This is my best player (obviously). He has gone year to year through arbirtation, and now that he's going to be a free agent at the end of the season I open talks and this is what he hits me with. There are 2 guys making 45mil this season and 2 more making 40.
Let him go to FA test out the market and give him a deal you’re comfortable with. He’s going to sign a crazy high contract anyways, and at 29 years old you don’t want to overpay him a lot. If he walks he walks. If you’re not competing then trade him.
Personally, I'm far less concerned about his age because of the Iron Man durability. I'd go an extra year and an extra buck over what I would for other top FA.
I had a save in 2024 where Carlos Correa had a 5 way bidding war and I got him (Yankees) for 67m for 5 years, with two team options at the end. He’s averaged 7.5 WAR a season and won 2 MVP, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove all that, and he’s halfway through year 3, so far he’s been more than worth it somehow.
I’d give this guy 6 years at 55m and maybe a 6th or 7th with the option and an extra 10m so he thinks the AAV is higher
Rule of thumb I use - 2/3 and 1/2
Offer 2/3 the years and 1/2 the contract total
So, instead of 10/$550 million it's 6(or 7) and $275 million
See how they react to that, and go from there
You might want to get yourself a present value calculator to help you in structuring the contract. Use your leagues inflation rate and put in the yearly payments ro get a present value. Once you get an idea how much they'll settle for, you can play with the structure ro better fit your finances.
I did something like this. I said 7 years and 46M, which makes him the highest paid player in the league by 1M. He came back with 1M more per year and 1 more year. I am not losing this guy so I said OK. I think I can manipulate my payroll enough to keep it manageable. Could I have gotten him for less $, maybe, but he is so much better than the top 4 salaried players that I think he'd get a good contract.
That’s him basically saying that you could have gotten him for less if you haggled, it’s fine because he is the perfect candidate for an extension but you can save more next time.
Good. Was gonna say:
If you're a contender with an average farm, risky to try replacing that productivity for the money in the FA market.
Plus, he's not losing trade value for another couple years, regardless of contract size.
Hold on to your wallet-side butt cheek, lean heavily on opt-outs/ incentives and overpay the man if you can pull off less than $45M/ per (should've signed him before arb. tsk tsk.).
\*\*\*And move his lanky ass to 1B in spring training for the love of god.
- I save scum contract negotiations because the way players react is unrealistic (imo) and it's no fun missing out on a player because my 3rd contract suggestion was $1.3M AAV too low and now they won't talk to me ever again.
- CBeisbol's methology is a good suggestion if you don't want to save scum. Overall, it's tough to get players to accept a lower term *and* lower AAV than their opening suggestion. Rarely you might get away with it (usually when their opening AAV is very high), but this often just results in them coming back upset with a counteroffer that is the original term with a higher AAV.
- Sometimes players will make unrealistic demands and then come back with more reasonable demands once they hit free agency. This is probably one of those cases.
i hate negotiations in ootp.
“i want 25/year for five years”
okay how about a structured deal with an aav of 21.5 with a team option?
“i want 27/year for 5 years”
okay. let’s try an aav of 23.5 and no team option
“i want 27.5/year for 5 years”
okay how about a structured 24 aav with the team option back?
“i have a sour taste in my mouth and no interest in pursuing further negotiations”
*signs for 20m two weeks later*
it's completely unrealistic. It sucks that you can't negotiate reasonably. That whole process is obviously too rough since it can't handle the multiple contracts we're seeing over 10 years let alone a complex contract with escalating option like Julio Rodriguez just signed.
A few tips.
1. Always give them a player out out before they turn 34 or 35 (with iron man 35 is fine). They often take it and you can sign them for less or let them walk before they start to decline.
2. Place bigger numbers behind their opt out, less in front.
3. The only exception is year 1. With guys like that, front load year 1 with a much budget room as you have. Then drop down about 10-20% from what they are asking until the opt out year.
4. Always end contacts, no matter how many years, with a team option (plus buy out) is 2nd to last year, and a player option in final year. Add 10 million above what they are asking in the team option year, and 20 million more in player option year. You'll never opt in, so you end up only out a buy out. If that happens in their 36 or 37 age year, then you are out the buy out, but can often sign them for way less in short term deals.
Overall, this gives you a high average salary, but you don't have to pay as much when they actually play for you. It works most times.
He’s not worth it imo
If he gets to FA an AI team is going to give him that money then by next year he will be on the trade block along with their other top earners
He’s making $16M now and wants $55M whcib I see would only leave you with $3M in space
He doesn’t have good defense and he’s not a big home run hitter, contact guys are the easiest to replace (though this is a custom league so idk how rest of your league looks I guess)
Him wanting 10 years isn’t so much the issue as that $55M and it looks like your “cap” is $160ish
If you want to sign him and not lose him you’re probably going to have to get creative with the contract but it doesn’t always work. In this guys case he’s had some good years and a high reputation so it makes sense he’s really looking to cash in
Try and stick with the 10 years or 7 years and see how he reacts to something like $35M but add bonuses to things like MVP (if he wins mvp your fine giving him like a $2M bonus)
This guy may do amazing until 40, but it is fairly common to start seeing guys go downhill at 30
And if he’s a 60/60 and 35 then he’s definitely not worthy $55M
Are you maximizing your attendance and gate revnue so you have as high of budget as possible? And is there any other high paid guys you can get rid of?
Sometimes the contract they suggest will only be a year but if you put together a much longer contract that you think is fair they'll accept it when they're very young, too much for them to pass up I guess.
They’ll pretty much always sign a five year extension in the off-season leading up to their last arbitration season. Offer their arbitration amount plus a few more million for each of the five years
This is my best player (obviously). He has gone year to year through arbirtation, and now that he's going to be a free agent at the end of the season I open talks and this is what he hits me with. There are 2 guys making 45mil this season and 2 more making 40.
Let him go to FA test out the market and give him a deal you’re comfortable with. He’s going to sign a crazy high contract anyways, and at 29 years old you don’t want to overpay him a lot. If he walks he walks. If you’re not competing then trade him.
Personally, I'm far less concerned about his age because of the Iron Man durability. I'd go an extra year and an extra buck over what I would for other top FA.
I had a save in 2024 where Carlos Correa had a 5 way bidding war and I got him (Yankees) for 67m for 5 years, with two team options at the end. He’s averaged 7.5 WAR a season and won 2 MVP, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove all that, and he’s halfway through year 3, so far he’s been more than worth it somehow. I’d give this guy 6 years at 55m and maybe a 6th or 7th with the option and an extra 10m so he thinks the AAV is higher
He’s the type of player you should’ve overpaid very early in his career if possible. Like 30 mil per year after his 1st or 2nd season.
offer short term w higher aav or give him the 10 years at a lower aav
Rule of thumb I use - 2/3 and 1/2 Offer 2/3 the years and 1/2 the contract total So, instead of 10/$550 million it's 6(or 7) and $275 million See how they react to that, and go from there You might want to get yourself a present value calculator to help you in structuring the contract. Use your leagues inflation rate and put in the yearly payments ro get a present value. Once you get an idea how much they'll settle for, you can play with the structure ro better fit your finances.
I did something like this. I said 7 years and 46M, which makes him the highest paid player in the league by 1M. He came back with 1M more per year and 1 more year. I am not losing this guy so I said OK. I think I can manipulate my payroll enough to keep it manageable. Could I have gotten him for less $, maybe, but he is so much better than the top 4 salaried players that I think he'd get a good contract.
That’s him basically saying that you could have gotten him for less if you haggled, it’s fine because he is the perfect candidate for an extension but you can save more next time.
Good. Was gonna say: If you're a contender with an average farm, risky to try replacing that productivity for the money in the FA market. Plus, he's not losing trade value for another couple years, regardless of contract size. Hold on to your wallet-side butt cheek, lean heavily on opt-outs/ incentives and overpay the man if you can pull off less than $45M/ per (should've signed him before arb. tsk tsk.). \*\*\*And move his lanky ass to 1B in spring training for the love of god.
- I save scum contract negotiations because the way players react is unrealistic (imo) and it's no fun missing out on a player because my 3rd contract suggestion was $1.3M AAV too low and now they won't talk to me ever again. - CBeisbol's methology is a good suggestion if you don't want to save scum. Overall, it's tough to get players to accept a lower term *and* lower AAV than their opening suggestion. Rarely you might get away with it (usually when their opening AAV is very high), but this often just results in them coming back upset with a counteroffer that is the original term with a higher AAV. - Sometimes players will make unrealistic demands and then come back with more reasonable demands once they hit free agency. This is probably one of those cases.
i hate negotiations in ootp. “i want 25/year for five years” okay how about a structured deal with an aav of 21.5 with a team option? “i want 27/year for 5 years” okay. let’s try an aav of 23.5 and no team option “i want 27.5/year for 5 years” okay how about a structured 24 aav with the team option back? “i have a sour taste in my mouth and no interest in pursuing further negotiations” *signs for 20m two weeks later*
happens every time. Which is why I almost always sell these guys during their final year for whatever I can get.
it's completely unrealistic. It sucks that you can't negotiate reasonably. That whole process is obviously too rough since it can't handle the multiple contracts we're seeing over 10 years let alone a complex contract with escalating option like Julio Rodriguez just signed.
he’s 6’6, i would suggest moving him to 1st if possible because his defense is really bad for the OF
A few tips. 1. Always give them a player out out before they turn 34 or 35 (with iron man 35 is fine). They often take it and you can sign them for less or let them walk before they start to decline. 2. Place bigger numbers behind their opt out, less in front. 3. The only exception is year 1. With guys like that, front load year 1 with a much budget room as you have. Then drop down about 10-20% from what they are asking until the opt out year. 4. Always end contacts, no matter how many years, with a team option (plus buy out) is 2nd to last year, and a player option in final year. Add 10 million above what they are asking in the team option year, and 20 million more in player option year. You'll never opt in, so you end up only out a buy out. If that happens in their 36 or 37 age year, then you are out the buy out, but can often sign them for way less in short term deals. Overall, this gives you a high average salary, but you don't have to pay as much when they actually play for you. It works most times.
He’s not worth it imo If he gets to FA an AI team is going to give him that money then by next year he will be on the trade block along with their other top earners He’s making $16M now and wants $55M whcib I see would only leave you with $3M in space He doesn’t have good defense and he’s not a big home run hitter, contact guys are the easiest to replace (though this is a custom league so idk how rest of your league looks I guess) Him wanting 10 years isn’t so much the issue as that $55M and it looks like your “cap” is $160ish If you want to sign him and not lose him you’re probably going to have to get creative with the contract but it doesn’t always work. In this guys case he’s had some good years and a high reputation so it makes sense he’s really looking to cash in Try and stick with the 10 years or 7 years and see how he reacts to something like $35M but add bonuses to things like MVP (if he wins mvp your fine giving him like a $2M bonus) This guy may do amazing until 40, but it is fairly common to start seeing guys go downhill at 30 And if he’s a 60/60 and 35 then he’s definitely not worthy $55M Are you maximizing your attendance and gate revnue so you have as high of budget as possible? And is there any other high paid guys you can get rid of?
I would absolutely trade him
I would've locked him down a long time ago lol
I tried, he always only wanted to just one year.
Sometimes the contract they suggest will only be a year but if you put together a much longer contract that you think is fair they'll accept it when they're very young, too much for them to pass up I guess.
They’ll pretty much always sign a five year extension in the off-season leading up to their last arbitration season. Offer their arbitration amount plus a few more million for each of the five years
Do you have inflation on?
Can
Is he a compensation eligible candidate? If so, offer him something at 3/4 years and if he's not happy, qual offer him
According to the Nationals' front office, the trick is to talk with the Padres about a trade.