Free Agency: Bidding Calculator

[Astros GM (Will)]

For the 2019-2020 offseason, we voted to implement a points system for free agent contracts. Some concepts will remain, while we look to add a multiplier in order to increase the value of contract years offered.

BK Free Agency Calculator

Here is an example, through the calculator that is available to everyone, to check the Points Value of a contract, and also what contract of each length will beat the current offer.



Rules:

- Year 1: Multiply Annual Value by 1.0
- Year 2: Multiply Annual Value by 1.1
- Year 3: Multiply Annual Value by 1.2
- Year 4: Multiply Annual Value by 1.3
- Year 5: Multiply Annual Value by 1.4
- Option Years do not add any additional points
- A successful bid requires a points increase of at least 0.3, rounded down to the tenths place (0.1).

Example 1: Current Offer = 3 years, $10.0M (annual value)

- Contract Points = 1.2 x 10 ($10.0M annual value) = 12.0 points.
- A successful bid against this contract requires at least 12.3 points rounded (not 12.28 points).
- The table at the bottom of the calculator gives the valid minimum offers of each contract length, with the corresponding point values. Notice that it is not necessarily possible to get exactly 12.3 points with all contract lengths because contracts can only be defined to the nearest 0.1. 
- For any given contract length, the value may obviously exceed the example table. This just dictates the minimum increase required for a successful bid.

- Valid offers include:



- By logic, a shorter contract (1-2 years) must be substantially higher in Annual Value in order to top the contract points of the current offer. Similarly, contracts longer in length can actually have a lower annual value given the points multiplier offered by longer contracts.


A few more quick examples:

Example 2: Current Offer = 5 years, $1.0M (annual value)



Example 3: 1 year, $28.5M (Annual Value) plus option

- Notice that there is no input for option years because again, these have no contract points value.



Any further input on the calculator is welcome at this time, and feel free to ask questions!

[Marlins GM (Travis)]

Think it's dumb still.

[Astros GM (Will)]

Jun 24, 2019 12:49:41 GMT -5 Marlins GM (Travis) said:

Think it's dumb still.

The league was in a heavy majority favoring a switch from our current method. Any input on what could make this better or more easy to use?

[Brewers GM (Tim)]

Thanks Will!

Some questions:

1) Reminder where is the calculator? Could it be moved/included into the main BK google workbook?

2) Going forward, does a "valid bid" have to include the point value? For example:

5yr, with option, 8.8m, 12.3 points

In other words, if you don't put the points -> bid is invalid?

3) Assuming it's correct that "beating" a bid means both points values are rounded. For example, that a 12.28 bid would beat a 12.01 bid. I figure these examples will be few and far between, but I wanted to clarify.

[Astros GM (Will)]

Jun 24, 2019 13:43:44 GMT -5 Brewers GM (Tim) said:

Thanks Will!

Some questions:

1) Reminder where is the calculator? Could it be moved/included into the main BK google workbook?

2) Going forward, does a "valid bid" have to include the point value? For example:

5yr, with option, 8.8m, 12.3 points

In other words, if you don't put the points -> bid is invalid?

3) Assuming it's correct that "beating" a bid means both points values are rounded. For example, that a 12.28 bid would beat a 12.01 bid. I figure these examples will be few and far between, but I wanted to clarify.

1) I linked to it in my post. Here it is again: link

Alex could easily add a slide for this to implement. The sheet will be protected so that only the contract length and annual value can be changed. Everything else would be locked.

2) We started discussing in the groupme. I don't think that the point value not being included should invalidate the bid, but it would be very helpful to include it for reference.

3) The difference between current offer and valid bid must be >= 0.3 points. Rounding occurs on the difference between the contracts, not on the contracts. Here's another example.



- Current offer = 6.72 points
- Valid bid = 7.02 points or higher

[Rockies GM (Alex)]

Bidding calculator has been added to the sidebar. I don't think listing the points will invalidate a bid this first year. Maybe after we've gotten used to it.

[Nationals GM (Tim)]

My head hurts

[Marlins GM (Travis)]

The old system was the definition of easy. I'm a PhD math student and don't feel like multiplying by 1.1, or 1.2 everytime, to see if my new 1 year bid is going to be higher than someone's 2 or 3 year bid.

[Astros GM (Will)]

Well I have a PhD in Fantasy Baseball and I am in favor of weighting contract value by the length of the contract.

[Astros GM (Will)]

What if we name the system after your favorite mathematician? We can call it Euler's Calculator and squeeze in some imaginary numbers into the equation, like divide the contract value by the Marlins 2019 playoff odds?

[Marlins GM (Travis)]

How did you pronounce Euler?!

[D'backs GM (Kyle)]

Jun 24, 2019 16:55:12 GMT -5 Marlins GM (Travis) said:

The old system was the definition of easy. I'm a PhD math student and don't feel like multiplying by 1.1, or 1.2 everytime, to see if my new 1 year bid is going to be higher than someone's 2 or 3 year bid.

So you’re saying you’re just lazy?

[Astros GM (Will)]

Jun 24, 2019 17:08:29 GMT -5 Marlins GM (Travis) said:

How did you pronounce Euler?!

I pronounced it in German with a Swiss accent

[Nationals GM (Tim)]

Post #666!

[Marlins GM (Travis)]

Jun 24, 2019 17:09:04 GMT -5 D'backs GM (Kyle) said:

Jun 24, 2019 16:55:12 GMT -5 Marlins GM (Travis) said:

The old system was the definition of easy. I'm a PhD math student and don't feel like multiplying by 1.1, or 1.2 everytime, to see if my new 1 year bid is going to be higher than someone's 2 or 3 year bid.

So you’re saying you’re just lazy?

Precisely.