Draft Day Contracts

[mattynokes]

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

[decker91]

is down for this

[JRWorcester]

sure why not

[hokeyrules]

"Yet when it comes to draft day (or minor league) deals, it is first come, first serve. It shouldn't be that way."

Not true. If people have a problem offering 500k/1 to beat draft deals it is there problem. I have done it once, I did not bother this time. If you are complaining that a person signs 10, then bid on the ones you like its not an issue from my point of view.

But here is a thought, however, only a stretch. I remember people complaining about Texas being tanked, yet you are now rewarding teams who do bad to have first say on players who were not drafted? I feel like that is countering each other.

[mattynokes]

It's not rewarding bad teams, so let's not twist it that way. It's giving the player to the team that should need the player the most.

You shouldn't have to offer an amateur the MLB minimum just to sign him. What has he done to deserve it?

[hokeyrules]

you don't have to offer him the MLB minimum. But if multiple teams have want a player they can pay for a player if they want. The same as offseason free agency.

[Peter]

you don't have to offer him the MLB minimum. But if multiple teams have want a player they can pay for a player if they want. The same as offseason free agency.

it would be paying undrafted FA's more than the 1st overall pick. it just doesnt make sense

[Cdawg]

here is an odd proposal but, it would take some work and leg work. How about a supplemental draft or an extra 7th round using those players??