Opinions on signing players

battists · 07-20-2007, 03:16 PM

So, let's say you have some good players who are in the bigs, and either in their first 3 years of service (auto-renew), or maybe the 1st year of arbitration.

Do you try to lock them up long-term now at possibly lower rates? Or, do you milk every last cheap year out of them?

Just curious.

injury log · 07-20-2007, 03:21 PM

What I'll do depends on the guy, but in '07, players seem very reluctant to sign away their free agent years at below-market rates. A big improvement on '06, when you could sign your 1-star, 5-star potential monster prospect for 10 years, $800k per, as long as you got the offer in early enough.

RchW · 07-20-2007, 03:28 PM

Depends on player personalities, if on. Certain players will go for long term contracts while still arb eligible. Most, however, will only take 2 or 3 years at significant dollars over market value. The best time to sign a player seems to be when they are in the 5th year but not completing 6 years in the current season. At that point you can bargain hard knowing that you get them for one more year on arbitration.

This, IMO, is more realistic than previous versions. Players don't sign readily when arbitration eligible. This often forces you to trade one or two players that want too much $$.

1998 Yankees · 07-20-2007, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by injury log

What I'll do depends on the guy, but in '07, players seem very reluctant to sign away their free agent years at below-market rates. A big improvement on '06, when you could sign your 1-star, 5-star potential monster prospect for 10 years, $800k per, as long as you got the offer in early enough.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RchW

Depends on player personalities, if on. Certain players will go for long term contracts while still arb eligible. Most, however, will only take 2 or 3 years at significant dollars over market value. The best time to sign a player seems to be when they are in the 5th year but not completing 6 years in the current season.

For these reasons, yes I do try to lock them up towards the end of arb eligibility, but not for 10 years. That's too long, too many variables and risk, and I've been burned too often that way. I think the longest I try to tie somebody up for these days is 5 years.

Raidergoo · 07-20-2007, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by battists

So, let's say you have some good players who are in the bigs, and either in their first 3 years of service (auto-renew), or maybe the 1st year of arbitration.

Do you try to lock them up long-term now at possibly lower rates? Or, do you milk every last cheap year out of them?

Just curious.

Auto-renew players? Never.

I will try to sign long term deals to players who are arbitration eligible.

Assos · 07-20-2007, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raidergoo

Auto-renew players? Never.

I will try to sign long term deals to players who are arbitration eligible.

Agreed and I will try to buy out the remaining years of Arb. and have at least two extra years and a reasonible price. Sort of like Cleveland started to do in the mid 1990s.

Kelric · 07-20-2007, 04:03 PM

I never offer them a contract until after the first year of arbitration at the earliest. More often than not they get offered one mid-way through their last year of arbitration.

07-20-2007, 03:16 PM	#1
battists Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 18,506	Opinions on signing players So, let's say you have some good players who are in the bigs, and either in their first 3 years of service (auto-renew), or maybe the 1st year of arbitration. Do you try to lock them up long-term now at possibly lower rates? Or, do you milk every last cheap year out of them? Just curious.

07-20-2007, 03:28 PM	#3
RchW Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Toronto ON by way of Glasgow UK Posts: 15,629	Depends on player personalities, if on. Certain players will go for long term contracts while still arb eligible. Most, however, will only take 2 or 3 years at significant dollars over market value. The best time to sign a player seems to be when they are in the 5th year but not completing 6 years in the current season. At that point you can bargain hard knowing that you get them for one more year on arbitration. This, IMO, is more realistic than previous versions. Players don't sign readily when arbitration eligible. This often forces you to trade one or two players that want too much $$. __________________ Cheers RichW If you’re looking for a good cause to donate money to please consider a Donation to Parkinson’s Canada. It may help me have a better future and if not me, someone else. Thanks. “Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition …There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.” Frank Wilhoit

07-20-2007, 03:21 PM	#2
injury log Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 9,162	What I'll do depends on the guy, but in '07, players seem very reluctant to sign away their free agent years at below-market rates. A big improvement on '06, when you could sign your 1-star, 5-star potential monster prospect for 10 years, $800k per, as long as you got the offer in early enough.

07-20-2007, 04:03 PM	#7
Kelric Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Greater Boston Area Posts: 3,992	I never offer them a contract until after the first year of arbitration at the earliest. More often than not they get offered one mid-way through their last year of arbitration.