Just to start off, I really like this idea as well. It makes perfect sense. Mike Sweeney has not forgotten how to play catcher, Todd Zeile could still play 3B as well as he did in 1999, etc etc....

Assuming that you incorporate this new defense rule, when would it take affect? I know many teams have made trades based on their players and their defensive ability on the 2000 season (for next year's Trad. seasons). If all of a sudden they were able to play one of their 99 positions, then trades that have already been made will be for not.

I would suggest starting this new rule with the '01 players and season. That way it won't cause as many problems.

Also, what do you do in a case where a player's defensive ability goes up or down from year to year....as they all do? Take an average? Take the best stats? Take the most current stats?

My suggestion for this new rule is this:

-start it next season
-use 2001 defensive ratings and positions, as normal
-if a player did not play a position in 2001, that he did in 2000, then list that position as available but at a lesser ability (say 70% of 2000 numbers across the board?). And for real time leagues, use that 70% of the 2000 ratings, until he plays that position in the new season (in this example 2001).

Just my 2 cents,

Jon