Star Free Agent hitters not receiving any AI interest

Joelman111 · 07-01-2026, 06:40 AM

Hi, in preparation for my fictional league, I've been running simulations that often result in free agent hitters not receiving appropriate levels of interest from the AI. For example, I am attaching the player profiles of two 3-5 WAR hitters that had failed to be signed by opening day in one of my sims. These players have been consistent positive contributors across their careers and I can see no reason why not a single team had shown any interest in signing them. Neither have any injury concerns and both are competent defensively.

I frequently see no listed teams in the "Interested" section of the Offseason Center for hitters, but the opposite is true for pitchers. I see mediocre pitchers (2.5 stars) being signed for similar AAVs as the top hitter free agents (4-5 stars) and all non-injured starters are always signed by the end of the offseason. Maybe the devs could look into whether there needs to be some balancing in AI front office pursuits of free agent pitchers vs. hitters?

For reference, I have made the PCMs favor pitchers over hitters to try and combat the issue in hopes that the AI would value the rarer talented hitters over the abundant mediocre pitchers. Specifically, the league these players are from have batter PCMs (.95,1,1,1,.95) and pitcher PCMs (1.2,1.18,1.18,1). Anything else I could try to see if AI behavior changes? Name: Screenshot 2026-07-01 030245.jpg
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Baconi · 07-01-2026, 09:55 AM

I feel like some hitters’ contract demands are often initially way too high so teams don’t bother and sign other players, at which point no one has the budget for the free agents with high demands so they sit their rotting in free agency until they’re eventually signed for super cheap.

Bobfather · 07-01-2026, 12:26 PM

As a counterpoint, I think I have had over 30 off-seasons in OOTP and have never seen this issue. But I make a lot of offers early on, maybe that catches the attention of the AI GMs to make their offers.

Carplos · 07-01-2026, 02:55 PM

The only times I see this issue is when teams don't have enough money so I just tweak the finances to make sure at least some teams have the room to make bigger offers.

Joelman111 · 07-01-2026, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baconi

I feel like some hitters’ contract demands are often initially way too high so teams don’t bother and sign other players, at which point no one has the budget for the free agents with high demands so they sit their rotting in free agency until they’re eventually signed for super cheap.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carplos

The only times I see this issue is when teams don't have enough money so I just tweak the finances to make sure at least some teams have the room to make bigger offers.

This doesn't explain why they are willing to pay mediocre pitchers those same ludicrous prices though... If you could have a really good 3-5 WAR hitter for the same price as a 1-2 WAR pitcher, I'd take the hitter every time. Moreover, I've looked into team finances and most teams have some money available (see attached image, about a third of the teams have $10M in budget room)- yet they continue to spend that money on mediocre pitching deep into the offseason. Finally, they aren't even signing for super cheap- they are straight up rotting in Free Agency. I could accept them taking an undervalued contract, but not even getting any offers? Name: Screenshot 2026-07-01 120536.jpg
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Name: Screenshot 2026-07-01 120536.jpg
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malor · 07-01-2026, 05:03 PM

What are those players actual contract demands. I bet the first one wants 15-20 m. for 8-10 years. I'll pass on that. 1 year at 8m maybe.

The second player is probably the same and while he is younger, again, the cost is to high to the payroll to risk it.

I'm sure that is what the AI is seeing when looking at the players.

Joelman111 · 07-01-2026, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malor

What are those players actual contract demands. I bet the first one wants 15-20 m. for 8-10 years. I'll pass on that. 1 year at 8m maybe.

The second player is probably the same and while he is younger, again, the cost is to high to the payroll to risk it.

I'm sure that is what the AI is seeing when looking at the players.

Those may been their demands at the start of FA and I would totally feel the same way for those prices... but now they are being extremely reasonable and still nobody will sign them.

Tony Compian (34 LF, 3.5 stars) wants a 1 yr/$12M deal (before I negotiated at all). He even declined his player option at the end of last season to hit FA.

Beau Stoltenow (29 2B, 3 stars) wants a minor league contract with a major league option worth $750k (before I negotiated at all).

Freddie Freeman and Bo Bichette didn't have any issues garnering interest in FA in real life and those would be a couple of the closest recent comparisons I can think of for these guys- perennial 3-5 WAR players with solid defense and not too old. What team wouldn't choose to add these guys for these rock bottom prices???

malor · 07-01-2026, 07:15 PM

In season, teams have no need for them as they already filled the position. Signing these player will probably mean they will need to remove someone from the 40 man roster and possibly lose them via waivers. Thus paying twice for the same position So they don't bother.

I know I would not. What you see as bad moves, I see the AI doing a great job managing their budgets by not signing/releasing players. Which was a bug in earlier version leading to teams spending 10's of millions on waived contract/cuts.

Joelman111 · 07-02-2026, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malor

In season, teams have no need for them as they already filled the position. Signing these player will probably mean they will need to remove someone from the 40 man roster and possibly lose them via waivers. Thus paying twice for the same position So they don't bother.

I know I would not. What you see as bad moves, I see the AI doing a great job managing their budgets by not signing/releasing players. Which was a bug in earlier version leading to teams spending 10's of millions on waived contract/cuts.

I would happily option down a mid-tier position player for a 5 WAR boost to my team- pretty sure almost any MLB team would. The AI did have a problem with too much waiving/releasing players at launch, but that's not the only way to clear a spot for a bonafide star. I don't think there is an argument that Freddie Freeman or Bo Bichette should remain unsigned for the entire offseason because they demanded too much. Especially seeing how the AI shells out for mediocre pitchers.

Maybe it has something to do with too much pitching talent sucking up payroll across the league? I have DH enabled for both subleagues so I would hope that might incentivize the AI to value hitters more.

Bobfather · 07-02-2026, 08:11 AM

Do any of them have QOs. That could be a reason.in real life those players can go deep into ST before signing.

sokoudjou · 07-02-2026, 09:05 AM

In order to combat this I have been going in and modifying the typical salary expectation for each tier of player gradually. I feel like this tracks with real life as you will see guys who missed out on the big money sign smaller, short term deals than they had anticipated/hoped as the off season goes on in order to get them playing. A one year, prove it deal as they say.

I get that it doesn't fix the AI logic that you're getting at, but it at least gets them signed.

07-01-2026, 06:40 AM	#1
Joelman111 Minors (Double A) Join Date: May 2019 Location: San Francisco Posts: 171	Star Free Agent hitters not receiving any AI interest Hi, in preparation for my fictional league, I've been running simulations that often result in free agent hitters not receiving appropriate levels of interest from the AI. For example, I am attaching the player profiles of two 3-5 WAR hitters that had failed to be signed by opening day in one of my sims. These players have been consistent positive contributors across their careers and I can see no reason why not a single team had shown any interest in signing them. Neither have any injury concerns and both are competent defensively. I frequently see no listed teams in the "Interested" section of the Offseason Center for hitters, but the opposite is true for pitchers. I see mediocre pitchers (2.5 stars) being signed for similar AAVs as the top hitter free agents (4-5 stars) and all non-injured starters are always signed by the end of the offseason. Maybe the devs could look into whether there needs to be some balancing in AI front office pursuits of free agent pitchers vs. hitters? For reference, I have made the PCMs favor pitchers over hitters to try and combat the issue in hopes that the AI would value the rarer talented hitters over the abundant mediocre pitchers. Specifically, the league these players are from have batter PCMs (.95,1,1,1,.95) and pitcher PCMs (1.2,1.18,1.18,1). Anything else I could try to see if AI behavior changes? __________________ Just a Pirates fan looking for his McCutchen

07-01-2026, 12:26 PM	#3
Bobfather All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Boston Ma. Posts: 1,989	As a counterpoint, I think I have had over 30 off-seasons in OOTP and have never seen this issue. But I make a lot of offers early on, maybe that catches the attention of the AI GMs to make their offers. __________________ I play out every game—one pitch mode.

07-01-2026, 05:03 PM	#6
malor Major Leagues Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 498	What are those players actual contract demands. I bet the first one wants 15-20 m. for 8-10 years. I'll pass on that. 1 year at 8m maybe. The second player is probably the same and while he is younger, again, the cost is to high to the payroll to risk it. I'm sure that is what the AI is seeing when looking at the players. Last edited by malor; 07-01-2026 at 05:04 PM.

07-01-2026, 07:15 PM	#8
malor Major Leagues Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 498	In season, teams have no need for them as they already filled the position. Signing these player will probably mean they will need to remove someone from the 40 man roster and possibly lose them via waivers. Thus paying twice for the same position So they don't bother. I know I would not. What you see as bad moves, I see the AI doing a great job managing their budgets by not signing/releasing players. Which was a bug in earlier version leading to teams spending 10's of millions on waived contract/cuts. Last edited by malor; 07-01-2026 at 07:17 PM.

07-02-2026, 08:11 AM	#10
Bobfather All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Boston Ma. Posts: 1,989	Do any of them have QOs. That could be a reason.in real life those players can go deep into ST before signing. __________________ I play out every game—one pitch mode.

07-01-2026, 09:55 AM	#2
Baconi Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 264	I feel like some hitters’ contract demands are often initially way too high so teams don’t bother and sign other players, at which point no one has the budget for the free agents with high demands so they sit their rotting in free agency until they’re eventually signed for super cheap.

07-01-2026, 02:55 PM	#4
Carplos Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,907 Infractions: 1/0 (0)	The only times I see this issue is when teams don't have enough money so I just tweak the finances to make sure at least some teams have the room to make bigger offers.

07-02-2026, 09:05 AM	#11
sokoudjou Bat Boy Join Date: Jan 2024 Posts: 6	In order to combat this I have been going in and modifying the typical salary expectation for each tier of player gradually. I feel like this tracks with real life as you will see guys who missed out on the big money sign smaller, short term deals than they had anticipated/hoped as the off season goes on in order to get them playing. A one year, prove it deal as they say. I get that it doesn't fix the AI logic that you're getting at, but it at least gets them signed.