Posted by orrdc on 2/23/2012 3:34:00 PM (view original):
Here is the main way I think it effects FA, I dont think people would drop their offer.  What I think is more likely to happen is that team A is pumping money into Free Agent A and he keeps thinking he is getting closer.  Well then someone in the chat says "I am not leading after 16m, I am done with Free Agent A"  

Now Team A thinks to himself, "man I thought I was getting close I am still pretty far apart in money, I really need a pitcher, im going to take my money and throw it on Free Agent B instead.

If that is not something you "mind" then I guess its not a problem, I honestly don't know how I feel about it.  I hate when a player signs quickly before fair market value can work itself out, on the other hand If that team didnt have that extra information he may of gotten stuck with nothing.

My two cents on the "player signing quickly" thing.  While however you feel about it is certainly valid to you, the other side of that is that quick signings do happen and themselves are a force in what "fair market value" for other players is (because it affects supply and demand).  That's true in the real game as well.  Some players go where they want without regard to squeezing out the max contract, while others go where the most money is.  The other thing "quick signings" do is promote teams to make better offers up front.  The randomness of signing rates is a good thing.

IMO discussing draft picks in World Chat is bad form and stupid but not necessarily cheating. It doesnt make sense because you potentially gave an owner a new player to draft who they may have a bunch of ????  If a player wasn't good, someone would probably reply.  It is still best to not discuss prospects until after the draft.

If two owners talk via private chat about a prospect, then i definitely think that is crossing the line and is cheating.