This is an interesting progressive with lots of superstars and three very teams are available after a couple of long time owners just left the league. The rules are below. We are currently in the 2007 season and you can claim any three teams for 2008. All have some very good parts to build from and all have really good potential now and into the future. I will provide a FREE team for one season (via gift certificate) as long as you commit to playing a minimum of five seasons.

Atlanta (You name the team) is set to compete immediately. They have a core of 2019 Freddie Freeman, 1980 Dusty Baker, Chipper Jones, Manny Ramirez, Rafael Furcal, 1975 Phil Niekro, John Smoltz, Kyle Lohse, Charlie Morton, and others. They will pick 4th or 5th this season. In 2010, they will have some excellent options to add as twists- Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews, John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, and Dale Murphy.

Chicago (You name the team) is ready to compete in the near term. They have a core of core offense of 06 Beltre, Jose Bautista, Randy Winn, Mark DeRosa, 1980 Rick Reuschel, 2016 Jon Lester, Carlos Zambrano, Jamie Moyer and others. They pick 2nd to last in 2008. In 2010, they will have some excellent options to add as twists- Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, Greg Maddux, Andre Dawson and Ryne Sandberg.

Cinci (You name the team) has some decent parts and some up and coming talent and a solid core of starting pitching. They have a core of 76 Johnny Bench, Joey Votto, Juan Encarnacion, Josh Hamilton, Johnny Cueto, Derek Lowe, James Shields, Aaron Harang and others. They pick last in 2008. In 2010, they will have some excellent options to add as twists- Frank Robinson, Pete Rose, Barry Larkin and Jose Rijo.

This is a very interesting league with lots of options and trading potential.

The general concept is the league started with the 1985 season as a franchise league with a twist. Each franchise could twist two players from 1985 plus two players from their 1970 franchise teams and two players from their 2000 franchise team. For example, the Yankees twisted Clemens, Phil Niekro, Derek Jeter, etc. All of the twists progress one year at a time with the rest of the players.

A highlight of the rules is below. The key rules that makes this league unique are the rules related to future/past/twist players. Send me a sitemail if you have any questions. The next twist is not until the 2010 season, so there is still some time until the next key decisions are made.

RULES

• Rights to rookies: The rights to rookie players belong to the team which he first has WIS eligibility. For example, Charlie Hayes is a rookie in WIS in 1989 and shows up under both Philadelphia and San Francisco. However, his first WIS eligibility season was with Philadelphia as his SF season was a combined season (he only had 5 at bats with SF then was was traded to Philadelphia).
• Future/Past/Twist players: These player progress one year at a time. Your players from the future will disappear when you reach their rookie season (If they come up with your team only). Example-say I'm the Braves, and I bring back Chipper, if he is still playing, when you run into his rookie year in 1995, you must re start him as a rookie and lose the other Chipper. But if you're NYY and bring back Clemens, it won't matter when he comes up as a rookie with Boston, because he won't bump into himself. In the Chipper example given above, the Braves could trade Chipper in 1994 to get some value prior to bumping into himself.
• Future/Past players in the 2010 and 2020 season: Before the 2010 season, you will go back to your team's 1965 season and grab 2 more guys, bring them back and go back to the 1990 season and grab 2 guys from there as well, and bring them all back to 2010. You can again start any of them at any point in time in their career and advance one year at a time. Before the 2020 season, you will be able to bring back two players from your team's rosters in 1980 and 1995. These players have the same limitation as before, so choose carefully.
• Clones: Clones are permitted in the league, but not on the same team. This is implied as noted above. As a point of clarification, you cannot trade to make clones or create a clone as a result of a trade. An example here is if the Yankees picked Arod in the 94 draft. They could not then twist him from their 2015 team and have a clone on the same team.

The Basics

No WW
DH For all teams
4 AAA players will be drafted and may be used and may also be keepers in future seasons. WIS generated AAA are not permitted to be used.
Full or partial player seasons may be used.

The franchises we draft rookies from are:
Milwaukee
KC
Toronto
Seattle
Washington
San Diego
Colorado
Florida
Arizona
Tampa

Atlanta Franchise (you decide who to cut and who to keep)
23 keepers listed (but you can adjust as you see fit)
Salary- $93.6

C Brian McCann
1b Freddie Freeman 2019
2b Kelly Johnson
3b Chipper Jones
3b Martin Prado
SS Rafael Furcal
SS Yunel Escobar
OF Dusty Baker (1980)
OF Coco Crisp
OF JD Drew
OF Manny Ramirez
OF Nate McLouth

P Phil Niekro 1975
P Jason Marquis
P Kyle Lohse
P Dan Wheeler
P Russ Springer
P Shaun Marcum
P Joe Saunders
P Joe Blanton
P Scott Feldman
P Charlie Morton
P Jorge Campillo

IR- Kiko Calero, Peter Moylan
Cuts- John Smoltz, Gary Sheffield, Justin Miller, Brian Wolfe

Chicago franchise (you decide who to cut and who to keep)
23 keepers listed (but you can adjust as you see fit)
Salary- $82.8

C Rod Barajas
C AJ Pierzynski
C Geovany Soto
2b Mark DeRosa
2b Jose Lopez
3b Adrian Beltre (2006)
3b Jose Bautista
SS JJ Hardy
SS Brendan Ryan
OF Juan Pierre
OF Melky Cabrera
OF Randy Winn
OF Franklin Gutierrez
OF Aaron Rowand

P Rick Reuschel 1980
P Matt Thornton
P Jamie Moyer
P Andrew Miller
P Carlos Zambrano
P Edwin Jackson
P Jon Lester 2016
P Jeff Samardziga
P Joaquin Benoit

IR- Rafael Soriano, Rich Hill
Cuts- Kosuko, Fukodomo, Chad Qualls, kazuo Matsui, Eric Byrnes, Saul Rivera

Cinci franchise (you decide who to cut and who to keep)
25 keepers listed (You will want to make a cut or two, but you can adjust as you see fit, Cinci has 2 2nd round picks)
Salary- $75.6

C Johnny Bench 1976
1b Joey Votto
2b Aaron Hill
3b Edwin Encarnacion
3b Mike Lowell
SS Jason Bartlett
OF Josh Hamilton
OF David Dejesus
OF Michael Cuddyer
OF Luke Scott
OF Jay Bruce
OF Chris Dickerson
OF Milton Bradley

P Aaron Harang
P Jacob DeGrom 2022
P Johnny Cueto
P Aroldis Chapman 2020
P James Shields
P Jared Burton
P Derek Lowe
P Scott Downs
P Jason Frasor
P Juan Cruz
P Braden Looper
P Homer Bailey

IR-
Cuts- Bobby Howry, Geoff Jenkins

I have been Atlanta's owner and also babysat the Cincinnati franchise last year. I'm just reducing the number of progressives I play in, but these teams are much better many of those often posted for adoption here. Both are leading their divisions near the end of the season.

Atlanta is absolutely stacked with talent next year, has some inner circle Hall of Famers like Aaron and Eddie Mathews coming on board in 2010 and also looks forward to the rookie seasons of long-time quality players Jason Heyward, Freddie Freeman, and Andrelton Simmons in the next few years. You should be able to win, and win often, with this club.

Cincinnati is more like a small market gem. But with good drafting and a trade here and there, they can win too! (They are leading the division this year by a wide margin.) Josh Hamilton, Joey Votto, Johnny Cueto, James Shields and others are just getting started. You can get some HOF hitters like Frank Robinson, Barry Larkin, and Pete Rose in 2010. High quality starters Jim Maloney and Jose Rijo are available too. And a number of rookies are on the way, none of whom are superstars but many fill just the right needs.

Agreed with crazy. Both teams have lots of potential and Atlanta is, frankly, pretty stacked.

MVW has taken Atlanta instead and the Cubs franchise is now available.

Draft is going to start off the clock tomorrow. Jump in now.

Cinci claimed. Cubs still available.

All teams are claimed.