Arbitration

TomasNL · 08-12-2008, 10:55 AM

Hi guy's! Have a question, hope you can help me...

What does it exactly mean when a player is eligible for arbitration at the end of the season? Will he automatically get a 1 year contract on the set amount, or can he choose to become a free agent also?

nyy26wc · 08-12-2008, 11:24 AM

He will automatically get a 1 year contract, at a salary determined by the game's arbitrator.

TomasNL · 08-12-2008, 12:59 PM

Ok thanks!

And why do some player's get arbitration, and some just become free agents? Whats the difference?

Kelric · 08-12-2008, 01:08 PM

In MLB, almost every player follows the same contract structure.

Their first three big league seasons are paid out at the league minimum - something like $350,000 a year or whatever.

Their next three seasons are arbitration seasons. They can get paid anywhere from the league minimum to $10 million or more. Usually what happens for a star player is they get paid in the low millions for their first arb. year, then $6 or $7 million for their second and finally about $10 for their third. Sometimes more.

After six seasons they are then eligible for free agency.

Now, this can all change depending on whether or not their big league club decides to sign them to a seperate contract. If a player just completed his first year of arbitration and you offer him a three year contract, he'll play for your contract and will not get arbitration for his final two seasons and what would have been his first year of free agency.

Got it?

TomasNL · 08-12-2008, 01:53 PM

Yes i got it. Very good explanation! Thanks!

Then i have another question, which got nothing to do with arbitration, but i find it not necessary to make a new topic:

If you trade away a player with a big contract for some prospects, where does the money from his salary go to? Will it be available for free agents or for contract extensions? Because at the moment i have 32M+ available for free agents and 6M for contract extensions... and ideally i want it to be the other way around because some important player's need new contracts...

Kelric · 08-12-2008, 02:24 PM

His money should go to your available money for every season he was signed under. That is, if he was owed $10M this year and $10M next year, you should get $10M this year and $10M next year available. Honestly, I've never understood or really paid attention to OOTP differentiating between available money and extension money. I play in Commish mode with no owner set budgets most of the time, considering myself the GM and President of the club and able to set my own budgets.

BeachBum · 08-13-2008, 12:44 PM

I'm not 100% sure but this is how it looks to me.

Available for Free Agents - This is the budget amount remaining for THIS year. If you have $1 million budget room this year, you can sign a free agent for up to $1 million this year.

Contract Extensions - This looks forward and calculates the expected team salaries for the period of the extension including existing contracts, minimum contracts and expected arbitration results to what the expected budget will be. Please note all the "expecteds" used. This makes this a pretty arbitrary number and a moving target with every deal you make.

TomasNL · 08-13-2008, 05:05 PM

Ok thanks guy's that makes it a lot clearer.

BTW, i traded the player with the big contract, and his salary is now available for extensions...

08-12-2008, 10:55 AM	#1
TomasNL Minors (Single A) Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Netherlands Posts: 91	Arbitration Hi guy's! Have a question, hope you can help me... What does it exactly mean when a player is eligible for arbitration at the end of the season? Will he automatically get a 1 year contract on the set amount, or can he choose to become a free agent also?

08-12-2008, 01:53 PM	#5
TomasNL Minors (Single A) Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Netherlands Posts: 91	Yes i got it. Very good explanation! Thanks! Then i have another question, which got nothing to do with arbitration, but i find it not necessary to make a new topic: If you trade away a player with a big contract for some prospects, where does the money from his salary go to? Will it be available for free agents or for contract extensions? Because at the moment i have 32M+ available for free agents and 6M for contract extensions... and ideally i want it to be the other way around because some important player's need new contracts... Last edited by TomasNL; 08-12-2008 at 01:55 PM.

08-12-2008, 11:24 AM	#2
nyy26wc All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 679	He will automatically get a 1 year contract, at a salary determined by the game's arbitrator.

08-12-2008, 12:59 PM	#3
TomasNL Minors (Single A) Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Netherlands Posts: 91	Ok thanks! And why do some player's get arbitration, and some just become free agents? Whats the difference?

08-12-2008, 01:08 PM	#4
Kelric Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Greater Boston Area Posts: 3,992	In MLB, almost every player follows the same contract structure. Their first three big league seasons are paid out at the league minimum - something like $350,000 a year or whatever. Their next three seasons are arbitration seasons. They can get paid anywhere from the league minimum to $10 million or more. Usually what happens for a star player is they get paid in the low millions for their first arb. year, then $6 or $7 million for their second and finally about $10 for their third. Sometimes more. After six seasons they are then eligible for free agency. Now, this can all change depending on whether or not their big league club decides to sign them to a seperate contract. If a player just completed his first year of arbitration and you offer him a three year contract, he'll play for your contract and will not get arbitration for his final two seasons and what would have been his first year of free agency. Got it?

08-12-2008, 02:24 PM	#6
Kelric Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Greater Boston Area Posts: 3,992	His money should go to your available money for every season he was signed under. That is, if he was owed $10M this year and $10M next year, you should get $10M this year and $10M next year available. Honestly, I've never understood or really paid attention to OOTP differentiating between available money and extension money. I play in Commish mode with no owner set budgets most of the time, considering myself the GM and President of the club and able to set my own budgets.

08-13-2008, 12:44 PM	#7
BeachBum Minors (Double A) Join Date: May 2007 Location: Copalis Beach, WA Posts: 192	I'm not 100% sure but this is how it looks to me. Available for Free Agents - This is the budget amount remaining for THIS year. If you have $1 million budget room this year, you can sign a free agent for up to $1 million this year. Contract Extensions - This looks forward and calculates the expected team salaries for the period of the extension including existing contracts, minimum contracts and expected arbitration results to what the expected budget will be. Please note all the "expecteds" used. This makes this a pretty arbitrary number and a moving target with every deal you make.

08-13-2008, 05:05 PM	#8
TomasNL Minors (Single A) Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Netherlands Posts: 91	Ok thanks guy's that makes it a lot clearer. BTW, i traded the player with the big contract, and his salary is now available for extensions...