FANTASY BASEBALL KEEPER LEAGUE RULES

FANTASY BASEBALL KEEPER LEAGUE RULES

What follows are the rules and regulations for the Fantasy Baseball League. The league is a keeper league and the following rules were agreed upon by the charter members of the league.

Section 1 - Rosters

1.1 Roster Limits

There are 256 starting position players, 32 closers, and 160 starting pitchers for a total of 448 regular MLB starters (middle relievers not counted). The number of players used in this fantasy league will be approximately 50-75% of the league total. The roster size will be determined from Table 1.1 below. The roster size of a team will not be less than 25 players, no matter how many teams are in the league.

Number of Teams	Roster Size	Total Players Used	% of Useful MLB Starting Players
7	35	245	54.6
8	34	272	60.7
9	30	270	60.2
10	27	270	60..2
11	25	275	61.4
12 or more	25	300+	66.7

Table 1.1.1 – Roster Size for Fantasy Baseball Keeper League

1.2 Starting Positions

The number of starting positions will be determined by Table 1.2 below.

# of Teams	C	1B	2B	3B	SS	OF	CI	MI	Util	P
7	2	1	1	1	1	4	1	1	2	10
8	2	1	1	1	1	4	1	1	2	10
9	2	1	1	1	1	4	1	1	2	9
10	1	1	1	1	1	3	1	1	2	9
11	1	1	1	1	1	3	1	1	2	8
12-15	1	1	1	1	1	3	1	1	2	8
16+	1	1	1	1	1	3	0*	0*	3*	8

Table 1.1.2 – Starting Positions for Each Fantasy Team, Based on Roster Size.

*Note: 16+ teams CI/MI was eliminated in 2007 vote. Spot was made into one UTIL and one bench.

The pitcher position (P) is a general position and can be filled with either starting pitchers or relief pitchers.

1.3 Reserve Positions

The number of reserve positions will be equal to the total number of players minus the number of starting players. There is no restriction on how the reserve positions are filled.

1.4 Injured Reserve Positions

There will be three injured reserve positions available for each team. These positions must be filled by players who are on the disabled list (DL), as determined by their respective Major League Baseball.

1.5 Minor League Positions (Added in 2004)

Two minor league spots will be available for minor league players. While these players are in the minor leagues, these players will not count against your roster spots and not count against your salary. Each year these players can be kept and do not count against your maximum players carried over from the prior year. You are not required to fill these spots.

To qualify for this spot:

This player has not filled any of the following: 50 IP, 130 AB, or 40 games in major league statistics.
A player cannot be drafted on the regular roster draft. You cannot draft a player in the major league draft and then move him into your minors.
This player cannot have been called up on any other team, during any season. This excludes players who were drafted before this season but did not fill the IP, AB, or games quota. This is because players have been drafted in other years before this rule was an option (i.e. Wilson Betimet) and should qualify.
A player cannot be in the minors for more then 3 years. After 3 years, a player must be called up or the player will become a free agent. Even if a player has been traded to another team and remains in the minors the entire time they still only have 3 years from original draft year. This eliminates teams from trading back and forth to extend the time a player can be in the minors. If a player is cut and redrafted his 3 years will restart then if the player still qualifies.

To bring a player to your major league roster:

You must clear a spot on your roster by cutting, trading, or placing a player on the DL. You’re roster must not exceed the limits set forth in Section 1.1 of the Keeper League Rules.
This player will start with a salary of $5 and will be in the first year of his contract.
Once you call up that player you cannot demote him back to the minors under no circumstance. This includes if he was called up on another teams major league roster. This will prevent teams from using the minor league spots as bench spots by rotating the minor leaguer in and out of their lineups.
You can only call up a minor league player after the minor league draft is accomplished (in early spring) or before you cuts are announced on March 7^th. You cannot call up a guy between auction draft and minor league draft. (The Karl & Mark Rule)

Section 2 - Acquiring Players

2.1 Draft

2.1.1 Main Auctions Draft

The draft is an auction-type draft. The members of the fantasy league will take turns naming a player who is then eligible to be bid on by all owners. Once a player is named, any member of the fantasy league may bid a dollar amount (whole dollars only) on that player. The player will go to the owner with the highest bid. The winning bid will then be that player’s salary. The draft will continue in this manner until all owners have stocked their teams.

2.1.1.1 Salary Cap

The salary cap is $250 + $1 per beer drank (typically, may vary due to glass size).
After cuts a team must have $1 under the cap for each player needed to draft. For example, if a team needs 10 players at the auction the salary of their kept guys must be $240 or less ($250 - $1*10 = $240). (The Todd Bernhardt Rule)
The salary cap is only valid during the draft & after cuts. Teams can exceed the salary cap during the season and up until cuts are made.

2.1.1.2 Main Auction Draft Date

Starting in 2008, the draft will be held on the 2^nd to last weekend of March. (Voted and passed on 1/12/2007). It will be each team’s responsibility to plan around this date or find a person to draft for them.

2.1.1.3 Draft Beer Bitches (Starting at the 2009 Draft)

The teams that finish in the last two spots the prior year will be the beer bitches during the draft. If there is a waitress the beer bitches will ensure there is a ample supply of beer and fetch the waitress when needed. If a waitress is not available the beer bitches will fetch beers as requested (for teams in the league only). In case of a tie (for example three teams tied for the last spot or two teams tied for the 2^nd to last spot) all the teams tied will be beer bitches.

2.1.2 Minor League Draft (started in 2004)

Drafting the first year:

A separate draft will be held after the major league player draft. This is so everyone will have a fair shot at every player they want.
Last place team drafts first and down from there. The start of the second round starts with the first place team and works it way back to the last place team.
The only time you can acquire players to put in your minor leagues is during this draft. You cannot pick up anyone and put them in your minor leagues during the season. This prevents people from using it as a bench spot and by-passing the $10 free agent salary.

Following the first year:

Teams are allowed to cut players each round and draft new ones. So even if they have two minor leaguers coming into the draft they can cut minor league players and add new ones who meet the qualifications. The cut player can be drafted by another.
Draft starting with the worst team and going to the team who finished highest. The second round will go in the reverse order of the first until all teams have 2 minor league players. After the end of the 2^nd round it’s a free-for-all if someone wants to cut and drop more players.
The only time you can acquire players to put in your minor leagues is during this draft. You cannot pick up anyone and put them in your minor leagues during the season. This prevents people from using it as a bench spot and by-passing the $10 free agent salary.

2.2 Free Agents

Free agents are defined as any player who has not been drafted by another fantasy team, or a player who has been dropped by his fantasy team at some point during the course of the baseball season. Free agents not drafted may be picked up at any time after the draft and will be assigned a salary of $10. Players that are dropped by their fantasy team during the course of the baseball season can be picked up by any fantasy team in accordance with the waiver rules that come with whatever fantasy website is used by the fantasy league. In general, players will be on waivers for 2 days, giving every team in the fantasy league the opportunity to place a waiver claim on that player. After 2 days, the player will be assigned to the fantasy team with the lowest standing among those who placed a waiver claim. Drafted players retain their draft salary throughout the current season.

2.3 Pre-Existing Teams

Pre-existing teams will stock their teams through the draft in the same manner as new teams. Unlike new teams, pre-existing teams will have the option to keep a portion of their rosters from the year before. Pre-existing teams can keep any number of players up to a set limit. The limit on the number of players that can be carried over from one year to the next is determined based on Table 2.3.1 below.

Number of Teams	Total Roster Size	Maximum # of Players to be Carried Over
7	35	18
8	34	17
9	30	15
10	27	15 (was 13 until 2005)
11	25	15 (was 12 until 2005)
12 or more	25	15 (was 12 until 2005)

Table 2.3.1 – Maximum Number of Players to be Carried Over Each Year by Pre-Existing Teams

The amount of money available (Salary Cap) to each pre-existing team is calculated by the following formula:

[(Total Roster Size) * $10] - [Total Salary of Player Retained]

2.4 Players Available for the Draft

The players eligible for the draft will be determined by the decisions of the pre-existing teams. Any player that is not retained by a pre-existing team is eligible to be drafted. Pre-existing teams can retain as many players as they wish as long as they do not exceed the limit as determined by Table 2.3.1. The lists of players to be retained will remain confidential until the commissioner receives all lists. When all lists are in the hands of the commissioner, they will be announced to all members of the fantasy league. Minor League players are eligible to be drafted, as long as they are not on the roster of another fantasy league team.

2.5 Retaining Players / Long-term Contracts

A player may spend up to 2 years on a roster at his initial salary. At the end of two years, the owner has the following options:

1. The owner has the option to keep the player for one more year at the initial salary. At the end of the third year, the player MUST re-enter the draft.

2. The second option is at the end of the second year, a played can be kept on a continuing contract. During the contract, the player salary increases by $4 ($2 before January 1, 2004) each year. At any year of the contract, the owner can decide to keep the player for one more year at that salary for one more year. The player would then be a free agent the following year though.

Section 3 - Statistics

3.1 Offensive Categories

The following statistical categories will be used:

1. Batting Average (BA)
2. Runs Batted In (RBI)
3. Home Runs (HR)
4 Runs (R)
5. Stolen Bases (SB)

The leader in a category will receive points based on the number of teams in the league. For instance, if there are 10 teams in the league, the leader in a statistical category will receive 10 points, second place will receive 9 points, etc. The last place team in any given category will receive 1 point.

3.2 Pitching Categories

The following statistical categories will be used:

1. Earned Run Average (ERA)

2. Walks + Hits / Innings Pitched (WHIP)
3. Wins (W)
4. Saves (S)
5. Strikeouts (SO)

The leader in a category will receive points based on the number of teams in the league. For instance, if there are 10 teams in the league, the leader in a statistical category will receive 10 points; second place will receive 9 points, etc. The last place team in any given category will receive 1 point. There will be an innings pitched (IP) limit imposed on the pitching staff of each team in the league. The IP limit will be equal to the number of starting pitcher positions (See Table 1.2.1) on the roster multiplied by 150.

Section 4 - League Fees / Prizes

4.1 Yearly Dues

Each pre-existing team will pay an annual fee of $30 to participate in the league. New members will pay the annual fee of $30 plus an additional $20 entry fee for expansion teams.

4.2 Prizes

The total amount of money available for prizes will vary based on the number of teams in the league and their status as new or pre-existing teams. The prize structure will be determined by Table 4.2.1

League Standing	% of Prize Money
1st Place	50%
2nd Place	30%
3rd Place	15%
4th Place	5%

Table 4.2.1 – League Prize Structure

5.0 League Operation

Day-to-day league operation will be handled via the Internet. CBS Sportsline's site was used in the 2001 season. The Yahoo Fantasy Baseball site is another option. The Internet site will handle all day-to-day league operation. The commissioner of the league will adjust the league settings as needed.

5.1 Trades

5.1.1 – During the Season
Trades will be approved by the commissioner. In the event that there is a trade proposed that the commissioner deems "questionable", the trade proposal will be put to a vote. A majority vote by the rest of the league members will determine whether the "questionable" trade is allowed. League members will have one week to vote on questionable trades. A 75% majority will be required to deny the pending trade. If this majority is not reached, the trade will go through. Trade deadlines will be determined by the Internet site that is chosen for the league. If there is no pre-determined deadline, the deadline will be determined by the members of the league in a majority vote.

5.1.2 – Offseason trading (begins 2007)

Trading Period: From March 1st to March 7th (at noon).

Trade must be posted by March 7th at noon. It does not have to be accepted by then unless it conflicts with a roster cut date.
League should ensure that the cut date is after March 7th.
An accepted trade must be emailed TO THE ENTIRE LEAGUE.

Accept/Rejection of Trade

Need at least 51% approval (minimum of 10 or more votes). Once 51% of the entire league has been reached, the voting is over and the trade is accepted or denied.

Expansion teams will not be allowed to vote unless the commissioner deems them fully competent of the league rules and history.

If 10 votes are not reached commissioner has sole responsibility of accepting or denying trade.
There is not time limit for acceptance or rejection except that they have to be decided upon before cuts (or if 51% of entire league is achieved).
Trade must be accepted by commissioner or league before cuts are due (if a deadline would conflict, for example if March 8th the cuts are due, all trades would have to be finalized before then).

Players – All players traded must be kept. No exceptions.

If Team A trades 7 players for 1 of Team B’s players, Team B must keep all 7 players and Team A must keep the 1 player it traded for.

5.2 Locking Rosters at Season’s End

Rosters will be locked the last day of the season. If there is a play-in game (that counts in the current website statistics) then the rosters will remain unlocked until the night of that game. (Added by 2008 & 2009 precedent).

5.3 Other

Any matters concerning the operation of the league will be put to a vote among all of the league members. A majority vote will decide the issue. In the event of a tie vote, the commissioner's vote will be the deciding one.