Minor leaguers

[Quintin - Alexandria Beetles]

I like the idea of the number of minor leaguers going to five. I actually propose we go higher and deeper in coming years.

My conversation starting proposals:

- Start at 5 minor league slots this year, and add one or two per year until we get to ten spots total.

- Allow trading for extra minor leaguers that would give us additional minor leaguers past the current year maximum slot limit. For instance, this year there will be 70 minor league spots (14 x 5). If my team sucks in July (which it won't because I now have a smart phone to check player stats 24x7), I may want to trade a major leaguer expiring contract to someone for their promising minor leaguer. In doing so, I would get to add that person's minor leaguer without dumping one of my current minor leaguers. This process seems to be the MLB model of rebuilding teams.

- I think we should be able to keep the minor leaguers as long as we want (assuming they don't lose their minor league status according to MLB rules).

- Allow minor league draft pick trading.

Mid winter winter blues thoughts... Opinions obviously welcome.

[Doug - Tatooine Tusken-Raiders]

I actually like picking up prospects off of the free agent list when they get called up. We also don't get to keep them as long, 3.5 years typically. When we put them on our minor league team, they are on our team for 6 years, I think, after we draft them initially.

[Mike - N.C. Pine Tar Sluggers]

I am in agreement with the Tuskens. I don't want it to get so focused on minor leaguers that there are no pickups. Keep it a keeper and avoid a dynasty approach.