Minor League Roster Limits

[Ryan]

The problem with that is sometimes those two players you cut, now start asking for $350k per year, instead of minor league deals.

Thats what I'm saying. I believe the guys that never get drafted will accept minor league deals more easily than those that get drafted and then cut. No proof, just some things I've noticed in my SP league. Not sure how it works in online leagues though, but I'd imagine its the same.

[Riverman]

The problem with that is sometimes those two players you cut, now start asking for $350k per year, instead of minor league deals.

If that is true then it makes sense to shorten the draft. I've noticed guys with no pro experience or indication that they have ever been drafted sometimes refuse to sign a minor league deal though.

If we do shorten I think we should leave the draft class the same size. We certainly don't need anymore impact players than are already being created and I don't think anyone wants less.

[Ryan]

If that is true then it makes sense to shorten the draft. I've noticed guys with no pro experience or indication that they have ever been drafted sometimes refuse to sign a minor league deal though.

If we do shorten I think we should leave the draft class the same size. We certainly don't need anymore impact players than are already being created and I don't think anyone wants less.

Yeah, the number of impact guys seems about right.

[Sully]

I don't really understand what you are saying. If you were carrying extra guys, how is that any different than "the select few" that were doing the same? Also, how does going from 30 to 25 make it so "Andrew doesn't have to police it"? For the record, I'm all for the 25 roster limit of healthy players. Just expect more injuries.

Diesel, I was carrying 2 extra guys, not 26.

[Riverman]

I have some questions and concerns about this new rule and related issues.

Are we going to be allowed to sign minor league FAs when our minor-league rosters are already full? I would think not since one of the main reasons the new guys have had trouble finding enough players for their minors is that some teams (one actually) often has 100+ minor-league players in their system.

I understand it is frowned upon to treat the DFA list as a reserve minor-league roster but is there actually a rule prohibiting using it in this way? If so, what is the penalty for failing to adhere to that rule? I have never noticed anything in this regard in the rules section.

What is the penalty going to be for more or less ignoring the new minor-league roster limits? I don't mind cutting a few guys but part of the year I don't have time to deal with constantly-shifting roster limits and the rest of the year I doubt I'll have the inclination to do so. I like to be in compliance with the rules but this one is going to create a lot of extra work especially after sims where several injuries hit especially to starting pitchers; it is too much work finding guys who are both appropriate to the minor-league level needed and are willing to accept a minor-league deal. It is also going to be a big waste of time to have to constantly check our minor leagues to see if a player(s) needs to be cut because others have recovered from injury during the last sim.

[Andrew]

Are we going to be allowed to sign minor league FAs when our minor-league rosters are already full? I would think not since one of the main reasons the new guys have had trouble finding enough players for their minors is that some teams (one actually) often has 100+ minor-league players in their system.

Yes you will be allowed to sign minor league FA's when your roster is full. However, if you do end up signing somebody you will be expected to cut somebody else during the next sim to get your roster back down.

I understand it is frowned upon to treat the DFA list as a reserve minor-league roster but is there actually a rule prohibiting using it in this way? If so, what is the penalty for failing to adhere to that rule? I have never noticed anything in this regard in the rules section.

Frankly, I didn't think we'd need a rule that covered this. The rules state:

• As a General Rule, everything you do should be for the betterment of your organization. You should run your team as an actual Baseball team would. In most cases, common sense should prevail.

Obviously in this case, common sense didn't prevail.

In real life if a team started shuffling a player back and forth between the minors and DFA, the player would probably tell them to go fuck themselves after the 2nd time.

As far as punishment, if a team is found to be using their DFA as a 4th minor league team I will determine punishment at that time. It will probably include a substantial fine and possibly loss of draft pick(s).

What is the penalty going to be for more or less ignoring the new minor-league roster limits? I don't mind cutting a few guys but part of the year I don't have time to deal with constantly-shifting roster limits and the rest of the year I doubt I'll have the inclination to do so. I like to be in compliance with the rules but this one is going to create a lot of extra work especially after sims where several injuries hit especially to starting pitchers; it is too much work finding guys who are both appropriate to the minor-league level needed and are willing to accept a minor-league deal. It is also going to be a big waste of time to have to constantly check our minor leagues to see if a player(s) needs to be cut because others have recovered from injury during the last sim.

The new minor league roster limit will not be strictly enforced. If you go up to 26 players for a week chances are nobody will even notice. However, if I notice somebody is violating the rule, I might monitor their minor leagues a little more closely the next few sims to see if they comply with the rule. If not, I will determine punishment (probably a fine) based on the severity of the offense. Somebody who blatantly ignores the rule will receive a much harsher fine than somebody who forgot to cut a player when somebody got healthy.

My guess is that people check their full minors about once a week (IRL). I'm not expecting people to start checking them every sim so punishment will only be handed out in cases where the rule is repeatedly ignored/violated.

[Pat]

Anyone else think 30 in Single-A is a good idea?

As we get closer to the draft, everyone is either going to have to cut draft picks, or make room for 15+ new guys at Single-A...its going to rough.

[Clay]

Well, it's going to force people to cut 28-32 year olds in AAA that will never make the show... and bump AA and A guys who might not quite be ready. Plus, as you mentioned, the cutting. It will definately change the minors.

[Carlos]

I do not favor 30+ in any level.

No team has 90 players that are going to make the show. Heck, none of us have 30 players that will make the show.

We all know that most of the guys in the minors fit into one of two categories.

1. Hopeful
2. Filler

You hope they will have some amazing talent jump or they are there so you have backup in the outfield or infield. So you could have that catcher to give your prospect catcher some rest every couple of days.

There is no need to go more than 30. I don't think there's any need to go over 25+5.

By the time the new class comes around there are 15 players you know you can cut and not miss.

[Carlos]

Another thing. This is why I think we need a full-season of A Ball (draft in the winter).

After a full season, guys get talent jumps and drops. You can evaluate a player better. It makes promoting A ball players to make room for draft picks more sensible. There is a logic behind it.

I personally think that anyone with close to 90 players needs to massacre their minor league system. It's too full and you're preventing your young players from developing.

[Pat]

I do not favor 30+ in any level.

No team has 90 players that are going to make the show. Heck, none of us have 30 players that will make the show.

We all know that most of the guys in the minors fit into one of two categories.

1. Hopeful
2. Filler

You hope they will have some amazing talent jump or they are there so you have backup in the outfield or infield. So you could have that catcher to give your prospect catcher some rest every couple of days.

There is no need to go more than 30. I don't think there's any need to go over 25+5.

By the time the new class comes around there are 15 players you know you can cut and not miss.

I'm not asking for more than 30. I'm asking what everyone thinks about being allowed 30 at the Single-A level ONLY.

And I'm speaking for myself here, but I know at the Double-A and Single-A level, majority of my players have potential to make it to the bigs. By that I mean hitters that are at least on the 4-4-4-4-4 potential level, and pitchers at 4-4-4.

[Riverman]

Another thing. This is why I think we need a full-season of A Ball (draft in the winter).

After a full season, guys get talent jumps and drops. You can evaluate a player better. It makes promoting A ball players to make room for draft picks more sensible. There is a logic behind it.

I personally think that anyone with close to 90 players needs to massacre their minor league system. It's too full and you're preventing your young players from developing.

I like to have a few extra guys at each level because I want to have appropriate backups for all positions even after I've had some injuries and I don't want to have to go out and sign new players when guys go down just to have a complete roster. I also like to have players at the level at which they belong based upon their development. Obviously both of those things are not going to be possible with the new system.