On the Trading Block

[mac195]

Hard Cider GM "Crabapple" McGilicutty is looking to unload some of the "overpaid bums" who failed to bring him the championship he was counting on. Owners who act quickly may be able to take advantage of Crabby's foul mood, and pick up some bargains.

Roger Maris ($9M) - has some good baseball left in him, but HC is pretty well stocked in the outfield, will let him go fairly cheap.

Ernie Banks (8M) - 37 real life HRs in '62, HC not asking for much here.

Jim Davenport (4M) - possible all-star 3rd basemen in '62, but HC wants to unload him and go with the rookie Rollins.

Don Lee (500K) - very solid 205 IP in '62, but no room in HC rotation.

'62 Draft Picks - HC has the #5, #9, #12 and #13 overall picks and would like to trade some of those for future picks.

All offers for these players and picks will receive serious consideration from HC management.

[leecemark]

--The Knights might have some interest in Roger Maris as a replacement for FA Rocky Colavito. Don Lee could be usefull too.
--For any interested parties the Knights needs are a corner outfielder to replace Colavito and a starting pitcher. Don Schwall is unlikely to be tendered a contract for next season and Steve Barber experienced some shoulder problems late in 61 that we fear will continue to be a problem in 62.
The Knights are far more concerned with contending now than payroll or future prospects so feel free to offer expensive players with short shelf lives.

[J W]

The Skipjacks are putting up OFer Lou Clinton for trade. Clinton will make league minimum for you in 1962 and will give you 400+ ABs of big lumber. Check his '62 season out for yourself.

Depending on how things settle we may aim for the Hulbert Division pennant this year. In which case we'll be looking for a significant starting pitcher for 1962. Otherwise, a nice prospect or draft pick(s) will do fine.

[leecemark]

--Since trade talk is already starting I thought everyone would like to see the ratings for 1962. I think I've got the rosters updated, but a missing or misassigned player or two wouldn't surprise me. Let me know if any roster corrections are needed for your team. I'd like to have it right before the official offseason thread goes up. Players who didn't appear in the majors in 1962 won't appear here.

[J W]

That's the 61 KC Athletics roster Mark.

[leecemark]

--This should be all teams. The doormats will say 1961 because they were copied direct from that year. The owned teams were built new for 1962.

[538280]

The Cannons would be interested in a corner OF or a catcher for '62.

Frank Bolling, an all star level 2B in 1962, is on the trade block. I'll be entertaining offers for him. PM me if you're interested.

[catcher24]

I have two corner OF'ers who would be available: Jackie Brandt- 112 OPS+ in 62, his last good season, he was Vg in RF and Avg in CF (can also play 3B, but poor there), a good baserunner; Wally Post, 120 OPS+ in 62, also his last good season; he was a poor fielder at both corners. Brandt and Post will both have 750K salaries in 62.

For the right offer, I also have young first baseman Don Mincher and OF Lou Brock available. Also available is Bob Hendley, 105 ERA+ for 200 IP in 62.

If interested in any of them, PM me.

Mark - Will all of the player ratings be explained when I get my DM game? If not, I have some questions.

[mac195]

Mark, what do the numbers mean in the ratings for fielders?

[leecemark]

--Lew, you should be able to find all the explanations in the help men, but feel free to ask questions. They may be helpfull to owners without the game.
--Mac, the number after the range rating is the error rating. 100 would be league average. Lower is good. Higher is bad. For example, 65 would mean the player made 1/3 less errors than the average player at his position. An AV player with a a low error number can be a defensive plus, while another AV player with a high one will hurt you.

[leecemark]

--Reliever Frank Funk, coming off an outstanding 1961 campaign, has requested a trade to a team where he will have an opportunity to be the ace of the pen (durable arm and 120 ERA+ in both 62-63, virtually the same as 61's 119)). The Knights have a surplus of relievers ready to move up the minors and will try and accomdate him. We're looking for draft picks in 63 or 64 (or even further out if you are offering a first rounder). We also need a SP (he only needs to be good for 1962) and a corner outfielder.
--2B Jake Wood would also like to move to a team where he can hope to compete for a starting job (he is starting caliber in 63-65, but honestly his 62 value is mostly as a PR). He is available for as little as a 3rd rounder in a future year.
--The Rocky Colavito free agent rumors appear to be true. He should be declaring his services available to the highest bidder as soon as the official date arrives. That will be some big shoes for us to fill. All offers of slugging OFers will get due consideration. Only Mays, Mathews and Pascual are untouchable.

[The Dude]

-SS Joe Koppe is looking to find a home more appreciating of his talents. His 1962 value is mostly as a backup.
-OF Lenny Green is on the block, even after his high-calibre '61 campaign where he finished 7th in Runs and 5th in hits. HIs 1962 campaign should be just as good, but after that he falls to a pinch hitter level.
-3B Al Smith, .300+, 20+ HR, and 90+ RBI's in 1961, wants to find a new home after hearing rumours of the Gamblers bringing up a farm-hand 3Bman. He should perform almost as well in '62 and in '63, but has only 370 at bats in '63.
-Starting Pitcher/Relief Pitcher Jim Perry is avaliable for trade. He's excellent from 64/65 through 1970, and can be used almost anywhere in the staff.

Smith and Green could be good pieces to the puzzle if you're looking for a run in '62. The Gamblers will look at most offers.

[mac195]

JW and I have agreed to a deal that will send hard hitting outfielder Lou Clinton to the Hard Cider, along with the Skipjacks' 3rd round, #19 pick. JW aquires the Knights' 1st round, #9 pick.

[J W]

I confirm the deal if we're allowed... but I think we're still in waiting mode, right?

If it's not time yet, um, I'm not sure what's the best option... I suppose removing these two posts.

[leecemark]

--Although the rules do say no trades until the official offseason thread goes up, that was mostly to give me time to build the rosters for next season with dealing with changes. The rosters (and everythign else for 1962) are programed and if anybody has made a deal it is okay to get it posted here. Actually I'm eager to get the ball rolling myself.

[mac195]

OK then. I'll edit that deal back in.

[538280]

I'll also be entertaining offers for a decent starter in '62. Everyone on my team is available for except Aaron, Cash, Ford, and Miller.

With Jim Pagliaroni prepping for a better season in '62, big slugging catcher Carl Sawatski has also been put on the trading block.

[leecemark]

--After several attempts to deal disgruntled reliever Frank Funk have fallen through the Knights are prepared to part with him for a 2nd round pick. Funk had a great 1961 season (11-1-3, 2.80 in 60 games/90 IP) and projects about the same for 62-3. With our pitching depth (and lack of draft picks) Funk is expendable. He'll be a big asset to somebody though.

[J W]

I'm ready to release players Mark. Should we wait until all the financial info is updated?

Also, do I need to make enough room on the 40-man roster before the rookie draft to sign my picks or can I do that afterwards? We all certainly have enough $$ this offseason to absorb any salaries we dump after the deadline.

[leecemark]

--Please hold off on non-tendering players until the official offseason thread is up. I'd like to have all that info in one place to facilitate the list for the secondary FA auction.
--You can't exceed 100M at any point. I can't see that being an issue for anybody going into the draft though. Rookies aren't going to set anybody back for than 3M or so with everybody outside the first round at 250K. Nobody is anywhere near that close to the cap. Edit: I see I misread the question on rookies. You can exceed the 40 man roster at any time until you have to submit your Opening day profile. The extra guys would end up on your payroll all season though.
--Does anyone have a problem with this proposed timeline;
1) Offseason thread goes up this Thursday, March 16. You have 7 days to list your non-tenders. Anybody not dropped from your payroll by midnight EST on Thursday, March 23 will remain on your payroll for the season even if you subsequently decide to release them (not if you trade them, of course).
2) The rookie draft will commence at 9PM EST on Friday, March 24. The first 3 rounds will be live. If you can't be there please make sure you get a draft list to me or somebody else. I don't pick till the last pick of the 3rd round, so I'll be mostly an observer anyway.
3) The draft will continue for 6 days with 12 hour windows for picking. We should be able to get at least 2-3 more rounds in that time. Anybody not drafted would shift over the secondary FA auction.
4) The Premium FA auction would commence at midnight EST on Thursday, March 30 and conclude at 11 PM EST on Friday, March 31. As in DM III most of the action will likely be in the last hour and the one bid per post limit would apply.
5) The secondary FA market would commence at midnight EST, Saturday, April 1 (I'll get the bid winners and money spent summarized in the intervening hour) and conclude at 11 PM EST on Monday, April 3 - again with the 1 bid per post last hour.
6) You'd have one week (midnight EST on Monday, April 10) to make any last minute deals and get your profiles updated.
7) Opening Day would be Thursday, April 13.
--If this schedule is a problem for anybody, I'd be looking to push everything back 1 week. Let me know.

[leecemark]

--I've received two offers for Frank Funk now. I'll pick one of them by tomorrow. Anybody else interested PM me their offer.

[mac195]

One more to think about:

1B Pete Runnels - lefty, makes 1.25 M, batted .326/.408/.456 (AL batting champ) in 152 real life games in 1962. All offers will receive thorough consideration.

[Nails]

2) The rookie draft will commence at 9PM EST on Friday, March 24. The first 3 rounds will be live. If you can't be there please make sure you get a draft list to me or somebody else. I don't pick till the last pick of the 3rd round, so I'll be mostly an observer anyway.

I'll be unavailable that day. Since I only have 2 picks anyway, I'll get a draft list over to you a day or two before the draft.

[leecemark]

--The Knights have reached an agreement with the Hard Cider, trading Frank Funk for Roger Maris. Smokey Braithwaite says; "we didn't really expect to land a play of Maris caliber in the trade market, but economics are clearly going to play a much bigger roll in the CKL than they did in the old AL and NL. Roger will take over Colavito's spot in RF and batting 3rd. This deal probably takes us out of the hunt for any high profile FAs, but with Maris locked up we don't really have any big needs either."

[catcher24]

Couple of questions because I seem to be the dumb bunny of the group:p :
1. How many rounds are you planning on for the rookie draft? Also, if there comes a point that it's my pick and there's no one left I want, I can just pass, right?
2. Anyone not picked in the PFA or FA auctions is available at the 250K level the week between the end of the FA auction and final roster day (and actually after that too)?

Thanks!

[538280]

The Cannons and the Knights have completed a trade in which the Cannons receive a very valuable hitter in '62 in Bob Skinner along with pitcher Steve Barber. The Knights have received reliever Bill Henry, a 1st round pick in '64, and a 3rd round pick in the upcoming '62 draft.

[catcher24]

Mark - You did remember that 1964 is the expansion year?;)

[mac195]

The Legends have agreed to a deal that will send two useful role players to the Hard Cider - CF Jackie Brandt and SS Tony Kubek. Legends acquire the Quakers' 2nd round pick in '62, and HC's 3rd rounder in '67.

[leecemark]

--The Knight confirm the deal with the Cannons.
--There will not be a set number of rounds for the rookie draft. 3 live and however many we complete over the next six days with the 12 hour window. That should be at least. Yes, you can pass if there is nobody you want. I doubt I'll pick after the 3rd round myself. Undrafted players will available in the seconary FA auction and if there is anybody you want still left after that can be signed at any point in the season for 250K.
--The expansion in 1964 is actually why I've been acquiring picks for the draft for that year. Everybody's depth is going to suffer, but with 3 firsts and 2 seconds in the draft I should be able to restock my farm system without missing a beat.

[catcher24]

My concern with 64 and 65 is that the three expansion teams get the first picks (probably), so I was shooting for 66 and 67 myself. But that is a decent strategy.

And I confirm the trade with the Hard Cider.

[leecemark]

--Well I hope to be picking late in the draft every year;) :clapping :gt . My 1966-67 picks will hopefully not be higher with my own pick than 64 and who knows where any picks you get in trade will fall. You can only hope your trade partner has a lousy season the year before:D .
--I'll have the official off season activity thread up shortly. Please post any further trades or other player movement there.

[The Dude]

The Gamblers and Hard Cider have worked out a deal to send RHP Jim Perry to the Hard Cider, in return for RHP Don Lee.

Confirm whenever you're ready Mac.

[mac195]

I confirm.

[J W]

The Hard Cider aren't done yet, as they send 1Bman Pete Runnels to the Skipjacks for SS/1B Andre Rodgers and their 3rd round selection in the 1963 draft.

Skipjacks GM Beanie Bill: "Runnels is an excellent stop-gap for our team until our young 1Bmen can take over full time. Our fans don't deserve another year like last season, and with the development of our youth, combined with Runnels among other solid veterans we're looking at, I'm confident we'll be competetive."

[mac195]

Skipjacks trade also confirmed.

[mac195]

Jim Davenport and Ernie Banks have their bags all packed and are ready to go. A future second round pick will do for Davenport. Banks' salary is high, but he is a solid right handed power hitter, so if you have cap room... any 3rd round pick will suffice.

[mac195]

The Hard Cider are pleased to add veteran bullpen ace Bobby Shantz to their roster. Jim Umbicht joins the Redbirds who also get the Skipjacks 3rd round, #19 pick in the upcoming draft. Scott if you would confirm.

[leecemark]

--Please post all future player moves in the official off season thread. I'm easily confused and would like to be adjusting from only one location;) .
--JW, could you close this thread? Thanks.

[J W]

Thread closed pending further opine.

:gt