The No Whining Progressive - Early Edition is a unique 20 team progressive league that is very likely the only of its kind on WhatIfSports. The main differentiating points are a contract system and a completely random draft order from season to season. The uniqueness of this league makes it a different challenge, as well as a lot of fun if you like researching and learning about new eras.
- Contract System...Each team is given 80 contract points (1 point = 1 season) to allot to it's 25 man roster. Once a player is drafted, he is given a contract of X number of points...and then he can only be kept for that many seasons going forward. Once his contract runs out, he goes back into the draft. His contract cannot be changed while he is on your roster, but he can be cut between seasons, to free up cap point space. (There is one exception to this, to be explained later)
- Draft Order...Each season, at the all-star break, the draft order is set for the next season. The order is completely random, and the draft is serpentine (1-20, 20-1), so if you happen to end up with the 20th pick in the first round in a given year, you do get back to back picks to help fortify your roster.
- The rest of the rules are more normal progressive rules....No WW, No DH (which is scheduled to change in the AL come the 1908/1973 season), Draft picks may be traded up to 2 seasons in advance, Trade deadline is Game 120. If a player is traded, his contract goes with him, with one caveat (explained below)
***When a player is traded in the NWPEE, the acquiring team has the option to extend the players contract. So in practice, it works like this...You trade for Player Z, who's in the final year of his contract, and you extend his contract by 3 seasons. Therefore, you get to keep him for the duration of the season in which you made the trade, plus the next 3 seasons. HOWEVER, if you extend the player, his contract becomes guaranteed, and you can then not cut OR trade that player. He is yours for the duration of the contract***