Trades that made a difference

[Chadgo5]

I was wondering if any trades you made during the season catapulted you to the top of the standings.

I had two crucial deals this season that took me from 4th place to the title. Without context it appears I lost out on both of these deals (especially for a keeper league). But I looked at where I could gain the most points and made deals accordingly. My strategy was to create a dominant pitching staff in the draft (and through keepers) and use those as trading chips for hitting later in the season.

At the end of May I dealt John Maine for Pat Burrell. Classic buy low/sell high deal that paid off big time as Burrell caught fire and lifted my offense. It hurts me long term, but I have plenty of other keeper possibilities.

The other deal came at the trade deadline as I dealt Cole Hamels and Luis Vizcaino for Torri Hunter, Kevin Gregg and Dmitri Young. I was worried about Hamels unprecedented workload and was correct, he was shut down for a while. This allowed me to move up in SV, BA and SB categories.

Anyone else make any impactful trades?

[hot4tx]

Well I ended up not placing this year in my "main" league, but made several trades that made some differences in keepers (we keep 5).

To open the season up I traded Sizemore straight up for Hafner. I, like most people before the 2007 season, had Hafner ranked higher, but the guy that drafted him had a thin OF and also drafted Frank Thomas. I looked at it as gaining production for a slight loss of flexibility. It turned out poorly so far.

I got Jimmy Rollins and a 5th-round 2009 pick for Carlos Guillen, Scot Kamir, Brad Hennessey and Jeremy Accardo . Rollins will be a good #2 keeper.

I also got Vlad and a 7th-round 2010 pick for Roy Halladay (who I just acquired to flip) and Travis Hafner. Vlad's second half wasn't what I was hoping for, and he doesn't run enough anymore to be the 1st round stud he once was. But his average is still .325-ish, so I'm hoping he bumps back into the 30+ HR range next year and is a good #3 keeper.

[JTWood]

In a contract league, I made the following trade that, I feel, was the reason for my championship:

Bonderman, 1st of 3 years

for

Haren, 3rd of 3 years
Beckett, 5th of 5 years

[AussieDodger]

In a contracts league....

My Scott Olsen/Anibal Sanchez

for his

John Lackey/Akinori Otsuka/Mike Napoli

John Lackey basically carried my staff through the second half of the season , therefore I nick-named him "the camel".
He was personally responsible for me winning the semi-final in the last possible start of that week. (Went from 5-7 to 7-5)
Otsuka was moved on for Jonny Gomes , who was like my clutch pinch hitter.
Napoli rules.
Oops sorry......
Napoli will rule

On his end , Olsen stank and Sanchez was hurt , you can't ask for a better result.

[A Fleshner Fantasy]

As much as those trades may have helped you this year, I cannot believe you gave up Maine and Hamels in a keeper league.

[Tavish]

I think the only good trade I made this year in the one league I won was in Spring Training giving Tejada/Dye for Rollins/Brian Roberts. The trades I made in the other leagues were either too little too late or ended up being fairly uneventful.

[Chadgo5]

Yeah, I know, giving up both Maine and Hamels was tough. But...

This is the only league I participate in. It is a league of close friends who are die hards. The league has been together for 15 years and the last time I won it was in 1998 (I usually finish in the top 3 or 4 out of 13, but can never seem to get over the hump.) I made a decision to go for it and forget about next year. I was tired of being an "also -ran". I have no regrets. I'm finally chapion after 9 years!

And my keeper list possibilities are still very strong. We keep 7:

C - Mauer
1B - Konerko
2B - Roberts
SS - Tulowitski
SS/3B - Reynolds?
3B - Wright
OF - Markakis
OF - Hunter
OF - Burrell ? (OBP is a category)
SP - Peavy
SP - Oswalt
SP - Smoltz
SP - Pedro

I'll try to package some of the older guys in the off-season.

[JTWood]

I made a decision to go for it and forget about next year. I was tired of being an "also -ran". I have no regrets.

Madison would be proud.

[interchange]

I traded Morneau and Tex for Ortiz and Beltran. I don't think I would have won without that one.

[Scarp]

19 team ML $260 3yr contracts

Alex Gordon $1/1 yr and Andrew Miller $1/2 yrs for David Wright $45/2 yrs, Jeremy Hermida $15/2 yrs and Lidge $25/2 yrs. After the break, Wright and Hermida put me over the top with Avg, RBIs and HR and Lideg (though frustrating) was a significant contributor in SVs. Was able to hold on to Hanley at $5 and Chris Young (OF) $1. Probably keep Wright, Hermida and perhaps Lidge.