So, essentially, you're talking about a slightly above replacement player that you will arb 2-3 times and let go.     Why would you putz around with holding that guy back for an extra season?

FWIW, this is why I think it's the dumbest "strategy" owners are using.  

Difference-makers make differences.
Others can be replaced at the end of FA.  No one values those guys any more than you do.

When asked, I say "S8 of MG was my favorite season."    Without dragging the whole story out, I rallied late and took the WC2 by sweeping the last series.   I played the "hold player back 20 games" that season.  Hardball Dynasty – Fantasy Baseball Sim Games - Player Profile: Casey Terry   Anyway, by holding him back, I HAD to rally to make the playoffs and, after saving that service year, I got 7 full seasons and 3 partials because he was declining at the end.   Yay me and holding players back.

Again, the guys I've done that with, it's usually a relief pitcher.  You don't need a full bullpen that early in the year.  If it's a starter, I can probably go with a 4 man rotation if I need to.  I think the benefit of getting an extra year from this player at a low price overrides the cost in some situations.  I've seen "dumber" strategies.

Difference-makers make differences.
Others can be replaced at the end of FA.  No one values those guys any more than you do.

Good advice, I think anyways, thanks :)

The discussion got a bit sidetracked.  IMO, that guy shouldn't be in the BL next season.   He's a LF that can't play anywhere near full-time and he's not a difference-maker right now. 

no problem, sidetracked does happen, but that is really what i gathered is give him a season maybe even a little more depending on his durability and how it progresses

Posted by MikeT23 on 6/4/2013 2:26:00 PM (view original):
If he's not a difference-maker, why are you worrying about him 11 seasons from now?

In my opinion holding a guy back  20 games is more about saving the $$ in seasons 3 and 4 to allow me to sign other guys FA's/IFA's.. Sometime $1M saved is the difference between getting a difference maker IFA and just adding depth.. I tend to keep players well rested through the season and I spread my AB's around so that I usually  have 10-11 guys with 300 AB's.. For some reason I usually have a bunch of 70ish UR guys.. When I hold a guy back 20 games I dont have him play as much during that period which means I dont really need to rest them as much during the season..

will I like your thoughts on keping a guy down and resting him and AAA during those 20 games,,,I am in a playoff race for the first time and i just had to rest a bunch of starters, including a layer who i brought up this year, during a weak part in the schudle but still "meaning full games in sebtember? If i had thought about it sooner i woudl have sat the rookie donw in AAA so he coudl have gone straight trough...

You basically need to rest a player for two weeks in a seson any way to keep him at 100, so why not make it the rookie in AAA!!!

I'd rather rest my difference-makers against the 25-38 team in the other league than division foes when we're just starting the season and don't really know how things will shake out.   As far as S4 of your "holdback" player, you're spending the money elsewhere.   What difference does that actually make?  If he's not worth that 1.3m in arb, cut him loose.  Again, no one values the "role" player any more than you do.   You can get him, or someone like him, at the end of FA.

327, 343, 360, 378, 1.2m, 3.7m, 5.6m, FA
327, 343, 360, 1.2m, 3.7m, release

I fail to see the advantage gained.   900K is S4 and 2.5m in S5?    Are you going to spend that money anyway?

I generally spend the money I have, yes.  The advantage is 900k and 2.5m.  For 20 games.  You have to figure out if it's worth the tradeoff.  For a relief pitcher or 3rd-4th starter it might be.

And also an extra year of owning said player is an advantage.

Again, if it doesn't matter if he's held back, because he's not a difference-maker, owning that player for an extra year at 4-5m doesn't seem like an advantage at all.    I'd argue you saved 3.5m and I saved 4-5m by cutting this guy loose and promoting V2 of him in S6.