Something to Think About for Released Players

[rcankosy]

If any really high-priced player (A-Rod, Pujols, Sabathia, Johan) were dropped now, chances are he'd be signed for well below market.  I took a quick scan at the cap space for some of the teams and the most I saw on any given team was $5m.  It hasn't happened yet, because most high-priced players are on teams in contention.  However, the potential is there for the future, so I wanted to throw it out there.  One possible way to prevent it would be to not allow teams to sign other team's cuts after the trade deadline.

[Colby]

Food for thought.

[Jake]

You don't think the high priced cap hits a team incurs that come along with releasing a high salary player would already deter this kind of practice, Roy? My guess this is why we haven't seen any of those big guys released.

[Dan Wood]

Plus in real life, Pat Burrell was released by TB last season. I know he isn't what some would consider a big name, but he was signed for I believe 8 mil. Giants picked up off the scrap heap for league minimum.

[Colby]

Plus in real life, Pat Burrell was released by TB last season. I know he isn't what some would consider a big name, but he was signed for I believe 8 mil. Giants picked up off the scrap heap for league minimum.

It hasn't happened in the past two years, and no one was dropped of significance in the first two days of August.

[Brewers GM]

I agree with Roy that it's definitely worth considering.  If for instance, someone took over a small market team that had previously traded for A-Rod but had no chance of winning in the near future, there would definitely be a case for releasing the player as they might not be able to find a trade partner.  If that were to happen, and if any interested teams maxed out at say $5.0M in available cap space, it would definitely lead to an unrealistic situation - in MLB there is no hard cap and teams could keep bidding as needed.

I'm not sure what a good solution is, but do think this is worth considering.

[joeshmoe]

So we should limit the players available for pick ups?  NO!  If you drop him that's the risk you take.  Don't stop other teams from making moves because you want to cut cap but dont want that player going away for peanuts.  Really, this is honestly a terrible proposal.  Lets not allow teams to bid on free agents...seriously?

Another conundrum if we instituted this proposal; why would a released Arod sit on the free agent market and not be picked up? 

[shooter47]

So we should limit the players available for pick ups?  NO!  If you drop him that's the risk you take.  Don't stop other teams from making moves because you want to cut cap but dont want that player going away for peanuts.  Really, this is honestly a terrible proposal.  Lets not allow teams to bid on free agents...seriously?

Another conundrum if we instituted this proposal; why would a released Arod sit on the free agent market and not be picked up?

[rcankosy]

My specific concern was what would happen if the Mets released A-Rod outright if a trade partner could not be found during the waiver process.

[Dan Wood]

Then that is what happens... we can't control everything. If that is what a team chooses to do, then so be it. I could foresee Arod being dropped towards the end of his contract, regardless of who owns him. Andru Jones was once an elite player on a doody contract, and the he was released, and he was signed for a very reasonable amount. I realize it is apples and oranges, but there is only so much we can control and prepare for.