What’s the Patience threshold for no penalty for a MLBer getting demoted to AAA? 65?

The guy I’m considering sending down has 75/Patience

I have a trade-acquired new SP coming on board and I have a 22 yr. old LR who is the only guy on my staff with Options that doesn’t play a vital role. If I don’t send him down, then it’s a bench bat until rosters expand in another 11 or 12 games.

They should get rid of demotion penalty, as MLB does it every without hurting development.

No answer to your original question but I agree with your 2nd comment. The demotion penalty seems way out-dated given modern roster management practices where players might shuttle back and forth between ML and AAA. Maybe a demotion or repeated demotions slows down additional development for certain players, but regressing by whole points -- which are less likely to ever be gained back due to how far along these guys are -- it's silly. "He was sent to AAA and he never threw as accurately again."

It makes no sense in a real life application, but this is a salary cap utilization game. It's to prevent owners from using their 40-man in place of their 25-man, and from gaming the cap by manipulating salaries in non-real life ways.

Yeah, except that does happen in this game.

Posted by mattyjim on 8/14/2025 1:42:00 PM (view original):
No answer to your original question but I agree with your 2nd comment. The demotion penalty seems way out-dated given modern roster management practices where players might shuttle back and forth between ML and AAA. Maybe a demotion or repeated demotions slows down additional development for certain players, but regressing by whole points -- which are less likely to ever be gained back due to how far along these guys are -- it's silly. "He was sent to AAA and he never threw as accurately again."

Disagree, HBD works differently than MLB, you wouldn't send a guy down in HBD to "get his head right" or "work on his swing." The only reason you send a guy down is because he's been replaced on the roster, that should result in a penalty for low-Makeup or low-Patience players due to the demoralizing nature of being demoted for that reason.

That said, I would be in favor of reducing the penalty for multiple demotions if a player really is AAAA and is basically just the occasional 25th man on the roster.

Posted by prezuiwf on 8/15/2025 11:42:00 AM (view original):

Posted by mattyjim on 8/14/2025 1:42:00 PM (view original):
No answer to your original question but I agree with your 2nd comment. The demotion penalty seems way out-dated given modern roster management practices where players might shuttle back and forth between ML and AAA. Maybe a demotion or repeated demotions slows down additional development for certain players, but regressing by whole points -- which are less likely to ever be gained back due to how far along these guys are -- it's silly. "He was sent to AAA and he never threw as accurately again."

Disagree, HBD works differently than MLB, you wouldn't send a guy down in HBD to "get his head right" or "work on his swing." The only reason you send a guy down is because he's been replaced on the roster, that should result in a penalty for low-Makeup or low-Patience players due to the demoralizing nature of being demoted for that reason.

That said, I would be in favor of reducing the penalty for multiple demotions if a player really is AAAA and is basically just the occasional 25th man on the roster.

Well, maybe.
1) If you wouldn't send a dude to the minors to get his head right, why should his head get wrong for being demoted?
2) More seriously-- the issue is that it's permanent-- those points of ratings don't come back if you bring him back to the majors or offer him a big contract or get him a Red Ryder bb gun for Christmas or whatever. He spends the rest of his HBD life "demoralized," as if he has PTSD from being sent down to AAA or something.

If the ratings reappeared after spending a full season in the majors (or something similar) I might be OK with it, but I don't think it works right as it is.

Yeah the demotion penalty needs to go. Modern roster construction evolves around fully using young players' options for maximum roster flexibility while they are still developing. I would understand if maybe there were a temporary "morale" decrease that resulted in struggles after a demotion, but a decrease in ratings for using a young player's options is out of touch with the sport.

I have seen varying responses to whether or not there is a demotion penalty before spring training. I did a Sept call-up on a top prospect and really want him on AAA to start the season, but I am terrified of a penalty (he has 91 patience). What is the real answer?

With 91 patience, you can send him down and not worry about a penalty.