New Free Agent Designation

[chrisetc21]

We've been discussing a new free agent designation.  It's become very popular in this league to sign veterans and try to stash them in the minors in the event they become relevant.  It's just not realistic to be able to sign veteran MLB players for a PC+$50k offer.  So we're introducing a new veteran's minor league contract, VC+$500k will be a minimum minor league bonus for any free agent with six years MLB experience.  We'd like to implement this once free agency opens again.  Feel free to comment.  Thanks.

[Vik]

I got most guys I wanted for cheap, but going forward when we reopen and future years I'm cool with increasing. However, 500k is a huge jump, I'd propose 300k. 

[Maydab23]

I think 500k is just right. Most teams have plenty of cap space anyways evidenced by the astronomical FA prices this year.

[Jonathan]

 

[ldsjayhawk]

I don't understand the point or the benefit.  Minimum MLB salary is still 400k, right?  The point of having this option is to find a guy who might give some benefit at a low cost, especially if he doesn't pan out.

It seems like the point is to simply eliminate the practice. 

[Jss0062]

I don't understand the point or the benefit.  Minimum MLB salary is still 400k, right?  The point of having this option is to find a guy who might give some benefit at a low cost, especially if he doesn't pan out.

It seems like the point is to simply eliminate the practice.

Minimums are going up after the upcoming season. Eliminating the practice altogether would not be a bad idea as teams have trouble staying legal if too many injuries come up and they can’t find a warm body to sign in season.

[Maydab23]

Minimums are going up after the upcoming season. Eliminating the practice altogether would not be a bad idea as teams have trouble staying legal if too many injuries come up and they can’t find a warm body to sign in season.

These are good points. Salary cap rises, so do arb salaries, etc all the way down to min veteran contracts.

In a way this is to deter teams, not from signing these guys, just from signing all of them indiscrimately. Handing out 50K PC contracts like candy to hoard guys who are more or less retired is a bit much.

The decent ones will still all get scooped up at 500K. Hell, those ones get their prices driven higher than that oftentimes.

[Vik]

So what's the verdict, is this taking effect starting tomorrow when we reopen free agency?

[mgzd]

l vote yes to : VC+$500k minimum minor league bonus for any free agent with six years MLB experience.

[chrisetc21]

So what's the verdict, is this taking effect starting tomorrow when we reopen free agency?

Yes, it is taking effect.  It's been added to the existing rules for free agency bidding.