House Rules when trading with CPU and Free Agency...

[KomicJ]

Do you guys use any ?

Being from Montreal, I didn't get to watch a lot of baseball these past couple of years...a few games here and there, but not nearly enough to know everything about the players' value, like most of you do. And with the boards being pretty quiet right now, I thought I'd try to come up with a few ground rules so I wouldn't have to rely solely on the "Official Trade" topic.

So if you're in the same position I'm in, here's what I use. It's probably not perfect, but it at least makes it a lot harder than just go to a CPU controlled team, target one of their key player, and offer pretty much your whole roster until you get that "seems like a good deal" message.

1) Use Trading Block Exclusively
The only players I allow myself to trade for are the ones put on the trading block by the CPU. I can add other players to the deal, to even things out, or to make a deal go through, however, the player on the trading block MUST remain the highest overall/potential on their side. So if I initiate a trade for, say, a 76 SP with B potential, I can't add anything over 76 overall, anything above B. I can add another B, as long as his overall is under 76.

Same rule apply for when I'm trying to trade away a player. I can only trade them to the "interested teams" listed at the top left of the screen. When dealing with those teams, for that specific player, I can target anyone on their roster, as long as it respects all the other rules. If I want to trade them to another team (not listed in "interested teams"), then it has to be for a player they've put on the block, like stated above.

2) Custom Value Chart
Once a potential deal is set, I make sure it respects a chart, based on current overall and potential. Now this part is not perfect, I'm still tweaking the numbers, but here's what I have right now:

POTENTIAL
- A = 10 points
- B = 5 points
- C = 2 points
- D = 1 points
- F = 0 points

OVERALL
- 90+ = 12 points
- 85-89 = 10 points
- 80-84 = 8 points
- 75-79 = 6 points
- 70-74 = 4 points
- 65-69 = 3 points
- 60-64 = 2 points
- 55-59 = 1 points
- 50-54 = 0,5 point

*Note that I'm using OSFM Hybrid v3, so value might need some tweaking overall, especially if you're using another roster.

Using that chart, multiply the two values for each players, on each sides, to get their individual and combined package values. I'd also strongly suggest to match the number of players on each side, so that you can't take advantage of 2-for-1 values as much.

This chart should give you roughly a 10-to-15 overall points difference for a letter bump system, for the higher-end players.

Ie.
90 OVR / B POT = 60 points
75 OVR / A POT = 60 points

80 OVR / B POT = 40 points
70 OVR / A POT = 40 points

90 OVR / C POT = 30 points
75 OVR / B POT = 30 points
65 OVR / A POT = 30 points

80 OVR / C POT = 20 points
70 OVR / B POT = 20 points
60 OVR / A POT = 20 points

So you want to trade for, say, Mike Trout...assuming that for some odd reasons, the CPU puts him on the trading block. Well, get ready to pay.

M.Trout: 98 OVR, A Potential = 120 points.

So to get him, you would probably have to give two 75/A (60 points)...plus whatever value you'll need to add in order to compensate for the two fillers needed on the Angels side, if you want to match the number of players on each side.

Now this is in no-way perfect, but when you combine that chart to the "trading block only" rule, it becomes quite a puzzle, and makes it very challenging, yet possible if you take your time, to get that upgrade you so desperately want and need.

Playing as the Cubs, I was looking to make some changes to my line-up, mainly in the outfield. Seattle had Kevin Kiermaier (78/B), who I've had some success with in the past, on the trading block. Going through their roster, I immediately targeted Matt Moore (76/B) and C.J. Riefenhausser (61/B) as players I could also try to get in that deal.

The total package value came out at 70 points. Now I wasn't about to trade Anthony Rizzo for that package, which was the only player I had covering the whole package according to the chart.

So I started by trying to find which player the CPU would really want, for Kiermaier alone. Turned out they were interested big time by Wesley Wright (74/C LRP). Wright only gives me 10 points though, which is 20 less than Kiermaier alone, and 60 points short of the whole package value. So I added Michael Cuddyer (83/B), who I had acquired previously in a trade (the trade that ultimately made me work on the chart). Cuddyer gives me 40 more points, but I'm still short by 20.

According to my chart, 20 points is a 80/C, 70/B or 60/A. I had no 80/C, wasn't interested to trade any of my A-Potential prospect...so the fit was a 70/B, Travis Wood. Which was perfect, since I needed to clear a spot in my rotation for Moore anyway.

Now, I'm not saying this trade would make sense necessarily in real life...like I said, I'm nowhere near knowledgeable enough to make these kinds of judgement. However, I had to offer them package of Wood, Wright and Cuddyer for the package I wanted. Not bad considering the CPU initially would've accepted Wesley Wright...alone...for Moore, Riefenhausser and Kiermaier.

So while it may not be perfect, it still forces you to give out a lot more that you initially would have...which is pretty much the goal I was aiming for.

3) Potential in the System
I find it way too easy to stack an unbelievable amount of good, promising prospects in the minors, either by trades, or in free agency. So I've set myself a limit. No more than 3 pitchers and 8 position players at ANY GIVEN TIME, in the minors with a potential of B or above.

So you're already full, and want to pull the trigger on a trade that includes a good young player to develop ? You want to sign that B-Potential prospect in the free agency ? You added a bunch of good potential guys through the draft ?You're gonna have to make room for them, either by releasing or trading one/few of your prospects, or make room for them in your pro-club.

This makes for some tough calls, who do you trade, who do you keep...while leaving good potential prospects for the CPU during Free Agency and Draft, instead of signing and staking them all.

Note that for players taken in the draft, they only count once they join your roster. So you can plan things ahead a bit.

I run a franchise with the Pirates, which I plan to restart with these rules. So I'll be okay for pitchers, but already filled at position players, with Reese McGuire, Andrew Lambo, Alen Hanson, Wyatt Mathisen, Jacoby Jones, Austin Meadows, Harold Ramirez and Josh Bell. And since I'll hopefully add at least one decent prospect at 1B/3B through the draft, I'll either have to promote a guy like Hanson by next year, or make room for them by trading or releasing someone like Lambo, Mathisen or Ramirez.

That's what I have so far...still thinking about adding another rule for free agency, keeping me from offering too many contracts at the same time. A way to force me to target, rather than just going on a signing spree. But with the first offseason being what it is, with so many contracts to re-sign, I'm not sure yet what the appropriate limit would/should be.

[countryboy]

Re: House Rules when trading with CPU and Free Agency...

I don't have any house rules when it comes to trading or free agency. If the cpu wants to accept a trade or if I can snag someone in the Free Agent Pool that I need, then I'm gonna get'em!

[tessl]

Re: House Rules when trading with CPU and Free Agency...

My self imposed trading rules.

All trades must involve an equal number of players from both teams.

Single player trades must be at the same position or position of need on trading block.


Multi-player must include one player on trading block. You can then add a player at the same position as the player on the trading block or a player at a position of need.

Third player must be either player on trading block or position of need.

Those rules eliminate most problems with robbing the cpu. Sometimes the cpu still due to flawed AI values players higher than their actual worth. For example I had Jeff Baker who is eligible at numerous positions and I suspect for that reason the cpu valued him far higher than was warranted. In a case like that I use some common sense but those instances are uncommon.

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: House Rules when trading with CPU and Free Agency...

My only rule is to not help the Mets, Phillies, or Nat's. I will trade with them but just no major trades. I can live with helping Miami, if it helps me.