Am I right in assuming that you can only buy out a players remaining arb years and sign them long-term in the Arb cycles?  If I recall correctly, the Rays signed Longoria to a multi-year deal mid-season buying off his arb years.  Is that possible in HBD? I've got Jimmy Glaus that I want to ink to a long term deal, but obviously wanted to get him at 1.8 this year and not the 7.5/4years he wanted long term, but if possible, at the end of this season I'd like to try and sign him to a 4 or 5 year deal because I think his arb price will jump to 6/7M and might only want to sign a 3 year deal.  Any useful input would be appreciated.

If you've already signed him, you won't have the option to sign him LT until after rollover.  At what is likely the increased price you mention.

That's what I assumed.  Am I crazy, or is that one of the differences this game has as opposed to real-world MLB?

No, you're not crazy but I assume it's a fail-safe to keep owners from wrecking teams on their way out.  Or, perhaps, an effort to keep us from controlling players for their first 11 seasons(meaning owners can't do that after the 3rd arb but before rollover).

I was assuming 3rd arb guy was ******.   But, yes, he's a FA in waiting so they do show up on the FA list.