1983 Free Agency Discussion

[Sully]

Keppel makes 9.5 mil / year + bonuses, which is 10% of my entire budget (which is right around what ARod makes from the Yanks - ~10-15% of the Yanks budget). I find it hard to fathom that I will have to shell out 33% of my salary for one player. That's ridiculous and I'm not ever going that high. I'm already wincing that my first offers for a few players, which met or *slightly* exceeded their ridiculous demands, were rejected. I'll play the FA game, but I've made my final offers to several players and will look elsewhere if they decide not to sign with me.

I really think it has to do with the first two years worth of FA's that were signed WAY above what they were asking/worth, and now we're seeing the ramifications of the ridiculous contracts offered then.

Well, we also have quite a few players in the league that signed ridiculously long contracts at a discounted rate. Unfortunately, in the past, we could ink players to a long deal at a low rate when they were coming out of arbitration. Also, players seemed to practically cut their demands nearly in half once they became injured. Those flaws appear to be rectified with the latest versions of OOTP. I've tried inking guys like Gorrie and Hannigan for 6+ years at what they're asking for over 2 or 3, and they're telling me they want more money. That's realistic.

I'm in the same boat as you. I'm making no offers to any big name FAs this offseason. I made a offer to a FA for what he wanted, and he said he wanted at least two more years, and a lot more cash. And this wasn't one of the guys seeking a ridiculous amount, but he's probably one of the most sought-after now because he isn't looking for 20+.

[Jistic]

The thing is too, there is a bazillion guys wanting 10mil. And middle of the road guys asking for 5 mil.

I think this is gonna be a huge mess. Lots of good players are gonna sit unless they drastically reduce their demands.

[Clay]

I think everyone will be signed

[Dave]

I also think everyone will be signed without "drastically" reducing their demands. As for the long-term contracts, it seems OOTP's way of dealing with that problem is to make a player's season to season performance a bit more of a crapshoot than it should be. I'm continually seeing guys hit .140 one season and then .280 the next, or a guy's skills completely dropping off the table when he's only 30 years old. I should be able to lock up a solid performer without worrying about his skills completely deteriorating out of nowhere or him completely forgetting how to hit within the span of one season, but I can't and that's going to make some people leery of shelling out a bunch of long term cash when they can go season by season without the risk factor.

[Pat]

I think that was just during the switch to OOTP 2007.

[Dave]

I think that was just during the switch to OOTP 2007.

Even if it is, considering we upgrade to a new version every two seasons or so, my point is still valid.

Kind of like they keep "fixing" FOF to tweak the short passing game and the defensive playcalling, which makes players better or worse than they were previously before the game was "fixed."

Provided you have a large enough budget to go season to season without getting locked into long term contracts, there's almost no reason to lock anyone up in these text sims that keep evolving as these leagues continue. This only serves to screw the small market teams who think they've locked up a good player at a reasonable price only to watch his skills change when we change versions of the game.

[Guest]

Very good point. A lot of us are guilty of it, but if you look at what guys like Keppel, Gremades, and Campoveroe are making now...and they're 3 of the best players in the league.

I pulled a Grady Sizemore on both Gremades and Abe a few seasons ago. I feel bad paying them so little.

Then again, no I don't.

[rubisco43]

I pulled a Grady Sizemore on both Gremades and Abe a few seasons ago. I feel bad paying them so little.

Then again, no I don't.

you shouldn't. i sure don't giving Jones and Keppel LONG term contracts.

[rubisco43]

Even if it is, considering we upgrade to a new version every two seasons or so, my point is still valid.

Kind of like they keep "fixing" FOF to tweak the short passing game and the defensive playcalling, which makes players better or worse than they were previously before the game was "fixed."

Provided you have a large enough budget to go season to season without getting locked into long term contracts, there's almost no reason to lock anyone up in these text sims that keep evolving as these leagues continue. This only serves to screw the small market teams who think they've locked up a good player at a reasonable price only to watch his skills change when we change versions of the game.

that's assuming the version switch was what caused the collapse (which I think it did). but that second part i whole-heartedly agree with you.

[mahoney2]

I also think everyone will be signed without "drastically" reducing their deman

I agree, I think some people are underestimating the amount of money floating around right now, there's a number of teams with $40mm+ in free budget room, a number with 20mm, then there's a bunch with under 5mm. Looking at them quickly, all these guys are going to be signed.

[Spectre]

One of my offers got laughed at

Screw you Dupois. The guy is my most hated player in the BLB now. I thought I was offering him too much for how crappy he was last year but I guess not.

[mahoney2]

I love the "well I have no interest in signing a minor league deal" series of notes that come back. Well then, maybe if you don't put up a -16.8 VORP in the BLB while hitting .120 I'd offer you a major league contract.

[Ryan]

I had a lot of guys that only wanted a minor league deal and upon offering them one, they laughed at me. Consistancy is swell.

It seems that everyone is split on the FA demands of some players. However, I believe there is an option to set how much superstars, stars, and so on earn in the game set up screen. Is this something we should look to adjust? Just a suggestion.

[liquidcrash]

3 are right now. But holy shit, did anyone else see that Clint Lance is making 17mil per? WOW!

Must you remind me of that?

[Clay]

One of my offers got laughed at

Screw you Dupois. The guy is my most hated player in the BLB now. I thought I was offering him too much for how crappy he was last year but I guess not.

Come on... the .224 blew... but dude had 32 doubles, 10 triples, 17 bombs, almost 100 RBIs and 34 stolen bases. Sure his BA and K's were ugly but at 29, he may be one of the top 2 or 3 FA's despite his initial asking price.