I have a hunch I am missing something basic here, but here's the problem:

I am bidding on an IFA. Without wanting to give away to any readers in my league, I'm going to modify my numbers slightly, but the principle should be the same. There is $10M in my prospect budget (post-draft, well into RL season). I have about $800K in player payroll. I am offering $7M signing bonus and a minor league contract (I've also tried "w/invite" and "major league"). I am getting the error message that my payroll won't support it for the current season, even though the $800K should easily support the $7650 minor league or $54,500 ML - neither one will work.

I'm pretty sure I'm missing something here, but I don't know what. I sent in a ticket, but I don't want to wait too long as I'd really like to land the player.

Suggestions?

Do you have any pending bids on another IFA?

Any money pending toward an IFA or draft pick counts against you, as tecwrg is getting at. So that is more than likely your problem. If that's not the case, I would send in a ticket.

Not at present. I withdrew an offer to another guy (much smaller bonus and minimum contract).

One of the owners in American PAsttime has a problem with his payroll where it looks like it is not subtracting correctly contracts that have come off the books. When you go to the trade proposal screen are you way over your current season cap?

I am having this exact same error. Bidding on an IFA with plenty of available prospect money and salary room, but getting an error. I sent in a ticket.

Yep, I am having this same problem in two different worlds...

I'm having the exact same problem.

Bidding on an International Free Agent.

International Prospects Negotiation screen shows I have Prospect Payroll Available over $10,000,000.

I'm trying to offer just over 9,000,000 w/ 7,650 Season 1 salary. Way below what I have available in both bonus and salary for this season (9).

When I submit the offer, HBD displays this message:
Error: Your franchise doesn't have the money available to offer the proposed annual salaries. Your Player Payroll isn't large enough starting with Season 9.

I have no outstanding offers to any other IntFAs or draft picks.

Just to test it, I've tried offering a 3-year ML contact at $327,000. No go.

I withdrew a trade off that would have reduced my current season salary, just to see if that had anything to do with it. Same error message.

I finally tried offering less than the offer that was just topped. That gets the same error message, too.

I'm out of ideas. Any theories? I have a hunch it's something I'm just overlooking.

Thanks.

For all of you having this problem: Have draft prospect lists dropped in your worlds, and do you have at least 28 (or maybe it's 25) players on your Rookie League roster?

I once was bidding on an Intl, and my bid was suddenly withdrawn without an email when the draft prospects showed up. When I added RL players up to 28 I was able to bid again... it won't let you go below $6M prospect after draft lists hit unless you have the required number in RL. That said, the error message is so unlike that that I'm not sure that's what's going on.

Quote: Originally posted by dedelman on 6/07/2010For all of you having this problem:  Have draft prospect lists dropped in your worlds, and do you have at least 28 (or maybe it's 25) players on your Rookie League roster?

Yup. 30. Near the end of the season.
Thanks.

D, your post gave me an idea. I actually had 30 on my RL roster. I thought maybe that because it was full it was giving the error. Not the case. I promoted a guy just to make sure there was room. Same error message.

BTW, the error message did not show up with similar previous offers. The only difference is that I made a budget transfer after the 2nd offer and before the third - still leaving enough of a cushion (not a large one, but enough of one).

I went to the trade screen and my trade budget shows the bonus as part of my payroll. I withdrew my offer and the payroll on the trade screen went down accordingly.

Looks like a bug to me. Like the bonus is counting against payroll and not prospect. Of course, now I have no bids on the guy and no way to make one...

Withdrew the offer completely and tried again. This time it worked...still shows up as over payroll on the trade screen...but no error message this time.

Quote: Originally posted by silentpadna on 6/07/2010Withdrew the offer completely and tried again.  This time it worked...still shows up as over payroll on the trade screen...but no error message this time. 

That did it. Thanks.

I withdrew the trade offer, withdrew the IntFA offer, and then made a new offer.

Offer went through.

No idea what will happen if I put the trade back up (which lowered my salary commitment this season).

Not going to test that right now.

There's a bug. Someone should report it the next time it pops up. I didn't because I assumed I was doing something wrong. But, now that I've seen this thread, it's a bug.