Discussion regarding Players becoming Free Agents

[Moorestown Big Dogs]

Proposal for discussion regarding a future adjustment to the resigning of players. After review, feel free to point out flaws or possible loopholes, suggest changes to areas where you have disagreement.

This change to the rules would take effect in 2019 so that all owners have time to prepare accordingly.

All players who have not been auctioned since passing the rookie eligibility threshold, and whose current salary is $3 or higher will become Restricted Free Agents. Restricted Free Agents are auctioned to the highest bidder. The previous owner then has the right to match that bid within 24 hours and retain the player. This rule does not apply to re-signing of players after their 1 year “Call-Up” Contract.

Additionally, Draft picks will now be assigned initial call up prices of $3 for the 1st round picks, $2 for 2nd, 3rd & 4th round picks, and $1 for 5th round picks.

Practical application of these adjustments:

1st round picks, often the top players from the most recent year’s MLB draft or players who have really shown something in the last year, can be owned for 5 seasons ($3, $4.50, $5, $5.50, $6.25) will be eligible to be kept by the owner at market cost for an additional 4 years by matching the highest bid if they so choose, and will be owned at very reasonable costs, giving them good value for their efforts.

2nd, 3rd & 4th round picks can be owned for 5 seasons, ($2, $3, $3.50, $4, $4.50) and because they are less likely to pan out will be owned at very reduced costs, and will be eligible to be kept by the owner at market cost for an additional 4 years by matching the highest bid if they so choose.

Finally, the 5th round picks can be owned for 9 seasons ($1, $1.50, $1.75, $2, $2.25, $3.50, $4, $4.50, $5) because they are truly less likely to pan out and/or were taken many years in advance and had to be patiently waited for, are owned way below market cost and will be eligible to be kept by the owner at market cost for an additional 4 years by matching the highest bid if they so choose.

Players purchased as Free Agents, but whose contract would fall under this proposal would also then be subjected to the marketplace. As an example, Albert Pujols came out of nowhere in 2001 because the Cardinals were desperate for a 3B (remember he started out as a 3B?) at the start of the season. He was a 13th round draft pick and not on anyone’s radar. So if someone, maybe a Cards fan, put him up for Auction on Opening Day, got him for $1, he would come up for auction again at the end of his contract, since he had never been auctioned when people had an idea of his value. And the sharp owner who had gotten him first could match the offer to keep him.

I feel this gives owners who use the Minor League draft well significant value for those efforts, though less than they receive currently. And I feel it will keep the league dynamic by increasing the number of players on the Free Agent market each off-season, and making sure, in a Salary Cap League, that the vast majority of players are being owned at some semblance of their market value for most of their career.

[CFL Rejects]

Lol sorry but I cant see it working where you can tell a owner how long he can sign a player for.

I would much rather soo an increase in the cost to resign. By this it would acomplish the same idea but allows a manager to resign a player at his own discression. It will eventually get to a point where its not finacially possible to sign the player.

[Green & Gold]

To expand on my suggestion.
Owners would have 4 years of team control after minor player call up. $2 minor would grow to $3, $3.5, $4, $4.5.
Following the 4th season the owner has the option to offer arbitration. At the $4.5 salary said players cap would double to $9. 2nd year of arbitration would be $18. Offer owners the option of arbitration for 3 seasons. One season at a time. 3rd season of arbitration the owner has the right to offer arbitration at a salary of $36 or let him become a RFA. Owner would have the option to match the highest bid after 24 hours.
If arbitration is granted for year 3, player becomes a URFA after his $36 contract expires and the owner has the right to bid on said player.
If the owner decides not to offer arbitration in years 1 and 2, said player becomes an URFA and owner may bid. Buyout rates remain the same.

I would also be fine with considering a players forced call up to be his 1st year of team control. Currently with the $2 minor, after his 1st year at $2, the owner has control for another 4 years. Leaving space here to increase cap from $2 to $3.

[Moorestown Big Dogs]

To begin, I am glad to see so much input on the GroupMe chat.

Responding to CFL above: Going to increased cost to re-sign is an alternative, but I think that if we continue to have up to 4 year contracts, we should go with something like 20% increase per year and 100% to re-sign. If nothing else changed, it would mean that 3-5th round picks would be making $1 in call up year, $2 in year 1 of 4 year deal, then $2.50, $3, and $3.75 in year 5. If re-signed for 4 more years, it would be $7.50, $9, $11, $13.25 in last year of 2nd re-signed contract. That seems pretty fair. For 1st or 2nd round picks it would be $2, $4, $5, $6, $7.25, $14.50, $17.50, $21, $25.25 in year 9.

Green & Gold's idea also has merit, with lower rates early on but escalating much more rapidly.

Understand, I am looking to get this discussion going because I see over $700 of available Cap Space, and about 10 bats that are worth a bid of more than $10 and probably three SP that deserve a bid of more than $10. I openly admit I have not gone through Free Agency yet, and maybe I will see that all is well. But if not, I am hoping that we can reach a consensus of what direction the changes should be in. And for those who have been planning well in advance, note that I started my post indicating that changes should be for the 2019 season to allow for adjusted strategies.