Question & Comment about July 2nd Int. FA

Fronzizzle · 05-14-2020, 07:43 AM

First, the question: Has everyone else's July 2nd International free agents really decreased in quality? I'm not 100% positive, but I feel like since the last patch, my international free agents are more 1.5/2.0 stars (in terms of potential), not the 3/3.5 stars I was getting before. Not complaining, just asking if this was done intentionally or if my sim has just had a bad 3 or 4 year run?

Now the comment: I feel like this is another aspect of the game that is broken. Separate of whatever their potential rating is, almost all of the top prospects sign for the maximum of $5M. Even if their demand starts lower, it takes about a day before some team ups the bid. It seems very odd. In reality, I went back and looked at all of the July 2nd signings from 2019, 2018 & 2017. The MLB.com website lists the Top 30 signings from each year, out of the 90 players they have listed exactly 2 signed for $5M.

In 2017, Wader Franco was the jewel of the class and he signed for $3.825M. In 2018, the highest bonus $3.5M. Last year, two players went for $5M. In my game, I'm getting like 6 or 7 every season signing for $5M, and its nearly impossible to get any sort of decent player for less than that.

Also, there appears to be no criteria for a player deciding who to sign with if he gets multiple $5M offers. What I mean is, in every version of OOTP I've played, if I offer the max, I get the player. Every single time. Doesn't matter what my team record is, what positions I'm stacked at, what my GM or manager reputation is - if I offer a guy a contract and the bidding gets to $5 and I match, I get him. While great for my farm system & eventually my MLB team, it's almost too easy.

jimmysthebestcop · 05-14-2020, 07:55 AM

I've never not seen a top potential int amateur free agent. Doesn't mean they will reach it but during the signing always someone greater 4 stars. It is probably your scout, scouting budget, or the way you have the scouting portioned out. If you have an ability scout they rate everyone crazy low. That part is kind of broken. You need a highly favors tools. The ability scouts just don't work right. OSA is better then them.

Yeah 5 million on day you get the guy on day 2. That is basically the easiest way to do it. No negotiations. I mean any prospect you look at will want 3 million so might as offer them 5 million.

This was really the model when there was no cap and MLB teams would sign huge future super star kids.

OOTPb needs to completely revamp international amateur scouting. The scouting discoveries should be interactive where you have to send scouts out, pick from a list of players and sign contracts. In MLB all those signings comes from the same pool money. That's why they don't give anyone 5 million cause they signed another 20 kids at various price points.Usually it is when someones trades Int Cap money then that team will make a big signing cause they can still sign another dozen kids.

Sort of related the posting international mlb model in OOTPb is completely outdated as well. It all works off of % of the signing bonus and contract. Not a flat fee anymore.

Only reason I mention posting is because the 2 biggest paths to get international players (posting and the int amateur) can either be considered broken or not using the most up to date model that the MLB is using.

But it appears the vast majority of the fanbase is just complacent.

Curve Ball Dave · 05-14-2020, 08:29 AM

I think I've signed one INTL FA in six seasons because they are either not worth signing, or they demand $5 million. There doesn't appear to be any in between.

jimmysthebestcop · 05-14-2020, 08:46 AM

The other exploit/glitch/broken thing is if you promote them immediately they are like the most prized possession on the trade market. You can get a great haul. I don't trade them before they are 19 now. It's just too broken.

Teams would rather have this so called young future star who is 16 then a AAA prospect that is ready for the show right now.

And I absolutely hate house rules in video games. At this point I should probably just disable Int Amateur Free Agents and just crank scouting discoveries to the max 44 per year.

Yeah might do that in my upcoming offseason. Even if the human doesn't sign the top candidate there are going to be 3 teams that get them. And its not like the draft some teams dont even budget money.

At least if its 100% scouting discoveries it is dependent upon TCR luck and your minor league develop plan. And with 44 a year enough should get circulated not just to the MLB but the Indys and Int leagues as well. Because a lot of them will have to be cut.

05-14-2020, 07:43 AM	#1
Fronzizzle Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 177	Question & Comment about July 2nd Int. FA First, the question: Has everyone else's July 2nd International free agents really decreased in quality? I'm not 100% positive, but I feel like since the last patch, my international free agents are more 1.5/2.0 stars (in terms of potential), not the 3/3.5 stars I was getting before. Not complaining, just asking if this was done intentionally or if my sim has just had a bad 3 or 4 year run? Now the comment: I feel like this is another aspect of the game that is broken. Separate of whatever their potential rating is, almost all of the top prospects sign for the maximum of $5M. Even if their demand starts lower, it takes about a day before some team ups the bid. It seems very odd. In reality, I went back and looked at all of the July 2nd signings from 2019, 2018 & 2017. The MLB.com website lists the Top 30 signings from each year, out of the 90 players they have listed exactly 2 signed for $5M. In 2017, Wader Franco was the jewel of the class and he signed for $3.825M. In 2018, the highest bonus $3.5M. Last year, two players went for $5M. In my game, I'm getting like 6 or 7 every season signing for $5M, and its nearly impossible to get any sort of decent player for less than that. Also, there appears to be no criteria for a player deciding who to sign with if he gets multiple $5M offers. What I mean is, in every version of OOTP I've played, if I offer the max, I get the player. Every single time. Doesn't matter what my team record is, what positions I'm stacked at, what my GM or manager reputation is - if I offer a guy a contract and the bidding gets to $5 and I match, I get him. While great for my farm system & eventually my MLB team, it's almost too easy.

05-14-2020, 08:29 AM	#3
Curve Ball Dave Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 2,401	I think I've signed one INTL FA in six seasons because they are either not worth signing, or they demand $5 million. There doesn't appear to be any in between. __________________ "Hitting is timing. Pitching is upsetting timing"-Warren Spahn.

05-14-2020, 07:55 AM	#2
jimmysthebestcop Banned Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 1,727 Infractions: 0/2 (5)	I've never not seen a top potential int amateur free agent. Doesn't mean they will reach it but during the signing always someone greater 4 stars. It is probably your scout, scouting budget, or the way you have the scouting portioned out. If you have an ability scout they rate everyone crazy low. That part is kind of broken. You need a highly favors tools. The ability scouts just don't work right. OSA is better then them. Yeah 5 million on day you get the guy on day 2. That is basically the easiest way to do it. No negotiations. I mean any prospect you look at will want 3 million so might as offer them 5 million. This was really the model when there was no cap and MLB teams would sign huge future super star kids. OOTPb needs to completely revamp international amateur scouting. The scouting discoveries should be interactive where you have to send scouts out, pick from a list of players and sign contracts. In MLB all those signings comes from the same pool money. That's why they don't give anyone 5 million cause they signed another 20 kids at various price points.Usually it is when someones trades Int Cap money then that team will make a big signing cause they can still sign another dozen kids. Sort of related the posting international mlb model in OOTPb is completely outdated as well. It all works off of % of the signing bonus and contract. Not a flat fee anymore. Only reason I mention posting is because the 2 biggest paths to get international players (posting and the int amateur) can either be considered broken or not using the most up to date model that the MLB is using. But it appears the vast majority of the fanbase is just complacent.

05-14-2020, 08:46 AM	#4
jimmysthebestcop Banned Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 1,727 Infractions: 0/2 (5)	The other exploit/glitch/broken thing is if you promote them immediately they are like the most prized possession on the trade market. You can get a great haul. I don't trade them before they are 19 now. It's just too broken. Teams would rather have this so called young future star who is 16 then a AAA prospect that is ready for the show right now. And I absolutely hate house rules in video games. At this point I should probably just disable Int Amateur Free Agents and just crank scouting discoveries to the max 44 per year. Yeah might do that in my upcoming offseason. Even if the human doesn't sign the top candidate there are going to be 3 teams that get them. And its not like the draft some teams dont even budget money. At least if its 100% scouting discoveries it is dependent upon TCR luck and your minor league develop plan. And with 44 a year enough should get circulated not just to the MLB but the Indys and Int leagues as well. Because a lot of them will have to be cut.