What is the way to handle end-of-season minor league promotions for players on the AAA roster? I thought I could promote them to ML, get the promotion ratings bump, and then demote them without taking a ratings hit because the playoffs have started, but last year I tried that and my top prospect took a 2-point hit basically across the board. Do I promote them, leave them on the ML roster through rollover, and then demote in ST? Do coach ratings make a difference on offseason ratings bumps as well such that I'd be better off leaving them on the ML roster through rollover anyway? The guys in question would get called up at the 20-game mark next season so I'm not worried about them making ML salaries to sit in the minors, I just don't want them taking any demotion hits.

When did you do the transaction? I always wait until the ML LCS round of the playoffs before doing all my promotions. I've demoted and promoted tons of major league players with options left without seeing ratings dips (ML down to AAA and then immediately back to ML). Not sure if I've done AAA to ML to AAA again.

But yeah, in the future just leave them on ML in that case. I try to remember to keep any high end prospects at AA or lower before the start of ST because of this very situation.

AFAIK, the non-coachable ratings are the only ratings that make progress between seasons. I'm also of the (unproveable) belief that coaches only have a significant negative effect on ratings if they are abysmal in whatever rating their position affects.