The term "and all I would have to give up is" sounds as if you are belittling the offer. Re-reading your post, I still can't figure out any other reason you used the phrase, but with your having explaned that the post was meant as an unbiased appeal for help, I appologize for the put-down.

The problem is that there have been a number of idiots in the past posting insulting comments about offers received. Yours really does sound like one of those. The odds are long of any initial offer sounding fair to you. Even were the other guy trying to be fair, you will favor some guys more than he does and it will therefore sound unfair. But, the originator is probably (and smartly) not trying to be fair with the first offer; he doesn't know whether you just love Thome, so why would he offer what he thinks is full value until he hears from you. Its like an opening bid in a bridge hand. You need to counter or to tell him what you are willing to do. If you think that Tracy will be a star, or that Harvey will be an average-hitting 1B, then you probably want to pull them out or ask for more. He thinks Thome is a big offensive upgrade over Edmonds; if you don't think so then tell him so and find out what he is really after.

The problem with your post is that its message is that owners should not make offers. Personally, I trade very seldom specifically because of the fear of reactions like yours. (Actually, I've never had that bad of a reaction. To the worst offer I made, I got a very lighthearted email that just asking whether I had forgotten to list somebody or whether the offer was really that bad. The trade went nowhere, but nobody got childish about it.) This is why I suggest your post is detrimental to the game.