Fantasy Baseball Dispute No. 8007-T: Court Approves Trade of Danks (Final Year, $10) for Porcello (Year 2 of 3, $7)

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COURT OF FANTASY BASEBALL –

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -	x	Index No. 8007-T Date Rendered: June 17, 2010 Date Published: July 12, 2010 League Type: ROTISSERIE Dispute: TRADE REVIEW Authoring Judge: ED GEFEN Affirmed: MARC EDELMAN TRADE BETWEEN MARK’S MAULERS & DOME DOGS IS ACCEPTED.
BEER BATTER LEAGUE Petitioner, - against - MARK’S MAULERS & DOME DOGS Respondent	: : : : : : : : : :
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The Beer Batter League brings this claim in the COURT OF FANTASY BASEBALL to determine the status of a proposed trade between MARK’S MAULERS and DOME DOGS. MARK’S MAULERS SEND JOHN DANKS (YEAR 3 of 3, $10) TO DOME DOGS IN EXCHANGE FOR RICK PORCELLO (YEAR 2 of 3, $7).

This court ACCEPTS the proposed trade.

The Law on Upholding a Trade

In this court, it is the general rule that any fantasy baseball trade shall be upheld as long as the trade adequately benefits both teams. (See Public Opinion No. 101, Big Red Rockers v. Big City Bombers). A trade reasonably benefits both teams if it allows both teams to have a reasonable chance of moving up in the standings. (See Unpublished Opinion No. 468-T, Commissioner Gary Benik v. Ever-Lastings and 2 Legit 2 Quit).

If the league is a keeper league, as is the case here, this Court will also consider a team’s likely performance in future seasons, especially with respect to the team currently ranked lower in the standings (See Unpublished Opinion No. 3704-T, Commissioner Paul Schultz v. Snakes & Blutos). This Court recognizes that team owners may have different strategies in terms of short-term and long-term goals; and that while one team may try to maximize its chances of winning prize money this year, another team may play for the future (See Unpublished Opinion No. 3731-T, Commissioner v. Muleskinners & Southsiders; see also Unpublished Opinion No. 3797, Commissioner v. Foo Dogs & Maulers).

The Proposed Trade

Mark’s Maulers (currently in third place in the Snodgrass Division, seventh place overall) proposes to send John Danks to the Dome Dogs (currently in first place in the Snodgrass Division, second place overall) in exchange for Rick Porcello. While Danks’s contract expires at the end of this year, Porcello is available under his current $7 deal for one more season.

The Analysis

Upon reviewing this dispute, the court approves this trade, with almost no hesitation. The court finds this trade reasonably benefits both teams: The Dome Dogs are acquiring a pitcher, Danks, with far better 2010 statistics (5 wins, 3.27 ERA, 1.22 WHIP) in the final year of his Beer Batter League “contract,” and Mark’s Maulers are acquiring a discounted keeper for the next 1 1/2 years, Porcello. While Porcello has been less than stellar in 2010 (4 wins, 6.09 ERA, 1.69 WHIP), his strong 2009 (14 wins, 3.96 ERA, 1.34 WHIP) and age (21) gives the court reason to believe this may be just a sophomore season slump and there is real value added to retaining him in 2011 at $7.

This appears to be a case of one team upgrading for the current season and another team planning for next season. In a keeper league, it is a case of both teams potentially benefiting.

Holding

This court ACCEPTS the proposed trade.

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