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  The Franchise League Baseball Assocoation

FRANCHISE LEAGUE BASEBALL CONSTITUTION

SECTION 1.00 – INTRODUCTION

1.01 INTRODUCTION The Franchise League Baseball Association, hereby referred to as the FLB, is a GM-

only Strat-O-Matic baseball league. The purpose of the league is  to assemble a 40-man roster, while 

operating on a $100 million salary cap. Each owner will be the general manager of their franchise. 

General managers will take over all current contract situations, January 1, 2011. Any team paying the 

salary of a former player is relieved of the responsibility (ie, Texas paid Alex Rodriguez for years after he 

was traded).

1.02 LEAGUE EXPECTATIONS Games will be played using the Strat-O-Matic baseball computer game, 

current season, rosters and stadiums. All games will be auto-played by the Commissioner. All league 

members are required to have an email on file that they check regularly. 

1.03 THE COMMISSIONER The Commissioner has the authority to rule on all league issues. The 

Commissioner is responsible for keeping an up-to-date league website as well as all team websites 

delegated to the league from the team owner. The Commissioner will run all aspects of the league not 

specified in this Constitution. The Commissioner also has the right to appoint committees. The 

Commissioner will be in office until he resigns or if greater than 50% of the league vote for removal.

1.04 LEAGUE REPORTERS A league reporter(s) may be appointed by the Commissioner. If appointed, 

they will be asked to write up reports for the league website. These reports include but are not limited 

to pre-season predictions, trade and free agent analyses, league recaps, and post-season previews.

1.06 RULES CHANGES Any suggestions for new rules or rule amendments will be sent to the 

Commissioner at the end of each season. The Commissioner will open the rule change to dialogue by all 

owners. If after dialogue, the rule is put to a vote, the rule must receive 67% of the owners vote to be 

passed.

1.07 MANAGER REVIEW Managers that repeatedly turn in poor performances (lose more than 90 

games three (3) seasons in a row) will be reviewed by the Commissioner to ensure that they are putting 

in enough effort into the league. Managers that do not respond to emails in a timely manner can be 

removed if the problem becomes chronic or it appears the team has been abandoned.

SECTION 2.00 – LEAGUE STRUCTURE

2.01 LEAGUE STRUCTURE The FLB will have two leagues and three divisions and will follow the league 

structure like Major League Baseball. Franchises are not permitted to move leagues, change names or 

divisions.

2.02 SCHEDULE The FLB schedule will be 162 games. Season will begin approximately April 1, and end 

approximately September 30. It will follow the current MLB season schedule as closely as possible.

2.03 PLAYOFF SCHEDULE  Playoffs will follow the same 5-team format in each league (3 division winners, 

2 Wild Card). FLB playoff schedule will be structured the same as the MLB playoff schedule. Divisional 

Series is best of five. League Championship and World Series is best of seven. 

2.04 STADIUMS Teams must keep the stadium their franchise uses.

SECTION 3.00 - ROSTERS

3.01 SALARY CAP The salary cap is a hard cap of $100 million. Teams over the salary cap can only make 

trades resulting in a loss of salary cap. Teams under the salary cap can not make deals resulting in 

exceeding the cap. Once a team is under the salary cap, they are not allowed to exceed the cap again.

3.02 ROSTER SIZE Rosters may never exceed 40 players. Only 25 players may be eligible to play at a time. 

Rosters are eligible for changes daily, however Commissioner must be sent notice before games are 

played. 

3.03 ROSTER EXPANSION Active rosters will expand to 40 man on September 1. Once the playoffs begin 

the active roster will return to 25.

3.04 PLAYOFF ROSTERS Any players eligible to play in the regular season can play in the post-season. 

Playoff rosters are locked for the series. Adjustments can be made between series.

3.05 INJURIES Injuries may occur to any player during the course of the game. No injuries will occur 

during the All-Star Game.

SECTION 4.00 - PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

4.01 PLAYERS All players who registered an at-bat or inning pitched in the previous Major League 

Baseball season is eligible.

4.02 MINOR LEAGUERS Each FLB franchise has the rights to their corresponding MLB team’s minor 

leaguers. FLB teams may protect and assume up to 25 minor league players to protect and/or trade. 

a. Any players at the end of the 2014 season that are on an FLB 40-man roster—that still have 

b. Minor league players added to the FLB protected list will not automatically change if they 

0.00 MLB service time—can be moved off a 40-man roster and back to a FLB minor league 

roster without punishment by December 1, 2014.

are involved in an MLB trade. Unprotected players in FLB, that are dealt in a MLB trade, still 

are automatically moved to their new franchise. 

c. Players in the same FLB and MLB organization can be moved on and off the protected list at 

d. Any minor leaguers on the FLB protected minor league list can be traded to other FLB 

any time, with no repercussions.

organizations. Once a player is traded to a new FLB organization, they must remain on the 

new team’s FLB minor league roster. If they are removed from the roster, they are 

considered released and go to the free agent board where they can be signed by any team.

protected list at the end of that season.

e. Any player who logs MLB service time is no longer eligible to be on the minor league 

 

4.03 INJURY EXEMPTION Any position player logging less than 50 plate appearances, starting pitcher 

logging less than 4 starts or relief pitcher logging less than 4 appearances due to a season-ending injury 

can be eligible for an injury roster exemption. The team is still responsible for their salary and they count 

against the salary cap, but they may be removed from the 40-man roster. 

Players must be placed on roster exemption before Opening Day and are ineligible for the season. 

Players must also have a clear injury that kept their usage so low (ie, Tommy John surgery). Poor play or 

optioned to the minor leagues does not make them eligible for the injury roster exemption. Official 

placement on the Injury Exemption is subject to Commissioner approval.

4.04 USAGE Players are allowed to be used for 125% of their actual MLB at bats or innings 

pitched in FLB play. Any player that exceeds the 125% usage limit will be ruled ineligible for the 

remainder of the regular season. Overused players on teams qualifying for the playoffs will regain their 

players for the postseason.

SECTION 5.00 - TRANSACTIONS

5.01 PLAYER SIGNINGS All players to be signed as off-season free agents must follow the free agent 

signing process. Any player released, or signed, during the regular season will have their contract and 

salary assumed by the team signing the player.

5.02 TRADING Teams can make trades with any team as long as the parameters of the salary cap are 

met. Teams may not name, “player to be named later” in any trade. Teams may not trade salary cap 

space. Trades can be agreed upon between two General Managers. Both teams must send in a 

confirmation for the trade to take effect. The trade deadline will be at 10 pm EST on July 31. There will 

not be a waiver system. No trades will be allowed after 10 pm EST on July 31.

SECTION 6.00 – CONTRACTS

6.01 CONTRACTS All current contracts are immediately honored. All contracts and yearly payroll can be 

found on Cot’s Salaries (http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com). Any contracts containing “player options,“ 

are now considered “team options.“ Players with less than 6 years service time follow the following 

contract schedule.

Up to 1 year: $400,000

Up to 2 years: $500,000

Up to 3 years: $700,000

Up to 4 years: $800,000

Up to 5 years: $1,000,000

Up to 6 years: $1,500,000

Any player with an expiring contract that has less than 6 years service time, but makes more then the 

salary scale above can be renewed for another year at the same salary. Players with more than 6 years 

service time and an expiring contract are eligible for free agency.

Players with under six years service time can be released during the offseason at anytime. Teams are not 

obligated to the next season’s salary until Opening Day. Any player under contract, with less than six 

years service time, who is released during the season--that team is responsible for the player’s salary for 

the remainder of that season.

Teams are responsible for the salary of any player on a long term contract, or over six years service time, 

even if they release them. MLB contracts are guaranteed. You can not just release a player and be 

“forgiven” for their bad contract (ie, If the Giants released Barry Zito, they would still be responsible for 

his contract, and it would count against the salary cap).

6.02 CONTRACT EXTENSIONS Teams wishing to extend the contract of a player can do so in two ways.

1. Extending Young Players: Players between 3-4 years service time can be given a 4 year, $26 million 

contract ($6.5 million per year). This will eliminate their eligibility for the fifth and sixth year exceptions. 

Once a player has over 4 years service time, they are no longer eligible for this extension.

2. Extending Players 2: Players with one year before free agency are eligible for an extension. Extensions 

must be at least five years long but can be longer. Salary scale is as listed:

Outfielders/first basemen/designated hitters:    $15 million per year

Third basemen/Catchers:                          $12 million per year 

Second baseman/shortstops:                         $10 million per year

Starting Pitchers                                $15 million per year

Closers                                           $12 million per year

If a pitcher saves more than 10 games, they follow the closer rules for extension (5 years @ $12 million a 

season). If a relief pitcher (someone who makes less than 5 starts), has less than 10 saves, they are 

eligible for a 4 year, $26 million extension at any time in their career.

Relief Pitchers                                   $6.5 million per year

Any player who has a salary that exceeds this structure, can have their contract extended (for at least 5 

years), at the current salary they make (ie. Albert Pujols makes $17 million, he could be extended for 5 

more seasons at this rate).

Both extensions must be offered prior to the beginning of the start of the season. Once the regular 

season begins they are no longer eligible. Teams who are over the salary cap are not permitted to 

extend contracts, or increase payroll, until they are under the salary cap.

6.03 Contract Amnesty

Condition #1: A new owner (owners who join the league after the trade deadline of the current season) 

to the league can amnesty one player and their contract on their roster, no questions asked. They are 

assuming someone else's mistakes. They get a "get out of jail free card." The player amnestied becomes 

a free agent. Must be done by December 1st.

Condition #2: Any owner who has a player under contract that passes away is relieved of any contractual 

obligation once the player is released.

You have to meet one of these conditions in order to take advantage of the rule.

SECTION 7.00 – FREE AGENCY

7.01 FREE AGENCY Teams may obtain free agents during the free agency periods. All free agents for the 

coming winter will be posted by December 1 on the Free Agency page. Only teams under the salary cap 

may bid on free agents. No team may make a bid for a free agent that will result in their team exceeding 

the salary cap.

7.02 FREE AGENT SIGNING Free Agency will begin on January 1. Teams wishing to obtain a player, must 

go to the Free Agency page on the website and post a bid. Teams need to state their team, the player 

they want, the number of years and the total value of the contract being offered. 

In order to obtain a free agent, a team must bid more money per year AND at least as many years as 

anyone else. Money for contracts are divided evenly among all years. Once a bid has been placed for a 

player, a team must match years offered and exceed money per year to obtain the player. 

Teams can offer an "option" year. It counts as 0.5 of a year when deciding what team gets a player.

Example: a two-year contract + option would beat a two-year offer. It would not beat a three year offer.

Option years can not be offered on one-year contracts. If a team declines an option 

on an expiring contract, the team is obligated to pay 50% of the salary as a buyout (beginning after the 

2015 season).

Example: Derek Jeter is a free agent. Team A bids 2 year, $20 million contract ($10 million per year). Any 

team placing a bid after Team A, must match the years offered and exceed the money per year offered 

to pass Team A for their rights. 

Example 2: Derek Jeter is a free agent. Team A bids 2 year, $20 million contract ($10 million per year). 

Team B bids Jeter a 3 year, $24 million contract ($8 million per year). Team A would be awarded Jeter 

because when Team B countered, they did not match money per year.

Example 3: Derek Jeter is a free agent. Team A bids 2 year, $20 million contract ($10 million per year). 

Team B offers Jeter a 1 year, $12 million contract. Team A would be awarded Jeter because Team B did 

not match the number of years offered. It pays to make your offer first.

7.03 FREE AGENCY PERIODS When free agency begins, teams are welcome to post a player on the free 

agency page. In their message, they should state their team, the number of years being offered and the 

total value of the contract.

Example: New York Yankees offer Derek Jeter a two-year, $10 million contract ($5 million per season).

If a team makes a contract offer to a player, and no one beats the offer in 24 hours, that team is 

awarded the player for the contract they offered. All messages on the message boards are time stamped 

and strictly enforced.

On February 25, free agency will be suspended for three days. 

7.04 CONTRACT MINIMUMS Due to problems in the past, to offer a certain amount of years to a player, 

you must also offer a certain amount of money. The longer the contract, the more money you need to 

offer. These are minimums to offer, regardless if another team has made another offer.

1 year = $400,000 per season

2 years = $1 million per season

3 years = $2 million per season

4 years = $3 million per season

5 years = $4 million per season

6 years = $5 million per season

7 years = $6 million per season

In the past we have had people make unrealistic contract offers (ie, 5 year, $400k per season). 

Hopefully, this will alleviate these unrealistic contracts.

7.05 IN-SEASON FREE AGENT SIGNING Teams signing players after Opening Day of the season can only 

sign players to a one-year contract.

SECTION 8.00 – LEAGUE SCHEDULE

8.01 LEAGUE SCHEDULE All teams will play the 162-game Major League Baseball schedule.

8.02 ALL-STAR GAME The All-Star Game will take place on a Tuesday in July. The managers will be the 

previous seasons World Series managers. Managers will select all rosters. Each team will have a 25 man 

roster. Injuries are disabled for this game while fatigue from this game does not carry over into the 

regular season. All-Star game does not affect home field advantage or any other aspect of the season.

SECTION 9.00 - GAME SET UP

9.01 GAME SETUP RULES

MAIN RULES

Maximum Levels

STEALING

Super Advanced Steal System

MISCELLANEOUS

Use Miscellaneous Rule

INJURIES

Use Super Advanced Injuries

GROUNDBALL A

Allow GBA on Pitcher Cards

BP/WEATHER/CLUTCH

Ballpark Effects

Weather Effects

Clutch Hitting

STRATEGY

Super Advanced Strategy Charts

CLOSER

Use Closer Rules

PITCHER FATIGUE

Use SADV Fatigue & Pitch Count

MAX RULES

Improve statistical accuracy - YES

Bunt for base hit - YES 

Improve out distribution - YES

Improve base running realism - YES

Home field advantage - YES

Starting pitcher clutch - YES

More base running decisions - YES

Doubles/Triples options - YES

Force daily injuries - YES

Realistic throwing errors - YES

Allow extra pre-1920 errors - YES

Pitch-around option - YES

Robbing HR Rule – YES

Allow Errors on Bunts- YES

Allow Errors on Pickoffs- YES

 

9.02 LINEUPS & USAGE

VISITING TEAM LINEUP

Draft League

HOME TEAM LINEUP

Draft League

SCHEDULED DAYS OFF

Give Scheduled Days Off

AUTO SWAP-O-MATIC

No Auto Swap-O-Matic

MINOR LEAGUERS

Minor Leaguers- 40/25 Method

OVERUSAGE

Limit Overusage

USE SUPER HAL BULLPEN

YES

ALLOW EXTRA GS FOR CERTAIN PITCHERS

YES


 

 

 

 

 


 


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