How many good ones do your scouts discover over the course of a season?  I have a budget of $14 M.   They just discovered a 22 y/o catcher that is starting BL material already, and who projects to be an all-star.

Do I break the bank to get this guy?  Or will there I be able to get a bunch of good prospects discovered throughout the season?  I just started spring training.

It will vary from yr to yr.

It really does. My general thought is if you see a legit stud at any point of the season, you go after him - particular if it's at a tough position like C. One of two things will happen - you'll either get him and be happy, or you'll force someone else to break their bank to get him, which positions you better for any future ones that come through.

Waiting deeper into the season is a gamble, because you may not see a guy you really really want and have money left over.  Going for broke early in the season on a guy you think is worth it is sometimes a good play because other owners want to wait and see what else my pop up.  I have received the best bang for my buck very early this way.  If a good catcher is someone you need in your farm system then do it.  Over the course of half a dozen seasons I have seen about two legit pitchers in IFA per season, 3-5 BL material pitchers, 3-5 legit position players....and zero legit catchers.  So far.

Catcher is the position I see the least of  and seems to be the rarest...I would say break your bank and try to get this one if he is all star material.  Worst case scenario should you get him he will be a major trade chip for that position/pitching you need.

I would not say catcher is the rarest position at all, anecdotally.

mirror mirror on the wall, which is the rarest postion of them all?

I would say a useful one is the rarest

Depending on how much you have for your scouts, he may not end up as awesome as he looks now.  That's a real kick in the sack sometimes.  Just warning you.

i realized after I posted this that I already do have a really great catcher prospect only a year away from the BL, so I think I'm gonna let the bidding go on this guy.  It's already over 12 M, my latest offer, and I have lots of needs at CF and Middle Infield to fill.  Thanks for all the advice.  Very helpful

I usually bid on any IFA that is good, regardless of position.  If the IFA is of a position that I need, I bid more aggressively.  As alcheez mentioned, it's never a bad thing to make someone else pay more, because that sets you up better going forward.  Or, if you "accidentally" win the bidding war, you can always trade him (or the player blocking him) at later date for something that you want.  Anything is better than being left holding on to 15 million of prospect cash at the end of the season.

Posted by rangerup on 4/8/2011 11:00:00 AM (view original):
Waiting deeper into the season is a gamble, because you may not see a guy you really really want and have money left over.  Going for broke early in the season on a guy you think is worth it is sometimes a good play because other owners want to wait and see what else my pop up.  I have received the best bang for my buck very early this way.  If a good catcher is someone you need in your farm system then do it.  Over the course of half a dozen seasons I have seen about two legit pitchers in IFA per season, 3-5 BL material pitchers, 3-5 legit position players....and zero legit catchers.  So far.

Catcher is the position I see the least of  and seems to be the rarest...I would say break your bank and try to get this one if he is all star material.  Worst case scenario should you get him he will be a major trade chip for that position/pitching you need.

I got this IFA at C a few seasons back for $13M and he's been worth it. But rangerup is right, there aren't many.
<a style="color:black;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2441078" target="_blank">Juan Zapata</a>

IFA can really vary season to season. Last year, this guy: 
Hardball Dynasty – Fantasy Baseball Sim Games - Player Profile: Jose Johnson
Was the best in No Quitters and I went over 20M to get him. He's good, but not THAT good.

This year, there's probably been 4 guys better than him already.

I would caution against the projected ratings for 21+ year-old IFAs. They don't seem to improve much at all, but that could be in my limited sample size.

Depending on what you're looking for, defensive catchers seem to be the most plentiful players available on the IFA market.  Seems like I see a couple of 80/80/80 type defensive catchers each season, w/ perhaps 1 of them not being a total offense killer.