What one tip would you give to someone playing as a current day expansion team

renojedi · 04-12-2023, 11:25 AM

Just curious. Last year, someone mentioned trading for David Price because the Dodgers would give prospects back to take him. I did that and he actually pitched well out of the pen plus I got a couple of guys who were starters the next and subsequent year. Anything you've done with an expansion team that you think was key to your success? Of course, if you have more than one, that is good too

Pelican · 04-12-2023, 05:49 PM

Probably too late, if you are already into it; but I structure expansion so that the new teams have an evolving farm system for several years before the first season of the MLB expansion team. The future expansion teams even participate in the amateur draft and the international free agent pool. [This is how I think MLB expansion should be done…] So, for example, three years before the first MLB season, you draft players, put them on developmental league teams. You have a low- A minor league team that you stock with minor league free agents. The next year you add a high-A team, with a few of your draftees advancing, more minor league free agents to fill out the roster. The next year, you add an AA team. By the time you get to the expansion draft, you have some idea of your organizational strengths and weaknesses, and you draft accordingly.

You will need capable veterans, because few if any of your draftees and other guys in the organization will be ready. And the last thing you want to do is pressure young guys by bringing them up too early - especially pitchers. Price might be an extreme example, but you will need veteran SP who can give you innings. Apart from the expansion draft, look at signing a FA to a single year contract or two years at the most. By then, your young studs should be ready.

The quality and potential of you expansion team will in large measure be determined by [1] the rules of the expansion draft; and [2] position in the amateur draft. As to the latter, I would choose “expansion teams draft first” because, realistically, they are going to be weak, and deserve it. And nothing better to jump-start an organization that getting a Bryce Harper or Juan Soto. As to the first, I only let teams protect twelve guys (remembering that guys with less than three years service are normally exempt), with no more than three from a team, and of course protect another guy for each one lost. This will result in some very good players being exposed - usually ones with large contracts.

With the above approach, my expansion teams are close to competitive, right out of the box. That wide-open expansion draft also promotes parity, as the deepest teams generally lose more players.

Incidentally, the biggest mistake I made in the expansion draft was taking too many players with MLB contracts who had to go on the forty-man roster. I literally had to release guys for lack of a roster spot. Moral of the story is don’t forget to look for other marginal players to draft, as well. Or remove the three-year service time exemption, for a true free-for-all. (I would increase protected players to 15 or 18, in that event.)

renojedi · 04-12-2023, 08:05 PM

Great advice, thanks.

ohiodevil · 04-12-2023, 08:29 PM

One thing I always do is make sure to have at least 2 veteran starting pitchers that can eat some innings and not worry about them leading the league in losses and have high ERAs. I usually get them in free agency, maybe a 2 year deal at most and rely on them to anchor my rotation while I figure out what younger guys are going to fill out the rest of the rotation in the future.

I also like to get an established reliever or two and have one of them be my closer, usually on 1 year deals and I tend to try and trade them at the deadline to add a prospect or two.

I also like to get one bat that can hit 25+ homers, usually it's a 1B, corner OF or DH on a 1 or 2 year deal that I can use as trade bait to add prospects and I look for high contact hitters and good defenders so I can win some of the close games.

I usually do not expect to win more than 65 games in my first season, so my goal is to win at least 63 so I avoid the 100 loss season and just build from there mainly through the draft and maybe I get lucky and land a good prospect or two when I deal those veteran players at the deadline.

Key is to be patient and just keep watching the waiver wire and check the Indy Leagues (if you play with them) and see if someone is having a monster season there and purchase them and see if they can help you down the road. I found a couple guys this way, one was a pitcher who was killing it in the Atlantic League as a starter, but his stamina was low so I put him in the bullpen and he ended up being my closer in year 3 and ended up with 150+ saves for me in his career. The other guy was an OF who just had monster power numbers but it never translated to the bigs. I took a shot and had him play 1B at AAA for a couple weeks and he ended up being my starter there for the next 3 years, before he got hurt in spring training and ended up retiring.

progen · 04-13-2023, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by renojedi

Just curious. Last year, someone mentioned trading for David Price because the Dodgers would give prospects back to take him. I did that and he actually pitched well out of the pen plus I got a couple of guys who were starters the next and subsequent year. Anything you've done with an expansion team that you think was key to your success? Of course, if you have more than one, that is good too

The majority of the time this is the only way I play. You're already into you're save it appears, but for a real challenge, I set up this way. I allow teams to protect 26-28 players, and for years of service, I choose four, not three. With three years, I found you can get some really good, young, and ready for the show players, not very realistic. Sometimes they were former #1 picks.

And I agree with Pelican, keep an eye on how many players you draft that have MLB contracts. It will limit your options in free agency and in the Rule V draft. And like was already said, keep an eye on those independent leagues, especially the Atlantic League. I've found some good utility players from that league. And be patient. Like Ohiodevil said, you're going to take a definite beating in season one, and for me, even season two. And on opening day, it's a good time to check the waiver wire. There will be a ton of players getting sent down to the minors, you can find some decent, cheap players that way. Good luck!

Pelican · 04-13-2023, 09:04 AM

Forgive me for jumping in again; you’re going to drown in advice! I totally agree with the bullpen/closer advice above. It may seem counterintuitive to worry much about a closer for a team that may lose 100 games = not too many save opportunities. But I have found that it stabilizes a young pitching staff, if you can count on leads being protected.

By the same logic, not a bad idea to invest in solid middle relievers, who can give you two or three innings as a bridge to the closer. Non-closers in the bullpen tend to be the biggest bargains left, since they are under-valued, relative to closers and SP. But, with a young staff, you know the guys who throw 100 pitches in five innings, middle relievers are critical.

GoPedro99 · 04-13-2023, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pelican

but I structure expansion so that the new teams have an evolving farm system for several years before the first season of the MLB expansion team. The future expansion teams even participate in the amateur draft and the international free agent pool. [This is how I think MLB expansion should be done…] So, for example, three years before the first MLB season, you draft players, put them on developmental league teams. You have a low- A minor league team that you stock with minor league free agents. The next year you add a high-A team, with a few of your draftees advancing, more minor league free agents to fill out the roster. The next year, you add an AA team. By the time you get to the expansion draft, you have some idea of your organizational strengths and weaknesses, and you draft accordingly.

how exactly would this be handled? whats the best way to go about doing it? wouldnt you have to create the team to have the minor leagues be associated? do you just not have the team play games?

ohiodevil · 04-13-2023, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoPedro99

how exactly would this be handled? whats the best way to go about doing it? wouldnt you have to create the team to have the minor leagues be associated? do you just not have the team play games?

Someone posted this Reddit a couple years ago and it seems to be the best way to replicate that, but I have never tried this method yet but I am thinking about trying it with the save I am currently setting up.

https://www.reddit.com/r/OOTP/commen...xpansion_team/

04-12-2023, 05:49 PM	#2
Pelican Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Wilmington, Delaware Posts: 2,899	Probably too late, if you are already into it; but I structure expansion so that the new teams have an evolving farm system for several years before the first season of the MLB expansion team. The future expansion teams even participate in the amateur draft and the international free agent pool. [This is how I think MLB expansion should be done…] So, for example, three years before the first MLB season, you draft players, put them on developmental league teams. You have a low- A minor league team that you stock with minor league free agents. The next year you add a high-A team, with a few of your draftees advancing, more minor league free agents to fill out the roster. The next year, you add an AA team. By the time you get to the expansion draft, you have some idea of your organizational strengths and weaknesses, and you draft accordingly. You will need capable veterans, because few if any of your draftees and other guys in the organization will be ready. And the last thing you want to do is pressure young guys by bringing them up too early - especially pitchers. Price might be an extreme example, but you will need veteran SP who can give you innings. Apart from the expansion draft, look at signing a FA to a single year contract or two years at the most. By then, your young studs should be ready. The quality and potential of you expansion team will in large measure be determined by [1] the rules of the expansion draft; and [2] position in the amateur draft. As to the latter, I would choose “expansion teams draft first” because, realistically, they are going to be weak, and deserve it. And nothing better to jump-start an organization that getting a Bryce Harper or Juan Soto. As to the first, I only let teams protect twelve guys (remembering that guys with less than three years service are normally exempt), with no more than three from a team, and of course protect another guy for each one lost. This will result in some very good players being exposed - usually ones with large contracts. With the above approach, my expansion teams are close to competitive, right out of the box. That wide-open expansion draft also promotes parity, as the deepest teams generally lose more players. Incidentally, the biggest mistake I made in the expansion draft was taking too many players with MLB contracts who had to go on the forty-man roster. I literally had to release guys for lack of a roster spot. Moral of the story is don’t forget to look for other marginal players to draft, as well. Or remove the three-year service time exemption, for a true free-for-all. (I would increase protected players to 15 or 18, in that event.) __________________ Pelican OOTP 2020-? ”Hard to believe, Harry.” Last edited by Pelican; 04-12-2023 at 05:52 PM.

04-13-2023, 09:04 AM	#6
Pelican Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Wilmington, Delaware Posts: 2,899	Forgive me for jumping in again; you’re going to drown in advice! I totally agree with the bullpen/closer advice above. It may seem counterintuitive to worry much about a closer for a team that may lose 100 games = not too many save opportunities. But I have found that it stabilizes a young pitching staff, if you can count on leads being protected. By the same logic, not a bad idea to invest in solid middle relievers, who can give you two or three innings as a bridge to the closer. Non-closers in the bullpen tend to be the biggest bargains left, since they are under-valued, relative to closers and SP. But, with a young staff, you know the guys who throw 100 pitches in five innings, middle relievers are critical. __________________ Pelican OOTP 2020-? ”Hard to believe, Harry.”

04-12-2023, 11:25 AM	#1
renojedi Major Leagues Join Date: May 2003 Location: Richmond, Virginia area Posts: 457	What one tip would you give to someone playing as a current day expansion team Just curious. Last year, someone mentioned trading for David Price because the Dodgers would give prospects back to take him. I did that and he actually pitched well out of the pen plus I got a couple of guys who were starters the next and subsequent year. Anything you've done with an expansion team that you think was key to your success? Of course, if you have more than one, that is good too

04-12-2023, 08:05 PM	#3
renojedi Major Leagues Join Date: May 2003 Location: Richmond, Virginia area Posts: 457	Great advice, thanks.

04-12-2023, 08:29 PM	#4
ohiodevil OOTP Roster Team Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Rocky River, Ohio Posts: 2,423	One thing I always do is make sure to have at least 2 veteran starting pitchers that can eat some innings and not worry about them leading the league in losses and have high ERAs. I usually get them in free agency, maybe a 2 year deal at most and rely on them to anchor my rotation while I figure out what younger guys are going to fill out the rest of the rotation in the future. I also like to get an established reliever or two and have one of them be my closer, usually on 1 year deals and I tend to try and trade them at the deadline to add a prospect or two. I also like to get one bat that can hit 25+ homers, usually it's a 1B, corner OF or DH on a 1 or 2 year deal that I can use as trade bait to add prospects and I look for high contact hitters and good defenders so I can win some of the close games. I usually do not expect to win more than 65 games in my first season, so my goal is to win at least 63 so I avoid the 100 loss season and just build from there mainly through the draft and maybe I get lucky and land a good prospect or two when I deal those veteran players at the deadline. Key is to be patient and just keep watching the waiver wire and check the Indy Leagues (if you play with them) and see if someone is having a monster season there and purchase them and see if they can help you down the road. I found a couple guys this way, one was a pitcher who was killing it in the Atlantic League as a starter, but his stamina was low so I put him in the bullpen and he ended up being my closer in year 3 and ended up with 150+ saves for me in his career. The other guy was an OF who just had monster power numbers but it never translated to the bigs. I took a shot and had him play 1B at AAA for a couple weeks and he ended up being my starter there for the next 3 years, before he got hurt in spring training and ended up retiring.