Evaluate this trade

[Caseyfan21]

I'm in a 12 team Yahoo points league and have gotten an interesting trade offer that I'm thinking about. In our league, the points categories (for pitching) are:

IP (3)
W (5)
L (-2)
SV (10)
ER (-2)
BB (-2)
K (2)
HLD (5)

Basically saves got so many points because the commissioner and his buddy had a lot of closers after the draft (a load of crap really, I know). Anyways, I have a pretty strong team and am currently sitting either first or second every day depending on how my team does. My current pitching staff is (up to 4 DL spots don't count against me):

SP: Roy Oswalt
SP: Braden Looper
SP: Justin Verlander
SP: Tim Hudson
SP: Felix Hernandez

RP: Ryan Dempster
RP: Dan Wheeler
RP: Hideki Okajima

BN:Tom Glavine
BN: Ian Snell
BN: Mark Buehrle

DL: Phil Hughes
DL: Pedro Martinez

My pitching staff is decent except for relievers where, since saves and holds weren't worth much, I didn't draft anyone other than BJ Ryan and Dempster. So I have been trying to dangle a starter or Josh Hamilton out there to get a closer.

Here was a trade offered to me:

I trade: Verlander
They trade: Mariano Rivera

I know Rivera has struggled so far this year but it seems like 3 apparences have really changed his stats (1.2 innings, 9 ER - his other appearences are 12 IP, 1 ER).

So do you think this is worth the risk? Verlander has been a solid starter but I'd keep Oswalt, Hudson, and Hernandez before him. Plus, with his delivery, I think him and Hernandez could both be prone to arm injuries.

Any opinions appreciated...

[NJReds]

With saves meaning so much in this league, you pull the trigger on this deal.

[Johnny Footstool]

With saves meaning so much in this league, you pull the trigger on this deal.

Yes, saves are worth twice as much as Wins. Make the trade.

[freestyle55]

I would agree...you've also got help coming eventually if your SP goes down with Hughes and Pedro

[Johnny Footstool]

Basically saves got so many points because the commissioner and his buddy had a lot of closers after the draft (a load of crap really, I know).

So the commissioner changed the scoring system after the draft? That's cheating, pure and simple. I would quit that league. Trade all of your players to the best non-commissioner-or-buddy team and get out, because if the guy cheated once, he's bound to cheat again.

[Caseyfan21]

So the commissioner changed the scoring system after the draft? That's cheating, pure and simple. I would quit that league. Trade all of your players to the best non-commissioner-or-buddy team and get out, because if the guy cheated once, he's bound to cheat again.

I raised a huge stink about it, a very huge one. This was already after I raised a stink about the whole unlimited moves category. We had most of the same guys last year and I was commissioner but this spring/summer I only have internet access at work so I decided not to be commissioner letting the other guy do it and he had the best players from the league last year along with some of his buddies. His buddies have been underwhelming in terms of what they think they can get in trades (honestly I can't recall a single trade yet in the league) and what values they give players.

People made fun of me for taking Adam Dunn high in the draft but based on the stat categories for offense (HR, RBI, H, BB, R to name a few) Dunn is a monster. There is no penalty for BA or SO totals. And sure enough Dunn has been a top scorer. I picked Pedro and Hughes off the waiver wire without giving up my priority (still #1) and I had the best draft I've ever had. I really have only made a few minor waiver wire moves and I have that pitching staff plus an offense consisting of Prince Fielder, Miguel Cabrera, Hafner, Dunn, Hanley Ramirez, Torii Hunter, Franceour.

I'd almost did exactly what you said, quit and trade to my best friend, but my team is so good that despite the changes they made I'm still #1 or #2 every day so far.

[Johnny Footstool]

I raised a huge stink about it, a very huge one. This was already after I raised a stink about the whole unlimited moves category. We had most of the same guys last year and I was commissioner but this spring/summer I only have internet access at work so I decided not to be commissioner letting the other guy do it and he had the best players from the league last year along with some of his buddies. His buddies have been underwhelming in terms of what they think they can get in trades (honestly I can't recall a single trade yet in the league) and what values they give players.

People made fun of me for taking Adam Dunn high in the draft but based on the stat categories for offense (HR, RBI, H, BB, R to name a few) Dunn is a monster. There is no penalty for BA or SO totals. And sure enough Dunn has been a top scorer. I picked Pedro and Hughes off the waiver wire without giving up my priority (still #1) and I had the best draft I've ever had. I really have only made a few minor waiver wire moves and I have that pitching staff plus an offense consisting of Prince Fielder, Miguel Cabrera, Hafner, Dunn, Hanley Ramirez, Torii Hunter, Franceour.

I'd almost did exactly what you said, quit and trade to my best friend, but my team is so good that despite the changes they made I'm still #1 or #2 every day so far.

If you're doing well, stick with it, but I think it will just prompt the commish to tweak the rules against you (like maybe retroactively penalizing you for Ks).

Anyway, good luck!

[IowaRed]

You have to do the trade based on the cats. My advice is don't waste any more time in this league, there are too many quality leagues out there. I quit a league this week which I had originally joined because I had one more spot open on my extra Yahoo ID as the season was about to start. The commish has 2 teams, he made 5 trades between those 2 teams already, didn't allow the full trade time-he just pushed his trades through, and to top it all off he had the same odd word in his Yahoo ID's for both teams. When I called him on it he denied it but the next day one of the teams ID's had been removed. I really enjoy fantasy sports and honest competition but have never understood cheating to win at it.

[Dom Heffner]

I would do it. The Yankees always get off to a slow start. Do it.

[camisadelgolf]

In a 12-team league with saves so highly valued, I would do it.