Fantasy Baseball Dispute 8166-T: SportsJudge.com Rejects Trade of Pierre (yr 1 of 3, $25) for Porcello (yr. 2 of 3, $7)

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COURT OF FANTASY BASEBALL

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -	x	Index No. 8166 – T Date: July 25, 2010 League Type: 12-TEAM 4X4 Dispute: FANTASY TRADE DISPUTE Judge: Matthew Cohen TRADE BETWEEN CLINTON DIPLOMATS & DOME DOGS IS REJECTED.
BEER BATTER LEAGUE Petitioner, - against - CLINTON DIPLOMATS & DOME DOGS Respondent	: : : : : : : : : :
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The Commissioner of the Beer Batter League brings this claim in the COURT OF FANTASY BASEBALL to resolve a fantasy baseball dispute involving the proposed trade of Clinton Diplomats players Juan Pierre (OF, Chicago White Sox – 1^st year of Contract at $25) and Brian Sweeney (RP, Seattle Mariners – 1^st year of Contract at $1) to the Dome Dogs for players Rick Porcello (SP, Detroit Tigers – 2^nd year of Contract at $7) and DeWayne Wise (OF, Toronto Blue Jays – 1^st year of Contract at $1). This Court rejects 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 a reasonable chance of moving up in the standings. (See Unpublished Opinion No. 468-T, Commissioner Gary B. v. Ever-Lastings and 2 Legit 2 Quit).

If the league is a keeper league, as is the case here, the Court will also consider in evaluating the fantasy trade dispute a team’s likely performance in future years, especially with respect to the team currently ranked lower in the standings (See Unpublished Opinion No. 3704-T, Commissioner Paul S. v. Snakes & Blutos). This Court recognizes that fantasy team owners may have different strategies in terms of short-term and long-term goals; and that while one fantasy team may try to maximize its chances of winning prize money this year, another team may play for the future (See Unpublished Opinion No. 3731-T, Commissioner v. Muleskinners & Southsiders). As such any trade brought by the Beer Batter League will be approved as long as it reasonably benefits both teams either for the present season or for the future. (See Unpublished Opinion No. 3797-T, Beer Batter League v. Foo Dogs & Maulers).

The Proposed Trade

The disputed fantasy baseball trade is a 2-for-2 trade:

Clinton Diplomats proposes to send to Dome Dogs (current 2010 statistics in parentheses):

· Juan Pierre (.250 Avg., 0 HR, 18 RBI, 35 SB )

· Brian Sweeney (1 Win, 0 Saves, 4.02 ERA, 1.09 WHIP)

Dome Dogs proposes to send to Clinton Diplomats:

· Rick Porcello (4 Wins, 0 Saves, 5.55 ERA, 1.59 WHIP)

· DeWayne Wise (.262 Avg., 2 HR, 9 RBI, 2 SB)

The Analysis

According to the Beer Batter League Constitution, any player with a salary of $25 or more is considered an “asterisk” player. By its nature the asterisk players are the most valuable in the league. When there is not another asterisk player on the other end of the deal, the value of one of the players on the other end must at least have the potential to earn the value of an asterisk player during the remainder of their current contract. If this does not occur, then the two players involved must at least have the potential of equaling the stats of the asterisk player.

In reviewing this trade, the Court will start with the two lesser players involved, Brian Sweeney and DeWayne Wise. Sweeney is a marginal player at best, while DeWayne Wise is nothing special. Even President Obama, a White Sox fan, could not remember DeWayne Wise’s name. In an AL-Only league, as is the case here, Wise does have some value as a bottom level OF, however, it is not enough value to help the Dome Dogs equal the value of an asterisk player when combined with another player.

With that understanding, the Court must look at the present and future values of Juan Pierre and Rick Porcello in evaluating the fantasy trade dispute. If each team can reasonably benefit from the fantasy trade either for the remainder of 2010 or in the future, then the trade can be accepted. For this season, there is no question that Pierre is of much greater value then Porcello. Pierre is a stolen base machine, while Porcello is marginal at best in all four pitching categories.

As such, in order to decide this trade the question becomes whether the Clinton Diplomats can reasonably improve their team in the future with Porcello. (See Unpublished Opinion No. 3731-T, Commissioner v. Muleskinners & Southsiders). Last month, this Court accepted a trade involving Porcello ruling that his performance last year was enough to give the benefit of the doubt that this season has simply been a sophomore slump, and that he could provide good value next year for only $7. (See Public Opinion No.8007-T, Beer Batter League v. Mark’s Maulers & Dome Dogs).

While that is true, it is not enough projected value to equal the value of Pierre next season. Pierre gives any team that owns him one of the top if not the top base stealers in the AL. There is no sign that this will change in either 2011 or 2012. While Porcello has immense talent and is one of the best pitching prospects in baseball, he does not project to be a league leader in any category during the life of his current contract, nor does he project to produce asterisk level statistics during the 2011 season. As such, this trade does not reasonably benefit both teams either in 2010 or in the future. Because of this fact that it will not benefit both teams, the trade must be rejected.

Holding

Based on the foregoing, this court rejects the proposed trade of Clinton Diplomats players Juan Pierre (OF, Chicago White Sox – 1^st year of Contract at $25) and Brian Sweeney (RP, Seattle Mariners – 1^st year of Contract at $1) to the Dome Dogs for players Rick Porcello (SP, Detroit Tigers – 2^nd year of Contract at $7) and DeWayne Wise (OF, Toronto Blue Jays – 1^st year of Contract at $1).

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