International Service Time Question

Jupiter · 08-26-2014, 01:05 PM

I have what I hope is a simple question. When creating an international league (or perhaps an independent league, which I have not used), there is an option in each league to "Reset Service Time for FAs signed from other leagues." I have not seen a really clear description of what this does or how it should operate, so I am curious if I missing something I should be seeing.

My first experiment with the Japanese leagues, I had the option on (which I believe is the default), but it seemed that free agents signing contracts in Japan were then sliding into their arbitration system and would essentially be bound to the league for most of a decade before they could return. For my purposes, I would prefer players that sign a two year contract there then have the option of returning to the MLB. So I remember thinking to myself that I had finally figured out what that option was for and I turned it off for both leagues. I was happy with this option for about a decade.

Then one year, there was a player I had tracked in Japan who finally hit free agency at the age of 32. He had set a bunch of records in Japan and kept signing extensions just before free agency, so I thought he might never come to the US. But eventually he did and although his career would not last very much longer, the first year in the MLB he hit .360 or so with pretty good numbers. He wouldn't have been in the MVP running, but I thought for sure he would be the the top rookie. But he wasn't. And then I realized that he probably did not qualify precisely because the game did not reset his service time when he joined the league.

In case it seems like I am complaining, I am actually fine with this. I think it would be silly to have an established player come over from another league and qualify for the the rookie of the year. So I am happy with how it worked out. I'm just surprised that I didn't figure this out for so long and wondering if I missed something else.

So, first question, is it correct that by not resetting the service time of free agents (posted or otherwise), it renders them incapable of qualifying for ROY? And if so, can somebody tell me what the current policy is for players moving from American to Japan or Japan to America?

And perhaps more importantly, does this setting effect anything else that I just haven't considered yet?

08-26-2014, 01:05 PM	#1
Jupiter Minors (Single A) Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 74	International Service Time Question I have what I hope is a simple question. When creating an international league (or perhaps an independent league, which I have not used), there is an option in each league to "Reset Service Time for FAs signed from other leagues." I have not seen a really clear description of what this does or how it should operate, so I am curious if I missing something I should be seeing. My first experiment with the Japanese leagues, I had the option on (which I believe is the default), but it seemed that free agents signing contracts in Japan were then sliding into their arbitration system and would essentially be bound to the league for most of a decade before they could return. For my purposes, I would prefer players that sign a two year contract there then have the option of returning to the MLB. So I remember thinking to myself that I had finally figured out what that option was for and I turned it off for both leagues. I was happy with this option for about a decade. Then one year, there was a player I had tracked in Japan who finally hit free agency at the age of 32. He had set a bunch of records in Japan and kept signing extensions just before free agency, so I thought he might never come to the US. But eventually he did and although his career would not last very much longer, the first year in the MLB he hit .360 or so with pretty good numbers. He wouldn't have been in the MVP running, but I thought for sure he would be the the top rookie. But he wasn't. And then I realized that he probably did not qualify precisely because the game did not reset his service time when he joined the league. In case it seems like I am complaining, I am actually fine with this. I think it would be silly to have an established player come over from another league and qualify for the the rookie of the year. So I am happy with how it worked out. I'm just surprised that I didn't figure this out for so long and wondering if I missed something else. So, first question, is it correct that by not resetting the service time of free agents (posted or otherwise), it renders them incapable of qualifying for ROY? And if so, can somebody tell me what the current policy is for players moving from American to Japan or Japan to America? And perhaps more importantly, does this setting effect anything else that I just haven't considered yet?