CI - Brad Hawpe

[VolsRaysBucs]

12M

[28]

15 mil

[Colby]

FYI, while the bidding on Hawpe is nuts, it actually does need to end.  He should be listed only as an OF as he only played 9 games at CI in 2010 but retained OF eligibility.

[rcankosy]

At this point, I think the greater error would be to end it.  Dan made an earlier ruling, so we should abide by it imo.

[bravesfan4]

At this point, I think the greater error would be to end it.  Dan made an earlier ruling, so we should abide by it imo.

I totally disagree. Even if Dan made a ruling, the ruling does not agree with the rules of the league. The bidding on Hawpe or any other player who is not eligible for that position should not be allowed. I agree 100% with Colby's post.

[Dan Wood]

See Phelps, Cord (bid on by Rox, won by O's)... no one had a problem with it then. He never even played at CI except during the AFL, and is listed as an MI on Fantrax. He was won as a CI. Plus Cody Johnson(won by Pirates), was bid on, won, then dropped as a CI - listed on Fantrax as an OF.... So I based my judgement on previous instances that have occurred in the previous weeks... if we are going to say we are going to abide by the rules, then we cannot pick and choose when we do so.

[bravesfan4]

See Phelps, Cord (bid on by Rox, won by O's)... no one had a problem with it then. He never even played at CI except during the AFL, and is listed as an MI on Fantrax. He was won as a CI. Plus Cody Johnson(won by Pirates), was bid on, won, then dropped as a CI - listed on Fantrax as an OF.... So I based my judgement on previous instances that have occurred in the previous weeks... if we are going to say we are going to abide by the rules, then we cannot pick and choose when we do so.

I totally agree with you Dan. I did not know that about Cody Johnson or I would have agreed with that as well.

[Needle Juice]

Sorry to have begun this, but he is slated to be the everyday 1B for the Padres.  Did this based on the Phelps decision. 

The problem with this rationale, is that there is no standard for the minor league players.  FAs should be treated the same no matter what - Major or Minor League.  Cord Phelps played 3B in the AFL, only a winter league, and was ruled to be a CI. 

[Needle Juice]

Please also note that Alexi Casilla did not play enough CI games to qualify as well. 

[KDoc09]

I know I tend to not speak up in matters such as this, and it may not even be my place to do so, and while I agree with Colby in principle, Dan does make some very valid points. That being said, allowing one thing to happen just because it has happened in the past isn't a good enough reason to disregard the rules, and it sets a really bad precedent. It is my opinion that if the structure of Free Agency is to be maintained, a hard rule on when a player can be bid upon MUST be enforced. Clearly there were 2 instances when players who are not CI were allowed to be bid on as CI, and to me, that is where the problem lies- making exceptions is what opened the door for Hawpe to be put up for bid in the first place when he most certainly should not have been. It is my opinion that that is where the error was made, and I feel the only way to prevent this from becoming a larger issue in the future would be to nip it in the bud before it escalates and people start taking advantage of a perceived loophole.