Ruling (Read 60 times)

[Bobby]

Back in February, I bid on Schafer, who had been waived by the Brewers. I got bid up by the same Brewers. I vaguely remembering a post saying as long as he is bidding as much or more than he was paying, it should be OK. I allowed him to bid.

I did not remember at that time the reason why we had the rule:

"The waiving team may not bid on the player."

I cannot find any exceptions to that sentence in the LC.

I am going to enforce it IMMEDIATELY, as written. If your waived player gets bid on, YOU MAY NOT BID, even if you were carrying him for $1.

I am posting this because I now remember the reason, mainly abuse of larger multiyear contracts. I remember a contract loophole and I am closing it.

It cost me for allowing it on Schafer, but that was my fault.

We can discuss exceptions for that sentence, now, if you wish, but I prefer any change to be effective for the following season.

Explanation forthcoming.

[Bobby]

I have shut it down as of now, to prevent certain situations occuring, with someone using the Schafer case as a precedent.

The simplest solution is to just to uphold the rule as is - no bidding on your waived player. If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.

There may be circumstances where being allowed to bid on your waived player might be ok. My thinking is you expose him to the market, if anyone else wants him, he’s gone.

What I want to prevent:

Example:

I currently have Rollins at 20/4/$24 in 2009. Let’s assume he is 36 instead of 30 years old. Let’s say by August he is still hitting .200 and has only 6 steals. I estimate he would go in RFA in 2010 for less than I am currently paying. I want him, but cheaper than the $24 contract. So I waive him. No one even has $24 to claim him.

After he clears waivers, bidding begins. Once someone bid $1, my $24 responsibility ended. I now use my freed up cash and bid $24 (no less than what I was paying), sign him and give him a 1 yr contract. Now I will have his rights for 2010 RFA and essentially will get him on a new, cheaper contract. I took no risk. Rollins is never really exposed to the market during waivers or the subsequent bidding.