Bizarre Free Agency Moves

sfnate · 06-10-2006, 10:53 AM

Here's a screenshot of some weirdness I found in my league:

Notice all the free agency action going on here. What's up? Signs a 1 yr contract for 19K with Yomiuri, becomes a free agent, then signs for MUCH less with Chicago, then becomes a free agent AGAIN, signs for a little more with Philadelphia---what's going on here? Is there a rational explanation for this?

I'm using the new patch, FYI.

Faroo6 · 06-10-2006, 01:00 PM

This is just a guess.

It looks like he was released, and then signed in Japan. When the Japanese season ended he became a FA and was signed by Chicago (A). The MLB season ended and he became a FA again. He then signed with the A's.

I just watched a stud Mexican League CF become a FA and get snapped up by the Nashville Flames in the stretch run on their way to a WS title. Little bitter about that because they went through me in 7 to get there.

sfnate · 06-10-2006, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faroo6

It looks like he was released, and then signed in Japan. When the Japanese season ended he became a FA and was signed by Chicago (A). The MLB season ended and he became a FA again. He then signed with the A's.

Ah, I think I follow this. So, technically, it's probably all legitimate, ie not a bug--I guess the odd part (maybe) is him signing for 19K for a year with Yomiuri, then suddenly departing for a lot less money in the US bigs. Maybe Yomiuri didn't tender another contract after his brief stint there, and all he could get was a smaller deal in the MLB? I think I can work with that as a rationalization...

battists · 06-30-2006, 11:31 AM

That is an interesting sequence. It's a tough one, because it just LOOKS wrong, but when you go through it, I can't find anything truly out-of-hand other than the fact that he signed for so much less in the U.S., and one day after his $20K contract ended.

Hmmm...

I just don't quite know what to do with this one.

Thoughts?

sfnate · 06-30-2006, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by battists

That is an interesting sequence. It's a tough one, because it just LOOKS wrong, but when you go through it, I can't find anything truly out-of-hand other than the fact that he signed for so much less in the U.S., and one day after his $20K contract ended.

Hmmm...

I just don't quite know what to do with this one.

Thoughts?

Yes, this one is borderline; if you look at it a couple of times, it might make sense as a relatively rare case of fickleness or something on the part of the player and/or teams--or, I mean, one can rationalize it away as that. But as I have played the game much more over the past several weeks, and have noted similar puzzling free agency moves across my leagues, I think this may be an indicator of that sign/release/sign/release free agency issue that has been discussed in a few threads recently.

Khan · 06-30-2006, 11:56 AM

Yes, I see this quite often as well.

Basically, it happens because teams sign free agents after their season is over but before their league FA's file. So they sign the guy, but his contract ends when their FA's file.

If you have alot of overlapping leagues then this could happen alot because their FA's don't file at the same time.

Apparently it's pro-rated but Im' not sure.

Not really a bug perse, but highly annoying if you ask me, just makes the AI look stupid.

Carplos · 06-30-2006, 12:20 PM

I think in another thread someone suggested making it so teams won't sign free agents from the end of the season until players in the league file for free agency. Not entirely realistic, but perhaps the best idea? Teams would still need to be allowed to resign their own upcoming free agents, though.

Khan · 06-30-2006, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carplos

I think in another thread someone suggested making it so teams won't sign free agents from the end of the season until players in the league file for free agency. Not entirely realistic, but perhaps the best idea? Teams would still need to be allowed to resign their own upcoming free agents, though.

I think that was me!

... the thread about Bad AI in General Discussions

Yes it may not be realistic, but neither is what's happening.

It just seems that those players are really meant to be signed for the next season, but a flaw in the game has them become free agents almost immediately.

sfnate · 06-30-2006, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khan

I think that was me!

... the thread about Bad AI in General Discussions

Yes it may not be realistic, but neither is what's happening.

It just seems that those players are really meant to be signed for the next season, but a flaw in the game has them become free agents almost immediately.

The workaround you describe, limiting free agency signings to particular date range, where does one make that settings adjustment? I would be pleased as punch to get rid of those pages long "sign/release/sign/release/sign/release etc" entries in my player histories. And "pages long" is only a slight overstatement, I should add. I've seen multiple teams over a period of several weeks pounce on a player then spit him out, like some kind of crazy shark feeding frenzy...

sfnate · 06-30-2006, 01:35 PM

Here's what I'm talking about, "pages long" I mean:

Maybe there's a technical justification for all these moves, but it just seems a bit batty to me. Pun intended.

Khan · 06-30-2006, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfnate

The workaround you describe, limiting free agency signings to particular date range, where does one make that settings adjustment? I would be pleased as punch to get rid of those pages long "sign/release/sign/release/sign/release etc" entries in my player histories. And "pages long" is only a slight overstatement, I should add. I've seen multiple teams over a period of several weeks pounce on a player then spit him out, like some kind of crazy shark feeding frenzy...

There is no workaround, I just suggested it in another thread.

battists · 06-30-2006, 01:50 PM

OK, it certainly seems like it's worth Markus taking a peek, thanks for the extra info. I logged this as TT #1981.

Thanks!

Khan · 06-30-2006, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfnate

Here's what I'm talking about, "pages long" I mean:

Maybe there's a technical justification for all these moves, but it just seems a bit batty to me. Pun intended.

Hmm.. the thing is for that player it looks like alot of those signings/releases are during the season (though I'm not sure when your Japan league is running) and the player just sucks

I'm talking about things like below, where it's the offseason and this player who's very good obviously, signs with the Mets.

Then a month later the MLB free agents file and he becomes a free agent again, which seems silly since you'd think he was signing for next season.

Why would any team sign a player to a huge contract and not have him pitch an inning anywhere??
(Actually, your 1st shot shows this as well)

Khan · 06-30-2006, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by battists

OK, it certainly seems like it's worth Markus taking a peek, thanks for the extra info. I logged this as TT #1981.

Thanks!

Excellent!

sfnate · 06-30-2006, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khan

Hmm.. the thing is for that player it looks like alot of those signings/releases are during the season (though I'm not sure when your Japan league is running) and the player just sucks

Well, if he's _that_ bad, why did so many teams even bother? This player sure put one over on a lot of scouts. And he's not the only one, either.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khan

Why would any team sign a player to a huge contract and not have him pitch an inning anywhere?? (Actually, your 1st shot shows this as well)

Now that we've actually got a ticket for this, I'm hopeful that this funny stuff will be greatly reduced. I like to laugh, but this stuff just brings tears to my eyes.

Carplos · 06-30-2006, 11:35 PM

I know this is obvious, but I'll say it anyway: If it ends going the route of not allowing teams to sign FAs until the league has free agency filings, just make sure leagues that don't have FA, but do allow teams to sign FAs from other leagues don't get permanantly blocked.

In addition, perhaps (again, if it's going that route or something similar) perhaps teams should be blocked from signing FAs from the end of the regular season until FA filing, rather than just the post-season. Depending on your playoff size, you'll have a week to even a month where teams could still make the same boneheaded decision.

battists · 07-18-2006, 10:26 AM

This issue has been claimed fixed in the next patch, but has not yet been verified.

Thanks,

Steve

Carplos · 07-20-2006, 04:23 AM

Do you know exactly how it was fixed? (i.e. how they limited it)

06-30-2006, 11:56 AM	#6
Khan All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Toronto Posts: 827	Yes, I see this quite often as well. Basically, it happens because teams sign free agents after their season is over but before their league FA's file. So they sign the guy, but his contract ends when their FA's file. If you have alot of overlapping leagues then this could happen alot because their FA's don't file at the same time. Apparently it's pro-rated but Im' not sure. Not really a bug perse, but highly annoying if you ask me, just makes the AI look stupid. __________________ CBL quickstart thread My Logo & Uni thread OOTP Google drive

06-30-2006, 01:35 PM	#10
sfnate Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Corner of 16th and Bryant Streets Posts: 296	Pages long example... Here's what I'm talking about, "pages long" I mean: Maybe there's a technical justification for all these moves, but it just seems a bit batty to me. Pun intended.

06-10-2006, 10:53 AM	#1
sfnate Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Corner of 16th and Bryant Streets Posts: 296	Bizarre Free Agency Moves Here's a screenshot of some weirdness I found in my league: Notice all the free agency action going on here. What's up? Signs a 1 yr contract for 19K with Yomiuri, becomes a free agent, then signs for MUCH less with Chicago, then becomes a free agent AGAIN, signs for a little more with Philadelphia---what's going on here? Is there a rational explanation for this? I'm using the new patch, FYI.

06-30-2006, 11:31 AM	#4
battists Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 18,506	That is an interesting sequence. It's a tough one, because it just LOOKS wrong, but when you go through it, I can't find anything truly out-of-hand other than the fact that he signed for so much less in the U.S., and one day after his $20K contract ended. Hmmm... I just don't quite know what to do with this one. Thoughts?

06-30-2006, 12:20 PM	#7
Carplos Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,899 Infractions: 1/0 (0)	I think in another thread someone suggested making it so teams won't sign free agents from the end of the season until players in the league file for free agency. Not entirely realistic, but perhaps the best idea? Teams would still need to be allowed to resign their own upcoming free agents, though.

06-30-2006, 01:50 PM	#12
battists Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 18,506	OK, it certainly seems like it's worth Markus taking a peek, thanks for the extra info. I logged this as TT #1981. Thanks!

06-30-2006, 11:35 PM	#16
Carplos Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,899 Infractions: 1/0 (0)	I know this is obvious, but I'll say it anyway: If it ends going the route of not allowing teams to sign FAs until the league has free agency filings, just make sure leagues that don't have FA, but do allow teams to sign FAs from other leagues don't get permanantly blocked. In addition, perhaps (again, if it's going that route or something similar) perhaps teams should be blocked from signing FAs from the end of the regular season until FA filing, rather than just the post-season. Depending on your playoff size, you'll have a week to even a month where teams could still make the same boneheaded decision.

07-18-2006, 10:26 AM	#17
battists Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 18,506	This issue has been claimed fixed in the next patch, but has not yet been verified. Thanks, Steve

07-20-2006, 04:23 AM	#18
Carplos Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,899 Infractions: 1/0 (0)	Do you know exactly how it was fixed? (i.e. how they limited it)