During free agency if there is a player you want, offer him a deal, then advance a week, If he gets a better offer make, make a better offer to him, after your offer you should be front runner for that player. Go back to him and offer him your first deal, and you should be the front runner with the smaller deal. Advance to the next week, if someone else offers a better deal again, do the same thing until he signs with you for the low contract.