Discussion on what teams to place the over 300 free agents on for franchise mode

[countryboy]

Ok, with the MLB in lockout with no end in sight, I thought it might be a cool thread to have an open discussion as to what teams to put the over 300 free agents on for franchise mode. Maybe help pass the time until release day.

I thought it might be fun to get different ideas from people in the community as to what there thoughts are, where they plan to assign players, and the reasons for.

So I hope we have several participants and really get some open discussion as I've started my process of where guys may go, should go, or will go based on rumors, my own thoughts and for entertainment purposes of my own franchise. And some are based on where they signed in my '21 franchise and how it changed the landscape of my own virtual franchise world.

Look forward to reading people's thoughts and getting ideas.

[countryboy]

I'm considering adding Anthony Rizzo back to the Cubs. Not sure why, but I don't believe he'll resign in the Bronx and it just seems like Rizzo should be on the Cubs.

For Carlos Correra I'm torn between having him return to the Astros or signing him to the Yankeees

And for sentimental and personal bias reasons, I'm considering adding Albert Pujols back to the Cardinals, but only if I decide to go the universal DH route.

[jcar0725]

I don't have all the rosters in front of me, but I know I would consider who is available, and which teams needs that position badly. Maybe a team that's been in rebuild mode finally takes the plunge and signs 1 or 2 big name FA's to fill those position needs.....but I guess it would only work if they ended up on a multi year deal with that team.

[CBoller1331]

I think I am going to try to narrow down every player to 3-4 teams then use a random number generator to determine who they sign with. And for contract values I'll likely use FanGraph's Roster Resource crowdsourcing survey as a starting point.

Here's a few ideas for some of the top players:
Correa - Astros & Yankees as favorites, with the Red Sox and Cubs as dark horses

Freeman - Braves, Yankees and Dodgers with the Braves as the favorite

Bryant - Phillies, Braves and perhaps the Mariners as a dark horse

Story - Phillies, Yankees, maybe the Cubs and Mariners as dark horses

Kershaw - Dodgers and perhaps the Rangers

Castellanos - Marlins, Rockies & Giants

[JoshC1977]

Here's another aspect.....are you going to set contracts and if so, how are you going to go about doing so?

What I don't want to do is just set everyone to 1 year deals....the first off-season would be absolutely insane.

[MetsFan16]

This is what I’ll be thinking through between now and April 1st.

I have some ideas but I’m sure they’ll evolve as the months go on

[countryboy]

Quote: Originally Posted by JoshC1977

Here's another aspect.....are you going to set contracts and if so, how are you going to go about doing so? What I don't want to do is just set everyone to 1 year deals....the first off-season would be absolutely insane.

This is something I haven't decided upon yet. My thought originally was 1 year deals and allow teams to re-sign whom they want in the first offseason, but like you said, it could make for an absolutely insane free agent market after the first season.

Then I thought about anyone that I re-sign to their current/last team (ex freeman to braves) it be a one year deal and the others I would figure out on a case by case basis.

I've also considered running a test franchise just the beginning part, to see if the CPU will actually sign these free agents themselves, and let it play out that way, but I'm afraid there will be too many journeymen left in free agency.

Really a task as you get into it, but one that I'm really hoping to have a plan for so that I can start my franchise immediately like always.

[lemarflacco]

I usually try and just find a couple articles (Jim Bowden always has one) with analysts predictions on where players will go to gain a consensus/odds, then I will use the randomizer.

But i think we should be good. Because if you don't think we have accurate rosters by release day that would mean MLB isn't going to start until June? I don't see the lockout going THAT far.