Minor League Expansion details

[Scott (Boston Padres)]

As we wind down our Initial Free Agent bidding, here's the latest and greatest with respect to our Minor League system. I see this as a compromise from our discussions prior to FA bidding. I hope you all agree.

Once our Initial FA bidding is over and every team has at least 37 Major League spots filled, we will expand the Minors roster to 60. This means a maximum of 60 minors eligible players (less than 130 AB, 50 IP, or 20 appearances in the Majors). We will expand the minors roster in two phases.

1) First, you may select up to three (3) additional minor leaguers from either of your two dynasty MLB franchises. We will not begin the 2nd phase until this selection is complete and I am sure all teams have added 1, 2, or 3 minor leaguers from their own franchises if they are indeed going to do so. Then...

2) We will conduct a mini 3-round draft where you may choose from any remaining free agent minor league prospects, from any MLB franchise. This will be done in a Waterfall fashion. The first pick in the 1st round will become the last pick in the 2nd round and everyone else will move up. The second pick in the 1st round will move up to the first pick in the 2nd round.

These two phases can add up to 6 Minor leaguers to your current farm system. Then during the season you will have the opportunity to bid on any other free agent minor leaguers via blind bidding to [e-mail]. You may only acquire one prospect per month in this fashion from April through September, beginning on the first day of each month. If you have 58 prospects going into the season, then you will only be allowed to acquire two more (one in April, one in May) which would max you out at 60. If you only have 49 prospects going into the season, you still may only acquire one per month which could bring you to a total of 55. Only one player acquired via blind bidding per month.

More details to follow. Just wanted to let you know we'll keep the action going even once our FA bidding is over shortly.

[bxm701]

2 questions.

1) if you don't add 3 players from your own system, could you add 3 undrafted players directly post draft (essentially, you draft 6).

2) if you go into season with 58 minors, add one in April, one in may - you can still add one in June, you would just have to drop one, correct?

[Scott (Boston Padres)]

Sorry, clarification - mini change needed on In-Season phase. Instead of blind bid email, since there's no cost to adding these prospects, a 1-round draft per month makes more sense and would be a lot easier on my end. It will be conducted in reverse order of the standings at that time of the year. April's round would I guess be reverse order of our 1st round franchise selection.

[Scott (Boston Padres)]

Answer to Ben's questions...

1) No, if you don't add three from your own system, then you forfeit those 3 spots. You will still only be able to draft 3 in the mini 3-round draft. This is a way we're going to add to the franchise dynasty flavor of our league.

2) Sure, if you want to add another in June or any other month, you can always do that and then drop one of your existing players -but cannot exceed 60.