Gee, Brad, this is like the third concession e-mail I have received from you this year. Each time, such an e-mail is followed by some trade announcement that suggests you are competing for this year, and usually some song-parody explanation. Until I see a real offer from you (and accompanying Beatles mock-up) for some of my many keepers, I will just assume you are competing. For what its worth, I like the Badfinger signature better than the “Becalmed” one.
By the way, to save you some time, since I know you write lots of e-mails, I drafted up your next trade announcement, to be used right after Vlad is hurt again (presumably soon):
“The Berliners and the Riptorns announce the following mutually beneficial swap-back deal: Riptorns trade Vlad The Impaler to Berliners for Josh Hamilton and ______ [insert name of low A ball bean].”
— Mark B.