So torn

[Obechkinsbuddy]

So im several decades into a Braves sim and have an unreal run here lately Im coming off a WS win which is 3 in 5 years and 5 in 10 my team is getting older and I expected to suck this year so I was glad we won one more, We caught fire and won 98 games and are currently up 2-0 with a chance to go back to the WS again! 75% of my core players are free agents we have a ton of money available but I don't want to sign guys 33-34 plus years old to 5-6 year deals at 25-30 a pop although still performing well and the free agent class coming up is terrible. If I let them all walk we will obviously start a total rebuild as I only have a couple of really good young players ready to step in. Do I just say screw it keep a couple and try to see what they can do or not get stuck paying 38 year olds big money when they are rapidly declining players which I have done in the past. Some of these guys have 6 championships! If I go back to back how do I just say alright I can't pay all this money and just not use what's available and wonder what they could have done as I lose 80-90 games next year TOUGH

[Hrycaj]

Originally Posted by Obechkinsbuddy

So im several decades into a Braves sim and have an unreal run here lately Im coming off a WS win which is 3 in 5 years and 5 in 10 my team is getting older and I expected to suck this year so I was glad we won one more, We caught fire and won 98 games and are currently up 2-0 with a chance to go back to the WS again! 75% of my core players are free agents we have a ton of money available but I don't want to sign guys 33-34 plus years old to 5-6 year deals at 25-30 a pop although still performing well and the free agent class coming up is terrible. If I let them all walk we will obviously start a total rebuild as I only have a couple of really good young players ready to step in. Do I just say screw it keep a couple and try to see what they can do or not get stuck paying 38 year olds big money when they are rapidly declining players which I have done in the past. Some of these guys have 6 championships! If I go back to back how do I just say alright I can't pay all this money and just not use what's available and wonder what they could have done as I lose 80-90 games next year TOUGH

This may be an un-popular take but I would consider keeping the run going. If you don't have the young talent ready to push the established vets out you are probably past the point of no return anyway. While it may not be fiscally responsible its fun to win. Champions last forever, rebuilds just take forever. Good luck!

[jksander]

Trade 'em all for prospects lol ... "it's a Braves Fire Sale! EVERYTHING MUST GO!"

[OutS|der]

Losing 75% of your core for nothing isn't the way to start a rebuild so you have to keep it going. Plug in the young guys as you can with the idea of replacing your core with them over time, hopefully you can trade them away for prospects at next years deadline.

[dawg1isclear]

ride it, ride it, ride it, til the horse dies, like remake of True Grit! And screw the rebuild, retool it...earn your money as GM!

[kq76]

I agree with the others, but if there was a player or two I thought really wasn't worth what they were asking, whose production I could replace a decent amount of, I wasn't too attached to, and I probably couldn't get anything decent for in a trade, I'd let them go and keep the others. And then after that constantly be on the lookout to upgrade.

And while you're right that 33-34 year olds now in 6 years probably won't be worth huge contracts, you can bet on certain types aging better than others. For example, I'd bet on finesse pitchers lasting longer than power pitchers. Batters are a bit more difficult to predict, but while fast athletic players will lose their elite speed and athleticism, they should be better bets to hold onto the rest their overall skillset. I'd also be willing to bet that a superstar, someone well above most, will remain at least serviceable in their old age more than I'd bet on a player who may just be doing it with smoke and mirrors now. Now I'm not saying I've seen any of this in OOTP, I'm just saying assuming OOTP aging is programmed to be like aging IRL, then I'd bet on these.

[Edward ohare]

Originally Posted by jksander

Trade 'em all for prospects lol ... "it's a Braves Fire Sale! EVERYTHING MUST GO!"

The principle is sound but it's not applicable. He's in the post season and the players are free agents after the season so they have no trade value.

[Edward ohare]

Originally Posted by Hrycaj

This may be an un-popular take but I would consider keeping the run going. If you don't have the young talent ready to push the established vets out you are probably past the point of no return anyway. While it may not be fiscally responsible its fun to win. Champions last forever, rebuilds just take forever. Good luck!

I'm not going to call it unpopular. I think a lot of people would do that. The question is paying now or paying later. Later may be a lot more pay.


But your past the point of no return observation, that's a lesson for the future. Since he thought the team was going to suck this year last off season was the time to trade the vets. There's a saying your best lost is your first loss.

[eauhomme]

I would let them walk and start the rebuild.

Set Scouting and Player Development to Max.

Get some good starting pitching in free agency or trade if you can afford to. If not, at least look for guys with good movement and decent stuff and stamina, maybe guys who split between the rotation and the bullpen and posted ERAs in the threes. They can be grabbed fairly inexpensively.

Find some undervalued players in the minors, in free agency, off the waiver wire, or on other teams' benches, specifically Gold Glove defenders up the middle (SS, 2B, all outfield) with good contact and speed ratings. Also grab catchers with outstanding blocking and framing skills and at least average contact ratings. They are easily available.

Build from there. The great defense will keep scores low and grab you some wins. Aim to lead the league in defensive efficiency and you'll likely be near the top in ERA even if you don't get great starters at first. Speed can help you eke out some runs. And those players will come a lot cheaper than the power guys. As they develop, you can start looking to upgrade with power.

[jksander]

Originally Posted by Edward ohare

The principle is sound but it's not applicable. He's in the post season and the players are free agents after the season so they have no trade value.

True I was thinking more in a "fleece the AI" kind of sarcastic way. This honestly would be a time to break out the negotiating skills though and try to get some of those guys to agree to one-year extensions at a higher price rather than committing long term ... I'd bet at least a couple would bite so you could still pursue another run next season while not being locked in to a guy at 40.

[Obechkinsbuddy]

Most of the time I may have one guy I love and keep forever and let the young kids come up and take the 32 year old FA to bes spot but I said man these guys just keep winning and hit well in the playoffs, we won the WS last year to give a lot of core guys 5 chips and expected to be bad and fire sale at deadline. But we had a 6 game lead in the division so I said well Im gonna trade for a player and try to run it back And here they are on expiring contract doing it again now up 1-0 in the WS they ALL are clutch when it matters even if they aren't the player they were at 26

[tejdog1]

I like my all time greats to retire as Mets. If they were drafted/signed/spent their whole career with me. I typically do like going 3-4 years with 33-34 year olds, and then year by year if they keep hanging on. It's worth it to me. Even if they underperform the contract, the legacy is worth.

[Pelican]

I think there may be a middle ground here. It doesn't have to be all or nothing. You could selectively re-sign free agents that - as others have observed - you think have a better chance of wearing well (not the catcher). I'd tend to be more comfortable with older guys in the corner OF spots, 3B, 1B, and younger quicker guys up the middle. A mix of talent on the filed and in the lineup would put less pressure on the young guys to produce. The best approach may be a meticulous case-by-case analysis, with different answers for different free agents, depending on young talent (or lack thereof) and their demands.

One other point on aging free agents. I have proposed multi-year deals where the annual amount goes down, not up. I understand the time value of money, and the benefit of deferred compensation. But I prefer to pay salaries that reflect value in a given year, and that value is bound to be reducing. That approach also frees up some money down the road. The players [the AI] have accepted such deals, so I must be doing something right. I may pay a bit more sooner, but less money overall. Players [the AI] can be short-sighted.