Free Agency Rule Changes for 2015
Nov 15, 2014 12:53:19 GMT -5
Post by Ben (Rays GM) on Nov 15, 2014 12:53:19 GMT -5
There was a discussion about these changes a few months ago, and it seems that everyone agreed with the second and third change, while the first had the approval of the vast majority. With apologies to the few that disagreed, the time has come for me to make the call, and we will be implementing the rule. I do feel that it is for the best for the league, and I don't see any other real alternative, with the exception of Micah's proposal (50% instead of 100%) which is the subject of the poll above. Please vote!
1. If you sign a player who has not yet completed six years of service to a veteran contract (international free agents, non-tendered or other non-rostered players, etc), upon completion of the contract you can choose each year to keep that player until the completion of his sixth year. However, you must continue to pay that player a portion of the originally signed salary (to be determined by the above poll: either 50% or 100% - see below for my take on the pros and cons of each, and please discuss). No longer do these players become "cost-controlled," but rather you receive what are effectively rolling team options until the completion of the player's sixth year. Thus, the flexibility means it is still an advantage to sign these players, but no longer can they be signed to a one-year contract with no regard to the dollar figures.
2. There is no longer a $12 million cap on one-year deals. Instead, you pay a premium on one-year contracts above $10 million, in the form of a 50% penalty for each dollar above $10 million. A one-year, $15 million deal becomes $17.5 million ($2.5 million penalty, which is 50% of the extra $5 million). A one-year, $20 million deal becomes $25 million ($5 million penalty, 50% of the extra $10 million). This applies to all players, including those for which there was previously no cap on one year deals (players with zero years of service or players above age 35). So remember, any time you're bidding more than $10 million for one year, calculate 50% of the difference between $10 million and your offer and tack it on top!
3. The percentage discounts for long term contracts are increased to 10% for a two-year offer, 15% for a three-year offer, 20% for a four-year offer (instead of 5%, 10%, 15%).
1. If you sign a player who has not yet completed six years of service to a veteran contract (international free agents, non-tendered or other non-rostered players, etc), upon completion of the contract you can choose each year to keep that player until the completion of his sixth year. However, you must continue to pay that player a portion of the originally signed salary (to be determined by the above poll: either 50% or 100% - see below for my take on the pros and cons of each, and please discuss). No longer do these players become "cost-controlled," but rather you receive what are effectively rolling team options until the completion of the player's sixth year. Thus, the flexibility means it is still an advantage to sign these players, but no longer can they be signed to a one-year contract with no regard to the dollar figures.
2. There is no longer a $12 million cap on one-year deals. Instead, you pay a premium on one-year contracts above $10 million, in the form of a 50% penalty for each dollar above $10 million. A one-year, $15 million deal becomes $17.5 million ($2.5 million penalty, which is 50% of the extra $5 million). A one-year, $20 million deal becomes $25 million ($5 million penalty, 50% of the extra $10 million). This applies to all players, including those for which there was previously no cap on one year deals (players with zero years of service or players above age 35). So remember, any time you're bidding more than $10 million for one year, calculate 50% of the difference between $10 million and your offer and tack it on top!
3. The percentage discounts for long term contracts are increased to 10% for a two-year offer, 15% for a three-year offer, 20% for a four-year offer (instead of 5%, 10%, 15%).
