Originally Posted by Critical Mass
I'm going to tell you how I do it below. Maybe if the development team is interested in how I "beat the system", they will take corrective actions. Probably not.
IF YOU DON'T WANT SPOILERS, DON'T READ BELOW
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The first thing I did upon taking over the last-place team is to get rid of the high-priced talent. I start with the guys that are overpaid for what they produce, especially the ones with the long contracts. If they have a long contract that will cost me megabucks in the future, I don't care, I shop them around.
After looking at the teams that are interested in (i.e. can also afford) the player, I then cross-reference it with the Top 100 Prospects list to see which of those teams has good prospects. I will then attempt to make a trade with that team for that hot prospect, and usually it will involve giving up multiple decent draft picks. Maybe a 2nd, 3rd, + 5th. Mind you, the team has to have the $$$ as well as the prospect.
Why do I do that? Well because: a) This hot prospect has already been paid a high signing bonus by the other team which I don't have to pay if I was fortunate enough to draft him in the first round on my own, PLUS I save on the bonus money I'd have to pay the 2nd, 3rd, and 5th picks next season. In addition, the chances that he will be a stud are generally better than the draft picks, since he's already "recognized" by the "national scouts". I rarely go into a new season with a 1st round pick. Sometimes I don't even have a pick in the top 5 rounds. Why bother? I'm staffing my minors with future studs.
Next thing I do is get rid of anybody with an injury history. There's nothing more frustrating than having a guy get injured 2-3 times a year, sometimes just days after he came back off the DL. Also, it's aggravating to pay a whole year's salary to a pitcher who's on the DL for 13 months, PLUS you have to replace them with someone not good enough to be on your team. So if you are injury prone, you're not welcome on my team. The AI doesn't seem to care if a guy is "WRECKED". It will still sign a guy to a $120M/6yr contract to miss 50-60 games a year.
If I notice someone's stats declining, and I'm locked into them for a few more years, I get rid of them. I don't care if my scout says he's fantastic. I've seen pitchers with ERAs over 5.00 and batters batting under .230 declared "outstanding" by my scout. Baloney! If I see you batted .310 two years ago, .265 last year, and now you're batting .230 through June? Time to go.
Whenever I see a good Scout, Manager or Coach who's at least Outstanding in the relevant categories, I fire who I have and hire them, since they're too hard to come by. I also promote within. Once I have them, I make sure every year I renew their contract until they get too greedy. Sometimes they ask for too much. I've noticed that a manager asking you for $1.1M today will be unemployed tomorrow and willing to take $690K to manage your team. The AI seems to "forget" that you let them walk.
I NEVER even participate in the Rule 5 draft. I have a whole AAA team stocked with guys who could probably be a starter on most teams right now. Why do I want someone else's trash that I have to keep on my roster all year?
To sum up, get rid of the high-priced talent, get rid of the chancy draft picks, go with the almost-sure things, get a good coaching staff, and you'll be set.
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