Is it cheating to sign high potential free agents in franchise?

[ballin095]

So pretty much im at the start of the regular season and notice that there are a ton of high potential (A/B) players whom im guessing got released from teams that are available for me to sign. My question is would that be cheating of sorts to sign all of these guys to my roster? I feel like no just due to the fact that I feel as though if I don't sign these guys some other team will. Thoughts?

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: Is it cheating to sign high potential free agents in franchise?

So pretty much im at the start of the regular season and notice that there are a ton of high potential (A/B) players whom im guessing got released from teams that are available for me to sign. My question is would that be cheating of sorts to sign all of these guys to my roster? I feel like no just due to the fact that I feel as though if I don't sign these guys some other team will. Thoughts?

I don't see why it would. And if you're having to release players w/money owed due, that's more than enough punishment to pay for cheating. Which you're not. So, sign away!

[JoseBerrio]

Re: Is it cheating to sign high potential free agents in franchise?

I normally don't sign any FA for the first season since I feel is a bit unfair. However, if you feel quite uncomfortable with that, wait until another team signs a FA. In my franchise, for example, the Tigers signed Greg Holland (I don't use 30 team control). That way you won't be cheating...

[KBLover]

Re: Is it cheating to sign high potential free agents in franchise?

So pretty much im at the start of the regular season and notice that there are a ton of high potential (A/B) players whom im guessing got released from teams that are available for me to sign. My question is would that be cheating of sorts to sign all of these guys to my roster? I feel like no just due to the fact that I feel as though if I don't sign these guys some other team will. Thoughts?

Maybe limit yourself to 1 per day? That way each sim day, CPU teams have a chance to take someone off the wire.

If they don't and you get them all in a month, c'est la vie. You gave them a sporting chance.

[Unlucky 13]

Re: Is it cheating to sign high potential free agents in franchise?

I don't generally sign players from the FA pool during the first year, because the CPU doesn't either. For example, I'm two weeks from the end of the season, playing every game, and not a single guy has been signed all season.

However, once the offseason begins, its all free game. As long as you aren't moving guys around or messing with ratings in a weird way, nothing that the game allows you to do is unfair.

Either way, in a single player game, whatever you want to do is cool, IMO.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: Is it cheating to sign high potential free agents in franchise?

If you have to ask yourself "is X cheating?" then you already know the answer, lol. You will have a guilty conscience if you do it because it already struck you somehow as being potentially unfair, hence this thread exists.

You probably want to consider a house rule to handle this to your liking so you can do as much or as little as you see fit.

[NDAlum]

Re: Is it cheating to sign high potential free agents in franchise?

I don't generally sign players from the FA pool during the first year, because the CPU doesn't either. For example, I'm two weeks from the end of the season, playing every game, and not a single guy has been signed all season.

However, once the offseason begins, its all free game. As long as you aren't moving guys around or messing with ratings in a weird way, nothing that the game allows you to do is unfair.

Either way, in a single player game, whatever you want to do is cool, IMO.

This is because the CPU rosters are already at 90 players (well this is the likely scenario).

I noticed it too then started to cut some dead weight aka "never gonna have a cup of coffee in the show" guys and FA was finally what it should be! You actually get to see the new "Big acquisition" images with guys in their new uniforms.

[Unlucky 13]

Re: Is it cheating to sign high potential free agents in franchise?

Thats an excellent point. If I ever start another franchise, I'll definately do that. Thank you.

[No.27]

Re: Is it cheating to sign high potential free agents in franchise?

I'm doing a Cubs franchise and Justin Grimm fractured his arm pitching and is out for months. I toyed with the idea of signing Greg Holland for bullpen help but like many didn't want to gain unfair advantage. Tonight I was in my first game against the Cardinals tied at 3 all in the 8th inning and who should come in for the Cardinals but none other than Greg Holland. Apparently one of their starting pitchers fractured their arm pitching as well and they had no qualms about signing Greg Holland. My suggestion don't wait!

[RogueHominid]

Re: Is it cheating to sign high potential free agents in franchise?

Yes, the CPU will nab these guys if they have an injury.

The way I see it, there's ample risk-reward for most FA to make it value-neutral regarding the OP's question.

It's not like there's a bunch of 80 OVR A POT prospects who only want 100K rotting in FA. There are a handful of international guys with B and C POT who, depending on age and development speed, could be role players on a big league club in a couple/few years.

But to get these guys, you have to cut and pay players you don't want, and you have to factor in the roster balance issue to ensure that you have enough high-AAA/ low MLB guys to weather a storm of injuries.

And none of the young FA in the OSFM Draft roster are dead locks to make major contributions to a contending MLB team.

The older ones tend to want real salaries, especially the starting pitchers. So if you want to nab one of the established vets, you're going to have to pay starter money and you're going to have to give them an appropriate role on the club to keep them happy.

[Benz87]

Re: Is it cheating to sign high potential free agents in franchise?

I sign them all. First thing I do when I start a franchise is cut my deadweight low OVR, older players, and replace them with high potential or high OVR FA's. In my mind, once I start a franchise it's my fantasy land, and I'm going to do everything within my power to build a powerhouse perennial championship contender. Being as I play with the Brewers, this year it takes a few seasons to get there, but not as long as one would think.

I know most want to play true sim, and have their team be the exact same as its real life counter part. To each his own...

Whatever makes the game fun for you.

[YeOldTonk]

Re: Is it cheating to sign high potential free agents in franchise?

Start of my first season I looked at the FA pool. Only signed if they were 25 or younger and had a pot of A or B. Think I signed one or two. Otherwise I don't touch the FA pool.

[countryboy]

Re: Is it cheating to sign high potential free agents in franchise?

I sign them at the start of the season and release developers who are on my team. Sorry guys.

Throughout the season I'll look to see if there are more and what role they could play in the organization. But I only do this when roster moves are to be made or if someone is really struggling.

[bigd51]

Re: Is it cheating to sign high potential free agents in franchise?

It's certainly not cheating, regardless of how you look at it. Playing against the CPU, you will always have first dibs on offering contracts. There's no way around it. So if you wanna sign those FA's to replace a career minor leaguer or D potential player on your main roster, that's fine.

However, if you do this, say... every offseason, you will have an unfair advantage. Last years game, I would sign the highest potential FA's I could to replace players on my roster but I quickly came to realize when you have an entire roster with only A/B potentials, it takes away not only from the CPU's ability to field a more competitive team, but it also takes away the fun from other things, such as the draft and grooming prospects. So in order to enjoy the game a little more and be challenged a bit more, I've forced myself to not worry about the FA pool as much and concentrating more on building my team solely through the draft.

The most important thing here, though, is what Benz and many others such as myself keep parroting... There is no wrong way to play this game, only personal preference. So long as you are enjoying the $60 (or more) you spent on it, then you're doing it right.

[Sgexpat]

Re: Is it cheating to sign high potential free agents in franchise?

The most important thing here, though, is what Benz and many others such as myself keep parroting... There is no wrong way to play this game, only personal preference. So long as you are enjoying the $60 (or more) you spent on it, then you're doing it right.

Exactly!!! This game can be played sim-style or you can take advantage of some of the advantages you have as user (e.g. signing Greg Holland - heck I brought him in for my Indians and he helped lead me to a World Series victory, tossing 52 innings with 78 K's and 46 saves only 1 blown save all year with a sub 1.5 ERA). So, yeah, I took advantage there ... but I had fun doing it and don't hold my franchise result to be the result of challenging myself to avoid taking advantage of stuff like FA signings.