I'm still failing to see the value of Q1 over Q3 or Q4 and by saying you want to test their value in free agency are suggesting eliminating the mid season waiver draft or did you just reference the wrong event? If these guys develop value in the current season they will be taken in the mid season waiver draft and never make it to free agency.

My argument against a Q1 waiver period is that the teams that need playing time have most likely cut players they didn't want to in order to keep players with more playing time. If you have a Q1 waiver period the teams that will benefit are those that have extra roster spots that can stash a guy with little or no time and a shot at a job in the upcoming tv season. No player that was released has much more than 100PA or 40GR so they are guys you can use up in the half. Let the teams strapped for playing time use up some scrubs they kept in Q1&2 and then replace them in the mid season waiver draft.