Better to sign players in arbitration or FA?

[SouthernWarrior]

About to head into the ASB and contract time.

Is it better to sign my players for their arbitration value, or just sign them long term?

[eric7064]

ARB value.

With the morale system, once they hit 6.000 years of service if they are not making the money that there overall would usually get they will be mad.

[garry1221]

I typically re-up arb eligible players for 2 or 3 years, depending on the situation. Most won't sign anything longer than that. If a player is in my longer term plans, I'll re-up for 2 years, then his 3rd arb year give him a long term contract that'll eat up FA years. If I think the player is better as shorter term trade bait, I'll lock him up for all 3 yrs of arb @ .1 or .2 above his asking price.

[Therebelyell626]

Quote: Originally Posted by SouthernWarrior

About to head into the ASB and contract time. Is it better to sign my players for their arbitration value, or just sign them long term?

It really depends on your team, budget size, players future potential and trajectory. If I am a small market or poor team, I will usually try and milk their arbitration years as much as possible. Sometimes I will try and extend them long term if it makes sense, but for the most part players will be much cheaper in arbitration. Of course their morale will be affected, but you have to be budget conscious to build a contender with a team like the A’s or rays

[TheWarmWind]

Depends on the player but I think in 90% of cases the best course is wait until the end or the final arbitration year before signing a long term contract.

Your renewable and arbitration years are basically your risk free years. By signing early, you're taking on more risk for what? A few extra million later in the players years? Yeah if you win the gamble you look like a genius, but the risk/reward equation doesn't really favour the decision.

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