Two questions. First, how much does a free agent’s asking price drop each period if he remains unsigned (ex: 8%). Second, when does a free agent’s ratings drop if unsigned (I want to say it’s something like the day before or day of spring training ending)?

The drop in asking price is not linear. It accelerates as you get closer to the end of FA. No drop for the first few cycles, then usually the drop in asking price is small at first, but maybe the length of contract is shortened by one season.

I don't know the answer to your 2nd question.

A ratings drop will occur if he isn't on your roster when spring training ends.

Unsigned free agents' ratings can begin to decline (usually soonest for older players) as early as halfway through spring training. Sometimes the decline doesn't show up till you sign them, ie you'll see their current ratings and then you sign the guy and he gets a decline line on his card that says Time Of Signing.

Does the compensation draft pick remain attached to a player throughout Spring Training?

The comp pick remains attached until the prospects for the draft are visible, about game 42 of the regular season,

Thanks for the info, by that time the ratings hit makes it not worth it anyways.

Reminds me of a player I saw awhile back... a Catcher with 97 Durability, 95+ Patience and 95+ Makeup. Couldn't really hit, only maybe above-average fielding ratings. But because of those three "intangible" ratings, he was always a Type A, his ratings didn't decline much over time, and no one ever signed him until the Type A designation expired.

The ratings drop occurs if the free agent isn't signed before the interim PM period (i.e. 3pm ET) on the second day after spring training begins.

Does "the second day after spring training begins" mean the third day of spring training?

Yes, but I think saintonan is not precisely correct. I believe that if you sign an FA exactly between 3 and 7 PM after ST game 8 (and before game 9) you can get them for one year, but without a ratings drop. Not totally sure about this but signed 3 FAs in their 30s this way recently with no ratings drop.

The free agents price drop is when they don't have an offer. He won't drop if some is bidding on them - in fact if someone bid (the only bid) and it was removed he might not drop during the free agent period at all.

Posted by dedelman on 9/26/2024 5:47:00 PM (view original):
Yes, but I think saintonan is not precisely correct. I believe that if you sign an FA exactly between 3 and 7 PM after ST game 8 (and before game 9) you can get them for one year, but without a ratings drop. Not totally sure about this but signed 3 FAs in their 30s this way recently with no ratings drop.

Does that also coincide with a drop from a 2 to 1 year contract demand?

Posted by mg050369 on 11/9/2024 2:10:00 PM (view original):

Posted by dedelman on 9/26/2024 5:47:00 PM (view original):
Yes, but I think saintonan is not precisely correct. I believe that if you sign an FA exactly between 3 and 7 PM after ST game 8 (and before game 9) you can get them for one year, but without a ratings drop. Not totally sure about this but signed 3 FAs in their 30s this way recently with no ratings drop.

Does that also coincide with a drop from a 2 to 1 year contract demand?

Yes. That's when they all drop to 1 year.