Creating a new league in existing universe: a question about FAs.

[Vinny P.]

Ok, so I have a real-world regulation universe. I am in my tenth season, and have noticed the FA pool is beginning to get a bit on the large size. It isn't TOO bad, but I would to trim of these FAs down a bit, and get some of them playing (especially those between the ages of 17 and 22. There's an aweful lot of teenagers who are getting released by their clubs.)

Basically, I was wondering if there is a practical way to start a new league....maybe a high-level amateur league based in the US....and have them sign some of the guys on the FA list. I do not want the new league to create new players ever, and just utilize the currently existing FAs. I thought if I turned off the initial draft, and turn off the rookie draft, it might still create a new talent pool specifically for the new league anyway.

Is there anyway to prevent a new league from ever creating any new players, and only signing FAs from existing leagues in a universe? Or should I just add another level of minors to one or more of my existing professional leagues; keeping the number of first year player draft rounds the same? Or is it time for holding an expansion draft? Just wondering how other people may handle this.

[Bluenoser]

Originally Posted by Vinny P.

Ok, so I have a real-world regulation universe. I am in my tenth season, and have noticed the FA pool is beginning to get a bit on the large size. It isn't TOO bad, but I would to trim of these FAs down a bit, and get some of them playing (especially those between the ages of 17 and 22. There's an aweful lot of teenagers who are getting released by their clubs.)

Basically, I was wondering if there is a practical way to start a new league....maybe a high-level amateur league based in the US....and have them sign some of the guys on the FA list. I do not want the new league to create new players ever, and just utilize the currently existing FAs. I thought if I turned off the initial draft, and turn off the rookie draft, it might still create a new talent pool specifically for the new league anyway.

Is there anyway to prevent a new league from ever creating any new players, and only signing FAs from existing leagues in a universe? Or should I just add another level of minors to one or more of my existing professional leagues; keeping the number of first year player draft rounds the same? Or is it time for holding an expansion draft? Just wondering how other people may handle this.

Not possible. I know you don't really want to do this, but you could always delete a lot of those players.

There's also an option in game setup to delete players who never reach the majors. That will keep young guys who get released from other teams from winding up in the FA Pool.

[Winnipeg59]

This is a great question. It would be interesting to start some kind of parallel league to suck up some of the FA's.

And forgive me, but I always assumed the "delete players who never reach the majors" was just for the list of "retirees" that the game retains and you access after the fact (say to create a coach, etc), not for the FA pool. Learn something new every visit to OS!

[Chicagofan76]

Vinny I have 2 different Leagues where I created additional leagues.
For my ABF I created a 12 team indy American League, deleted all the players that the game put on their teams, created a few historical players for each team, set what the player makes to 1/3 or so to what my ABF players can make. The AL has signed all the fringe FA's, over the hill players and any ok decent prospects that were released by ABF teams. And the players that become superstars in the AL and have tried making it in the ABF have all tanked except for Babe Ruth, who is the highest paid player in the ABF (plays for me) Trades between the 2 leagues is off
In my EBL vs MLB league I created the Corsucant Baseball Federation which signed FA's from MLB & EBL. EBL finances were set to 1976 in 2003 (CBF came in in 2005) CBF had its finances set to 1990 and MLB has at 2005. Mark Teixiera, Nomar Garciaparra & Moises Alou were all traded to the CBF and are some of their best players. Trading is on but EBL can not lose it's FA's but can sign FA's from MLB and CBF, although they cant afford anyone.


I trust you know how to mass delete players on teams? btw AL has no minors and a 10 man reserve roster.

[Vinny P.]

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

Not possible. I know you don't really want to do this, but you could always delete a lot of those players.

There's also an option in game setup to delete players who never reach the majors. That will keep young guys who get released from other teams from winding up in the FA Pool.

Yeah, I really want to avoid doing that, if possible. I think I may explore what CF suggested below.

Originally Posted by Winnipeg59

This is a great question. It would be interesting to start some kind of parallel league to suck up some of the FA's.

And forgive me, but I always assumed the "delete players who never reach the majors" was just for the list of "retirees" that the game retains and you access after the fact (say to create a coach, etc), not for the FA pool. Learn something new every visit to OS!

Yeah, same here. I, too, thought it was meant to delete those who are retiring, whom have never made the majors. Which is one of the biggest reasons why I want to avoid using that option. I have a lot of players who have made great minor league careers, and broken a lot of records, ala Crash Davis styles.

Originally Posted by Chicagofan76

Vinny I have 2 different Leagues where I created additional leagues.
For my ABF I created a 12 team indy American League, deleted all the players that the game put on their teams, created a few historical players for each team, set what the player makes to 1/3 or so to what my ABF players can make. The AL has signed all the fringe FA's, over the hill players and any ok decent prospects that were released by ABF teams. And the players that become superstars in the AL and have tried making it in the ABF have all tanked except for Babe Ruth, who is the highest paid player in the ABF (plays for me) Trades between the 2 leagues is off
In my EBL vs MLB league I created the Corsucant Baseball Federation which signed FA's from MLB & EBL. EBL finances were set to 1976 in 2003 (CBF came in in 2005) CBF had its finances set to 1990 and MLB has at 2005. Mark Teixiera, Nomar Garciaparra & Moises Alou were all traded to the CBF and are some of their best players. Trading is on but EBL can not lose it's FA's but can sign FA's from MLB and CBF, although they cant afford anyone.


I trust you know how to mass delete players on teams? btw AL has no minors and a 10 man reserve roster.

Hey, thanks for the suggestion, CF! I will try this. And yes, I do know how to mass delete created players on teams. Didn't think of that, as I almost never touch that menu system, buried in the league set-up.

The only problem I foresee of this, is having a lopsided league, in which one or two teams will quickly sign up all of the best FAs. But I suppose the league will even out over the course of two or three seasons anyway.

There is also another issue:

What happens from year-to-year, in regards to new player creation? If you turn off First Year Player draft, would the game still create new players each year? Will the engine think the league needs to have a way to replenish the league each season with the draft turned off and no feeders, and just create new players for that league anyway?

[Chicagofan76]

Originally Posted by Vinny P.

The only problem I foresee of this, is having a lopsided league, in which one or two teams will quickly sign up all of the best FAs. But I suppose the league will even out over the course of two or three seasons anyway.

There is also another issue:

What happens from year-to-year, in regards to new player creation? If you turn off First Year Player draft, would the game still create new players each year? Will the engine think the league needs to have a way to replenish the league each season with the draft turned off and no feeders, and just create new players for that league anyway?

This is the 3rd yr for the American League, New York Yankees have won the 1st 2 World Series...Babe Ruth was a FA after the 1st yr and i signed him to my team since the AL couldn't afford him and I couldn't let my competition get him. The West champion has been different each yr. i did set it up similar to my regular league with cheap owners and such. Oprah Winfrey owns the Chicago Hitmen and is a tight wad. They do have Maddux though. Trump owns The Yankees (The Boss owns The NY Giants of the ABF)
When I had set this up i was under the assumption that the game would not create new players that they would sign FA's, I glanced at NYY & CHI and didnt see any game created players within the past 2 seasons., not saying there isnt any. I did notice that CJ makes way too much as you can see in the SS's. Let me know if you want anymore SS's or any more info on it.

[Chicagofan76]

I did just notice that the finances are too close to what the ABF is, I had orig set that a superstar can only make 3 - 5 million. i see i will have to manually change some things. I think I have automatically adjust finacials which mirrors real life 2009.