07-12-2012, 06:12 PM
I've posted this suggestion twice! Once here and once here. It's time this gets implemented. It's easy to understand and makes bidding more fair.
Minor League Contracts
Our FA policy is set up to NOT be a first come, first serve basis. Yet when it comes to draft day (or minor league) deals, it is first come, first serve. It shouldn't be that way.
First, let's get rid of the differences in offering a draft day or minor league contract. In the end they're the same. Once a player has 6 years of service time they will be eligible for free agency. So you could sign a guy with 10 years of service time to a draft day deal and he'll be FA eligible the next off-season. All we need is the draft day deal. If you sign a guy to the bottom base offer, you get him until he's FA eligible.
Every team should be able to offer these draft day deals. Like waivers the lowest record would prevail. So (using the 2026 standings) if COL, PIT, and HOU all put in draft day offers PIT would prevail and COL or HOU would have to then offer $500K or higher to be leading the bid.
This will help so whoever is lucky enough to post the player first doesn't get exclusive draft day offer rights. In theory the player should have the greatest chance to play for the team with the lowest record and would rather a contract with a team he could actually play for rather than being a career minor leaguer on a much better team.
Below is how I would write up the rule.
Draft Day Contract Rule
1. Whenever offering a draft day/minor league contract you must post your current record along with the offer (in the off-season use the previous regular season record).
2. Any team can place a draft day/minor league contract offer on a player. As long as no one offers a $500K+ salary then the lowest winning percentage wins the player on a draft day contract.
3. Whether you offer a draft day or minor league contract you will have the player under team control until he amasses six years of MLB service time.
Tiebreakers - In case current winning percentage is the same
1. Current Season Pythagorean Record
2. Previous Regular Season Record
3. Previous Season Pythagorean Record
Minor League Contracts
Our FA policy is set up to NOT be a first come, first serve basis. Yet when it comes to draft day (or minor league) deals, it is first come, first serve. It shouldn't be that way.
First, let's get rid of the differences in offering a draft day or minor league contract. In the end they're the same. Once a player has 6 years of service time they will be eligible for free agency. So you could sign a guy with 10 years of service time to a draft day deal and he'll be FA eligible the next off-season. All we need is the draft day deal. If you sign a guy to the bottom base offer, you get him until he's FA eligible.
Every team should be able to offer these draft day deals. Like waivers the lowest record would prevail. So (using the 2026 standings) if COL, PIT, and HOU all put in draft day offers PIT would prevail and COL or HOU would have to then offer $500K or higher to be leading the bid.
This will help so whoever is lucky enough to post the player first doesn't get exclusive draft day offer rights. In theory the player should have the greatest chance to play for the team with the lowest record and would rather a contract with a team he could actually play for rather than being a career minor leaguer on a much better team.
Below is how I would write up the rule.
Draft Day Contract Rule
1. Whenever offering a draft day/minor league contract you must post your current record along with the offer (in the off-season use the previous regular season record).
2. Any team can place a draft day/minor league contract offer on a player. As long as no one offers a $500K+ salary then the lowest winning percentage wins the player on a draft day contract.
3. Whether you offer a draft day or minor league contract you will have the player under team control until he amasses six years of MLB service time.
Tiebreakers - In case current winning percentage is the same
1. Current Season Pythagorean Record
2. Previous Regular Season Record
3. Previous Season Pythagorean Record
Cleveland Record: 5631-4946 (.532) [2054-2071, 2083-2104, 2110-2135]
AL Post: 16 (ALC), 11 (WC) - ALDS Win: 12 - ALCS Champ: 7 - WS Champ: 4
ALW: Mariners + Angels Record: 1072-864 (.554) [2042-2048, 2105-2110]
AL Post: 3 (ALW), 4 (WC) - ALDS Win: 3 - ALCS Champ: 1 - WS Champ: 1
NLW: Rockies + Padres Record: 3230-2753 (.540) [2017-2042, 2072-2082]
NL Post: 18 (NLW), 4 (WC) - NLDS Win: 7 - NLCS Champ: 4 - WS Champ: 0