What the Free Agent Class Might Have Looked Like

[clidwin]

i really never chim in, but I really would like to see a 1 week rule! makes this more realistic and that is why we are trying to simulate.

[bravesfan4]

Before we settled on the current RFA system, I pushed for an Arbitration system.  At the time we didn't have a good foundation for valuing players, but the current contract rules would certainly do the trick.  The only problem is the RFA tags are meant to help smaller markets more than large markets, and arbitration doesn't necessarily accomplish that.

I agree. I like the RFA for the simple reason of helping smaller market clubs.

Going to a 2 week period at the end of our season would be a huge win for the league. Here is the only downside. You will be forced to make moves on players without knowing there current real life situation. However the positives outway the negatives. It would be more like the real mlb and improve FA.

[BHows]

For the sake of realism, I agree that this should be changed. If for no other reason it will keep a steady flow of decent FAs.
The "sign and trade" system we currently have definitely favors larger market teams. A short time period would help this but probably wouldn't eliminate it.
Also,Ben's idea of Arbitration is intriguing and I would like to hear more about how it could be done.

[Canada8999]

I agree. I like the RFA for the simple reason of helping smaller market clubs.

Going to a 2 week period at the end of our season would be a huge win for the league. Here is the only downside. You will be forced to make moves on players without knowing there current real life situation. However the positives outway the negatives. It would be more like the real mlb and improve FA.

Here is my hesitation - you think it should improve FA, but would it?  I can tell you that even with only one or two weeks, I still would have traded all of the big names listed in the OP (Fielder, Lee, Werth, Gallardo).  I may have received less in return with less time to shop around, but I would not have shipped them before the deadline last year (had championship aspirations), and they would still not have reached FA this year...

[bravesfan4]

Here is my hesitation - you think it should improve FA, but would it?  I can tell you that even with only one or two weeks, I still would have traded all of the big names listed in the OP (Fielder, Lee, Werth, Gallardo).  I may have received less in return with less time to shop around, but I would not have shipped them before the deadline last year (had championship aspirations), and they would still not have reached FA this year...

I agree you would have been able to move them. But others would not have been moved. The class would be a little deeper. Thus more talent and less bad contracts. Your situation last year is why I believe we should have a little time after the season. If we do away with it, and allow all guys to be FA after the year, then in theory your team would have been screwed. Im sure you gave up some good specs to acquire some of those guys and you shouldnt be punished in the long run for making a run at it. Thus you should definately be allowed to resign or trade them. Just not 2 months worth.

[Mr.TradeKing]

Here is my hesitation - you think it should improve FA, but would it?  I can tell you that even with only one or two weeks, I still would have traded all of the big names listed in the OP (Fielder, Lee, Werth, Gallardo).  I may have received less in return with less time to shop around, but I would not have shipped them before the deadline last year (had championship aspirations), and they would still not have reached FA this year...

Exactly, this is why we need to consider the root of the problem instead of trying to tidy up the hedges. It comes down to whether this leagues wants the sign and trade or they don't.

~MTK

[Canada8999]

I agree you would have been able to move them. But others would not have been moved. The class would be a little deeper. Thus more talent and less bad contracts. Your situation last year is why I believe we should have a little time after the season. If we do away with it, and allow all guys to be FA after the year, then in theory your team would have been screwed. Im sure you gave up some good specs to acquire some of those guys and you shouldnt be punished in the long run for making a run at it. Thus you should definately be allowed to resign or trade them. Just not 2 months worth.

I would have been screwed for 2011, but I also would have thought twice before acquiring players with only 1 year left.  I was ready to let one or two of them walk for the two 1st rounder RFA compensation, so maybe I wouldn't have traded everyone.

I've split off the arbitration discussion to a separate thread, but it may affect how people want to handle this sign-and-trade discussion.

[KDoc09]

I personally feel that shortening the time period where you retain an expired contract to one week could help the depth of free agents, but I don't think that a quote-unquote star player will ever get to FA under that system. The owner of said impending free agent will almost always move a high-stature player before he ever hits free agency, that's just my opinion. As a result, mediocre or aging players will wind up getting contracts on par with some of the stars, which in the long-term will affect many teams ability to compete or move these bad long-term deals should they try to do so down the road. Shortening the time frame is a band-aid on a bullet wound- in my opinion, the sign and trade is the real problem not the amount of time an owner retains those rights. The contracts of players should expire at the end of the season, just as it does in MLB. MLB clubs do not retain a players rights once the season has ended, just the right of an exclusive negotiating window, which I believe is five days. Just my two cents.

[Canada8999]

MLB clubs do not retain a players rights once the season has ended, just the right of an exclusive negotiating window, which I believe is five days. Just my two cents.

That's another good point, in that we have a significantly longer exclusive negotiating window; teams have months rather than just 5 days.  This is in addition to the fact that our league doesn't need time to 'negotiate' as extension prices are fixed.  It's not a huge advantage, but teams have significantly more time make moves and clear space then their MLB counterparts.

[Canada8999]

As a result, mediocre or aging players will wind up getting contracts on par with some of the stars, which in the long-term will affect many teams ability to compete or move these bad long-term deals should they try to do so down the road

This does not concern me, as ultimately the supply/demand will balance out; if teams overpay for mediocre FA's this year, there will be less money available for FA in future years.  If today's big market teams are spending excess cash on bad contracts, it will ultimately hurt their future cap and drive small/large cap turnover which is a good thing.