Referendum regarding the 60 Day No Trade Rule

[Flash]

There have been 10 respondents to the initial discussion regarding my request to gain enough support to present a referendum to our membership regarding the following rule:

“Item AX B(1)-5.0
Free Agent signings cannot be traded until 60 days after they have signed.  This date will be shown per each player in the official rosters section.  In addition to our 60-day NTC rule, any players signed to extensions as well as FA contracts in the offseason cannot be traded until June 1st the following year.”

Please cast your vote, and feel free to post a comment, as this poll is open to all FGM members.  The poll shall remain open for eight days and, by rule, “...A referendum must receive at least 16 votes to be implemented—this would be a simple majority of 15 + 1.”

[BHows]

I'm open to anything on OFAs but, in order to keep everyone honest, I still like the 6/1 date for extended players. There could be instances where a player can be extended/traded and lose their FA opportunity. Also, 28 other teams lose a chance to obtain that players services.

[Flash]

I'm open to anything on OFAs but, in order to keep everyone honest, I still like the 6/1 date for extended players. There could be instances where a player can be extended/traded and lose their FA opportunity. Also, 28 other teams lose a chance to obtain that players services.

I don’t really understand how “There could be instances where a player can be extended/traded and lose their FA opportunity. Also, 28 other teams lose a chance to obtain that players services.” if the June 1st provision is eliminated for players who are extended.

If a player is in the last year of his contract, and he is extended, he is no longer an available free agent—and the June 1st provision has no bearing on whether he is available to other teams as a free agent.  The only way he would be available as a free agent is through a decision not to extend him before the beginning of the off-season.  If he is extended during the off-season because he has one remaining year on his contract, he still would not be available as a free agent, and again, his free agency is not affected by the June 1st provision. 

An extended player should not be any different than a player who is already on the roster or acquired during free agency.  We already specify that an in-season extended player is governed by the same 60 day moratorium we currently have for free agents we acquire during free agency.  Seems out of sorts to have a separate stipulation for players we extend during the off-season than for those we extend during the season.  By the same token, the 60 day rule for free agents acquired during the off-season should not be saddled with the same June 1st rule because it serves no viable purpose. 

“Section G- Extensions
Item AIX G-1.0
Players can be signed to actual contract extensions at any time.  The new salary for the extension kicks in after the current contract ends.  Players with expired contracts are lost to the FA pool after the regular season.  For example, a 2011 contract (non-prospect) will become a free agent unless the player was signed to an extension during the regular season (fantasy play).  Players signed to an extension cannot be traded for 60 days.”

Trading players is one of the distinguishing features of fantasy play, and MLB baseball, and we all know that within our own league, there are quite a few teams who “never” engage in active trade talks.  I really find it difficult to believe that having our arbitrary June 1st provision helps make our league stronger.  If we are to have a 60 day trade moratorium, then it needs to be applied uniformly to all players on our rosters.  As such, MLB does not seem to be jeopardized by being able to trade players at any time during the off-season, or before the trade deadline, and I don’t happen to agree with the argument that mirroring MLB benefits large market teams in our league.  The only restriction MLB has is individual players’ “no trade clauses”, which of course, we do not have.

With all this, it is incumbent upon ALL league members to cast a vote in our current referendum.  Regardless of the outcome, it is important for the good of the league to have active participation so that we know we are moving forward, together, as a league.

[dennymcc23]

Like the idea of following the ways of the MLB.

[Flash]

The Poll for the 60 Day Referendum closed today and none of the choices received a majority vote, however, 17 votes were cast and a common aspect of each choice was the abolition of the June 1st provision—which would apply to free agents and players receiving extensions.

As a result, the 60 day trade moritorium shall remain in place.  As a guide, the signing date will apply, and be listed, for all newly signed free agents and players receiving contract extensions.

Thanks to all who cast a vote.  With that I apologize for not casting my vote, which would have been for the abolishment of the rule in its entirety.