SIM COMPLETE - 1989 - Free Agency 2 (Off Season 5)

[Jim]

I would be up for a rule on how much bonus money can be included in an offer. I was in another league (briefly) and they had some rules on bonuses for the reason Matt brings up.

I include attainable bonuses in a lot of my offers. Not sure if it actually does anything or not but I like the minimum innings/ABs...in my head I think it encourages guys to stay healthy. Once the deal is done I've never kept track of those bonuses so I've never screwed a guy on money by not playing him.

[Matt]

It wasn't something malicious on my part. I think 21.9 million a year was plenty enough to get him to sign, anyways.

Yes I think you far outbid everyone else. I have no issue with your signing at all, it just caught me off guard that we could do bonuses. I got my leagues mixed up.

My suggestion would be my house rule...only if they want it can you ask for it when it comes to bonuses. It's easy to do and it's easy to track. Everything else just throws off the negotiation AI. If people would want to do bonus/AB/inning money then maybe set the cap at 10% of the total length of the contract. I offer a guy a 3 yr/$20 million dollar contract...then I can offer up to $2 million in bonus money.

I've also learned it's easier to change this issue now than a few seasons down the road when a few teams get into a FA battle and one wins from a bonus...it gets messy!

[Carlos]

We're not allowed to offer no-trade clauses, right? Or is that another league I'm thinking of here?

I don't like them, but I'm curious. Maybe I should just check the rules again.

[Clay]

No rule against no-trade clauses, but they are enforced.

[BradZ]

If no one else cares then I'm fine with it. The AI is just plain stupid though and bonus money really screws up its contract negotiation brain. It's ludicrous what I've done to it in SP...I'll see if I can sign a few in the BLB to show you.

I think Matt definitely brings up a good point. I don't think it's ever been an issue in this league because everyone has seemingly done things above board based on the honor system, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to hammer out a rule ($ cap or % cap as Matt suggests later), just to avoid any future issues that could arise.

[Pat]

Agree 100%.

[Jistic]

I never once thought about gaming the system with bonuses. The most I've done is 2Mil for something. Do we really need a rule for this? I'd like to think we have owners that wouldn't do anything stupid there.

Maybe if it comes up in particular we should just leave it to a vote and leave it at that?

[Pat]

I just think a simple rule of thumb would be really easy.

Maximum for any bonus is 10% of the highest salary? or something...


So if a player is offered a three year deal that breaks down as:

$3,000,000
$4,000,000
$5,000,000

And you want to give him a $500k bonus for 600 PA, then it works.

[Clay]

The issue is policing it.

I think it works fine on the 'honor system'.

[Andrew]

I never once thought about gaming the system with bonuses. The most I've done is 2Mil for something. Do we really need a rule for this? I'd like to think we have owners that wouldn't do anything stupid there.

Maybe if it comes up in particular we should just leave it to a vote and leave it at that?

I agree with this. It hasn't been an issue yet in the 10+ seasons so far, so I would hope it won't be an issue going forward.

[BradZ]

The issue is policing it.

I think it works fine on the 'honor system'.

I honestly don't think policing it would be that big of an issue. I'm 100% certain there are owners here who look at every single contract that gets signed.

With that being said, I also agree that the honor system has worked fine thus far, obviously.

[BradZ]

Maybe if it comes up in particular we should just leave it to a vote and leave it at that?

So a Contracts Committee (a la the Trade Committee)? Another owner can ask that a contract be reviewed for fairness then it goes to a vote?

[Lintyfresh85]

If it's really that big of a deal, you can drop Guardamagni off my roster and he can be fair game to everyone, again.

[Andrew]

So a Contracts Committee (a la the Trade Committee)? Another owner can ask that a contract be reviewed for fairness then it goes to a vote?

Not necessary IMO. This won't happen often enough for a committee to be needed. I'd just leave it up to the commissioner's office if it ever becomes an issue.

If it's really that big of a deal, you can drop Guardamagni off my roster and he can be fair game to everyone, again.

Absolutely nothing wrong with the contract you gave him, IMO.

[BradZ]

If it's really that big of a deal, you can drop Guardamagni off my roster and he can be fair game to everyone, again.

I don't think anyone is questioning your signing (or at least I know that's not why I am interested in the subject) so I don't think any of this discussion is directed at your signing (someone else can speak up if they have an issue). I think your contract is legit.

In fact, I'm going to lobby for "Guardamagni for Pale Ale 1990 - 1992" just so it costs you an extra $15mil.