Cobble Hill Robins send:
RP José Torres (ML)
SP Utbah Fawwaz (R)
Nashville Bluebirds send:
SP Luis Medina (AA)
SP Dave Labonte (AAA)
SP Cosmin Grigore (A)
SS Lau-po Chou (R)
ON TRADING: SHOELESS' PHILOSOPHY FOR DEALING PLAYERS
When in the course of BBA events, it becomes necessary for one organization to dissolve the contractual bands which have connected them with certain baseball players and to assume among the powers of the league, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Baseball and of Baseball's Gods entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of fellow general managers requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
I want to win.
Games. Divisions. Championships.
I do not trade to be .500 (despite my recent discord post proclaiming this, which in retrospect was ill-conceived and fundamentally contrary to how I view baseball, its players, and the BBA). I do not trade to "compete". I do not trade to secure a wildcard spot.
I trade to win.
Games. Divisions. Championships.
Any deal I make is done with this in mind. It is the scale upon which I weigh every move I make.
ON TRADING TORRES: A COMPLETE EXPLANATION FOR JOHANNESBURG GOLD(en) GRAHAM BECAUSE HE SAID I DON'T NEED TO EXPLAIN MYSELF BUT I WANT TO ANYWAY
Despite my self-destructive yearning to compete right now, it's simply not in the cards with the players available to me and the ridiculous level of play of my Atlantic division foes. Torres, who will enter his first year of arbitration next season which I already bought out for a paltry $1.4m, is an elite stopper/closer in the BBA, a lefty who throws five elite pitches with elite movement and control. He's a generational bullpen pitcher. I've never had anyone like him in all my years as a GM. Some have come close, but none fit his monstrous profile.
But the reality of the situation I find myself with the Robins made his talent a liability of sorts. This season, as my plucky little Robin ballclub has found some footing and trends upward, I watched Torres' arbitration figures for his 5th and 6th seasons climb after every sim. Every positive outing, every save he made, only added to his rising arbitration figures. It became apparent I could afford him over the next two seasons, but his final year of arbitration and any extension offered to him would financially bind the club in a way counter to the winning of ballgames, divisions, or championships.
I had to keep reminding myself that Torres was a bullpen piece. Will always be a bullpen piece.
The current sad state of Cobble Hills' finances and its likely continued sad state over the next 5-10 seasons indicate, at best, I could afford a payroll of around $70m for the foreseeable future. I could float more some years and cut more others, but this is the median range. With Torres' trajectory, I'd likely need to spend a minimum of $10m/year (likely more) to keep him in Cobble Hill -- nearly 15% of our annual salary budget. A bullpen piece eating up that much salary is not a formula for success in the competitive Atlantic Division or the cutthroat BBA as a whole. It may work for a team who can spend to the $120m cap, but not a team barely able to afford a little over half that.
The return for Torres nets us two BBA quality starting pitchers (with possible potential yet to come, but not necessary for them to contribute at the BBA level), a middling pitcher who needs a bump or two to be either an effective starter or bullpen piece, and a fairly good lottery ticket in the form of infielder Lau-po Chou, who needs development to start soon if he's going to fill out his ratings (and his massive 10 power rating, for sure).
The two filled-ratings pitchers, Medina and Labonte, are what I see as the "get" for Torres. I'd be content with the trade if they are the only ones who provide positive WAR for the Robins. Any additional contribution by Chou or Grigore is gravy. I'm not in the position to send elite BBA players out of the franchise for hopes and dreams. Medina and Labonte are as close to sure bets as I can currently make.
So long, Torres. I plan to beat you in the Monty in the coming seasons.
How my Assistant General Manager views the trade:
