Multiple things have been revealed by developer San Diego Studio in the lead-up to the release of MLB The Show 25 in the next few weeks. We’ve gotten a breakdown of everything new in Road to the Show mode, the new G.O.A.T. difficulty, and have even been drip-fed some new things coming to Diamond Dynasty. But what about Franchise mode?

For what feels like forever, it seems that changes made to MLB The Show‘s Franchise mode have been minimal at best. Simultaneously, the evolution of Major League Baseball and how baseball clubs are run has rapidly evolved, leaving a massive hole that has left dedicated Franchise players seeking other options such as Out of the Park Baseball to satisfy their front-office itch.

This year, SDS has promised to give a much-needed facelift to Franchise mode in MLB The Show 25. But what changes are they making, and how will effect your gameplay?

Everything New In MLB The Show 25 Franchise Mode

If you’re a big Franchise mode player, odds are you’re the type to get more gratification from the things that happen off the field than on it, such as signing free agents, developing young talent, and making blockbuster trades. According to San Diego Studio, these components — specifically, things pertaining to free agency and trades — have been overhauled in MLB The Show 25.

A new feature, Front Office Experience, puts you in the shoes of a general manager where you’ll be responsible for acquiring players during both the offseason and regular season. The free agency system in particular is said to be a “high risk-high reward” system in which you’ll be in constant contact with the biggest free agents in an offseason. Using a “Motivation” tracker, MLB The Show 25 will force players to pick their spots when negotiating contracts.

According to the official press release, “free agency and trades now evolve dynamically, with top teams setting the market and influencing how other clubs approach roster moves.” And it won’t all come to the money either.

Last month, our very own Kyler Wolf talked about how multiple things should factor into a player signing for an organization. And things such as team, location, and prestige play a huge part in that. SDS seems to have come to that conclusion as well, with things such as “reputation, market size, and competitive outlook” now playing a more vital role in whether or not players decide to sign with a team.

Franchise mode players will also have to prioritize how long they spend pursuing a player. For example, if you’re spending too much time trying to land that one massive signing, other players who can also be crucial to your success might become frustrated with the lack of contact and decide to go elsewhere. SDS does warn players against swooping in too early, however, as it could result in you overpaying for a player just to get out in front, crippling your team down the line with a contract that makes it difficult to add other key pieces (looking at you, Anthony Rendon).

It’s also said that big market teams such as the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees will “set the pace” when it comes to free agency deals. This is another concern we at OpSports have had in the past with Franchise mode, and it seems like that is being rectified this year. SDS has also promised improved realism when it comes to things such as arbitration and salaries.

But what about how other teams treat free agency and trades? Well, in their own words, SDS has adjusted signing and trade logic for MLB The Show 25. Obviously, it’s all too easy to just come out and say that. And MLB The Show players have been burned plenty of times before. But assuming SDS has made the necessary tweaks when it comes to making Franchise mode feel more immersive and rewarding, the maybe this will be the year where everything is turned around.