Fragile

[Hammercraft]

How do you treat guys who are fragile? I am always trying to trade them away for anything I can get, especially after age 30. The only exception is if they have great leadership and they're not in a starting role, then they can do their job from the disabled list.

[Padreman]

Same I tried to get rid of them I find that I actually lose money by having that with the team they get hurt so often I'm paying for services not rendered

[byzeil]

If they are helping the team when they are playing I'll hold onto them and I rest them every 5th or 6th game. The SEEM to stay healthier doing that. Now when I'm looking to acquire a player I'll generally stay away from him if he is fragile.

[Number4]

Originally Posted by byzeil

If they are helping the team when they are playing I'll hold onto them and I rest them every 5th or 6th game. The SEEM to stay healthier doing that. Now when I'm looking to acquire a player I'll generally stay away from him if he is fragile.

Well, 80% of playing time should mean around 80% risk of injury. Maybe less because he's better rested, maybe more because benching him won't stop off-field injuries.
However, intentionally benching a player means you don't use him, and 5-6 game sounds like a bit much unless it's a catcher. A player is only of use for your organization if he actually plays, resting him should only be done for performance reasons or to additionally reduce the risk of injury beyond the fact that you simply don't play him. Normally, position players don't get tired enough for that after only 4 or 5 games.

What I would consider with a fragile guy:
Let him DH instead of playing the field - it both removes the injury risk of playing the field, as well as DH not being a position where a player gets fatigued, potentially being a further contributing factor to injuries.
I wouldn't waste a SS, CF or good 2B/3B/catcher DHing, but a corner outfielder or 1B might as well DH unless they are gold glove candidates at their position.
With a catcher not having a great glove (and therefore a good bat, or he wouldn't be considered for everyday play) you might consider him DHing 4 out of 5 days and catching on the primary catcher's rest day. That leaves the possiblity of you losing the DH spot if your primary catcher gets hurt, but it is a small risk - happens maybe only once or twice, and even then, you'd have the guy who'd be otherwise the DH available for pinch-hitting once before you actually lose batting quality.

A move to first is the lesser version of moving the guy to DH, and obviously for NL teams the only option - 1B aren't tired as much as other position players, and aren't part of collisions with agressive baserunners or outfield walls. If he's the aforementioned catcher, it's preferable if he can play first, because he can go behind the plate if need arises without losing the DH.

You can platoon the player - making sure you don't risk his fragile assets for marginal performance and also keeping him fresh.

Often pinch-hit, pinch-run and defensive replace the player if it makes sense.
Also, bench him if the playoff race is decided, as well as take him out of games if those games are decided. You don't wan't to risk him if it makes little difference for your organization.

And insist on vesting options with fragile players - if they are wrecked, the option won't trigger and you won't pay him the next year at least.

[NoOne]

just rhetorical in nature:

have they ever mentioned that fatigue plays a role?

is it a flat percent or does it slowly go up with # of games played in a row?

if you can scour any bits of info from the forums it can help make a more informed decision.
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like you said, try not to get stuck with them... but figure worse-case scenario as far as expected time lost - a guess net production - and compare that with what you are getting in return.

i wouldn't worry too much about bench players' durability, unless they are a major part of a platoon. keep any contract with a 30-31+ and/or borderline durability issues to 5 years or less. and 5yr contracts need options! the options are for when their performance or durability drop too low. Obviously, these requirements mean i will not be able sign many of these types of players to begin with. all rules must have exceptions, but be conservative about it, unless you have a large budget.

The biggest way to stay honest... never depend on an injury-prone player. if he is icing on the cake, go for it. take the risk but at a price you can afford and with options when possible.

a 3rd SP... maybe, if my 4th is nearly comparable... or a 1-5 hitter? again maybe, if i have a suitable guy to replace in case of injury (not necessarily the injury replacement player himself, simply i can put together a solid 1-5 order at minimum - eg maybe the nine-hole guy is a good lead-off guy, too. i typically have a duplicate obp guy just for that reason, even when they are durable - the rest is power focused, so tehy just bump up one spot).

[Raidergoo]

I trade fragile players to the Mets.

[jpeters1734]

i have mixed feelings. sometimes it feels like fragile players never get hurt. sometimes durable guys always get hurt. Better off just turning the rating off and look at the injury history

[RchW]

I play them and get some good results.

I also get some bad results but that's baseball.

[james17]

I'm always careful in how often I'll use a fragile player if he's a pitcher
My first inclination is to trade them if they're position players.

[polydamas]

I play with injuries on high. I ignore injury ratings and just make sure I have good backups.

[OakDragon]

Originally Posted by jpeters1734

i have mixed feelings. sometimes it feels like fragile players never get hurt. sometimes durable guys always get hurt. Better off just turning the rating off and look at the injury history

Refresh my memory, but isn't the number in the editor their likelihood to get injured and the rating on the profile page their history? I mean a player could have a bad injury number in the editor and a good rating on the profile if they haven't been injured yet, correct?

[rjl518]

Originally Posted by raidergoo

i trade fragile players to the mets.

thanks a lot.

[Rizon]

My house rule is to avoid them 100% (adds a little bit of challenge). If I sign one then they always seem to get hurt and then I kick myself.

[Raidergoo]

Originally Posted by rjl518

thanks a lot.

I have to like a player to send them to the Mets. If they are a clubhouse cancer, I trade them to Oakland.

Basically, I can't stand fragile players that:

• a starter at C or CF, or SP
• want to sign multi-year deals
• prospect in draft pool

I accept fragile players as backups, role players, or if the AI wants to trade me someone at the end of their contract where there is high-upside and low risk.

[MizzouRah]

I signed Buxton in 2021 for a nice, cheap price. He gets hurt a few times a year though.

[Assos]

Back ups, I make sure I have solid back ups. In my fictional league, I have lost my starting LF and CFer, both All Star quality, to the dreaded 60 day DL monster. While the back ups are not at their level, their WAR is about 1 each so I am able to stay in the 2nd to 3rd place range.

[RchW]

I'll take fragile Johnny every time.

[ihatenames]

I have no problem signing or keeping fragile players. I just make sure I have a quality plan B on the roster if they get hurt. Generally, if players miss most of two seasons I'll try to move them elsewhere or not tender them in the offseason if possible.

[MrBojangles]

Sign them with a vesting option based upon a high number of games played. If they sit due to injury than they don't get their contract renewed.