To Offer, or Not to Offer...(compensation)

Mike Lowe · 10-28-2020, 06:01 PM

That's the question this time around. Here's the scenario:

I've had a very reliable setup/high leverage RP who's an UFA. I prefer to NOT have my best RP be the closer, so this guy is our best. I have a lot of right-handed bullpen depth in the organization, and honestly too many guys ready for a shot at MLB. None of the minor league guys are as good as this guy (yet?).

So here's my question: I don't really want to lose this guy for nothing. I can likely resign him on a team-option 2 year deal around $6.7M per year. I could then either use him or trade him.

What'd I'd rather do is offer him arbitration, but I'm worried he'll accept the 1-year deal at $15M+. Will he? I know MLB players started doing that more often IRL (I don't blame them).I am confident another team would sign him.

I'd like to get the other guys in the organization a shot, but we're also a team just coming off the best record in baseball (and a 1st round exit). This guy here is only 29, so it's not like he's about to retire.

My original plan was to let him walk for compensation, and let a younger guy take his spot for far less money. But I worry this guy will accept the $15!

CBeisbol · 10-28-2020, 07:14 PM

Tough decision

Hard to say without knowing the specifics of your league.

I'd negotiate with him to get an idea what kind of contract he'd be expected to sign. If it's something like the 2/$14 you mentioned, I'd be pretty sure he'd take 1/15 over that. If he's interested in something much bigger, you might get away with making the offer.

Also depends on how that money fits your budget and what you'd spend it on otherwise.

blink · 10-28-2020, 07:39 PM

What's his injury rating? I'd assume he's relatively healthy.

I would lean toward the 2 year deal or letting him walk. You don't want him to accept the 1 year 15mil offer which I think he would.

Similar situation happened to me with my best reliever. He was an FA and wanted 12 mil a year from me. Too costly for a reliver IMO and he wasn't my closer (he used to be my closer but became my set up guy
later in his career)

I didn't resign him and let him walk. Turns out he signs a deal with the Phillies for 3 years and like just over 4 mil a year. Probably could have kept him in the end on that deal. Instead, I traded for a three time All-Star reliever who has one year remaining on his contract and also signed a 4 star LH reliever out of Japan (I desperately needed a LH arm in the bullpen). Between those two, I'm covering off the 12 mil he wanted from me and I get two relievers for the price of one. Plus, I also have a few guys in the minors who deserve a shot at bargain pricing.

Mike Lowe · 10-28-2020, 07:54 PM

Good thoughts, gents. Thank you. I'm one of the commissioners in the league, and I brought to the table a discussion about whether we should even allow sign and trades. Could you imagine if a GM did that to a top player? The GM's reputation would be damaged, and it seems a bit unrealistic.

CBeisbol · 10-28-2020, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Lowe

Good thoughts, gents. Thank you. I'm one of the commissioners in the league, and I brought to the table a discussion about whether we should even allow sign and trades. Could you imagine if a GM did that to a top player? The GM's reputation would be damaged, and it seems a bit unrealistic.

Yeah, it'd be cool if the game could track something like how often a GM kept a player for the duration of their contract instead of trading them and then factored that into how likely free agents would be to sign with that GM.

I think there is an MLB rule that a player signed as a free agent can't be traded until like June or July. But, after like 10 minutes googling, I can't find the rule

Meeko · 11-02-2020, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBeisbol

Yeah, it'd be cool if the game could track something like how often a GM kept a player for the duration of their contract instead of trading them and then factored that into how likely free agents would be to sign with that GM.

I think there is an MLB rule that a player signed as a free agent can't be traded until like June or July. But, after like 10 minutes googling, I can't find the rule

I don't recall the exact rule number or anything, but the coles notes is anyone who signs a major league free agent contract (or accepts QO) cannot be traded until June 15th of the following season (without his consent, which he could waive).

mytreds · 11-05-2020, 12:16 AM

I don’t know about your league, but good RP are usually easy to come by. Don’t over pay for a RP if you don’t have to.

10-28-2020, 06:01 PM	#1
Mike Lowe Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,178	To Offer, or Not to Offer...(compensation) That's the question this time around. Here's the scenario: I've had a very reliable setup/high leverage RP who's an UFA. I prefer to NOT have my best RP be the closer, so this guy is our best. I have a lot of right-handed bullpen depth in the organization, and honestly too many guys ready for a shot at MLB. None of the minor league guys are as good as this guy (yet?). So here's my question: I don't really want to lose this guy for nothing. I can likely resign him on a team-option 2 year deal around $6.7M per year. I could then either use him or trade him. What'd I'd rather do is offer him arbitration, but I'm worried he'll accept the 1-year deal at $15M+. Will he? I know MLB players started doing that more often IRL (I don't blame them).I am confident another team would sign him. I'd like to get the other guys in the organization a shot, but we're also a team just coming off the best record in baseball (and a 1st round exit). This guy here is only 29, so it's not like he's about to retire. My original plan was to let him walk for compensation, and let a younger guy take his spot for far less money. But I worry this guy will accept the $15! __________________ SSG Baseball Simming in real-time (daily sims) since 2015 Join us by filling out an application from the website below Website \| Discord

10-28-2020, 07:14 PM	#2
CBeisbol Banned Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Ban land in 3...2... Posts: 2,943	Tough decision Hard to say without knowing the specifics of your league. I'd negotiate with him to get an idea what kind of contract he'd be expected to sign. If it's something like the 2/$14 you mentioned, I'd be pretty sure he'd take 1/15 over that. If he's interested in something much bigger, you might get away with making the offer. Also depends on how that money fits your budget and what you'd spend it on otherwise. Last edited by CBeisbol; 10-28-2020 at 07:38 PM.

10-28-2020, 07:54 PM	#4
Mike Lowe Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,178	Good thoughts, gents. Thank you. I'm one of the commissioners in the league, and I brought to the table a discussion about whether we should even allow sign and trades. Could you imagine if a GM did that to a top player? The GM's reputation would be damaged, and it seems a bit unrealistic. __________________ SSG Baseball Simming in real-time (daily sims) since 2015 Join us by filling out an application from the website below Website \| Discord

11-05-2020, 12:16 AM	#7
mytreds All Star Starter Join Date: Nov 2019 Posts: 1,183	I don’t know about your league, but good RP are usually easy to come by. Don’t over pay for a RP if you don’t have to. __________________ “Baseball isn’t statistics; it’s Joe DiMaggio rounding second.” “Once, centuries ago, it was the beloved national pastime of the Americas, Wesley. Abandoned by a society that prized fast food and faster games. Lost to impatience.” “ The term ‘WAR’ should be replaced by ‘WAG’. WAR isn’t an actual measurement; it’s just a wild-ass guess” -Bill James RIP National League 1876-2022 Floreat semper vel invita morte. I make custom ballparks.

10-28-2020, 07:39 PM	#3
blink Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 220	What's his injury rating? I'd assume he's relatively healthy. I would lean toward the 2 year deal or letting him walk. You don't want him to accept the 1 year 15mil offer which I think he would. Similar situation happened to me with my best reliever. He was an FA and wanted 12 mil a year from me. Too costly for a reliver IMO and he wasn't my closer (he used to be my closer but became my set up guy later in his career) I didn't resign him and let him walk. Turns out he signs a deal with the Phillies for 3 years and like just over 4 mil a year. Probably could have kept him in the end on that deal. Instead, I traded for a three time All-Star reliever who has one year remaining on his contract and also signed a 4 star LH reliever out of Japan (I desperately needed a LH arm in the bullpen). Between those two, I'm covering off the 12 mil he wanted from me and I get two relievers for the price of one. Plus, I also have a few guys in the minors who deserve a shot at bargain pricing.