Is this OWNER COLLUSION? Does it Matter?

[tersignf]

OK Guys...In my first non-Tour autoleague for 2005 right now (need to boost my stats a bit this year!).
One chap accused 2 folks of colluding because they(or the one person) made a preseason trade:

Mulder/Zeile for Lowell/Schilling

and these 2 teams are #1 and #2 in waiver picks.

Granted, looks fishy, but how much advantage is there really, considering cap limits etc? Any vets come across this before?

I realize there's an advantage, especially toward end of season for playoff roster moves, but just wanted some thoughts from the community, especially the perennial contenders like PBTR, cristano, penngray et al.
Cheers
Frank

[JOELKING]

Frank,
You forgot the cash benfits toward the teams that made the deal, doesnt it help them of getting the players they need to fill holes with?

[tersignf]

Certainly. I did forget; that's why I asked. OK that's another strike.
It's easy enough to blacklist folks out here, so not sure why someone would try it.

[T.Richardson]

Pre-Waivers I wouldn't worry about that at all. Mulder is one of the best values in the game and Lowell is overpriced.

[MARCPELLETIER]

In addition, perhaps part of the deal includes the waiver pick, in which case the deal makes evenmore sense. I would wait before triggering the collusion gun.

[JOELKING]

thanks marcus wilby,

I forgot to mention that part, and by the way i am one of the teams thats been accused. and infact its part of the deal too.

[tersignf]

I agree...although both the teams have the number 1 and number 2 picks, so that's debatable. I agree I don't care-- but someone else in the league was upset about it and I just asked them to let the lineups do the talking and let it go, since it really saps the fun out of it to even make the accusation...just trying to make sure I wasn't giving an inappropriately aloof attitude...but I really still think my team's better, even if someone could cheat :)

[JOELKING]

when I am done after the waivers frank, you beg me for mercy for shelling your pitchers. :) :lol:

[Play By The Rules]

Can I make a suggestion?

Perhaps a short e-mail to the league informing them that the trade just made also includes a trade of draft picks, just to make things official and also to let everyone know you're on the up and up?

Meanwhile I agree, sometimes it's just a salary dump and if it's before waivers often I will try to unload a guy I know I won't keep so I can afford Bonds... :D

[PAULMINICUCCI]

I'm also in the league. I didn't think it was unusual. I thought Mulder is a great deal and the money freed up is a plus, also I assumed there was a swap of draft positions going on. At the begininng it seems that the salary cap precludes any advantage. You still have to play with the same cap.

I remember the old NY Yankees used to use the KC A's as a kind of farm team. They would Borrow players by trading for a player with a player to be named later. At the end of the season the player to be named was the same player. I never knew how much cash was involved but that's a lot more collusive than the deal you sited. I have no problem with what happened.