I've got a couple of guys that are free agents after the end of the season. I'd love to resign them. However, I'm getting the "With free-agency looming, I'm going to at least see what the market has to offer. Let's talk again in the offseason" message.

Has anyone ever seen a free agent willing to resign in the offseason after receiving this message during the prior season ? Or is he going to the open market regardless ?

If not and he's going out on the open market regardless, I'm going to want to trade him first.

Thanks for your help.

Yes but only if their ratings dropped.

If the guy is a Type A, you may find others reluctant to sign him and give up the 2 picks. So you might find him still avaialble late in FA with reduced demands and might pick him back up cheap then.