Here are the league rules:
The Ultimate Progressive will be a 20 team, single season league that begins play in 1985. This league will mirror as much of the real-world MLB experience as possible within the constraints of WIS. The league will have free agency, a salary cap and luxury tax and each franchise will have first rights to their own rookies.
You select your franchise - first come, first served. The entire roster of that franchise is at your disposal with the exception of split season players. The initial draft will consist of two parts. An organized 10 round draft going worst to first based on 1984 Win / Loss records.
After that there will be time segments where you can draft first come, first served. Example - Round 11 starts at 12pm on 7/4/23, Round 12 starts at 5pm on 7/4/23, etc.
League features:
Free agency:
There will be a list maintained in the league forum for free agents. This list will be based upon real life free agents in MLB. The list will be taken from the Baseball-Reference web page. Free agency will begin in season two. You will have the opportunity to sign your own free agents prior to the draft. You may use up to 3 draft picks to sign your agents. Your franchise must own a 1st round pick to use for your first free agent signing. Your franchise must own a 2nd round pick to sign another of your own free agents. Finally, your franchise must own a 3rd round pick to sign your another of your own free agents.
Salary Cap:
$110,000,000 cap for your organization. You may exceed that cap by as much as you want but you will be subject to the luxury tax and you will pay the tax with draft picks.
Luxury Tax:
$1 to $5,000,000 over the cap - you lose your 3rd round pick in the following draft
$5,000,001 to $10,000,000 over the cap - you lose your 2nd round pick in the following draft
$10,000,001 or more over the cap - you lose your 1st round pick in the following draft
The tax is a cumulative tax. So, if you are more than $10,000,001 over the cap you will lose your 1st, 2nd and 3rd round picks in the following draft.
The luxury tax will be measured against your opening day roster each season - 25 man plus AAA count towards the salary cap.
Right of first refusal for Rookies:
Each franchise will have the right of first refusal for their own rookies. You simply list them as part of your keepers for the upcoming season and they are yours. The webpage Baseball Reference will be used to determine the franchise of record for any split season rookies.
General rules and notes:
Draft order - worst to first with the exception of division winners. Division winners will draft in the last 4 positions - worst to first.
* Tiebreakers - Head to Head, Division Record, Home Wins
Stadium - must match your franchise
AAA - 6 & 4 - AAA players cannot be called up until after 30 league games have been played.
I/R - Yes, unlimited
DH - both leagues
Trades - up to 3 seasons in advance for players or picks
Vetos - 12 votes needed
Rule changes - may be proposed by anyone. 15 votes needed to adopt a rule change.
* Commissioner reserves right to close any unintended loopholes without a league vote