What Factors Do You Use For Releasing Minor Leaguers?

[The Game]

Trying to decide if i should release all my 1 star players from Rookie. Normally I trim my minors at the end of season and then again before the draft. I have 136 players thru 5 levels including ML. 27.2 players avg per level. AAA roster limit is 28 AA & A is 25 Rookie no limit. Scouting normal. Scout is Legendary for Amateurs. Scouting budget is well below average.

[mpejkrm]

If they are in rookie ball, struggling, and over the Age of 25... I usually release them and sign some NDFA's.

[The Game]

Originally Posted by mpejkrm

If they are in rookie ball, struggling, and over the Age of 25... I usually release them and sign some NDFA's.

None at R over 24. I have released 5 so far from R thru AA, based on the Scout thinks these players should be demoted. I let the AI handle promotions and demotions but I have 9 players locked at certain levels.

[Scottiedog]

I follow their theories pretty much too. Although, I usually try keep them and use them in trades to keep from giving up guys I'd rather keep.

[Bluenoser]

Time & Improvement

If they're at the same level for more than 2 yrs and have been static or dropped in ratings, good-bye. Even guys who have very miniscule improvements get the boot. I never consider age. At most, a very small handful of these guys might get a cup of coffee in the bigs someday far down the road.

Other than that, they're useless fodder to me that take playing time away from kids who actually are improving.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

Time & Improvement

If they're at the same level for more than 2 yrs and have been static or dropped in ratings, good-bye. Even guys who have very miniscule improvements get the boot. I never consider age. At most, a very small handful of these guys might get a cup of coffee in the bigs someday far down the road.

Other than that, they're useless fodder to me that take playing time away from kids who actually are improving.

Reasonable, except that younger players have more time and therefore chance of a talent bump. So, age does enter into it for me. If I see a guy who is 28 and still in A, I will let him go. Especially if I see low intelligence and work ethic.

[Bluenoser]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

Reasonable, except that younger players have more time and therefore chance of a talent bump. So, age does enter into it for me. If I see a guy who is 28 and still in A, I will let him go. Especially if I see low intelligence and work ethic.

Everybody has their own style of managing, ours obviously differs. My objective was not to highlight someone else's style and make comparisons, but rather to answer the Ops question.

[olivertheorem]

My cuts are always age-based. If you're in AAA, you're safe. Veteran help and all that. Starting at age 28 for AA and dropping, if you're above that age as of one of my biannual purges, you're gone, regardless of ratings or (sometimes) contract.

[Afino]

#1, I cut no one in their first pro year, no matter how bad. Especially in online leagues, I see too many people immediately release CPU autopicks. WHY? Give those guys a chance, or I will. Never know...usually after a year, you have an idea of development.

I trim my minors at FA filing and right after the draft when those new players need to be slotted.

I usually go age-based too, although I'm more cut-throat. Above 25 in AA, you're either sent to AAA or cut. Also cut guys with negative development patterns over the last 6 months to a year, too.

[The Game]

Originally Posted by Afino

#1, I cut no one in their first pro year, no matter how bad. Especially in online leagues, I see too many people immediately release CPU autopicks. WHY? Give those guys a chance, or I will. Never know...usually after a year, you have an idea of development.

I trim my minors at FA filing and right after the draft when those new players need to be slotted.

I usually go age-based too, although I'm more cut-throat. Above 25 in AA, you're either sent to AAA or cut. Also cut guys with negative development patterns over the last 6 months to a year, too.

I rarely cut someone after just one season. I try to give someone 2 seasons. As far as my AAA goes i am going into my 6th overall season so i am gonna start to see minor league FA and a ton of avaialbe Rule V picks. I have very few position players who are above 2 stars in my minor leagues that are not being fast tracked for the majors. I did 4 trades which gave me a ton of pitching depth but none are Rule V available this year.

[Mister_G]

I usually look at the oldest guys I've got in rookie ball and then cut them based on my judgement of production/potential. At rookie ball I look for potential over current ratings.

[bk2bkjks]

I use age. 18-20 in Rookie, 20-22 in Short season, 22-24 in A, 24-26 in AA and any age in AAA. If you're 26 and need to be demoted to A ball chances are you're not going to contribute to the big club.


Edit: I should mention I use stats only with scouting on.

[Jetzons]

I run the following:

Rookie to Short-Season 17-23
A Ball to Advance A Max age is 25
AA No max (If a player is 25 and struggling, he's released not sent back to Adv - A
AAA No max (If a Age 28 or higher is struggling, he's released and not sent to AA.

As far as advancement I look at VOPR and WHIP/OPS to see who moves up. Generally, I get occasionally a 20-22 year climbing fast. But most of the time it's the 23-26 year olds that hit the MLB roster.

[Raidergoo]

I prune aggressively, usually in the winter.

For all pitchers in the minors, each of the stuff, movement, and control potentials have to be 50 or above (on a 20-80 scale, so, it's the median point).

For all batters in the minors, the contact potential has to be 50 or above.

If a player has not reached AA by age 23, I tend to get rid of them, period.

Before I release a player, I double check their stats. If they've done something like hit 19 HR in 300 AB at age 21 in low A ball, I will cut them some slack and let them play another season. If they hit a buck ninety five with 5 HR at AA in 300 at age 24? I tell them "welcome to the wonderful world of substitute teaching."

[Leo_The_Lip]

I do the age-related cuts, however, I also check the Development Report for both Current and Potential changes. First, I check for red in Current ratings. If a young player has dropped in current ratings, he needs to be examined. If his potential has also taken a ding or three, he will be shopped around first, then cut if there are no offers. Usually there are no offers.

If a player has some green +1's I will hang onto him even if he's a bit long in the tooth for his level. Next time he might be stalled and then he's out. However, I have had a boom or two after seeing this, so I'm hopeful, although far from certain.

In short, if a player is still improving, I tend to hang onto him. If he's declining, I need to get him off the roster and let someone else get the PT.