The inaugural WAR season begins with the actual MLB 2020 regular season. Each WAR GM is inheriting the MLB 2019 roster as of July, 1, 2019 complete with original contracts for every ball club. Contracts are
based off of sportstrac but the
commissioner has final say as for example the minimum wage in the MLB is $575k but in WAR it is $500k so a determination must be interpreted.
Contract rules can be found here: http://www.profsl.com/smf/index.php?topic=360637.0In WAR the 2019 cap is for each franchise to know where it is relative to the WAR cap. No cap penalties for 2019 are applicable. 2019 cap space is used for buyouts and/or cash exchanges until the start of 2020 offseason. 2020 off season will start once each team has had the opportunity to address its future from July 1 2019.
All teams must be and remain cap compliant for the 2020 season as well as every season beyond 2020 or the team is in violation immediately starting the violated year. If over the 2020 cap, violation is immediate.
The 2019 cap may be exceeded via trade as long as the team is legal for the upcoming 2020 campaign. No trade can be made that makes a team illegal in cap for 2020. Any such trade would be an automatic veto.
