I would like a ruling by the Rules Commitee

[Canada8999]

I'm indifferenct, perhaps we should match MLB rules on this one.

Same thoughts here...

[Colby]

Time to vote RC...  We should probably match MLB on this one and allow a free drop of a retired player.  However, the caveat must be that this retiree must be declared whenever free agency is open AND that a comment of the player's voided remaining contract is still in the books (@ $0).  If the player decides to come back within the next year then that team has first rights on the player.  The GM must decide if they would like to bring the player back at the original contract or release their rights and take on cap hits.

[lp815]

Agreed.  I recommend we follow MLB rules.

[clidwin]

I disagree on this one, I believe that teams that sign old players to large contracts, should have some sort of penality. cause then teams wont bid crazy on old players. Such as Ben Sheets. 15m in Free Agency. And Seattle decided to sign him for the next 3 years. If you were any team YOu would be stupid not to sign old players to long contracts. Its cheaper in the long run. I believe that teams should have to pay the rest of the contract out or a percentage of the contract, to end.

[Colby]

I disagree on this one, I believe that teams that sign old players to large contracts, should have some sort of penality. cause then teams wont bid crazy on old players. Such as Ben Sheets. 15m in Free Agency. And Seattle decided to sign him for the next 3 years. If you were any team YOu would be stupid not to sign old players to long contracts. Its cheaper in the long run. I believe that teams should have to pay the rest of the contract out or a percentage of the contract, to end.

Good point Chad.  What happened in real life with Kenji Johjima?  He was on the books for $8m a year through 2011.  Now, that money is not on the books because he voided his contract by retiring from MLB and going back to Japan.

One point to keep in mind is that our term limits prevent abuse of long contracts.

[clidwin]

i do understand that we have limits on contracts, but I just think that teams should owe that money or a precentage payed!

[Colby]

i do understand that we have limits on contracts, but I just think that teams should owe that money or a precentage payed!

50% of normal cap hits?

90/60/30 --> 45/30/15
75/50/25 --> 37.5/25/12.5

OR to be simple

Retired players can only be "retired" during the 90/60/30 season, and the cap hits are 45/30/15?

[Canada8999]

I say we do not add any rule at this time, since it seems like we don't really know what the best approach is - we don't yet know how to define exactly what criteria must be met for the drop to be fair.  Giving teams a free pass to shell out long contracts to players and then be rid of the contract as soon as they retire is not fair.  Having teams get stuck with reasonable contracts when the player retires unexpectedly is not fair.

I say for now, we handle this on a case by case basis:

• If a GM thinks they deserve to be freed from a contract because the player unexpectedly retired early, they open a thread in the Transactions forum stating their case with links to stories supporting their claim (ex: link to MLB.com story that Grant Desme has officially retired from baseball to pursue a life in the priesthood).
• A panel consisting of either the TC, RC, Commish or some combination of the three will review the case and vote on whether the team should be granted special permission.
• If granted, the player's contract is terminated at no cost to the FGM team, and the player becomes a free agent

After we've gone through a season and handled a few real cases, we can revisit this and put together an official set of criteria that must be met for the special drop to be allowed, that is more likely to be fair then what we might draft up now.

[rcankosy]

I think we should be bound to injured, retired, or players who choose to go overseas.  I chose to sign Andrew Jones to a 3 year deal.  I should be bound by that deal regardless of what he does in real life. 

[clidwin]

I vote that the contract stay with the team.