We have process for how trades are done in this league. Once you have agreed upon a trade with another owner, you are to send an email to Zev (the commissioner), myself (Michael, the assistant commissioner), and the other team's owner. That email should have OOTP: Trade between (Team A) and (Team B) in the subject line. Including OOTP is important, as both Zev and I have email filters for messages with that subject.
So, your outgoing email should look like this:
From: you@youremail.com
To: commish@izev.com, michael@symbiola.com, otherowner@teamyousuckered.com
Subject: OOTP: Trade between Chicago and Detroit
Got it? That means that both Zev and I get the email, and, as you'll see below, the other owner you made the trade with/suckered is included, so that he can reply-all to confirm it.
Now, let's write the email. In the body of your email, write something like the following:
Hi Zev and Michael,
I have a trade to announce with John Smith (name of other owner).
Chicago (your team) sends:
- OF Mike Trout
- IF John Doe
- AAA SP Roberto Perez
- $3 million cash
Detroit (the other team) sends:
- AA IF Bobby Brady
- A SP Walter White
- 2nd round pick
John: (other owner): Please reply-all to confirm.
Thanks,
Your nameOk, let's go through that. You listed the two participants in the trade, as well as the full name and level of each player (to make it easy for us to find the player when the trade is processed). Each piece in the trade, including players, picks, and cash is easy to read and in its own line, so there's no confusion (you don't have to use bullets). Zev and I use the emails, not the florid blog posts you write, to both process the trade, as well as keep the Traded Draft Picks list up to date. Not following this process can cause a trade to not be completed.
If the trade is during the season, and you just acquired a major league player to fill a vacancy in your 25-man roster, you can include instructions (e.g. Please place Trout on my active roster, make him my CF, and the leadoff spot is open for him.) For minor league players, unless you are acquiring them to promote to the 25-man major league roster, there is no need for instructions. They'll be placed in single A during the trade, and after the next sim, you can place them wherever you'd like in your organization.
So, you're the other owner. Sorry, you just got fleeced. But, you still have work to do with this trade. See that you received the email from the other owner, and both Zev and I are copied on it, along with yourself? When you use the REPLY ALL feature in your email, your confirmation is included to all three of us. Again, if you have specific roster instructions in-season, include them in your reply.
Then, and only then, will one of you write the blog post announcing the trade. That should decided during the trade negotiations. Usually, it's the team getting the major league player who makes the announcement.
Any questions?
