Post by Rockies GM (Harris) on Oct 1, 2011 15:53:00 GMT -5
The following schedule will serve as a guide to our offseason. We will try to stick to it as much as possible although we will make adjustments when they are needed. Here it goes...
1. Roster Adjustment Period (October 29th - November 7th)
The roster adjustment period is exactly what I was talking about in the previous PM I sent out titled "After Season Task List" During this period, I am going to do my very best to get our empty spots filled with good GM's. Also, I would like everybody to get in their $10 league payment for the 2012 season during this time period. After this period is over, TRADING will open up again ;D.
To see all the tasks, check the league spreadsheet here: docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AidxZNQCRqxxdFFVbzBReUMwZldyX2dsdUhURm1vcEE&hl=en_US#gid=0
2. Franchise/Restricted Tag Period (November 7th - November 14th)
Kind of self explanatory here, but for a refresher on Franchise and Restricted Tagging, read below. Post your franchise and restricted tags in the board titled Offseason Tags.
To protect against the loss of all free agents in a particular calendar year, a GM will be granted the ability to try and keep a player via a Restricted Tag(s) and/or Franchise Tag(s). Each franchise has a different amount of tags dependant on the tier you are in, in terms of salary cap. You will also be able to protect all qualified "minor league" players and also be allowed to protect your qualified "prospect" players as well. Prospect players as a reminder are defined as players who are engaged in the 5-year prospect rule.
What are Franchise Tags?
If owned, you will have the ability at the end of the year to name a “franchise player(s)”. This player, although having his contract expire will not be eligible for free agency within our league, and will be forced to sign with the same team. In this specific case ONLY, the franchise player will have to assume the real life contract he receives (including 1 year deals or holdouts). In this case, "real-life" acts as an arbitrator of sorts in determining a fair market value for the player. This can either improve or hinder your team depending on how much the player signs for. If the new "real-life" contract puts a franchise over the salary cap maximum, the GM will receive a notice from the Commissioner’s Office after which time he/she will have 72-hours to correct the problem. Keep in mind, this is the only case in which a team may go over the salary cap, and the reason being, the salary for your current franchised player is yet to be determined.
What are Restricted Players?
A team will also have the ability to name at least one restricted player each season. Restricted players will, in effect, be treated just like free agents with one BIG difference. Once the "Winter Meetings" begin in early December, restricted players can be made contract offers like every other free agent. However, at the end of the contract offering period, the team who restricted the player will have 72 hours to match the winning offer. If a GM chooses to match the winning contract offer, then he/she will be allowed to restructure the "matching" contract so that it best fits their team's salary structure and then re-sign the player. The "restructured" contract must, however, still have the same average annual salary; but may not add additional years to the contract. If a GM fails to respond or chooses not to match the best contract offer made to their player, then the auctioned player will be required to sign with the highest bidder, whose bid then becomes that team's obligation. If you sign a restricted FA, you must provide draft pick compensation to the team in which lost said player (rule explained further in "MLB Player Draft"). Also, if matching the highest offer puts you over the salary cap, then you will not be afforded that player and he will go the next highest bidder. Plan accordingly.
Restricting a player provides a semi protective measure to help a GM retain that player, while not assuring it. In order to provide some, but not absolute assistance in that retention, the following guidelines are placed on Restricted FA bidding:
The Average Annual Salary ("AAS") that a GM bids will require a certain minimum number of years that the offer must cover in order to be a valid bid. The HIGHER the AAS, the LONGER the MINIMUM contract term you MUST offer in order to make a valid bid. The MINIMUM contract term is based solely on the offer's AAS, and is determined as follows:
AAS = up to $3M, then MINIMUM 1 yr deal
AAS = $3M+ to $6M, then MINIMUM 2 yr deal (total min contract = $6,000,001 to $12M)
AAS = $6M+ to $9M, then MINIMUM 3 yr deal (total min contract = $18,000,001 to $27M)
AAS = $9M+ to $12M, then MINIMUM 4 yr deal (total min contract = $36,000,001 to $48M)
AAS = $12M+ to $15M, then MINIMUM 5 yr deal
AAS = $15M+ to $18M, then MINIMUM 6 yr deal
AAS = $18M+ to 21M, then MINIMUM 7 yr deal
Any bid not meeting the correct minimum term offered will be voided. The bidder can always make a contract term LONGER than the minimum number of years since the AAS only determines the MINIMUM term.
3. Restricted Free Agency (November 14th - November 28th)
We will split this up into 2 weeks... 1 week will be all restricted free agent pitchers, while the other week will be all restricted free agent hitters. Once the bidding for a restricted free agent is over, a team will have 48 hours to decide whether or not to match the highest bid.
4. Catchup/Off Period (November 28th - December 5th)
There will be no official trade posting during this period, but obviously teams are allowed to discuss. During this period, we will get up to date with the spreadsheet and plan for arguably the two biggest events of the offseason, The Draft and Free Agency.
5. Free Agency (December 5th - January 8th)
During this period, we will sign players who are not under contract for the 2012 season. Below, I will list exactly which positions will be eligible during the specific weeks during this period. Remember, during the offseason, you may only post new players Monday-Thursday, but bidding may continue throughout the week.
December 5th - December 11th: Catchers and Relief Pitchers
December 12th - December 18th: Corner Infielders and Middle Infielders
December 19th - December 25th: Outfielders
December 26th - January 8th: Starting Pitchers
6. Off Week (January 9th - January 15th)[/b]
During this period, there will be no trading or free agent posting. Free Agents still being bidded on may continue to be bidded on however.
7. Trading and FA Back Open Period (January 16th - January 22nd)[/b]
All unsigned FA will be eligible to be posted and Trading will open back up during this period.
8. 2012 First Year Player Draft (January 22nd - January 29th)
On Sunday, January 22th at 8:00 PM EST we will try to get every team into the League Chat Room to start the draft. I am hoping to get a nice string of picks completed. There will be 3 rounds to the draft with a 6 hour time limit per pick. The draft order will be the inverse order of the standings. International players who were signed during the season will be eligible for this draft.
Fantrax Setup Period (February 1st - OPENING DAY)
For those of you who have been living under a rock, we are changing to Fantrax for the 2012 Season. It will allow there to be a cash prize and overall is a easier setup for our league. During this period, the schedule will be announced!
- Should be a really great offseason! I believe I am leaving plenty of time for us to not rush anything and adjust the schedule if need be.
1. Roster Adjustment Period (October 29th - November 7th)
The roster adjustment period is exactly what I was talking about in the previous PM I sent out titled "After Season Task List" During this period, I am going to do my very best to get our empty spots filled with good GM's. Also, I would like everybody to get in their $10 league payment for the 2012 season during this time period. After this period is over, TRADING will open up again ;D.
To see all the tasks, check the league spreadsheet here: docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AidxZNQCRqxxdFFVbzBReUMwZldyX2dsdUhURm1vcEE&hl=en_US#gid=0
2. Franchise/Restricted Tag Period (November 7th - November 14th)
Kind of self explanatory here, but for a refresher on Franchise and Restricted Tagging, read below. Post your franchise and restricted tags in the board titled Offseason Tags.
To protect against the loss of all free agents in a particular calendar year, a GM will be granted the ability to try and keep a player via a Restricted Tag(s) and/or Franchise Tag(s). Each franchise has a different amount of tags dependant on the tier you are in, in terms of salary cap. You will also be able to protect all qualified "minor league" players and also be allowed to protect your qualified "prospect" players as well. Prospect players as a reminder are defined as players who are engaged in the 5-year prospect rule.
What are Franchise Tags?
If owned, you will have the ability at the end of the year to name a “franchise player(s)”. This player, although having his contract expire will not be eligible for free agency within our league, and will be forced to sign with the same team. In this specific case ONLY, the franchise player will have to assume the real life contract he receives (including 1 year deals or holdouts). In this case, "real-life" acts as an arbitrator of sorts in determining a fair market value for the player. This can either improve or hinder your team depending on how much the player signs for. If the new "real-life" contract puts a franchise over the salary cap maximum, the GM will receive a notice from the Commissioner’s Office after which time he/she will have 72-hours to correct the problem. Keep in mind, this is the only case in which a team may go over the salary cap, and the reason being, the salary for your current franchised player is yet to be determined.
What are Restricted Players?
A team will also have the ability to name at least one restricted player each season. Restricted players will, in effect, be treated just like free agents with one BIG difference. Once the "Winter Meetings" begin in early December, restricted players can be made contract offers like every other free agent. However, at the end of the contract offering period, the team who restricted the player will have 72 hours to match the winning offer. If a GM chooses to match the winning contract offer, then he/she will be allowed to restructure the "matching" contract so that it best fits their team's salary structure and then re-sign the player. The "restructured" contract must, however, still have the same average annual salary; but may not add additional years to the contract. If a GM fails to respond or chooses not to match the best contract offer made to their player, then the auctioned player will be required to sign with the highest bidder, whose bid then becomes that team's obligation. If you sign a restricted FA, you must provide draft pick compensation to the team in which lost said player (rule explained further in "MLB Player Draft"). Also, if matching the highest offer puts you over the salary cap, then you will not be afforded that player and he will go the next highest bidder. Plan accordingly.
Restricting a player provides a semi protective measure to help a GM retain that player, while not assuring it. In order to provide some, but not absolute assistance in that retention, the following guidelines are placed on Restricted FA bidding:
The Average Annual Salary ("AAS") that a GM bids will require a certain minimum number of years that the offer must cover in order to be a valid bid. The HIGHER the AAS, the LONGER the MINIMUM contract term you MUST offer in order to make a valid bid. The MINIMUM contract term is based solely on the offer's AAS, and is determined as follows:
AAS = up to $3M, then MINIMUM 1 yr deal
AAS = $3M+ to $6M, then MINIMUM 2 yr deal (total min contract = $6,000,001 to $12M)
AAS = $6M+ to $9M, then MINIMUM 3 yr deal (total min contract = $18,000,001 to $27M)
AAS = $9M+ to $12M, then MINIMUM 4 yr deal (total min contract = $36,000,001 to $48M)
AAS = $12M+ to $15M, then MINIMUM 5 yr deal
AAS = $15M+ to $18M, then MINIMUM 6 yr deal
AAS = $18M+ to 21M, then MINIMUM 7 yr deal
Any bid not meeting the correct minimum term offered will be voided. The bidder can always make a contract term LONGER than the minimum number of years since the AAS only determines the MINIMUM term.
3. Restricted Free Agency (November 14th - November 28th)
We will split this up into 2 weeks... 1 week will be all restricted free agent pitchers, while the other week will be all restricted free agent hitters. Once the bidding for a restricted free agent is over, a team will have 48 hours to decide whether or not to match the highest bid.
4. Catchup/Off Period (November 28th - December 5th)
There will be no official trade posting during this period, but obviously teams are allowed to discuss. During this period, we will get up to date with the spreadsheet and plan for arguably the two biggest events of the offseason, The Draft and Free Agency.
5. Free Agency (December 5th - January 8th)
During this period, we will sign players who are not under contract for the 2012 season. Below, I will list exactly which positions will be eligible during the specific weeks during this period. Remember, during the offseason, you may only post new players Monday-Thursday, but bidding may continue throughout the week.
December 5th - December 11th: Catchers and Relief Pitchers
December 12th - December 18th: Corner Infielders and Middle Infielders
December 19th - December 25th: Outfielders
December 26th - January 8th: Starting Pitchers
6. Off Week (January 9th - January 15th)[/b]
During this period, there will be no trading or free agent posting. Free Agents still being bidded on may continue to be bidded on however.
7. Trading and FA Back Open Period (January 16th - January 22nd)[/b]
All unsigned FA will be eligible to be posted and Trading will open back up during this period.
8. 2012 First Year Player Draft (January 22nd - January 29th)
On Sunday, January 22th at 8:00 PM EST we will try to get every team into the League Chat Room to start the draft. I am hoping to get a nice string of picks completed. There will be 3 rounds to the draft with a 6 hour time limit per pick. The draft order will be the inverse order of the standings. International players who were signed during the season will be eligible for this draft.
Fantrax Setup Period (February 1st - OPENING DAY)
For those of you who have been living under a rock, we are changing to Fantrax for the 2012 Season. It will allow there to be a cash prize and overall is a easier setup for our league. During this period, the schedule will be announced!
- Should be a really great offseason! I believe I am leaving plenty of time for us to not rush anything and adjust the schedule if need be.
