in the supplemental round or equivalent.  A Type A might net you a little more.  If your trade doesn't net you more than what you project you'll get in compensation, don't make the trade.  Also bear in mind that just like in real life, people value their own prospects more than their opponents do, which drives the price.

Thanks. I countered with a deal where I covered more of Rivera's salary and got back a better RP.  He balked, and countered by adding this guy to our original deal:

 Hardball Dynasty – Fantasy Baseball Sim Games - Player Profile: Dizzy Van Hekken

I  accepted. Van Hekken is nothing but a cheap 1B/PH bench guy, but that might be useful enough. I also $700,000 in salary which puts me over the $6M mark. I can now transfer $3M into my prospect fund and bid on a few more IFA. 

Last season I traded  Hardball Dynasty – Fantasy Baseball Sim Games - Player Profile: Trace McCartney to get Rivera ( and got most of his salary covered). I was pretty desperate when my starting 3B went down with an ACL injury. So essentially I made this deal:

359 ABs (.273 ave - 24HRs) of Rivera for about $1M in salary paid by me
Van Hekken
Julian Adams
for 
Trace McCartney

I'll take that as a win. 

Its hard to believe that you couldnt get better options from the scrap heap after free agency

Posted by willsauve on 2/16/2012 6:18:00 PM (view original):
Its hard to believe that you couldnt get better options from the scrap heap after free agency

Mid-season?

There are usually quite a number of useful guys on the FA pile mid season.  They're not stars, but they can help you.