Free agent weirdness

Madmatt · 11-07-2011, 10:51 PM

Is money the only factor in signing a free agent?

Asking because I am a bit confused. I talked about some issues I have noticed with arbitration in a different thread, but I also noticed some strange things happening in free agency.

First I have noticed players taking an ai discount. For instance in the most recent game I was playing I had two free agents I wanted to sign. Before hitting free agency they asked for 8 million and 12 million respectively. I offered them a couple of different offers for less then that, 7million, and 10.5.... They rejected... In free agency I offered the same deals, which they rejected. I offered a little more, rejected again. They ended up signing with a different team, for 6.1 million and 10.3 million.

So what would cause them to choose less pay with another club?

Bol · 11-10-2011, 11:27 PM

I've experienced this as well, and my guess is that the player demands more money in an extension because they know

a) the extension is on the team - if they can't sign the player, they lose him. With a FA, if the team doesn't sign the player, they lose nothing, so the pressure is on the player.

b) in Free Agency, bidding for a player will often end up exceeding what he would have gotten in the extension, while the owners figure "oh this guy = low-priced, I'll keep bidding for him."

Just my guess as to the reasons - I couldn't tell you for sure.

EDIT: With those particular FAs, there maybe wasn't as much bidding as they expected - that can happen too. This happens very often with players in decline (at least in my game).

McGuiser · 11-15-2011, 09:27 PM

I have a hunch that if you try to negotiate with a player (i.e. offer less than requested) there is or can be some sort of annoyance to be factored in, meaning that you have to offer more than you would otherwise to get the contract. Your million is worth less than another club's million.

Perhaps like OOTP (but without the data being available to the player) each player has a personality profile that influences these decisions. I hope so.

I have "negotiated" with players who express annoyance with my counteroffer, and then increase their ask rather than decreasing or maintaining it.

Maybe there is a bit of Scott Boras code.

HavenHunting · 11-16-2011, 01:57 AM

I had something like this with Prince Fielder. I don't remember exact numbers, but say he wanted 12 million extension during the season, which I couldn't afford. Come free agency he resigned with me for 8 million per season.

11-07-2011, 10:51 PM	#1
Madmatt Bat Boy Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 10	Free agent weirdness Is money the only factor in signing a free agent? Asking because I am a bit confused. I talked about some issues I have noticed with arbitration in a different thread, but I also noticed some strange things happening in free agency. First I have noticed players taking an ai discount. For instance in the most recent game I was playing I had two free agents I wanted to sign. Before hitting free agency they asked for 8 million and 12 million respectively. I offered them a couple of different offers for less then that, 7million, and 10.5.... They rejected... In free agency I offered the same deals, which they rejected. I offered a little more, rejected again. They ended up signing with a different team, for 6.1 million and 10.3 million. So what would cause them to choose less pay with another club?

11-10-2011, 11:27 PM	#2
Bol Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 24	I've experienced this as well, and my guess is that the player demands more money in an extension because they know a) the extension is on the team - if they can't sign the player, they lose him. With a FA, if the team doesn't sign the player, they lose nothing, so the pressure is on the player. b) in Free Agency, bidding for a player will often end up exceeding what he would have gotten in the extension, while the owners figure "oh this guy = low-priced, I'll keep bidding for him." Just my guess as to the reasons - I couldn't tell you for sure. EDIT: With those particular FAs, there maybe wasn't as much bidding as they expected - that can happen too. This happens very often with players in decline (at least in my game). Last edited by Bol; 11-10-2011 at 11:29 PM.

11-15-2011, 09:27 PM	#3
McGuiser Major Leagues Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 363	I have a hunch that if you try to negotiate with a player (i.e. offer less than requested) there is or can be some sort of annoyance to be factored in, meaning that you have to offer more than you would otherwise to get the contract. Your million is worth less than another club's million. Perhaps like OOTP (but without the data being available to the player) each player has a personality profile that influences these decisions. I hope so. I have "negotiated" with players who express annoyance with my counteroffer, and then increase their ask rather than decreasing or maintaining it. Maybe there is a bit of Scott Boras code.

11-16-2011, 01:57 AM	#4
HavenHunting Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 150	I had something like this with Prince Fielder. I don't remember exact numbers, but say he wanted 12 million extension during the season, which I couldn't afford. Come free agency he resigned with me for 8 million per season.