The biggest problem with trading in PB, imo, is that it that owners don't communicate. It's so much easier to just click-off an offer than to discuss what the other guy wants.

How far would Billy Beane get if he just called Theo with a yes/no offer?

Personally, I seldom trade -- not because of bad offers, but because I fear the other guy will go whining on a public board.

Trading in RT is more complicated than TRAD. It takes more communication, but since most owners don't respond to email, and so many teams are inactive (whether somebody is paying or not), its just more practical to fire off an offer, good or not.

Tim, the guy sent you a first offer. Its a conversation starter. He can't know how you will react until he knows what you think of Heilman. Most rookies are overhyped, and especially NY rookies. His offer was an obvious blunder because it is insulting rather than close, but it is still just a starter.

What he should have done, and how you should read his offer, is to ask you "are you looking for pitching prospects?" "What do you think of Heilman?" Its not TRAD, where you can wait to see what his year is, you must decide if you want him for next year - this year is now meaningless from where you are in the standings. If you don't think he has much future, you'd say "not interested". If you like him, you say "I like him, I'd like to trade for him". He'd say "I want Chipper and Uggie". THEN, you'd say "Get real", and the conversation would go on.

If you just click reject and ignore the guy, then you communicate that 1) you don't want Heilman and 2) you don't want to talk to him. (which might be accruate). If Heilman is a guy you'd want, then make a counter - one that you'd want to do no matter how far it is from his offer. He needs to catch up six games and thinks he can do it. Is there somebody you'd trade for Heilman who'd help him? If you want Heilman, than ignore the guy's faux pas, and make a counter you like. Sullivan for Heilman?(I wouldn't even do that, just to illustrate how much I agree that his offer was unrealistic). Uggie and Burkett for a RK #1 and Heilman? Burkett for Heilman? (might be a conversation stopper, which might/might not be OK with you).

My point is that I find complaining about bad offers more irritating than the bad offers. Just accept his opening as a list of who he'd like to trade, and what he's looking for. If you are really ticked, its OK to send him an email saying its insulting, and asking what he's looking for seriously. I just think that putting it on the board is not the right thing to do.