I posted a question below asking whether there really is a competitive balance problem in Purebaseball.

The overwhelming consensus answer is that there is no such problem.

Because of that consensus I offer the following revised proposal regarding contraction. Each of the items below is an independent thought so they can be accepted or rejected or modified in a "line item" format.

(1) CONTRACTION DRAFT - Player Dispersal Proposal

It is proposed that a contraction draft of 6 rounds be run. The order should be the same as the spring rookie drafts (i.e. in opposite order of previous years finish with a lottery determining the order of the worst 8 teams in a round). The same order will be maintained in each round.

ANALYSIS: It is projected that there will be 120-140 players available. 6 rounds x 20 players = 120 players drafted. It is very likely that many of the players from rounds 4-6 will get cut; however, by holding the draft for 6 rounds it gives everyone the flexibility to choose for themselves how many they want to keep (In this way the later rounds are similar to the 4th and 5th round of spring rookie draft).

Although the consensus opinion is that there is no competitive imbalance, I do believe that there is some difference in the best and worst teams. Thus I propose this one time advantage in the contraction draft as a method to lift up the worst teams a little. I think this is a reasonable compromise.

(2) CONTRACTION DRAFT - Schedule

It is proposed that the Contraction Draft be Run in 3 or 4 days with one round on the first day and multiple rounds on later days. It is proposed that the contraction draft order be announced by January 3, 2003 with a draft to be held between January 10th, 2003 and January 24th, 2003.

ANALYSIS: I believe that running the contraction draft in January may help stimulate off-season trading in leagues that lack activity. In addition I think that having the contraction draft before the rookie and free agent drafts will help people to better formulate their selections in the free agent draft. Typically people draft fill in players in the free agent draft. Based on who is obtained in the contraction draft the positions that a team needs to fill in the free agent draft could be modified. This is another reason why I think having the contraction draft before the rookie and free agent drafts is preferred.

(3) LEAGUE REORGANIZATION

The new 20 team leagues will require a reorganization from the present 6 division format. It is proposed that the commishioner will organize these teams on a case by case basis in each league with the following guidelines in mind:
(a) It is proposed that balance be preserved by distributing the stronger teams across divisions and likewise distributing the weaker teams across the divisions. This approach will avoid the creation of divisions that are unusually strong or unusually weak.
(b) If it becomes necessary to change Senior Circuit teams to the Junior Circuit (or Junior Circuit teams to the Senior Circuit) it is suggested that these teams be moved on a volunteer basis.

ANALYSIS:
(a) We don't want to have the best three teams in the league in the same division while another division has a division winner with about 80 wins.

(b) It would be unfair to force a Junior Circuit team with a great DH (say they have two studs at the same position) to move to the Senior Circuit without their consent. Likewise it would be unfair to take a team built around the Senior Circuit and suddenly throw them into a league where another great hitter is required, but the team has not been designed for the extra hitter. On the other hand some owners may VOLUNTEER to change because of their team construction. Thus taking volunteers (when necessary) makes more sense.