Do Contract Demands Change?

ssstump · 07-26-2009, 11:24 AM

I'm in my 1st season and just near the end of Spring Training.

Will players with contracts that expire this year adjust their contract demands up or down depending on how they perform during the season?

I would assume so, but would like to know for sure before I start signing extensions based on intuition rather than proven performance.

Thanks

kq76 · 07-26-2009, 11:26 AM

Yes, definitely. And keep in mind that they'll often take less than what they're requesting.

ssstump · 07-26-2009, 11:29 AM

wow - that was fast. thanks a lot. :-)

i'd better get to negotiating with some that look promising.

kq76 · 07-26-2009, 11:53 AM

No problem.

Personally, I don't like to negotiate until late, like after the playoffs have ended even. That's for a number of reasons: 1) I hate the idea of paying for a guy and he suffers an injury that could easily lead to a hit in ratings, 2) something else better could come along by trade or development, 3) some other move might tell you that you'd be better off saving that budget room for something you need more in free agency, 4) I think they might actually get desperate to resign with you sometimes (or at least their emails say that), etc. Of course it can backfire so if you think someone's price is really quite cheap at the moment and it's worth the gamble then go for it.

I had a SP who was maybe my best SP the last few years start the season with an injury and when he came off the DL his ratings were fine and he was willing to sign for pretty cheap, but I didn't bother (I was planning on it, but I got busy and didn't jump on it fast enough) and at the end of the season he wanted a lot more. In the end I was able to get him for 80% (don't be too chincy or you could turn guys right off) of what he was requesting which was only maybe 1.5M more than what he first wanted.

Also keep in mind that you might want to sign them before or after you get your new budget from your owner depending on whether you think it'll increase or decrease.

I just had the situation where my team got good real fast and the game wouldn't let me sign the upcoming FA I most wanted to keep (same guy as above) so thinking I was smart (it's good to be humble) I released a couple of fairly high priced players to get my projected payroll down. I signed my guy, but right after that (Oct 27th) the owner tells me my budget is going up by a significan amount so I didn't have to release those guys after all (1 wasn't worth his salary, but 1 was) and I can maybe try to sign a couple of my other guys as well now. I tell you, I won't make that mistake again!

Last tip: don't feel like you should sign every upcoming FA of yours. That money can often be better spent elsewhere.

EDIT: Oh, one other thing I tell myself to keep in mind: Consider signing extensions before you make any trades that substantially increase your payroll because a big trade taking on lots of salary can kill your room for extensions while you won't have a problem making those big trades even after signing those extensions.

Kitsune · 07-26-2009, 12:35 PM

Yes... I have seen players want 10 million, get injured, and then are willing to sign for 8-10 years at an average salary of below 1 million.

Carlton_Willey · 07-26-2009, 01:01 PM

Also, don't hesitate to buy out a star player's option years. For example, in 2010 I did a bit of negotiating with Jay Bruce to get him to sign a five year, 6.2 million contract starting in 2011--which would have been his first arbitration year.

He was having a good year, and after signing got blazing hot, finishing with 51 and 131 RBIs, barely missing the triple crown in average.

I shudder to think what arbitration would have done, as well as what he'd have been asking for the next season.

I did the same other young stars, all at five years and for only a mil or so over what they wanted for one year.

It looks like I'm set in Cincy for a few years.

ssstump · 07-26-2009, 01:20 PM

Thanks a lot everyone. I am learning a lot here.

Pretty much paid no attention to baseball since I was a kid, but this game has me watching on television, MLBTV.com, etc.

I'm playing 1964 Cleveland Indians and I'm gonna sign a couple to extensions just because I liked em when I was a kid. haha. That may cost me, but I'll have the team I want.

Man, I wish I had back those two shoe boxes full of cards I had back in the 60's

P.S. The photo packs available for download add a LOT to the game. Thanks for those!

07-26-2009, 11:24 AM	#1
ssstump Minors (Single A) Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 57	Do Contract Demands Change? I'm in my 1st season and just near the end of Spring Training. Will players with contracts that expire this year adjust their contract demands up or down depending on how they perform during the season? I would assume so, but would like to know for sure before I start signing extensions based on intuition rather than proven performance. Thanks

07-26-2009, 11:26 AM	#2
kq76 Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 11,772	Yes, definitely. And keep in mind that they'll often take less than what they're requesting. __________________ My OOTP Wishlist \| My FAQ List OOTP Wiki \| Your Recommended Team Nicknames, By City (A Crowdsourced Project)

07-26-2009, 11:53 AM	#4
kq76 Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 11,772	No problem. Personally, I don't like to negotiate until late, like after the playoffs have ended even. That's for a number of reasons: 1) I hate the idea of paying for a guy and he suffers an injury that could easily lead to a hit in ratings, 2) something else better could come along by trade or development, 3) some other move might tell you that you'd be better off saving that budget room for something you need more in free agency, 4) I think they might actually get desperate to resign with you sometimes (or at least their emails say that), etc. Of course it can backfire so if you think someone's price is really quite cheap at the moment and it's worth the gamble then go for it. I had a SP who was maybe my best SP the last few years start the season with an injury and when he came off the DL his ratings were fine and he was willing to sign for pretty cheap, but I didn't bother (I was planning on it, but I got busy and didn't jump on it fast enough) and at the end of the season he wanted a lot more. In the end I was able to get him for 80% (don't be too chincy or you could turn guys right off) of what he was requesting which was only maybe 1.5M more than what he first wanted. Also keep in mind that you might want to sign them before or after you get your new budget from your owner depending on whether you think it'll increase or decrease. I just had the situation where my team got good real fast and the game wouldn't let me sign the upcoming FA I most wanted to keep (same guy as above) so thinking I was smart (it's good to be humble) I released a couple of fairly high priced players to get my projected payroll down. I signed my guy, but right after that (Oct 27th) the owner tells me my budget is going up by a significan amount so I didn't have to release those guys after all (1 wasn't worth his salary, but 1 was) and I can maybe try to sign a couple of my other guys as well now. I tell you, I won't make that mistake again! Last tip: don't feel like you should sign every upcoming FA of yours. That money can often be better spent elsewhere. EDIT: Oh, one other thing I tell myself to keep in mind: Consider signing extensions before you make any trades that substantially increase your payroll because a big trade taking on lots of salary can kill your room for extensions while you won't have a problem making those big trades even after signing those extensions. __________________ My OOTP Wishlist \| My FAQ List OOTP Wiki \| Your Recommended Team Nicknames, By City (A Crowdsourced Project) Last edited by kq76; 07-26-2009 at 12:05 PM.

07-26-2009, 01:01 PM	#6
Carlton_Willey Major Leagues Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 354	Also, don't hesitate to buy out a star player's option years. For example, in 2010 I did a bit of negotiating with Jay Bruce to get him to sign a five year, 6.2 million contract starting in 2011--which would have been his first arbitration year. He was having a good year, and after signing got blazing hot, finishing with 51 and 131 RBIs, barely missing the triple crown in average. I shudder to think what arbitration would have done, as well as what he'd have been asking for the next season. I did the same other young stars, all at five years and for only a mil or so over what they wanted for one year. It looks like I'm set in Cincy for a few years. __________________ Marilyn Monroe had gone off on a USO tour, and upon seeing DiMaggio again excitedly told him of her trip. "Joe, there were a hundred thousand people there and they were all cheering and clapping; you've never seen anything like it." "Yes, I have," DiMaggio responded.

07-26-2009, 11:29 AM	#3
ssstump Minors (Single A) Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 57	wow - that was fast. thanks a lot. :-) i'd better get to negotiating with some that look promising.

07-26-2009, 12:35 PM	#5
Kitsune Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 41	Yes... I have seen players want 10 million, get injured, and then are willing to sign for 8-10 years at an average salary of below 1 million.

07-26-2009, 01:20 PM	#7
ssstump Minors (Single A) Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 57	Thanks a lot everyone. I am learning a lot here. Pretty much paid no attention to baseball since I was a kid, but this game has me watching on television, MLBTV.com, etc. I'm playing 1964 Cleveland Indians and I'm gonna sign a couple to extensions just because I liked em when I was a kid. haha. That may cost me, but I'll have the team I want. Man, I wish I had back those two shoe boxes full of cards I had back in the 60's P.S. The photo packs available for download add a LOT to the game. Thanks for those!