SPORTSJUDGE.COM
COURT OF FANTASY BASEBALL
| - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - | x | Index No. 8167-T Date: July 27, 2010 League Type: Rotisserie, 5x5 Dispute: TRADE REVIEW Judge: BRIAN DOYLE TRADE BETWEEN EVIL EMPIRE & MCNACK IS ACCEPTED |
| COMMISSIONER OF EP RULES BASEBALL KEEPER LEAGUE Petitioner, - against - EVIL EMPIRE & MCNACK Respondent | : : : : : : : : : : | |
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Issue
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. (See Public 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 (See Unpublished Opinion No. 468-T, Commissioner Gary B. v. Ever-Lastings & 2 Legit 2 Quit).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likely performance in future years, especially with respect to the team currently ranked lower in the standings (See Unpublished Opinion No. 3704-T, Commissioner Paul Schultz v. Snakes & Blutos).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. (See Public 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.
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