Something I can't quite figure out. If you don't offer a player with 3-5 years of service an extension that player goes to arbitration. I've been assuming that you would then be responsible for that player's contract the following season at the arbitrated price. Yet Sec. IX.07 states: CUTTING PLAYERS: Players with under six years of service time can be released during the off-season at any time. Teams are not obligated to the next season’s salary until Opening Day.
So can you cut a player after he has been declared going to arbitration and not be responsible for the salary? Doesn't seem fair to be able to cause you could wait to see how he does in real life in case of a career threatening injury or a terrible season performance wise.
oldmansmith
I think you have to make a choice: 1) go to arbitration, or 2) cut the guy. Can't do both--at least that's my reading of the rule.
Madal
Madal is correct. You need to make a decision about extension, arbitration, or cutting a player before the cards are released. I' don't think I put a deadline in the rules for this decision point, and if I didn't I think we need to reach agreement about that date. The rules do say that the free agency period begins on December 1st and ends the second Friday in February, so it would make sense to make Nov. 30th the last day to sign contract extensions, cut players, or declare arbitration. I also just realized that we will be bidding on free agents before cards are released, thus it is possible that we might be signing unleashed players. We may need to discuss this possibility and how to address it.