Hot Stove League is active in IAL this off-season

Three weekends from today, the Illowa APBA League will commence drafting for its 50th season! Since the 2023 APBA season has been released (and honestly before) there has been plenty of trade talk in the 10-team basic game league.

And for once, I have been a party to it. I normally don’t like making big trades but this year, my Twin City Thunderchickens have made a few deals that will affect the makeup of my squad and even my starting crew.

Some background: I came into the off-season with ten draft picks, probably the most I have ever had. I also have an extra pick on top of that in which I will need to drop a player. I am mostly covered at all positions save pitching. From what I have have seen, I have more innings than most.

A look at the three trades I have made so far…

The Blockbuster

I’ve already written about my big deal with Nick Tegeler and his Wallbangers. It’s not very often I will trade away a fan favorite who led the team in homeruns.

A complicated deal but the short of it is that I needed a firstbaseman. Guerrero fits the bill. He will only get better in 2024 in my opinion. Pena is solid and an upgrade on Baez. Merrifield is versatile, playing both second base and outfield.

I will miss Schwarber being a fan of his even after he left the Cubs. I will also miss the two draft picks but there are plenty more where they came from.

The Sentimental trade

Don Smith knows how to entice me into making a deal with him. He drafted Royals second baseman Michael Massey last year being a Brother Rice alum. Well, as I like to cover Illini baseball, we both have a connection to Massey and Don had an angle.

He made an offer and I took it.

A second baseman for a second baseman.

Sentimentality aside, I still like this deal. Massey is a 2B-9 which means he hopefully will be one in years to come. I did my research and offensively, both project pretty evenly for the coming year.

Time will tell with this one but the Illini factor wins out.

Small time dealing

Finally, a deal that is the farthest thing from a blockbuster trade. In fact, the player I traded to Don was someone I was going to drop.

I received Odor from Don in a deal not so long ago and now that he has served his purpose for the Thunderchickens, Don’s Marauders can have him back.

I honestly did not know much about Coleman but if I decide not to drop him, his much desired 68 innings will come in handy even if they are D innings.

Three trades and I still have nine total picks left. With those trades, I have a first baseman, a new and better shortstop plus a promising second baseman. In addition, I have a valuable OF-2B who will get his time in. The least spoken of, Stanton, is the one with double ones. He’ll get his at-bats in, I’m sure.

Suffice to say while I have pitching, most of it is grade C or worst. One thing I have learned is that drafting rookie pitchers is very iffy. I would very much rather draft a rookie position player. So time will tell what I do with the first pick of the draft no to mention the eight other picks.

I know other APBA leagues are gearing up for 2024, Any of you in leagues making big trades??