Age Limits

[Jss0062]

Any interest in changing the age limits in the lowest three levels from 20 years old to 20, 21, 22?

[yahoolando]

The limits were before my time but they are in place to limit GMs from hoarding talent in lower levels.  That being said I am open to adjusting it.

Feel free to post your views.

Basically the limit comes into play as of April 1st.  I will scan the minors at that time and either move players if room is available or just dump them into FA if GMs don't conform.

Thoughts?

[DarylH]

I think gcl and ss should both be 23. It works for college draftees. Lots play in gcl and 4 year seniors would be right around that age.

As far as cleaning them up I think they should go on waivers and then FA.

[yahoolando]

I think gcl and ss should both be 23. It works for college draftees. Lots play in gcl and 4 year seniors would be right around that age.

As far as cleaning them up I think they should go on waivers and then FA.

They will not go on waivers. They will be released and become FA.  Hopefully it never gets to that point but there is no way I let the worst team pick them up if I am releasing them. They go to the market just like a player who doesn't get offered arbitration. That way everyone gets a shot at them. Most likely they are wire fodder anyway.

[chrisetc21]

I definitely agree with 23years old for rookie leagues and short season.

[Lindner]

I'm not a fan of the age limits in general.  We are allowed to carry over 200 minor leaguers.  If a GM wanted to "horde" any class of prospects, they have the ability to, regardless.  I think it adds extra work without doing anything positive for the league.  Just my two cents.

[yahoolando]

I'm not a fan of the age limits in general.  We are allowed to carry over 200 minor leaguers.  If a GM wanted to "horde" any class of prospects, they have the ability to, regardless.  I think it adds extra work without doing anything positive for the league.  Just my two cents.

There are limits in the minor league systems for Minor League Service Time.  This is harder to track for me and I think this is why originally there was an "age limit" added.  Before my time though.

Here is the typical breakdown.

AAA - no service time limit (therefore no age limit)
AA - no service time limit (therefore no age limit)
Adv A - max 2 players with 6+ years of minor league service time (we have no age limit)
A ball - max 2 players with 5+ years of minor league service time (2 over age limit 26) -  we could change this
SS A - max 3 players with 4+ years of minor league service time (4 over age limit 22) - can adjust
AZL or Rookie Ball - no players allowed with 3+ years of minor league service time (15 over age limit 19) - can adjust
DSL or VSL - international players only and no players with 4+ years of DSL/VSL service time (15 over age limit 19) - can adjust

Now these are the things I do know, I am not tracking minor league service time.  LOL.  But I would feel fine adjusting the age limit to 22 for the 3 bottom rookie teams instead of 19.  Guy gets drafted at 18 out of high school and plays 3 years gives 3 years to 21.

[chrisetc21]

All that moving players around must be time consuming.  Maybe no age restriction is better.

[johnbosma]

I wouldn't mind having no age restrictions. Or maybe something really simple like each team can have ____ minor leaguers total and only ___ can be 22 or older? And it could all be one big pool of minor leaguers. That way it eliminates a lot of the administrative work of moving minor leaguers from one minor league team to the next but keeps the challenge of having to evaluate and manage the minor leaguers to some degree.

[yahoolando]

1 big pool and no teams is easier for me!