Expansion Draft

[BigOscar]

It's always been something that tempted me, but with the new ability to rebrand a team, I don't think there has ever been a better time to run an expansion draft type thing in franchise, where you overwrite a team and pretend they are new to the league. There are a few obvious contenders, but it's not really important who you decide to do it with.

So I was wondering, would anyone else be up for the idea of coming up with teams protected lists, so people can run their own "expansion draft" when the game drops?

The rules for an expansion draft are fairly simple, every team can protect 15 players from being drafted, then the expansion team(s) get to pick 14 players to claim for themselves. The other teams then get to add a further 3 players to their protected lists, then the expansion team(s) get another 14 picks. Finally, the teams get to protect a further 3 players before the expansion team(s) pick a final 7 players to take their roster up to 35 players.

Players who haven't made it to the majors yet are automatically protected if they have been in the minors for at least 3 years (4 years for guys signed under the age of 19). Major league players with no trade clauses (or 10 and 5 rights) must be selected on their teams protected list.

[Councilmann_Jamm]

Re: Expansion Draft

You'll never see expansion draft unless they add more than 90 slots for each team .

[Caulfield]

Re: Expansion Draft

You'll never see expansion draft unless they add more than 90 slots for each team .

but you can impart your own version of an expansion draft. I think what I'd is something simpler: take 1 player off of each team's 40 man, a player with a mix of the lowest overall and the lowest potential. there's 29 players. the other 61 players come from the available free agent list on the default roster, even if it's the 61 worst overall players or the 61 best overall or a half and half mix.

[BigOscar]

Re: Expansion Draft

but you can impart your own version of an expansion draft. I think what I'd is something simpler: take 1 player off of each team's 40 man, a player with a mix of the lowest overall and the lowest potential. there's 29 players. the other 61 players come from the available free agent list on the default roster, even if it's the 61 worst overall players or the 61 best overall or a half and half mix.

Yeah, I've considered doing it an easier way like that, I had considered running a fantasy draft, noting who I took and then starting a new league with my team edited to be the one I drafted, so all the other teams remained correct, other than missing the guys I drafted. But I quite like the idea (like yours) of an expansion team being pretty terrible to start with!

But I am a schemer by nature so I reckon I'll probably end up with a notepad full of each teams eligible players and15 protected players, then there backup protected players and see how it goes. I like scheming far too much for my own good!

[reyes the roof]

Re: Expansion Draft

I can put together what I think the Mets list would look like. I’m assuming I’m just picking guys from their 40 man roster?

Your last paragraph has me a little confused, are you saying that anyone drafted in the last two years has to be protected even if they haven’t made it to the majors?

[CBoller1331]

Re: Expansion Draft

I can take a shot at the Cubs here for you:

Spoiler

Protected Players:
1. Baez
2. Bryant
3. Rizzo
4. Hoerner
5. Happ
6. Contreras
7. Amaya
8. Kimbrel
9. Darvish (NTC)
10. Heyward (NTC)
11. Hendricks
12. Lester (NTC)
13. Quintana
14. Schwarber
15. Brailyn Marquez (Prospect)

Spoiler

Next 3: (if any of these guys got picked move someone from the final 3)
1. Caratini
2. Bote
3. Alzolay

Spoiler

Final 3: (if any of these guys got picked move someone from the extras)
1. Almora
2. Wick
3. Jeffress

Spoiler

Extras:
1. Zack Short
2. Cole Roederer
3. Steven Souza

If I understand the rules correctly, think this would be the strategy the Cubs would take....holding onto the 4 veteran starters + Kimbrel out of necessity, protecting the young(ish) core position players that they can, protecting the prospects who aren't automatically protected

EDIT: That was actually pretty fun to do and would be down to do more teams if you wanted someone else to make the lists so don't feel like you're cheating the system!

[reyes the roof]

Re: Expansion Draft

My crack at the Mets. This is in a fantasy world where they have a GM with common sense and not Cano’s former agent. I’m assuming players selected by the expansion team need to stay on the mlb roster so I didn’t protect any low minors prospects

Spoiler

deGrom
Syndergaard
Stroman
Matz
Lugo
Diaz(have to give him a shot at bouncing back after what they gave up, he’d be a candidate to be selected if unprotected
Alonso
McNeil
Rosario
JD Davis
Conforto
Cespedes (no trade clause)
Ramos
Dom Smith
Nimmo

First three pulled back
Betances
Porcello
Wacha

Next three pulled back
Marisnick
Brach
Gsellman

Cano was not protected because he waived his no trade clause to come to the Mets

[CBoller1331]

Re: Expansion Draft

https://www.royalsreview.com/2019/12/10/20982723/here-is-what-a-mlb-expansion-draft-might-look-like

....or here is a helpful link where someone did all of this already and left a link with the protected lists (this was in December so many free agents hadn't signed yet)

(also I forgot Heyward had an NTC and I seemed to have the minor league rule backward, so I'll update my list for the Cubs)

[BigOscar]

Re: Expansion Draft

Excellent, cheers for the lists and the link to that other guys attempt, it does lead to some pretty tough choices, particularly for the contending teams. I imagine the Dodgers would be a real minefield with all their major league and minor league talent, whereas someone like the Orioles would probably submit a list that is about 5 names long!

For the record, my attempt at a Rays list

Spoiler

Glasnow
Snell
Morton
Chirinos
Anderson
Castillo
Alvarado
Meadows
Adames
B. Lowe
McKay
Yandy Diaz
Brujan
Arozarena
J. Lowe

Then others to be added if not taken in first round
Honeywell
N. Lowe
Yarborough
Margot
Renfroe
Walls
Poche
Fairbanks
R. Hernandez
M. Gomez
J. Martinez

It's tough, do you protect the major league guys or the prospects who are potentially major league ready? I've ended up leaving Nate Lowe and Brent Honeywell unprotected, along with newly acquired Margot and Renfroe, but it was tough to see who I could leave off to keep them. Having a ton of young guys with lots of control works against you in an expansion draft it seems!

EDIT- Not actually sure if Josh Lowe would need protecting, he's right on the borderline, so if he didn't then I'd just move everyone up one place.