Spring Training non-roster invitees

[BigRed75]

There's been a bit of discussion about this in the "Spring Training" thread on the main form, but I figured someone should post it here because it is the suggestions forum, after all.

The idea is to add a "non-roster invitee" option for Spring Training. By marking a player as an NRI, this would allow players signed to minor league contracts eligible to be played in spring training games without having to add them to the 40-man roster. Should the user decide that they want to put an NRI on the 25-man roster at the end of spring training, the normal roster rules for adding the player to the 25-man (and therefore the 40-man as well) would apply.

This would not only increase realism, but also give users flexibility by giving up-and-coming players a look-in without having to start their option years, and give veterans a chance to show they could help the team without having to waste a spot on the 40-man roster.

NRIs are a major part of teams' spring training strategies in real life and should be added to OOTP. Thanks!

[mgom27]

If you have it set at 70 man roster then that should help because would have more to call up in September or so on. The other 50 people go to the Minors and some of them could be people wiling to go to the Minors after they Cleared Waviers or signed a Minor League Contract.
Minor League Camp?
Split Squad Games?
Setting Roster before Opening Day?
Games against Minor League/College Teams?
A certain date when they to report to Camp?

[BigRed75]

I don't see how that would help, because then everyone on the 70-man roster would get charged options when they were sent down to the minors. Setting it to 70 just expands the size of the major-league roster.

The whole point of the non-roster invitee is to allow people to participate in spring training games without having to put them on the major league roster.

[SmoothGentleman]

Great idea, I think this would add some depth to the game.

[mankle]

Originally Posted by BigRed75

There's been a bit of discussion about this in the "Spring Training" thread on the main form, but I figured someone should post it here because it is the suggestions forum, after all.

The idea is to add a "non-roster invitee" option for Spring Training. By marking a player as an NRI, this would allow players signed to minor league contracts eligible to be played in spring training games without having to add them to the 40-man roster. Should the user decide that they want to put an NRI on the 25-man roster at the end of spring training, the normal roster rules for adding the player to the 25-man (and therefore the 40-man as well) would apply.

This would not only increase realism, but also give users flexibility by giving up-and-coming players a look-in without having to start their option years, and give veterans a chance to show they could help the team without having to waste a spot on the 40-man roster.

NRIs are a major part of teams' spring training strategies in real life and should be added to OOTP. Thanks!

Thanks Big Red. I was just about to post this suggestion myself. I have learned the hard way that adding a minor league player to the active roster uses an option if he's returning to the minors before opening day. Of course, IRL, plenty of non-roster players play in spring training games.

After reading the manual, I had hoped to get minor leaguers some development time in Spring Training, but unfortunately, you have to use up an option to do this (assuming they're going back down to the minors afterwards).

There should definitely be non-roster invitees to Spring Training!

[mgom27]

Also Minor League Camp,Split Squad Games,Games against College Teams,Setting Opening Day Rosters before start of Season are also part of Spring Training that aren't in Game to.

[mankle]

Yep, there are a lot of things with spring training that aren't modelled in the game.

I just had a situation occur where I had acquired a player for the SOLE purpose of having him play in AAA as a backup to my ML shortstops. I had him on the 40-man roster (because I think he had a major-league minimum contract). I also knew that he was out of options and I was only going to promote him in an emergency.

Before Spring Training, I had only put 25 men on my active roster (not including the aforementioned shortstop) and filled out my minor league rosters accordingly.

I sim through spring training and when we get to the day before opening day, what happens? All 40 men from my 40 man roster are now on my ACTIVE roster, and I have to put the SS on waivers in order to send him down to the minors! EDIT: Oh, and he was claimed off waivers. So this cost me a decent backup shortstop.

This is why non-roster invitees are required, or at least you should be able to demote players from the active roster before Opening Day without using an option!

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by mankle

I had him on the 40-man roster (because I think he had a major-league minimum contract). I also knew that he was out of options and I was only going to promote him in an emergency.

When you say he was "out of options" do you mean that he was going into that season with no options, or he was the upcoming season his last option year?

If it was the former, then it was your mistake to put him on the 40-man roster since it meant you'd also have put him on the 25-man roster at the start of the regular season or else expose him to waivers. A player who has no options years currently available cannot be on the 40-man roster and in the minor leagues at the same time.

Originally Posted by mankle

I sim through spring training and when we get to the day before opening day, what happens? All 40 men from my 40 man roster are now on my ACTIVE roster...

That's basically how it works in real life. All the players on the 40-man roster are automatically part of spring training. Then, during spring training, clubs gradually cut down towards the 25-man roster by optioning players as spring training unfolds. Generally, in the last week of spring training, major league clubs are down to about 28 players on the active roster, and make those last three cuts during the days leading up to the regular season openers.

Originally Posted by mankle

...or at least you should be able to demote players from the active roster before Opening Day without using an option!

But as soon as the regular season opens, the player is going to use an option anyway. If the player is on the 40-man roster and not on the 25-man roster, an option is used.

[mgom27]

That's basically how it works in real life. All the players on the 40-man roster are automatically part of spring training. Then, during spring training, clubs gradually cut down towards the 25-man roster by optioning players as spring training unfolds. Generally, in the last week of spring training, major league clubs are down to about 28 players on the active roster, and make those last three cuts during the days leading up to the regular season openers but not in the Game because do it on last day.

[RchW]

There is an echo in this thread or that bear is one ugly parrot.

[mankle]

Ugly Parrot.

And thanks. I wasn't familiar with those particular MLB roster rules.