Okay, now it's getting interesting.
Note: In all tests, the two teams involved finished comparably last season, either bottom of their division, or top of it.
- Test 1: Hometown Team vs. Stacked Team, Equal Contracts. Player signed with Hometown Team.
- Test 2: Stacked Team vs. Normal Team, no Hometown, Equal Contracts. Player signed with Normal Team.
- Test 3: Stacked Hometown Team vs. Normal Team, Equal Contracts. Player signed with Normal Team.
So. When contracts are equal, the AI does indeed favor a non-stacked team, even over his hometown. But, as the previous tests showed, up the offer by even a paltry sum, and the guy will likely chase the money.