Max Fried

[Orioles GM (Ben)]

Okay, so for the sheer fun of it here is what I’m going to do:

Step 1: Max Fried is on the block. Even though I’d rather have the MLB value, I’m looking for prospects (for reasons that will become clear when you read on). So come at me with your best offers for him. I’ll wait a while to give everyone with an interest a fair shot and to make sure we establish the real top of the market.

Step 2: I will evaluate those offers against what I gave up for him- based on Fangraphs rankings that came out yesterday (here: blogs.fangraphs.com/2021-top-100-prospects/). The Fried part of the deal was Chisholm, Tejeda and, by a rough estimate, 2/3 of Feliciano.

Step 3: If there is an offer higher than the value I gave up, I will donate a prospect of makeup value to the Nats roster when I make the trade.

[Side note: the value of the offer on Fried must be in 3 or fewer players, not a package of 12 35FV guys (which is fair as any savvy owner knows you want fewer higher value players than a gang of lower value ones). And fantasy value is key, not defensive skills (which is again fair, given none of the guys I gave up was a better IRL dude). Proximity to the majors will also be relevant (again fair as, in my view, if you value a 50FV who is in high A the same way as you value a 50FV in AAA you’re doing it wrong). I will evaluate the make-up prospect based on similar criteria].

Step 4: Our collective Covid boredom is marginally reduced. 

That’s it. I await the offers with interest. No pressure, but the Nat’s future depends on you.

[Orioles GM (Ben)]

Updated, to clarify.

[Orioles GM (Ben)]

So, the Max Fried sweepstakes has closed and I only received one solitary offer, with a prospect package that was quite a bit lower (based on the criteria I set out in advance) than the one I paid. Without wishing to breach the offeror’s confidence, I was offered:

One 50FV SP in High A;
One 45FV SP in A ball;
One 45FV OF in High A.

Which, on any reasonable few is a less valuable prospect package that

One 55FV MI in AAA/MLB;
One 45+FV MI in A+/MLB
2/3 45+FV C in AAA

So I think I can sleep easy in my bed tonight.

[Marlins GM (Anthony)]

Sweepstakes closed after 1 day?

Lol

[Orioles GM (Ben)]

Seemed fair given how frequently people in this league check in, and given I had close to no interest or even replies. But if you want to have a late crack at it, be my guest.

[Marlins GM (Anthony)]

Mar 1, 2021 13:52:29 GMT -5 Orioles GM (Ben) said:

Seemed fair given how frequently people in this league check in, and given I had close to no interest or even replies. But if you want to have a late crack at it, be my guest.

Sigh...I like you Ben, you are a good owner and I enjoy our convos but I have to bite on this one. I can't help myself.

The reason you didn't get but a single offer from a mostly active league is (likely) because nobody is interested in playing a hypothetical game. Especially one with the foundation of what was egregiously bad to begin with. I'm not sure I understand the premise either. If the premise is, "Well, if you can beat my offer then, go ahead." I think everyone with an interest in Fried could have beat your offer, that's the point.

I’ll wait a while to give everyone with an interest a fair shot and to make sure we establish the real top of the market.

- The point of my response was mostly this. You stated "with an interest in a fair shot and to make sure we establish the real top of market" on a trade that clearly wasn't top of market or fair value to being with. I have to laugh at this. I also have to laugh that your sweepstakes was 1 whole day. Out there, but not long enough for anyone to make a serious offer that would make yours look worse.

I will evaluate those offers against what I gave up for him.

- Why is it based off of what you gave up? Isn't this exercise because it was a bad trade? Your offer shouldn't be the baseline. It should just be, the best offer. What you gave wasn't Frieds market value, let along Montas. I wouldn't have traded Montas for Jazz, let alone Fried. I understand that we all view players differently, but like I said previously Jazz is mostly name recognition at this point. His stock has fallen 2 straight years. He's fringe Top 100 for me now which is at best, likely a league average player (which doesn't mean much in ROTO). And that's only IF he can actually hit ML pitching. Also, and I know you know this, coming in to 2020 Montas was just as highly touted as Fried. He was really, really good in 2019. The problem with the trade, wasn't Fried...I'd argue. It's the "throw in". That's what tips the scales in these type of trades. It's the, (no offense Tim), Robbie Ray for Freddie Freeman + Sixto Sanchez type trades that really, really hurt the non experienced owners.

If there is an offer higher than the value I gave up, I will donate a prospect of makeup value to the Nats roster when I make the trade.

- Don't do that. How do we even establish this? Donate players to another team? "I know it was lopsided, I'm sorry new owner have this probably meaningless prospect. Good luck!"

As for what I personally would give up for Fried + Montas in your hypothetical trade.

Dylan Carlson
Cristian Pache
Alex Thomas
Chris Paddack
Ian Happ
Carlos Correa

Carlson, Pache and Thomas are all better prospect than Jazz. And by a wide margin. Happ is a Top 30 OF, Correa a Top 8 SS and Paddack, similarly valued SP as Fried/Montas coming in to 2020. I wonder if the new Nationals team would rather have some combination of those players?

[Orioles GM (Ben)]

I’m literally not going to waste my time reading this. Don’t feed the trolls people.

[Orioles GM (Ben)]

Sorry Anthony- that was unnecessarily rude and I apologise. I’m afraid I have a pretty low tolerance for endless internet arguments about minor things in the best of times. And this ain’t the best of times.

So if you’re the sort of person that enjoys conflict and wants a long running argument with someone about something, then do whatever floats your boat (there is a universe of people on social media who seem into that). But I’m not your guy. I don’t enjoy it and don’t want to spend time on it. Definitely not in a free fantasy baseball league.

All the best,

Ben

[Rays GM (Kyle)]

you guys should do that trade

[Blue Jays GM (Beau)]

Mar 2, 2021 13:57:22 GMT -5 Rays GM (Kyle) said:

you guys should do that trade

Lol.

[Marlins GM (Anthony)]

Trolling is defending the trade at length which you have tried to do multiple times. Everyone knows it was bad, I'm just honest enough to call you on it. The fact that this is a Free league makes it worse.

I also assume the players I would have on the table were better, no? Or was that not really part of the exercise? I'll leave it at that, since you don't want a real answer.

[Orioles GM (Ben)]

Your response is noted, but unread.

[AstrosGM (Matt P)]

Mar 2, 2021 11:33:53 GMT -5 Orioles GM (Ben) said:

I’m literally not going to waste my time reading this. Don’t feed the trolls people.

You had right first time Ben. Don't feed the trolls.