Players signing to overseas leagues

[Rangers GM (Stephen)]

Hi all,

I was thinking of putting together a proposal whereby a player signing in the NPB or KBO could be considered 'retired' under our league rules and have their guaranteed contract cancelled.

I used to think that the chance of a player with a guaranteed contract not playing (cough, Scooter Gennett) or playing in a different country was all part-and-parcel of the risk of the signing, but seeing Tanaka's recently expired contract or Choo's ongoing contract (both of which I think were quite reasonable when signed) makes me wonder whether it is really fair that the owners left holding the baby are punished so heavily for something so outside of their control.

Does anyone object to this, and/or have any further thoughts?

Thanks,
Stephen

[jason (Jason, NYM)]

In my other league, signing overseas releases you from the contract.

[Angels GM (James)]

I think it makes sense to do so.

I would think having it set like the retirement forum where a GM has to post the cancellation and have it approved would make sense.

Gives the GM some control over whether they would prefer to stash the contract in case the player makes a triumphant return to the MLB.

[Guardians GM (Jay)]

I'd support the option of either keeping the contract, in hopes they return, or having the ability to shed the contract.

[Astros GM (Adam)]

I would support that motion as well. I wonder if a lockout would increase the incentives for more players on the edge of viability this year to play elsewhere.

[bill (Bill, SD)]

Yeah, support that idea as well

[Pirates GM (TJ)]

I'd be in favor of such a rule, especially if it came with a stipulation that the team that saw the contract cancelled is not permitted to bid on the player again during the window of the original contract. So if Kyler had Tony Flags $6.0 2024 on his roster and Tony left for Korea for the 2022 season, Kyler can cancel that contract but then can't bid on Flags again until 2025 even if he returns from Korea for the 2023 season.

I'm in a dynasty hockey league that will celebrate its 40th year of existence next season. And we have well-established rules there for players heading overseas, because it happens a LOT. Baseball will likely never get to quite that point, but I see a lot more trans-pacific movement in baseball's future.

[Rangers GM (Stephen)]

TJ - I think that point is valid and worth making, regardless of whether we make changes to how we handle guaranteed contracts for players who sign overseas.

I will draw up some wording.

Stephen

[Astros GM (Adam)]

As always, the proposal is well written. Thanks for putting that together Stephen.

Just wondering if there might be any benefit to making it a little broader to include other professional leagues aside from KBO and NPB, whose season runs simultaneous with MLB? Perhaps not even necessarily “overseas”. If this would open too large of a can of worms, I understand too.

[Rangers GM (Stephen)]

Which league(s) would you suggest?


I thought about the Mexican league, but for some reason I seem to think that the ability for a player signed in Mexico to suddenly have a turnaround and end up back in MLB is more likely than a similar return from Japan or Korea. Likewise independent ball.

Also, I think this is really intended to protect from your $5 Tanaka's and $3 Choo's rather than a $0.5 reliever going south to Mexico. Have we ever seen any player with a contract of any significance end up anywhere other than KBO and NPB?

[Astros GM (Adam)]

My mind also went to the independent leagues, such as Roger Clemens pitching for the Skeeters.

You’re right though. It’s probably best to limit it to just those two, to avoid more blurry gray lines.

[St. Louis GM (Bert)]

*Checks Roster For Guys Overseas*

Mild indifference here, but like the idea of having the choice to keep the contract. I like barring people from getting them back if they choose to cut them, but could find my way to downgrading that to just barring them from claiming a discount. I would worry about dumping a high salary (in the Tony Flags example) only to be able to sign them for much less if they left and came back.

[Rangers GM (Stephen)]

Hello all,

I wonder whether there would be an appetite to put to vote another variant to this idea - the ability to dump a contract of a player banned for perhaps 80 games (or 162 games) or more?

I know simpler is usually better and we want to avoid rules for the sake of rules, but I just thought I'd throw it out there.

Stephen

[Astros GM (Adam)]

That sounds like a good idea to me. Not every suspension is created equal, but some can be so bitter that having a way out could be nice. Trevor Bauer comes to mind.

[St. Louis GM (Bert)]

I don't like the partial season one, but something like the dump and block bidding during the previous contract length for someone banned for more than a year seems palatable.