2060 Trade Analysis (NSH/YS9) - NSH receives $1 for Cátcher Jesus Rodriguez and $1mm

[JRamirez]

First, I want to thank Rob for graciously accepting my apology that was due him after I expressed my frustration the other day in a very unproductive way. From personal chats with Rob, he is an overall awesome due, super supportive, a fearsome number-cruncher, All this while juggling BBA with a growing family and work. I applaud you, Rob.

Second, I am going to analyze this trade knowing that (1) no trade analysis is completely objective, (2) I don't know much about OOTPv25, (3) I am a dummy when it comes to trading. (4) I get some PPs for doing this.

So this trade happened on August 16 (game time). This was either at the same time as the new Salary Cap for 2061 & 2062 was announced, or just before/after the announcement.

TRADE LINK

Nashville (NSH) sends
C Jesús Rodríguez (ML) - $1.17M
$1,000,000 cash

Yellow Springs (YS9) sends
$1 cash

On the surface, what happened here? Since, YS9 is responsible for the remaining $1.17M or Rodriquez's 2060 salary, the $1m in cash received pays for that. So YS9 receives an experienced catcher for nothing (or $1). And Nashville got $5m in salary cap off of their roster. NSH also frees up a spot on their 40-man roster. Rodriquez was expendable after the acquisition of All-Star catcher Todd Tatlock a week earlier (Aug 9, game date). Tatlock is a huge upgrade compared to Rodriquez, both offensively and defensively. So, for Nashville, the Bluebirds got a salary dump, and freed up a space on its 40-man roster, for nothing. (See below, if you don't know why it is for nothing.)

I do not see how Rodriquez helps Yellow Springs. The wrecked, 41-year-old catcher is hitting below the Mendoza Line. Rob has placed Rodriquez as "third string" catcher and YS9 has two able and able-bodied ML backstops: José Mendoza (age 27) and back-up Farid bin Mubarak (age 34). Next, Rodriquez comes with a 2061 Team Option with a $1mm buyout. So, if Rob doesn't keep Rodriquez, the million dollars the YS9 got in the trade doesn't cover that. Bin Mubarak also has a TO for 2061 with a 2061 salary of $1.6m. If I am a team (YS9) that is on a "teardown" (Rob's words), I know who I keep on the roster next year: bin Mubarak. He is younger. has a 1.0 WAR and a normal injury rating. But it's not my choice, or my team, and I am sure that Rob has plans I am not aware of.

A glance at the books shows that neither YS9 nor Nashville is hurting for money or cash. Both should finish in the green this season, with Nashville having a large profit. Now, Nashville has $36.5mm in BF. Last year, the Bluebirds had to throw away $14.6m. So, the $1mm that Nashville sent to Yellow Springs was literally nothing as far as Chad is concerned. Worthless. Even for fake money. It is not just fake money, it is fake monopoly money that was going to evaporate anyway. So Chad loses nothing and gets $5mm off his books. (YS9 has $31mm in BF, so they are not hurting either.)

As I said, I am a dummy when it comes to trading (I have got schooled a couple times this season.)

To me, any trade that helps Nashville is a bad trade. Does this trade help Nashville? Yes, gaining a free spot on the 40-man roster is valuable. Does it benefit Yellow Springs. I do not know how. If YS9 does not keep Rodriguez, it loses a million in the buyout. If YS9 keeps him, that's $5mm for a third-string catcher on a team that is dismantling/rebuilding. Rob could use him in a trade. Some people around here might be interested in a Wrecked 41-year-old catcher.

Advantage: Nashville.


Now, local guru Ron C has written a ton of material explaining why, in any trade with a behemoth team such as the Bluebirds are, that if you are not hurting them, if you are not causing them some pain, you are actually befitting them. This seems to be a minor example of that.

[recte44]

There's a couple of other minor considerations, mainly these things about Rodriguez:
Local Popularity: Extremely Popular
National Pop.: Very Popular
PERSONALITY
Rodríguez leads by example. He is well regarded by teammates.
Personality Class: Captain
High: Leader, Work Ethic, Intelligence
Low: Financial Ambition

[recte44]

And trust me, Nashville could have just as easily waived/DFA and then released Rodriguez to clear a spot. They could have certainly afforded to.

That being said, outside of veteran leadership and possible ticket sales, I don't see where Rodriguez fit a need for YS9. Actually, they may be hoping his defense can help their pitching staff.

[recte44]

He also gets to potentially finish his career where it started, that's a nice story.

[BaseClogger]

I agree with Jessie (especially the nice words about Rob ) but commish lays out the only other angles I can think of. You could certainly find a captain catcher for cheaper and with Fan Interest the way it is I doubt a third string catcher moves the needle.

[trmmilwwi]

He also gets to potentially finish his career where it started, that's a nice story.

This. When the team is running ugly there needs to be silver lining storylines.

[ae37jr]

There's a couple of other minor considerations, mainly these things about Rodriguez:
Local Popularity: Extremely Popular
National Pop.: Very Popular
PERSONALITY
Rodríguez leads by example. He is well regarded by teammates.
Personality Class: Captain
High: Leader, Work Ethic, Intelligence
Low: Financial Ambition

Fan interest isn't what it used to be. Even after acquiring this very popular player, YS9 lost 3 points of fan interest this month.

I'm not going to kill the trade because it's not substantial enough to get upset about. Chad could have released J-Rod and Rob could have signed him for the league min. I could totally see that playing out.

I'm also not a big believer in the Behemoth tax. If the trade makes you better, go for it. But just don't let Behemoth fleece you because that is usually how they became a Behemoth.

I'm assuming YS9 picks up the option. Otherwise it doesn't make much sense for YS9 to pay the buyout. If they got some b prospect/lottery pick type back as well, maybe the $1 million buyout makes sense. I mean Rodriguez could bounce back. He put up 3 WAR last year. Still has solid(but declining) defense and passable offensive ratings. Then add in popularity and Captain abilities...

But if the trade is about J-Rod coming home to finish his career while give Rob something to write about while his team rebuilds, that really doesn't need to be evaluated. The number one rule in this league is to have fun.

[Dington]

This move was 100% for J-Rod to retire with the Nine. I was torn to move the younger cheaper Chapa or J-Rod and his leadership skills headed to the postseason. THe $1M was to pay for the buyout next season. Stretch to call this a fleece…

[RonCo]

This was a fine enough deal. Perfectly reasonable.

That said, it _is_ a good example of a deal that a lesser team could have wrung more out of the greater team. Nashville had a 40-man issue, and needed to move a guy. J-Rod was the natural odd-man out. But he was due money this year as well as a buy-out next.

Contract due this year: $1.25M
Bonus Due End of Year: $1M
Buy Out Next Year: $1M
Total = $3.25M

Perhaps that value YS9 gets from all the other stuff is enough to take on the extra $2.25M. So all good.

But again, NSH is a mega-team, and they had to move a guy. If they just cut him (which they could have done without issue), they'd pay that $3.5M off the top. Instead, they saved $2.25M by paying someone $1M to take him. But they could have gotten value if they'd paid $3M, and they could have also have afforded that.

So, yes. It's a fine deal. Small, really. And I'm very happy to see J-Rod back where he belongs. But when dealing with a big team, my general rule of thumb is that if you think the deal is "fair" you can almost always ask for at least a little more and expect to get it. This deal (again, perfectly fine) fits that rule.

[JRamirez]

There's a couple of other minor considerations, mainly these things about Rodriguez:
Local Popularity: Extremely Popular
National Pop.: Very Popular
PERSONALITY
Rodríguez leads by example. He is well regarded by teammates.
Personality Class: Captain
High: Leader, Work Ethic, Intelligence
Low: Financial Ambition

Fan interest isn't what it used to be. Even after acquiring this very popular player, YS9 lost 3 points of fan interest this month.

I'm not going to kill the trade because it's not substantial enough to get upset about. Chad could have released J-Rod and Rob could have signed him for the league min. I could totally see that playing out.

I'm also not a big believer in the Behemoth tax. If the trade makes you better, go for it. But just don't let Behemoth fleece you because that is usually how they became a Behemoth.

I'm assuming YS9 picks up the option. Otherwise it doesn't make much sense for YS9 to pay the buyout. If they got some b prospect/lottery pick type back as well, maybe the $1 million buyout makes sense. I mean Rodriguez could bounce back. He put up 3 WAR last year. Still has solid(but declining) defense and passable offensive ratings. Then add in popularity and Captain abilities...

But if the trade is about J-Rod coming home to finish his career while give Rob something to write about while his team rebuilds, that really doesn't need to be evaluated. The number one rule in this league is to have fun.

Rob didn't pick up the option, and the trade was made before Rodriguez had announced his retirement (which was never a given). In fact, of course, he did not retire, and now CHA signed him.

So if this was part of a "feel good" bring me home and I'll retire story, it was a failure. And Rob paid J-Rod $1.17M for getting 41 at-bats the rest of 2060. That's his prerogative.

If the trade was really made to bring Rod home so he could retire, both Chad and Rob were taken something for granted that didn't happen. Not a surprise that Rod didn't retire, since there are 10 batters 40-year-old+ in the free agent market as of ST3 sim.

CHA is paying Rod $2.75mm for 1 year. That's a different story.

[recte44]

It's still a completely inconsequential deal.

[JRamirez]

It's still a completely inconsequential deal.

yup
'cept (4) I get some PPs for doing this

[BaseClogger]

It's still a completely inconsequential deal.

Very minor but it’s tough to see a bottom team provide value to the behemoth within their division.

[Dington]

I didn't really get anything of value. Didn't need the cap relief as I could have easily just cut him. I am surprised he's still around and getting paid, though. Just glad trading a captain at the deadline didn't crush my spirits in the playoffs.

[BaseClogger]

I didn't really get anything of value. Didn't need the cap relief as I could have easily just cut him. I am surprised he's still around and getting paid, though. Just glad trading a captain at the deadline didn't crush my spirits in the playoffs.

If you released him you would have been forced to pay the $1M buyout. The $1M cash included in the trade just covered the remaining salary, not the buyout.

[RonCo]

YS9 has money, so the $1m buyout and extra salary didn't kill them. But it was a plus decision for NSH, even if it was just a small one.