Eriq Gardner had a great article in August's American Bar Association Journal about SportsJudge.com and the history of fantasy dispute resolution. The article begins:
For the love of the game or the pursuit of some prize money, about 30 million people actively play in fantasy sports leagues across the United States and Canada. Competitors build rosters of professional sports athletes and set lineups in pursuit of statistical achievement. Nothing rankles fantasy enthusiasts more than perceived unfairness, such as a lopsided player trade between two competitors that tips a league’s balance.
Commissioner of the Campions Cup League brings this claim in the SportsJudge.com Court of Fantasy Baseball Disputes to resolve a fantasy baseball dispute involving the status of a proposed trade of Phire players Jason Bay (OF, New York Mets) and Chris C. Carter (LF, New York Mets) to Kenny Powers for Matt Capps (P, Washington Nationals) and Jerry Hairston Jr. (IF/OF San Diego Padres).
This trade was time stamped on 7/27 at 2:47 P.M. – before JasonBay was placed on the disabled list and before Matt Capps was traded to the Minnesota Twins.The trade was viewed with these concepts in mind.
The Campion Cup League Constitution, at issue in this case, has perhaps the strictest trade restrictions that this Court has ever seen.According to the Constitution, “Only the current season’s value (and past season values) of the players may be considered in the equality of any trade.The future freeze value or contract value cannot be considered as an element in the fairness of a trade.”
The Constitution also has the following restriction, “Only trades that are clearly equitable will be permitted.Trades that leave an impression of even marginally pushing the envelope shall be rejected.”As such, the ruling of Big Red Rockers v. Big City Bombers will not be used to decide this trade, and instead the trade will only be accepted if both sides of the trade are equal in value without taking into account future projections.(See SportsJudge.com Blog Opinion No. 8160-T, Commissioner of Campions Cup League v. Phire & Shazam).
The Proposed Trade
The proposed trade is a 2-for-2 trade:
PHIRE proposes to send to Kenny Powers (2010 statistics in parentheses):
·Jerry Hairston Jr. (.251 Avg., 41 Runs, 7 Home Runs, 42 RBI, 8 SB)
The Analysis
As previously stated, pursuant to the Campions Cup League Constitution, this trade will only be accepted if both sides of the trade are equal in value without taking into account future projections as per the league constitution.(See SportsJudge.com Blog Opinion No. 8160-T, Commissioner of Campions Cup League v. Phire & Shazam).Under this strict standard, this court has not upheld a single trade in the Campions Cup since June 2007, when the SportsJudge.com Court of Fantasy Baseball upheld the blockbuster trade of Carlos Beltran for John Smoltz.
This trade nevertheless meets this high threshold for approval.According to most forms of statistical analysis, the main players in the trade (JasonBay and Matt Capps) provide nearly identical value, albeit at different positions and with JasonBay having a greater upside.
Yahoo 2010 Rank
(Actual)
Yahoo 2009 Rank (Actual)
JasonBay
236
26
Matt Capps
116
389
In addition, despite the strong 2010 statistical results of Jerry Hairston Jr. (statistics that thus far almost match Bay’s abysmal performance), these numbers seem to be somewhat of a positive aberration in light of Hairston’s overall career numbers.While this court thinks that Hairston is a clear upgrade for Phire over Chris Carter (especially given Hairston’s speed and positional flexibility) we do not believe the upgrade is enough to make the trade inequitable, especially given that the Padres, at the time, were widely rumored to be close to trading for numerous offensive players that would relegate Hairston Jr. back to the lesser reserve role that he was originally signed to play (court’s note: The Padres have since traded for SS/3B Miguel Tejada and OF Ryan Ludwick), and the primary Campions Cup objectors to this trade had actually been contending that Kenny Powers was getting the better end of the trade by acquiring Bay and Carter (court’s note: Even with the Capps trade risks, we were quite surprised by this argument).
Further, beyond the equitable nature of the actual players traded, there is also great reasonableness in the fantasy trading partners.Kenny Powers and Phire have very little incentive to conspire against the league in making this deal.Kenny Powers and Phire are in second and fourth place respectively – 1.5 points apart from each other in the standings.Phire is in a dead heat with the current third-place team, Highlanders, for saves.The addition of Capps could provide a critical two-point swing in the standings. Meanwhile, Kenny Power is currently tied with the first-place team in runs and is only five RBI ahead of the third-place team (Highlanders).While trading Capps may cost Kenny Powers one point in saves, gaining Bay will likely help Kenny Powers to gain/protect points in these two important offensive categories.
Indeed, this court notes that there is some substantial risk with both players given Bay’s recent head injury and the likeliness, at the time, that Capps would be traded to a team where he would no longer be a closer.
However, even despite all the uncertainty, the court still finds this trade equitable in light of the players traded and the parties involved.
Holding
Based on the foregoing, the SportsJudge.com Court of Fantasy Baseball upholds the trade of Phire players Jason Bay (OF, New York Mets) and Chris C. Carter (LF, New York Mets) to Kenny Powers for Matt Capps (P, Washington Nationals) and Jerry Hairston Jr. (IF/OF San Diego Padres).
The Commissioner of the EP Rules Fantasy Baseball League brings this claim in the SportsJudge.com Court of Fantasy Baseball Disputes to determine the status of a fantasy baseball dispute involving the proposed trade of Ace & Gary players Miguel Cabrera (1B, Detroit Tigers), Torii Hunter (OF, Los Angeles Angels), Ricky Romero (P, Toronto Blue Jays), and J.J. Putz (P, Chicago White Sox) to the HappyScrappy HeroPup for Ryan Zimmerman (3B, Washington Nationals), Ichiro Suzuki (OF, Seattle Mariners), Jered Weaver (P, Los Angeles Angels) and Roy Oswalt (P, Philadelphia Phillies).
The SportsJudge.com Court of Fantasy Baseball Disputes 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.(SeePublic 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).However, where a league constitution provides alternative criteria for reviewing a trade, the alternative criteria may supersede the general rule.(SeePublic Opinion No. 409-T, Commissioner P.K. v. Cartman).As the League Constitution at issue has no restrictions on trade reviews, the holding of Big Red Rockers will be used and this trade will be accepted if it adequately benefits both teams.
If the league is a keeper league, as is the case here, this Court will also consider 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 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).
The Proposed Trade
The proposed trade is a 4-for-4 trade:
Ace & Gary proposes to send to HappyScrappy HeroPup (2010 statistics in parentheses):
In short, this trade helps both teams.The trade moves one of baseball’s best keepers (Miguel Cabrera) from a team in prize money contention to a team outside of contention.It also moves substantial 2010 talent to the team in prize money contention.
Beginning with the deal’s primary pitchers, there is no question that Jered Weaver is a better pitcher than Ricky Romero.Currently, Jered Weaver ranks 1st in the AL in Strikeouts, 4th in the AL in WHIP and 11th in the AL in ERA.By comparison, Ricky Romero is tied for 8th in the AL in Strikeouts, 31st in the AL in WHIP, and 18th in the AL in ERA. Jered Weaver’s statistics makes him a potential “third keeper” for some EP Rules clubs, but not a dominant keeper.By contrast, Ricky Romero, while solid, is certainly not keeper caliber.
Moving to the trade’s secondary pitchers, Roy Oswalt ranks 13th in the NL in Strikeouts, 8th in the NL in WHIP, and 24th in the NL in ERA.In other words, he is solid but not spectacular.Meanwhile, J.J. Putz puts up the stats of one of baseball’s better middle relievers and an asset in the E.R.A. and WHIP categories.However, as a middle reliever, Putz only contributes to two categories, while Oswalt is an asset in four.Neither player is a likely keeper for 2011.
Shifting now to the offensive side of the trade, Miguel Cabrera is the deal’s shining gem. Cabrera currently in contention for the American League Triple Crown, and will likely be a major contributor in four offensive categories for years to come.Not only is he an almost certain keeper, but he is one of the EP Rules league’s top keepers.By signing Cabrera, HappyScrappy Hero Pup gets a superstar to build around for many years to follow.
By contrast, Torii Hunter, Ichiro, and Ryan Zimmerman are also very solid hitters, however, none are premier keeper options.While Zimmerman may have some keeper value due to his position (third base) and young age, his statistics still do not place him in the same category as Cabrera.
Holding
Based on the foregoing, this court accepts the proposed trade from Ace & Gary of players Miguel Cabrera (1B, Detroit Tigers), Torii Hunter (OF, Los Angeles Angels), Ricky Romero (P, Toronto Blue Jays), and J.J. Putz (P, Chicago White Sox) to the HappyScrappy HeroPup for players Ryan Zimmerman (3B, Washington Nationals), Ichiro Suzuki (OF, Seattle Mariners), Jered Weaver (P, Los Angeles Angels) and Roy Oswalt (P, Philadelphia Phillies)
The EP Leagues brings this claim in the COURT OF FANTASY BASEBALL to determine the status of a fantasy baseball dispute involving the proposed trade of PiNsTrIpErS players Andrew McCutchen (OF Pittsburgh Pirates), Jonathon Niese (P, New York Mets) and Brett Anderson (P, Oakland Athletics) for The Sons of Pitches players Michael Cuddyer (OF-1B, Minnesota Twins) and Tommy Hanson (P, Atlanta Braves).
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.(SeePublic Opinion No. 101, Big Red Rockers v. Big City Bombers).A fantasy 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 B. 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).
Four of the five players in this fantasy trade dispute are age 23 or younger, so the key to this trade is primarily about potential, and there is a lot of uncertainty on both sides.
The PiNsTrIpErS are currently in second place, and have acquired the trade’s lone veteran, Michael Cuddyer.With Cuddyer, who is batting in the middle of the order for Minnesota, the PiNsTrIpErS could be expected to improve in HR (a bit) and RBI (more than a bit). In addition, with Hanson, the PiNsTrIpErs look to enjoy an upgrade in wins and strikeouts.
The Sons of Pitches, sitting in eighth place and without the benefit of three clear keepers for next season, get at least one potential keeper for their roster in McCutchen.McCutchen has dealt with shoulder issues this month, but can boost almost any team’s stolen bases and batting average. The Sons of Pitches do lose HR potential, but they are already at the bottom of the league in those categories – with 124 HR, trailing the next-lowest team by 19 (15.3 percent).
In pitching, the ceiling is high on Niese – 6-2 with a 2.58 ERA and 1.10 WHIP since coming back from the DL on June 5 – and Anderson, a projected ace who plays in a pitching-friendly stadium for a team that is on the upswing.One, if not both, a these pitchers could prove important to the PiNsTrIpErS run at “a money finish” down the stretch.
Holding
The Court approves the trade of PiNsTrIpErS players Andrew McCutchen (OF Pittsburgh Pirates), Jonathon Niese (P, New York Mets) and Brett Anderson (P, Oakland Athletics) to The Sons of Pitches players Michael Cuddyer (OF-1B, Minnesota Twins) and Tommy Hanson (P, Atlanta Braves).
The Commissioner of the EP Rules Baseball Keeper League brings this claim in the Court of Fantasy Baseball Disputes to determine a fantasy baseball dispute involving the proposed trade of Evil Empire players Brian McCann (C, Atlanta Braves), Jonathan Broxton (RP, Los Angeles Dodgers) and Josh Willingham (OF, Washington Nationals) to McNack for players Adrian Gonzalez (1B, San Diego Padres), Chase Headley (3B/OF, San Diego Padres) and Yadier Molina (C, St. Louis Cardinals).This court accepts the proposed trade.
The Law on Upholding a Trade
In the SportsJudge.com Court of Fantasy Baseball Disputes, the general rule, absent contrary language in a league constitution, is that any trade shall be upheld as long as the trade adequately benefits both teams.(SeePublic Opinion No. 101, Big Red Rockers v. Big City Bombers).A fantasy baseball trade adequately benefits both teams if it allows both teams a reasonable chance to move up in the standings.(See Unpublished Opinion No. 468-T, Commissioner Gary B. v. Ever-Lastings & 2 Legit 2 Quit).
Where the fantasy trade dispute involves a keeper league, this court will also consider 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 Schultz v. Snakes & Blutos).However, when a club in a keeper league makes a trade based on the perceived future benefit of a player, that future benefit must be concrete, substantial, and imminent, in light of the players traded. (SeePublic Opinion No. 8165-T, Commissioner EP Rules v. Yoons Goons & McNack).
The Proposed Trade
The proposed trade has Evil Empire sending Brian McCann (.274, 13 HR, 51 RBI, 43 R, 3 SB) Jonathan Broxton (3.00 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 19 SV, 57 K, 3 W) and Josh Willingham (.273, 15 HR, 50 RBI, 50 R, 7 SB) to McNack for Adrian Gonzalez (295, 21 HR, 64 RBI, 57 R, 0 SB), Chase Headley (.269, 7 HR, 34 RBI, 55 R, 13 SB) and Yadier Molina (.236, 4 HR, 38 RBI, 21 R, 6 SB).
The Analysis
In the SportsJudge.com Court's fantasy judgment, this trade reasonably benefits both teams as McNack is very likely to move up in the 2010 standings, while Evil Empire may move up in the standings and has acquired a player with some keeper value in Adrian Gonzalez.
Currently, the standings indicate that McNack is in the bottom half of the league in stolen bases, runs, home runs and saves.With the addition of Jonathan Broxton, McNack is almost certain to gain at least two important points in saves.In addition, by adding McCann and Willingham (and perhaps more importantly losing the light-hitting Molina), McNack is likely to gain some important points in batting average.
Evil Empire likewise has the potential to move up in the standings, by improving in runs (within 10 runs of two teams) and home runs (within 11 home runs of three teams).Chase Headley and Adrian Gonzalez both provide a drastic increase in runs scored while equaling the home run output given up in the trade.
In addition, the acquisition of Gonzalez gives Evil Empire a potential third keeper, or trade bait for another team.While Evil Empire already has Joey Votto, Roy Halladay, and Carl Crawford as its likely keepers for 2010, Gonzalez serves as a legitimate alternative to any of the three, and could pave the way for a future trade.With only a year and a half left on his contract, there is an even greater potential for a future payoff if Gonzalez is traded to a hitter-friendly ballpark.Any such trade, while highly speculative, would surely increase his already impressive numbers he has accumulated in a pitcher-friendly home stadium.
Finally, the SportsJudge.com Court of Fantasy Baseball Disputes notes with respect to this fantasy baseball dispute that while it can be argued that McCann is also potential keeper for some team, the Court finds this argument implausible, given the emergence of young catchers such as Posey and Carlos Santana as the new elite at that position.
Holding
Based on the foregoing, this court accepts the proposed trade of Evil Empire players Brian McCann (C, Atlanta Braves), Jonathan Broxton (RP, Los Angeles Dodgers) and Josh Willingham (OF, Washington Nationals) to McNack for players Adrian Gonzalez (1B, San Diego Padres), Chase Headley (3B/OF, San Diego Padres) and Yadier Molina (C, St. Louis Cardinals).This court accepts the proposed trade.
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 – 1st year of Contract at $25) and Brian Sweeney (RP, Seattle Mariners – 1st year of Contract at $1) to the Dome Dogs for players Rick Porcello (SP, Detroit Tigers – 2nd year of Contract at $7) and DeWayne Wise (OF, Toronto Blue Jays – 1st 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.(SeePublic 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):
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 performancelast 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 – 1st year of Contract at $25) and Brian Sweeney (RP, Seattle Mariners – 1st year of Contract at $1) to the Dome Dogs for players Rick Porcello (SP, Detroit Tigers – 2nd year of Contract at $7) and DeWayne Wise (OF, Toronto Blue Jays – 1st year of Contract at $1).
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Eriq Gardner had a great article in August's American Bar Association Journal about SportsJudge.com and the history of fantasy dispute resolution. The article begins:
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