Draft

 

The league holds a player draft each year. The draft is an Auction format. Prior to the draft, each franchise is allowed to protect up to 5 players from the previous season.  The salary cap for the draft is $50 and each owner is required to draft a full roster of 14 batters and 9 pitchers within the $50 cap.

 

The league champion from the previous season begins the draft. All bidding must use .25 increments, but can begin at any amount greater-than or equal to .25.  The player is awarded to the highest bidder. When it is your turn to start the bidding on a player, you must have an open roster spot for that player. You are not allowed to pass when it’s your turn.   

 

 

Player contracts

 

When a player is drafted or picked up from the available player pool, that player will automatically receive a three-year contract.

 

1-year player:  A player is considered to be a 1-year player if they were either drafted or picked up from the pool during the current season.

 

2-year player:  A player is considered to be a 2-year player if they were protected before the current season and it was the first time that player was protected at their original value.

 

3-year player:  A player is considered to be a 3-year player if they were protected before the current season and it was the second consecutive year that player was protected at their original value.

 

            Note:    If a player is traded within the league, that player’s contract & value go with him.

 

If, during the season, a player is dropped into the pool, that player’s contract has expired.  That player will be considered a 1-year player the next time they are picked up from the pool.

 

 

Protecting players prior to the draft

 

At the beginning of every season, each franchise has an opportunity to protect up to 5 players from the previous season.   Owners may elect to protect from zero to 5 players.  1-year and 2-year players are protected at their original value.  3-year players may also be protected, but may be required to have their value adjusted.

 

3-year players:

 

After a player has been on a roster for 3 consecutive years (protected twice previously at original value), he will become a free agent. However, the last franchise to own that player will have an opportunity to protect that player for the next season, under the following guidelines:

 

If the current market value is higher than that player’s original value, that player’s value must be adjusted to the current market value.

 

If the current market value is lower than that player’s original value, that player can still be protected, but the original value must be maintained. Values cannot be adjusted downward.

 

A protected 3-year player will then receive a new 3-year contract.

           

Determining current market value:

 

Two weeks prior to the deadline for submitting the protected player lists, the current market value, of any 3-year players, will be determined.  Owners will then have one week to determine whether or not they want to include these players on their protected list for the upcoming season.  Protected lists must be submitted no later than one week prior to the draft.

 

The current market value will be determined by taking the average of at least three separate sources, which provide projected player values for the upcoming season.  (Values will be adjusted for $50 league).  These values, once determined, will then be communicated to the respective owners.

 

Note: The three sources of player values may change from year to year.

 

Protected player lists:

 

One week prior to the draft, all franchises must submit a protected player list to the league office.  The league office will then compile a composite list of all protected players and communicate that list to all franchises, the same day.

 

No trades are permitted after the protected player list due date!    

 

If one of your protected players is traded, sent to the minors, or placed on the DL prior to the draft, you may select another player to protect.  This player must come from your previous year’s team, just like your other protected players.

 

 

Transactions

 

Grace Period:

 

If you submit a transaction, there is a 1-hour grace period to rescind your transaction.  After 1-hour, the transaction is final.

 

If a NL game begins after the initial transaction, that includes any of the players involved in the transaction, then the transaction is considered final and cannot be rescinded.

 

If you submit a transaction that requires a 2-day waiting period, you may request to have your transaction rescinded up until the expiration of the 2-day waiting period (10pm on the 2nd day).

 

 

Trading players within our league

 

Regular-season trades

 

You are permitted to trade players to another team.  Each team will incur a $1.00 transaction fee for each trade. When a player is traded, their value & contract go with them.  All trades must be one player for one player.  Two for one trades are not permitted.

 

Below, is a description of the six possible trade scenarios and a brief description of how each will be handled.

 

Active player:  Player who resides in the active player area on your team stats sheet.

Inactive player:  Player who resides in the inactive player area on your team stats sheet.

 

·         Active player for Active player - same category  (batter/batter or pitcher/pitcher)

 

Each team incurs a $1.00 transaction fee.

 

·         Active player for Active player - different category  (batter/pitcher)

 

Each team incurs a $1.00 transaction fee. 

Each team will have to drop a player into the pool.

Each team must fill their open roster spot with a $5.00 move.

 

Note:  You must maintain a full roster at all times.  Therefore, all drops and $5.00 moves must be declared at the time of the trade.

 

·         Active player for Inactive player - same category  (batter/batter or pitcher/pitcher)

 

Each team incurs a $1.00 transaction fee.

Team receiving the active player must drop a player into the pool.

Team receiving the inactive player will keep the inactive player in their inactive player area.

Team receiving the inactive player must fill their open roster position with a $5.00 move. 

 

Note:  You must maintain a full roster at all times.  Therefore, all drops and $5.00 moves must be declared at the time of the trade

 

·         Active player for Inactive player - different category  (batter/pitcher)

 

Each team incurs a $1.00 transaction fee.

Team receiving the active player must drop a player into the pool.

Team receiving the inactive player will keep that player in their inactive player area.

Team receiving the inactive player must fill their open roster position with a $5.00 move.

 

Note:  You must maintain a full roster at all times.  Therefore, all drops and $5.00 moves must be declared at the time of the trade

 

·         Inactive player for Inactive player - same category  (batter/batter or pitcher/pitcher)

 

Each team incurs a $1.00 transaction fee

 

·         Inactive player for Inactive player - different category  (batter/pitcher)

 

Each team incurs a $1.00 transaction fee

 

Off-season trades

 

Off-season trades are permitted, but will be handled as follows:

 

  • There are no roster requirements

·         It doesn’t matter whether the players were active or inactive at the end of the previous season

·         You don’t have to maintain 14 batters and 9 pitchers

  • Batter for Pitcher trades are permitted without having to drop/add additional players
  • There are no transaction fees.
  • There is no salary cap

 

You are not required to protect a player that you trade for.

 

 

Trading Deadlines

 

Regular season  The deadline for trading players within our league, is midnight on August 31.

 

Off-season         The deadline for trading players in the off-season is one week prior to the draft.  This deadline will always be the same as the deadline for turning in protected player lists.

 

 

 

MLB Player trades to/from the American League

 

The following section provides detailed explanations of the rules when AL players are traded to the NL.

 

Note:  These rules only apply to the regular-season. 

 

Definitions:

 

2-day waiting period:   Period of time consisting of 2 full days, beginning one day after a trade has occurred and ending at 10:00pm on the 2nd  day.

 

For example, if a player is traded on Tuesday to the NL, then the waiting period begins on Wednesday and ends on Thursday at 10:00pm.  The waiting period does not include the day of the trade.

 

Expressing interest:     When an AL player is traded to the NL, everyone has an opportunity to express interest      in acquiring that player.  You need to submit a transaction before the end

of the waiting period and indicate what move you intend to make for that AL player.

 

Only those people who express interest in acquiring a player will be considered.

 

Note:    When expressing interest in multiple players, you must list the players in your order of preference. 

 

Current standings:       In some cases, it is necessary to consider the current standings when determining which team is to receive a traded player, after the 2-day waiting period.   At the end of the 2-day waiting period, the most recently completed stats will be considered the current standings.

 

                                    If there is a tie in the standings, a coin toss will be used to break the tie and

determine which owner receives the player.

 

Sagarin rating:            Player value rating based on Jeff Sagarin’s statistical analysis.  Values are computed daily and published at  http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin.htm.

 

When an AL player is traded to the NL, a Sagarin rating will be computed for that player. Sagarin values are based on a $260 fantasy cap, so that number will be adjusted for our league by dividing the value by 5.2 and rounded to the nearest quarter.

 

Sagarin ratings are used to determine the player value that will be assigned to any player that is traded to the NL.  This value will be communicated to all teams, once it is available. A value is normally available one day after the trade.

 

Note:    In order to be considered for acquiring a traded player, you must be able to fit that player on your roster without exceeding the current salary cap.

                       

 

Possible MLB trade scenarios and how they will be handled:

 

 

A.  Trades involving only one NL player:

 

            1.  One NL batter for one AL batter

 

If an AL batter is traded to the NL for another batter, then the team who currently owns the NL batter has

the option to keep the AL batter or pick up someone from the pool for $1.00.   The AL player is subject to

the 2-day waiting period and the owning team has until that time to make a decision.

 

If the owning team chooses to keep the traded player, the move is effective immediately, even if the 2-day

waiting period has not expired.

 

If the AL player is not retained by the owning team, after the 2-day waiting period, that player is then

considered to be in the available player pool.  At 10:00pm, on the 2nd day, all owners that expressed interest

in the player will be considered in the following order:

 

a.       Immediate need  (lowest to highest in the current standings)

b.       $5.00 free-agent move  (lowest to highest in the current standings)

 

Note:  A traded player’s value will be based on his NL Sagarin rating.

 

2.  One NL pitcher for one AL pitcher

 

            Same as scenario #1 above

 

3.       One NL batter for multiple AL batters

 

If multiple AL batters are traded for one NL batter, then the team who currently owns the NL batter

has the option to keep any one of the AL batters or pick up someone from the pool for $1.00.  The AL

player is subject to the 3-day waiting period and the owning team has until that time to make a

decision.

 

If the owning team chooses to keep any one of the traded players, then that move is effective

immediately, even if the 3-day waiting period has not expired. 

 

All of the AL players not retained by the owning team, after the 2-day waiting period, are considered

to be in the available player pool.  At 10:00pm, on the 2nd day, all owners that expressed interest in

acquiring any of these players, will be considered in the following order:

 

a.       Immediate need  (lowest to highest in the current standings)

b.       $5.00 free-agent move  (lowest to highest in the current standings)

 

Note:  A traded player’s value will be based on his NL Sagarin rating.

 

 

4.       One NL pitcher for multiple AL pitchers

 

Same as scenario #3 above.

 

5.       One NL batter for one AL pitcher

 

If one AL pitcher is traded for one NL batter, then the team who currently owns the NL batter has the

option to keep the AL pitcher or pick up someone from the pool for $1.00.  The AL player is subject to

the 2-day waiting period and the owning team has until that time to make a decision.

 

If the owning team chooses to keep the traded player, then that move is effective immediately, even if

the 2-day waiting period has not expired. 

 

In addition, the owning team will be required to make 2 additional moves.  A pitcher on your staff will

need to be dropped into the pool and the open hitter slot will need to be filled with a $1.00 move. 

 

All moves must occur simultaneously, as you are required to maintain a full roster at all times.

 

If the AL player is not retained by the owning team, after the 2-day waiting period, that player is then

considered to be in the available player pool.  At 10:00pm, on the 2nd day, all owners that expressed

interest in the player will be considered in the following order:

 

a.       Immediate need  (lowest to highest in the current standings)

b.       $5.00 free-agent move  (lowest to highest in the current standings)

 

*  Other owners are not permitted to drop a hitter for the traded pitcher.

 

Note:  A traded player’s value will be based on his NL Sagarin rating.

 

6.       One NL pitcher for one AL batter

 

Same as scenario #5 above.

 

7.       One NL batter for multiple AL players  (batters & pitchers)

 

If multiple AL players (including batters & pitchers) are traded for one NL batter, then the team who

currently owns the NL batter has the option to keep any one of the AL players or pick up someone

from the pool for $1.00.  The AL player is subject to the 2-day waiting period and the owning team has

until that time to make a decision.

 

If the owning team chooses to keep any one of the traded players, the that move is effective

immediately, even if the 2-day waiting period has not expired.

 

In addition, if the owning team chooses to keep a traded pitcher, then they are required to make 2

additional moves.  A pitcher on the staff must be dropped into the pool and the open batter slot must be

filled with a $1.00 move.

 

All moves must occur simultaneously, as you are required to maintain a full roster at all times.

 

All of the AL players not retained by the owning team, after the 2-day waiting period, are considered

to be in the available player pool.  At 10:00pm, on the 2nd day, all owners that expressed interest in

acquiring any of these players, will be considered in the following order:

 

a.       Immediate need  (lowest to highest in the current standings)

b.       $5.00 free-agent move  (lowest to highest in the current standings)

 

Note:  A traded player’s value will be based on his NL Sagarin rating.

 

8.       One NL pitcher for multiple AL players  (batters & pitchers)

 

Same as scenario #7 above

 

B.      Trades involving more than one NL player:

 

Trades involving multiple NL players are handled similar to those scenarios listed for one NL player.

However, when two or more owners have players that were traded, those owners get priority

over all other owners who may express interest in acquiring an AL player.

 

Example I:

 

Owner A and owner B each have a player traded to the AL for one player.  Owner A and owner B can

both express interest in acquiring the AL player. 

 

If both owners express interest, then whichever owner is lower in the standings will receive the AL

player. 

 

If only one owner expresses interest, then that owner receives the AL player and the other owner must

fill their open roster spot with a $1.00 move.

 

If neither owner expresses interest, then the AL player will be awarded to any other owners expressing

interest, within the normal guidelines for awarding a player, as described in the previous section.

 

Example II:

 

Owner A and owner B each have a player traded to the AL for multiple players.  Owner A and owner

B can both express interest in acquiring any of the AL players.

 

If both owners express interest, then whichever owner is lower in the standings will get their choice of

AL players.  After their choice is made, the other owner has the option to take one of the other AL

players or pick someone from the pool for $1.00.

 

Any remaining players will be awarded to any other owners expressing interest, within the normal

guidelines for awarding a player, as described in the previous section.

 

 

Note:          Player position does not matter.  Suppose owner A has a pitcher and owner B has a

batter.  Both are traded to the AL for a pitcher and batter.

 

                  If both owners express interest in acquiring the AL pitcher and owner B happens to be

                  lower in the standings, then owner B is awarded the pitcher even though he had a batter

that was traded.

 

            Owner B would then have to drop a pitcher and make a $1.00 move to fill their open

            batter slot.  Owner A would do the same thing if they then chose to keep the AL batter.

 

 

C.     Trades involving no NL players

 

When an AL player enters the NL and is not traded for any NL players, which are on an active roster, then

that player is considered to be in the available player pool.

 

The AL player is subject to the 2-day waiting period and all owners have an opportunity to express interest

in acquiring the AL player.

 

At 10:00pm on the 2nd day, all owners who expressed interest in acquiring the AL player, will be

considered in the following order:

 

a.       Immediate need  (lowest to highest in the current standings)

b.       $5.00 free-agent move  (lowest to highest in the current standings)

 

 

Off-season trades of MLB players between the NL and AL

 

The league does not recognize trades of MLB players that occur during the off-season.

 

 

 

Availability of players who are dropped into the pool

 

When a player is dropped from a roster, that player is considered to be in the available player pool.

 

The player is subject to the 2-day waiting period and all owners have an opportunity to express interest in

acquiring that player.

 

At 10:00pm on the 2nd day, all owners who expressed interest in acquiring that player, will be considered in

the following order:

 

a.  Immediate need  (lowest to highest in the current standings)
b.  $5.00 free-agent move  (lowest to highest in the current standings)

 

            Note:    Please reference the MLB Player trades to/from the American League section above for an

                        explanation of 2-day waiting period and expressing interest.