MashinSpuds wrote:In the NL-Auction keeper league I'm in, top players go fast and pricey early on with some veteran bargains occurring near the end of a draft. Given the state of your team, one idea to build up your team would be to draft like you're not trying to get the best players or even win this year. Spend your money on the rookies, the up-and-coming arms, the closers-in-waiting (or even in-waiting-waiting), and cheaper fill-the-ranks vets. If you hit the lottery on a few or more, those trading chips will likely be more valuable than the pricey vet who someone may or may not want to keep at the price. Given the depth of the teams and the intelligence of the owners, you may have to fight for some of your favorites.
Also, perhaps by drafting young and risky you may get a few overzealous owners who think you're a patsy, thus perhaps opening up a few surprise lopsided trades in your favor. Playing possum, that kind of thing... again, just an idea.
With only 3 year contracts I would never go this route. You would have to hit everything perfect for you to ever compete. You would never have time to flip the players and get you the team you want.
17 reserves is insane as has been stated. You will be in constant turnover with that many players. The 3 year contracts will allow a team to rebuild, but if they have a bad draft they will bail as well, and you'll struggle to fill your owner list every year.
I play in an NL only auction league that started in 1986. We have two year contracts, but a third year can be added if they are traded in the first year and half. Keepers #'s are 9-15 based on previous year standings. The rebuild happens every year for a couple of teams, but I feel we have been fortunate in the owner turnover due to the short contracts, but we still have to find an owner every couple of years.
If I was in your league I would start with 5-6 reserves, with the league constitution written that 1-2 reserves will be added every year until you reach your 17. I would actually stop it at 10 max, but that's just me.