Hey guys,

90 games into my first season, I'm looking at some of the guys who will be eligible for free agency.  There are definitely a couple I'd like to keep.  Anything I need to know before negotiating?  First, is there really any negotiating at all?  Do they ever sign for less than what they ask?  If I change their final year to a mutual option will they generally take it?  Do they value overall dollars or years?  Thanks.

There doesn't seem to be a penalty for making a low offer.  So you can try all of this and let us know how it goes.

No, no real negotiating.    Wait til the end of the season to offer.   Major injury could change a lot of how you think of them.   And there's no penalty for waiting.

Be aware that if you definitely want to keep them but wait until after rollover to next season in hopes of their demands dropping, you run the risk of them refusing to negotiate at that point and going to FA.  So like Mike said, lock them up after the end of the regular season but before rollover.

Sometimes, if you sign them in the middle of the season, they can be really thankful, which is great for moral and results in lots of rainmaker bombs into the seats.

Sometimes.