FA Bids - August 13 - 19

Mike waives Rick Ankiel and Justin Speier and signs Cameron Maybin and Clay Buchholz for $1 each.

Sandlot Gang waives Mark Teahen, Chuck James and Brian Fuentes and signs Mark Reynolds, Micah Owings and Brandon Morrow for $1 each.

Austin places Willy Taveras on the DL and signs Mike Piazza for $1.

2008 Plans

A few weeks ago, I posted a poll about keeper options for 2008. Only 7 owners voted, but I got a clear sense that everyone wanted to maintain some form of keeper format in the future. I'm good with that.

So, here's my 2008 rule shuffle.

First, keepers will have the following limits:

MAXIMUM 5 hitters and 3 pitchers (40% of offense and 33% of pitchers)
or
MAXIMUM retained value of $125

What that means is this: You can keep up to 8 players BUT their total value cannot exceed $125 (including $5 per player increase) OR you can keep up to $125 in players (including $5 per player increase) but the total number of players CANNOT exceed 5 hitters/3 pitchers.

I think this is a fair and equitable way to do things, allowing keepers while placing greater emphasis on the draft. I also am hopeful that this will result in some more realistic player values at Festivus '08.

OK, onto mid-season dealing:

I have spent a considerable amount of time this year struggling with budgetary issues. It is almost Impossible for me to keep track after the first two weeks of who is an injury rep and who isn't and whether or not the right player has been dropped and what the cap hit is. Therefore, I am changing the rules.

Teams will have, starting next year, a Free Agent Acquisition Budget (FAAB) of $150. This is separate from your draft day cash of $260, which is now only good for draft day. Any money not spent on draft day is no longer carried forward into the season. This can be used in the following ways:

* Sign a free agent
* Retain a free agent signed to replace an injured player

I will be keeping separate track next year of all free agents who are signed. Any free agent signed at any time can be dropped for a returning opening day roster player and that money will be returned to your FAAB. If you drop an opening day starter, he goes back into the pot and can be signed by any other owner using whatever portion of FAAB is left. The owner who dropped the player will NOT have to retain the player's salary.

Protected costs for all rostered players will be the same as they are today (whatever their owner paid for them plus $5).

All trades are now straight up. Dollars do NOT factor into trades. This, of course, comes with the expectation that teams will not execute dump trades. To enforce this, all trades made after JULY 15 are subject to a 48-hour waiver period. During that time, any owner can make a claim on a player included in any trade, at a cost of $30 of their remaining FAAB. Example: I offer Mike A-Rod ($50) for three players totalling $14. Scott, in reviewing the trade, makes a waiver claim on A-Rod. I then have 24 hours to either work out a deal with Scott or give him A-Rod, at a cost of $30 of his remaining FAAB, or revoke the trade, keeping A-Rod.

FA Bids - August 5 - 12

Mike waives Johnny Estrada, Ray Durham and Micah Owings and signs Ryan Raburn, Rick Ankiel and Kerry Wood for $1 each

Brian places Ryan Freel on the DL and signs Joba Chamberlain for $2

Pandas waive Mike Piazza and sign Melky Cabrea for $1.

Jon places Octavio Dotel on the DL and signs Tony Pena for $2. Jon also fills an open bench spot by signing Brian Bannister for $1.

Sandlot fills two open bench spots by signing John Danks and Khalil Greene for $1 each. Sandlot also waives Josh Barfield and signs Jeremy Hermida for $1.

Free Agent Bids - July 30 - August 5

First, thanks to James for keeping everything running while I enjoyed a much-needed vacation.

Second, a note about the trade deadline. I do not believe that any trades processed after this Friday will go through at all. Plan accordingly.

Third, the free agent deadline is Saturday August 25 at 10 PM. All free agents picked up after this date CANNOT be protected.

Now to the free agent moves:

Mike waives Mark Kotsay and signs Danny Richar for $1

Austin waives Jeremy Hermida and signs Jason Botts for $1

Brian places Edgar Renteria and Bobby Crosby on the DL and waives Ryan Shealy and Homer Bailey. Signs Justin Upton for $5, Tim Wakefield, Morgan Ensberg and Yunel Escobar for $2 each

Todd waives Jon Garland and signs Scott Baker for $1

Pandas place Hunter Pence on the DL. Sign Marco Scutaro for $1 and Adam Jones for $4 (open bench spot).

Joel waives Sammy Sosa and signs Akinori Iwamura for $1

Sandlot fills an open bench spot by signing Mike Mussina for $1