Precedents

To ensure that rules are applied consistently across seasons, it is essential to create a list of precedents established by past Commissioner decisions. Precedents are not rules, nor do they bind future Commissioner rulings. They are guidelines established by rulings to inform future rulings.

Draft Overbid (Fat Finger PT1)

  • Issue: A manager accidentally bid $25 on a player in the later rounds when they intended to bid $2.
  • Ruling: When an obvious draft bid error occurs, such as bidding $100 on a player, or 10x more on a bottom pick, the commissioner, at their discretion, pause the draft and undo the pick. The goal is to not ruin a manager’s draft due to a fat finger press.
  • Example: 2023 Draft of Tyler Rogers for $25 by manager Pampered Birds instead of $2. Another was the 2025 draft of Ozzie Albies for $115 by manager CoMeesh inead of $15.

The DeGrom Drop

  • Issue: Jacob DeGrom, a top-ranked pitcher and keeper, was healthy on the keeper deadline but got injured in the days before the draft.
  • Ruling: The manager was allowed to drop DeGrom without losing draft dollars, but was not allowed to replace the keeper as that could lead to an unfair advantage.
  • Examples: 2022 Phil is my Friend.

Draft Date Moving

  • Issue: A manager requests the draft date moved due to convenience and not because they are unable to attend the draft.
  • Ruling: The new date is proposed to the league. If a single manager cannot attend during the newly suggested date, the original draft date stands.
  • Examples: 2021, request to move draft by manager Soup Dreams.

Accidental Drops (Fat Finger PT2)

  • Issue: A manager drops the wrong player by mistake during a routine add/drop, typically due to a “fat finger” on a mobile device, and asks the commissioner to manually add the player back onto their team.
  • Ruling: The commissioner added the player back onto the manager’s team and charged the manager a one transaction penalty. Notification of the mistake to the commissioner must be immediate and is deemed “too late” if the added player has started a game.
  • Examples: 2021, No More Rays.

Yard Sale Trades

  • Issue: A Yard Sale Trade is a trade made after July 1st, when a manager who “gives up,” meaning is out of contention, trades away their best active players in exchange for benefits next season, typically keepers, to a manager in contention this year.
  • Ruling: Yard Sale Trades are legal but can be determined illegal if managers aim to undermine the league’s integrity. This office is responsible for determining if a Yard Sale Trade is legal but not for assessing trade “fairness” or “equality.” Trades are deemed illegal if it means the definitions below:
    • a: Collusion meaning two managers of different teams intentionally sabotaging one team to the benefit of the other with the goal of winning and splitting league cash prizes or trade benefits outside of the game, such as promotions at work. The punishment is an immediate suspension of both managers for the season, with a possible expulsion the following season. A second offense is automatic expulsion.
    • b: Revenge meaning two managers of different teams intentionally sabotaging one team to the be benefit of the other with the goal of “getting back at” a manager they feel “wronged” by. The punishment is the cancelation of the trade, along with other punishments less severe than season suspension.
    • c: League Veto meaning the trade is so lopsided that the majority of managers voted against it and canceled the trade. The Office of the Commissioner should rarely overturn a league veto.
    • d: Automatic Commissioner Review, All trades that meet the definition of a Yard Sale Trade, and include at least one player ranked in the top 50 are subject to an automatic legallity review by the Commissioner’s Office.
  • Examples: 2021, 1992 City Champs trade with Life of Ke’Bryan. 2022, Beats trade with Bonerko for Konerko.