Free Agent Procedure Updates

[St. Louis Sting]

Hello again everyone! We are getting closer and closer to the return of sports, and our baseball free agent frenzy seems to be winding down just in time for games to start this week.

I've been working on a project for some time now to improve our current free agency bidding system. There are a few things that stood out to me as potentially being major issues to address:

1. All multi-year offers are treated the same in terms of value of the contract offered. In real life, the longer a contract is the more valuable a player tends to find it if money is in the same range.
2. Because contracts signed in our league are not "guaranteed" (only 25% is guaranteed), the inherent value of a backloaded contract would be less in the eyes of a player.
3. While it was an imperative feature at the foundation of the league when every player from every sport was available, the current allowance for teams to go over the salary caps while bidding may now cause more problems than solutions.

To address the first two issues I've been trying to steal something from another league that I am in that seems to work extraordinarily well: a free agent bidding calculator. The calculator has a set formula that determines the overall "value" of a contract, and that formula can automatically adjust for length and average value of the contract. For example, consider the following two contract offers:

Offer #1
Year 1 = $10
Year 2 = $10
Year 3 = $10
Total bid points = 34

Offer #2
Year 1 = $9
Year 2 = $9
Year 3 = $9
Year 4 = $9
Total bid points = 34.2


The second issue of backloaded contracts being worth less to a player because there is a greater chance that they only receive 25% of the money in the later years (not to mention the annual free contract drop) is accounted for in the formula as well. Another example to look at:

Offer #1
Year 1 = $10
Year 2 = $15
Year 3 = $20
Total bid points = 49

Offer #2
Year 1 = $15
Year 2 = $15
Year 3 = $15
Total bid points = 51

As you can see, changing the structure of a contract can have a small effect on the overall "value" of an offer. I believe this sufficiently accounts for the difference in value from a player's perspective.


Finally, I've heard from multiple owners in recent seasons that being able to bid well over the salary cap and then just rescind unwanted bids after a player(s) have been acquired is not the most efficient or fair way to handle our bidding procedure. While this feature was imperative to the health of the league at the start, I agree that it is no longer a logical or necessary feature. I also understand, however, that because our contracts are not guaranteed it can be relatively easy to clear cap space for incoming players that would otherwise cause a team to go over the cap limits. To address these issues I am proposing that teams be allowed to bid up to $20 over the total salary cap and any individual sport cap, but bids can lo longer be rescinded once offered. Going over the $20 allowance will render ALL current bids void.


As always, before implementing I want to get feedback from the league. A copy of the Bid Calculator has been added to the Google Spreadsheet for you to play around with and look for any logistical holes. If implemented each team will have a copy of the calculator on their own page so we aren't all sharing one calculator. Please share any general thoughts you have, as well as any questions. This system would go into effect for the 2020 NFL season and beyond.

[St. Louis Sting]

I just updated permissions on the Google Doc so that anyone can edit. Everything should be locked besides the Bid Calculator (so you don't get any bright ideas about reducing your payrolls ) so feel free to play around with it

[Las Vegas Strips]

Here are my thoughts: As far as bidding over the cap goes, I personally think you should not be allowed to place any bid that, if won in conjunction with all other bids, place you over either a league cap or the overall cap. You as an owner have X amount of dollars to work with, and we all have access to this information. Bidding $30 on a player when you only have $15 in cap space should not be allowed. In order to clear $15 in cap space to land said player, you'd need to release $60 worth of current contracts. It is unfair for owners who do not have either league or overall cap space to bid up other owners who DO have the space, simply because they can and then withdraw their bid, when the losing owner may have moved on and bid on someone else OR the owner who wins a player had to pay much more than they would have if not bid up by the owner without the cap space....why start a chain of events like that?? If you do not have the cap space, don't bid. Or clear the cap space BEFORE making your bids. This feels like we are giving owners the ability to overspend their limit with a line of credit...

(above ONLY applies to bidding, not trading....I have no issue trading for a guy that places you over the limit and then releasing players to get back under. This scenario only affects the 2 teams involved in the trade, not the entire league as bidding does)

On the offer & bidding calculator, that is pretty unique and a very interesting spin on things. My only concern is that bids are going to get muffed up because #s are entered wrong or in the wrong order. I think it may be overthinking a little bit, as the average annual $$ if a fair determiner of a winning bid. Remember, some players don't mind taking the shorter contract to get back on the market. I'm OK with the way it is, but it is certainly an interesting function.

[Las Vegas Strips]

*-correction, my math was off. To clear $15, you’d need to drop $20 in contracts, not $60...but the point remains the same

[Pensacola Pelicans]

Re. bid calculator: I like the bid points approach. This is a much simpler version than the one used in another league a few of us are in, but I like that it may give longer contracts a little more value even though the AAV might be slighly lower.

Re. rescinding bids: I like the idea of not being able to withdraw or rescind bids. However, it could create different types of problems. Let's say you're legitimally bidding on a couple of players, knowing you can only sign one of them. If you can't rescind bids, you may only bid on one, but then the cost gets crazy and you elect not to continue to pursue that player. The other option may have already been signed by another team. Not sure how to deal with that problem. Maybe you just gotta make tough choices and deal with it.

Re. bidding over the cap: Wouldn't eliminating rescinding bids take care of this problem? Is someone going to risk getting stuck with a player and being focced to release other players to make room? I'd want to be able to enter a bid that looks like it might put me over the cap, knowing that I'll release a player if I win that bid. Why make me release that player if I end up losing the bid?

[Buffalo Wings]

Not really a fan of the bid calculator...I think it complicates our system. I best way, IMO, is using "AAV" salary for bids.

3 year contract

10
15
20

AAV would be $15

[DC Patriots]

I'm the newest manager, so perhaps I don't have a broad enough experience yet, but from my time here:

Bid calculator - this seems to over complicate things (and it didn't work for me when I went in earlier today). Seems like it might simpler to say if the contracts are the same years AAV wins, if shorter AAV has to exceed by a certain percent (like what is done for one year deals vs multi-year deals). At the same time, a 4 year deal with the same AAV as a 3 year deal should win. This is a little simpler than the calculator, to me anyway.

I agree on not being able to rescind bids. Being a GM is about making tough choices about which players to pursue and where to spend your money. Sometimes that means you miss out on someone else because you were chasing another player first. Currently, teams could bid each other up and that just pull out. I could see allowing one withdraw of a bid per season if teams want to keep it, but that puts extra onus on the commish.

I also don't think teams should be able to go over the cap. As I read the rule, I already thought that was the case as I think it says you can never exceed them. Does that mean I can have future years over the cap and just clear it by the time I get to that season? I thought ever was ever - see, I'm clearly missing the nuance on this one.

[Clayhounds Dawgs]

Bidding:
Just played with the bid calculator - If I did this correctly. Making sure I understand.

Bid 1
1 Year $10 = 20 points (old 10 AAV)

Bid 2
1 Year $7
2 Year $7 = 19.6 points (old 7 AAV)

Bid 3
1 Year $8
2 Year $5
3 Year $4 = 20.07 points (old 5.67 AAV)

Bid 3 wins under new plan 20.7 points (old 5.67 AAV not even close from the other two bids.


I see were this could better the league as far how contracts work and will help owners with their future payrolls but I do agree with Buffalo & DC, it over complicate things. I'll go either way.



Rescinding Bids:
Allowed but Owner fined $2 (or some amount) for 1 year. Call it the tampering rule. Shouldn't have placed bid.


Cap:
If you don't have the cap room in the sports you are bidding, no bidding. The League Cap $1,000, doesn't enter into this because you have moves in other sports to account for.



Still would like to think more about this. The suggestion made by the other owners, are good points. I could change my mind.

[Jimmy (Desperados)]

I’m in another league with bid calculator and it works well. That said I kind of like the way we do it on here. But I’m fine if we do switch to bid calculator.

As far as going over the cap I’m not at all a fan of that. It is not that difficult to manage your budget and if you know you are going over you should have a plan in place to drop or trade other players.

As far as rescinding bids, I think we should have a rule that you CAN NOT rescind. I’m in 6 leagues that are similar to this one and run on proboards and this is the only one that allows rescinding bids. All others it is tough shit if you change your mind better find a trade or take the cap hit for dropping.

[Pensacola Pelicans]

I don't need to chime in on the bid calculator again - I like the idea.

But I wanted to be clear on the cap question . . . I totally agree with not being allowed to exceed the cap (kinda thought it was that way all along). Managers should bid accordingly with the assumption you have a plan to release, trade, whatever adjustments are needed when you sign a player that would otherwise put you over the cap.

Also agree rescinding bids should be prohibited.

[James (Nemesis)]

I believe the MLB free agency was the second that I have gone through. There are a couple things I have noticed about them that contribute to the calculator. First, the last year of deals seem to be pretty inflated every now and then, especially on the most valuable players. However, a team can take the risk to throw a large number out because they could potentially get that entire salary back on the last year. If we didn't have that rule then I wouldn't be in favor of the calculator to keep it simple but it seems the calculator adds more value to the last year of contracts. Not many players in real life will take a contract that starts at $10 and ends with $30, especially if the biggest portion could easily be dumped. If we want to attempt to recreate real life scenarios then I think we should run with the calculator, which can always be tweaked according to the league. Another suggestion to help with some of the balance would be actual team options. Know several owners don't want the calculator due to it being more complicated so that might not be the best idea either since it would take it a step further.

I may be in the minority of the rescinding bids but I think it is a good idea. Almost certain that real life teams can rescind their offer to a player, which means another team would be on top with their other offers on the table. I think this becomes a management aspect to where if it falls back on another team then they should have plan in case it happens. If it is a worry that teams are bidding up prices then a punishment could be implemented, which I believe has been suggested. If it is a certain portion then that itself should help teams not bid up players, especially the more expensive ones where you can lose valuable cap really quick. The purpose of it and the protection of the league should be considered at the same time with it.

[St. Louis Sting]

Thank you everyone for the feedback, it is extremely appreciated! I am digesting everyone's responses to figure out how best to proceed. Those of you that haven't responded yet, your feedback would be helpful too

[Syracuse Warriors]

Don't really get the bid calculator, never heard of it before. But I'm good with all changes. I'll adapt

[Jeff (Haze)]

Would the FA overbidding also apply to RFA QOs?

Bid calculator is interesting. I'm fine either way.

[St. Louis Sting]

Thank you all once again for your feedback! From your input I gathered the following:

1. Mixed sentiment regarding the bid calculator
2. General agreement that teams should not be able to rescind bids once made
3. Idea that, if bid rescinding is eliminated, teams will no longer bid significantly over the cap unless they have a plan/ability to clear the necessary space

It seems that the biggest argument against the bid calculator is that we would be fixing something that isn't broken. While there is room for improvement, I agree that our current AAV system isn't necessarily "broken". Rather than over-complicate things, we will continue using our existing bid system and scrap the bid calculator idea (at least for now).

Starting with NFL free agency teams will no longer be able to rescind bids. Once a bid is posted it must stand, so be aware of your cap space and other bids as you make offers to free agents. I am in agreement with the league that this change should prohibit teams from bidding well over the salary cap unless they can actually make the money work, so we will not be implementing a rule against bidding over the cap.

In the event that a signing does put a team over the salary cap they have 24 hours from bid closing to clear space via drops/trades. If, after 24 hours, the team has not made the necessary moves the free agent that was signed will be automatically released back to the free agent pool and the signing team will be assessed the usual 25% salary retention for the duration of the contract. The same applies to Restricted Free Agents who were given a QO and did not receive an offer from another team.

Any questions?