As fantasy baseball players, we can all understand the difficulty involved with making trades. After all those years of swapping baseball cards with your friends, it knocks you off guard to find out that there is a lot more involved when swapping players for a fake baseball team.

First, you have to find the perfect partner, someone with whom you can not only match up in terms of needs, but also in supplying what they require. That requires examining the surplus of talent you have as well as combing through each opponent to understand how to make them want what you have.

Second, you have to then determine a worthwhile offer with which to entice them into dealing with you. Be prepared, because this first offer is often rejected and countered. If its not, then you over-packed the offer from the get-go.

Then you have the back and forth negotiating, attempting to work out a deal that is inevitably fair for everyone (and one that will be approved by other owners as well). This could be the most difficult task, as each and every owner (you included) wants to come out the winner in any trade. It's the nature of competition and the trade market is no different.

Doesn't sound so bad, does it?

Well, imagine for a minute that this is a six-year keeper league, meaning that each player on the roster is with you as long as you don't release or trade them for a minimum of six season, as long as you don't release or trade any of them. To make things difficult, we'll give you are given a salary cap with which to work with. Just for kicks, let's throw in the fact that we can swap minor-leaguers as well, a minor-leaguer with a service clock that starts when they reach the Major Leagues.

Does it still sound easy? It shouldn't, because that is what Major League general managers have to deal with.

On Thursday, we learned (from Andy Martino of the NY Daily News) that the New York Mets were keeping an eye on outfielders Giancarlo Stanton of the Miami Marlins and Carlos Gonzalez of the Colorado Rockies. While both targets are extremely attractive candidates for any general manager to chase after and the Mets would be a good trade partner for both the Rockies and Marlins, Sandy Alderson, Larry Beinfest, and Dan O'Dowd have a lot to consider in any deal.

- It isn't often that a big trade involving a player under team control goes down mid-season. Stanton is under team control through 2016 and would be eligible for arbitration for the first time this coming winter, making him extremely affordable, even for the Marlins.

Gonzalez is under team control through the 2017 season, but it less affordable than Stanton, being locked into a multi-year contract that will pay him $63.5 million over the next four seasons.

- In order for the Marlins to part with Stanton, the Mets would need to send quite the package to Miami. That would likely have to be headlined with the pair of Zack Wheeler and Travis d'Arnaud. Wheeler, was acquired in the Carlos Beltran deal two years ago and is currently ranked as the 8th best prospect in the game. d'Arnaud came to New York in the R.A. Dickey trade with the Blue Jays and is rated the sixth best prospect in baseball.

- Gonzalez, with his heavier price tag, and his being four years older than Stanton, would likely require a smaller package. d'Arnaud or Wheeler would have to be the center piece, but the deal likely wouldn't require both.

- That all said, the Mets (Alderson) then needs to decide if four years of either Stanton or Gonzalez are worth more than six seasons of low-priced team control over the top catching prospect and one of the best pitching prospect.

- On the flip side, while a deal would make real sense to the Marlins, they run the risk of further alienating their fan base by moving Stanton, their last remaining star player. However, one would find it hard to fault them for chasing a four-player package with Wheeler and d'Arnaud headlining the deal.

For the Rockies, that deal is much easier to do, as they need to drastically improve their pitching staff and getting Gonzalez's salary off the books would help them improve the team long-term. Wheeler would make more sense here, as the Rockies already have a solid young catcher in Wilin Rosario.

- Both teams also need to realize the longer they wait, the less control they surrender of these players and the small the return package becomes.

- Equally so, the Mets could make a huge splash by bringing in Stanton or Gonzalez, especially given the contract they gave David Wright signaling that they are not rebuilding the team.

Needless to say, there are a lot of moving pieces in any deal of this scope, and I can't say that I would envy either GM of their ordeal. If you thought making a trade for a fake baseball team was difficult, just imagine what it means when you are deciding the next 4-6 years of your organization.

That's what these three teams are trying to weigh, and there is no guarantee regardless of which path they take.

Easy, I don't think so.

MLB umps?? Jacksonville Courthouse?? What a courthouse?? Jaguars?? Putting around?? No-hitters?? All this and more in this weeks edition of….

Here is something good that did not make it to YouGabSports. Alcorn State, and the Southwestern Athletic Conference, hired its first “non-African American” head football coach when they hired former Memphis defensive coordinator, Jay Hopson.

"I don't see black or white, we're all purple and gold," Hopson told reporters after being introduced. Alcorn school president M. Christopher Brown II's said "Today's historical appointment will require us to walk hand in hand to disrupt naysayers wedded to a racist past."

Congrats to Alcorn State, Southwestern Athletic Conference and coach Hopson.

Congrats go to Florida University pitcher Jonathon Crawford, who pitched a no-hitter against Bethune-Cookman, 4-0 in an opening round game of the Gainesville Regional.

It took 8,020 games to do it, but a New York Met pitcher finally tossed a no-hitter. Congrats go to Johan Santana who no-hit the St. Louis Cardinals, 8-0. Yeah an umpire missed a call, but still it was a no-hitter just the same. It was Johan’s first no-hitter.

Can’t understand why it took so long for an organization who had Koosman, Gooden, Cone, Seaver and Ryan, can you?

Did the Jacksonville Jaguars mess up on another first-round wide receiver pick? Matt Jones, R.J Soward, Reggie Williams, and now Justin Blackmon. Blackman was arrested on an aggravated DUI charge. He took a breathalyzer and it registered a .24, which is three times the legal limit of alcohol in his system.

This is not the first time Blackmon was in trouble due to alcohol. In 2010 he was arrested on a misdemeanor DUI charge in Texas.

He has not signed his rookie contract yet. I hope the Jaguars put provisions in his contract to curtail his drinking problem.

Is Tiger Woods back? Some would think so, after his shot on 16, during the last round of the Memorial. It was vintage Tiger, as he was two shots behind with three holes to play, his ball in an impossible spot behind the 16th green, Woods holed a flop shot from 50 feet away that turned bogey into birdie and sent him on his way to a stunning comeback Sunday in the Memorial.

NHL refs confer on close calls, NFL referee’s confer on close calls and penalties, even NBA refs confer on plays. So what’s up with MLB umpires? Are they too big for themselves that they can’t confer on close calls? Too many plays have been missed in the pass two weeks to take this issue too lightly. Baseball has to tell its umpires that thy need to talk to one another on close calls that are being contested. They are not bigger than the game!!

Dennis Miller, a 42-year-old director of golf in Northeast Ohio had this amazing putt fall during a playoff at the US Open Sectional Qualifying in Columbus, Ohio.

This is Jacksonville, Florida’s new courthouse. This was originally paid for with money designated for the Better Jacksonville Plan. This plan was put together in 2000 as part of the effort to get the Super Bowl in 2005. Money was used to build Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena ($130 million), Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville (34 million), a Equestrian Center, upgrade Everbank field, pave/modify roads, build a new Main Library, new library branches and the courthouse above. The courthouse was designated $190 million.

Now what was $190, became $210 million due to design changes and modifications, became $250 million with add-ons, became $280 million, which is now at $350 million. Guess what the courthouse can’t open because it can’t pass inspection.

15 years after in was authorized, the courthouse is completed and yet the judges and clerks of the court can’t move in because of safety concerns.

So my Gabbers, this is how shit happens in Jacksonville.

I’ll leave you this pearls of wisdom:

Til next time

Scott

ScottJax says thanks?? Nets suck?? Manning’s original speech?? New Orleans Saints, Denver/Jets?? All this and more in this weeks edition of…..

Kiss our butts, we got Manning!!

Scott would like to thanks all the gabbers for giving me advise on my retirement and for the warm wishes for my health. Believe me, it made me feel great that I am associated with the best group of bloggers/friends in the world!!

Nets trade a first round pick and two players for Gerald Wallace. You waste a first rounder on a declining player. Why, why do I keep rooting for the Nets.

Come to think of it, why did the Nets make Billy King their GM, he ruined the 76ers.

I hope you all took the time to read Peyton Manning’s original parting of the way speech. If not, here is the link:

http://www.yougabsports.com/pt/Peyton-Mannings-Original-parting-of-the-way-speech/blog.htm

I hope you enjoy it.

Well it looks like Peyton signed with the Denver Broncos. The contract, which protects Denver, is as follow:

There is no signing bonus.

Manning will get $18 million guaranteed next season.

Starting in 2013 Peyton must pass a physical before each season to get paid.

For the 2013 and 2014 seasons he will get $20 million.

For the 2015 and 2016 seasons he will get $19 million.

There is an injury waiver in the contract, covering Manning’s neck. If he reinjures the neck during the 2013 season he will not get paid for the 2014 season.

This Pole Vault/Frisbee trick is making the rounds at ESPN. It is number 10 of plays of the day.

I know we have gotten a little political at times, here at the gab, but ponder this???

During the Bush years, it took a barrel of oil to reach $147 for gas here in the States to cost $4 a gallon. Now, today, as to not call out a specific President by name, it takes only $107 a barrel to get to $4 a gallon. Ummm…

Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz, principal Met owners, save themselves financial grief by reaching a deal with a trustee for Bernard Madoff’s fraud victims. The deal saves the owners almost $800 million dollars (they were seeking close to a billion dollars), and basically saves them from having to sell the team. No money has to be paid for at least three years.

Mark Sanchez will now have to look over his shoulders, and not to check his danruff. It will Tebowmania hovering over him. Every time Mark fumbles the ball or throws an interception the fans will be chanting Te-bow, Te-bow. It could get ugly.

NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, slammed the Saints yesterday. Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints head coach, is out for the season without pay, former defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams is indefinitely banned, General Manager Mickey Loomis banned for the first eight regular-season games and assistant coach Joe Vitt is banned for the first six games of the season. The Saints were fined $500,000 and lost their second-round draft pick in 2012 and 2013.

Now that’s sending a message!!

Til Next Time

Scott

The true mark of a good fantasy baseball manager isn’t just knowing where to pick the top players, but also knowing when to take a chance on a guy that will fly under the radar on draft day. Being prepared and knowing which players are due for comeback or breakout years are what make the difference between a good team and a winning team.

With that said, this series is intended to help you identify some of those sleepers. To kick things off, I wanted to spotlight one of the best pitchers of the last decade:

Johan Santana – SP – New York Mets

Santana has the distinction of being one of the best Rule 5 draftees of all-time. Taken in the Rule 5 draft by Florida from Houston in 1999, he was subsequently traded to Minnesota for Jared Camp. If that wasn’t a sweet enough deal for the Twins, the Marlins also threw cash in the deal. Santana would win two Cy Young awards for the Twins before being traded to the Mets in 2008. In three seasons with the Mets, Santana would pitch well, but injuries took their toll and he sat out 2011 working his way back from rotator cuff surgery.

The Good

There wasn’t a better pitcher in baseball from mid-2003 until 2008. Santana has impeccable control, averaging 3.55 strike-outs per every walk surrendered and has one of the best change-ups in all of baseball. Not an overpowering pitcher, he can nonetheless get the strike-out with an assortment of pitches, averaging close to 1 per inning for his career and lead the AL in the category from 2004-2006.

The Bad

Santana hasn’t pitched in the majors since September 2, 2010. He was making good strides in the minors in 2011, but the Mets performance last season ultimately decided that they wouldn’t risk him. While a move to the National League is generally perceived as a boost for pitchers, Santana’s strike-out and control numbers have declined each season in New York, but that can be attributed to the arm troubles he dealt with in both 2009 and 2010.

The Ugly

While Santana will enter 2012 fully recovered and ready to contribute, there is one overwhelming detriment that is hard to overlook; Santana will still be playing for the Mets. The Mets are in a complete retooling phase and the line-up behind Santana doesn’t look entirely promising. In a very tough and offensive National League East, this team could very well finish at the bottom of the standings

Best-Case Scenario

As discussed, Santana should be fully healthy entering the season, but he’ll still be eased into a full workload. He may well win 10 plus games and strike-out better than 150 for the Mets, but wishful fantasy owners will want him to get out of the gate fast and hope that that the Mets trade him as part of their rebuilding process. That may be difficult as Santana is 32 entering the season and due to make $49 million over the next two seasons with a club option for 2014 at $25 million. Not a lot of teams will take a chance on that contract without knowing that he is back to his Cy Young form.

Buy really low and hope for the best. May even be best to see him hit the waiver wire to start the season and then watch his first few starts before making the leap.

Sources:

-          Johan Santana, baseball-reference.com

“7-20 in September. We go 9-18, we’re where we want to be. 9-18 is what, winning a third of your games? The worst teams in baseball win a third of their games.”

–Theo Epstein

First of all, I recommend checking out the timelines of what went on Wednesday. Having three games like that happen at once doesn’t happen in the playoffs, that might be more memorable than anything I have to say about how historic the “collapses” (euphemism for choke) were.

Here are three good timelines:

HuffPo

MLB

ESPN

Obviously the Rays have returned to the playoffs with a vengeance, but the main topic is I still want to talk about how they and the Cardinals got there and to give some historical perspective on those collapses. That’s why I don’t blog about baseball much. By the time you sit down to think about it and research and so forth, something else important is going on. The Yankees/Tigers game was postponed as I was writing this, so that helped me finish without too much distraction.

I mentioned in a couple of places after the Red Sox had the 3-13 stretch (or some approximation thereof) that I couldn’t find another team that had ever done that in September, not even the 1964 Phillies, who had a 10-game losing streak in September. Those Phillies went 4-13 for one stretch, but that was followed by two wins (in the last two games of the season) and preceded by a 3-game winning streak. The Phillies were 2 ½ behind in the second-to-last game but technically were not eliminated until the next day. So that was also less dramatic.

Looking at the full month though, it’s not even closer. The Phillies won 13 games in September ’64, the same number the Angels (a team I follow a good bit) won this September. The Angels gained 6 ½ games against the Red Sox in the month. After the 3-13 stretch by the Red Sox and before the Angels finished with four consecutive losses, the Angels had gained 8 games on the Red Sox for the month.

So if you compare the Septembers of the 2011 Red Sox and 1964 Cardinals, the Red Sox would have lost 13 games against the Cardinals. So that’s about twice as many games as the Phillies lost (the Phillies actually lost 7 games from the beginning of the month to the end, but that regular season actually ended on October 4; the Phillies lost 6 ½ in the last 28 days of their season, so by that calculation, it is twice as many games).

I did notice the coincidence of the Phillies playing the Braves on Wednesday and helping to send the Cardinals to the post-season yet gain. It’s also a coincidence in that by causing the Braves to lose, that’s arguably another team that passes up their 1964 team in choking.

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