Cannot sign free agents in historic league

[mterracc]

So I started messing around doing a historic league with the Cardinals starting in 1982. I played the 1982 season and then made offers to several free agents. I basically matched all the demands on the three players I was going after -- Steve Carlton, Bo Diaz and Roy Smalley -- and none of them signed with me.

I'm just feeling very hurt right now that none of these guys wanted to sign with me LOL... No but seriously, I matched the offers they were looking for, so why would they not sign with me ?

[Rand]

Originally Posted by mterracc

So I started messing around doing a historic league with the Cardinals starting in 1982. I played the 1982 season and then made offers to several free agents. I basically matched all the demands on the three players I was going after -- Steve Carlton, Bo Diaz and Roy Smalley -- and none of them signed with me.

I'm just feeling very hurt right now that none of these guys wanted to sign with me LOL... No but seriously, I matched the offers they were looking for, so why would they not sign with me ?

Someone else probably offered more.
Their desired contracts are set at the start of free agency and not updated afterwards as bidding develops, if the player is highly sought after he may well end up getting offers far far in excess of what he starts out seeking.

I've also seen plenty of occasions wherein the AI basically just uses me for extra competition just to drive up the price tag and get other teams teams to bump up their offers, never intending to actually sign me.

Sometimes a player may take less money over more years, or more money over less years then he was asking etc etc.
Tons of variables.

Remember you're not bidding in isolation, other teams what them too and will do what they can to ensure their offers are more appealing then yours.
You should get a message in your mail informing you if he likes/dislikes your latest offer, occasionally though not always he may give a hint as to what in it doesn't suit him.

[mterracc]

Originally Posted by Rand

Someone else probably offered more.
Their desired contracts are set at the start of free agency and not updated afterwards as bidding develops, if the player is highly sought after he may well end up getting offers far far in excess of what he starts out seeking.

I've also seen plenty of occasions wherein the AI basically just uses me for extra competition just to drive up the price tag and get other teams teams to bump up their offers, never intending to actually sign me.

Sometimes a player may take less money over more years, or more money over less years then he was asking etc etc.
Tons of variables.

Remember you're not bidding in isolation, other teams what them too and will do what they can to ensure their offers are more appealing then yours.
You should get a message in your mail informing you if he likes/dislikes your latest offer, occasionally though not always he may give a hint as to what in it doesn't suit him.

That did the trick, offered some guys more money than what they were asking and they signed with me. Thanks for your help