Lopsided trade in my favor (1 Viewer)

[Magic Nose Goblins]

I'm commissioner of a head to head league with 12 teams. I just pulled off a major trade in my favor. I traded Roy Oswalt, Boof Bonser and Ryan Doumit for Albert Pujols, Ivan Rodriguez and Brett Tomko.

First of all its not collusion - for the life of me I don't know why the other team wanted to give up on Pujols. I received my first complaint today and expect to get more. Should I ignor them? attempt to respond? (can't really justify it). Just feeling that even though bad trades are part of baseball, I should attempt to try and justify this more since I am the commissioner. Also, I am currently the first place team, the guy that traded with me is the fifth place team.

Appreciate your responses.

(edited for spelling)

 

[Reality Football]

For the good of the league, I think you need to rescind the trade....IF a substantial number of owners complain.

Different ethical standards and expectations apply when you are the commissioner.

 

[JoeSteeler]

email the other owners that werent involved and have them vote..majority rules

 

[Breed]

Don't you have some kind of trade-checking system in place?

If so, then let it go through the process. People may complain about it, but if the rules are being followed, then that's pretty much the end of it, in my opinion.

Of course, that may make things complicated when you try to have people return in the future and they think you are somewhat underhanded.

But I don't think you are obligated to not accept a trade because it might be perceived poorly.

 

[Magic Nose Goblins]

Don't you have some kind of trade-checking system in place?If so, then let it go through the process. People may complain about it, but if the rules are being followed, then that's pretty much the end of it, in my opinion.Of course, that may make things complicated when you try to have people return in the future and they think you are somewhat underhanded.But I don't think you are obligated to not accept a trade because it might be perceived poorly.

I actually checked in with one owner before I pulled the trigger. He felt I was getting a great deal, but did not have a problem with it ethically. So far only 1 complaint, but I am most worried about your second comment about teams willingness to return to the league next year. Easy for me to say this, but I've been in many different leagues with a few of these guys - they know I'm not a corrupt commissioner. League policy is that all trades are allowed unless you have proof that two guys are conspiring against the rest of the league. The problem is that most guys think any trade is bad unless its a trade to their team. This is why I do NOT use the Yahoo protest system.

 

[RedRaiders]

Do you have to put Tomko in your lineup? If so, I wouldnt' say you're getting the best of this one.

Oswalt and Bonser have been solid. Maybe the guy really needed to upgrade pitching.

Need for need trades happen all the time.

 

[faulkfan]

Wait and see what the overall response is before you make a knee jerk reaction. The deal is lopsided, but not as badly as many others I've seen go through without a peep.

 

[Funkley]

Do you have to put Tomko in your lineup? If so, I wouldnt' say you're getting the best of this one.Oswalt and Bonser have been solid. Maybe the guy really needed to upgrade pitching. Need for need trades happen all the time.

Agreed. I don't think this deal is all that bad. I expected way worse.

 

[Wrigley]

Do you have to put Tomko in your lineup? If so, I wouldnt' say you're getting the best of this one.Oswalt and Bonser have been solid. Maybe the guy really needed to upgrade pitching. Need for need trades happen all the time.

Agreed. I don't think this deal is all that bad. I expected way worse.

Agreed.IROD and Tomko are waiver wire fodder........neither are the players they once were.Bonser and Oswalt for Pujols is just about right.

 

[PatsWillWin]

The correct answer here is you do NOTHING.

I can't imagine why you as the commissioner, as suggested by another poster, should be held to a higher standard than the rest of the league.

Recinding the trade is a RIDICULOUS suggestion - not only does that set a horrible precedent of #####ing owners controlling trades, but there is also a 100% chance that one of those owners #####ing about this deal, once it gets reversed, will be offering Carlos Zambrano + Adam LaRoche for Pujols as soon as they can get to the site.

This is fantasy sports. Let the owners #####, that's their right, but that doesn't force your hand to do anything at all.

 

[brewer]

Do you have to put Tomko in your lineup? If so, I wouldnt' say you're getting the best of this one.Oswalt and Bonser have been solid. Maybe the guy really needed to upgrade pitching. Need for need trades happen all the time.

Agreed. I don't think this deal is all that bad. I expected way worse.

I had to reread the trade to figure out which side was supposed to be lopsided. There is no problem with this deal at all.

 

[Magic Nose Goblins]

Thanks for the responses. Other guy did need pitching and I had some to give up.

 

[my man otis]

The correct answer here is you do NOTHING.I can't imagine why you as the commissioner, as suggested by another poster, should be held to a higher standard than the rest of the league.Recinding the trade is a RIDICULOUS suggestion - not only does that set a horrible precedent of #####ing owners controlling trades, but there is also a 100% chance that one of those owners #####ing about this deal, once it gets reversed, will be offering Carlos Zambrano + Adam LaRoche for Pujols as soon as they can get to the site.This is fantasy sports. Let the owners #####, that's their right, but that doesn't force your hand to do anything at all.

 

[Reality Football]

The correct answer here is you do NOTHING.I can't imagine why you as the commissioner, as suggested by another poster, should be held to a higher standard than the rest of the league.Recinding the trade is a RIDICULOUS suggestion - not only does that set a horrible precedent of #####ing owners controlling trades, but there is also a 100% chance that one of those owners #####ing about this deal, once it gets reversed, will be offering Carlos Zambrano + Adam LaRoche for Pujols as soon as they can get to the site.This is fantasy sports. Let the owners #####, that's their right, but that doesn't force your hand to do anything at all.

Disagree. He absolutely should be held to a higher standard. And this is why a number of leagues fail, because integrity is not put ahead of the shark mentality. Anybody who would put their own team ahead of the league's wellbeing is a pretty crappy commissioner.But...in this case, I guess, it seems like only one or two owners are whining about the trade, which is not enough to rescind a trade. But if you had somewhere near half the league complaining, you gotta consider killing the trade.

 

[PatsWillWin]

The correct answer here is you do NOTHING.I can't imagine why you as the commissioner, as suggested by another poster, should be held to a higher standard than the rest of the league.Recinding the trade is a RIDICULOUS suggestion - not only does that set a horrible precedent of #####ing owners controlling trades, but there is also a 100% chance that one of those owners #####ing about this deal, once it gets reversed, will be offering Carlos Zambrano + Adam LaRoche for Pujols as soon as they can get to the site.This is fantasy sports. Let the owners #####, that's their right, but that doesn't force your hand to do anything at all.

Disagree. He absolutely should be held to a higher standard. And this is why a number of leagues fail, because integrity is not put ahead of the shark mentality. Anybody who would put their own team ahead of the league's wellbeing is a pretty crappy commissioner.But...in this case, I guess, it seems like only one or two owners are whining about the trade, which is not enough to rescind a trade. But if you had somewhere near half the league complaining, you gotta consider killing the trade.

That's absurd. It sounds like you want commissioners who are not part of the league. That simply isn't the case - a commissioner is a player just like everyone else and has the right to make horrendous trades just like everyone else. Making a horrendous trade has nothing to do with "integrity." Or, at the very minimum, it pales in comparison to the damage done to "integrity" when you allow #####ing owners to mandate trade reversal regulations.

 

[Reality Football]

In the long term, a keeper league won't last past three years (if that) if the commissioner is perceived as bilking the other owners out of their talent. The commish has to make judgment calls on a variety of disputes. I certainly wouldn't trust the fairness of someone who would make a shady deal despite the protestations of a league majority.

In the leagues I play in, few owners will complain about a trade unless something about it really stinks, so when there is majority disapproval, there is reason to consider overturning. You must play with a bunch of egregiously selfish ****s who will complain about any trade regardless of its merit.

Isn't the matter of integrity obvious? How many umpteen threads do we see in this and other forums about the corrupt commish bringing down a league? I don't know if the original poster was talking about a one-off or keeper league, but in most keeper leagues, that kind of action by a commissioner wouldn't fly.

 

[PatsWillWin]

Leagues have rules. The commissioner is subject to the rules, just like every other owner. If your league is like most in that trades are not over-turned unless there is a reason to believe in collusion, then THAT is the measure and limit of integrity in that league.

Overruling that rule because of the #####ing of the league majority is exactly the kind of fudging with the rulebook that leads to the demise of leagues - a commissioner who makes lop-sided trades is no more damaging to a league than when a regular manager does it as long as the commissioner follows the rules in every other aspect.

You equate lop-sided trades with being unethical. I do not. Lop-sided trades are a part of fantasy sports, they always have and they always will, and to handcuff the commissioner from making trades that are not subject to popular opinion is the epitome of unequal application of the rulebook, which is the height of violating intregity as far as fantasy leagues are concerned, and THAT is what causes the demise of leagues.

 

[Magic Nose Goblins]

Leagues have rules. The commissioner is subject to the rules, just like every other owner. If your league is like most in that trades are not over-turned unless there is a reason to believe in collusion, then THAT is the measure and limit of integrity in that league.Overruling that rule because of the #####ing of the league majority is exactly the kind of fudging with the rulebook that leads to the demise of leagues - a commissioner who makes lop-sided trades is no more damaging to a league than when a regular manager does it as long as the commissioner follows the rules in every other aspect.You equate lop-sided trades with being unethical. I do not. Lop-sided trades are a part of fantasy sports, they always have and they always will, and to handcuff the commissioner from making trades that are not subject to popular opinion is the epitome of unequal application of the rulebook, which is the height of violating intregity as far as fantasy leagues are concerned, and THAT is what causes the demise of leagues.

I have to agree - you can't expect a commissioner to shoot himself in the foot for "the good of the league". I pride myself in being very fair about my league activities. But I refuse to allow managers to have the right to vote down any trade. This system is abused in Yahoo leagues and I do not use it in the leagues that I personally setup.Its hard to separate ethics from the heat of competition, but most managers want to get the upperhand in any trade they are involved in. In fact most guys weren't upset regarding my trade - they were more upset that they weren't able to pull off a deal for Pujols themselves. Collusion is hard to prove. But realistically, If I were in cahoots with another team, why would I be doing it in May?

 

[Breed]

If you are the commissioner and your league doesn't have black and white rules about trades (and just about everything else)... then you suck as a commissioner, as eventually your integrity is going to be called into judgment at some point.

If you are a league participant and your league doesn't have black and white rules about trades (and just about everything else)... then you have no right to ##### about how rules are interpreted on a whim. Maybe you should have done a little more homework before jumping into your league.

Since there is some doubt as to what to do in this situation, rules are clearly not spelled out. If they were, we wouldn't be having this discussion. As a result, the commissioner may need to nix the trade if he wants to keep the league together, but the league doesn't really have a reason to ##### if he lets the trade go through.

 

[Magic Nose Goblins]

If you are the commissioner and your league doesn't have black and white rules about trades (and just about everything else)... then you suck as a commissioner, as eventually your integrity is going to be called into judgment at some point.If you are a league participant and your league doesn't have black and white rules about trades (and just about everything else)... then you have no right to ##### about how rules are interpreted on a whim. Maybe you should have done a little more homework before jumping into your league.Since there is some doubt as to what to do in this situation, rules are clearly not spelled out. If they were, we wouldn't be having this discussion. As a result, the commissioner may need to nix the trade if he wants to keep the league together, but the league doesn't really have a reason to ##### if he lets the trade go through.

Yahoo league - trade rules are pretty much spelled out by Yahoo. Teams are NOT allowed to vote on trades. The Commissioner can approve trades early or they are automatically approved after 2 days - standard Yahoo rules. Now, do I think all of the teams are aware of the standard Yahoo rules - absolutley not! Which is my reasoning for this post - the best way to handle the situation and maintain order for the rest of the season. Even black and white rules do not stop teams from complaining.

 

[Reality Football]

Conclusion

Yahoo =

 

[Breed]

Even black and white rules do not stop teams from complaining.

Stopping people from complaining is a completely different issue. Even the most elaborate and clearly spelled out league rules won't stop that. I think the bottom line is that the league participants should never be surprised by the rules. As soon as your actions are the cause of the surprise, you will lose credibility with your league.If it was my league, I would have created some sort of rules regarding the approval of trades, even if Yahoo doesn't support it by default. You shouldn't be forced to weaken your own league because Yahoo doesn't have a good trade processing system.Have you cancelled other trades in the league? If so, you may have already created the monster.

 

[The Goat]

I've seen worse. Tell the other owners that they could have traded with the former Pujols owner at any time. Then move on.

 

[Magic Nose Goblins]

Even black and white rules do not stop teams from complaining.

Have you cancelled other trades in the league? If so, you may have already created the monster.

No, I have approved every trade.

 

[Breed]

Even black and white rules do not stop teams from complaining.

Have you cancelled other trades in the league? If so, you may have already created the monster.

No, I have approved every trade.

Let the trade go through.