News Flash: Possible Rule Change Referendums

[Flash]

GM,

There is a thread on the main board that was posted on May 23rd.  It's entitled "Thinking Out Loud".  I don't know how many of you actually peruse the FGM Board, but I think the issues raised by RyanJames5 are important enough to send out this league wide PM.  In our league by-laws, rule changes may be made through a referendum is 8 GMs support posting the referendum and 16 GMs vote to approve it.  In the past, we have had a couple of instances where we have made rule changes via the referendum process, and with many new members in FGM, I believe it's important to keep the general membership informed regarding issues raised by other FGM GMs.

Here are the issues raised in the "Thinking Out Loud" thread. 

1)  The establishment of an Injured Player List (IL) whereby we add IL spots to our existing MLB rosters.  This issue was raised a few years ago by BHows, but was never really discussed.  With Covid protocols, the increased propensity for MLB teams to use the 10 day IL (as opposed to the old 15 day Disabled List), and the rash of injuries that seems to be permeating our MLB rosters, RyanJames5 has suggested that the subject be re-opened for discussion.  The IL spots would allow free agents to be added (available cap permitting) without having to drop a rostered player.  Of course, when the IL player is activated by a given MLB team, our FGM teams must also activate their IL players.  Many of our teams have more than 3 players on the IL at the moment, so if we had, for example, 3 IL spots, players could be rotated into the open IL spots as players are activated.  Salary cap obligations would still exist for all teams and roster limits of 40 MLB players would still have to be honored.

2)  The second issue is the abolishment of our 60 day trade moratorium.  We currently have a 60 day no trade moratorium on newly signed free agents, extended players, and newly drafted rookies in our FYPD (First Year Player Draft).  This issue was raised last season by Anthony.  RyanJames5 has suggested that this issue be revisited.  We pride ourselves in mirroring MLB, but as many of you know, the 60 day moratorium is something we have exclusively in FGM that is not a part of MLB.  In the past, there has been some discussion of reducing it to 30 days for newly signed free agents and extended players, but keeping the 60 day rule for the FYPD (since MLB and FGM have a proviso that draft picks cannot be traded).

I am going to post this PM on the Transactions Board and encourage all of you to post your comments regarding these issues.  If we have 8 GMs support a given issue, we can put forth a referendum for a league wide vote.  If a change would be made, it would begin with the 2022 season.  Remember, your opinion as a member of Franchise GM is of great value to all members.  We want a league where members feel free to discuss issues, pro and con, so that we can do things collectively as a group.  As your moderator, I believe it's important to hear your voices and move accordingly as a league. 

Finally, last season I made some executive decisions based on the challenges presented by the pandemic, but those changes were from only one season (60 game schedule, 3 divisions, different playoff system, and modified player eligibility rules).  Those changes were a product of necessity, however, they were an aberration and not the norm.  Please take the time to think about the issues raised and let others know what you think.

 
Ernie - Flash 

[Flash]

GMs,

I thought I would provide an update on the referendum discussion on the FGM Board.  I posted this as a reply to the Thinking Out Loud thread, but I thought I should send that reply to all of you.

Even though we?ve only had 1/3 of the league chime in on the issues at hand, here?s what I see:

1) There are at least 8 GMs who support having IL spots added on Fantrax.  That is enough to support a vote on a league wide referendum.  I would envision a 2 player Injured List with strict monitoring to injure player are not kept on the IL once they have been returned to regular status by their MLB team.  I believe Fantrax has a monitoring mechanism for this.  I will research further before posting the referendum for a vote, but from a practical perspective, I think an FGM IL should be limited to players on the 60 day IL, because it would seem to be unmanageable if we included those players on a 10 day IL.  Who is on and who is off would require daily monitoring and that really seems like so cumbersome that it is creates more problems than it solves.  Our rules aren?t as liberal as MLB?s as to who can be placed on our MiLB rosters, so as such, a 10 day IL doesn?t seem as debilitating as a 60 day IL because we have 20 active spots and a 40 player MLB roster.  Additionally, with our 72 hour free agent bidding, getting a replacement player doesn?t seem as feasible. 

In the meantime, it would help if GMs posted what they would envision as the ideal amount of IL spots and whether it should be limited to players on the 60 day IL.  I am giving my perspective as a league moderator, and knowing my own limitations, I probably can?t monitor 30 rosters on a daily basis.  A 60 day IL would be easier to monitor and manage.

2)  At this time, there doesn?t seem to be enough support for a referendum on the 60 day no trade moratorium, so we cannot go any further on that issue at this time.