Yeah, you're not going to get much support for 5y/145m contracts.   At least I don't think you will.

I understand your other point but if you're throwing all your eggs in one basket, you're throwing all your eggs in one basket.    You want to know, as quickly as possible if the basket will hold the eggs.  Unfortunately, I also think FA is similar to gambling.   I've lost guys, no max contract guys, on the last cycle of FA and was left with few options.   And a pile of cash.   That's just how it works.   No reason to change it for max deals. 

This is on the list.

True on Mike's point. The way it currently is, I can go after the mid level guys and let the others shoot it out on Max B. Stud. If you change it, Mr. Stud gets signed in a day and the losing vultures go after the mid level that I had my eye on. I like it the way it is, if you have 30m in cap space, determine before hand if you're going after the Stud or several mid levels.

I look at it this way, if I've set aside money for a MAX deal, chances are I'm only going after that one player. So, if I've got the number one offer early on, what's the difference if he signs early or late? If he signs early, great, now I can sit for the rest of FA watching the action from the sidelines. If he signs late, nothing's changed. I'm still certain to sign him and I wouldn't have been making other offers anyway.

That said, has anyone ever had their top MAX offer beaten by another MAX offer (presumably by a team with better coaching, ballpark effects, etc.) midway through, or towards the end of FA?