Early start on a discussion of retaining FAs
Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 9:10 pm
First, http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm is the authoritative link for salary cap rules.
Second, I skimmed it and didn't find the relevant portions, so I'm doing this from memory.
Several Cs will the unrestricted FAs after this season, including Eddie House and almost certainly James Posey (Posey has an opt-out, which he'd be foolish not to use).
Neither will be Bird or Early-Bird FAs. Hence to re-sign them, the Cs have two options:
A. Give them the raises ANY player can get. From memory, that's 20% over last year's contract.
B. Use the MLE to re-sign them.
From memory, Posey's most lucrative option is to get a long-term deal at the full MLE. His second-most lucrative is to get the percentage raise, without reference to the MLE. His third-best (and hence this won't happen) is for him to get part of the MLE, like he did this year.
However he gets his raise, there are three main possibiities:
1. A long-term deal.
2. A one-year deal, after which he'll be eligible for a nice raise under the Early-Bird provision.
3. A two-year deal, after which he'll be eligible for any size raise under the Bird provision.
Possibilities 2 and 3 can be sweetened by giving him a player option, which is in effect a free insurance policy. I haven't read up as to the restrictions on contract length/option length combos, nor specifically as to whether they're different depending on which "exception" is used to sign him.
Second, I skimmed it and didn't find the relevant portions, so I'm doing this from memory.
Several Cs will the unrestricted FAs after this season, including Eddie House and almost certainly James Posey (Posey has an opt-out, which he'd be foolish not to use).
Neither will be Bird or Early-Bird FAs. Hence to re-sign them, the Cs have two options:
A. Give them the raises ANY player can get. From memory, that's 20% over last year's contract.
B. Use the MLE to re-sign them.
From memory, Posey's most lucrative option is to get a long-term deal at the full MLE. His second-most lucrative is to get the percentage raise, without reference to the MLE. His third-best (and hence this won't happen) is for him to get part of the MLE, like he did this year.
However he gets his raise, there are three main possibiities:
1. A long-term deal.
2. A one-year deal, after which he'll be eligible for a nice raise under the Early-Bird provision.
3. A two-year deal, after which he'll be eligible for any size raise under the Bird provision.
Possibilities 2 and 3 can be sweetened by giving him a player option, which is in effect a free insurance policy. I haven't read up as to the restrictions on contract length/option length combos, nor specifically as to whether they're different depending on which "exception" is used to sign him.