For the most part, I am a fan of the previous update that allows more players to test the FA waters.  However, I would make one addition to the logic.  In the day prior to arbitration in which teams have exclusive domain to negotiate with their own free agents, I would like to see these pending FAs accept a max deal. 

Currently, many FAs will not accept a deal no matter how much the previous team offers.  However, given that they cannot receive more in the open market than a max contract, they should accept that offer during that time period.

An owner could destroy a team's future by signing 3-4 35 year olds like that for "one last run" then giving up the team after the season.

Gotta go with Mike on this one. You can get them for the max on the open market, too.

But maybe there should be a change in the logic that gives the incumbent team an edge over other suitors in the hierarchy of tiebreakers. Or not, if the previous team sucks/sucked.

In fairness, that same owner could destroy his team's future by signing 3-4 35 year olds in regular free agency for that "one last run" before giving up the team.  In fact, are there not several examples of owners doing that very thing?

Anyway, it should be a rare case that you would offer a max contract to a player.  I just think they should take the max contract rather than 'test' the FA waters because they cannot do better.  In fact, this fits with the logic of a player.  There is no 'guarantee' that the player would get a max contract in the open market. 

Posted by mlhutch on 6/30/2010 4:57:00 PM (view original):
In fairness, that same owner could destroy his team's future by signing 3-4 35 year olds in regular free agency for that "one last run" before giving up the team.  In fact, are there not several examples of owners doing that very thing?

Anyway, it should be a rare case that you would offer a max contract to a player.  I just think they should take the max contract rather than 'test' the FA waters because they cannot do better.  In fact, this fits with the logic of a player.  There is no 'guarantee' that the player would get a max contract in the open market. 

That's a good point, too.

There are many ways to f up a team.  I'm against giving owners another way.    Let him hit the open market and, if it goes to max contract, let the first tie-breaker be "previous team."

Sure, you could let the tie-breaker be "previous team" but my proposal is not that ostensibly different.

However, my proposal does better correspond with a player's logic.  In most cases, a player will take a max deal rather than test the markets where there is no guarantee of a max contract.  It fits with the "bird in hand" approach.

Second, it helps for strategic planning for both the team signing the player and pulling them off the market and the potential suitors who can now redirect their resources elsewhere rather than tie them up waiting for a pre-determined decision (if previous team is the 1st tiebreaker) at the last cycle of free agency.  This proposal would increase efficiency for all parties involved.

An owner, who may or may not be back, could offer a max deal to a player(or players) who would never get it on the open market.    What's the harm in letting the guy hit the market and sign a 4/60m instead of a 5/110m before FA?

Posted by mlhutch on 7/1/2010 9:26:00 AM (view original):
Sure, you could let the tie-breaker be "previous team" but my proposal is not that ostensibly different.

However, my proposal does better correspond with a player's logic.  In most cases, a player will take a max deal rather than test the markets where there is no guarantee of a max contract.  It fits with the "bird in hand" approach.

Second, it helps for strategic planning for both the team signing the player and pulling them off the market and the potential suitors who can now redirect their resources elsewhere rather than tie them up waiting for a pre-determined decision (if previous team is the 1st tiebreaker) at the last cycle of free agency.  This proposal would increase efficiency for all parties involved.

Not for the teams not bidding on the max superstar. For someone who won't go max on a player, I like the fact I can grab other players while teams are tied up on one player ;).

That might be the only way someone with less cap can snag a player.

I suggested this already, but not in the "suggestion" forum, so here it goes. 

A certain percentage of  "will not resign" FAs will actually resign with you at a price of 1.5x their "normal" asking price. 

I.E. A guy who says "with FA pending, I'm going to test the open market" and then goes to the open market seeking $9M per year, will have, say, a 50% chance of saying "I'll resign, but only at $13.5M per year."  You might still have a 50% chance of keeping your player, but you don't get the hometown discount.  The probability could be random, or based on OVR, or an individual rating such as patience or makeup. 

In my idea, any player who didn't qualify as a 1.5x guy, would either hit the open market no matter what, or be willing to sign for a hometown discount, just like the current system.

How many players who decide to say "fk off bud, I'm hitting the FA waves" just to resign later with the same team for more money? I hate to bring RL baseball into it but that doesn't happen. Not often anyway. Especially in the scenario you gave. Why resign with former team for 13.5m when someone else will offer 18m?

If that's how you feel, then why does the player even demand anything less than 18 to start?  He should start at 18, and if the owner doesn't like it, the player hits the open market asking for 18 and his demands will slowly decrease if he doesn't get any offers.

Posted by jimmystick on 7/2/2010 9:46:00 AM (view original):
If that's how you feel, then why does the player even demand anything less than 18 to start?  He should start at 18, and if the owner doesn't like it, the player hits the open market asking for 18 and his demands will slowly decrease if he doesn't get any offers.

I agree. Instead of a previous 9m player asking for 9m, go all out and ask for 18m from the get go.