Restricted Tags

[Atlanta Braves GM (Reid)]

Restricted Tags:

In addition to having one franchise player each year, a team will also have the ability to name two (2) restricted players. Restricted players will, in effect, be treated just like free agents with one BIG difference. Once Free Agency begins, Restricted players can be made contract offers just like any other free agent. Once the 24-hour offering period ends, however, the team who restricted the player will have 24 hours to match the offer. If a GM fails to match the offer, the player will then be able to sign with the new team at the terms offered in the contract.

If the team that originally had the player, chooses to match the winning bid, then he must keep the same AAS with the 30% rule in mind, but he may move the years, value of each year of the contract, etc. to fit his team's salary structure.

Note: You may only use the Franchise and Restricted Tags each once on any (1) one player. Meaning, if you Franchise Player A, you may not use that Franchise tag on him after his Franchised contract runs out. You also may not use a Restricted tag on a player that you previously placed a Franchise tag on.

Players that are restricted will be allowed to be traded during their restricted contract period.

Restricted tags do not roll over if you do not use them. Restricted Tags may be traded but only for that current season only. If Team A does not trade his restricted tag during the 2012 season and chooses to not utilize his restricted tag on a player set to become a free agent following the season, then he loses all future use of that season's franchise tag. The 2013 restricted tags will not be up for trade until January 1st, 2013. This will be the same rule applied to potential trades of franchise and prospect tags. Please take note of this rule.

[Atlanta Braves GM (Reid)]

Restricting a player provides a somewhat protective measure to help a GM retain that player, while not absolutely assuring that GM will retain that player. In order to provide some, but not absolute, assistance in that process, the following guidelines are placed on Restricted FA bidding:

The Average Annual Salary ("AAS") that a GM bids will require a certain minimum number of years the offer must cover to be a valid bid. The HIGHER the AAS, the LONGER the MINIMUM contract term you MUST offer in order to make a valid bid. The MINIMUM contract term is based solely on the offer's AAS, and is determined as follows:

AAS = up to $3M, then MINIMUM 1 yr deal
AAS = $3M+ to $6M, then MINIMUM 2 yr deal
AAS = $6M+ to $9M, then MINIMUM 3 yr deal
AAS = $9M+ to $12M, then MINIMUM 4 yr deal
AAS = $12M+ to $15M, then MINIMUM 5 yr deal

Any bid not meeting the correct minimum term offered will be voided.

The bidder can always make a contract term LONGER than the minimum number of years since the AAS only determines the MINIMUM term.