Moneyball Replacement Managers needed

Hi tcochran,

You are welcome to Paul's team. I will extend the drop and promotion period for you. The free agent signing period begins on Jan 1st. Any player you drop right now will open a roster space for free agency. You are responsible for the remaining contract of any players you cut. As a new manager you are entitled to drop one player and his contract at no cost. It allows you to get rid of a bad contract. Any rookie you promote will fill a 2024 roster spot.

Have a look at the rules and email me any questions. I'm happy to talk you through the intricacies of the rules. You can also post any questions to the chat as well.

https://365.strat-o-matic.com/league/470913
https://365.strat-o-matic.com/league/469569
https://365.strat-o-matic.com/league/466170
https://365.strat-o-matic.com/league/464684

Thanks, Phil. Let's see if I can walk through a ballplayer's life cycle, as demonstrated on Paul's roster/contract page.

1. Jordan Westburg shows "service time" of 2024, although he has a contract amount in the 2023 column. I expect that means that the season names are not synchronized with the cardset years, right? So Westburg was first carded in calendar year 2024 for the 2023 cardset?

2. On the other hand, Quinn Priester shows service time of 2021, but then the exact same pattern of contract amounts as Westburg. What's that all about?

3. OK, so back to Westburg: As a rookie, he can be paid the minimums of $500K in season 1 and $600K in season 2. In season 3, he is marked as "pre-arb", with no contract amount shown. I could not find "pre-arb" with any special status in the rules. Why would he not be paid the minimum of $700K that year?

4. In seasons 4 and 5, he is marked "arb1" and "arb2", which means there are several options:
a. Pay minimums of $2 mil in season 4 and $3 mil in season 5; or
b. Offer a 4-year contract at the league average price of the top 50% at their primary position (which prices you would publish in the spring?); or
c. The team can select arbitration, which would lead to a 1-year contract at the SOM carded salary (with such price as yet unknown when arbitration is selected).

5. Questions about seasons 4 and 5:
a. Can the extension only be for 4 years? No more and no less?
b. Is the arbitration settlement always just for 1 year?

6. In season 6, the same logic applies, although the minimum increases to $4 mil and the contract extension must be for 5 years (or more) at the league average price of the top 25% at their primary position, right?

7. If I have not extended Westburg's contract prior to season 7, then he becomes a free agent at that point. There is nothing I can do to keep him, other than to post bids for him, just like any other free agent. For example, all 11 players marked "FA" in the 2024 column are no longer mine, correct?

8. And finally (for now), how is that any different than France or Sanchez, who are marked as "CUT"?

Terry

1. Jordan Westburg shows "service time" of 2024, although he has a contract amount in the 2023 column. I expect that means that the season names are not synchronized with the cardset years, right? So Westburg was first carded in calendar year 2024 for the 2023 cardset?

Ignore service time. That was only necessary the year of the original draft. Yes, Westberg was promoted in the 2024 calendar year for the 2023 cardset year.

2. On the other hand, Quinn Priester shows service time of 2021, but then the exact same pattern of contract amounts as Westburg. What's that all about?

Ignore the service time. Priester was promoted with Westburg.

3. OK, so back to Westburg: As a rookie, he can be paid the minimums of $500K in season 1 and $600K in season 2. In season 3, he is marked as "pre-arb", with no contract amount shown. I could not find "pre-arb" with any special status in the rules. Why would he not be paid the minimum of $700K that year?

Westburg is paid $500,000 for his first contract year which includes two seasons. A player is controlled for six years (12 SOM seasons), the first three are pre-arb years with fixed contracts of $500k, $600k, and $700k. After that they reach their arbitration years. I haven't entered the 2025 contract numbers yet because teams have until March 30 2025 to make contract decisions prior to the upcoming MLB season. Assume the number is $700k for salary cap determination.

4. In seasons 4 and 5, he is marked "arb1" and "arb2", which means there are several options:
a. Pay minimums of $2 mil in season 4 and $3 mil in season 5; or
b. Offer a 4-year contract at the league average price of the top 50% at their primary position (which prices you would publish in the spring?); or
c. The team can select arbitration, which would lead to a 1-year contract at the SOM carded salary (with such price as yet unknown when arbitration is selected).

Correct

5. Questions about seasons 4 and 5:
a. Can the extension only be for 4 years? No more and no less?yes
b. Is the arbitration settlement always just for 1 year?yes

6. In season 6, the same logic applies, although the minimum increases to $4 mil and the contract extension must be for 5 years (or more) at the league average price of the top 25% at their primary position, right?

Correct. The cost increases if you wait until the last year of arbitration to offer a long term contract.

7. If I have not extended Westburg's contract prior to season 7, then he becomes a free agent at that point. There is nothing I can do to keep him, other than to post bids for him, just like any other free agent. For example, all 11 players marked "FA" in the 2024 column are no longer mine, correct?

Correct. For example, you will need to make a decision about Jonathan India before March 30th: renew him for one year at $3,000,000, extend him for 4 years at avg salary of the top 50% of league 2b players, take him to arb, or cut him. Most managers would probably renew him, but you might want to extend him if you think he's worth a long term commitment and his price might be too high if you wait another year. Last year the avg salary of the top 50% of 2b was $4.1 mil while the avg for the top 25% was $4.9 mil.

8. And finally (for now), how is that any different than France or Sanchez, who are marked as "CUT"?

They were cut on March 30, 2024 for the 2024 MLB season. That meant Paul could use their 2023 cards this year but loses them for the upcoming seasons. We make roster decisions for the upcoming MLB season before it is played. You will have to make decisions for all your pre-arb and arb players in the 2025 column by March 30, 2025.

OK, the fog is beginning to clear! Follow up questions...

1. Does the 6-year cycle at the start of a player's career begin when they are carded? Or when they are promoted or added to their first team's roster?

2. It sounds like I could take a player to arbitration in seasons 4 and 5, and then still opt for an extension in season 6, right?

3. Back to France and Sanchez, who were CUT. If I understand correctly, Paul dropped them for the 2024 MLB season (prior to the start of that season), but could still play them for the 2023 cardset. They could have been claimed on waivers by another team, but they were not, so:
a. They stayed on Paul's 40-man roster for the 2023 cardset;
b. Their salaries counted toward Paul's $140 mil cap in the 2023 cardset; and
c. The team now has no responsibility for them in the 2024 cardset (right?)

4. How does that compare with Sandoval and Herget, who are listed further down on the sheet, as "Cut Players"? They apparently were not on the 40-man roster for the 2023 cardset, although their salaries still counted towards the cap. What was the difference with them? Were they perhaps released to get back to the 40-man limit after some trade?

5. In any case, doesn't that disagree with section 9.09, which says that players with under six years of service time can be released?

6. You mentioned renewing India at $3 mil, but he already shows a value of $2 mil for the 2024 cardset. Why would I renew him now for the 2025 cardset?

7. Or to state that differently, Suarez is shown as FA for the 2024 cardset. If I were to successfully bid for him, then I would be offering him some sort of contract that begins in the 2024 cardset, right? So, as above, why would I be looking 1 season ahead for India?

8. Moving on to the November 30th drop period, I see that Yonathan Daza played in Mexico in the 2024 MLB season, so he will not be included in the 2024 cardset. I can drop him now, since he has no value to me, and free up a space on the 40-man roster. Even though he fled the country, am I still responsible for his $2.4 mil contract in the 2024 cardset?

9. For newly carded players who are not selected as prospects, are they also to be contracted at the major league minimum salaries? Or do they start at their initial SOM salaries?

10. When a player is traded, then his contract goes along with him, right? Is it possible to still cover part of his old salary, if his current value is diminished? For example, Sonny Gray has an $11.1 mil contract and will likely be valued at about half of that in the 2024 cardset. Can I trade him away and still cover $2 or 3 mil of that difference?

11. And, finally, a mundane question about prospects:
a. Veen and Lacy appear in the league roster doc, but are not on Paul's page
b. Basallo appears on Paul's page, but not on the league roster doc
c. Which of those prospects belong to Paul?

1. Does the 6-year cycle at the start of a player's career begin when they are carded? Or when they are promoted or added to their first team's roster?

It begins the year a prospect is promoted. Prospects have to be promoted after three years. For example, I have to promote DL Hall this year (I cut him instead).

2. It sounds like I could take a player to arbitration in seasons 4 and 5, and then still opt for an extension in season 6, right?

Correct.

3. Back to France and Sanchez, who were CUT. If I understand correctly, Paul dropped them for the 2024 MLB season (prior to the start of that season), but could still play them for the 2023 cardset. They could have been claimed on waivers by another team, but they were not, so:
a. They stayed on Paul's 40-man roster for the 2023 cardset; Correct
b. Their salaries counted toward Paul's $140 mil cap in the 2023 cardset; and Correct
c. The team now has no responsibility for them in the 2024 cardset (right?) Correct.

So the cuts were for the 2024 MLB season, not the 2023 card set seasons. You will have to do the same for your players for the 2025 MLB season. Even if you cut them for the 2025 season by March 30, 2025, you can use them for the 2024 SOM seasons. If you cut a player by the Nov. 30 deadline (extended for you) then are lost for the 2024 SOM seasons.

4. How does that compare with Sandoval and Herget, who are listed further down on the sheet, as "Cut Players"? They apparently were not on the 40-man roster for the 2023 cardset, although their salaries still counted towards the cap. What was the difference with them? Were they perhaps released to get back to the 40-man limit after some trade?

I don't recall, but most likely they were cut while still having a multi-year contract. For example, if you cut Felix Bautista you would lose him for this year (he won't have a card anyway) but you would still be responsible for his salary through 2026.

5. In any case, doesn't that disagree with section 9.09, which says that players with under six years of service time can be released?

Not if they were extended before the six years of control has expired. Once you extend a player you are responsible for their salary until the contract ends or until they are picked up off waivers.

6. You mentioned renewing India at $3 mil, but he already shows a value of $2 mil for the 2024 cardset. Why would I renew him now for the 2025 cardset?

You will have to make a decision about India for the 2025 MLB season by March 30th. He will cost you $2 mil this upcoming SOM seasons and $3 mil for the 2025 SOM seasons if renewed.

7. Or to state that differently, Suarez is shown as FA for the 2024 cardset. If I were to successfully bid for him, then I would be offering him some sort of contract that begins in the 2024 cardset, right? So, as above, why would I be looking 1 season ahead for India?

The reason we make contract decisions for the as yet uncarded 2025 season is because we do not know how well that player will perform in advance of making the commitment. It allows us to truly experience the challenges of trying to manage a MLB roster. You have India at $2 mil for the 2024 SOM seasons, but you need to make decisions about the future India prior to the 2025 MLB season. India is probably going to have a serviceable card this upcoming season, but are you willing to commit to him for the 2025 SOM card season and beyond? You'll need to decide that by March 30, 20025.

8. Moving on to the November 30th drop period, I see that Yonathan Daza played in Mexico in the 2024 MLB season, so he will not be included in the 2024 cardset. I can drop him now, since he has no value to me, and free up a space on the 40-man roster. Even though he fled the country, am I still responsible for his $2.4 mil contract in the 2024 cardset?

Correct

9. For newly carded players who are not selected as prospects, are they also to be contracted at the major league minimum salaries? Or do they start at their initial SOM salaries?

They are free agents.

10. When a player is traded, then his contract goes along with him, right? Is it possible to still cover part of his old salary, if his current value is diminished? For example, Sonny Gray has an $11.1 mil contract and will likely be valued at about half of that in the 2024 cardset. Can I trade him away and still cover $2 or 3 mil of that difference?

Salaries cannot be adjusted through trades. This is an accounting decision I made because tracking the money was going to be a potential nightmare.

11. And, finally, a mundane question about prospects:
a. Veen and Lacy appear in the league roster doc, but are not on Paul's page
b. Basallo appears on Paul's page, but not on the league roster doc
c. Which of those prospects belong to Paul?

Let me track that discrepancy down

Thanks, Phil.

To confirm the dates:

1. November 30 Deadline (or as extended for newbies)
a. Promote prospects
b. Drop players without negotiated contracts (with no responsibility for 2024 cardset)
c. Drop players with negotiated contracts, freeing up roster space but still being stuck with salaries for 2024 and later cardsets

2. December 31 Deadline
a. Drop stadium prior to free agent signing period, if eligible to do so

3. January 2-31
a. Free agent signing period
b. Player pool includes previously uncarded and unrostered players with at least 50 AB or 30 IP in the 2024 MLB season, unless they had no MLB experience prior to the 2024 MLB season, which would make them eligible for the prospect draft
c. All rosters must be at 40 players by January 31, even though all contract values have not yet been determined

4. February 1
a. Stadium draft can begin after free agent signing period is completed

5. March 31 Deadline
a. Drop players for the 2025 cardset, while maintaining responsibility for them in the 2024 cardset (unless claimed by another team on waivers)
b. Decide on contract extensions for current players
c. Decide to send others into the arbitration process, with contract value to be determined when the 2024 cardset is published by SOM *

* Isn't this an issue, since the new cardsets typically drop in the middle of March? If you wait until closer to the March 31 deadline, you'll already know the arbitration results, right?

6. April 1
a. Prospect draft can begin after arbitration settlements are completed
b. Prospects can include players who are carded in the 2024 cardset, however they can not be immediately moved to the 40-player roster, since that needs to be full by January 31, right?

Terry

To confirm the dates:

1. November 30 Deadline (or as extended for newbies)
a. Promote prospects
b. Drop players without negotiated contracts (with no responsibility for 2024 cardset)
c. Drop players with negotiated contracts, freeing up roster space but still being stuck with salaries for 2024 and later cardsets

Correct

2. December 31 Deadline
a. Drop stadium prior to free agent signing period, if eligible to do so

Correct

3. January 2-31
a. Free agent signing period
b. Player pool includes previously uncarded and unrostered players with at least 50 AB or 30 IP in the 2024 MLB season, unless they had no MLB experience prior to the 2024 MLB season, which would make them eligible for the prospect draft
c. All rosters must be at 40 players by January 31, even though all contract values have not yet been determined

Correct. Here is where spending too much on FA can get you in trouble. If you lose an arbitration decision and end up exceeding your $140 cap you get penalized with season long steroid suspensions.

4. February 1
a. Stadium draft can begin after free agent signing period is completed

Correct

5. March 31 Deadline
a. Drop players for the 2025 cardset, while maintaining responsibility for them in the 2024 cardset (unless claimed by another team on waivers)

No. The players are rostered for the 2024 SOM seasons and become free agents in 2025 unless they are still on contract, in which case they are placed on waivers for the 2025 SOM seasons.

b. Decide on contract extensions for current players correct
c. Decide to send others into the arbitration process, with contract value to be determined when the 2024 cardset is published by SOM *

* Isn't this an issue, since the new cardsets typically drop in the middle of March? If you wait until closer to the March 31 deadline, you'll already know the arbitration results, right?

No. Their arbitration decision will be March 2026. Very few players were taken to arbitration last year. If you look at Paul Long's roster you'll see in the 2024 column that four players he took to arbitration on March 30, 2023 will be settled when the 2024 cards come out. We will be making contract decisions for the 2025 column by March 30, 2025.

6. April 1
a. Prospect draft can begin after arbitration settlements are completed
b. Prospects can include players who are carded in the 2024 cardset, however they can not be immediately moved to the 40-player roster, since that needs to be full by January 31, right?

Correct. You can promote them between season 1 and 2, but they use up one entire year of team control even though they played only one SOM season.

I follow this league, as I do most others. Since it's inception, I've thought of it as a gathering place for the big brains of SOM 365. This Q and A has confirmed my belief. What's most impressive is the fact that Terry, who Commishes hundreds of other leagues, is finding time to fit this one in. His is the biggest brain of all!

I follow this league, as I do most others. Since it's inception, I've thought of it as a gathering place for the big brains of SOM 365. This Q and A has confirmed my belief. What's most impressive is the fact that Terry, who Commishes hundreds of other leagues, is finding time to fit this one in. His is the biggest brain of all!

Welcome Terry! This league is unique and a lot of fun. It attempts to give you the experience of being a general manager/owner. It uses its own money system that is separate from the SOM card valuation. You draft prospects that you have control of for 6 years after promotion. They gradually go up in salary and starting in year 4 you will have the opportunity to sign them to multi year contracts. You fill in the rest of your roster during the annual free agency where teams bid against one another to sign players not already under contract. You might offer an aging Giancarlo Stanton a 1 year deal or maybe Tyler Glasnow a multi year deal. The players you go after and how much you're willing to pay and for how long is totally up to you (there are minimum salaries in place). Your only restriction is how much money you have left for free agents after you have paid the salaries of your already rostered players. The team that is available is in good shape financially for the upcoming free agency, has Jackson Merrill, Junior Caminero and Rhett Lowder as prospects, and a good core of sluggers as well as 1st pick in each round of the prospect draft (which includes any available player whose first mlb experience was in 2024). Pitching staff needs major work but that's what free agency can solve.
Just wanted to give an overview of how this league works. The rules might look a little daunting but believe me once you've gone through one cycle of the free agency and contract signings you'll have no problems. Phil and the rest of us are more than happy to offer a little guidance if needed.

Thanks to both Bob and Randy. Bob's comments made me chuckle. I'm an average manager -- about 1 title for every 12 teams recently -- and I do okay as a commish. I like the intellectual challenge of trying to keep things organized. I had seen this league before but had never had the time to try to absorb how it all worked, until now. I'm looking forward to it!