Anybody know what the logic is for mutual or player options? Does the players salary for that season matter (more likely to stay if salary is high) or is it strictly based off a rating such as patience, makeup, or overall?

IMO, the three factors are salary, patience, and overall.

The player has an idea of what he should be paid based on his overall.  If his salary is higher and his patience is pretty high, he'll most likely* accept the option.  The lower his salary and patience are, the more likely he is to decline the option.


*Edited....that's what I should have said.  There's obviously a chance that any player will accept an option or decline one.  I think those three factors all modify that chance.

www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx

Greg Wolf is a guy with 73 patience, had an $8M option, and decided to go to FA to ask for $6.3M for 4 years.

Oh man I'm screwed. I have a Guy with a $6m mutual option that I desperately want to keep. Really wish I hadn't given that contract to begin with but at the time I thought I'd have cheaper options available, which I do, but my player is so much better he's worth the extra money. He is 81 overall and has 81 patience. I suppose there's a slim chance hell stay but at least I know for sure hell be type A.

With the 81 patience, there's always a chance that he'll decline the option but be willing to resign.

Really? I didn't know that was a possible scenario. I thought players who declined their options went directly to unrestricted free agency. You got my hopes up jvford. Still wish I knew for sure what the exact logic is for the next time I decide to Dole out a stupid player option.

Yep.  No guarantee, but with that overall and patience, there's a chance you'll be able to resign him during the 'resign your FA period'.