Section V Free Agency
Oct 5, 2013 0:24:58 GMT -5
Post by Turbanator on Oct 5, 2013 0:24:58 GMT -5
Any player that is available as a Free Agent will be auctioned off to the highest bidder.
5.1 Free Agent Eligibility
5.2 Free Agency Rounds
5.3.1 Minimum Contract Lengths for Pitchers
5.3.2 Minimum Contract Lengths for Hitters
5.3.3 Minimum Contract Lengths Determined by Admin
5.4 Free Agency Round Commencement
5.5 Free Agency Bid Format
5.6 Free Agency Bids are Final
5.7 Minimum Free Agency Salary Offer
5.8 Minimum Free Agency Bid Salary Increment
5.9.1 Club Options
5.9.2 Club Option Bid Format
5.9.3 Accepting or Declining Club Options
5.9.4 Accepted Club Options
5.9.5 Declined Club Options
5.9.6 Club Options Neither Accepted or Declined by the Start of Free Agency
5.10.1 Hometown Discounts
5.10.2 Hometown Discount Bid Format
5.10.3 Hometown Discount Salary Calculation
5.10.4 Identifying Players Signed with Hometown Discounts
5.10.5 Bettering a Hometown Discount Bid
5.10.6 Hometown Discounts on Option Contracts
5.11.1 Free Agent Initial No-trade Window
5.11.2 Free Agent signed with a Hometown Discount Initial No-trade Window
5.12 Free Agent Bid Prerequisites
5.13.1 Invalid Free Agent Bids
5.13.2 Non-Leading Invalid Bids
5.13.3 Leading Bids Identified As Invalid Whilst The Player Auction Is Still In Progress
5.13.4 Invalid Bids Found To Have Won An Auction (Identified Before The Final Round For Free Agents)
5.13.5 Invalid Bids Found To Have Won An Auction (Identified After The Final Round For Free Agents)
5.14 Winning Bids
5.1 Free Agent Eligibility
Players eligible for free agency are:
1) Any player who has reached the 7th year of eligibility under the arbitration scale
2) Any player who has reached the end of a given contract
3) Any player signed to a Major League franchise as an International Free Agent and placed into a Free Agent group by the Admins
4) Any player whose arbitration eligibility has expired (at any time in the past) and is without a contract in this league.
5.2 Free Agency Rounds
There will be multiple rounds of Free Agency, with players being auctioned off in groups according to their ranking or position.
The 1st round will contain all the players that will receive a minimum 4 year deal, and the 2nd round will contain all players that will receive a minimum 3 year deal. The 3rd and 4th rounds will contain all the players that will receive a minimum 2 year deal, divided into a group containing hitters and another containing pitchers. The 5th round will contain all IFAs identified for auction that offseason.
The remaining free agents will be placed into rounds grouped by position, with starting pitchers and relief pitchers divided at the admin's discretion into evenly sized groups.
5.3.1 Minimum Contract Lengths for Pitchers
If a Free Agent finished in the top 15 in the ESPN SP or RP rankings then he will receive a minimum 4 year deal.
If a Free Agent finished in the top 30 in the ESPN SP or RP rankings then he will receive a minimum 3 year deal.
If a Free Agent finished in the top 60 in the ESPN SP or RP rankings then he will receive a minimum 2 year deal.
5.3.2 Minimum Contract Lengths for Hitters
If a Free Agent finished in the top 5 in the ESPN rankings (per position) then he will receive a minimum 4 year deal.
If a Free Agent finished in the top 10 in the ESPN rankings (per position) then he will receive a minimum 3 year deal.
If a Free Agent finished in the top 20 in the ESPN rankings (per position) then he will receive a minimum 2 year deal.
5.3.3 Minimum Contract Lengths Determined by Admin
The Admins may also use their own discretion to determine the fair value of any given player and place him in the appropriate category (i.e. injuries, age, etc.).
5.4 Free Agency Round Commencement
The start of each round of Free Agency (and a confirmation of the players in that round, and their minimum contract requirements) will be communicated to the league by the Admins.
5.5 Free Agency Bid Format
All free agency bids must always include the player name, the salary offered, and the year of contract expiry.
For example:
Joe Player $4.0 2015
5.6 Free Agency Bids are Final
All bids on free agents are final. You may not withdraw nor delete any bids.
5.7 Minimum Free Agency Salary Offer
The minimum salary that may be offered as a free agency bid is $0.3.
5.8 Minimum Free Agency Bid Salary Increment
The minimum salary increment for a free agency bid is:
$0.1m for existing salary offers between $0.3m and $0.9m
$0.2m for existing salary offers between $1.0m and $2.9m
$0.3m for existing salary offers of $3.0 or above
5.9.1 Club Options
Each team may sign two players per free agency with a club option to their contract. This means that upon completion of the year listed the team may choose to retain that player for a further year at the same salary. If the option is declined then the player is entered into free agency as normal.
5.9.2 Club Option Bid Format
The offer of a option should be signified by adding a '+' to the contract expiry year shown in the free agency bid. For example:
Joe Player $4.0 2015+
5.9.3 Accepting or Declining Club Options
Each player reaching the end of a guaranteed contract will be listed in free agency. Once a player with an available club option is listed, the team holding the option has until the start of the free agency group containing that player to post in the free agency player thread that they wish to pick up or decline the option. Once posted, this decision is final and cannot be changed.
5.9.4 Accepted Club Options
If a club option is accepted then the player returns to the team for another season at his existing salary. He will then become a free agent in the following offseason.
5.9.5 Declined Club Options
If a club option is declined then the player enters into free agency that offseason.
5.9.6 Club Options Neither Accepted or Declined by the Start of Free Agency
Any outstanding options which are not picked up or declined by the start of the free agency group containing that player will automatically be declined.
5.10.1 Hometown Discounts
Players who go into Free Agency are eligible to be resigned by the team that lost them to free agency with a hometown discount of 20%. If the player is also on one of the two real life organizations of the owning team at the end of the previous season then the discount is increased to 30%.
5.10.2 Hometown Discount Bid Format
Free agency bids including a hometown discount should be signified by adding the percentage discount and the post-discount salary in the free agency bid. For example:
Joe Player $4.0 2015 ($3.2 after 20% discount)
(If this were the winning bid then the player would be paid a salary of $3.2 for the duration of the contract)
5.10.3 Hometown Discount Salary Calculation
Hometown discount salaries calculated to be below $0.3 will automatically be rounded up to $0.3. Otherwise, normal rounding rules apply if calculating the discount returns a salary that goes to two or more decimal places.
5.10.4 Identifying Players Signed with Hometown Discounts
Any player signed to a hometown discount must be identified as such on their team's roster (with the letters 'HTD' after the player's contract details) for the duration of the season of their signing.
Upon completion of the season of their signing they no longer need to be identified in this way.
5.10.5 Bettering a Hometown Discount Bid
If another team wishes to continue bidding then they must make a valid offer to beat the pre-discount salary offered.
5.10.6 Hometown Discounts on Option Contracts
If a player's contract expires and his option is picked up then the following off-season he will be eligible for a hometown discount.
If a player's contract expires and his option is declined then no hometown discount is given.
5.11.1 Free Agent Initial No-trade Window
You may not trade a Free Agent signing until June 16th of the season he is signed.
5.11.2 Free Agent signed with a Hometown Discount Initial No-trade Window
You may not trade a Free Agent signed with a Hometown Discount prior to the trade deadline.
5.12 Free Agent Bid Prerequisites
When making bids on free agents you must be able to fulfill all simultaneous offers you have made. You must already have cap space available to meet the combined salaries (post-discount, where applicable) you have committed to in open offers, and may not make offers including options if it could result in more than two players receiving options from your team in the same free agency period.
5.13.1 Invalid Free Agent Bids
All invalid free agency bids will be voided by an Admin.
Examples of invalid free agency bids:
- A free agency bid that would take the bidding team over cap if all outstanding offers were winning offers
- A free agency bid including a club option that would take the bidding team over the maximum annual allowance of club options if all outstanding offers were winning offers
- A free agency bid which doesn't meet the minimum years specified for the auction
- A free agency bid which doesn't include a contract expiry year
- A free agency bid not above $0.3
- A free agency bid which is not a multiple of $0.1
- A free agency bid which does not sufficiently increment the winning bid (as specified in rule 5.8)
- A free agency bid made in a window from which the bidding team has already been disqualified
- A free agency bid claiming a hometown discount which is not available to that team or that has been incorrectly calculated
- A free agency bid which has been edited by the bidder for any reason
5.13.2 Non-Leading Invalid Bids
If a bid is identified to be invalid and has been surpassed in value by a more recent valid leading bid then the auction will continue as if the invalid bid had not occurred. The auction will not be stopped nor have the 24 hour clock re-set, and the existing 24 hour timer will continue to count from the time the current leading bid was placed. Penalties from rule 6.7 will still apply.
5.13.3 Leading Bids Identified As Invalid Whilst The Player Auction Is Still In Progress
If a current leading bid is identified to be invalid it will be immediately voided by an Admin. Upon voiding the invalid bid the Admin will reinstate the previous leading valid bid, and reset the auction clock to 24 hours from the post confirming the voidance to allow rival teams fair opportunity to beat the reinstated leading bid.
5.13.4 Invalid Bids Found To Have Won An Auction (Identified Before The Final Round For Free Agents)
If a leading/won bid is identified to be invalid after the auction has finished but before the Final Round for Free Agents has begun then the bid will be voided by an Admin. The player will be removed from the roster of the 'winning' team and added to the Final Round for Free Agents.
5.13.5 Invalid Bids Found To Have Won An Auction (Identified After The Final Round For Free Agents)
If a leading/won bid is identified to be invalid after the the Final Round for Free Agents has begun then the bid will stand and the player will remain rostered with the 'winning' contract as it was made.
5.14 Winning Bids
Any bid that lasts for up to 24 hours wins the auction.