Fire Up the CCW Trade Machine!

Is this the year that the stove will finally get hot in the CCW midseason?

Though trades are a rarity in Circle City Wiffle - it’s challenging to find swaps that make sense for teams, with players being reshuffled yearly, not to mention having to order a new jersey for a new player - this season has already had an unprecedented amount of player movement. The offseason saw Hounds’ championship cornerstone Myc Witty jump to the rival Short Shorts, Aidan Palmer jumping from the Yaks to the Stampede, and many more unforeseen moves. Then, when Dustin Dowden signed up for the league midway through the Slow Pitch season, the Yakkers jumped at the chance to ink an ace, creating another midseason roster shuffling.

I’d like to hope that this is the year that we finally see trades shake the league up, as we approach the 4th of July CCW Trade Deadline. In that spirit, let’s fire up the CCW Trade Machine and propose some swaps! (Please note that I have no Jorf Porsson sources here - these are purely speculative)
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Stampede Move a Breakout Bat Buried in the Depth Chart
Yakkers receive: Tristan Dudas
Stampede receive: Yakkers’ 2026 draft pick

So, let’s get a couple of things clear off the rip. First, it is notoriously unclear what non-player capital can legally be traded in CCW. I’m pretty certain that draft picks, and draft lottery “balls” can be traded. It’s not clear of managers can trade future salary cap points, but in the interest of making things interesting, let’s say they can.

This is the least splashy, but most obvious, in my opinion, potential deal on the list. Tristan Dudas is taking major strides forward at the plate this season, but even so, is somewhere between the 4th and 6th best hitter in the Stampede’s loaded lineup. It’s unlikely, as things stand now, that he’ll crack the team’s playoff batting lineup.

So, let’s instead get him on a team where he instantly becomes perhaps the Yakkers’ number 2 bat on the team. Tristan gets more at bats, and a greater chance to continue his ascension, and the Yakkers gain some badly needed lineup pop. In return, the Stampede - who have gotten really strong production from a number 1 pick this season - get another strong shot at the top pick next season by acquiring the Yakkers’ pick. 

Who Says No?: I could see arguments from both sides. Cade and Stampede are one injury away from Dudas becoming a more crucial bat, and if Rudy sees this Yakkers’ season going nowhere, may not want to lose future capital for this season. But, I’ll go out on a limb here and say this benefits both teams, and no one says no. 

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Yakkers and Moonshots Swap from Respective Strengths
Moonshots receive: Dalton Lewis
Yakkers receive: Nolan Karwoski

Here’s another mutually beneficial swap of role players, in which both teams deal from a position of strength for a position of weakness. The Yakkers, despite their current place in the standings, have an enviable amount of pitching depth. In this deal, DLewwy would return to where he had the best season of his career 2 years ago with the Moonshots, helping to solidify a thin rotation behind Will Smithey. He’d join Ian Garavalia and Connor Smith and provide a steady, veteran arm to anchor the more unproven options.

The early returns on Karwoski’s rookie season look promising, as anyone who was present at the Rookie Combine could have predicted. He’s got a huge, powerful swing, and hits the ball hard when he isn’t getting hit in the dome with fastballs (dude is a magnet). Similarly to the previous deal, Karwoski would leave a deep lineup that could afford to lose him, and instead become a surefire top 4 bat on the Yaks. 

Who Says No?: I think this is a no-brainer for the Moonshots. Rudy’s comfort with the deal would depend on how he views his pitching depth, and how he feels about his own arm and it's ability to be more heavily leaned upon this season. Let’s say it's another done deal. 

8 Balls Get Pitching Impact, Shorts Get Pitching Depth
8 Balls receive: Dustin Laugel, Keegan Caughey
Short Shorts receive: Jay Wilsey, Alec Berninger

The 8 Balls currently have lots of options for the rotation after Reid Werner, but none of them are what you would describe as “impact”. The Shorts, conversely, have Witty, of course, a solid number two in Laugel, and then a big question mark. This could solve both problems for both teams.

Laugel would represent a likely improvement, and certainly more of a sure-thing than the 8 Balls’ current rotation depth. He slides right into the number two role after Werner, and despite losing Wilsey and Berninger in this deal, they still have Gurtcheff, House, and rookie John Mitchell to fill in behind. Caughey would help fill the hole in the lineup left by their trade package, truly turning their lineup into “Reid Werner - the fastest guy in the league - and then the 3 slowest”.

Meanwhile, the Shorts get a boost in the rotation depth, with Wilsey and Berninger serving as the innings eaters behind Witty. Both have looked good in limited duty so far this season, and can contribute at the plate, as well. Wilsey, in particular, has had a great start to his season and would likely slide into a sneaky good Shorts lineup. In this case, getting an extra reliable arm is worth the cost of Laugel for the Shorts, in my opinion.

Who Says No?: I think you can measure a good trade by if both teams don’t feel great about what they’re giving up, and I think this one fits the bill. 8 Balls manager Werner likely makes his decision based on his perspective on Wilsey’s hot start. If he believes it’s sustainable, he probably says no - if not, he can capitalize while his value is high. For Dudas and the Shorts, I think this is a net gain for a team with title aspirations - getting a little worse in game 2s to get a lot better in game 3s. Playoff seeding may be extremely important for this team, so that they can start as many playoff games as possible with Witty on the bump, and this deal should gain them a couple extra wins. 

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Yakkers Sell Off Part 1
8 Balls receive: Dustin Dowden
Yakkers receive: Alex Gurtcheff, Alec Berninger, John Mitchell, 5 2026 cap points

Now, our position in the season and the postseason format means that no team is really out of it. But, for fun, let’s imagine a world where a cold start for the Yaks informs a roster tear down. In this deal, the Yakkers trade off ace Dustin Dowden to an 8 Balls team that could become a real threat with a 1-2 Werner/Dowden punch. This gives the 8 Balls a top of the rotation to rival the Stampede, though the price they pay is considerable.

The new-look Yakkers would then receive a haul in return. Gurtcheff has had a slow start to fast pitch season, but assuming he gets going, becomes a power threat in a Yakkers lineup desparately needing some. Plus, Werner has made several public comments in the league Discord that he would love to trade Gurtch, and now he finally gets his chance. Berny and Mitchell provide more depth for the Yaks, and they get a potentially extremely valuable asset in extra cap points for the following season, if they really are folding here. It’s tough to replicate Dowden’s value in a deal, but this may be enough to make the Yakkers really think about it.

Who says no?: The 8 Balls lose a lot of depth in the rotation, and take an offensive hit to make this happen, but the value added makes up for it. The Yakkers, however, only do this if they believe the depth they have, and added offensive punch, can keep them competitive. This puts them in a better roster building spot for next season, too. 

Yakkers Sell Off Part 2
Short Shorts receive: Rudy Lyon
Yakkers receive: Connor Young, Byron Young, Shorts’ 2026 draft lotto balls

This would be an unprecedented maneuver - Yakkers’ manager Rudy Lyon trading himself off the team. It’s not the first time the scenario has been floated though, as Brendan Dudas famously claimed that if Dowden was made available on waivers to the Shorts, he would drop himself to accommodate the claim (hold that thought for later). In this scenario, Rudy gets a chance to compete for a title with the Shorts, hands the keys to the Yaks over to Dowden, and nets them a few solid pieces for the short and long term.

The addition of Lyon would be just what the doctor ordered for the Shorts. His consistently top tier bat would be an excellent addition to a lineup that falls off pretty significantly after Dudas and Witty at the top - especially when subtracting Young in this trade. Rudy would also slide in as the number two arm behind Witty, pushing Laugel to the 3 spot, which would give them a leg up over most competition in both spots. 

The Yaks, however, retool pretty successfully in the return they receive. Connor Young was last year’s Rookie of the Year, and has picked up right where he left off, just narrowly missing Hitter of the Week honors in Week 2 of the season. If he continues that pace, the offensive drop off from Rudy to Young may not be too steep. He, and his brother Byron, the other piece of this deal, would also fill in the gaps on the mound left by Rudy’s departure. By receiving the draft lottery balls as well, the Yakkers are set up well to get a premier pick in the next year’s rookie draft. Rookie drafts can be a crapshoot, but with the likes of guys like Laugel, Young, and most recently Brayden Scott going early in recent drafts, the potential for impact with that pick is high.

Who says no?: This is a go-for-it move for the Shorts, and I believe they would not shy from the acquisition cost to add a tailor-made fit for their roster in Lyon. I would have a hard time imagining that Rudy would leave the Yakkers - a team of his conception - but if he really wants to chase a ring, this may be his best opportunity.

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Moonshots Land Buis in Blockbuster Deal
Moonshots receive: Mitch Buis
Hounds receive: Tyler Gregory, Ian Garavalia

Listen - we all know that the odds of Smithey dealing T Greg are close to zero - but let’s just pretend this is possible. This would be a huge shake up in the league, with a couple of star veterans changing hands, and I think it makes both teams better.

First, the Moonshots get a really strong number 2 behind Smithey for the first time in the balanced-roster era of CCW. And while the acquisition cost stings - Gregory’s bat is elite and Garavalia shows a lot of promise on the mound - the Shots and their deep lineup are built to weather that loss. Buis is no slouch at the plate either. Going against a pair of Smithey and Buis in a best of 3 playoff season is a daunting task.

Meanwhile, the Hounds, also looking forward to the postseason 3 game series, fortify their lineup while potentially not losing much in run prevention. Austin Alles has looked excellent on the mound so far - sliding him into the second starter position in Buis’ absence may leave them no worse for wear. And now, Garavalia provides the remaining innings as one of the league’s best number 3 arms. Offensively, they can roll out a 4 man lineup of Alles, Dylan Jones, Gregory, and Coby Taylor. Those might be the 4 dudes in the whole LEAGUE who carry the most raw power. Good luck limiting that group even with an elite arm on the mound.

Who says no?​: If it wasn’t clear, I love this deal for both teams. But, it will never happen. Feel free to push the deal through on your CCW video game sim, though. 

Stampede Get Even Scarier with Dudas Swap
Stampede receive: Brendan Dudas
Short Shorts Receive: Nick Bundy, Tristan Dudas

You can now release the thought you’ve been holding since earlier of Dudas trading himself. Finding a trade partner for the Stampede was so hard during this exercise - their roster is so complete and deep the number of players that could actually improve them, that another team would be willing to give up, was close to zero. Enter the return of the Dudas-trades-himself scenario.

Dudas is one of a handful of guys that would improve the Stampede’s playoff four-man lineup. His addition - albeit at the expense of Bundy - would let this lineup go toe-to-toe legitimately with any other in the league. Not to mention, a defensive group of Dudas and Dalsen Murdock would become the best in the league, as well. 

The price here is steep though - as Bundy does have the potential to actually out-produce Dudas at the plate. He’s off to an excellent start this season, doubling down on his stellar half-season with the Hounds last year. The Shorts would hope that his production would not be a steep drop-off from Dudas’, and that the added production received from Tristan, as well, would make up the difference. 

Who says no?: Imagining a world where this takes place and Dudas hands over the reins of the Shorts to Myc Witty, Witty would say yes to this deal only if he worries for the production he’d receive from the 4th lineup spot in a playoff scenario. Otherwise, the surplus value the elder Dudas provides in the field makes this too hard a pill to swallow.

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There you go, CCW Managers - plenty of options to choose from. Here’s hoping 2025 is the year that we finally see some trades go down. Let us know your best trade machine deals too!