Expansion Draft Advice

RedSoxJack · 03-18-2021, 12:53 AM

My league automatically evolved to 32 teams following the 2019 season, which I've been working with for a while now. I have now just finished the 2037 season and would like to add 4 more teams. Looking for general advice for manual expansion and would love it if someone could answer these questions:

- When it says "Fill new teams with Coaches", does this pull from the pool of available personnel or does it create fictional coaches?
- Is there a way to expand the league say on the first day of the offseason and then schedule the expansion draft for later in the winter?
- Is there a way to entice teams to be active on the free agent market? I've ran simulations in test leagues where I expand and the teams never even try to make a play for anyone in free agency. Just trying to make sure the new teams are at least marginally competitive.

Again, would greatly appreciate hearing your experience, if any. I'm trying to make an expansion as realistic as possible to practices we've seen in the past in the MLB.

I'll probably wait until next week when I get OOTP 22 to actually do this, just in case they add any new small features that might make it easier.

Thanks again.

WIUPIKE · 03-18-2021, 07:39 AM

Here is what i remember for the best of my ability.

- It is fictional coaches when filled with coaches
- I usually expand first day of the offseason. The expansion draft occurs 2 days after FA begins to eliminate FA from teams protections lists. It also allows me time to bring in my coaching staffs.
- I believe there is a baked in "fee" that the expansions teams have on the salary page that try's to avoid immediate success from an expansion team. If you are looking for relative early success I would recommend reducing the amount of players a team can protect which would give you a better pool to choose from in the expansion draft, thus creating a more competitive team earlier. Depending on the owner of your team the team may get a salary boost when the new season starts in late Jan/Feb. Usually I have historically been able to go after a big fish in year 2.

I am glad to offer any expansion advise is this is the main way I have played OOTP for several versions now.

03-18-2021, 12:53 AM	#1
RedSoxJack Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Oct 2018 Posts: 30	Expansion Draft Advice My league automatically evolved to 32 teams following the 2019 season, which I've been working with for a while now. I have now just finished the 2037 season and would like to add 4 more teams. Looking for general advice for manual expansion and would love it if someone could answer these questions: - When it says "Fill new teams with Coaches", does this pull from the pool of available personnel or does it create fictional coaches? - Is there a way to expand the league say on the first day of the offseason and then schedule the expansion draft for later in the winter? - Is there a way to entice teams to be active on the free agent market? I've ran simulations in test leagues where I expand and the teams never even try to make a play for anyone in free agency. Just trying to make sure the new teams are at least marginally competitive. Again, would greatly appreciate hearing your experience, if any. I'm trying to make an expansion as realistic as possible to practices we've seen in the past in the MLB. I'll probably wait until next week when I get OOTP 22 to actually do this, just in case they add any new small features that might make it easier. Thanks again. Last edited by RedSoxJack; 03-18-2021 at 01:02 AM.

03-18-2021, 07:39 AM	#2
WIUPIKE All Star Starter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nashville Area Posts: 1,267	Here is what i remember for the best of my ability. - It is fictional coaches when filled with coaches - I usually expand first day of the offseason. The expansion draft occurs 2 days after FA begins to eliminate FA from teams protections lists. It also allows me time to bring in my coaching staffs. - I believe there is a baked in "fee" that the expansions teams have on the salary page that try's to avoid immediate success from an expansion team. If you are looking for relative early success I would recommend reducing the amount of players a team can protect which would give you a better pool to choose from in the expansion draft, thus creating a more competitive team earlier. Depending on the owner of your team the team may get a salary boost when the new season starts in late Jan/Feb. Usually I have historically been able to go after a big fish in year 2. I am glad to offer any expansion advise is this is the main way I have played OOTP for several versions now.