How do you typically set up your expansion drafts for MLB realism?

[Tokyoriit]

Specifically interested in how you guys like to set up an expansion draft for realism without it also being a massive undertaking.

About to run an expansion for two new MLB franchises in Vegas and Louisville.

I'm leaning toward a slightly smaller than default protection list, maybe 20 players, with a max of three players picked per team. Reason being I don't think if there was an expansion draft in this day and age the league would be interested in giving its shiny new franchises players purely from the scrap heap and making them build up for years.

I'm unsure whether I should leave the "auto-protect players with fewer than X service years" ticked on as i don't really understand how that would affect the draft.

Any tips? Should I just draft for 35 rounds then fill out my minors with fictional players?

[progen]

Originally Posted by Tokyoriit

Specifically interested in how you guys like to set up an expansion draft for realism without it also being a massive undertaking.

About to run an expansion for two new MLB franchises in Vegas and Louisville.

I'm leaning toward a slightly smaller than default protection list, maybe 20 players, with a max of three players picked per team. Reason being I don't think if there was an expansion draft in this day and age the league would be interested in giving its shiny new franchises players purely from the scrap heap and making them build up for years.

I'm unsure whether I should leave the "auto-protect players with fewer than X service years" ticked on as i don't really understand how that would affect the draft.

Any tips? Should I just draft for 35 rounds then fill out my minors with fictional players?

This is the only way I play the game. But for a good challenge, I allow teams to protect 26 to as many as 29 players, depending on my mood when setting up. And the big thing, make sure you change years of service to four, don't leave it at three. At three, you can get so many good, young players, which really isn't realistic, and for me, makes the challenge of an expansion team much easier. And there's been games where I will do as little as five picks per team, but generally do a bit higher, seven or eight. The list of players will be greater for sure, but trust me, many of those "available" players should be selling insurance, not playing baseball.

I hear what you're saying about MLB not wanting an expansion team to be horrible, as it would hurt business or whatever, but for me, I like the challenge. Fun to look back after so many seasons when you're actually playing .500 ball or better and laugh at how bad those early teams were. I've never won a series with an expansion team, but that's generally because I tire of the game I'm playing, or the team I have, and I'll either start another expansion team in that same universe or start a whole new universe from scratch.

Also, make sure you check the box that in the first-year draft, your team, and the other one gets to pick first and second. Although, for a fictional league if you stick with that, can't happen.

I usually limit the initial draft to 30 picks, and trust me, you'll take your lumps the first two to three years. I like the challenge of an expansion team, and you really need to exercise patience.

Also, I never fill my minor leagues with fictional players. I take time to go fishing and look for players I can sign to a minor league deal. In the first season, if I can get 15 or 20 on my AAA team, and even just a few on AA, and usually no players on teams lower than that, I'm Ok with that. Don't panic about no players on your A or rookie team. It'll happen soon enough over future seasons.

It's great to see someone else wanting to play this way. Trust me, it will be frustrating but fun at the same time. Good luck with it and hope this helps some.

[renojedi]

I only play as an expansion team so here is how I have done if for several years:

Number of protected players: 18

In the last real expansion draft (1997), it was 15 for the first round, 18 for the second round, and 21 for the third round. I just took the average. Like you said, MLB probably learned from the NHL and may drop that number but I think 18 gives you a fair challenge.

Auto Protect Players with less than X years of pro service: 2

I dropped it from 3 to 2 since the real world expansion teams did (and will) get to be part of the amateur draft before the expansion draft. Since OOTP doesn't let you do that I think this is a fair compromise.

Limit number of picks from a single team: 3

This matches the last real world expansion draft.


I never fill the team with fictional players or coaches. I go get them from the available staff and FA list. Even if some of them are fictional, I still want some control over who I have on my teams.

Also, I always edit the minor league team locations to make them more plausible and I add a DSL team.

One final thing I do...I all up add the team budgets of the division I am in and then make the expansion team the average of those budgets. A lot of times, the expansion team's budget are at or near the bottom of their division by default. If this were real life and MLB expands they will want stable ownership that will build a winning team, not be a door mat. This keeps it fair...a new team in Nashville, Charlotte, or Portland won't be LA or NY but no way will they be the Marlins or Royals either.

This has always given me a decent challenge and the players I get aren't too outlandish...last year my top picks were Andreton Simmons, Maurico Dubon, Joey Lucchesi, Dominic Smith, Wilmer Flores, and Kenta Maeda. I think the youngest guys I got were Gabriel Arias and Andres Munoz but only about 5 were 21-24. This way my farm teams weren't a bunch of 1-2 star potential guys which is nice to build on for the future. Again, didn't feel like a stacked team by any means.

[progen]

Originally Posted by renojedi

I only play as an expansion team so here is how I have done if for several years:

Number of protected players: 18

In the last real expansion draft (1997), it was 15 for the first round, 18 for the second round, and 21 for the third round. I just took the average. Like you said, MLB probably learned from the NHL and may drop that number but I think 18 gives you a fair challenge.

Auto Protect Players with less than X years of pro service: 2

I dropped it from 3 to 2 since the real world expansion teams did (and will) get to be part of the amateur draft before the expansion draft. Since OOTP doesn't let you do that I think this is a fair compromise.

Limit number of picks from a single team: 3

This matches the last real world expansion draft.


I never fill the team with fictional players or coaches. I go get them from the available staff and FA list. Even if some of them are fictional, I still want some control over who I have on my teams.

Also, I always edit the minor league team locations to make them more plausible and I add a DSL team.

One final thing I do...I all up add the team budgets of the division I am in and then make the expansion team the average of those budgets. A lot of times, the expansion team's budget are at or near the bottom of their division by default. If this were real life and MLB expands they will want stable ownership that will build a winning team, not be a door mat. This keeps it fair...a new team in Nashville, Charlotte, or Portland won't be LA or NY but no way will they be the Marlins or Royals either.

This has always given me a decent challenge and the players I get aren't too outlandish...last year my top picks were Andreton Simmons, Maurico Dubon, Joey Lucchesi, Dominic Smith, Wilmer Flores, and Kenta Maeda. I think the youngest guys I got were Gabriel Arias and Andres Munoz but only about 5 were 21-24. This way my farm teams weren't a bunch of 1-2 star potential guys which is nice to build on for the future. Again, didn't feel like a stacked team by any means.

Always like to see how others play. You must have a pretty decent team out of the box with that set up. Obviously, more realistic than the way I play, but can't help to think you'll get to .500 and beyond a lot faster this way. Hopefully, it's still a good challenge for you though.

[renojedi]

Originally Posted by progen

Always like to see how others play. You must have a pretty decent team out of the box with that set up. Obviously, more realistic than the way I play, but can't help to think you'll get to .500 and beyond a lot faster this way. Hopefully, it's still a good challenge for you though.

Really hit or miss, actually. Did one team and they were over .500 2 of the 5 seasons I played making 1 WC appearance.

Did another team after the trade deadline update and was over .500 for all three seasons I played and made the playoffs twice as a WC.

I play every game out (mostly) in the NL or AL East so the teams were at least somewhat competitive in the best divisions in baseball.

[progen]

Originally Posted by renojedi

Really hit or miss, actually. Did one team and they were over .500 2 of the 5 seasons I played making 1 WC appearance.

Did another team after the trade deadline update and was over .500 for all three seasons I played and made the playoffs twice as a WC.

I play every game out (mostly) in the NL or AL East so the teams were at least somewhat competitive in the best divisions in baseball.

Good to know. Haven't bought 24 yet. Enjoying 23, and generally wait till they get all the "kinks" out first. Thanks again for the feedback.