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SB Nation Winter Meetings Simulation Open Thread

And we begin our fake offseason. Fake teams. Fake money. Real emotions.

By Max Rieper
USA TODAY Sports

What happens if you take 30 SB Nation fans, put them in charge of their favorite team for this offseason, and strand them on a deserted island completely naked? You get the SB Nation Winter Meeting Simulation, which will do all those things, except the naked island stuff. I have gathered 30 participants for the week-long activity for the second year in a row. For a look at last year's simulation, look here.

The ground rules:

  • We rewind to the end of the regular season.

  • The assumption is your GM has resigned and been replaced. The new GM is free to set their own organizational philosophy. Each team has a "recommended" budget.

  • We're not concerned with the 40 man roster.

  • Players with no-trade clauses cannot be traded (this includes players with 10-5 rights). Players with limited no-trade clauses can be traded, but I reserve the right to veto it if I think the player would not accept the trade.

  • Minor leaguers can be traded, but must be specified. No Players to be Named Later. Cash may be dealt, but the amount must be specified.

  • You are free to frontload or backload contracts, although player preferences are for contracts not to be backloaded. Anything ridiculous will not be accepted. You can offer player, club, mutual, and vesting options. Teams up against the luxury tax threshold (Red Sox, Phillies, Yankees) will have their contracts average annual value (AAV) applied to their budgets.

  • Top offer will typically be taken, although there may be exceptions if a player has a preference on where he wants to play (NY over Pittsburgh; older vet may want to play for a "winner.")

  • I am not going to negotiate long-term deals for players that are not free agents.

The timeline:

Monday, November 4, 9am ET - Simulation begins - teams can trade, negotiate/sign free agents
Monday, November 4, noon ET - Qualifying offers on free agents due, silent bid on Masahiro Tanaka and Seung Kwan Oh for posting
Tuesday, November 5, noon ET - All club options for players must be picked up or declined. Declined options go into the free agent pool.
Wednesday, November 6, 5pm ET - All arbitration-eligible players must be tendered or non-tendered. Non-tendered players go into the free agent pool.
Friday, November 8, 1pm ET - Simulation ends

The spreadsheet listing GM emails, available free agents, and team payrolls/budgets is here.

Negotiate for all free agents by emailing me at sbnationbaseballsim@gmail.com.

Good luck!

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