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Originally Posted by Tokyoriit
Specifically interested in how you guys like to set up an expansion draft for realism without it also being a massive undertaking.
About to run an expansion for two new MLB franchises in Vegas and Louisville.
I'm leaning toward a slightly smaller than default protection list, maybe 20 players, with a max of three players picked per team. Reason being I don't think if there was an expansion draft in this day and age the league would be interested in giving its shiny new franchises players purely from the scrap heap and making them build up for years.
I'm unsure whether I should leave the "auto-protect players with fewer than X service years" ticked on as i don't really understand how that would affect the draft.
Any tips? Should I just draft for 35 rounds then fill out my minors with fictional players?
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This is the only way I play the game. But for a good challenge, I allow teams to protect 26 to as many as 29 players, depending on my mood when setting up. And the big thing, make sure you change years of service to four, don't leave it at three. At three, you can get so many good, young players, which really isn't realistic, and for me, makes the challenge of an expansion team much easier. And there's been games where I will do as little as five picks per team, but generally do a bit higher, seven or eight. The list of players will be greater for sure, but trust me, many of those "available" players should be selling insurance, not playing baseball.
I hear what you're saying about MLB not wanting an expansion team to be horrible, as it would hurt business or whatever, but for me, I like the challenge. Fun to look back after so many seasons when you're actually playing .500 ball or better and laugh at how bad those early teams were. I've never won a series with an expansion team, but that's generally because I tire of the game I'm playing, or the team I have, and I'll either start another expansion team in that same universe or start a whole new universe from scratch.
Also, make sure you check the box that in the first-year draft, your team, and the other one gets to pick first and second. Although, for a fictional league if you stick with that, can't happen.
I usually limit the initial draft to 30 picks, and trust me, you'll take your lumps the first two to three years. I like the challenge of an expansion team, and you really need to exercise patience.
Also, I never fill my minor leagues with fictional players. I take time to go fishing and look for players I can sign to a minor league deal. In the first season, if I can get 15 or 20 on my AAA team, and even just a few on AA, and usually no players on teams lower than that, I'm Ok with that. Don't panic about no players on your A or rookie team. It'll happen soon enough over future seasons.
It's great to see someone else wanting to play this way. Trust me, it will be frustrating but fun at the same time. Good luck with it and hope this helps some.