Dynasty leagues are unique in that managers will need to consider both the short term and long term when evaluating their roster. Different from a re-draft league where only the current season and this year's fantasy baseball rankings are relevant, knowing when to push your chips all-in or start a rebuild for future seasons must be considered at all times.
There's nothing worse than being stuck in the middle, and active leagues with proactive managers will allow you to buy or sell more often than not.
Knowing if Your Dynasty Team is a Contender or a Pretender
Fantasy baseball is all about stacking up your roster against your league mates. Strong teams can be out of true contention because there's a powerhouse in the league that year, while a down year across the board means even middling teams have a shot at a championship. If you're in a Rotisserie league, a good rule of thumb is if you're within 5 or 6 points of the leader (or in the lead), you're a contender. In head-to-head leagues, being among the top 4 teams in record means you have a good chance at competing in the playoffs.
Be honest with yourself when comparing MLB player stats between your squad and your opponents. It's also important to know your team's health. Are you off to a slow start because of injuries? Take that into account when considering the end of the season (especially in H2H leagues). Also consider how aggressive your league mates with good teams may be at the deadline. It's always more fun to go for it, but doing so means sacrificing long term. If you miss out on a title, you may be looking at a multi-year rebuild with nothing to show for it.
Making a Case for Going All In at the Trade Deadline
RotoWire's MLB projections will give you a good sense of where your team will be as the season goes on. It's important to consider projections rather than just stats accrued. If your projections are favorable and you feel like you've got a shot at a title, nothing should stop you in that pursuit.
That means potentially dealing young prospects that you're excited about for a chance at an established veteran that can put you over the top. Remember that most prospects don't pan out, anyway, so there's not as much volatility and risk as you may think.
Making a Case for Tearing It Down and Rebuilding
It should be pretty apparent whether your team is ready for a rebuild. In our experience, more managers should be rebuilding. Unless there's a money prize component to finishing third or fourth, you should play for next season if your team does not have a shot to win a championship in the current season.
That means becoming an expert at finding value within MLB prospect rankings, locating talent that may play a larger role in the following seasons, but isn't contributing right now. Hitting on prospects requires patience and a little luck, but it's the cheapest way to build your roster for future seasons.
If you're rebuilding, there shouldn't be any player that's considered untouchable. There are a few expectations, but by and large you want to make everyone available. A tear down is going to mean giving up on some talent, but the goal is long-term success. Don't worry about taking hits in the short term.
How to Execute a Trade Without Overpaying or Underselling
It's always a good idea to not toss your best offer out first. That isn't being unethical or unfair; it's just good business. There's almost always going to be a counter from your league mate, and that's also fine. That's the easiest way to avoid overpaying in your pursuit for a title. Maybe throw out a few prospects on your roster who are high atop the fantasy baseball dynasty rankings, but won't do much in the current season before dealing players who are contributing right now.
If you're selling, the goal is to extract as much value as possible for the pieces you do have (which likely aren't a lot since you're selling). If a contender is going after a batter, but doesn't like your offer, it makes sense to throw in a pitcher who can upgrade a roster spot for them, too. Bulk deals typically work well because it's a guarantee for the buyer. And remember, no one is off limits once you decide to rebuild.
Managing Expectations After Your Decision
Never be halfway in or halfway out. If you're contending, go for it by exhausting every avenue to improve your team. Once you make that first trade, don't stop until you have the best talent for the current season on your roster. If you're rebuilding, make sure most veterans who aren't attractive to keep the following season are off your roster for as many different young prospects as possible. Cast a wide net to give yourself a better chance of hitting on one or two of them.
Unsure of whether you're a contender or entering a rebuild? Make sure you subscribe to RotoWire, where our team of experts is ready to analyze your current roster, unearth gems that can help rebuilding teams and identifying the best trade targets and waiver claims for teams that are going all-in.
