Rules Question/Advance Ruling -- 'cuz this is gonna be bad

[Deleted]

Here's my question, because it will inevitably follow from the undeniable fact that no matter what I do, I will simply not have a valid Major League Roster to play with this season.  The Cleveland Indians are going to lose this season and next.  We're going to lose A LOT.

As TB Rays GM (Eric) can tell you, I do NOT mind losing as an consequence of a serious rebuilding plan that can take two or three years to come to fruition, but I have never participated in a League as deep as this one where the only available replacement players are in the International League or the PCL and likely won't play this season until August, if then.  Where picking up a 3B who MIGHT have 150 ABs this season (even if I could find one) may cost more in salary than I want to pay.

The deepest other Dynasty League I play in has one primary rule:  A Team MUST be able to fill all the starting spots on the starting roster.  However, if you don't have a good option at a position, you can always pick up a bad one o waivers.  Here, for example, there are only 30 Major League 2Bs and there are 30 teams, so none are available to fill a hole I might have (and I have a lot of them).

So, reality is, this team is and has been in the tank.  The trade proposals I'm getting for Matt Harvey will put us even more in the tank, not deliberately but inevitably.  Rule number one in the consolidated rules is "Don't tank to get a draft pick". My question is, "Is the hand of God going to come down on me if I trade Matt Harvey for three prospects and some draft picks?"  I need the assets, but I'm not going to risk the #1 overall pick (yeah, I've resigned myself to that already, but SHHHHHH, ferchrissake don't tell the season ticket holders) for that.

Thoughts from the Committee would be appreciated.

[Cincinnati Reds - Chris]

As one of the most outspoken on Tanking I'll say this.

If you make an attempt to acquire free agents to fill holes who are still available and field and play a full MLB roster, I don't consider that tanking. Your team was in a shambles when you acquired it and if TPB managers see you making an attempt to sign some players, and put them in spots where stats can be accumulated on your roster I see nothing wrong with it.

Realistically the league is insanely deep as you say. But there are free agents still available. They are easily bench or platoon players and would cost you very little in a bid (500k, 1m, 2m absolute tops) for whats left out there.

As for dealing Matt Harvey. If the deal is fair for the talent you're getting back then it doesn't matter to me if it sets you back a few years. To me that's not a tank, its getting fair value for an unusable huge asset in Harvey and you're getting pieces you like/want to build depth or are significant building blocks for the future.

My two cents.

[Deleted]

Agree with Reds. Tanking to me is going above and beyond to lose intentionally, for example say you owned manny machado or something last year and you didn't promote him to your MLB roster even though you obviously needed a 3Bman because he might help your team get more wins. Or keeping players on the bench intentinoally during match ups.

An idea I had was to restructure a bit and take the 5 worst teams and among those look at total ABs and IPs from their team and whoever had the highest would get #1 overall, etc etc but that idea didn't pick up much steam. Bottom line is as long as you are actively trying to field an MLB team and not going out of your way to keep players benched that can help you we don't consider it tanking. We don't audit every week to make sure you can field every position with a player that is going to get 600 ABs.

So please don't feel like you need to trade Matt Harvey to get a bunch of nonsense to slot into roster spots, like Nick Puntos and what not heh. We know you got a real project here so just make deals to improve your team long-term, if you can fill your mlb slots with guys you can get for cheap trades or through bidding but we will not demand you spend tons of cap on guys that aren't helping your team long-term.

[St. Louis Cardinals (Andrew)]

Damn, I was going to offer him Willie Bloomquist and Elliot Johnson for Matt Harvey.

Seriously though, I'm with Reds and Royals on this. There is no way that roster competes overnight which is why we gave that team the two supplementary picks before you joined.

Don't tell anyone but I'll send you a list of guys in BA's top 30s but not owned here. None are top 10s but it'll give you some MiLB depth. They are for all effective purposes in the top 900 spects (30 x 30) and our systems are 1800 (30 teams x 60 slots) deep so they all should be owned by someone.

[Deleted]

yea this is the exact problem i had when joining the league. EXCEPT my team finished 4th the year before i joined haha..don't know how. It had to have been my pitching, as I had juan miranda in my starting lineup.

I've also always dealt with the trade offers youre talking about as people know your team is weak so you need a lil depth. this is why i inevitably traded clayton kershaw for nelson cruz and alexi ogando (even though looking back it now i should have gotten more, but that's not the point)

i think i've done a fairly good job of having a DECENT MLB team while building up my minors. I don't remember how i got the stars i have on my team did but i've essentially settled on the plan of not trading my mlb stars, and accruing MiLB picks, while saving up money for IFA