we are in the hiring new coaches period and i have a few questions:

1)  I'm getting feedbacks that another club is either offering more money or a higher level.  Is this feedback always truthful?

if it is true and I don't want to increase my offer, should I just withdraw my offer and go after another coach immediately?

2)  what happens if I lose out on a bunch of coaches when signing starts, am I running the risk of getting stuck with a bunch of horrible coaches that no one went after?

what are some of the better strategies in going after free agent coaches?

1. Yes.  Unlike in real life, agents and players are always thuthful in HBD negotiations.

You can increase your offer, if you like.  They may only by $1 more, or double what you offered.  The response itself isn't often a good indicator of the spread in offers.

2. Enh... maybe?  Often, owners will put out bids on several coaches to make sure they get one they like.  Once one signs, the other offers are recinded, so sometimes guys become available again.

Personally, I don't sweat 1 or 2 (or 5... or 10) points on my coaches.  Taking a look at the best available guy with no offers can be a hassle-free way to hire coaches.

Also, you can make an offer to up to 3 coaches per coaching slot.  If you want to offer to another coach at that point, you would need to withdraw at least one offer.

Coaches dont start signing until PM2 part 2 cycle on the second day of free agency. My strategy is simple, I ignore coaches completely for the first 24 hours, and then either on the PM Part 2 or PM2 part 1 cycle I sned out my bids. For minor league roles I then make offers to the best available guys that have not gotten any offers yet - normally I can still get solid coaches like this and not waste my time for the first 24 hours. If none are available, make sure you check down a level for guys you can offer a level bump to. If there isnt anything available that I want that has no offers, I will make 3 offers at higher than minimum salaries and hope I can steal a guy that already has bids.

For the big leagues, I also focus on guys without offers, especially in bullpen, first and third base. For bench I will often go down to AAA and take a guy who has offers there because I can get him cheaper. Otherwise I go after a guy without any offers. Hitting, Pitching and Fielding coaches I predetremine how much I want to spend and go after the best guys, even if others have offers on them. I normally try to re-sign these guys but if I need to fill these spots I may start bidding earlier so I have 3 offers out for the best 3 guys I can afford.

Once coaches start signing I just check every cycle and make sure I have top bid for each position I have left to fill, and if I dont, I will make a new offer or increase my offer if I have any money left available.

a couple of notes and suggestions:

1) just because you get the note that you've been outbid doesn't mean you have no chance at the coach on the current offer.  The guy who has the #1 offer may have #1 offer on 3 coaches.  He can only sign one, then his offer to the other two get pulled and you now have #1 offer.  And if that guy was signing this cycle, you may be able to sign him without ever having the #1 offer.  I wouldn't rely on this happening, but it is a reason for leaving an offer outstanding if you don't have #1 offer

2) for MLB coaches, after the re-sign period, see how many teams need a given coach.  Then count down that many names in the list of coaches.  That sets the bar for the "worst" coach you could end up with if you waited until the end.  Use the gap between that guy and the top guys to decide whether you want to chase the top guys or value shop for the scraps (I almost always value shop)

3) related to point 2, do that same anlysis before you re-hire last year's coach.  Sure it is a sure thing and an easy thing to re-sign that 84 HC for $2.5M, but if there are 35 MLB HCs rated above 81, you can get a guy in the low 80s for a fraction of the price

4) minor league coaches are a bit more of a pain, but they matter less and most people don't care so much, so just make an early offer to a mid-level guy for slightly over his asking price, and nobody else will bother to try to out-bid you, they will just look for other low-hanging fruit

5) another thing not to count on, but it happens, is that if all coaching spots for a given level get filled early (i.e. before the last cycle), the remaining guys drop their demands a level.  So it is possible to get a "MLB" coach for you AAA team.  I say not to count on it beacuase there is usually at least one owner in each world who is waiting until the end to value shop a MLB coach, or own absentee owner who isn't making offers to coaches.  But it can happen.

Here is another little secret: no good firstbase coaches available? Wait until late in the process and offer an unsigned 3B coach a 1B position. Works 100 out of 100 times for me.

thanks for all your help and advise!

Posted by DKC on 10/6/2010 4:48:00 PM (view original):
thanks for all your help and advise!

Alias?

Posted by iain on 10/6/2010 5:22:00 PM (view original):

Posted by DKC on 10/6/2010 4:48:00 PM (view original):
thanks for all your help and advise!

Alias?

Yes, DKC & doitagain are the same person (well known fact in Gridiron Dynasty)

Posted by 98greenc5 on 10/6/2010 1:45:00 PM (view original):
a couple of notes and suggestions:

1) just because you get the note that you've been outbid doesn't mean you have no chance at the coach on the current offer.  The guy who has the #1 offer may have #1 offer on 3 coaches.  He can only sign one, then his offer to the other two get pulled and you now have #1 offer.  And if that guy was signing this cycle, you may be able to sign him without ever having the #1 offer.  I wouldn't rely on this happening, but it is a reason for leaving an offer outstanding if you don't have #1 offer

2) for MLB coaches, after the re-sign period, see how many teams need a given coach.  Then count down that many names in the list of coaches.  That sets the bar for the "worst" coach you could end up with if you waited until the end.  Use the gap between that guy and the top guys to decide whether you want to chase the top guys or value shop for the scraps (I almost always value shop)

3) related to point 2, do that same anlysis before you re-hire last year's coach.  Sure it is a sure thing and an easy thing to re-sign that 84 HC for $2.5M, but if there are 35 MLB HCs rated above 81, you can get a guy in the low 80s for a fraction of the price

4) minor league coaches are a bit more of a pain, but they matter less and most people don't care so much, so just make an early offer to a mid-level guy for slightly over his asking price, and nobody else will bother to try to out-bid you, they will just look for other low-hanging fruit

5) another thing not to count on, but it happens, is that if all coaching spots for a given level get filled early (i.e. before the last cycle), the remaining guys drop their demands a level.  So it is possible to get a "MLB" coach for you AAA team.  I say not to count on it beacuase there is usually at least one owner in each world who is waiting until the end to value shop a MLB coach, or own absentee owner who isn't making offers to coaches.  But it can happen.

i've never tried the "value shop" philosophy before, but am considering it for this next cycle. how much do MLB coaches drop their demands if they have no offers towards the end of coach hiring?