X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Player Comparisons
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

On Vetoes

One of the most enjoyable aspects of fantasy baseball is making trades. It's certainly true that this is not the case in some leagues, because anytime you're dealing with people there's overwhelming potential for people to ruin things. But in the platonic ideal of a league, owners are both active and rational in their negotiations.

Here in the real world, as often as not we get offered a rival's three most recent waiver wire pickups for our team's best player. Meanwhile, another owner sells off elite talent for pennies on the dollar to your fiercest competition without even letting the league know they're available.

Do either of those situations merit a veto? If not, which scenarios qualify? And who decides that, anyway?

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and weekly lineup resources:

 

Who Says No?

Vetoes are, understandably, a sensitive issue for many fantasy owners. Many trades are the result of  protracted discussion, and external forces wiping out a week's worth of back-and-forth can be incredibly frustrating. Even if negotiations were relatively quick and painless, nobody likes having the rug pulled out from under them. Generally speaking, human beings are not terribly fond of being told what to do.

That's the way a veto reads, whether or not it's justified: If I've decided that making this deal is in my best interest, who the hell is anyone else to tell me otherwise? 

Many, including yours truly, consider vetoes to be a nuclear option, reserved for instances of obvious collusion and other emergencies. My home league is approaching its third decade of existence and I have yet to exercise the commissioner's veto power. The league constitution makes reference to this fact, going on to explicitly state that "[t]he commissioner trusts the members of this league to act as reasonable adults."

The question is what constitutes "obvious collusion." Legitimate proof of malfeasance is a clear deal-breaker, but that's a rare occurrence. There tend not to be many smoking guns; those that do exist might include incriminating text messages or tangible evidence of assets outside the league changing hands, be they trades in other leagues or the exchange of money or material goods. There's also the Potter Stewart "I know it when I see it" standard. If one team is getting Cody Bellinger and Max Scherzer for a pu pu platter of back-of-the-roster jabronis, this clear and present danger can and should be addressed.

Yet there remains a large degree of subjectivity to the proceedings. What on the surface appears to be a lopsided trade may be anything but. If you were to offer Yordan Alvarez for Mike Trout straight up, in most leagues that wouldn't make a lick of sense for the other owner to even consider it. In a keeper league where the difference in their price tags is $50 or 20-plus rounds, or where Trout can't be kept at all? Maybe it's not so ridiculous. That's an extreme example, of course, and a fairly easy one to intuit if you understand the way your league structures its keeper rules.

When the players' talent levels or costs are less diametrically opposed, the picture gets murkier - especially if the former are in a state of flux. What if  you're talking three years of Yordan for, say, two of Jose Ramirez at a steep discount relative to his value if he does rebound in the second half? What in god's name is a "fair return" for Giancarlo Stanton at this point in a redraft league? How much should any of us bet on Corey Kluber's stretch run, or on a return to form for Matt Carpenter, or that Ketel Marte is really a 40 HR guy now?

You get the idea. Player valuation is a tricky and often personal thing. There are some players we all pretty much agree on, but even within that broad consensus there can be substantial differences of opinion. Whether those are supported by hard evidence, intuition, our own biases - or more typically, a hodgepodge of the three - they nevertheless exist, and inform our ultimate view of any trade.

That's why the best system, in my view, is to leave veto power with the commissioner with the understanding that 1) it will rarely, if ever, be used and 2) when it is exercised, it will be with input from other people. It hasn't happened for a few years, but the last time a trade in my home league inspired a few raised eyebrows, I reached out to both of the involved parties, as well as two other league members and two people not in the league at all (in this case, RotoBaller colleagues) to get their feedback. A majority confirmed my initial (and default) stance that the trade should proceed, and I explained the process and my reasoning to the league.

Why not simply leave it to a league vote, then? Two reasons. First, I know when I've made a trade, I want it to take effect as soon as possible, so I extend that courtesy to my league mates. Second, the opportunity for pettiness doesn't exist. I've been in leagues before where vetoes occurred just because owners didn't like the deal for their own selfish reasons, and voted them down based on those rather than merit.

As in most aspects of life, communication is important. Whatever the decision on a deal, everyone with a vested interest should have the chance and/or be obligated to explain their position. If an owner in your league - no matter their level of involvement in the situation - can't accept that, it may be time to find a replacement.

Either way, exercising veto power, whether as sole arbiter or part of a commitee, is best done sparingly.

 

The Friday Meta is Kyle Bishop's attempt to go beyond the fantasy box score or simple strategic pointers and get at the philosophical and/or behavioral side of the game. It is hopefully not as absurd, pretentious, or absurdly pretentious as that sounds.

More Fantasy Baseball Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Player Comparisons
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Wendell Carter Jr.11 mins ago

Out Against Lakers
Anthony Davis29 mins ago

Available Versus Magic On Thursday
Rui Hachimura43 mins ago

Unavailable Thursday
Carlos Ulberg1 hour ago

Looking To Cement Himself As A Title Contender At UFC Macau
Volkan Oezdemir1 hour ago

Eyes Another Knockout At UFC Macau
Gabriella Fernandes1 hour ago

A Big Underdog At UFC Macau
MMA1 hour ago

Cong Wang Puts Undefeated Record On The Line At UFC Macau
Deiveson Figueiredo1 hour ago

Looks To Extend Win Streak At UFC Macau
Petr Yan1 hour ago

A Favorite At UFC Macau
Yves Missi2 hours ago

Listed As Questionable For Friday
CJ McCollum2 hours ago

Not Likely To Play Friday
Alexander Mattison2 hours ago

Zamir White Miss Practice Again
Brandon Ingram2 hours ago

Questionable For Friday
Shohei Ohtani2 hours ago

Named National League MVP In 2024
Aaron Judge3 hours ago

Wins American League MVP Award
Ja'Kobe Walter3 hours ago

Ready To Go Thursday
Donte DiVincenzo3 hours ago

Available Thursday
Mike Conley3 hours ago

Will Not Play Thursday
Jordan Clarkson3 hours ago

Sits Out Thursday's Game
Ausar Thompson3 hours ago

Won't Play On Thursday
Zach Collins3 hours ago

Cleared To Play Thursday
Domantas Sabonis3 hours ago

Gets Through Full Practice
Chris Paul3 hours ago

Good To Go Thursday
Brock Purdy3 hours ago

Limited Again On Thursday
Malik Monk3 hours ago

Making Progress
George Kittle3 hours ago

Limited Again On Thursday
Tre Mann4 hours ago

Good To Go On Thursday
Miles Bridges4 hours ago

Won't Play On Thursday
Vince Williams Jr.4 hours ago

Out At Least A Month
Scottie Barnes4 hours ago

Returning On Thursday
Alex Ovechkin4 hours ago

To Miss 4-6 Weeks With Fractured Fibula
Paul George4 hours ago

Out At Least Two Games
Aaron Gordon4 hours ago

Availability In Question For Friday
Zach Hyman4 hours ago

Expected To Miss 4-7 Days
Kent Johnson4 hours ago

Back For Blue Jackets Thursday
Yaroslav Askarov4 hours ago

Makes Sharks Debut Thursday
Jalen Hurts4 hours ago

Practices In Full On Thursday
Mikael Granlund5 hours ago

Good To Go Thursday
Alexandar Georgiev5 hours ago

Returns To Action Versus Capitals
TB5 hours ago

Nicholas Paul Will Miss Thursday's Game
Frederik Andersen5 hours ago

To Miss 8-12 Weeks
Jake Ferguson5 hours ago

Still Not Practicing
Sam LaPorta5 hours ago

Looking Good For A Week 12 Return
Sam Darnold5 hours ago

Upgrades To Full Participation, On Track To Play
Isiah Pacheco5 hours ago

Remains Limited On Thursday
D'Andre Swift5 hours ago

Upgrades To Limited Participant On Thursday
CeeDee Lamb6 hours ago

Sidelined During Thursday's Practice
Ladd McConkey6 hours ago

Does Not Practice On Thursday
Mike Evans6 hours ago

Logs Full Practice On Thursday
DeVonta Smith7 hours ago

Misses Another Practice
Cody Bellinger8 hours ago

Cubs Looking To Trade Cody Bellinger?
Brandin Cooks8 hours ago

Preparing To Play In Week 12
CeeDee Lamb8 hours ago

Not Seen At Thursday's Practice
8 hours ago

Blake Snell Has Met With Red Sox, Dodgers
Aaron Rodgers9 hours ago

Jets Owner Suggested Benching Aaron Rodgers
Mike Evans10 hours ago

Practicing Again On Thursday
Chandler Stephenson11 hours ago

Registers Three Assists Versus Predators
Jason Robertson11 hours ago

Totals Three Points In Wednesday's Win
Nils Lundkvist11 hours ago

Exits Early With A Lower-Body Injury
Matthew Knies12 hours ago

Sustains An Upper-Body Injury
Mikael Granlund12 hours ago

Exits Late With Injury Wednesday
Patrik Laine12 hours ago

Returns To Practice
Chris Sale23 hours ago

Wins National League Cy Young Award
Tarik Skubal23 hours ago

Wins 2024 American League Cy Young Award
Austin Eckroat1 day ago

Heads To The RSM Classic After Win
Harris English1 day ago

Finding Form Heading To The RSM Classic
Ben Griffin1 day ago

Continues Playing Well Heading To The RSM Classic
Denny McCarthy1 day ago

Returns to The RSM Classic
Josh Jacobs1 day ago

Limited With Multiple Injuries
DeVonta Smith1 day ago

Misses Practice On Wednesday
Seth Jones1 day ago

Expected To Miss Four Weeks
Sam Darnold1 day ago

Limited With Foot Injury
Max Domi1 day ago

Placed On Injured Reserve
Jalen Hurts1 day ago

Limited On Wednesday
Connor Ingram1 day ago

Out Day-To-Day With An Upper-Body Injury
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen1 day ago

Returns To Action Versus Kings
Alex Tuch1 day ago

Available Wednesday
Tage Thompson1 day ago

Remains Out On Wednesday
Jordan Eberle1 day ago

To Remain Out On Wednesday
Ludvig Aberg1 day ago

Looks To Defend RSM Classic Title
Si Woo Kim1 day ago

An Intriguing Option At RSM Classic
Maverick McNealy1 day ago

In Solid Form Ahead Of RSM Classic
Eric Cole1 day ago

Chasing First Tour Victory At RSM Classic
2 days ago

Guardians' Stephen Vogt Named AL Manager Of The Year
Milwaukee Brewers2 days ago

Pat Murphy Named NL Manager Of The Year
2 days ago

Nick Pivetta Declines Boston's Qualifying Offer
Jose Siri2 days ago

Mets Acquire Jose Siri From The Rays
2 days ago

Phillies To Meet With Juan Soto
2 days ago

Luis Severino Rejects Qualifying Offer From Mets
2 days ago

Willy Adames Declines Brewers Qualifying Offer
2 days ago

Teoscar Hernandez Declines Qualifying Offer From Dodgers
2 days ago

Juan Soto Declines Yankees' Qualifying Offer
Luis Gil3 days ago

Wins AL Rookie Of The Year Award
Paul Skenes3 days ago

Named 2024 NL Rookie Of The Year
Brady Singer3 days ago

Reds, Royals Discussing Jonathan India, Brady Singer
3 days ago

Sean Manaea To Reject Mets' Qualifying Offer
3 days ago

Braves Have Interest In Walker Buehler
3 days ago

Astros Interested In Willy Adames
Charles Oliveira3 days ago

Gets Back In The Win Column
Michael Chandler3 days ago

Gets Dominated At UFC 309
Karine Silva3 days ago

Suffers Her First UFC Loss
Viviane Araujo3 days ago

Gets Back In The Win Column
Mauricio Ruffy3 days ago

Extends His Win Streak To Six
James Llontop4 days ago

Loses Clear-Cut Decision In Thrilling Fight At UFC 309
Paul Craig4 days ago

Loses Decision At UFC 309
Bo Nickal4 days ago

Remains Undefeated With Lackluster Performance At UFC 309
Stipe Miocic4 days ago

Retires After UFC 309 Loss
Jon Jones4 days ago

Gets TKO Win At UFC 309 To Defend Heavyweight Title

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP