Free Agency Start Date?

[Rockies GM (Alex)]

Hey everyone,

Just thinking ahead here for Free Agency.  It'd be great to get a date set in advance.

The winter meetings for MLB this season are December 10th-14th, where a lot of the action should take place for where players are going to end up.

If this matters to you all relative to our free agency, it'd likely be wise to start our free agency period after the winter meetings.  If not, we could really start it any time.  Christmas is also a factor, as I'm sure many of you will be seeing family during that time and wouldn't care to be checking in on your latest bids a lot.  

Here's a few proposals:

December 1st - before the winter meetings
December 15th - right after the winter meetings.  
December 18th - Monday - start of the week before Christmas.
January 1st - Monday 
January 5th - So it's not on New Year's Day

Let me know you're thoughts!

Thanks!

[Padres GM (Denver)]

My vote is for December 1st or 18th because Ill be flying to Colorado on the 15th, and flying back January 10th. Starting the other two days allows me to be most active in FA and I dont wanna do a NYD start

[Orioles GM (Michael)]

Here's my thinking on all this:

I know it just sounds like my impatience, but I'm in favor of the sooner the better. I know that delaying free agency would, in theory, give people another reason to be active throughout the offseason. However, I think there's also a reality that there will inevitably be some GMs who just check out for a few weeks in that January and/or February period, and I'm sure we'll probably see a dip in activity in the weeks leading up to the December holiday season. I'm sure there will be guys (like myself) who will be checking in regularly, but there will also be ones who aren't.

Having already made peace with that, my feeling is that, while I selfishly want as few guys competing with me for FAs as possible, for the league's sake, I want as much activity as possible during the FA period so that teams all have an opportunity to improve and we have the best possible league entering 2018.

I know that for college students like myself, exams start to pop up towards the middle of December, and then there's travel, and then holiday season. I'm sure that for people in other stages of life, there's also craziness associated with that mid-to-late December period as well.

Given that activity has been so strong in the last few weeks, I feel like we should build on that momentum and try and get it rolling relatively soon, before that starts to slow down come mid-December.

My thinking is that we start on Monday, November 20th. While Thanksgiving does have some craziness associated with it, it seems (to me) to be one of those seasons where, excluding the one or two days of travel, there's enough downtime over the course of the week to be active in something like this. In fact, in years' past I've generally turned to Base Knock, Twitter, etc. when I'm looking to catch a mental break from relatives for a few minutes. Whereas during exam/Christmas/New Year's time, there's so much running around and such that there's much less opportunity.

Given the craziness of December and the inevitable inactivity from some come January/February, my gut says lets get it rolling November 20th. I'd even be in favor of sooner, but I figured waiting a week would give us time to notify everyone. But, if we think we could start even sooner, I wouldn't be opposed.

Anyway, I'm fine if we start another time, but that's my thinking.

[D'backs GM (Kyle)]

I’m personally impatient and want to start tomorrow but in realty I think a date after the MLB winter meetings is best. I personally vote for December 18th.

[Mariners GM (Phil)]

i'm impatient i'm cool with December 1st

[Blue Jays GM (Stephen)]

December 1 works for me

[Das (Former Giants GM)]

Whatever keeps the momentum moving, I vote for the sooner the better

[Rockies GM (Alex)]

I think the best three options would be to start it November 20th, December 1st, or December 15th. The 20th because it's soon and we have a lot of activity right now. The 1st because it's after Thanksgiving. And the 15th because it's after the MLB Winter Meetings.

[Braves GM (Jared)]

Release some each week starting Monday!

[Astros GM (Will)]

I like you guys and all, but I don't want to have to be on and checking on free agents over the holidays, either Thanksgiving weekend or Christmas. December 1st would be a good in between.

[Cubs GM (Tanner)]

As annoying it would be to do it over Christmas, I think we should wait until after the winter meeting to start. I have final exams on the previous dates and it'll give us a good idea of where players will end up and such. I am impatient to start free agency as well, but think this is best in the long run. I know we're all busy over Christmas and Christmas Eve so what we could do is put it on pause for those two days so people can enjoy some time off and spend time with family.

[Phillies GM (Zach)]

November is too early. I think we have to wait until at the very least Dec. 1 (as much as we may not want to). The longer the off-season goes and the more MLB guys that get signed the easier it is for us to make decisions.

[Rockies GM (Alex)]

I think the best scenario in my opinion is a December 1st start. That week is super busy for me, so this isn't my personal preference. However, we have a pretty active league right now. To capitalize on that for an optimally effective free agency, I think December 1st is the best date that doesn't interfere with Thanksgiving or Christmas.

[Gene (Former Athletics GM)]

MLB free agency doesn't kick into high gear until at or after the December Meetings, and even then, many "average" free agents don't sign until January. Fantasy baseball is in large part reliant on what happens in the real baseball world - signings (not to mention trades that also pick up in December or later) can impact playing time, roles, etc. of the player involved and others. Also, information on players with injuries in the prior season doesn't usually start to be public until January or thereabouts.
IMO, we want the best information available when making personnel decisions. There is no need for BK to rush into off-season free agency. So, I think that 11/20 is way too early. A timeframe like 1/5 or 1/12 makes the most sense - although I don't see either posted as an alternative. Of the choices made available the latest date, 12/15, is preferable.

[Dodgers GM (Scott)]

I agree with Gene. What happens in MLB free agency has a huge impact on player value. It could mean signing someone assuming they will get an everyday role in the lineup but they end up in a platoon with someone else. I think it's best to get as much information as we can before we start free agency so I would say 12/15 is preferable.

[Orioles GM (Michael)]

I share everyone's sentiments that it's definitely easier to bid on guys once they've signed with teams. I've just struggled with the fact that we usually hit an activity drought around Christmas/January/February, and while obviously I don't think we should punish active GMs for others being inactive, I also don't want it to be a thing where Free Agency is happening and only 1/3 or 1/2 of the league is online regularly. Would create really lopsided league, which I don't think is a good thing.

So, I think it's worth discussing best way to balance making sure people are around while also acknowledging that it's easier to do FA once guys have signed

[Rockies GM (Alex)]

Well, I mean if everyone can commit to being here on December 15th. I think that would be the best time to go for it. Our activity is great now, why can't it continue?

[Rockies GM (Alex)]

Well November 20th is out of the question now. Could those five who voted for that date and others who haven't voted yet vote on either the 1st or 15th? Do we need to add another option after Christmas?

[Rockies GM (Alex)]

I would propose starting on December 15th, bidding for over a week, having a free agency freeze on December 24th and December 25th and continuing onwards after Christmas and starting the bidding clocks again.

[Rockies GM (Alex)]

Sorry to push you guys, but if we could get the 2 votes on November 20th and the other 8 GM's to vote on December 1st or 15th that would get our decision. Thanks!

[Rockies GM (Alex)]

Chris (Former Cardinals GM) Guardians GM (Thomas) Yankees GM (Jerry) @secretasianman Angels GM (Derrick) Braves GM (Jared) Mike (Former Mets GM) Marlins GM (Travis)

[Marlins GM (Travis)]

I think this is rather confusing. We normally start in Feb. So why don't we start beginning of January, after holidays? Then we're a month ahead of schedule already, and we don't have to worry about holidays affecting FA altogether?

[Braves GM (Jared)]

I don’t care when we start

[Mike (Former Mets GM)]

Nov 21, 2017 19:06:10 GMT -5 Marlins GM (Travis) said:

I think this is rather confusing. We normally start in Feb. So why don't we start beginning of January, after holidays? Then we're a month ahead of schedule already, and we don't have to worry about holidays affecting FA altogether?

This

[Gene (Former Athletics GM)]

While I voted for 12/15 because that was IMO the best date put for vote, I do agree with Marlins and Mets. If the standard practice has been to start sometime after the holiday season or even February, why are we now rushing ahead by a month? Rather than "down time" as some suggested that period is, it should be a time when baseball enthusiasts are actually being active, what with free agent signings ongoing, teams putting pieces in place for spring training, the approach of spring training, projections being published etc.

[Rockies GM (Alex)]

Well, last year was a bit of an anomaly as far as league history is concerned. In 2016 we did start late after Christmas, but in 2015 we started December 17th and in 2014 we had a weird year with leadership... not sure when FA happened, and in 2013 we started November 17th.

I suppose everyone is just wanting to get going. We could just flip it and start the MiLB Draft really soon and wait on FA til January... thoughts by others?

[Royals GM (Bill)]

I love that idea! MiLB Draft!

[Cubs GM (Tanner)]

I would prefer to start earlier. I’m waiting on free agency to make potential trades so I’ll know where I’ll be cap wise..

[Marlins GM (Travis)]

I monitor FA religiously, and I have multiple Christmas parties, New Years get togethers, etc. I would hate to lose a FA I'm eying simply because we were overzealous and started early. I'm sure other's would have a similar sentiment. I just don't understand why starting so early is needed.

[Astros GM (Will)]

If Free Agency is your religion, then why do you need to celebrate Christmas?