Pirates / Royals Trade

[Jss0062]

Trading cash for a pick is no different than outright purchasing a player. There is a higher risk reward factor for the team purchasing picks. It also makes a lot of sense for the rebuilding teams. Perhaps sticking to real slot values for the picks or 1.5 times slot values would be a good guideline

[yahoolando]

It is different as it raises the cap for the other team. When money is exchanged for a player and a salary it is a different scenario. But honestly I am totally opposed to the idea.

[mrmetsman]

I'm not in favor of trading draft picks for cash.
Until the matter is still being polled and decided on i withold a further opinion on this trade

[Sportsnut]

It would be interesting to know Kenny's intent with this rule.  It does NOT say cash only can be traded for players.  In fact, the only direct language that addresses this is this:
Cash for future seasons may also be traded if the amount is no greater than the salaries of the players involved.

I just think allowing cash for picks will not prove to be a wise move.  MLB doesn't allow it, not sure why we would.

[Lindner]

Sort of a weird trade.

[chrisetc21]

It would be interesting to know Kenny's intent with this rule.  It does NOT say cash only can be traded for players.  In fact, the only direct language that addresses this is this:
Cash for future seasons may also be traded if the amount is no greater than the salaries of the players involved.

I just think allowing cash for picks will not prove to be a wise move.  MLB doesn't allow it, not sure why we would.

Can you articulate why it's not a wise move?  Technically, MLB only allows the new compensatory picks to be traded but MLB doesn't have a salary cap and MLB has a motive that we don't have here which is profitability.  When you limit the money, it becomes as valuable as draft picks which are also limited.  If you look at a league like the NBA, a league with a cap, they do allow the sale of draft picks.  All NBA teams are allowed to include as much as $3 million a year in cash to make a trade or even buy a draft pick.  I realize having a cap is necessary for this league just for the sake of balance and fairness.  My team has little MLB talent and not being able to use all of my cap money or having to spend it on overpriced free agents is a big disadvantage.  Allowing a bad team to buy picks can speed up a rebuilding process and allowing a talented team to sell pcks allows them to keep their established talent longer.  It can be a huge benefit for teams in either position.  Any concerns about selling an entire draft or something can be addressed by capping the amount of money that can be traded, $5 or $10 million per team per season.

[Sportsnut]

Can you articulate why it's not a wise move?  Technically, MLB only allows the new compensatory picks to be traded but MLB doesn't have a salary cap and MLB has a motive that we don't have here which is profitability.  When you limit the money, it becomes as valuable as draft picks which are also limited.  If you look at a league like the NBA, a league with a cap, they do allow the sale of draft picks.  All NBA teams are allowed to include as much as $3 million a year in cash to make a trade or even buy a draft pick.  I realize having a cap is necessary for this league just for the sake of balance and fairness.  My team has little MLB talent and not being able to use all of my cap money or having to spend it on overpriced free agents is a big disadvantage.  Allowing a bad team to buy picks can speed up a rebuilding process and allowing a talented team to sell pcks allows them to keep their established talent longer.  It can be a huge benefit for teams in either position.  Any concerns about selling an entire draft or something can be addressed by capping the amount of money that can be traded, $5 or $10 million per team per season.

Chris, you make some very good points.  Perhaps a good solution would be to have a scale of $$ value for draft picks? 

I'm saying it may be unwise simply because in any of our leagues, we have owners that don't value draft picks very much, or specs either for that matter.  Which is fine while the owner is in place, but too many times we see owners leave leagues after gutting the team, trading away picks and specs simply because they aren't of any special value to that particular owner.  Allowing an owner to sell the pick for cash only only heightens the issue.  Also, if we can trade picks for $$, why not allow teams to simply buy players for cash from another owner?  After all, we do simply pay cash for FA, so why not allow teams to buy players from one another as well. 

My point:  how do we make sure the league just doesn't become a league where the big cap teams can buy anything they want?

[chrisetc21]

Chris, you make some very good points.  Perhaps a good solution would be to have a scale of $$ value for draft picks? 

I'm saying it may be unwise simply because in any of our leagues, we have owners that don't value draft picks very much, or specs either for that matter.  Which is fine while the owner is in place, but too many times we see owners leave leagues after gutting the team, trading away picks and specs simply because they aren't of any special value to that particular owner.  Allowing an owner to sell the pick for cash only only heightens the issue.  Also, if we can trade picks for $$, why not allow teams to simply buy players for cash from another owner?  After all, we do simply pay cash for FA, so why not allow teams to buy players from one another as well. 

My point:  how do we make sure the league just doesn't become a league where the big cap teams can buy anything they want?

I understand.  A couple of points. 

I think theres a lot of value in differentiating these leagues.  So what one league does shouldnt necessarily be a standard for all leagues.  What i find attractive about this league is the control over all possible aspects of a team all the way throughout the franchise.  I think that's cool.  I have other ideas for things that might improve this league and I don't think we should be afraid of tinkering.

Second, I think if a team doesn't value prospects or the draft and they can compete that way then more power to them.  It's a strategy to use but in the long run, just like in real MLB, it's going to be hard to be successful that way in a league this deep in detail with 25 players per roster accumulating points.  Just my opinion but I think it will be born out in time here. When you have a roster with 9 players at a time getting points and $125 million to spend, you can spend free agent money and disregard your farm.  When you have 25 players scoring, you can't ignore the cheap labor you gain from the farm.  Even the Yankees in real MLB with unlimited money are struggling now because they've neglected the farm.

Third, I think with the salary cap and the fact the money can't roll over a team can't just outspend another team.  A team that spends on MLB free agents, can't buy up all the minor league talent and a team that buys up all the minor league talent can't buy up all the MLB free agents.

I'm more worried about the opposite honestly.  A team tanking, accumulating tons of minor league talent through the draft and international free agency and then shredding the league with cheap salaried phenoms being promoted every season for a long time.

Some suggestions to address your concerns.

1). Draft picks can only be sold in the upcoming draft.  You cannot sell a 2017 draft pick in 2013 for example.
2). In trades or sales involving draft picks, you can include up to 4% of the cap for the current fiscal year.  Cap money included for draft picks is taken from and can only be spent in the current fiscal year.
3)  A team selling draft picks cannot sell more than 2 draft picks in succession for the upcoming draft.  For example, selling your 2nd and 3rd is fine but selling your 2nd, 3rd, and 4th is prohibited.  Selling your 2nd, 3rd, and 5th is fine.

I have no problem selling players for cash but that is much different in one major way.  when you buy a player you know what you're getting.  The draft is mostly a crapshoot.  Buying draft picks is much riskier for the team buying than buying veteran players. 

[yahoolando]

The trading of draft picks for cash is going to be invalid.