Signing Free Agents

DiMaggio5CF · 12-08-2001, 02:46 PM

I've noticed that during the free agent draft, I make my offers first, then the computer makes offers.

However, once the computer makes an offer I am unable to make a counter offer. So basically if I don't offer a free agent a lot of money above what he is asking, the chances of me signing that free agent are slim. So it's pretty much a one-shot deal; hit or miss.

Is there some way for me to make counter offers once the computer has made its offers? I would like to be able to bargain, but I can't because I'm unable to make any more offers after the computer.

If anyone knows how I can solve this, I'd be very appreciative. Thanks in advance.

Steve Kuffrey · 12-08-2001, 02:48 PM

I have never gotten "additional offers" to work, but that adds to the challenge of the game.

DiMaggio5CF · 12-08-2001, 02:57 PM

[quote]Originally posted by OOTP1:
<strong>I have never gotten "additional offers" to work, but that adds to the challenge of the game.</strong><hr></blockquote>

It does add to the challenge of the game.

One of the many features that I love is that your own guys will snub you if you insult them with contract negotations.

For example, I was playing as the GM of the Yankees and 33-year-old Bernie Williams' contract was up. In negotiating an extention, I got him to agree to an annual salary of $8 million for 5 years. Then I kept trying to go lower and lower. Finally, when my offer reached about $4.5 million, he just said that he would no longer talk contract with me.

It was awesome! There's no way that a real-life player would be disrespected like that. It really added a sense of realism to the game.

By the way, Bernie became a free agent and I wound up offering him $7.56 million per year for 5 years. He signed with the Cubs for $8,013,600 per year for 5 years.

Steve Kuffrey · 12-08-2001, 03:01 PM

I know it is tough, I had to deal Greg Maddux and Chipper Jones because I offered them too little so I know what ya mean.

Does add to he challenge though, which is good.

AngelinOF · 12-08-2001, 04:01 PM

"Is there some way for me to make counter offers once the computer has made its offers? I would like to be able to bargain, but I can't because I'm unable to make any more offers after the computer."

Yes but its not very "ethical." After the computer has made its offers you can still up the ante by accessing the FA screen thru the league set-up menu. Offer the player more money and your offer will be the one showing up, but the computer will not be able to make a couter-offer.

sporr · 12-08-2001, 04:54 PM

It'd be nice if you could feel out the market a little when making an offer to a player. If you know several teams are offering him a certain salary range, then you could up the ante. Then, maybe they would raise their bid too. Almost like an auction system. You could have the player sign with the highest bidder, but only at a contact of $100,000 over the 2nd highest bidder. Call it the ebay contract system.

[ December 08, 2001: Message edited by: sporr ]</p>

kidk34 · 12-08-2001, 05:07 PM

One problem is ...players don't snub you for long

If you exit the screen and go back in later they usually will talk again (even after they have said they are absolutely gone). Or if you offer significant money they will talk. You can resign any player you want even if they say they are through.

DHS23 · 12-08-2001, 09:09 PM

Really, like said before a few times, I don't think a free agent should take the money after the 1st round. If he thinks that he may be able to get a bit more money in the 2nd round or 3rd round, he should keep the high bid but still be available to get.

Of course, there'd be factors going into how long the guy stays in the market with a bid already on him.

J P Falcon · 12-09-2001, 01:31 AM

I bantered this subject around quite a bit on the old board (with my and debating partner Scott)and have come to the conclusion that the main problem is that too many premier free agents are signed in the first round. I never liked how your money was tied up simply by making an offer, which restricts your ability to sign players. But as long as there were some good players left for future rounds it wouldn't be a problem.

TSmith1969 · 12-09-2001, 09:17 PM

This is any area where a Notes section on a player screen would be very useful, indicating the teams that are interested in the player, which have made firm offers, what the offers were (if disclosed), and what team(s) the player is interested in.

This could be linked to the new "origin" line on the player profile, by making a Mass. native interested in playing for the Bosox, and perhaps willing to take a smaller salary to play for his "first choice" team.

One more note, does anyone have any stories on how the "loyalty" rating works. For instance, a superstar accepting a lower salary to stay with a dynasty team? Just curious.

Cheers,
TJS

Khaos · 12-10-2001, 04:45 AM

I'm curious about the loyalty rating also. Does wanting to play for a winner make the player accept a lower salary from a winning team?

sporr · 12-10-2001, 04:55 AM

I don't know the exact effect of loyalty, but I do know of many examples where a player will take less money to sign with a certain team, so player preference is a factor in contract negotiation.

J P Falcon · 12-10-2001, 05:20 AM

The game already has the coaches making decisions based on their character...such as wanting money, a challenge, doesn't care ect. How many times have you tried to sign a coach only to have them say.."I don't like your organization" or "I want to work for a smaller organization". It should be relatively simple to transfer something like this to the players when you attempt to sign them.

TotalEnd98 · 12-10-2001, 09:48 AM

Maybe this would be something for OOTP4. Instead of having one chance to offer in the free agent draft, allow players to offer after the computer does, in order to counter a CPU offer. HOWEVER, it must be even - every time the player uses a second (third, fourth, etc.) chance to give a player a contract, the computer must also have the chance to counter that offer.

For example, if I offer player X $5M over 4 years and the computer offers him $6M over 4, I should be able to counter that offer. However, if I successfully counter, the computer must be given the chance to better my offer. If the computer succeeds, I get another chance, and so on, and so on, and so on. Could get tedious, and could be hell on the simmed portions of the draft (a star player getting offers, counter-offers, and counter-counter-offers from teams that would sell their soul to have them) so I'm not sure how practical it is, but it's just an idea.

12-08-2001, 02:46 PM	#1
DiMaggio5CF All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 921	Signing Free Agents I've noticed that during the free agent draft, I make my offers first, then the computer makes offers. However, once the computer makes an offer I am unable to make a counter offer. So basically if I don't offer a free agent a lot of money above what he is asking, the chances of me signing that free agent are slim. So it's pretty much a one-shot deal; hit or miss. Is there some way for me to make counter offers once the computer has made its offers? I would like to be able to bargain, but I can't because I'm unable to make any more offers after the computer. If anyone knows how I can solve this, I'd be very appreciative. Thanks in advance.

12-08-2001, 02:48 PM	#2
Steve Kuffrey Administrator Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: S.E. TN - Georgia born and raised Posts: 17,036	I have never gotten "additional offers" to work, but that adds to the challenge of the game. __________________ Steve Kuffrey DABS Atlanta Braves - 2008 Eastern Division Champ *DBLC Atlanta Braves - 2011, 2014 East Division Champ, 2012, 2013 NL Wildcard Baseball Maelstrom-Montreal Expos-2013 Tourney winner, 2014 WC Team Sparky's League - Tampa Bay D'Rays Epicenter Baseball League - Astros 2014 The CBL Rewind - Phillies '95

12-08-2001, 03:01 PM	#4
Steve Kuffrey Administrator Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: S.E. TN - Georgia born and raised Posts: 17,036	I know it is tough, I had to deal Greg Maddux and Chipper Jones because I offered them too little so I know what ya mean. Does add to he challenge though, which is good. __________________ Steve Kuffrey DABS Atlanta Braves - 2008 Eastern Division Champ *DBLC Atlanta Braves - 2011, 2014 East Division Champ, 2012, 2013 NL Wildcard Baseball Maelstrom-Montreal Expos-2013 Tourney winner, 2014 WC Team Sparky's League - Tampa Bay D'Rays Epicenter Baseball League - Astros 2014 The CBL Rewind - Phillies '95

12-09-2001, 09:17 PM	#10
TSmith1969 Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Colorado Posts: 253	This is any area where a Notes section on a player screen would be very useful, indicating the teams that are interested in the player, which have made firm offers, what the offers were (if disclosed), and what team(s) the player is interested in. This could be linked to the new "origin" line on the player profile, by making a Mass. native interested in playing for the Bosox, and perhaps willing to take a smaller salary to play for his "first choice" team. One more note, does anyone have any stories on how the "loyalty" rating works. For instance, a superstar accepting a lower salary to stay with a dynasty team? Just curious. Cheers, TJS __________________ United League https://sites.google.com/view/circuitclouts

12-10-2001, 04:45 AM	#11
Khaos Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Canfield, OH Posts: 473	I'm curious about the loyalty rating also. Does wanting to play for a winner make the player accept a lower salary from a winning team? __________________ squish

12-08-2001, 02:57 PM	#3
DiMaggio5CF All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 921	[quote]Originally posted by OOTP1: <strong>I have never gotten "additional offers" to work, but that adds to the challenge of the game.</strong><hr></blockquote> It does add to the challenge of the game. One of the many features that I love is that your own guys will snub you if you insult them with contract negotations. For example, I was playing as the GM of the Yankees and 33-year-old Bernie Williams' contract was up. In negotiating an extention, I got him to agree to an annual salary of $8 million for 5 years. Then I kept trying to go lower and lower. Finally, when my offer reached about $4.5 million, he just said that he would no longer talk contract with me. It was awesome! There's no way that a real-life player would be disrespected like that. It really added a sense of realism to the game. By the way, Bernie became a free agent and I wound up offering him $7.56 million per year for 5 years. He signed with the Cubs for $8,013,600 per year for 5 years.

12-08-2001, 04:01 PM	#5
AngelinOF All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,353	"Is there some way for me to make counter offers once the computer has made its offers? I would like to be able to bargain, but I can't because I'm unable to make any more offers after the computer." Yes but its not very "ethical." After the computer has made its offers you can still up the ante by accessing the FA screen thru the league set-up menu. Offer the player more money and your offer will be the one showing up, but the computer will not be able to make a couter-offer.

12-08-2001, 04:54 PM	#6
sporr Global Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Muscatine, IA Posts: 8,277	It'd be nice if you could feel out the market a little when making an offer to a player. If you know several teams are offering him a certain salary range, then you could up the ante. Then, maybe they would raise their bid too. Almost like an auction system. You could have the player sign with the highest bidder, but only at a contact of $100,000 over the 2nd highest bidder. Call it the ebay contract system. [ December 08, 2001: Message edited by: sporr ]</p>

12-08-2001, 05:07 PM	#7
kidk34 Minors (Single A) Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Springfield, Illinois Posts: 88	One problem is ...players don't snub you for long If you exit the screen and go back in later they usually will talk again (even after they have said they are absolutely gone). Or if you offer significant money they will talk. You can resign any player you want even if they say they are through.

12-08-2001, 09:09 PM	#8
DHS23 All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 506	Really, like said before a few times, I don't think a free agent should take the money after the 1st round. If he thinks that he may be able to get a bit more money in the 2nd round or 3rd round, he should keep the high bid but still be available to get. Of course, there'd be factors going into how long the guy stays in the market with a bid already on him.

12-09-2001, 01:31 AM	#9
J P Falcon Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: NJ Posts: 406	I bantered this subject around quite a bit on the old board (with my and debating partner Scott)and have come to the conclusion that the main problem is that too many premier free agents are signed in the first round. I never liked how your money was tied up simply by making an offer, which restricts your ability to sign players. But as long as there were some good players left for future rounds it wouldn't be a problem.

12-10-2001, 04:55 AM	#12
sporr Global Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Muscatine, IA Posts: 8,277	I don't know the exact effect of loyalty, but I do know of many examples where a player will take less money to sign with a certain team, so player preference is a factor in contract negotiation.

12-10-2001, 05:20 AM	#13
J P Falcon Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: NJ Posts: 406	The game already has the coaches making decisions based on their character...such as wanting money, a challenge, doesn't care ect. How many times have you tried to sign a coach only to have them say.."I don't like your organization" or "I want to work for a smaller organization". It should be relatively simple to transfer something like this to the players when you attempt to sign them.

12-10-2001, 09:48 AM	#14
TotalEnd98 All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: New York Posts: 1,687	Maybe this would be something for OOTP4. Instead of having one chance to offer in the free agent draft, allow players to offer after the computer does, in order to counter a CPU offer. HOWEVER, it must be even - every time the player uses a second (third, fourth, etc.) chance to give a player a contract, the computer must also have the chance to counter that offer. For example, if I offer player X $5M over 4 years and the computer offers him $6M over 4, I should be able to counter that offer. However, if I successfully counter, the computer must be given the chance to better my offer. If the computer succeeds, I get another chance, and so on, and so on, and so on. Could get tedious, and could be hell on the simmed portions of the draft (a star player getting offers, counter-offers, and counter-counter-offers from teams that would sell their soul to have them) so I'm not sure how practical it is, but it's just an idea. __________________ OTBL - Scandinavia Cartoon Heroes This is the way the world ends Not with a bang but a whimper.