Many trades that are approved go through a process in which both managers want topmake the deal and my best option is tohave the team which in my view is getting the short end of the stick get more.

The final deal you see is very often not was originally mutually signed but a result of a three way discussion between myself and the trading partners.

In the infamous Burkett/Fox deal that is what happened. Perhaps I was wrong about Burkett (time will tell as aging starting pitchers have a way of getting things together again) but I used the criteria that a utility player (even if he is starting becuase of an injury) is not worth a rotation starter. The deal got done and the manager who got Burkett ended up happy with the transaction even though my involvement made him add a little "juice" to the deal.

It is easy to find some stinkers but some managers can not be dissuaded from their intentions no matter how hard I try.
This is very true in MLB as well.

Trade approval (whatever the method) is in general a benefit but will never take the place of good sound judgement by managers.

In a perfect world we can get back to the champions league idea of yesteryear when we had "invitation" leagues (CH 19 and CL20).

Mike Bravard (PB)