Minor league Roster Management

[Red08]

With the removal of short season leagues I was wondering how you are planning to structure your minor leagues? Will you go 25 for full season leagues? How many players do you plan to have in the complexes? How long will you keep a guy in the complex before forcing yourself to either throw him in A-Ball or release him? Etc

[Curve Ball Dave]

The SSA leagues do not necessarily have to be removed. I easily put them back together. The logos, jerseys, and caps are included in 22 so that made the job that much easier.

[Dave Stieb II]

There's no doubt the elimination of the short season teams creates a bit of a headache.
I like to use service time that parallels the real world and now there's a gap where the short season level used to be.
Plus, if you draft a lot of high schoolers, they're usually not ready for A ball for at least two seasons and often 3, both IRL and OOTP. Same with some young DSL guys.
But I'm trying to stick with the new reality, so I've set my full season rosters to 30 at each level (always did, it avoids having to bump guys up and down too frequently when injuries occur) and 40 for the rookie/complex leagues and DSL.
Not quite sure if that is what I end up going with in later saves, but it's what I'm trying to start.

[itsmb8]

I give each team only one complex team, so each organization has 5 domestic minor league teams. 35 players for AAA through Low A, 40 for all rookie leagues. That gives each organization 180 domestic players (the RL limit) plus their foreign rookie league players.

[Dave Stieb II]

Yah, I went this route in my first save when the initial beta version was released.
Then I started a second save and didn't want to go through everything involved in adjusting things, moving players and deleting teams, etc.
But I will probably eventually return to what you are doing when I start getting into my 'keeper' saves in a few weeks.

[MikeS21]

I haven’t created extra short season leagues in my first save, which is more of a test run for me. But I am strongly considering creating them in my next save.

I know it’s perhaps not the best strategy, but I usually take my better youngest players and allow them to develop as “super-subs” at multiple positions in the lower rookie levels. By the time they reach low-A ball, they are ready claim one dominant position.

[Dave Stieb II]

Originally Posted by Curve Ball Dave

The SSA leagues do not necessarily have to be removed. I easily put them back together. The logos, jerseys, and caps are included in 22 so that made the job that much easier.

This is a big ask, but if time allows, could you explain how to create these leagues and do all of this from scratch? Or link me to another thread where this is explained?
Any assistance would be much appreciated.
This is the fifth year in succession I've purchased OOTP. Played a lot of standard games, but I can't even figure out how to start a standard game and then add additional leagues, let alone add the logos, jerseys and caps. Most I've ever done - always do - is add the Arizona Fall League, which is very simple. I don't know where to begin.

This thread, and others like it, have me thinking that a hybrid of sorts will be ideal for me. A blend of the old and new.
I'm thinking I might:
-Add back the short season teams and add new ones for those ML clubs that didn't have them so every organization has one SSA team
-Limit each complex to one team, both at the domestic rookie league level and the DSL
-Set the domestic minor league player limit to 190 (IRL it is supposed to be 180) by doing the following
-Set the roster limits to 30-30-30-30-30-40 (AAA down thru rookie and including the new/old SSA teams)
-Set the DSL roster limit to 40 as well

That might give me the best of both worlds. Streamlined, same for every organization, etc.

[Curve Ball Dave]

Originally Posted by Dave Stieb II

This is a big ask, but if time allows, could you explain how to create these leagues and do all of this from scratch?.

It's pretty simple. From the League Settings screen and Actions pull down on the right add an SSA league. The game will create a league as large as your MLB. Edit the new league's structure by deleting divisions and teams (you'll have too many) and rename the remaining teams and divisions. I simply deleted everything then added teams and divisions back and renamed them. Go to the Leagues and Teams tab to affiliate the teams to their correct parent club, rename the league, and set the league logo.

I had all of my information for the builds written down; what team is in what league and what division, and affiliated with what parent team. As with anything custom in OOTP, a pen and paper is best your best friend.

The process of building a league was not time consuming at all. I did it as fast as I could click a mouse and as fast as I could type. It was maybe ten minutes tops per league.

[Dave Stieb II]

Thanks. I'll give this a shot sometime over the weekend.

[Curve Ball Dave]

Originally Posted by Dave Stieb II

Thanks. I'll give this a shot sometime over the weekend.

If you have v21 get out a pen and pad of paper and start jotting things down. The more time you spend at the front of the project, the less you'll spend at the back.

[PSUColonel]

Originally Posted by itsmb8

I give each team only one complex team, so each organization has 5 domestic minor league teams. 35 players for AAA through Low A, 40 for all rookie leagues. That gives each organization 180 domestic players (the RL limit) plus their foreign rookie league players.

This is what I am thinking of doing also...however I can see an issue with some players not getting playing time, and consequently not developing.

[seth1710]

I'm a bit lost on this: In the game right now it seems the three Rookie Leagues - Arizona, Gulf Coast and Dominican - still have all the MLB affiliations, and real affiliated players. If I wanted to adhere as close to reality as possible it would seem I'd have to go through a lot of machinations. Or am I off on that?

[Dave Stieb II]

No, not really.
The OOTP affiliates are the same as IRL. Major league clubs still have their "complex" teams (Arizona, Gulf Coast, DSL) IRL, too.
Where it gets a little tricky is this: apparently MLB teams will be allowed to have 180 domestic minor leaguers total rostered on their 4 full season teams and on the domestic 'complex' team(s). (No word on how many can be rostered in the DSL that I am aware of),
And, apparently, teams can still have two complex league teams if they already have them (i.e. two Arizona league teams), but how they are going to allocate roster spots and stay at 180 or below is beyond me.
But IRL they've also introduced new rules regarding newly signed players (ie. from the rookie draft) where those players don't count against the 180 limit until they actually start playing games. So they can work out and receive instruction at an extended spring training of sorts and maybe not play actual league games until the following year (high schoolers especially).
When it comes to some of these finer details, OOTP couldn't possibly reflect all of this in this version of the game. It's all so new.

So what some of us are trying to do is streamline the Arizona, Gulf Coast and DSL leagues with an eye toward a 180-player limit. This is where the talk comes from about eliminating 2nd 'complex' teams. But if/when we do this, some organizations are going to be releasing a lot of players.
I don't think anyone has to get into all this - or any of this - to enjoy the game. No one knows exactly what each team will do by summer with regards to complex teams and, otherwise, the OOTP version reflects real life aside from some of finer rules about minor league roster numbers etc., which OOTP has never strictly adhered to anyway.
The only thing I do recommend is setting roster size limits for every level,whether clubs have two complex teams or not. Things can get out of hand quickly if you don't do this, and the AI seems to handle player promotions better as well.
I also follow real life service time rules for every level in teh hopes of having the AI continue promoting good young talent when it deserves to be promoted. Others believe setting age limits works better.
But all of these are adjustments that you might consider as you go along. For now, the league structures reflect real life as well as possible. Ie affiliates, etc.

[PSUColonel]

I am thinking something along these lines:

AAA 30 players must be under 6 years service time (for OOTP purposes that means the setting should be 5 since the game calculates days....so it would be 5 years and xxx days meaning it's still under 6)

AA 30 players under 5 years (again the setting would be 4)

A+ 30 players under 4 years (3 setting)

A 30 players under 3 years (2 setting)

R 35 players under 2 years (1 setting)



With this setup...teams with 2 complex teams will be right at the 180 limit. teams with only one will be 35 players short.

Option 1: you could give every team 2 complex teams while maintaining 30 man rosters at most levels and having 40 man rosters at the rookie level.

Option 2: Limit every Franchise to one complex team and maintain 35 man rosters at most levels and have a 40 man roster at the rookie level.

[seth1710]

Thanks guys, appreciate it!

[Dave Stieb II]

Originally Posted by PSUColonel

I am thinking something along these lines:

AAA 30 players must be under 6 years service time (for OOTP purposes that means the setting should be 5 since the game calculates days....so it would be 5 years and xxx days meaning it's still under 6)

AA 30 players under 5 years (again the setting would be 4)

A+ 30 players under 4 years (3 setting)

A 30 players under 3 years (2 setting)

R 35 players under 2 years (1 setting)



With this setup...teams with 2 complex teams will be right at the 180 limit. teams with only one will be 35 players short.

Option 1: you could give every team 2 complex teams while maintaining 30 man rosters at most levels and having 40 man rosters at the rookie level.

Option 2: Limit every Franchise to one complex team and maintain 35 man rosters at most levels and have a 40 man roster at the rookie level.

Wow. Youth shall be served, eh?
If I'm not mistaken, your new AAA service time limit is the old A+ limit.
Interesting.
My first thought is that this would certainly keep the line moving in terms of promoting prospects up the ladder aggressively, which is certainly the trend in today's game.
The only drawback I see is that there is no place to roster the 40-man or fringe 40-man guys, the AAAA guys, the guys who bounce on and off 40-man rosters into their 30's, or the late bloomers/bubble types.
Also, will OOTP allow a veteran to go on a rehab assignment to AAA if that service time restriction is in place?
Good food for thought. I'm thinking I might try something similar but keep AAA without a limit, then apply each of your service time settings to one level below what you have.
The AI might load the AAA team with older guys but it still might be the best of both worlds. Lots of prospects have jumped from AA directly to the majors over the years.

[PSUColonel]

Originally Posted by Dave Stieb II

Wow. Youth shall be served, eh?
If I'm not mistaken, your new AAA service time limit is the old A+ limit.
Interesting.
My first thought is that this would certainly keep the line moving in terms of promoting prospects up the ladder aggressively, which is certainly the trend in today's game.
The only drawback I see is that there is no place to roster the 40-man or fringe 40-man guys, the AAAA guys, the guys who bounce on and off 40-man rosters into their 30's, or the late bloomers/bubble types.
Also, will OOTP allow a veteran to go on a rehab assignment to AAA if that service time restriction is in place?
Good food for thought. I'm thinking I might try something similar but keep AAA without a limit, then apply each of your service time settings to one level below what you have.
The AI might load the AAA team with older guys but it still might be the best of both worlds. Lots of prospects have jumped from AA directly to the majors over the years.

The AAA service limit has always been "no more than 6 years"

Why can't AAAA type players move between AAA and MLB provided they have options remaining?

Rehab assignments shouldn't present any service time limit issues.

[PSUColonel]

Really, you could keep the current RL setup...but some organizations will have 190 players (if they have two complex teams) and others will have 155. It's not exact, but it's fairly close. My concern here however is fairness...will teams with more players be at an inherent advantage over teams with fewer?

What do people think?

[WIUPIKE]

Originally Posted by Dave Stieb II

Wow. Youth shall be served, eh?
If I'm not mistaken, your new AAA service time limit is the old A+ limit.
Interesting.
My first thought is that this would certainly keep the line moving in terms of promoting prospects up the ladder aggressively, which is certainly the trend in today's game.
The only drawback I see is that there is no place to roster the 40-man or fringe 40-man guys, the AAAA guys, the guys who bounce on and off 40-man rosters into their 30's, or the late bloomers/bubble types.
Also, will OOTP allow a veteran to go on a rehab assignment to AAA if that service time restriction is in place?
Good food for thought. I'm thinking I might try something similar but keep AAA without a limit, then apply each of your service time settings to one level below what you have.
The AI might load the AAA team with older guys but it still might be the best of both worlds. Lots of prospects have jumped from AA directly to the majors over the years.

This was the 2019 MILB Roster Information

Here are the roster limits by league:

Triple-A: International, Pacific Coast - 25 active.
Double-A: Eastern, Southern, Texas - 25 active.
Class A Advanced: California, Carolina, Florida State - 25 active; 35 under control; no more than two players and one player-coach on active list may have six or more years of prior Minor League service.
Class A: Midwest, South Atlantic - 25 active; 35 under control; no more than two players on active list may have five or more years of prior Minor League service.
Class A Short-Season: New York-Penn, Northwest - 35 active. No more than three players on the Active List may have four or more years of prior Minor League service.
Rookie: Appalachian, Pioneer leagues - 35 active. No more than three players on the Active List may have three or more years of prior Minor League service.
Rookie: Arizona, Gulf Coast leagues - 35 active. No player on the Active List may have three or more years of prior Minor League service.
Rookie: Venezuelan Summer, Dominican Summer - 35 active. No player on the Active List may have four or more years of prior Minor League Service. No Draft-eligible player from the U.S. or Canada (not including players from Puerto Rico) may participate in the DSL or VSL.

Baseball America Just Posted this today:
For Double-A and Triple-A, teams will be limited to 28 active players. For High-A and Low-A the limits are now 30 active players. The Athletic’s Lindsey Adler first reported that these were expected to be the limits.

[Dave Stieb II]

Originally Posted by PSUColonel

The AAA service limit has always been "no more than 6 years"

Why can't AAAA type players move between AAA and MLB provided they have options remaining?

Rehab assignments shouldn't present any service time limit issues.

This is simply not true. There have never been service time limits at AAA or AA and to my knowledge there are none this year, either.
The service time limit (IRL) for A+ has always been 6 years. 5 for Low A. 4 for SSA. 3 for rookie league. 4 for DSL.
And if you set AAA to 'no more than six years' anyone with more service time than that will not be allowed by the AI to play at the AAA level. So a guy on the 40-man roster who has options won't be allowed to play in the minors anywhere if he has 6 or more years of service, if you set limits at AAA.