Next season, Oscar Sample (link below) will become a free agent. He'll probably get a max deal. At 31 will be be worth it?

https://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerRatings.aspx?pid=6537386

No. With the qualifier that I'd do it if I need a RF/1B bat for the next three seasons. He's got nice splits/eye. They will stay with him for the duration of the contract. No one should pee themselves over range in RF/1B. However, the power will start to decline and that's one of his big assets. Age 34/35 will hurt. He'll still be a good hitter but nowhere near 20m a year hitter.

How fortunate am I with the season Pearson is giving me at the plate?

https://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerRatings.aspx?pid=6295921

Can I expect another season or two of similar production?

Being a SH helps but there's no way on earth I'd expect this season, or matching career numbers, from him again.

Season just rolled. I see one of my FA's says, "Let's be honest, I'll play for whoever shows me the money."

What are the odds he tests FA?

The player is: Player Profile: Nigel Harvey - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports

Is he worth a max deal?

Bad choice to arb 3 times. I think he'll leave and I'd be reluctant to give max deal due to health but I bet someone will. He's a stud that you don't see very often.

How 'bout them BREWERS!!!!!????

I didn't realize they played this weekend.

Who will have a better season, 48-year old Marinovich or Kaepernick?

Marinovich might actually get a chance to play. So Kaepernick.

Does having a hitting coach or pitching coach in place (re-signing an existing coach) have any impact on your ability to re-sign your own free agents or is the decision from your FA already made?

Also, my 3 FA position players all say, "Let's be honest, I'll play for whoever shows me the money." Is their decision to stay or leave already made or do they make their mind up the cycle that re-signing FA's begin?

Decision is made after budgeting in both cases.

1. When signing someone to a long-term deal, is your default to have a contract that is equally distributed across each year?
2. Do you prefer to front-load the contract to make someone easier to trader later on or do you prefer to back end load a contract hoping to get 3-4 cheaper production years knowing you will try and trade the player later on?
3. When you compare signing a player to a 4 years deal vs. a 5 year deal with team option, the 4 year deal will be cheaper, but the team option for 5th year can be considered insurance (if you were to decline the 5th year). My math shows it is a 1.23% "insurance cost" of the total value of the 5 year contract. Do you feel that is worth it?

1. Virtually never.
2. I never sign a player long-term with the intention of trading him later. I usually backload with mutual option.
3. I don't use team options. When I sign a player that I think will decline to the point where I don't want him, I'm hoping he declines the mutual.

Is Jimmy Powell done????? How happy will Tec be????