Rule change proposal

[ex-Pittsburgh Pirates]

I wanted to throw something out there with regard to another rule change that would take effect next season (I've got no problem with the other new rule..this is independent of that.)

Everyone is trying to sneak their 'end of contract' guys through blind bidding. I do it too. I'm not criticizing people who do. It's smart business sometimes.

Problem is, it is watering down the free agent period.

So I wanted to throw a new rule proposal out there....after Aug 1 (or Sept 1, or Aug 15...you pick a date), all blind bid contract lengths are for 1 year only. This way, you can still pickup that player you need to make a push in the standings. But it becomes pointless to try and bypass free agency by sneaking a guy through waivers.

If that is too restrictive....then how about a rule that after Aug 1 (or whatever), if you drop a guy you have to wait 1 extra blind bid day to bid on him. For example, if I drop Mark Reynolds on Thursday, everyone EXCEPT ME can bid on him for Sunday. I have to wait an extra blind bid period which means if nobody wants him on Sunday, I am free to bid on him for Wednesday. Actually, I kind of like that rule better. Just thinking out loud.

Any feedback?

I'm fine keeping things the way they are if nobody likes these proposals. I think I invented the 'sneak your guy through blind bidding' process 2 years ago anyway.

[Deleted]

I agree with this idea. Something needs to be done.

[Minnesota Twins]

I don't know if this is necessary. Who has snuck through? I admit I did bid on Broxton, but far less than he sold for.

edit: Also I think the FA pool is going to be deep this syear anyway.

[Deleted]

If you feel a rule change is necessary, the easiest thing to do is after a certain date (say Sept 1) any player dropped may not be re-signed by that team until free agency begins. This would allow other teams to bid on the dropped player, but prevents mangers from dropping expensive players and trying to re-sign them for considerably less.

[Admin]

i'm good with any new rules that would improve our league.
but who has gone thru so far...
youk--injured and was paid 8.1mil. probably market price. he may have been overpaid in last years auction.
johan--injured. no guarantee he'll be back. got him on the cheap only because balt's bid was invalid. his bid was 4.5mil(sorry balt)
not cheap.
broxton--lost closer job, who knows what his role will be next year. 4.5mil not cheap for a holds guy?
manny--old, coming back next year?
damon--old, you can have him for min.
teams still have $$$. you want to risk sneaking them thru, go right ahead. nothing goes unnoticed here. why would you want to put wainwright or a-rod into play and give the competition a possible monetary break? let 'em pay thru the nose after the season. i am not worried about this at all. remember a player dropped has to be a free agent for at least 24 hours. that money is then split for pitt/bost to bid on him, along with the others. now if minn drops mauer all pitt has to do is bid on him and tell the freeagent acct to drop reynolds and use that extra $$$ on him. Thats the advantage for the releasing team. Thats my concern. bost still gets the money but it comes after mauer is won...tho he then can bid on reynolds.
free agent auction will be very deep.

[ex-Pittsburgh Pirates]

If most people don't care about the issue, then that's fine. I won't make a fuss. The only thing I'd add is that it kind of screws the teams who are tight on the cap this year and may have been anticipating cap space in the offseason. Those teams miss the chance to bid on these players in the FA period after the current season money expires.

[Deleted]

Yes, they miss that opportunity because they already spent most of their salary. Their decisions - no one forced them to spend that much.

[Minnesota Twins]

I agree. If they put themselves in cap trouble this yr (especially from trading 1 yr deals and paying for the year) that's their problem. I have dealt with cap space issues a lot. That is part of the game.

[ex-Pittsburgh Pirates]

I agree. It is all part of the decision making and I have no problem with it.

My biggest point is just that it somewhat dilutes the free agent period. The free agent period is one of the most interesting things about this league. I just didn't want to see it diminished.

We can put these proposals back on the shelf. It wasn't a big deal to me...just wanted to throw it out there.