Trading free agent players with or without tags

[Rays GM (Donavan)]

In this league we are currently allowed to trade free agent players in the off-season so long as they are moved with a tag (either franchise or restricted tag).

Given that these trades occur prior to all teams determining which players they will tag, I want to put forward two additional options-

1. That a player traded with a tag to a team, can be separated from the tag after the trade is passed, but not after the free agency lists are final.

Example - team A receive as part of a trade Mat Latos (with a restricted tag). Team A then decide they would either use their Franchise tag on Latos (maybe because his real-life salary has been released, and is good), or decide they would prefer to let Latos go as an unrestricted free agent, and use the restricted tag they received in the trade on another free agent player.

2. A free agent can be traded without a tag, and the team receiving the player then has he option to tag or release to unrestricted free agency. Similar to if the trade had been done just prior to the in-season trade deadline.

This would allow competing teams to better manage their free agents without giving-up players that may be important to their competitiveness beyond the trade deadline.


Let's hear some opinions.

[Former Angels GM (Mike C.)]

not sure why the needed rule change here? apples/oranges? Just guessing so you can take Latos tag and use it elsewhere?

If the Majority likes it, I would go for it, but not for the benefit of 1 team.

[Rays GM (Donavan)]

The rule is not for my benefits (certainly not this season), and I just used Latos as an example of a free agent.

I think the introduction of this type of rule would enable competing teams a chance to move free agents without hindering their run at the title.

If I was a competing team with 4 very good players that were becoming free agents at year end, I probably wouldn't trade them because I need them so the team can compete this year.

If I am a team not making post season action and have 4 very good players that are becoming free agents at year end, then I trade 1-2 (so I can get a return, rather than lose them to unrestricted free agency in the off-season).

The rule provides all teams the ability to trade excess (surplus to tags) free agents, without weakening the competition for the title.

[Former Angels GM (Mike C.)]

sorry, but with all teams same cap, everyone would have same amount of tags. Think this is more complicated than its worth to change current rule. please don't take personal but it falls in my "pointless rule change" file.

if the majority likes it, sure whatever.

[Rays GM (Donavan)]

No issue.

I guess option 1 could be seen to complicate the inequality in the number of tags some teams may end up with, but this already happens with the trading of players with tags already occuring.

Option 2 may be the cleaner way to go with a deadline for trading free agents post season opened up for say 2-3 weeks after the PB Fantasy Baseball final has been completed. Where free agents can be traded without tags attached, so that the competing teams have the opportunity to manage their free agents and also take their best line-up into the play-off's.

[Nationals GM (Preston - Old)]

I definitely don't like option 2. Teams shouldn't be able to get value for players whose contracts expired, unless they're giving up something of value with the player, ie. the tag.

[Former Twins GM (Robin)]

I'd vote no on either option.