2018 Survey Results

[Easy Freese]

Thank you all for completing this year's Contract Baseball survey. I want to remind you that while we usually rule changes are done via this survey process, I as commissioner and in consultation with the FSC Board still retain the right to implement rules unilaterally if we deem them in the best interest of the league. It is important to remember that ultimately this is a Survey and thus not binding as per the rules outlined. Below are the results of the survey and my explanation for each whether they have been adopted or not.

Proposals:

#2 All players signed as free agents during the MLB season be limited to 1 year contracts. 5 Yes, 11 No.
This rule will not be adopted yet but I remain intrigued by this proposal and will continue to further evaluate it and will likely put it on the ballot next year.

#3 International MLB free agent signings aged 23 and above are ineligible to be drafted in the rookie draft. 9 Yes, 7 No.
This rule will be adopted though I have decided change the threshold from 23 and up to 25 and up. This will be in line with MLB's current international amateur rules. The prospect draft is, as it is named, intended for prospects. International signings who are older players and already playing at the highest levels professionally around the world are hardly considered prospects. It is not in the spirit of this draft to include such players. This proposal has received majority support both last year and this year and the change in age threshold from 23 to 25 should help accommodate those who were weary of such a rule by allowing more international guys to be drafted. It is important to note that domestic players above the age threshold can still be drafted. This rule will only apply to international signings. The specific wording for the rule will be made more clear once we update the rules this year.

#4 Allow teams to designate one prospect each year that they can send back to their prospect pool after being called up. Once this prospect is sent back down, he cannot be called up for the remainder of the season. This option can only be exercised on a player called up during the current season. 9 yes, 7 No..
While this rule received majority support, it will not be adopted just yet. It will almost surely be included in the survey again next year and might be something we consider for all contract leagues if the support is there for it, but for now, will not be adopted just yet.

#5 Change schedule so that each team plays other teams in their divisions twice and teams from the opposing division once. 16 Yes, 0 No.
Don't think Ive ever seen such unanimous support for a proposal. This will clearly be adopted for the upcoming season.

#6 Allow 1 year buyouts in the offseason on contracts $5 or less. 8 Yes, 8 No.
This rule will not be adopted, though the board remains committed to finding the perfect balance between allowing 1 year buyouts in the offseason for the purposes of clearing cap, while not making it easier for people to easily get out of bad long term deals. I have heard other compelling proposals as well as this one. All will be discussed with the board and any likely solution will be adopted by all contract leagues. For now though, the current rule stands and no one year buyouts in the offseason are permitted.

#7 Teams be allowed a maximum of two resigns for a player. After 2 resigns, team cannot resign player and must let player become a FA or trade player. 4 Yes, 12 No.
This rule will not be adopted. It was intended to escalate minor league salaries but clearly this has other consequences. The board is currently discussing a reworking of the minor league system and cap rules that will address this situation. No such solution however will likely include any restrictions on amount of years a player can be kept for, given the lack of support for this proposal.

#8 Expand roster positons to include additional starting IF and OF spot. 8 Yes, 8 No..
This rule will not be adopted though it will be included on the survey again next year. Perhaps an open debate about such a rule will be productive to hear all sides. This is clearly baseball specific so will be looking for more support before considering adopting any expansion of starting rosters.

#9 Move the waiver and FA deadline back to the end of the fantasy regular season. 13 Yes, 3 No.
The rule will be adopted for the upcoming season. It received significant support and will be in line with what the Contract Football league is currently doing. It also seems to benefit practically everyone as it gives the playoff teams more time to set up their roster for the playoffs, while also allowing rebuilding teams more time to find players that can be a part of their teams going forward.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss any decisions made here, I am happy discuss them. Please get in touch with me on Discord if youd like to discuss anything further about the survey.

[Moorestown Big Dogs]

It was mentioned that having further discussion on several of the Rule Change Proposals that were not adopted would be helpful, so I am sharing my thoughts here to perhaps start that discussion.

#2 (In season Free Agents can only be signed for one year) - This was my suggestion, so I definitely favor it. My thinking is that these players are similar to Minor League Call-Ups. If this were MLB, they are the guys in your minors who are not on the 40 man. If they were Minor League Call-ups, then they get a 1 year deal, so they should be a 1 year deal here.

#4 (1 prospect who gets called up being able to be sent back down, if he is still under the rookie limits) - No real strong feeling on this, as there have been times I would have liked to bring a hot young prospect up as soon as he is called up to MLB, but I do think it takes away some strategy by removing the tough decision as to whether to get use from him now, but raise his Cap Cost for next year onward. Very much like MLB teams keeping a guy down for the first month or so to get an extra year of control.

#6 (1 year Buyouts of $5 or less players) No strong opinion here either, I am happy with the rules the way they are, but don't think this would change things much.

#7 (2 Re-Signs of a player maximum) I also suggested this as an attempt to free up Free Agency a bit, so I like it but freely admit there may be a better approach. It was a much simpler approach than some of the things that were discussed last year in the pre-season, and I thought that might be better. Easy Freese wrote that the FSC Boards are looking at ways to achieve some sort of tweak, so I am hopeful that will generate something down the road. What I am trying to achieve is to get the Superstar players who are drafted for the Minors, and called up, to a "Market" price before they retire. As it stands now, a $2 Call-Up hits $9.25 in year 9, and only $19 by year 13. So if he is called up at 22, he is 35 and as we have seen in the MLB Free Agent market, 35 is OLD. A $1 Call up hits $5 in year 9 and $10.25 in year 13. I am open to any and all suggestions as to how to allow those players to hit the Free Agency Market at some point in their career, but definitely would like to see some adjustment.

#8 (Adding two more Batting slots, IF & OF) Pretty similar feeling to #6 here. Happy with the lineups as they are, but would be happy to add more players active. Obviously this would require significantly greater depth, and therefore would impact strategies, so if implemented I think it should be for perhaps two years down the road so that players who have a tight roster approach have time to grow their roster. Maybe add one spot each year would be best.

I hope others will share their thoughts, explaining why they agree or disagree. I know from Discord (GroupMe as well) that we are not shy about voicing opinions, and seeing some of the reasoning behind those opinions may help the board to continue to guide the leagues effectively.

Bruce