I have a ton of Arb eligible players and I'm thinking of biting the bullet this year to extend them all LT and paying a huge bonus to reduce the year 2/3/4/5 salaries. Does anybody know the formula for what I'd have to pay in a bonus to a guy who say wants 8.25mil for 5 years to get that number down to say 5 mil for 5 years? Is it as simple as replacing the difference in the form of a signing bonus or is it less because of present value?

So 3.25 x 5 = 16.25 as a signing bonus in this case?

Yes just subtract the bonus from the amount he wants long term. I do it all the time 41.25 = 41.25 no matter how you slice it.

Just remember the game won't let you unbalance the contract too much. You can't have, exaggerated example, 20 mil in the first year and 5 mil in each of the next four. I forget what the exact formula is that you're allowed, though.

But the bonus doesn't count towards the contract for the purposes of balancing. So-- $10M bonus, and $500K a year for two years, is a legal contract. Here's an example.

Daaaamn. Learn something new every day.

You’ve got last years MVP under contract for 480k!

So, if a guy wants 32 million over 5, you can put that 10 mil in a bonus and then distribute the other 22 however you want over the 5 and he will take it?

Posted by toddemayer on 12/11/2018 5:46:00 AM (view original):
So, if a guy wants 32 million over 5, you can put that 10 mil in a bonus and then distribute the other 22 however you want over the 5 and he will take it?

As long as the balance is how they want it yes. You will not be able to do 10 mill in year 1 and 3 mill the following 4. The bonus comes off the top.

Posted by dedelman on 12/10/2018 6:49:00 PM (view original):
But the bonus doesn't count towards the contract for the purposes of balancing. So-- $10M bonus, and $500K a year for two years, is a legal contract. Here's an example.

Exactly it could even be the league minimum as long as it meets his demands.

Posted by brianp87 on 12/11/2018 8:08:00 AM (view original):

Posted by toddemayer on 12/11/2018 5:46:00 AM (view original):
So, if a guy wants 32 million over 5, you can put that 10 mil in a bonus and then distribute the other 22 however you want over the 5 and he will take it?

As long as the balance is how they want it yes. You will not be able to do 10 mill in year 1 and 3 mill the following 4. The bonus comes off the top.

The other $22M have to be distributed evenly (according to the standards set in the rules) but you can add $10M bonus to year 1 that is not part of that "even" distribution.

These are the standards for "evenly:" "In a two-year contract, neither season can comprise more than 60% of the total value of the contract. In a three-year contract, no season can comprise more than 40% of the total value of the contract. In a four-year contract, no season can comprise more than 30% of the total value of the contract. In a five-year contract, no season can comprise more than 25% or less than 10% of the total value of the contract."

Thanks dedelman. Couldn't remember where it was in the knowledge base.

I do this all the time for my best arb guys, if I can afford to.