Annoying contract asks.. and unrealistic finances

MarkGracesSlumpBuster · 02-01-2021, 11:08 PM

What’s the best way to get salaries to work where all “really good” players aren’t asking for $40-$50mil/season? I tried to put on a salary cap, but players still ask for it and it just screws over teams. I’ve also tried to change the “projected pay” for different types of stars... and it doesn’t seem to function properly.

I’ve also had it where I offer a player significantly less than his ask, he hates it, but then signs with another team for cheaper anyway.

JerseyPirate · 02-02-2021, 10:35 AM

This is probably the most frustrating part for me playing this game. I like to focus on the GM role so I auto-play all of my games and just focus on setting up lineups and let AI make all the in-game decisions. So I've played 2 long franchises of about 70 years and my current one is about 35 years in. What I've found is that when you try to negotiate in-season with a pending FA, the ask is always bigger than what they can get in the open market.

If I don't sign the player, I will use the qualifying offer and that keeps other teams away because they lose a draft pick so that lowers the offer a little, unless it's an elite player. Then, if you wait 7-10 days into FA, revisit the player and see if the ask has gone down.

What I try to do is always buy out years of arbitration with my best players and offer 8-10 year contracts. You can get them for below value if they are in their 1st or 2nd arbitration year.

koohead · 02-02-2021, 01:22 PM

How much cash do your teams have at the end of the year? My observations have been that if there is alot of cash available during FA, salary demands go up and up. By controlling the amount of free cash available (enabling 'owner decides budget', revenue sharing, luxury tax penalty, lowering salary levels per player 'level', media contracts, etc) I've been able to keep the highest demands right around 20-25M. I've also noticed that my players tend to ask for a lot more when i'm discussing extensions but they end up getting/taking less during FA.

Brad K · 02-02-2021, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkGracesSlumpBuster

What’s the best way to get salaries to work where all “really good” players aren’t asking for $40-$50mil/season? I tried to put on a salary cap, but players still ask for it and it just screws over teams.

It doesn't screw all the teams. The ones that can pay it have no problem. GM one of those.

mytreds · 02-03-2021, 12:51 AM

Typically players asking that much are overvaluing themselves. Better off finding better deals than that in my experience.

SirSaab · 02-03-2021, 04:34 PM

I find that front- or back-loading (depending on your financials) a contract and packing it with options is the most effective way to distribute the cost of a player asking for huge money.

If there is a guys you really want or need, offer him that 10-year deal, and defer the big money behind whatever options he’ll agree to, and leverage the use of the player opt-out on top of the options.

I often find that I can get a guy effectively on a three or four year deal, because often they’ll execute their player opt-out. And if they don’t exercise the opt-out, I’ll usually at least be able to avoid paying big money during their declining years, because of team options (which you can very often get, instead of player options, I have found).

Also, I never guarantee roles, just in case the worst case scenario plays out and I have an ancient albatross on my team lol

02-01-2021, 11:08 PM	#1
MarkGracesSlumpBuster Minors (Single A) Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 50	Annoying contract asks.. and unrealistic finances What’s the best way to get salaries to work where all “really good” players aren’t asking for $40-$50mil/season? I tried to put on a salary cap, but players still ask for it and it just screws over teams. I’ve also tried to change the “projected pay” for different types of stars... and it doesn’t seem to function properly. I’ve also had it where I offer a player significantly less than his ask, he hates it, but then signs with another team for cheaper anyway.

02-02-2021, 01:22 PM	#3
koohead Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 3,211	How much cash do your teams have at the end of the year? My observations have been that if there is alot of cash available during FA, salary demands go up and up. By controlling the amount of free cash available (enabling 'owner decides budget', revenue sharing, luxury tax penalty, lowering salary levels per player 'level', media contracts, etc) I've been able to keep the highest demands right around 20-25M. I've also noticed that my players tend to ask for a lot more when i'm discussing extensions but they end up getting/taking less during FA. __________________ GM - New Jersey Bears of the NPBL;

02-03-2021, 12:51 AM	#5
mytreds All Star Starter Join Date: Nov 2019 Posts: 1,182	Typically players asking that much are overvaluing themselves. Better off finding better deals than that in my experience. __________________ “Baseball isn’t statistics; it’s Joe DiMaggio rounding second.” “Once, centuries ago, it was the beloved national pastime of the Americas, Wesley. Abandoned by a society that prized fast food and faster games. Lost to impatience.” “ The term ‘WAR’ should be replaced by ‘WAG’. WAR isn’t an actual measurement; it’s just a wild-ass guess” -Bill James RIP National League 1876-2022 Floreat semper vel invita morte. I make custom ballparks.

02-03-2021, 04:34 PM	#6
SirSaab Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 283	I find that front- or back-loading (depending on your financials) a contract and packing it with options is the most effective way to distribute the cost of a player asking for huge money. If there is a guys you really want or need, offer him that 10-year deal, and defer the big money behind whatever options he’ll agree to, and leverage the use of the player opt-out on top of the options. I often find that I can get a guy effectively on a three or four year deal, because often they’ll execute their player opt-out. And if they don’t exercise the opt-out, I’ll usually at least be able to avoid paying big money during their declining years, because of team options (which you can very often get, instead of player options, I have found). Also, I never guarantee roles, just in case the worst case scenario plays out and I have an ancient albatross on my team lol __________________ “Lady, I’m not an athlete. I’m a professional baseball player.” - John Kruk

02-02-2021, 10:35 AM	#2
JerseyPirate Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jul 2020 Posts: 172	This is probably the most frustrating part for me playing this game. I like to focus on the GM role so I auto-play all of my games and just focus on setting up lineups and let AI make all the in-game decisions. So I've played 2 long franchises of about 70 years and my current one is about 35 years in. What I've found is that when you try to negotiate in-season with a pending FA, the ask is always bigger than what they can get in the open market. If I don't sign the player, I will use the qualifying offer and that keeps other teams away because they lose a draft pick so that lowers the offer a little, unless it's an elite player. Then, if you wait 7-10 days into FA, revisit the player and see if the ask has gone down. What I try to do is always buy out years of arbitration with my best players and offer 8-10 year contracts. You can get them for below value if they are in their 1st or 2nd arbitration year.