Do people in your league trade a lot? (1 Viewer)

[raven1911]

Well, I am in a 12 team league that has 16 roster spots. Last year we had 0 trades...that's right ZERO. We were trying to encourage trading this year so we made rules that the team with the least amount of transactions would be penalized the following year. We also stated that trades would be $2 and waiver would be $5 a pick up. Well this hasn't done anything so far this year. The commish noticed that there really wasn't much on the waiver wire and decided that each team needed to give back one player to the waiver to make more players available. He also mentioned that people think their players are too valuable and trading was basically not going to happen, so he decided to for everyone to drop a player. I am not sure I like this idea being that we agreed last year to encourage trading and we aren't even into the first week of the season and already changing the rules. What do you think of this? Do your leagues trade players? What do you do to encourage trading?

 

[tulane]

Why the urge to force trading? If people don't want to, why would you try to force it in the rules or fining people???

 

[-OZ-]

Well, I am in a 12 team league that has 16 roster spots. Last year we had 0 trades...that's right ZERO. We were trying to encourage trading this year so we made rules that the team with the least amount of transactions would be penalized the following year. We also stated that trades would be $2 and waiver would be $5 a pick up. Well this hasn't done anything so far this year. The commish noticed that there really wasn't much on the waiver wire and decided that each team needed to give back one player to the waiver to make more players available. He also mentioned that people think their players are too valuable and trading was basically not going to happen, so he decided to for everyone to drop a player. I am not sure I like this idea being that we agreed last year to encourage trading and we aren't even into the first week of the season and already changing the rules. What do you think of this? Do your leagues trade players? What do you do to encourage trading?

Obviously this isn't much $, but any cost hinders trading.Oh, and any league where the commish can just issue a decree that each team has to drop a player has problems. (IMO)

 

[mggoilers]

I would recommend new blood or a new league, sounds like your owners are happy "Trading" with the waiver wire. Trades can happen if your fellow owners are aware and knowledgeable. I find most owners are afraid to make mistakes and be called out. In my keeper league, even knowledgeable owners don't want to make a mistake they'll regret so most deals happen in the offseason.

 

[King of the Wolfies]

I LOVE trading, but once I get the team I want, I stop. Both my past leagues were non-trading. Thus I found a new one and have already pulled off 4 or 5 trades. But I'm good for now until mid season where I start planning for the playoffs and next year. No one should be forced to trade if they are happy with their team. Lame league, find a new one.

 

[gianmarco]

Offer up your best stud for a #3 WR. That should get the ball rolling.

 

[King of the Wolfies]

Offer up your best stud for a #3 WR. That should get the ball rolling.

Give up your WR3 for the commish's best player. Complain very much if he declines.

 

[JTM]

Well, I am in a 12 team league that has 16 roster spots. Last year we had 0 trades...that's right ZERO. We were trying to encourage trading this year so we made rules that the team with the least amount of transactions would be penalized the following year. We also stated that trades would be $2 and waiver would be $5 a pick up. Well this hasn't done anything so far this year. The commish noticed that there really wasn't much on the waiver wire and decided that each team needed to give back one player to the waiver to make more players available. He also mentioned that people think their players are too valuable and trading was basically not going to happen, so he decided to for everyone to drop a player. I am not sure I like this idea being that we agreed last year to encourage trading and we aren't even into the first week of the season and already changing the rules. What do you think of this? Do your leagues trade players? What do you do to encourage trading?

That could very well be the personality of your league--you may be stuck with it. I'm in a 10-team, 3-Keeper league and we had around 10 trades last year...7 or 8 of which included draft picks for this year...then prior to the draft some of those picks were packaged with players and traded for better keepers...since the draft two weekends ago we've had 4 trades. There are about 7 guys in my league that are always looking to improve and seek out win-win trades...then there are the other 3 that are scared to death to trade and are receptive only when the wheels fall off.I'd say look for win-win trades...'you need depth at RB and he needs a #3 WR' type stuff. If they're not receptive to win-win transactions or at least counter offers that pass the sniff test, then you might be the only wheeler-dealer in your league. You can always do what I do--drop your crappiest WR and pick up a strong back-up to a solid RB on one of your counter-parts teams. I picked up Maurice Morris off waivers then packaged him and used him as bait to acquire Santonio Holmes from my buddy that had Shaun Alexander...another guy did it by drafting Turner before the guy with LT could--just for the sole purpose of future leverage in trading...as long as that back-up is sitting there on waivers it's like free insurance and there's no reason for your buddy to think about it...but watch them get start sweating it when you pick up their insurance policy...kind of ****, but fun as hell and usually gets the job done...

 

[LBH]

I think that people that only play in one league seem to get more attached to the players on their team and have a harder time taking chances

 

[King_Kelly]

Not in my main league. In my secondary league, there's a ton of it and I hate it because it's a constant game of "#### your neighbor." It makes me appreciate the 2-3 trades a year we have in the main league.

 

[twistd]

Why the urge to force trading? If people don't want to, why would you try to force it in the rules or fining people???

I have a league that I am commissioner of where there is very little trading. However, I am in an auction league where the auction was held today. Ten minutes after the auction finished the commissioner traded a QB and a WR, for a QB and a WR. There will be no one on the commissioners team that he had after the auction was completed. It is no big deal to me one way or another. If people don't want to trade then leave them alone.What I get annoyed with is the horribly one-sided trades you get offered. "Hey, I'll give you Lamont Jordan, Deshaun Foster, and Terry Glenn for Tomlinson. Dude, you get three starters for one." I say that if you want to offer a trade then make it somewhere distantly close to fair.

 

[raven1911]

Why the urge to force trading? If people don't want to, why would you try to force it in the rules or fining people???

OK, let me clear things up...we didn't even have people TRY to propose a trade....they just didn't, even when some teams were losing big time. The only trade that happened what between myself and one other guy. I agree with above statements in that, as an owner, I am ALWAYS trying to improve my team. I guess we want to encourage, even the proposition of trades, but they just never seem to happen. I would like to encourage trades because that is part of fantasy football. To me that is a big part of the fun of playing. I understand teams that are winning not wanting to trade, and I wouldn't encourage them too. However, the teams that are border line playoff or just mediocre at best teams should be trying to do something, right?

 

[AcerFC]

Trading is an art. Some guys in my league love to do it and others want no part of it. The best you can do is offer trades that will benefit the other team as well as yours. Try trading a strength for a weakness. Everyone hates the guy that has 2 RBS and offers Mark Clayton for MJD (really happened in my league). Even if that is a starting off point and the guy wants counters, why start with a low ball offer like that. Guys value their drafted players for a reason.

Having said that, I have found that Keeper leagues have more trading then redrafts. I was out of it last season. I was offered C Taylor (Non Keeper), C Benson(Keeper Player) and a 7th round pick for Ronne Brown and Larry Fitz (2 Non Keepers) and I did it because I was out of the playoff chase.

I dont think there is any rule that can force trades though. Make someone an offer they cant refuse and if they refuse it, just say you tried and move on

 

[DoubleG]

Well, I am in a 12 team league that has 16 roster spots. Last year we had 0 trades...that's right ZERO. We were trying to encourage trading this year so we made rules that the team with the least amount of transactions would be penalized the following year. We also stated that trades would be $2 and waiver would be $5 a pick up. Well this hasn't done anything so far this year. The commish noticed that there really wasn't much on the waiver wire and decided that each team needed to give back one player to the waiver to make more players available. He also mentioned that people think their players are too valuable and trading was basically not going to happen, so he decided to for everyone to drop a player. I am not sure I like this idea being that we agreed last year to encourage trading and we aren't even into the first week of the season and already changing the rules. What do you think of this? Do your leagues trade players? What do you do to encourage trading?

Obviously this isn't much $, but any cost hinders trading.Oh, and any league where the commish can just issue a decree that each team has to drop a player has problems. (IMO)

Make trading free - if that don't work,

 

[bostonfred]

People will trade if they get an offer that excites them. They will trade if they get an offer that seems lopsided in their favor. That's about it.

Making the apparently lopsided trade offer is easiest around this time of year when everyone still has cheatsheets to use. If you have a guy on your team that has big name value but scares you, try to move him for someone you like better but who is lower on the cheatsheets. Offer Larry Johnson and something good for Addai and something a little better, if you like Addai better, and a lot of guys will jump on that trade. If not, then fall back to Johnson for Addai straight up. A lot of guys will feel like they "have to" make this move because the cheatsheets tell them to. If there's somebody you legitimately like better, go after them now before it's too late.

If not, pick a team in the league. Try to figure out what kind of trades you'd make to improve their team, if it were you. If they're strong at running back, but weak at receiver, don't assume they'd trade a running back for a receiver right away. Would you, if you'd drafted to be strong at RB in the first place? Don't worry about going after specific players you like, just focus on what positions you'd be trying to improve, and what you think you'd be willing to trade to get it. Do the same thing for each team in the league except yours. Figure out what trades they should make with each other. Then take a look at your team, and do the same thing. Try to find a trade that really and truly helps both sides, then offer them something a little bit better for you than that. If they accept, cool. If not, negotiate.

 

[PhillySwampAss]

I find that leagues with Keepers have more trading then redrafts.

Also, if you have salaries/contracts it can even add more to the training fun.

 

[code]

We have a significant amount of trading in our league...I'd credit it to some combination of the following:

1. regular in-person events that allow owners to get to know each other enough to feel comfortable discussing trades

2. large rosters leaving the waiver wire quite thin

3. contract keeper system that creates additional value for "prospects" allowing owners to trade "now" for the "future"

4. ODP+IDP creating 14 starting positions and lots of options when trading across positions

5. all owners are prepaid through the subsequent season, so we allow trading of future draft picks

6. no fees/penalties related to transactions

7. commish evaluated only, no league votes

8. tradition of trading from the commish on down, in fact he's already got 8 transactions this season alone, leaguewide there's been nearly 30

 

[u999spf]

I would tend to think that if there were more roster spots and LESS available players on the waiver wire, more trading may occur.

If your league charged NO transaction fees for trades and $5 for pickups, this may also increase trading.

Perhaps for next season, since you already drafted you could add in another flex position. If people have more holes to fill maybe they will package up players to fill that hole.

As others have started above, you may just have a collection of people that are not into trading, either they don't think they are any good at it and are afraid they will get fleeced and then made fun of, or they overvalue their players and are afraid of change and have the "just ride it out" mentality.

You can't force people to trade and penalizing the lowest # of transaction team is BS. You could have drafted such a good team that you may not need to hit the waiver wire all year. It happens and that guy shouldn't be penalized for it as a result.

 

[u999spf]

I almost forgot. I would say that auction leagues on average probably have more trades than non-auction leagues. This is because your final team after an auction is completed is more likely to be thin in one area and loaded in another area. This just happens during the course of an auction when an owner sees value on the board.

Then most owners look to balance out there teams once the auction has completed. So this is also another thing you can try to do for next year.

 

[JHuber77]

Consider changing your roster spots to 14.

 

[u999spf]

Consider changing your roster spots to 14.

How would this promote trading? There would be so many players available on the waiver wire that you don't need to make a trade.Plus the players that you have you will really feel the need to hold onto them because they are your core players plus 1 or 2 players that you may be waiting to breakout. Limiting your roster to 14 will reduce the amount of flexibility you have within your roster, no?

 

[labman]

Post a thread on your league message board asking owners what would make them trade more. Also I like to post threads from this forum to get guys thinking about certain issues, you get alot of good ideas that way.

 

[Z-Dog]

Bigger rosters = more trading.

Another major factor is positional requirements. If you start more players you'll get more trading. Also, eliminate flex positions. If teams can start either a WR or an RB, fewer teams will have a need - if everyone needs to start an RB in that flex spot, you're going to get more trading. Also, start 2QBs - so often, b/c QB is deep they aren't even on the radar screen for trades. If you start two, they get traded all the time.

 

[JHuber77]

Consider changing your roster spots to 14.

How would this promote trading? There would be so many players available on the waiver wire that you don't need to make a trade.Plus the players that you have you will really feel the need to hold onto them because they are your core players plus 1 or 2 players that you may be waiting to breakout. Limiting your roster to 14 will reduce the amount of flexibility you have within your roster, no?

it all depends on what your league requires to start.

 

[flat_earth]

Get rid of a league vote/veto for trades if you have one and make it commissioner approval. If people know they are not going to have their trades cancelled by jealous owners they will be more willing to deal.

 

[BoneYardDog]

Find a starter on your team that you are willing to trade and then offer him to every team in your league depending on what they have that you want...

Try multi-player trades and also if dynasty use draft picks, there are always owners that want draft picks and others that trade draft picks...

I had 15 rookie picks in the 2007 draft in one league and already have 18 in another league for 2008...

I have always found that the teams that offer the most trades and the most reasonable trades get a reputation for trading and when they offer a trade it gets more attention than teams that stay mostly quiet...

Feel free to offer more value than what you get back as long as it strengthens your position. In some cases you need to give up a little more at a position you are deep in to upgrade at a position that you are weak in...

It is also very helpful to trading if you are playing in an IDP league, many more players and positions to add to the mix...

Larger rosters equal more trading...

I would not expect to see much trading in a 16 player roster league...

 

[fsufan]

for the most part no. I do most of the trading in my 2 main leagues. I make on average 3 to 4 trades a year.

 

[a_rackowski]

charge a dollar per waiver wire pickup and make trades free. its the best way to "encourage" trading.

 

[GregR_2]

Consider changing your roster spots to 14.

How would this promote trading? There would be so many players available on the waiver wire that you don't need to make a trade.Plus the players that you have you will really feel the need to hold onto them because they are your core players plus 1 or 2 players that you may be waiting to breakout. Limiting your roster to 14 will reduce the amount of flexibility you have within your roster, no?

Correct. Smaller rosters lessen the benefit in trading. Every roster spot you give up means in exchange for the loss of exclusive ownership of 1 player (but still the ability to get him from waivers) you gained access to 11 other players you only could have gotten via trading.Here are some league parameters that increase the benefit of trading and so therefore the likelihood of them.1. Bigger rosters, bigger rosters, bigger rosters.2. Keepers. Especially ones that allow a limited number of keepers per team but use the "1st player costs your 1st round pick, 2nd costs your 2nd, etc" format over the "keep a guy 2 rounds earlier than he was drafted", as the former guarantees more players are worth keeping, so increases the chances a team has more worthy guys than they can keep.3. Player contracts, where teams may trade players for slightly lesser guys with longer contracts to keep some balance.4. Any contract or keeper rule that makes a player more worthwhile to some other team than the one he is currently on, or that requires owners to have to make hard choices about who to part with and who to keep. 2 examples: A limit on how many years a player can be kept by the same team (and tradebacks not allowed), so you'll trade the player before you hit his limit and lose him for nothing. Also, salary cap leagues with salaries that increase each year, or with options to give raises for additional contract years. The need to free up salary will lead owners to trade players to free cap room rather than drop them and get no compensation.5. Use more starting players. When you start 2 TEs per team or 4 WRs or 2 QBs, teams have more need to acquire backups and there is less available on waivers because you followed #1 and have big rosters. But just adding a 2nd QB (or better, a flex QB) doesn't help as much as implementing increases at all the positions but RB. Ideally you create situations with your rules where teams are more likely to have depth at one position but need improvement at another. When there aren't enough players to go around at every position, this is more likely to happen. Plus, it lowers the value of those pesky RBs some.6. Get rid of transaction fees for trading, but keep them for waiver moves.7. Use blind bidding waivers with a finite salary cap for waivers, so if teams run out they are forced to trade.I'll add that my dynasty-ish league which is more accurately a hard salary cap, contract league, has many of these suggestions incorporated in the rules. Add in a draft-style rookie draft instead of an auction, so the draft picks can be used to even out trades, and we have seen a huge number of trades now that we are far enough in where the full set of contract options are available. I believe we've had about 30 trades since May when the rookie draft started.

 

[Crusaderfan]

I'm in a 10 team league that hasn't had a trade in 3 years. I rarely even get an offer. I think one of the problems is that we have roster rules that make you carry a specific number of each position. So if you need RB help and want to trade a WR to get it - you have to do a RB/WR for a RB/WR offer.