How can teams retain Unrestricted Free Agents (UFAs)?

The mechanism for teams to retain Unrestricted Free Agents (UFAs) primarily involves offering them competitive financial incentives. One important way to do this is by providing a salary increase over their previous contract.

Offering up to 110% of a player's previous salary is a common strategy used to entice players to stay with their current team while still providing a financial incentive for the player to remain. This approach allows teams to retain players without necessarily matching every offer they receive from other teams.

While this answer captures a valid method for retaining UFAs, another effective approach is to offer long-term contracts. Such contracts can provide security for the player, often increasing their willingness to stay. This context helps illustrate that while teams can use salary increases as a tactic, the stability and security that a long-term deal brings can also play a significant role in a player’s decision to remain with a team.

In contrast, options like offering 120% of prior salary or matching any other team's offer may not always be feasible or necessary for retaining UFAs, depending on the team’s salary cap situation and the specific circumstances surrounding the player’s free agency.