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Tim Williams - AccuScore Analyst
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There’s really only one rule that is universal to all fantasy leagues, and that rule is:  don’t talk about your fantasy teams.  I’m breaking that rule today.  I’m breaking it because the trade deadline has passed in most leagues, and since I’ve been writing a trade column all season, I figured I would post my favorite trades from a few of the leagues I’m in.  Feel free to break the rule yourself by adding your own trades in the comments section.

Rafael Furcal for Adam Wainwright

I drafted Hanley Ramirez in the first round in this league, and for depth I drafted Rafael Furcal in a later round.  Furcal would only play in 16 more games for his new team, while Wainwright gave me a solid starter to make up for my drafting of Rich Hill.

NL-only League

This was my most active trading league.  I ended up making nine deals over the course of the season, drawing the wrath of the first place manager (who I eventually passed).  After every trade I received a furious message proclaiming that I was a lying cheat, scum, and that my methods made him sick.  That being said, none of the deals were really unfair.  Here is the rundown.

Chris B Young and Brian Wilson for Corey Hart and Max Scherzer

This was at the start of May, right after Scherzer pitched his seven strikeouts in 4.1 innings, and right before getting moved to the rotation.  At the time Hart had one homer and four steals, while Young had six homers and three steals.  Since the trade Young has hit 12 homers with seven steals, while Hart has hit 18 homers with 18 steals.  The Scherzer part didn’t work out as well as I hoped, but I’d take that risk again.

Nate McLouth/Brian Fuentes/Shane Victorino/Ian Snell for Carlos Beltran/Xavier Nady/Todd Wellemeyer/Andrew Miller

McLouth was hitting .312 with 12 homers and four steals when I traded him for Beltran, who was hitting just .246 with three homers and five steals.  I later dealt Beltran for Brad Lidge, and Todd Wellemeyer for Roy Oswalt.  My only regret in this deal is selling low on Victorino.

Carlos Beltran and Wandy Rodriguez for Brad Lidge and Troy Tulowitzki

In the time I had Beltran he hit .310 with eight homers and seven steals.  I was within reach of a few points in saves, so I dealt for Lidge, and took a chance on Tulowitzki, who had a .152 average with one homer, after just coming off the DL.  Since then Tulo has hit .299 with four homers.

Josh Banks for Bronson Arroyo

This was my favorite trade, because it was so subtle.  Banks had two wins, a 2.21 ERA, a 1.05 WHIP, and 21 strikeouts in 40.2 innings.  Arroyo was fresh off a one inning, ten earned run performance.  Since then Arroyo has posted seven wins with a 3.68 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP.

Lance Berkman/Todd Wellemeyer/Eric Stults for David Wright/Roy Oswalt/Adam LaRoche

Berkman crashed after this deal, hitting .266 with four homers and three steals, while Wright took off, hitting .310 with ten homers and six steals.  Oswalt missed some time to injury, but has been a better option than Wellemeyer, and LaRoche did his usual second half takeoff, while Stults didn’t last in the majors very long.

Rick Ankiel and Chase Headley for Chad Billingsley and Ted Lilly

You can probably guess by my earlier trades that I had no problem getting offense, selling it at a high point, and getting new offense at a low point.  This allowed me to make this deal for some much needed pitching help.

Ryan Zimmerman and Jair Jurrjens for Mike Cameron and John Maine

I mainly needed an outfielder after dealing away Headley and Ankiel, but I also figured Jurrjens would see a slump in the final months of the season.  In hindsight I should have traded for Derek Lowe rather than Maine.

Aramis Ramirez for Brett Myers

I didn’t need the offense, but the wins and strikeouts could help me move up a few points.

Matt Kemp for Kerry Wood

This trade was hard to make, because Kemp is one of my favorites, but I knew by making this deal I’d gain two guaranteed points in saves, while possibly not losing any offensive points at all.

Keeper League Trades

In the first year of a long term keeper league I made a series of trades that didn’t exactly work out as well as I wanted.  That being said, I am currently in first place despite these moves, so I guess it is possible to make some questionable moves and still have a chance to win your league.

Chien-Ming Wang/Pat Burrell/John Buck for Shaun Marcum/Brian Bannister/Paul Konerko

Marcum was better than Wang, and Bannister was good for awhile, but Konerko never came around, and while Burrell’s average tanked, he maintained his home run pace.

Brian Wilson for Jason Varitek

I needed a catcher, and you can probably guess that I didn’t trust Wilson to keep the closer’s job in San Francisco.

Joe Saunders for Francisco Liriano

I thought Saunders would crash, and Liriano would be up soon.  This was at the start of June.  I like the trade now, but I had to wait two months for Liriano to come up.  In my defense, no one was taking Saunders for anything more.

Felix Hernandez and Carlos Gomez for Rafael Furcal and Matt Kemp

I thought Furcal would return in a week, giving me insurance at shortstop in case Tulowitzki didn’t do well in his return.  I may use Kemp as a keeper option, so this deal works out, and I don’t feel the loss of King Felix as much since I have Kazmir and Lincecum.

Dynasty League

I took over a team in the sixth season of a dynasty league, and most of this season has been focused on getting a team in place that I like.  I ended up making 11 trades, plus added guys like Ryan Doumit, Adam Lind, Carlos Gonzalez, and Scott Baker to my long term team.  The trades were:

-Jon Lester for Todd Wellemeyer

-Delmon Young/Pat Burrell/Kevin Kouzmanoff for Shaun Marcum/Dana Eveland/Jason Bergmann

-Fausto Carmona for Carlos Quentin

-Oliver Perez for Justin Duchscherer

-Lance Berkman/Carlos Quentin/Billy Butler/Greg Smith/Joe Saunders/Shaun Marcum/Ian Kinsler/Wandy Rodriguez/Bobby Jenks for Dan Uggla/Dice-K/Adam Wainwright/Nate McLouth/Joey Votto/John Danks/Matt Garza/Chase Headley/Paul Konerko (This was a three way deal, but still massive.  My main focus was getting pitching, which I got with Wainwright, Dice-K, Garza, and Danks.)

-Bobby Abreu for Stephen Drew

-Dice-K/Francisco Liriano/Radhames Liz/James Loney for Justin Morneau/Torii Hunter/Jonathan Sanchez/Jed Lowrie (My only regret is the Liriano for Hunter portion of the deal)

-Joey Votto and Shane Victorino for Jered Weaver and Carlos Gomez

-Bengie Molina and Dana Eveland for Ian Stewart and Joe Blanton (about a week before he was traded to the Phillies)

-Matt Garza and Greg Smith for Jeremy Guthrie and Rich Hill

-Aramis Ramirez/Joel Zumaya/Jered Weaver for Carlos Quentin/Shaun Marcum/Derek Lowe (This time I’m keeping Marcum and Quentin)

Hopefully my trade advice this season has helped you made some deals that put you in position to win your leagues.  Check back during football season for the Trade Market, fantasy football style.