What are the optimal times to sign cheap free agents? I recall there being at least one optimal date but can't remember what it is. Before first spring training game? Right before spring training ends?

After the 3 PM cycle after 8 spring training games have been played. They don't drop in any of their ratings, and they will take 1 year deals.

Thanks! That was a way more random time than I expected so appreciate the specifics

Specifically, that's the time point when all players asking for multi-year deals will drop to single season. Also, after that point is when (mostly older) free agents begin to have ratings slide from inactivity.

A lot of times you can essentially turn 2 year deals into 1 year deals by offering a mutual option too. If the players demands have dropped so much, there’s a good chance they will decline the option in season 2.

Who do you like as a hitter better?

Player Profile: Albert Ayala - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports

or

Player Profile: Pablo Cabrera - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports

Trying to decide who to make my 25th player. Fielding not an issue with which to be concerned.

Both are solid options for a 25th man, but I like Cabrera. I’ve noticed that 98 power kind of meets a threshold that seems to overcome other deficiencies.

Another question- what is your ideal higher end payroll budget?

I'm trying to hit 95MM or so in payroll in order to sign all the players I need to sign- and then maybe trade some. I haven't had a high-budget in a while but last time I had 100 I was in the 10M prospect range, which made it a lot easier. trying to thread the needle in order to get an IFA signed plus my draft picks so really would like $20MM, which puts me in a bind.

Looking at:

$20MM prospect
$10MM coach (6-14 is range
$4MM College (4-12 is range)
$12MM HS (12-20 is range)
$12MM IFA (12-20 is range)
$0 ADV
$20MM Training (12-20 is range)
$16MM Health (12-20 is range)

that leaves me at $91MM, which is doable but leaves me a little tight on budget. Would need to sign players LT vs final Arb.

The other option would be to ignore higher priced IFAs and focus on draft (HS) and health. Could also lower health to 12.

Posted by joekendall on 5/28/2020 10:36:00 PM (view original):
After the 3 PM cycle after 8 spring training games have been played. They don't drop in any of their ratings, and they will take 1 year deals.

I should have been more specific too. It is the cycle that runs at 3PM Eastern Time. I think it is PM Cycle Part 2.

Posted by jamier2003 on 5/29/2020 1:10:00 PM (view original):
Who do you like as a hitter better?

Player Profile: Albert Ayala - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports

or

Player Profile: Pablo Cabrera - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports

Trying to decide who to make my 25th player. Fielding not an issue with which to be concerned.

It depends on whether you need your last bat to hit right- or left-handed.

Will a minor league player in his prime (age 24, five years pro) regress if he is inactivated? I've got one with a low injury rating that I just want to keep healthy until the playoffs.

No, no one seems to care if they’re inactivated from what I’ve seen. If he’s fully developed then no harm

2 questions for my playoff series:
1. What’s the best way to get relievers not to pinch hit? This sounds like a dumb question probably, but I had set my pinch hitting to aggressive in my last game and had relievers take 3 at bats (one with runner in scoring position). One reliever was set to 3 PC, the other 4. I set my pinch hitting to very aggressive now, but should I up their PC to 4 or 5’s? Or lower their “minimum pitch counts”? I’m thinking maybe lower the min pitch counts (keeping max the same), that way the sim doesn’t overrule pinch hitting just to get to your minimum count.

2. What’s the lowest stamina you would start a opener pitcher at 40/40 pitches? I was thinking about using one of my best relievers as an opener, and he has 21 stamina. Thought maybe I could slide him to 40/40 with PC of 5. Is that too low stamina though?

Unfortunately, I can't help with #1. But on #2, I would not use a relief pitcher as a starter unless he had stamina = 30.

Posted by pray4pro on 6/19/2020 12:42:00 PM (view original):
2 questions for my playoff series:
1. What’s the best way to get relievers not to pinch hit? This sounds like a dumb question probably, but I had set my pinch hitting to aggressive in my last game and had relievers take 3 at bats (one with runner in scoring position). One reliever was set to 3 PC, the other 4. I set my pinch hitting to very aggressive now, but should I up their PC to 4 or 5’s? Or lower their “minimum pitch counts”? I’m thinking maybe lower the min pitch counts (keeping max the same), that way the sim doesn’t overrule pinch hitting just to get to your minimum count.

2. What’s the lowest stamina you would start a opener pitcher at 40/40 pitches? I was thinking about using one of my best relievers as an opener, and he has 21 stamina. Thought maybe I could slide him to 40/40 with PC of 5. Is that too low stamina though?

What's his durability? That would play a big role in my PC decision, personally...