MLB Changes

[ldsjayhawk]

As you probably know, between the CBA, rules changes and schedule changes, MLB had made a number of adjustments.  FGM has always tried to mirror MLB rules with some adjustments for ease of application and, of course, enjoyment of the fantasy baseball game. 

After reviewing the changes, I have posted below those that may be most applicable to the league.  I may have also included any adjustment needed to accommodate for the FGM.

If there are at least 8 GMs that would like to co sponsor a referendum on any of these changes, I will post it for a vote.

1. Amateur draft lottery
The top six picks in the draft are obtained via a lottery system amongst all non playoff teams.  Those who do not get a top six pick are then ordered by record.  Playoff teams are ordered by what stage they reach in the playoffs.  In MLB, revenue sharing also comes into play, but we do not have that in FGM, so that could be ignored.

-Picks 1-6: Lottery
-Picks 7-18: Non-postseason, non-lottery teams in reverse order of the previous year's standings
-Picks 19-22: Wild Card Series losers
-Picks 23-26: League Division Series losers
-Picks 27-28: League Championship Series losers
-Pick 29: World Series loser
-Pick 30: World Series winner

2. Expanded postseason
The post season in MLB had been expanded from 8 to 12 teams.  We are seeing that this season in MLB.  The top two division winners get byes, while the lowest seeded division winner joins the wildcard teams in the first round.

3. Minimum salary
Minimum salary rises from 500k in 2021 to 700k in 2022, 800k in 2026.

There are two ways to handle the change:
1) A straightforward bump to $1m by 2026 or
2) A restructuring of the contract rules to allow 100 or 200k multiples instead of 500k

4. Schedule Changes
MLB has implemented schedule changes for 2023:
-56 games within division
-60 games against rest of league
-4 games against interleague "rivals"
-42 other interleague games

5. Pre-arbitration (Arb contract) bonus pools
Players who haven?t hit arbitration eligibility now can receive part of a $50 million pot.  This $ is split between award finalists and the top 100 in WAR

6. Service time manipulation
-Teams who promote players in time to receive a full year of service are eligible for additional draft picks, depending on where they fall in awards voting.

Other items that have changed that have little application here (feel free to disagree)
-Competitive Balance tax
-Limit to # of times a player can be sent to the minors
-Roster size changes
-Trade Deadline discretion
-DH

There may be other miscellaneous items that I am missing.  I believe I got all the ones of any consequence.  If there's something I missed, feel free to make a post.  It is certainly any GMs right to post a referendum for a rule change.

I'll leave this post here until the draft for any comments and discussion.  At that point, I'll see if there is support for changing any of these rules and we'll go from there.  Thanks!

[ldsjayhawk]

So, I posted this to generate some discussion about this.  No discussion has ensued, but hopefully now that we have the draft starting, others will weigh in.  To get this kicked off, my thoughts are we should take on all of the changes below, in an effort to maintain the tie to MLB rules:

1. Amateur draft lottery -- This league needs more parity.  While a draft lottery isn't a solution to prevent tanking, it will help some.  Although, I have a concern that this will harm the teams that are left for dead.  Start 2023.

2. Expanded postseason -- This is one way to reduce tanking and increase parity (hopefully).  Start 2023.

3. Minimum salary -- Payrolls need to go up to force more difficult decisions with extensions, thereby increasing the FA pool.  In keeping with the current rules, this straightforward way to handle this would be increasing minimum salary to $1m. Start in January FA. 

In addition to minimum salary changes, I believe prospect extensions need to increase.  There is a theme here, yes, it is we need more free agents.  More free agents = healthier league.  I'm open to suggestions on where this falls.  I think it would be helpful to know how the $4m mark was selected originally.  My thought is that we should increase to $5 or $6m.  As far as I know this amount has not changed since the beginning of the league in 2009.

4. Schedule Changes -- My least favorite one, because it will be the most work, but I also support starting this in 2023.

5. Pre-arbitration (Arb contract) bonus pools -- This one may be harder to do and I am less sure about it. However, we need some increased salary $.  It is too easy just to extend everyone leaving no FA pool.

Additionally, I think there needs to be some consideration of parity in keeping the league reflective of MLB. Consider the following:
6 teams would have won 120+ last season in a 162 game season
6 teams would have won less than 45 games in a 162 game season
1 team made the playoffs without having won 100 games last season (with only 154 played)