Empty trade offers

[Titus Young's Lawyer]

This year I’m seeing a new trend of where I’m getting trade offers with a couple of my players listed with nothing from the other team with a message “I’m interested in these guys what are you looking for”. Not sure what the community thinks but I view these as an abuse of the trade system. I’m all for discussing a trade via league chat or trade bait but I view this as just another way for a team not to have to play their cards first. If you want these players from my team put down what you are going to give up. Am I just being a bitter old dynasty player?

[Krypto_King]

He told you who he liked, why are you afraid to tell him who you like?
Most owners are very polarized on players. I'm willing to make the first offer but it's good to know which of my players they have zero interest in and which they would pay market rates for. This is why ESPN trade block >>> MFL trade block

[Phaded]

This is just sheer laziness and this has been around for a long time. I have never seen the trade offer thing before, but it is essentially the same as "I like this guy, what do you want for him?".
Many fantasy owners are too afraid to make trades. They need to just make an offer to start with.

You're going to win and lose trades - bottom line. Some of those trades you think you won will not go the way you thought just as some of the trades you think you lost will not go the way you thought.

[thebeast]

He told you who he liked, why are you afraid to tell him who you like?
Most owners are very polarized on players. I'm willing to make the first offer but it's good to know which of my players they have zero interest in and which they would pay market rates for. This is why ESPN trade block >>> MFL trade block

This. I have no problem responding with, "So, the guys I like on your team are X, Y, and Z and I'm always open to receiving picks as a part of a deal. Since you reached out I'll let you make the first offer."

I love trading and have no problem if I have to guide the other owner to a deal that makes my team better.

[slaughterrt]

Laziness. Not new though. Prob doesn’t wanna come on too strong and you accept.

[IR1]

Joined a league this off season and that seems to be they way they communicate. usually return with players I'm interested in or "not moving player x", but agree, I tend to start with an offer if there is no way of starting a chat

[Pullo Vision]

He told you who he liked, why are you afraid to tell him who you like?
Most owners are very polarized on players. I'm willing to make the first offer but it's good to know which of my players they have zero interest in and which they would pay market rates for. This is why ESPN trade block >>> MFL trade block

I've never played on ESPN. What's it like?

[Phaded]

ESPN trade block page in summary:
Players on the block
Untouchable players
Positions available
Positions needed
Comment section
You can indicate Y or N for players on other teams to indicate interest
Page will show you which players teams are or are not interested in of yours

Basically covers it.

[cazzie33]

He told you who he liked, why are you afraid to tell him who you like?
Most owners are very polarized on players. I'm willing to make the first offer but it's good to know which of my players they have zero interest in and which they would pay market rates for. This is why ESPN trade block >>> MFL trade block

This. I have no problem responding with, "So, the guys I like on your team are X, Y, and Z and I'm always open to receiving picks as a part of a deal. Since you reached out I'll let you make the first offer."

I love trading and have no problem if I have to guide the other owner to a deal that makes my team better.

This ^^^^

Beautiful, totally a passive aggressive move to turn the tables back around. And get to be polite while doing so

[Krypto_King]

I've never played on ESPN. What's it like?

as phaded said, it lists every team's roster and you can click yes or no on if you are interested. Then when you go to another teams trade block it will list who they are or are not interested in on your team

[slaughterrt]

I've never played on ESPN. What's it like?

as phaded said, it lists every team's roster and you can click yes or no on if you are interested. Then when you go to another teams trade block it will list who they are or are not interested in on your team

Yep. That’s one thing that ESPN does right. Very solid trade block interface.

[ArrylT]

I've never played on ESPN. What's it like?

as phaded said, it lists every team's roster and you can click yes or no on if you are interested. Then when you go to another teams trade block it will list who they are or are not interested in on your team

Don't worry half the time owners ignore it anyways - I have guys listed as untouchable that I get weak bleep offers for all the time.

[Pullo Vision]

Thanks for the info, y'all!

[Dookmarriot]

I use this tactic all the time. I do it because I like to discuss things with the other owner, particularly if I don't know them well.

I think building knowledge of and relationships with your leaguemates is what differentiates the fun leagues from the rote ones. Are you looking to contend or rebuild? What players on my team interest you? Are you more about age and value or production? Once you have a good idea what the other owner wants, you can send an offer with a better chance of getting accepted (rather than a lowball, or offering a player the other owner hates) and even better deal that is mutually beneficial.

I love the negotiation process, so naturally I lead in a manner that follows what I find fun. I don't do it to antagonize...to me it's the FF equivalent of saying to someone "I like your car. Any chance you're selling?" And since I'm a fairly active trader with (I'd like to think) a rep of making deals that help both sides (I'm not afraid of giving up value, believe me) I think broadly it works as an opener - IF you're willing to listen to what the other owner is saying.

The only time a trade offer annoys me is when I tell the other owner my team direction, and he keeps offering deals counter to that. Open the ears, and always keep in mind that the deal has to work for the other owner too.

[Vcize]

The worst is when people send stuff like this over, I send them a trade offer, and then they let it just sit there with no response for 5 days until I have to withdraw it.