Restriction Tag Reduction

[Rockies GM (Alex)]

I think having two restriction tags really limits the fun of free agency.  I would propose that we reduce the amount of restriction tags a team has in free agency to one restriction tag.  I also think making it more like a QO or the restricted free agency format of Free Agency would make it more realistic.  Meaning a team can only offer a Restriction Tag to a player following his 7th year of Arbitration, not just any free agency.

My proposal:

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Teams only have 1 restriction tag to use in the off-season.  This can be given to any player following his last year of Option A arbitration.

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Thoughts?

[D'backs GM (Kyle)]

So, this is a two part change. I don't have a strong feeling one way or the other about reducing the r-tag to 1 per year. I personally don't like the idea of only allowing it for guys coming off a-arb deals.

[Marlins GM (Travis)]

Think it's fine. The way it is.

[Rockies GM (Alex)]

Nov 2, 2021 14:39:02 GMT -5 D'backs GM (Kyle) said:

So, this is a two part change. I don't have a strong feeling one way or the other about reducing the r-tag to 1 per year. I personally don't like the idea of only allowing it for guys coming off a-arb deals.

Doesn't have to be a two-part change.  I just think having teams just bid for players to keep them works, and the abundance of restriction tags on virtually all the top free agents makes bidding less fun.  

[Marlins GM (Travis)]

I rescind my statement. I like cutting it to 1 restriction, but not only applying to A contracts. I'm tired of there being 60 restricted guys, most of which will have the contract matched anyway. Too many is only problem I see here.

[Cardinals GM (Nik)]

I like reducing it to 1

[Blue Jays GM (Stephen)]

I like reducing to 1 and the QO tweak I would make is not on who is eligible, but in starting bid value potentially starting those bids at the Franchise tag value OR a set value each year agreed on by the league as a minimum contract for all restricted players. If someone wants that guy they have to pay more than the franchise tag value or league set value for him.

[Rockies GM (Alex)]

Poll added to vote on a potential rule change for the amount of restriction tags teams get each off-season.

[Rockies GM (Alex)]

Take a look at the free agents out there... I feel like half of the restriction tags are just thrown on there because you might as well being you have an extra one to use. Why not just have those be regular free agents?

[Rockies GM (Alex)]

A couple examples to keep this conversation going... There were 42 restriction tags handed out this off-season of the 60 available if all teams had used their 2 tags.

Here were the 42 players tagged. Just eye-balling it, a couple could go up or down. I would say 22 of these guys are quality players who would get something like a tag. The bottom 20 guys are back-end starters or bottom 5-10 players at their position in the league. I don't see why those kind of players should get a restriction tag in our free agency. It makes people more hesitant to bid on them. Getting rid of one of the tags would free up free agency more I think.

1B, Eric Hosmer
1B, C.J. Cron
2B, Jonathan Villar
2B, DJ LeMaheiu
2B, Jean Segura
3B, Josh Donaldson
OF, David Peralta
OF, Tommy Pham
OF, Starling Marte
OF, Jorge Soler
SP, Chris Archer
SP, Carlos Carrasco
SP, Max Scherzer
SP, Wade Miley
SP, Dallas Keuchel
SP, Jordan Lyles
SP, James Paxton
SP, Kyle Hendricks
SP, John Means
RP, Kyle Finnegan
RP, Joe Barlow
RP, Ian Kennedy


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C, Jacob Stallings
C, Yan Gomes
2B, Starlin Castro
SS, Elvis Andrus
SS, Alcides Escobar
OF, Marwin Gonzalez
OF, Odubel Herrera
OF, Dexter Fowler
SP, Martin Perez
SP, Alex Cobb
SP, Chase Anderson
SP, Garrett Richards
RP, Steve Cishek
RP, JT Chargois
RP, Sergio Romo
RP, Brad Boxberger
RP, Drew Pomeranz
RP, Caleb Thielbar
RP, Aaron Loup

[Nationals GM (Tim)]

This is a month long conversation that has 11 votes. It’s like the Sopranos. It’s over.

[Rockies GM (Alex)]

Well, doesn't look this is a go for next off-season. I still think it's a good idea for the future.

[Cardinals GM (Nik)]

Team Alex with this one