Minimum Contract Lengths for Extensions

[rcankosy]

Guys,

I was thinking about some of the big names whose contracts will expire after the 2010 season like Lincecum, Pujols, Fielder, and Hamilton.  Unless I'm missing something, we have MAXIMUM lengths for contracts that are extended in the off-season, but we don't seem to have MINIMUM lengths.  For example, the way the rules currently read, Pujols could be re-signed indefinitely to a series of 1 year contracts.  That doesn't seem realistic, because the last big name free agent I can remember that signed multiple 1 year contracts was Roger Clemens, and he was constantly coming in and out of retirement.  IF I haven't missed something in the current rules, I would propose something like the following in terms of MINIMUM contract lengths for free agents whose contracts expire in 2010:

20m+     5 years
16-20     4 years
11-15     3 years
5-10       2 years

Roy
 

[joeshmoe]

Guys,

I was thinking about some of the big names whose contracts will expire after the 2010 season like Lincecum, Pujols, Fielder, and Hamilton.  Unless I'm missing something, we can MAXIMUM lengths for their contracts if their are extended in the off-season, but we don't seem to have MINIMUM lengths.  For example, the way the rules currently read, Pujols could be re-signed indefinitely to a series of 1 year contracts.  That doesn't seem realistic, because the last big name free agent I can remember that signed multiple 1 year  contracts was Roger Clemens, and he was old.  IF I haven't missed something in the current rules, I would propose something like the following in terms of MINIMUM contract lengths:

20m+     5 years
16-20     4 years
11-15     3 years
5-10       2 years

Roy
 

I disagree with the premise of your argument.  There are no CBA rules in the MLB, that I'm aware of, which require a minimum of years for a deal.  It is most reasonable that the guys who get the big money get big deals, but thats supply and demand.  However, if as a GM I give a guy a crazy deal for one year that should be my decision.  I don't know but I can't see a minimum for years on a contract, it just limits the game in an unrealistic way. 

[rcankosy]

We don't have true free agency, because we are allowed to extend our players whose contracts expire without them ever reaching the open market.  Therefore, the law of supply and demand does not apply.

[Mr.TradeKing]

I can see where Roy is coming from on this one. Like most of the rules so far, we will have to adjust them a little to make them relevant in the fantasy world. Pujols doesn't simply sign a 1-yr deal. I believe Roy's chart isn't bad at all.

~MTK

[joeshmoe]

I can see your point of view, opinion changed. 

[Colby]

I thought about this before for the same reason.  Contract extensions could be abused for the big names.  Having a minimum and a maximum number of years per annual salary in contract extensions would be worthwhile.  I support Roy's proposal for this upcoming off-season if others agree.

[Mr.TradeKing]

Well I agree, but my opinion doesn't hold a lot of weight lol

~MTK

[lp815]

Seems like a solid idea, but I want to clarify something:

Say I land a guy for $5m in free agency, but I only want him for one year.  I know I could get him for 2 @ 2.5m, but say I'm making a playoff push and I have the cash to spend for a one and done.  Cannot I do a 1 year, $5m contract then?

A way to skirt this could be to only allow minimums during the off-season, but that still doesn't stop a guy from resigning Pujols year-to-year, correct?

I know this won't happen often (signing a player for $5m+ for only 1 year), but it can very well come around often enough to warrant attention.

[Mr.TradeKing]

Seems like a solid idea, but I want to clarify something:

Say I land a guy for $5m in free agency, but I only want him for one year.  I know I could get him for 2 @ 2.5m, but say I'm making a playoff push and I have the cash to spend for a one and done.  Cannot I do a 1 year, $5m contract then?

A way to skirt this could be to only allow minimums during the off-season, but that still doesn't stop a guy from resigning Pujols year-to-year, correct?

I know this won't happen often (signing a player for $5m+ for only 1 year), but it can very well come around often enough to warrant attention.

Jake,

My understanding of this is that this is meant for re-signing/extending contracts of players so that they do not test the FA waters. Since you would be the winning bid in Free Agency, I don't think the same rules would apply.

~MTK

[lp815]

Jake,

My understanding of this is that this is meant for re-signing/extending contracts of players so that they do not test the FA waters. Since you would be the winning bid in Free Agency, I don't think the same rules would apply.

~MTK

Ah, gotcha Aubrey.  Then that makes my clarificatiion moot.  Seems like a good idea as is then.