Franchise tags (something like the NFL)

[ex-Pittsburgh Pirates]

Been playing around with some ideas in my head. See if you like any of these. I'm blatantly stealing some of this from the NFL.

Each year you can designate, if you'd like, an 'end of contract' player as a franchise player. This means his contract would extend for an additional year at a cost equal to the average of the top 5 contracts at his position. So if you have Mike Trout in his 5th year of the rookie contract, you can 'franchise' him for a 6th year, but his salary goes up to the average of the top 5 outfield salaries in the league at the time of the designation or stays at his current salary, whichever is greater. Here's the catch... you can't trade him. You can cut him, but if you do, you pay his entire salary for the rest of the year. No salary relief for you! Sound like fun? Oh, and this is the part Chicago will like... you can't franchise him if he is coming off a 1 year contract. And you can't use the franchise tag on him 2 years in a row.

[New York Yankees]

I would say the contract has to be for a minimum of 3 yrs.

[Minnesota Twins]

I'm intrigued. I like the 1 yr franchise idea. Anyone want to figure what the cost would be right now?

When are the figures calculated? If trout is a free agent does his contract count when figuring the outfield number?

[Minnesota Twins]

Also Danny Duffy is a SP/RP on yahoo so does his salary count for RP?

Villar count for multiple positions if his contract is high enough?

[ex-Pittsburgh Pirates]

i think a good rule of thumb is it woul dbe the highest of the multiple eligible positions. same for pitcher.

for the trout question, it would depend when we declare the franchise tag. id think it should count expired contracts.

[New York Yankees]

It would not include expired contracts. Here's the NFL rule:

An "exclusive" franchise player must be offered a one-year contract for an amount no less than the average of the top five salaries at the player's position as of a date in April of the current year in which the tag will apply, or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater.

[New York Yankees]

I would pick a deadline date like January 1st to declare, as long as it's prior to r FA Auction. The average of the top 5 contracts would be for the upcoming year, so expired contracts wouldn't count.

It could b done as early as next season. I like the idea Pitts, even if it's stolen!

[[e-mail]]

So if I like my doctor, I get to keep my doctor?

Ok bad joke. If I can keep Yoan Moncada for a 6th year, that sounds cool.

[Minnesota Twins]

We don't have to copy the NFL exactly. I say include expiring deals. Maybe figure the avg and you decide when submitting final roster? I'm leaning in favor so far

[New York Yankees]

I totally disagree Minny, by including expiring contracts, u include the crazy 1 yr deals like Trout's $37.5M deal n totally skew the average of the top 5 OF's. That basically makes Tagging an OF next year, not even a real option! I think, if u have the time n unfortunately I don't, it would be a good exercise to come up with the "costs" to Tag a player both ways, all 2017 salaries including expiring 2017 salaries like Trout vs upcoming 2018 salaries. Even though due to r Cashman's contract structure, where contracts escalate in future yrs, I believe u will still see a much higher 2017 average than for 2018 (should be other way). As long as the deadline to Tag is prior to r auction, u will automatically eliminate 1 yr deals n only the top 5 players with an active contract for 2018 will be considered. Honestly, this would be the only way I vote for the new rule as I hate 1 yr deals!

[Minnesota Twins]

Only difference in top 5 outfielders is trout swaps for pollack when you look at 1 yr vs multi yr.

W trout/expiring outfield avg of top 5 is $22.357

No trout/only multi yr deals the number drops to $17.738

Basically you want philly to have to pay over 20 mil to keep Harper an extra yr or give him a better bargain?

[Minnesota Twins]

If you wonder the guys I used were trout, Stanton, mccutchen, Braun, Bautista, pollack

[Deleted]

this list is very quickly done to best of my knowledge
who would be available to tag and be off the market for
everyone to bid on in FA. i believe all these are
expiring, multi-year contracts.

buster posey
alex gordon
jose bautista
matt harvey
joey votto
arrieta or verlander or n.cruz(pick 1)
sal perez
anthony rizzo or jacob degrom(pick 1)
jason kipnis or manny machado or bryce harper(pick 1)
robinson cano
s.marte

would kc have traded posey to balt if he knew he could
tag him for another year? votto also was traded.

nobody has time to figure out top 5 salaries. if ur
going to do it just apply a 1yr 15-20mil salary

[Minnesota Twins]

It actually should be easy using master spreadsheet, but I don't have access to it except from home. I was working on trying to get what it would be but had a meeting. Will try to finish up at lunchtime.

[Minnesota Twins]

Top 5 salary avg

SP: $21.52 mil
Rp: $15.01
C: $7.01
1b: $15.28
2b: $12.96
Ss: $4.77
3b: $7.76
Of: $22.36

These numbers are too low IMO especially with top SS coming up like Correa, story, lindor, bogaerts, Corey seager... I'd be more in favor of a straight $20 mil like chi suggested than let people keep Machado for less than 8 mil for example next yr.