How to reduce payroll in offseason

mcd525 · 08-11-2014, 06:13 PM

I am over my budget by about $20,000,000
any ideas on how to fix that?

RchW · 08-11-2014, 07:04 PM

Don't tender arbitration unless the player is critical and worth it going forward. Try to sign the critical players at a number that anticipates the following years arbitration.

Don't offer marginal pending FA more money because you are afraid they will walk. Let them go to FA and sign them or other players to deals that make sense.

Waive trade or release any overpaid player that you can't guarantee will make a difference. This is not easy but worth trying.

Use the shop player function then the trade screen "make this work" button to find out if the player you want can be obtained for a different player. This could be a cheat if overdone but it simply replicates GM discussions where you offer player X reluctantly, the other GM has player Z but is willing to take player Y or A or B. Up to you to make it a defensible trade.

Look at your minor leagues to find possible position backups at league minimum vs having to sign marginal backups at an elevated dollar value.

Watch the FA list dwindle and look for a reasonable player who missed the market.

Gai1997 · 08-12-2014, 12:44 PM

You can trade people. However, they'll usually ask for a 4-5 star potential prospect along with your "vastly overpaid veteran"

dumbrabbit · 08-12-2014, 07:11 PM

If there is a player I no longer want because he sucks on my team and has a high salary, and no one will accept a trade for him, I'll sometimes turn on commissioner mode and trade him to a team for a minor league player who will never make it. In real life I would think a GM would definitely accept a "free player" sort of thing. I will sometimes cut the player I trade for If I am desperate to get salary off my book.

pgjocki · 08-12-2014, 11:30 PM

But aren't you in effect dumping salary without consequence?

Hajew86 · 08-13-2014, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcd525

I am over my budget by about $20,000,000
any ideas on how to fix that?

Shop, Shop, and Shop some more. You can shop up to 3 players per day, so you should start with your highest, unwanted/unneeded players and move on from there. Get as much as you can back for these guys and just move on.

Other details:

What kind of owner do you have? What kind of market are you in? What's your current budget?

nutt · 08-13-2014, 08:29 PM

I've taken the Friedman (TB GM) approach when I was the GM for my Nashville ML team because of the market size. In the walk year (or the trade deadline leading up to their walk year), sell HARD for prospects. If the guy is a 3-5 star guy that is going to take on tons of money, find a GM willing to part with 4-5 star potential players, and even take on a 1-2 star player that has replacement value for that position if not in contention. If in contention, revert to the trade in off-season. I usually pay attention to the big FA's, who are the "interested candidates" and if one loses out on the guy, make him an offer. It worked well.

08-11-2014, 06:13 PM	#1
mcd525 Bat Boy Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 1	How to reduce payroll in offseason I am over my budget by about $20,000,000 any ideas on how to fix that?

08-11-2014, 07:04 PM	#2
RchW Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Toronto ON by way of Glasgow UK Posts: 15,629	Don't tender arbitration unless the player is critical and worth it going forward. Try to sign the critical players at a number that anticipates the following years arbitration. Don't offer marginal pending FA more money because you are afraid they will walk. Let them go to FA and sign them or other players to deals that make sense. Waive trade or release any overpaid player that you can't guarantee will make a difference. This is not easy but worth trying. Use the shop player function then the trade screen "make this work" button to find out if the player you want can be obtained for a different player. This could be a cheat if overdone but it simply replicates GM discussions where you offer player X reluctantly, the other GM has player Z but is willing to take player Y or A or B. Up to you to make it a defensible trade. Look at your minor leagues to find possible position backups at league minimum vs having to sign marginal backups at an elevated dollar value. Watch the FA list dwindle and look for a reasonable player who missed the market. __________________ 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

08-12-2014, 11:30 PM	#5
pgjocki All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Maryland - just outside DC Posts: 1,663	But aren't you in effect dumping salary without consequence? __________________ - - - World Series championships: 1926, 1931, 1934, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1964, 1967, 1982, 2006, 2011

08-12-2014, 12:44 PM	#3
Gai1997 Major Leagues Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 370	You can trade people. However, they'll usually ask for a 4-5 star potential prospect along with your "vastly overpaid veteran"

08-12-2014, 07:11 PM	#4
dumbrabbit All Star Reserve Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 827	If there is a player I no longer want because he sucks on my team and has a high salary, and no one will accept a trade for him, I'll sometimes turn on commissioner mode and trade him to a team for a minor league player who will never make it. In real life I would think a GM would definitely accept a "free player" sort of thing. I will sometimes cut the player I trade for If I am desperate to get salary off my book.

08-13-2014, 08:29 PM	#7
nutt OOTP Roster Team Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 2,255	I've taken the Friedman (TB GM) approach when I was the GM for my Nashville ML team because of the market size. In the walk year (or the trade deadline leading up to their walk year), sell HARD for prospects. If the guy is a 3-5 star guy that is going to take on tons of money, find a GM willing to part with 4-5 star potential players, and even take on a 1-2 star player that has replacement value for that position if not in contention. If in contention, revert to the trade in off-season. I usually pay attention to the big FA's, who are the "interested candidates" and if one loses out on the guy, make him an offer. It worked well.