Roster Decisions in Manager Only Mode

Highlander · 04-01-2026, 07:50 PM

Decided to go in a different direction than usual and try Manager only mode in current league. I went with the Mets so AI David Stearn is making all the roster moves. I am wondering how the decision is made as to what players are brought up due to injury. My Opening Day offensive roster was as follows (additional positions in parentheses)-

C- Alvarez
1B- Polanco (2B/3B...but very poor defense)
2B- Semien
3B- Bichette (SS)
SS- Lindor
LF- Soto (RF...poor defense)
CF- Robert
RF- Benge (CF/LF)

Bench/DH Options- Torrens (C/1B...very poor at 1B), Baty (2B/3B/LF/RF), Vientos (1B/3B...very poor at 3B), Melendez (1B/LF/RF....very poor at 1B), Taylor (LF/CF/RF)

Recently, Baty went down for about 2 weeks for an injury and the decision was made to bring up Ben Rortvedt who is only a catcher, so I currently have a bench of 2 Catchers, 2 OF and a 1B who can play a horrible 3B if needed. What reasoning by the AI led to Rortvedt being called up to replace Baty? My only answer is that he is the only other position player on the 40-man roster, but there are only 29 players on it overall so shouldn't an addition be made to add a player that actually helps the team instead of a 3rd catcher I don't need? At what point will the AI add players to my 40-man roster?

Other decisions have been OK so far I guess. Two minor leaguers have been signed as free agents and Richard Lovelady was DFA'd and then released for Alex Faedo, who was signed as a FA. I would have rather had the lefty and Lovelady seems like he was a better pitcher but if my GM disagrees, I can live with the decision.....the bigger issue is I need a better bullpen in general but hopefully Stearns will work on that at the deadline.

Also, I am 14 games in and the scout hasn't discovered any players for the International Complex. When I am GM and Manager I think I always have at least one discovery by now....is that different in the Manager only mode?

I can't believe after all these years I've never tried the game this way....just always enjoyed being the GM. I like the challenge of roster manipulation but would like it to make a little more sense.

pgjocki · 04-03-2026, 11:20 PM

Losing control might cause me anxiety but then again it might be a fun experiement.

Highlander · 04-05-2026, 12:42 PM

Next strange decision.....Luis Robert went on the IL for a short term injury and on his return, Brett Baty was sent to AAA while MJ Melendez was left on the active roster. Baty has MUCH better ratings, can play more positions, is hitting MUCH better than Melendez and Melendez has an option to be sent down. It makes absolutely no sense.

Highlander · 04-21-2026, 07:17 AM

Just had another strange decision. Adbert Alzolay has been one of my best RP- as of July 8th, he's 7-3 with 1 save and a 2.59 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. He was just placed on waivers so that Alex Faedo could be brought up. He was in AA at 30 years old and in his last stint with the Mets he had a 6.23 ERA and 1.62 WHIP. I have also continued to have Brett Baty sent down while MJ Melendez has been kept on the team despite being terrible. Baty has a .763 OPS and Melendez has a .582. Plus, when Baty is sent down, my IF depth is terrible. With Melendez, I have 6 OF.....and if for some reason the AI wants that, Baty can play OF as well.

Is there a way to include some sort of interaction between the GM and Manager in Manager-only mode so that a manager's preference can be given for at least the bottom couple of players on the roster? Like if a players comes back from the IL, the GM sends a message asking which of 2-3 players the manager would prefer to be sent down? Maybe it won't always happen, but at least there would be some input.

Hooray Saturday · Yesterday, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Highlander

Like if a players comes back from the IL, the GM sends a message asking which of 2-3 players the manager would prefer to be sent down?

that would be cool!

Benz0709 · Yesterday, 05:18 PM

Sounds like AI team management is almost worse off when you're manager versus a non-human team.

These are some pretty concerning and wild decisions. It would immediately kill the immersion of playing manager only for me.

Guthrien · Yesterday, 06:28 PM

I can't stand some of the decisions the AI makes in the offseason, I'm so much more risk averse to contracts that playing as Manager only is essentially choosing 'advanced difficulty'.

04-01-2026, 07:50 PM	#1
Highlander All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 1,017	Roster Decisions in Manager Only Mode Decided to go in a different direction than usual and try Manager only mode in current league. I went with the Mets so AI David Stearn is making all the roster moves. I am wondering how the decision is made as to what players are brought up due to injury. My Opening Day offensive roster was as follows (additional positions in parentheses)- C- Alvarez 1B- Polanco (2B/3B...but very poor defense) 2B- Semien 3B- Bichette (SS) SS- Lindor LF- Soto (RF...poor defense) CF- Robert RF- Benge (CF/LF) Bench/DH Options- Torrens (C/1B...very poor at 1B), Baty (2B/3B/LF/RF), Vientos (1B/3B...very poor at 3B), Melendez (1B/LF/RF....very poor at 1B), Taylor (LF/CF/RF) Recently, Baty went down for about 2 weeks for an injury and the decision was made to bring up Ben Rortvedt who is only a catcher, so I currently have a bench of 2 Catchers, 2 OF and a 1B who can play a horrible 3B if needed. What reasoning by the AI led to Rortvedt being called up to replace Baty? My only answer is that he is the only other position player on the 40-man roster, but there are only 29 players on it overall so shouldn't an addition be made to add a player that actually helps the team instead of a 3rd catcher I don't need? At what point will the AI add players to my 40-man roster? Other decisions have been OK so far I guess. Two minor leaguers have been signed as free agents and Richard Lovelady was DFA'd and then released for Alex Faedo, who was signed as a FA. I would have rather had the lefty and Lovelady seems like he was a better pitcher but if my GM disagrees, I can live with the decision.....the bigger issue is I need a better bullpen in general but hopefully Stearns will work on that at the deadline. Also, I am 14 games in and the scout hasn't discovered any players for the International Complex. When I am GM and Manager I think I always have at least one discovery by now....is that different in the Manager only mode? I can't believe after all these years I've never tried the game this way....just always enjoyed being the GM. I like the challenge of roster manipulation but would like it to make a little more sense. __________________ "The baseball mania has run its course. It has no future as a professional endeavor." — Cincinnati Gazette editorial, 1879

04-03-2026, 11:20 PM	#2
pgjocki All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Maryland - just outside DC Posts: 1,669	Losing control might cause me anxiety but then again it might be a fun experiement. __________________ - - - World Series championships: 1926, 1931, 1934, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1964, 1967, 1982, 2006, 2011

04-05-2026, 12:42 PM	#3
Highlander All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 1,017	Next strange decision.....Luis Robert went on the IL for a short term injury and on his return, Brett Baty was sent to AAA while MJ Melendez was left on the active roster. Baty has MUCH better ratings, can play more positions, is hitting MUCH better than Melendez and Melendez has an option to be sent down. It makes absolutely no sense. __________________ "The baseball mania has run its course. It has no future as a professional endeavor." — Cincinnati Gazette editorial, 1879

04-21-2026, 07:17 AM	#4
Highlander All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 1,017	Just had another strange decision. Adbert Alzolay has been one of my best RP- as of July 8th, he's 7-3 with 1 save and a 2.59 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. He was just placed on waivers so that Alex Faedo could be brought up. He was in AA at 30 years old and in his last stint with the Mets he had a 6.23 ERA and 1.62 WHIP. I have also continued to have Brett Baty sent down while MJ Melendez has been kept on the team despite being terrible. Baty has a .763 OPS and Melendez has a .582. Plus, when Baty is sent down, my IF depth is terrible. With Melendez, I have 6 OF.....and if for some reason the AI wants that, Baty can play OF as well. Is there a way to include some sort of interaction between the GM and Manager in Manager-only mode so that a manager's preference can be given for at least the bottom couple of players on the roster? Like if a players comes back from the IL, the GM sends a message asking which of 2-3 players the manager would prefer to be sent down? Maybe it won't always happen, but at least there would be some input. __________________ "The baseball mania has run its course. It has no future as a professional endeavor." — Cincinnati Gazette editorial, 1879

Yesterday, 05:18 PM	#6
Benz0709 Minors (Single A) Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 62	Sounds like AI team management is almost worse off when you're manager versus a non-human team. These are some pretty concerning and wild decisions. It would immediately kill the immersion of playing manager only for me.

Yesterday, 06:28 PM	#7
Guthrien Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 232	I can't stand some of the decisions the AI makes in the offseason, I'm so much more risk averse to contracts that playing as Manager only is essentially choosing 'advanced difficulty'.