Time to add the DH/third OF?

[Cubs GM (Beau)]

With all the discussion of the 8+8, expanded rosters, likely addition of universal DH in CBA, and the such. Time to finally add that third OF spot?

[Cubs GM (Beau)]

Also, alot of leagues have gone to a CF + 2 OF which is pretty cool.

[Braves GM (Dustin)]

How would this effect salary caps? If a third OF position is added, would there be a cap increase?

[Cardinals GM (John C)]

If we were to add a slot, I would prefer to add a second Utility spot -- that way we don't deplete the OF position completely in the FA pool (although it likely will have an impact on available MLB batters).

My biggest issue with adding additional scoring positions or with increasing the roster size is this: MLB teams can turn ANYONE into an active MLB player. They may or may not be good, but they can accumulate stats (even if it is only a bloated ERA or a 0.000 BA).

A league like this has to rely upon MLB GM and Manager decisions that we cannot control. That means there must be players available in FA or else whatever team you go to battle with in April is what you have (barring trades) so even more teams will have a reason to stop paying attention earlier in the season, which is the opposite direction from where we probably want to go.

[Rays GM (Donavan)]

I agree with adding a 3rd OF, but instead of the UTIL position.

We should mirror the real-life MLB.

Yes a real MLB team runs out into the field with 1 x Catcher, 2 x CI, 2 x MI & 3 x OF.

The 3rd OF should be added, as only having 2 x OF in this league has diminished the value of OF’s.

The real question should be do we change the CI positions to 1B & 3B, and MI to 2B & SS, I think not in a 30 team league.

[Cubs GM (Beau)]

Oct 2, 2021 16:04:04 GMT -8 Rays GM (Donavan) said:

I agree with adding a 3rd OF, but instead of the UTIL position.

We should mirror the real-life MLB.

Yes a real MLB team runs out into the field with 1 x Catcher, 2 x CI, 2 x MI & 3 x OF.

The 3rd OF should be added, as only having 2 x OF in this league has diminished the value of OF’s.

The real question should be do we change the CI positions to 1B & 3B, and MI to 2B & SS, I think not in a 30 team league.

MLB team runs out into the field with 1 x Catcher, 2 x CI, 2 x MI & 3 x OF...and a DH.

[Astros GM (Dave)]

I love all of the discussions going on, and I would like to see a third OF added.  As far as the DH, I would suggest we follow MLB's lead, if they vote to have a DH in NL, then we should add it as well.  It would give us a "pool" of players to use as a DH and not be limited with the amount of players available in our league to use as DH.  One suggestion I want to throw out there, let's add another 5 or even 10 players to our salary cap exempt list.  The reason is simple, we are always going to have teams in the league going through rebuilds, either total rebuilds or partial rebuilds.  Right now, the teams going through total rebuilds are forced to put minor leaguers on their roster that count against their salary cap.  By expanding the exempt list, they can rebuild and still field a somewhat competitive team.  To John's point earlier, this would help in making sure that teams that are fighting for playoff spots are playing against teams that can meet the minimums and not have "give me wins" because minimums aren't met.  Just my thought on it, I would like to hear from everyone about their thoughts on it.  To me, it's an easy fix for helping teams that are rebuilding and helps in making sure people can hit the minimums so no easy wins for teams fighting for the playoffs.

[Guardians GM (Matt)]

I would be in favor of a 3rd OF. If you hit injury related rough patches there are almost always available OFers to get some ABs from to help get you week to week.

[White Sox GM (Aidan)]

I am also in favor of a 3rd OF spot

[Former Twins GM (Robin)]

I'm all for an additional OF spot. I always thought we should have one.

[Rockies GM (Dan)]

I'm not in favor of adding another active roster spot for two big reasons

1) Teams that have good, cheap depth already have a HUGE advantage on teams that don't. This makes that disparity even more pronounced. Teams that are already straining against the cap will have no resource.

2) In reality, only 15 teams are adding another hitter on an every day basis. A move like this makes for an additional 30 players out of the free agency pool, diluting what is already not a reliable talent pool

[Former Twins GM (Robin)]

Missed you, Dan! I disagree, but good to see you back!

[Rays GM (Donavan)]

I think the 3rd OF/DH position should replace the UTIL spot.

Therefore we would still have the same number of batters on a daily basis, the reasons being-

* we would no longer devalue the OF position,
* the value of CI/MI would be restored, with teams only being able to start 2 of each (same as MLB),
* this change wouldn’t shrink the free agency pool, as we would have the same number of starting bats.

[Former Angels GM (Mike C.)]

In favor of adding the 3rd OF spot and keeping a UTIL, if a 3rd OF is added.

Every season there are plenty of FA though out the season and even still ones available at the end of the season. This is a Dynasty 30 team league. Teams shouldn't expect to have a star studded lineup and star studded minor leagues anymore with this many active teams, that's for 12, 14 or 18 team leagues A top team should have the best worst players as well as have teams keeping more AAA players that could be called up during the season, with most everyone having some top tier players. Anyone can read scouting reports on the the top guys, knowing who will be the best crappy guys can make a difference, the best all around team. This brings so much more strategy into the mix of spending money before the season, during the season and even at the end of the season. The Baltimore O's saved and bought some damn good difference makers the last week of FA and was a great strategy and example of this, some teams spent all their money before the season and some during.

[Rangers GM (Victor)]

Missed this discussion, but would definitely be interested in seeing an additional OF spot added. When I e looked at most people's rosters, they all have an abundance of OFs and there's still OFs that could provide some stats. With the universal DH all but given, this would make our lineup as close to mimicking MLB, outside of breaking up CI and MI positions.

Has there been discussions amount the COs or a vote taken about this?

[Cardinals GM (John C)]

" ... Every season there are plenty of FA though out the season ..."

I have seen this argument several times in this thread.  Would this statement remain true if we take 30 more OFs out of the FA pool?

[Nationals GM (Preston)]

Universal DH changes my opinion, as I have previously been against it.

[Rockies GM (Dan)]

I don't think we should add it for this year. Not with FA already wrapping up.

I'm still kind of with Cards about it. Even if they add universal DH, that's only 15 more theoretical every day players, while we're removing 30.

[Braves GM (Dustin)]

Good point Dan.

[Diamondbacks GM (Ethan)]

I'm in favor of adding a 3rd OF, particularly if we continue to promote ourselves as "reflecting real life". However, this should have been decided earlier in the offseason and definitely prior to FA. If we added it now, we'd have to add cap space as some people may be saving some for inevitable salary arbitration issues that are going to come up. Say we add an OF, add $5M to the cap, but projected salary arbitration numbers come in low and now that owner is over the cap.

What with the CBA nowhere close to settled, creating a major rule/roster change this late in the game seems foolhardy. Committing to a 3rd OF for 2023 once we know what everything looks like feels like the best balance.