I got offered this.

[Yachtzee]

For all you trade meisters, here's what I've been offered.

They give me:

Eric Chavez
Barry Bonds
Noah Lowry


I give them:

Carlos Zambrano
Aramis Ramirez
Moises Alou

My Team:
C J. Posada (NYY - C)
1B A. Dunn (Cin - 1B,OF)
2B F. López (Cin - 2B,SS)
3B A. Ramírez (ChC - 3B)
SS M. Young (Tex - SS)
OF X. Nady (NYM - 1B,OF)
OF J. Damon (NYY - OF)
OF J. Edmonds (StL - OF)
Util E. Encarnación (Cin - 3B)
BN J. Varitek (Bos - C)
BN M. Alou (SF - OF) DL
DL C. Crisp (Bos - OF) DL

SP C. Zambrano (ChC - SP)
SP P. Martínez (NYM - SP)
RP C. Cordero (Was - RP)
RP R. Dempster (ChC - SP,RP)
P J. Papelbon (Bos - SP,RP)
P F. Liriano (Min - SP,RP)
P C. Capuano (Mil - SP)
BN C. Lee (Cle - SP)
BN J. Verlander (Det - SP)
BN T. Hudson (Atl - SP)

His Team:
C J. Estrada (Ari - C)
1B R. Howard (Phi - 1B)
2B C. Utley (Phi - 1B,2B)
3B E. Chávez (Oak - 3B)
SS J. Reyes (NYM - SS)
OF B. Hawpe (Col - OF)
OF C. Beltrán (NYM - OF)
OF B. Bonds (SF - OF)
Util T. Hafner (Cle - Util)
BN S. Podsednik (CWS - OF)
BN C. Shelton (Det - 1B)

SP E. Santana (LAA - SP)
SP C. Park (SD - SP)
RP T. Jones (Det - RP)
P B. Arroyo (Cin - SP)
P W. Rodríguez (Hou - SP)
P K. Millwood (Tex - SP)
BN N. Lowry (SF - SP)
BN Jo. Santana (Min - SP)
BN F. Cordero (Tex - RP)
DL J. Patterson (Was - SP) DL


As you can see, my pitching is mighty good, but my hitting has been atrocious as of late, especially OBP and SLG. As far as pitching goes, My Wins and Losses and Saves haven't been so hot lately, but I count that up as bad luck more than anything, as I lead the league or am near the top in all other pitching categories.

I also need to make a decision on Posada v. Varitek. I picked up Posada because Varitek had been a big part of dragging down my hitting stats, but I'm loathe to just dump him on the waiver wire.

[Johnny Footstool]

Nah. Keep your stud pitcher. Ramirez will get hot and perform on par with Chavez. When Bonds and Alou are both healthy, I'd rather have Alou.

[Red Leader]

Originally Posted by Johnny Footstool

Nah. Keep your stud pitcher. Ramirez will get hot and perform on par with Chavez. When Bonds and Alou are both healthy, I'd rather have Alou.

I agree. I think the other owner is just trying to throw big names like Bonds and Chavez into the deal to lure you away from the fact that a big part of that trade is Zambrano for Lowry. If you take out the hitters (who are all pretty equal) that's what you're left with, and I'd take Zambrano 10 out of 10 times. He's heating up with the weather and will be downright nasty going forward. Keep him. The other owner is just trying to upgrade his mediocre SP's, don't help him.

[Yachtzee]

Yeah, I know. It's hard though with Dunn, Ramirez, Young and Edmonds mired in serious slumps and Alou and Crisp on the DL. My record has taken a hit the past few weeks because of I'm losing in BA, OBP and SLG. It's tempting to take the guys who aren't having trouble getting on base right now, even though I'm sure the slumps will end sometime.

[Red Leader]

Oh, I think you have a lot of players that you could move to upgrade your team, I just don't think this trade you mentioned is a good deal for you. Maybe consider packaging Dunn and one of your catchers to a team with a bad catcher. See if you can get a stud 1st baseman who will hit for average as well. Pujols obviously is probably out of the question, but :ance Berkman might not be for that package. You might also look for a player like Prince Fielder who's having a great year so far, and an upgrade to Xavier Nady in the OF.

The players you have will come out of their slumps. All of them are .280 (at least) hitters, with the exception of Dunn. Losing Dunn hurts your HR output, but if you can get a guy like Berkman to replace him, it's clearly a win for you. There's nothing wrong with a Dunn / Varitek for Berkman offer. Your pitching remains extremely deep and you've improved your team, and opened up a spot to take a chance on a guy that may be hot now on your waiver wire that may continue to surprise.

[Red Leader]

Tell this guy that you've been dealing with that the only way you'd give up Carlos Zambrano is if Travis Hafner is coming your way.

[Johnny Footstool]

I just dealt Jim Thome for Zambrano.

I originally offered Nick Johnson, and he passed, so I upped the ante.

[griffeyfreak4]

Originally Posted by Johnny Footstool

I just dealt Jim Thome for Zambrano.

I originally offered Nick Johnson, and he passed, so I upped the ante.

What's the rest of your hitting look like?

[Johnny Footstool]

Originally Posted by griffeyfreak4

What's the rest of your hitting look like?

Solid. I'm leading the league in hitting points.

C - Willingham
1B - Pujols
2B - Utley
SS - Garciaparra
3B - Tracy
CF - Drew
OF - Berkman
OF - Hawpe
UT - Johnson
BN - C. Guillen
BN - B. Giles

[Yachtzee]

Originally Posted by Red Leader

Oh, I think you have a lot of players that you could move to upgrade your team, I just don't think this trade you mentioned is a good deal for you. Maybe consider packaging Dunn and one of your catchers to a team with a bad catcher. See if you can get a stud 1st baseman who will hit for average as well. Pujols obviously is probably out of the question, but :ance Berkman might not be for that package. You might also look for a player like Prince Fielder who's having a great year so far, and an upgrade to Xavier Nady in the OF.

The players you have will come out of their slumps. All of them are .280 (at least) hitters, with the exception of Dunn. Losing Dunn hurts your HR output, but if you can get a guy like Berkman to replace him, it's clearly a win for you. There's nothing wrong with a Dunn / Varitek for Berkman offer. Your pitching remains extremely deep and you've improved your team, and opened up a spot to take a chance on a guy that may be hot now on your waiver wire that may continue to surprise.

Only problem with a Dunn/Varitek for Berkman deal - the guy who has Berkman also has Victor Martinez (oh and he has Albert Pujols too).