Best Expansion Draft Strategy

krownroyal83 · 11-11-2023, 10:02 PM

I don’t manage a team in my fictional sim but just recently decided to expand the league again and this time I’m going to be making the picks for both computer expansion teams. What strategies do you use? Just best over all player available that’s not a RP, something else? One team is a big market team and the other is a medium to big market team if that helps at all in terms of their budget.

bwburke94 · 11-12-2023, 04:01 AM

I advise picking up at least one reliever, just so the team doesn't get into a bullpen loop from lack of decent arms.

MathBandit · 11-12-2023, 12:20 PM

That, and picking up quality relievers is a great way to turn expansion draft picks into real prospects, by flipping them all in July.

pgjocki · 11-13-2023, 11:58 PM

Think about the standard 26 Man Roster with 13 Pitchers and 13 Position Players then go down the list ensuring you get one of each. Additionally it depends on the “focus” of the team and the available players but I really look for the following to build a team:

Priority 1: Ace pitcher and number 2

Priority 2: Best available position player

Priority 3: Holy Trinity + Plus 1: Holy Trinity is SS/2B/CF and Plus 1 is a Catcher but only if he is >65 out of 80 on Defense and above average hitter

Priority 4: Best Slugging Corner Infield and Outfield

Priority 5: Starters 3-5

Priority 6: Catcher unless picked up in Priority 2 or 3

Priority 7: Closer and Set-up

Priority 8: Super utility and pitching specialists

Priority 9: Long relievers, another starter

Priority 10: Organizational depth

With that you can add guys and go down the checklist to make sure you hit all the positions and here is a purely hypothetical:

Round 1: Starting Pitcher 1
Round 2: Stud 3B
Round 3: Starting Pitcher 2
Round 4: CF
Round 5: SS
Round 6: Good C
Round 7: 2B
Round 8: LF
Round 9: 1B
Round 10: Starting Pitcher 3
Round 11: RF
Round 12: Closer
Round 13: Starting Pitcher 4
Round 14: Left Handed Reliever specialist
Round 15: 4th Outfielder (opposite bat hand of starter)
Round 16: Starting Pitcher 5
Round 17: Set-up
Round 18: 2B/SS utility guy
Round 19: Long Reliever (spot starter)
Round 20: Reliever
Round 21: 1B/DH big power guy
Round 22: Reliever
Round 23: Reliever
Round 24: Reliever
Round 25: 1B/OF utility
Round 26: Back-up Catcher

That's what I've done when building an expansion team and I also use this to prioritize Free Agents and Trades so I have a "plan" for building and maintaining my core team design.

krownroyal83 · 11-14-2023, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgjocki

Think about the standard 26 Man Roster with 13 Pitchers and 13 Position Players then go down the list ensuring you get one of each. Additionally it depends on the “focus” of the team and the available players but I really look for the following to build a team:

Priority 1: Ace pitcher and number 2

Priority 2: Best available position player

Priority 3: Holy Trinity + Plus 1: Holy Trinity is SS/2B/CF and Plus 1 is a Catcher but only if he is >65 out of 80 on Defense and above average hitter

Priority 4: Best Slugging Corner Infield and Outfield

Priority 5: Starters 3-5

Priority 6: Catcher unless picked up in Priority 2 or 3

Priority 7: Closer and Set-up

Priority 8: Super utility and pitching specialists

Priority 9: Long relievers, another starter

Priority 10: Organizational depth

With that you can add guys and go down the checklist to make sure you hit all the positions and here is a purely hypothetical:

Round 1: Starting Pitcher 1
Round 2: Stud 3B
Round 3: Starting Pitcher 2
Round 4: CF
Round 5: SS
Round 6: Good C
Round 7: 2B
Round 8: LF
Round 9: 1B
Round 10: Starting Pitcher 3
Round 11: RF
Round 12: Closer
Round 13: Starting Pitcher 4
Round 14: Left Handed Reliever specialist
Round 15: 4th Outfielder (opposite bat hand of starter)
Round 16: Starting Pitcher 5
Round 17: Set-up
Round 18: 2B/SS utility guy
Round 19: Long Reliever (spot starter)
Round 20: Reliever
Round 21: 1B/DH big power guy
Round 22: Reliever
Round 23: Reliever
Round 24: Reliever
Round 25: 1B/OF utility
Round 26: Back-up Catcher

That's what I've done when building an expansion team and I also use this to prioritize Free Agents and Trades so I have a "plan" for building and maintaining my core team design.

Great post

Pelican · 11-15-2023, 01:04 PM

Agree with the above; with the caveat that your approach will depend on how you set up the draft. If, for example, you limited the protected players on the rosters of established teams to 12, as I do, more quality players will be available. (I still exempt players with less than three years MLB service, so you won't get any good young stars.)

Also, if you give your expansion teams budgets equivalent to established teams, that will yield plenty of money for free agent signings (since the expansion teams' payroll will inevitably be less). If you know you can always fill a need/gap on the roster after the draft with a free agent, you can purely draft the best player available. If you end up with three or four good 3B, you can trade one or two, and use one for a DH.

I'd look for an experienced and dependable closer, either through the draft (unlikely, unless on a long, expensive contract) or free agent signing. It sounds counterintuitive, building a bullpen backwards; but everything is easier, if you know the ninth inning is safe.

Since you will likely end up with younger, less-experienced SP raised in the false caution of pitch counts, you will need stalwart middle relievers. Happily, they are still the cheapest players to sign and pay, and the easiest to find. They can bridge the (huge) gap between your shaky young SP and your ace closer.

If you have time - a year or more before expansion - I would allow the expansion teams to field AA or AAA teams a year ahead, by signing minor league free agents. I would also allow the expansion teams to draft first in the amateur draft. This gives you a head start on building an organization. One of the main reasons expansion teams suck for the first few years is that they are building an organization literally from scratch.

Finally, expansion is a chance to build on a particualr philosophy or approach. You may want three-true-outcomes power hitters. Or speed and defense. Or power pitchers. (Of course, you can't ignore the guy with talent who does not fit your model.) For example, I am a shameless traditional "strong up the middle" guy, so I look for top CF, SS, 2B, C, particularly defensively. And since the pitchers are, technically, up the middle, I try to prioritize a decent staff and bullpen. But the choice is yours.

Needless to say, my approach rejects the conventional wisdom that expansion teams should suck for a few years. That said, while they should be competitive, playing .500 ball is a reasonable goal. The playoffs would not be a reasonable goal. And, as owner, you might choose to focus on young players with potential, at the expense of results the first few years. YMMV.

11-11-2023, 10:02 PM	#1
krownroyal83 All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 1,002	Best Expansion Draft Strategy I don’t manage a team in my fictional sim but just recently decided to expand the league again and this time I’m going to be making the picks for both computer expansion teams. What strategies do you use? Just best over all player available that’s not a RP, something else? One team is a big market team and the other is a medium to big market team if that helps at all in terms of their budget.

11-13-2023, 11:58 PM	#4
pgjocki All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Maryland - just outside DC Posts: 1,675	Think about the standard 26 Man Roster with 13 Pitchers and 13 Position Players then go down the list ensuring you get one of each. Additionally it depends on the “focus” of the team and the available players but I really look for the following to build a team: Priority 1: Ace pitcher and number 2 Priority 2: Best available position player Priority 3: Holy Trinity + Plus 1: Holy Trinity is SS/2B/CF and Plus 1 is a Catcher but only if he is >65 out of 80 on Defense and above average hitter Priority 4: Best Slugging Corner Infield and Outfield Priority 5: Starters 3-5 Priority 6: Catcher unless picked up in Priority 2 or 3 Priority 7: Closer and Set-up Priority 8: Super utility and pitching specialists Priority 9: Long relievers, another starter Priority 10: Organizational depth With that you can add guys and go down the checklist to make sure you hit all the positions and here is a purely hypothetical: Round 1: Starting Pitcher 1 Round 2: Stud 3B Round 3: Starting Pitcher 2 Round 4: CF Round 5: SS Round 6: Good C Round 7: 2B Round 8: LF Round 9: 1B Round 10: Starting Pitcher 3 Round 11: RF Round 12: Closer Round 13: Starting Pitcher 4 Round 14: Left Handed Reliever specialist Round 15: 4th Outfielder (opposite bat hand of starter) Round 16: Starting Pitcher 5 Round 17: Set-up Round 18: 2B/SS utility guy Round 19: Long Reliever (spot starter) Round 20: Reliever Round 21: 1B/DH big power guy Round 22: Reliever Round 23: Reliever Round 24: Reliever Round 25: 1B/OF utility Round 26: Back-up Catcher That's what I've done when building an expansion team and I also use this to prioritize Free Agents and Trades so I have a "plan" for building and maintaining my core team design. __________________ - - - World Series championships: 1926, 1931, 1934, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1964, 1967, 1982, 2006, 2011

11-15-2023, 01:04 PM	#6
Pelican Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Wilmington, Delaware Posts: 3,228	Agree with the above; with the caveat that your approach will depend on how you set up the draft. If, for example, you limited the protected players on the rosters of established teams to 12, as I do, more quality players will be available. (I still exempt players with less than three years MLB service, so you won't get any good young stars.) Also, if you give your expansion teams budgets equivalent to established teams, that will yield plenty of money for free agent signings (since the expansion teams' payroll will inevitably be less). If you know you can always fill a need/gap on the roster after the draft with a free agent, you can purely draft the best player available. If you end up with three or four good 3B, you can trade one or two, and use one for a DH. I'd look for an experienced and dependable closer, either through the draft (unlikely, unless on a long, expensive contract) or free agent signing. It sounds counterintuitive, building a bullpen backwards; but everything is easier, if you know the ninth inning is safe. Since you will likely end up with younger, less-experienced SP raised in the false caution of pitch counts, you will need stalwart middle relievers. Happily, they are still the cheapest players to sign and pay, and the easiest to find. They can bridge the (huge) gap between your shaky young SP and your ace closer. If you have time - a year or more before expansion - I would allow the expansion teams to field AA or AAA teams a year ahead, by signing minor league free agents. I would also allow the expansion teams to draft first in the amateur draft. This gives you a head start on building an organization. One of the main reasons expansion teams suck for the first few years is that they are building an organization literally from scratch. Finally, expansion is a chance to build on a particualr philosophy or approach. You may want three-true-outcomes power hitters. Or speed and defense. Or power pitchers. (Of course, you can't ignore the guy with talent who does not fit your model.) For example, I am a shameless traditional "strong up the middle" guy, so I look for top CF, SS, 2B, C, particularly defensively. And since the pitchers are, technically, up the middle, I try to prioritize a decent staff and bullpen. But the choice is yours. Needless to say, my approach rejects the conventional wisdom that expansion teams should suck for a few years. That said, while they should be competitive, playing .500 ball is a reasonable goal. The playoffs would not be a reasonable goal. And, as owner, you might choose to focus on young players with potential, at the expense of results the first few years. YMMV. __________________ Pelican OOTP 2020-? ”Hard to believe, Harry.”

11-12-2023, 04:01 AM	#2
bwburke94 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Belchertown, MA, USA Posts: 4,523	I advise picking up at least one reliever, just so the team doesn't get into a bullpen loop from lack of decent arms.

11-12-2023, 12:20 PM	#3
MathBandit All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2021 Posts: 1,448	That, and picking up quality relievers is a great way to turn expansion draft picks into real prospects, by flipping them all in July.