More money in Franchise mode:
Complete your first season in franchise mode. In the next season there should be some very good available free agents that can be acquired. If you do not have enough money to sign them, then go to “Manage Roster”, select a player, and go to “Edit Player”. Scroll until you find “Contract”. This will show their current contract (for example, $1.4 million and 4 years) and each year’s salary. It also gives you the option to decrease or add a year, or even drop his salary very low in the final year, etc. For example, as the Cubs select Lee. Max his contract out to ten years, and set it to the lowest amount on each year ($300,000). Save the game and go back to free agency. Sign Torii Hunter and you should notice that you have more money available. You can do this to as many players as desired.
Never lose player to free agency:
Go to your “Mange Roster” menu and edit a player. Scroll to his contract and you will see the amount of money and years he has remaining. Lower the amount of money and add as many years as desired.