Blind bidding before the season starts

[braven112]

During the last week of the offseason free agency period we don't allow new guys to be put up for auction, what do you guys think of adding an overlapping blind bid period where we let the guys that are currently up for auction play out like normal but then allow people to place blind bids on anyone else after the Wednesday deadline and have it end right after the standard offseason free agency period?

[bonscott]

I wouldn't be totally against it but not sure I totally like it either. I think things have been fine the way they are for a number of years. But not against change.

[braven112]

I've deleted auctions for a couple people so far this week so I know there are at least couple people that would like to make roster changes the final week of the offseason.

In general I think the way we have it, works well and we have deep enough rosters where we have the option of having backups on our bench without having to go to Free Agency.

But I also like the idea of being able to make bids and roster moves as many days of the year as we possibly can. We probably should have done something for this week when we tweaked the rules a few years ago to stop new auctions from coming up one week before the season starts. That was something we lost when we changed that rule.

[Georgia Punishers]

Clearly with my rampid auction bidding I'm one for some kind of waivers leading up to game time for those last second changes and injury updates....

[Achon44]

My first thought was no, but then I figured if people want to throw money around during these last weeks then let them

We could consider ending the auction process a week earlier and then once the last auction ends set up 24hr blind bidding

[yugimoto]

I would support the ability to perform waivers (blind bidding or FCFS) post the auction period and prior to the first game of the season.

[joe.commish]

My first thought was no, but then I figured if people want to throw money around during these last weeks then let them

We could consider ending the auction process a week earlier and then once the last auction ends set up 24hr blind bidding

I'd support this.

[bonesman]

I think this move could have the unintended consequence of lessening offseason FA auction activity as people hope to slide their sleepers by at the end via FCFS or low blind bidding.
I think I'd probably cast my vote against if it was FCFS style.

[braven112]

That's a great point, and I agree if its FCFS, why wouldn't you wait in that case? I would have the same concern if it was a 24 hour bind bidding window you could sneak a player through pretty easily but I think a normal blind bidding process that lasts a few days or more would be doable, everyone would have time to read the news (injury or a late FA signing) and put in a bid if they wanted and if there was a major player available, you would have to assume that at least someone else in a 16 team league (full of fantasy football addicts) is aware and probably interested so it would drive up the blind bid price to market value I would think.

[bonesman]

You would think but noone in this league cared much for Meacham or Ben Tate. I bid them up a little bit but I was so over the roster limit w/ slim cap space. I wonder what their "market value" would be on the wire today. 7 figures easy, I'd guess.

[braven112]

Market Value is relative to when they were placed up for bid and those guys were had when their value was lowest and their was less site activity, that's why they went for lower than they would now, plus we have more information about their situations.

What do you think would keep the integrity of the offseason auction and still allow teams to acquire guys the last week before the season starts?

[bonscott]

I'm still not sold on this idea but something to make it simple:

Auction ends (for new guys brought up) at the same day/time as roster cut downs.
Then run 2 blind bid periods, one ending say the Wednesday before Labor Day weekend and then a 2nd ending the following Wednesday which is the day before the first game.

This way all roster cuts (plus any other pre-season darlings) go thru blind bid waivers and cut down day becomes an even bigger day/event.

[bonesman]

That's a pretty good idea, Scott. I think I'd sign off on that.

[Achon44]

I agree, that sounds good to me. Maybe have the end date for new auctions be a little earlier, so all the players who were dropped on cut down day having to then be acquired through blind bidding. This way you only need to drop a player if you actually acquire a new one.

[bonscott]

Yea, I can see that. End the auction at least a day ahead of cut down day so that all cuts on that day go thru the first blind bidding. Maybe even a week ahead of cut down day.