First and foremost, I want to give our dear friend Ben my thoughts and prayers for losing his father. I know that this has been a difficult time for his family, and from me and the rest of the Ranger Report community I want to lift y’all up. Losing our parents is inevitable for all of us, but rest well knowing that he is with our Heavenly Father now.
This isn’t so much as a normal article as it is an invite. Recently on another blog forum, there was an “off season simulation”. What this was all about was 31 fans joined in and each selected a ballclub, with one moderator taking the role of commissioner/agent for all the free agents. It was a fascinating idea, one in which there were some crazy trades (Yasiel Puig went to the White Sox in exchange for Chris Sale being one) and some high priced signings (Brian McCann to the Rangers for 6 years and $110). Another blogger for the Oakland A’s started one of these and I swiftly jumped in to take our beloved Rangers. Since then the Giants and the Braves have been “purchased”. If there is anyone out there in readerland who would like to participate as any of the remaining 26 teams, please e-mail me at ross@usbtx.com or the commissioner at mjhurley0480@yahoo.com . I do ask that you familiarize yourself somewhat with the organization you choose, as you will have free reign over using the farm system as assets to develop for the future, or go for it in 2014. The “official rules” if you will are below. I really hope you will join me!
You have complete control of the team. What would you do?? What big FA would you go after? You could have Robinson Cano sign with the Oakland A’s or the Pittsburgh Pirates! Sounds great right? There was a simulation organized by a Royals fan, which is where I got this idea and that looked fun so I am deciding to do something like this myself. Here’s how it will work if I get 30 people to join. If you are interested email mjhurley0480@yahoo.com and the first 30 people to email me will join. Once I have the 30, I will send a group email to the 30, and then you will again first come first serve sign-up for which MLB team. We will have realistic payrolls, but you can go over if i think its realistic. I will be the agent/player mind. Meaning I will accept or decline your offers for FA and I have the power to veto a trade if i think it is completely one sided. The website I will use for FA and team options lists is rotoworld.com they have a list of the contracts for every MLB team. Here’s how it will work. Hopefully I will have the 30 people and their teams assigned by Sunday Decmeber 1 at Midnight. Then it will go like this. And by the way I live in CST (central standard time) so these times will all be in CST.
Monday December 2 11:59 PM
Team options and Tender or non-tendering arbitration eligible players are due. We will not do classic arbitration; instead, we will do it this way. You offer an eligible player a 1 year contract. I will see if he would accept it and will let you know. You will email all of your transactions to me.
Tuesday December 3 11:59 PM
Qualifying offers are due. Again I will think about if the player would accept or not.
Wednesday December 4 12:01 AM
FA Bidding and the trading begin! Email me with your bids for FA and the terms of trades between what teams.
Tuesday December 10 at 11:59 PM
No transactions aloud after that time.
GROUND RULES:
1. You may only go up to 10 years on a contract.
2. Vesting, team, and mutual options may be included.
3. You may backload frontload contracts, although back loaded contracts will lose to a front loaded contract during bidding
4. You can’t have a player to be named later in a trade, but you can trade minor leaguers.
5. You may include cash in a trade just specify how much is changing hands. (like prince Fiedler deal)
6. Specify how much money is being paid per year.
7. There no re-signing of your own players. That is already in your control. AKA: no extensions.
8. You may only have 25 players on the roster. You add someone you have to cut someone.
9. HAVE FUN!
