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MLB Roster Rules


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MLB Reserve List (40-Man Roster)

Each MLB club is permitted to reserve no more than 40 players on its MLB Reserve List, which is why the MLB Reserve List is also called the "40-man roster."

Each MLB club is permitted to roster a maximum of 25 players on its MLB Active List (also known as the "25-man roster") beginning at 3:00 PM (Eastern) on MLB Opening Day up through 11:59 PM (Eastern) on August 31st, and then the Active List roster limit is increased to a maximum of 40 players beginning on September 1st and extending through the last game of the MLB regular season. The Active List maximum roster limit reverts back to 25 players again for post-season play (LDS, LCS, and World Series). If MLB regular season games are scheduled prior to MLB Opening Day (for example, if MLB games are played in Japan, Mexico, Australia, etc), the MLB Commissioner will determine the Active List maximum roster limit for those games.

Each MLB club is required to roster a minimum of 24 players on its MLB Active List during the MLB regular season (and post-season), but in the event of an unusual or unavoidable circumstance (such as a multi-player trade or multiple trades made at about the same time where several players have been acquired but have not yet arrived), a club's MLB Active List can temporarily go below 24 players, but for no more than 48 hours. (Even though an MLB club could play with a 24-man MLB Active Roster for an entire season (and save about $500K in payroll by doing so), in practice and by convention no MLB club would do that unless all clubs did).

No more than 16 players on a club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) may be on Optional Assignment at any one time.

A club can recall a player from a minor league Optional Assignment and place the player on its "Taxi Squad" for one day. If the player is not added to his club's MLB Active List by 3 PM (Eastern) the next day or at least three hours prior to the scheduled start of the next day's game (whichever is later), the player must be removed from the Taxi Squad and returned to his minor league assignment. A player on the Taxi Squad does not count against his club's MLB Active List, and the player does not accrue MLB Service Time while on the Taxi Squad. The most common reason to recall a player and place him on the Taxi Squad is when a club is considering whether to place a player on the Disabled List but has not yet decided.

Beginning on MLB Opening Day up through August 31st, a club can temporarily add a 26th player to its MLB Active List on any day where two games are scheduled, as long as the second game was scheduled at least 48 hours in advance. If the second game was scheduled less than 48 hours in advance, a 26th man can be temporarily added to a club's MLB Active List for the second game only.

1. The "26th man" must be on the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) or has to be added to the club's 40-man roster that day.

2. The "26th man" does not have to be a pitcher.

3. In the case of a second game being scheduled at least 48 hours in advance, the 26-man Active List limit is in effect for both games, but the "26th man" cannot be switched between games.

4. A minor league player can be added to a club's Active List as the "26th man" even if he has not spent ten days on Optional Assignment (or Outright Assignment) prior to being added.

5. A "26th man" can remain on the Active List and a different player can be dropped the next day, as long as the "26th man" was not called up from the minors prior to spending at least ten days on Optional or Outright Assignment. However, a player called up as the "26th man" prior to spending at least ten days on Optional or Outright Assignment could remain on the 25-man roster if the player replaces a player who is placed on the Disabled List (or other MLB inactive list) the next day.

6. If a player is recalled as the "26th man" and is optioned or outrighted back to the minors the next day, the "10-day rule" clock (prohibiting a player from being recalled until he has spent at least ten days on Optional or Outright Assignment, unless he is replacing a player who is placed on the DL or other MLB inactive list) does not start over again. However many days toward ten that the player spent on Optional or Outright Assignment prior to being recalled as the "26th man" counts toward the ten days.

7. The "26th man" accrues one day of MLB Service Time.

Adding Players to MLB Reserve List

Only players on an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) can be placed on an MLB Active List (25-man roster).

A free-agent with prior MLB and/or minor league service who signs a Major League contract must be added to his club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) when he is added to an MLB Active List or when the contract is filed with the MLB Commissioner (whichever comes first). Contracts must be filed with the MLB Commissioner within 20 days of signing.

A club must add a player to its MLB Reserve List immediately if the player is acquired as the result of a waiver claim, or if a player on another club's 40-man roster is acquired in a trade, or if a player is selected in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft.

In addition, an MLB club generally has the option to add any player who is on the reserve list of one of its minor league affiliates to its MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) at any time. The exceptions are:

1. A minor league player eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft cannot be added to an MLB 40-man roster during the period of time beginning with the filing of MLB and minor league reserve lists on November 20th (or November 19th if November 20th falls on a Saturday, or November 18th if November 20th falls on a Sunday) up through the conclusion of the Rule 5 Draft.

2. A minor league player who was sent outright to the minors cannot be added back to his club's MLB 40-man roster until he has spent at least 10 days on outright assignment, unless the player is selected to be the "26th man" on a day where a doubleheader was scheduled at least 48 hours in advance, or is selected to replace a player on the 25-man roster who is placed on the Disabled List, Bereavement List, Paternity List, Restricted List, Military List, Disqualified List, or Ineligible List, or if the season (including post-season playoffs) of the minor league team to which the player is assigned is over, or if the player is traded.

3. A minor league player eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft who was sent outright to the minors anytime after the previous Rule 5 Draft cannot be added back to his club's MLB 40-man roster during the period of time beginning at 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series up through the conclusion of the Rule 5 Draft.

4. An unsigned minor league player who is eligible to be a Rule 55 minor league free-agent (player was previously released in his career and/or player has spent all or part of at least seven separate seasons on a minor league active list or disabled list) cannot be unilaterally added (by selection) to his club's MLB 40-man roster any later than 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series (or 5 PM Eastern on October 15th if the World Series is canceled)..

5. A player on an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) who is given his Outright Release during the period of time extending from September 1st through March 31st cannot be added back to the MLB 40-man roster of the club that released the player until May 15th, and a player on an MLB 40-man roster who is given his Outright Release during the period of time extending from April 1st through August 31st cannot be added back to the MLB Active List of the club that released the player for at least 30 days.

6. A player who has not previously signed an MLB or minor league contract can be "Signed for Future Service" (contract is for the following season) if the player signs a Major League contract after July 1st. A player who is "Signed for Future Service" by an MLB club must be placed on the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster), and cannot play in MLB or in the minor leagues until Opening Day of the following season. (Attendance at a post-season Instructional League and/or participation in Instructional League games do not count). A player on an MLB 40-man roster who is "Signed for Future Service" cannot be sent to the minors by Optional or Outright Assignment any earlier than 20 days prior to MLB Opening Day (same as a Draft-Excluded Player).

7. Beginning in 2012, players signed after being selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft, players signed as Non-Drafted Free-Agents (NDFA) after being eligible for selection in the MLB Rule 4 Draft, and international players subject to the International Signing Bonus Pool rule, cannot be signed to a Major League contract.

Roster Status of Signed & Unsigned Players on MLB Reserve List

After the conclusion of the MLB season, only those players on a club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) who have contracts for the following season are considered "signed players," but the other players on the 40-man roster are still under club control (they are "reserved").

Unsigned players on an MLB club's Reserve List (40-man roster) would include any player who was added to an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) after the conclusion of the MLB regular season, any player who can have his contract unilaterally renewed by his club, any player who is eligible for salary arbitration, and any player eligible to be an MLB free-agent per Article XX-B of the CBA.

Restrictions on Trading Players

Generally, an MLB club can trade a player on its MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) and minor league reserve lists at any time. However, there are a few restrictions:

1. A player who signs after being selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft (First-Year Player Draft) cannot be traded until after the conclusion of the World Series. NOTE: Previously, a player signed after being selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft could not be traded until the first anniversary of the player signing his first contract.

2. A minor league player eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft cannot be added to an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster), traded to another organization, or transferred from one minor league reserve list to another within the same organization, beginning with the filing of MLB & minor league reserve lists on November 20th (or November 19th if November 20th falls on a Saturday or November 18th if November 20th falls on a Sunday) and extending through the completion of the Rule 5 Draft.

3. A player cannot be traded while he is on waivers.

4. A player on an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) who has accrued at least ten years of MLB Service Time with at least the last five years of MLB Service Time accrued with the same club (a so-called "10/5" player) has an automatic "no trade" right for as long as he remains with that club. The player can waive this right if he so chooses.

5. An Article XX-B MLB free-agent who signs a Major League contract after 11:59 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series has an automatic "no trade" right through June 15th. The player can waive this right, but if he does he can be traded only for cash and/or player contracts with a maximum aggregate value of $50,000. Note that an Article XX-B MLB free-agent who signs a minor league contract after 11:59 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series does NOT receive an automatic "no trade" right, even if the player is later added to the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster).

6. If a "Player to Be Named Later" (PTBNL) is part of a trade, the PTBNL cannot be on an MLB 25-man roster (MLB Active List) at any time beginning when the trade is executed (filed with the MLB office) up until when the trade is completed. A PTBNL can be a specific player or the PTBNL can be selected from a list of players or a class of players as determined by the clubs when the trade is executed. Beginning in 2015, a player signed after being selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft (First-Year Player Draft) cannot be a PTBNL in any trade made prior to the conclusion of the World Series. Clubs have six months to agree on a PTBNL, but the clubs can agree (when the trade is executed) on a deadline that is less than six months. A cash payment (typically $50,000 for trades involving players on the 40-man roster) can be substituted for a PTBNL if no agreement can be reached within six months, but the alternative cash payment must be agreeable to both clubs and stated in writing when the trade is executed.

7. Beginning at 4 PM (Eastern) on July 31st and extending through the conclusion of the MLB regular season, Trade Assignment Waivers must be secured before a player on an MLB 40-man roster (or 60-day DL) can be traded. NOTE: Because July 31st falls on a Sunday in 2016, the "non-waiver" trade deadline will be extended one day (to 4 PM Eastern on August 1st) in 2016 (only).

8. In most cases a player on a disabled list can be traded, even if the player is not eligible to be reinstated and/or healthy enough to play. The one exception is if Trade Assignment Waivers must be secured before the player can be traded. In that case (only), the player must be eligible to be reinstated from the Disabled List AND healthy enough to play before the player can be placed on waivers. Otherwise the disabled player would have to remain a "Player to Be Named Later" until either the player is eligible to be reinstated from the Disabled List AND healthy enough to play such that Trade Assignment Waivers can be secured, or until the conclusion of the MLB regular season (if Trade Assignment Waivers are not secured).

MLB Service Time

An MLB regular season (AKA "championship season") must be at least 178 days but no more than 183 days in length, but 172 days constitutes a "full" MLB regular season for purposes of calculating MLB Service Time.

1. A player cannot get credit for more than 172 days of MLB Service Time in any one MLB championship season (MLB regular season).

2. MLB Service Time is counted beginning on MLB Opening Day up through the last scheduled day of the regular season.

3. MLB Service Time can only be accrued during the scheduled MLB championship season (MLB regular season). MLB Service Time cannot be accrued during the MLB post-season (LDS, LCS, and World Series), or after the last scheduled day of the MLB regular season (if the regular season extends beyond the scheduled last day because of a rain-out make-up game or other unscheduled exigency).

4. If an MLB regular season game or games are scheduled during Spring Training (prior to MLB Opening Day), only players on the MLB Active List or on an MLB Disabled List or other applicable Inactive List of the clubs participating in the games(s) accrue MLB Service Time. This would apply to any MLB regular season game(s) known as "international openers" that may be scheduled in Australia, Japan, Mexico, et al, during Spring Training and prior to MLB Opening Day. Otherwise, MLB Service Time cannot be accrued during Spring Training (prior to MLB Opening Day).

5. A player on an MLB Reserve List accrues a day of MLB Service Time for each day of the MLB regular season spent on an MLB Active List or on an MLB 7-day, 15-day, or 60-day Disabled List (including days spent on a Minor League Injury Rehabilitation assignment), Paternity List, Bereavement List, Medical Emergency List, Suspended List, or Military List, or on the Restricted List as the result of a Prohibited Substance suspension.

6. A player does not accrue MLB Service Time for days spent on the Disqualified List, Ineligible List, or Voluntary Retired List, or for days spent on the Restricted List for any reason other than a Prohibited Substance suspension.

7. A player traded during the MLB regular season continues to accrue MLB Service Time after being traded but before reporting to his new club.

8. A player who is Designated for Assignment (DFA) accrues MLB Service Time while he is Designated for Assignment (but only during the MLB regular season);

9. A player normally does not accrue MLB Service Time for days spent on Optional Assignment to the minor leagues. However, if a player spends less than 20 days on Optional Assignment to the minors during the course of a given MLB regular season, the player gets credit for MLB Service Time for the days spent on Optional Assignment. But if the player spends at least 20 days on Optional Assignment to the minors in a given MLB regular season, the player does not accrue MLB Service Time for the days spent on Optional Assignment. NOTE: Days spent on Optional Assignment during Spring Training (prior to MLB Opening Day) do not count toward the 20 days.

10. If a player is optioned to the minors, the player is not credited with a day of MLB Service Time for the day the player is optiioned to the minors unless the player is optioned during or after the conclusion of an MLB regular season game played by his club that day. If a player is recalled from a minor league Optional Assignment, the player receives credit for a day of MLB Service Time beginning with the day the player is recalled.

Free-Agency & Contracts

Article XX-B MLB Free-Agency

Per Article XX-B of the CBA, any player on an MLB Reserve List who has accrued at least six years of MLB Service Time and who is not signed for the following season becomes a free-agent at 9 AM (Eastern) on the first day after the final game of the World Series.

For an international player who has accrued service time with a foreign "major league" club or clubs prior to signing a "first contract" with an MLB club, any service time accrued while on the active roster of a foreign club(s) may be considered when determining Article XX-B and Article XIX-A contractural rights & eligibility.

The player's former club retains exclusive negotiating rights with an Article XX-B player up until midnight (Eastern) on the 5th day after the conclusion of the World Series, after-which the player is free to sign a Major League contract (or minor league contract) with any club, including with the player's former club.

An Article XX-B MLB free-agent who signs a Major League contract after 11:59 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series receives automatic "no trade" rights that extend through June 15th of the following season, even if the player re-signs with his former club. An Article XX-B MLB Free-Agent who receives "no trade" rights this way can waive the right, but if he does, his club can trade the player only for player contracts and/or cash with a maximum aggregate value of $50,000. Note that a player who signs a Major League contract after becoming a free-agent by any other means (Outright Release, Non-Tendered, or Article XX-D or MLB Rule 55 minor league free-agent) does NOT receive automatic "no trade" rights through June 15th.

If an Article XX-B MLB free-agent signs a minor league contract at least ten days prior to MLB Opening Day, and then is either not released by 12 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day prior to MLB Opening Day or added to an MLB Active List (25-man roster) or MLB Disabled List by 3 PM (Eastern) on MLB Opening Day, the player automatically receives a $100,000 retention bonus, and the player can unilaterally opt-out of the minor league contract on June 1st if he has not been added to an MLB Active List (25-man roster) or an MLB Disabled List by that date.

Compensation for Loss of Article XX-B Qualified Player

An Article XX-B free-agent is designated a "Qualified Player" if the player spent the entire immediately-preceding MLB regular season on a club's MLB Active List (25-man roster) and/or on one or more of the club's inactive lists (7-day, 15-day, and/or 60-day Disabled List, Military List, Bereavement List, et al) and/or on the Active List or an inactive list (7-day or 60-day Disabled List, Military List, Bereavement List, et al) of one or more minor league affiliates of that club, and the club offers the player a guaranteed contract (known as a "Qualifying Offer") for the following season.

The Qualifying Offer must include a salary at least equal to the average salary of the 125 highest-paid MLB players from the previous season. The exact amount of the average salary of the 125 highes-paid MLB players from the previous season will be communicated by the MLB Labor Relations Department (LRD) simultaneously to all MLB clubs and the Major League Baseball Player's Association (MLBPA) within ten days after the conclusion of the MLB regular season.

2016 QUALIFYING OFFER MINIMUM SALARY: $15.8 M

To be valid, a Qualifying Offer must be extended by a club no later than 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series. The LRD then provides the MLBPA with a list of players receiving valid Qualifying Offers and the amount of each offer.

The Qualified Player has until 5 PM (Eastern) on the 7th day after receiving the offer to decide whether to accept or decline. If the Qualified Player accepts the offer, he is considered "signed" and must be immediately added back to his club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster). If he declines the offer, the player is free to sign with any MLB club, including his former club.

A club receives one compensatory draft pick between the 1st and 2nd rounds in the next MLB Rule 4 Draft (First-Year Player Draft) if the Qualified Player subsequently signs a Major League contract with another MLB club. If more than one club receives this type of compensatory pick, the draft order for the picks is the same as it is for all other rounds in that draft (clubs select in inverse order of league standings from the previous season, and in the case of two clubs finishing with the same record the previous season, league standings from two seasons back will be used to break the tie, and if If the clubs are still tied, league standings from three seasons back, four seasons back, etc, will be used to break the tie).

MLB clubs are not permitted to extend a Qualifying Offer to an Article XX-B MLB free-agent if the player has agreed in advance to decline the offer so that the club will obtain a compensatory draft pick once the player signs with another club.

An MLB club that signs a Qualified Player forfeits its 1st round selection in the Rule 4 Draft, unless the club selects in the Top 10 of the 1st Round, in which case the club would forfeit its next-highest pick. NOTE: In determining whether a club would forfeit its 1st round draft pick, the ten "protected" picks at the top of the 1st round would NOT include any compensation draft pick received by a club for failing to sign a 1st round draft pick from a previous draft.

The next highest draft pick (or draft picks) will be forfeited if the club signs more than one Qualified Player (one draft pick forfeited for each Qualified Player signed). Draft picks subject to forfeiture include the club's own Rule 4 picks, compensatory draft picks awarded to the club after losing an Article XX-B Qualified Player, and draft picks that were awarded as the result of the Competitive Balance Lottery or as the result of the Rule 4 SBP Forfeited Draft Pick lottery (including any lottery draft pick originally awarded to another club and then subsequently acquired in a trade). A compensatory draft pick awarded to a club for failing to sign a pick from a previous Rule 4 Draft is NOT subject to forfeiture. NOTE: A Rule 4 Draft pick forfeited as the result of a club signing a Qualified Player is not transferred to any other club (it just disappears).

A Qualified Player who signs a Major League contract after 11:59 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series receives automatic "no trade" rights that extend through June 15th of the following season, even if the player re-signs with his former club. A Qualified Player who receives "no trade" rights this way can waive the right, but if he does, his club can trade the player only for player contracts and/or cash with a maximum aggregate value of $50,000.

If a Qualified Player signs a Major League contract with a new club after the MLB Rule 4 Draft, or if a Qualified Player signs a minor league contract with a new club and either remains in the minor leagues or is later added to the new club's MLB 40-man roster, the player's new club does NOT forfeit a Rule 4 Draft pick, and the player's former club does NOT receive Rule 4 Draft pick compensation. However, MLB clubs are not permitted to sign a Qualified Player to a minor league contract just to avoid losing a draft pick.

Tendering Contracts to Unsigned Players on MLB Reserve List

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If an unsigned player is not tendered a contract on December 2nd (or December 1st if December 2nd falls on a Saturday, or November 30th if December 2nd falls on a Sunday), the player is said to be "Non-Tendered," he is immediately removed from his club's MLB 40-man roster, and he becomes an unrestricted free-agent, free to sign a major league or minor league contract with any club, including the club that non-tendered the player. A "Non-Tendered" player receives no termination pay, and the player's former club receives no compensation if the player subsequently signs with another club.

Each unsigned player on an MLB 40-man roster who is tendered a contract must be offered at least the MLB minimum salary ($507,500 in 2016) and (with a couple of exceptions) at least 80% of the player's previous season's salary, and at least 70% of the player's salary from two seasons back.

Some players have a "minor league split" salary in their contract which they are paid if they are sent to the minors. In most cases, a player's minor league "split" salary must be at least 60% of the player's salary from the previous season. The one exception is if a free-agent signs a major league contract with a minor league "split" salary, the "60% rule" does not apply

The minor league "split" minimum salary in 2016 is $41,400 for players with no MLB Service Time who are on an MLB 40-man roster for the first time, with $82,700 the minimum minor league "split" salary for all other players.

Performance-Incentive Bonuses

Performance-incentive bonuses are permitted in Major League contracts, but a bonus cannot be based on batting or pitching skill, or where the club finishes in the standings. A performance-incentive bonus can, however, be tied to days spent on an MLB Active List during the MLB regular season, and/or Games Played, Games Started, Games Finished, and/or Innings Pitched for pitchers, or Games Played, Games Started, and/or Plate Appearances for position players. Awards such as MVP, Cy Young, Silver Slugger, and/or Gold Glove, and/or being named to an All-Star team, can also be tied to an incentive bonus.

Arbitration-Eligible Players

An unsigned player under club control who has accrued at least three but less than six years of MLB Service Time is automatically eligible for salary arbitration. Also, any unsigned player with at least two years but less than three years of MLB Service Time who accrued at least 86 days of MLB Service Time the previous season can qualify for salary arbitration as a so-called "Super Two" if the player is among the top 22% in MLB Service Time of players in that group.

If a club and a player eligible for salary arbitration cannot agree on a contract, the player can request the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) to file for salary arbitration. The MLBPA is responsible for delivering all requests for salary arbitration to the MLB Labor Relations Department (MLB LRD) on the Tuesday immediately prior to the third Friday in January; Once salary arbitration has been requested, the player submits his desired salary to the MLBPA, the club submits its salary offer to the MLB LRD, and the MLBPA and MLB LRD exchange the two figures on the third Friday in January. The MLBPA and MLB LRD then schedule a hearing with a three-person arbitration panel. Hearings are held on various dates during the first three weeks of February.

The club's offer must be at least the MLB minimum salary, and, in most cases, must be at least 80% of the player's previous year's salary and at least 70% of the player's salary from two seasons back. However, if the player received a raise in excess of 50% by a salary arbitration panel the previous season, a 20% maximum salary reduction from the previous season and a 30% maximum salary reduction from two seasons back does not apply, and the club only has to offer at least the MLB minimum salary.

After arbitration has been requested, the player and the club can continue to negotiate back & forth, and the player can withdraw from the process any time up until the hearing. And in fact this frequently happens, as the player and the club will often agree to just "split the difference" (something the panel cannot do). If the matter does go to a hearing, the arbitration panel must choose either the club's offer or the player's figure.

Win or lose, the player is awarded a standard one-year MLB contract with no "minor league split" salary or incentive/performance bonuses. Also, the contract is not guaranteed, so if the player is released during Spring Training, the club would only owe the player 30 days or 45 days salary as termination pay, depending on when the player is released. (A player on an MLB 40-man roster receives 100% of what remains of his salary if he is released during the regular season).

NOTE: The Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) is very sensitive about salary arbitration, so if a player is victorious at an arbitration hearing and is awarded a contract by an arbitration panel and then is subsequently released by his club prior to or during Spring Training, the MLBPA will almost always file a grievance on behalf of the player, claiming the player was released for economic reasons only (which is not permitted), and asking that the released player receive 100% of his salary as termination pay. In that situation, a club would have to show (by submitting official Spring Training game stats) that the released player was out-performed in Spring Training games by another player (or players) competing for that roster spot.

Pre-Arbitration/Auto-Renewal Players

An unsigned player under club control who does not yet qualify for salary arbitration ultimately has to either accept the club's offer or just not play.

A club will negotiate with the player up to a point, but if the player has not signed a contract for the current season by March 1st, the club has the right to unilaterally dictate the player's salary and renew the player's contract from the previous season (albeit for an amount not less than the MLB minimum salary, and not less than 80% of the player's salary from the previous season and not less than 70% of the player's salary from two season's back).

These players are the ones who have a "minor league split" salary in their contract, which the player is paid if he is sent to the minors. A player's "minor league split" salary must be at least equal to the 2016 MLB "minor league split" minimum salary ($41,400 for players with no MLB Service Time who are on an MLB 40-man roster for the first time, with $82,700 the minimum minor league "split" salary for all other players) and must be at least 60% of the player's salary from the previous season. NOTE: If a free-agent signs a major league contract with a minor league "split" salary, the "60% rule" does not apply.

CUBS UNSIGNED AUTO-RENEWAL (PRE-ARBITRATION) PLAYERS (last updated 3-1-2016):

NONE

MLB Rule 5 Draft

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Each MLB club is required to file its MLB Reserve List and the reserve list for each of its minor league affiliates with the MLB Commissioner on November 20th each year (or November 19th if November 20th falls on a Saturday, or November 18th if November 20th falls on a Sunday), and the MLB Rule 5 Draft is held subsequent to the reserve lists being filed.

The MLB Rule 5 Draft is recently the last order of business at the MLB WINTER MEETINGS in December, and it is a mechanism that allows MLB clubs to select (draft) players off minor league reserve lists.

There is a "Major League Phase" where an MLB club can select Rule 5 Draft eligible players off the reserve lists of minor league clubs (any minor league classification) for $50,000, a "AAA Phase" where a club's AAA minor league affiliate can select Rule 5 Draft eligible players off the reserve lists of minor league clubs of a lower classification (below AAA) for $12,000, and finally a "AA Phase" where a club's AA minor league affiliate can select Rule 5 Draft eligible players off the reserve lists of minor league clubs of a lower classification (below AA) for $4,000.

RULE 5 DRAFT ELIGIBILITY:

1. A minor league player who was 18 or younger on the June 5th immediately prior to signing his first contract is eligible for selection starting with the 5th Rule 5 Draft following his first qualified season, and a minor league player who was 19 years or older on the June 5th immediately prior to signing his first contract becomes eligible for selection starting with the 4th Rule 5 Draft following his first qualified season.

2. If a player signs his first contract after the conclusion of the season of the MLB or minor league club to which he is first assigned (even if he signs prior to the Rule 5 Draft), the next season is considered to be the player's "first qualified season" for Rule 5 eligibility purposes. (Depending on the minor league, the conclusion of a minor league club's season could be as early as the first week of August, or as late as the second week of September).

3. A player eligible to be an MLB Rule 55 minor league free-agent who signs a minor league successor contract prior to being declared a free-agent and a free-agent with prior MLB and/or minor league service who signs a minor league contract prior to the Rule 5 Draft is eligible for selection if the player was 18 or younger on the June 5th immediately prior to signing his first contract and it is at least the 5th Rule 5 Draft since he signed his first contract, or the player was 19 years or older on the June 5th immediately prior to signing his first contract and it is at least the 4th Rule 5 Draft since he signed his first contract.

4. Any player on a minor league reserve list who has either been released or had his contract voided and then re-signs with the same MLB organization within one year is eligible for selection.

5. Any player on a minor league reserve list who has been outrighted to the minors previously in his career is eligible for selection.

6. A player on the Voluntary Retired List, Disqualified List, or Ineligible List is not eligible for selection.

7. An MLB club can designate any player on a minor league reserve list "eligible for selection" in the Rule 5 Draft even if the player would not normally be eligible, but once a player is designated eligible for selection, he remains eligible for selection in all subsequent Rule 5 drafts.

8. A minor league player-manager who would be eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft if he was only a player can be selected, but if he is selected, the player-manager can reject the selection and retire. He has 30 days to decide. If he rejects the selection and opts to retire as a player, the player-manager is ineligible to be reinstated as a player for a minimum of one year.

RULE 5 DRAFT RESTRICTIONS:

1. A minor league player eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft cannot be added to an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster), traded to another organization, or transferred from one minor league reserve list to another within the same organization, starting with the filing of MLB & minor league reserve lists on November 20th up through the conclusion of the Rule 5 Draft.

2. A player cannot be sent outright to the minors on the two days prior to the Rule 5 Draft and on the day of the Rule 5 Draft (through the conclusion of the draft).

3. A club must have as many slots open on its MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) prior to the Rule 5 Draft as the number of players it selects in the Major League Phase, and an MLB club's AAA and AA affiliates must have as many slots open on their respective reserve lists prior to the Rule 5 Draft as the number of players the affiliate selects in the AAA and AA phases of the draft. There is no limit on the number of Rule 5 eligible players any one organization can lose.

4. A player selected in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft must be placed on the drafting club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) immediately, and must be tendered a major league contract by 5 PM (Eastern) on the day of the draft.

PLAYERS WITH RULE 5 RESTRICTIONS ON CUBS MLB RESERVE LIST (40-MAN ROSTER): (updated 12-10-2015)

NONE

5. A player selected in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft can be traded at any time, but the player cannot be released or sent to the minors any earlier than 20 days prior to MLB Opening Day, and then only if Outright Assignment Waivers have been secured and the player's former club declines to re-claim the player.

6. If a player selected in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft spends at least 90 days on an MLB Active List during the MLB regular season following selection, Rule 5 restrictions are removed at the conclusion of the MLB regular season. If time spent on an MLB Active List is less than 90 days in the season following selection, the player remains a Rule 5 player into the next season, and the player continues to be a Rule 5 player until he has spent 90 days total on an MLB Active List.

7. If a club wishes to send a Rule 5 player to the minors before Rule 5 restrictions have been removed, the player must be placed on Outright Assignment Waivers, where any of the other 29 MLB clubs can claim the player for the $25,000 Rule 5 waiver price and assume the Rule 5 obligations.

8. If the Rule 5 player is not claimed off Outright Waivers, the player then must be offered back to the club from which he was drafted, and the player's former club can reclaim the player for $25,000, with the player being automatically outrighted to the Reserve List of the minor league club from which he was drafted. The club from which the player was drafted usually has 72 hours to decide whether to reclaim the player, but it has only 24 hours to decide if the player is eligible to be an Article XX-D Free-Agent if outrighted to the minors (player has accrued at least three years of MLB Service Time, qualifies for salary arbitration as a "Super Two" player, and/or has been outrighted to the minors previously in his career).

9. If a Rule 5 player is returned (outrighted) to the minor league club from which he was drafted, the drafting club is responsible for any portion of the player's salary above what the player was paid the previous season.

10. If a Rule 5 Player is returned (outrighted) to the minor league club from which he was drafted, and if the player has accrued at least three years of MLB Service Time, qualifies for salary arbitration as a "Super Two" player, and/or has been outrighted to the minors previously in his career, the player can elect to be an MLB Article XX-D minor league free-agent after being outrighted (he has three days to decide), or he can accept the Outright Assignment and defer the right to be a minor league free-agent until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season. (An outrighted "Super Two" Rule 5 player who has not previously been outrighted to the minors can elect free-agency if he is outrighted to the minors, but he cannot defer free-agency until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season).

11. If the club from which the player was drafted declines to reclaim the player, the Rule 5 restrictions are removed, the drafting club retains the player, and the player can be sent to the minors or released.

12. A player selected in the AAA or AA Phase of the Rule 5 Draft must be assigned to the Reserve List of the AAA or AA club that drafted the player, but the player can be assigned to the Active List of any minor league affiliate in the MLB club's organization once the minor league regular season commences. Also, unlike players selected in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft, a player selected in the AAA or AA Phase of the Rule 5 Draft does not have to be offered back to the club from which he was drafted if the player is ultimately assigned to the Active List of a minor league affiliate below the level of the minor league affiliate that drafted the player.

13. A club can select a player off the reserve list of one of its own minor league affiliates, but if the player is selected in the Major League Phase, the club is bound by the same Rule 5 roster restrictions as if it had selected the player off the reserve list of another club's minor league affiliate.

14. A player eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft cannot be "covered up" from selection, either by agreement between two clubs or by effect. Also, a player selected in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft cannot be "hidden" on a Disabled List to help the drafting club fulfill Rule 5 roster obligations. If the MLB Commissioner believes a club "covered up" a player to avoid losing the player in the Rule Draft or "hid" a selected player on a Disabled List, the offending club or clubs are subject to a penalty (TBD by the MLB Commissioner).

Draft-Excluded Player

A "Draft-Excluded Player" is any minor league player eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft whose contract is selected and who is added to an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) between August 15th and the Rule 5 Draft.

While a "Draft-Excluded Player" can be non-tendered on 12/2, released, or traded at any time, he cannot be sent to the minors by Optional Assignment beginning with the conclusion of the MLB regular season up until 20 days prior to MLB Opening Day. Also, a "Draft-Excluded Player" can be outrighted to the minors only if Outright Assignment Waivers are requested no later than 2 PM (Eastern) on the 4th day following the final game of the World Series, and if a "Draft-Excluded Player" is not outrighted to the minors prior to the Rule 5 Draft, the player cannot be Designated for Assignment or sent outright to the minors any earlier than 20 days prior to the start of the MLB regular season.

MLB Disaster Plan (Restocking Draft)

In the event that an incident occurs where at least five players from the same MLB club are killed, dismembered, and/or permanently disabled, MLB has a "Rehabilitation Plan" in place under Rule 29 that includes financial support and a "Restocking Draft" for the stricken club (known as the "Disabled Club"). The plan has existed in basically the same form since 1965, so the method for allocating talent to the affected team essentially follows the mechanism used to distribute players to MLB expansion teams in 1960-61.

Under this plan, after a reasonable period of mourning, and presuming that the MLB Commissioner, the MLBPA, and the other 29 clubs jointly agree that the Disabled Club's season should continue, each of the other 29 clubs will be required to contribute five players from its MLB Active List (25-man roster) into the Restocking Draft pool, including one pitcher, one infielder, one outfielder, and one catcher (but only if the club has at least three catchers on its 25-man roster), plus one additional player regardless of position (or two additional players regardless of position if the club does not have three catchers on its 25-man roster).

If the incident occurs during the off-season or during Spring Training, each of the other 29 clubs will be required to contribute six players from its MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) into the Restocking Draft pool, including one pitcher, one infielder, one outfielder, and one catcher (but only if the club has at least three catchers on its 40-man roster), plus two additional players regardless of position (or three additional players regardless of position if the club does not have three catchers on its 40-man roster).

From the Restocking Draft pool, the Disabled Club will be permitted to select replacements for the players lost in the disaster.

1. The number of players selected by the Disabled Club must match the number of players lost in the disaster;

2. No club can lose more than one player;

3. Any player with a "no trade" right is exempt from inclusion in the pool unless the player waives his "no trade" right in advance;

4. The five (or six) players made available by each club must include as many players with a minimum of 60 days (0+060) of MLB service time as were lost in the disaster;

5. Players on the Disabled List cannot be included in the pool unless the player is eligible to be reinstated from the DL and the player's club certifies that the player is healthy enough to play if selected.

In addition to the Restocking Draft and financial support, various other considerations may be temporarily extended to the Disabled Club, including additional selections in the MLB Rule 4 and Rule 5 drafts, a higher waiver-claim priority, and/or a modification to restrictions on post-season roster eligibility.

Minor League Options

Normally, a player on an MLB Reserve List (40-man Roster) is allotted three minor league option years. This means the player can be sent to the minors and be available 24/7 for recall back to the major league club whenever the player might be needed during the course of three different seasons.

If a player spends 20 or more days of an MLB regular season on Optional Assignment to the minors, an option year is expended and the player does not accrue MLB Service Time while on Optional Assignment. If a player spends 19 or fewer days of an MLB regular season on Optional Assignment, an option year is NOT expended and the player does accrue MLB Service Time while on Optional Assignment.

Also, if a signed player with minor league options remaining is sent outright to the minors prior to MLB Opening Day and then is reacquired by the same club and added to the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) during the MLB regular season and at least 20 days after MLB Opening Day, or if a player with minor league options remaining is sent outright to the minors during the MLB regular season and then is reacquired by the same club during that same MLB regular season and added to the club's MLB Reserve List at least 20 days after the Outright Assignment, an option year is spent, even though the player was not optioned to the minors.

After three minor league option years have been spent, the player is said to be "out of options" and the only way the club can send the player to the minors is by removing the player from the 40-man roster and sending him "outright" to the minors. And the club can do this only after first securing Outright Assignment Waivers (which are irrevocable) from the other 29 MLB clubs.

Fourth Minor League Option

Most players get only three minor league options, but a player who has accrued less than five "full seasons" is eligible for a 4th minor league option.

For the purpose of determining eligibility for a 4th minor league option, a player accrues a "full season" when he spends at least 90 days on the Active List of an MLB and/or minor league club or clubs in a given season, or (in seasons prior to 2012) spends at least 60 days but less than 90 days on the Active List of an MLB and/or minor league club or clubs followed by a Disabled List assignment where the combined time spent on the Active List and Disabled List equals at least 90 days or (beginning with the 2012 season) spends at least 30 days but less than 90 days on the Active List of an MLB and/or minor league club or clubs followed by a Disabled List assignment where the combined time spent on the Active List and Disabled List equals at least 90 days.

Optional Assignment Waivers are not required when a player is sent to the minors using a 4th minor league option.

If a player qualifies for a 4th minor league option year, the 4th option is available during Spring Training and for the entire MLB regular season.

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Restrictions on Optioning Players to the Minors

GENERAL RESTRICTIONS:

1. No player may be optioned to the minors prior to the start of Spring Training.

2. An injured player cannot be optioned to the minors.

3. A player who is optioned to the minors generally must remain on Optional Assignment for at least ten days. (A player optioned to the minors during Spring Training generally must remain on Optional Assignment for the first ten days of the MLB regular season). The only exceptions are if the player is recalled as the "26th man" for a day where a doubleheader was scheduled at least 48 hours in advance (or for the second game of the doubleheader only if the doubleheader was scheduled less than 48 hours in advance), or is recalled to replace a player on the 25-man roster who is placed on an MLB inactive list (Disabled List, Bereavement List, Paternity List, Restricted List, et al), or if the season (including post-season playoffs) of the minor league team to which the player is assigned is over, or if the player is traded.

4. All players on Optional Assignment to the minors must be recalled no later than the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season.

OTHER RESTRICTIONS:

5. A "Rule 5 Player" cannot be optioned to the minors until Rule 5 restrictions have been removed.

RULE 5 PLAYERS WITH MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS REMAINING ON CUBS 40-MAN ROSTER

NONE

6. A "Draft-Excluded Player" cannot be optioned to the minors any earlier than 20 days prior to MLB Opening Day.

DRAFT-EXCLUDED PLAYERS WITH MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS REMAINING ON CUBS 40-MAN ROSTER (updated 3-14-2016)

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7. Per Article XIX-A of the CBA, any player on an MLB 40-man roster who has accrued at least five years of MLB Service Time (as well as an international player with Article XIX-A contractual rights) has the right to refuse an Optional Assignment to the minors, or the player can elect to be a free-agent immediately upon being optioned.

If a player eligible to elect free-agency is optioned and elects to be a free-agent immediately, his contract is terminated and he receives no termination pay.

If a player with Article XIX-A rights refuses an Optional Assignment but does not elect free-agency, the club must either retain the player on the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) AND Active List (25-man roster), trade the player, or give the player his unconditional release.

A player with Article XIX-A rights can waive his right to refuse an Optional Assignment in advance, but the waiver cannot be signed more than ten days prior to MLB Opening Day, the player has the right to designate in advance which minor league team to which he can be assigned, and the waiver automatically expires if the player is not optioned to the minors within 45 days or by the 45th day of the MLB regular season (whichever is later).

If a player is claimed but not traded and the waiver request is subsequently withdrawn, the player cannot be placed on Trade Assignment Waivers or Optional Assignment Waivers for at least 30 days from the date the waiver request is withdrawn, and if the player is placed on Trade Assignment Waivers again before the end of the season, the waivers become irrevocable and cannot be withdrawn. A player who has a "no trade" right (full or partial) cannot be placed on Trade Assignment Waivers a second time before the end of the season unless the player first waives his "no trade" right.

Trade Assignment Waivers secured on a player on Optional Assignment to the minors or on an MLB Disabled List expire after 72 hours.

If a player on an MLB Disabled List is placed on Trade Assignment Waivers, he must be eligible to be reinstated from the DL and healthy enough to play. If waivers are secured, the player must be reinstated from the DL within 72 hours. If the player is claimed and the waiver request is subsequently withdrawn, the player must be reinstated from the DL immediately.

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Optional Assignment Waivers

Optional Assignment Waivers must be secured before a player can be optioned to the minors once he has reached the third anniversary of being added to an MLB Active List (25-man roster) or MLB Disabled List for the first time, or the two-year anniversary if the player spent one full season on Optional Assignment to the minors prior to being added to an MLB Active List (25-man roster) or MLB Disabled List for the first time, or the one-year anniversary if the player spent two full seasons on Optional Assignment to the minors prior to being added to an MLB Active List (25-man roster) or MLB Disabled List for the first time.

Optional Assignment Waivers are revocable and can be withdrawn if a claim is made, but if a player is claimed off Optional Assignment Waivers and the waiver request is subsequently withdrawn, the player cannot be placed on Optional Assignment Waivers or Trade Assignment Waivers for at least 30 days from the date the waiver request is withdrawn, and if a player is placed on Optional Assignment Waivers a second time in the same waiver period, the waivers become irrevocable and the request cannot be withdrawn. A player who has a "no trade" right (full or partial) cannot be placed on Optional Assignment Waivers a second time before the end of the waiver period unless the player first waives his "no trade" right.

Optional Assignment Waivers secured during the waiver period that commences on February 16th and during the waiver period that starts on the 31st day of the MLB regular season are in effect for the entire waiver period, but Optional Assignment Waivers secured during the waiver period that begins on August 1st are in effect only through the conclusion of the MLB regular season.

Optional Assignment Waivers secured on a player who is on an MLB Disabled List expire after 72 hours.

If a player on an MLB Disabled List is placed on Optional Assignment Waivers, he must be eligible to be reinstated from the DL and healthy enough to play. If waivers are secured, the player must be reinstated from the DL within 72 hours. If the player is claimed and the waiver request is subsequently withdrawn, the player must be reinstated from the DL immediately.

A club does not have to option a player to the minors after Optional Assignment Waivers have been secured.

Optional Assignment Waivers cannot be requested after October 1st or secured prior to February 16th.

Optional Assignment Waivers are not required if a player is being sent to the minors using a 4th minor league option, or if a player is being optioned to the minors within 24 hours after being acquired in a trade, or if a player is being optioned back to the minors after being recalled to serve as the "26th man" in a doubleheader.

Outright Assignment Waivers

If a club wishes to remove a player from its MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) and send the player to the minors, the club must first secure Outright Assignment Waivers.

For all players on an MLB Reserve List (40-man Roster) other than Rule 5 players, Draft-Excluded players, and injured players, Outright Assignment Waivers can generally be requested anytime in a given waiver period, and they are always irrevocable. The waiver price is $25,000 for Rule 5 and Draft-Excluded players, and $20,000 for all other players.

Once secured, Outright Assignment Waivers remain in effect for a set period of time:

1. Seven days or until the end of the waiver period (whichever comes first) for Outright Assignment Waivers secured September 1st through the 30th day of the MLB regular season:

2. The entire waiver period for Outright Assignment Waivers secured starting on the 31st day of the MLB regular season through August 31st.

3. 72 hours if the player is on Optional Assignment to the minors or on a Disabled List.

If a player on an MLB or minor league Disabled List is placed on Outright Assignment Waivers during the MLB regular season, he must be eligible to be reinstated from the DL and healthy enough to play. If waivers are secured, the player must be reinstated from the DL within 72 hours. If a player on an MLB Disabled List is placed on Outright Assignment Waivers after the conclusion of the MLB regular season and waivers are secured, the player must be reinstated from the DL within 72 hours.

A player who has a "no trade" right (full or partial) must waive his "no trade" right before he can be placed on Outright Assignment Waivers.

A club does not have to outright a player to the minors after Outright Assignment Waivers have been secured.

Right to Refuse Outright Assignment or Elect Free-Agency if Outrighted

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Per Article XIX-A of the CBA, any player on an MLB 40-man roster who has accrued at least five years of MLB Service Time (as well as an international player with Article XIX-A contractual rights) has the right to refuse an Outright Assignment to the minors, or the player can elect to be a free-agent immediately upon being outrighted, or he can accept the Outright Assignment and defer his option to elect free-agency until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season. However, an Article XIX-A player who accepts an Outright Assignment and defers his option to elect free-agency until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season forfeits his right to elect free-agency if he is added back to an MLB 40-man roster prior to the conclusion of the MLB regular season.

If a player with Article XIX-A rights is outrighted and elects to be a free-agent immediately, his contract is terminated and he receives no termination pay. But if the player accepts the Outright Assignment and defers his right to be a free-agent until the conclusion of the MLB regular season, the player continues to get paid, receiving the balance of his salary through to the end of the season. And then if the outrighted player is not subsequently added back to an MLB 40-man roster prior to the conclusion of the MLB regular season, the player can elect free-agency anytime beginning on the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season through October 15th.

If a player with Article XIX-A rights refuses an Outright Assignment but does not elect free-agency, the club must either retain the player on the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster), trade the player, or give the player his unconditional release.

A player with Article XIX-A rights can waive his right to refuse an outright assignment or elect free-agency if outrighted, but the waiver cannot be signed more than ten days prior to MLB Opening Day, the player has the right to designate in advance which minor league team to which he can be assigned, and the waiver automatically expires if the player is not outrighted to the minors within 45 days or by the 45th day of the MLB regular season (whichever is later).

Per Article XX-D of the CBA, a player on an MLB 40-man roster who has been outrighted previously in his career and/or who has accrued at least three years of MLB Service Time can elect to be a free-agent if he is sent outright to the minors. (An international player with Article XX-D contractural rights also has the right to elect free-agency if outrighted). The outrighted Article XX-D player can elect to be a free-agent immediately upon being outrighted, or he can accept the Outright Assignment and defer his option to elect free-agency until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season. However, a player eligible to be a free-agent if outrighted who accepts an Outright Assignment and defers his option to elect free-agency until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season forfeits his right to elect free-agency if he is added back to an MLB 40-man roster prior to the conclusion of the MLB regular season.

If a player eligible to be a free-agent if outrighted elects to be a free-agent immediately, his contract is terminated and he receives no termination pay. But if the Article XX-D player accepts the Outright Assignment and defers his right to be a free-agent until the conclusion of the MLB regular season, the player continues to get paid, receiving the balance of his salary through to the end of the season. And then if the outrighted Article XX-D player is not subsequently added back to an MLB 40-man roster prior to the conclusion of the MLB regular season, the player can elect free-agency anytime beginning on the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season through October 15th.

A player who has not previously been outrighted to the minors or who has not yet accrued three years of MLB Service Time but who qualified as a "Super Two" player after the conclusion of the previous MLB regular season can elect free-agency if he is outrighted to the minors, but an outrighted "Super Two" player cannot defer free-agency until the conclusion of the MLB regular season. To become a free-agent, the outrighted "Super Two" player must elect free-agency immediately.

Once an outrighted player eligible to elect free-agency becomes a free-agent, the player can sign a major league or minor league contract with any club, including the player's previous club.

The club must advise an Article XIX-A or Article XX-D player in writing when it has decided to outright the player to the minors. (The club can notify the player up to eight days in advance of the assignment during the off-season or if the player is out of minor league options, and up to four days in advance if the assignment is contemplated during Spring Training or during the MLB regular season). Once notified, the player must make his decision whether to accept or decline the assignment within eight days if he is outrighted during the off-season, or within three days if he is outrighted during Spring Training or during the MLB regular season.

Restrictions on Outrighting Players During the Off-Season

1. A player cannot be sent outright to the minors on the two days prior to the Rule 5 Draft and on the day of the Rule 5 Draft up through the conclusion of the draft.

2. A "Rule 5 Player" cannot be outrighted to the minors until Rule 5 restrictions have been removed, and then no earlier than 20 days prior to the start of the MLB regular season.

RULE 5 PLAYERS ON CUBS MLB RESERVE LIST (40-MAN ROSTER) (updated 12-11-2014)

NONE

3. A "Draft-Excluded Player" can be outrighted to the minors only if Outright Assignment Waivers are requested no later than 2 PM (Eastern) on the 4th day after the final game of the World Series, and if a "Draft-Excluded Player" is not outrighted to the minors prior to the Rule 5 Draft, the player cannot be sent to the minors any earlier than 20 days prior to the start of the MLB regular season (same as a Rule 5 player).

DRAFT-EXCLUDED PLAYERS ON CUBS MLB RESERVE LIST (40-MAN ROSTER) (updated 3-14-2016)

NONE

4. An unsigned player who is eligible to be an Article XIX-A or Article XX-D minor league free-agent if outrighted can be outrighted to the minors anytime during the off-season, but a player who would have been eligible to be an MLB Rule 55 minor league free-agent (either a Six-Year FA or Second-Contract FA) if the player had been on a minor league reserve list cannot be outrighted to the minors after 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series (or 5:00 PM Eastern on October 15th if the World Series is canceled) unless and until either the player signs a major league contract for the following season, has his previous season's contract automatically renewed by the club on March 1st, or agrees (in advance) to sign a minor league contract for the following season (if the Outright Assignment is contemplated prior to a Major League contract being tendered) .

UNSIGNED RULE 55-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS ON CUBS MLB RESERVE LIST (40-MAN ROSTER) (updated 3-1-2016)

NONE

5. If a player accrues at least one day of MLB Service Time in a season and then is outrighted to the minors prior to being tendered a Major League contract for the following season, the player's minor league monthly salary for the following season must be at least 80% of his final monthly salary from the previous season.

Restrictions on Outrighting an Injured Player

1. An injured player cannot be outrighted to the minors during the MLB regular season.

2. Most injured players can be outrighted to the minors during a period of time beginning on the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season up until reserve lists are filed in November, but an injured "Rule 5 Player" can be outrighted during this period only after Rule 5 restrictions have been removed, and an injured "Draft-Excluded Player" can be outrighted during this period only if Outright Assignment Waivers are requested by 2 PM (Eastern) on the 4th day after the final game of the World Series.

3. An injured player who has accrued less than three years of MLB Service Time in his career and who did not accrue any MLB Service Time the previous season, has not previously been outrighted to the minors, and who was not selected in the immediately-preceding Rule 5 Draft, can be outrighted to the minors during a period of time beginning on the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season up until the 15th day prior to the start of the next MLB regular season.

CAN BE OUTRIGHTED IF INJURED UNTIL 15TH DAY PRIOR TO 2017 MLB OPENING DAY (last updated 3-19-2016):

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4. An injured MLB Rule 55-eligible player who otherwise would qualify to be outrighted during the off-season and Spring Training can be outrighted only after has either signed a Major League contract for the upcioming season or had his previous season's contract renewed by the club, or agrees (in advance) to sign a minor league contract for the upcoming season (if the Outright Assignment is contemplated prior to a Major League contract being tendered).

MLB RULE 55-ELIGIBLE PLAYER - CAN BE OUTRIGHTED ONLY IF CONTRACT RESTRICTIONS MET (last updated 3-19-2016):

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5. An injured player with Draft Excluded Status who otherwise would qualify to be outrighted during the off-season and Spring Training can be outrighted only during a five-day window startng on the 20th day prior to the start of the MLB regular season up until the 15th day prior to the start of the MLB regular season.

DRAFT-EXCLUDED PLAYER - CAN BE OUTRIGHTED ONLY DURING FIVE-DAY WINDOW IN MARCH (last updated 3-19-201611-20-2015)

NONE

Outright Release Waivers

Outright Release Waivers are irrevocable and cannot be withdrawn once they are requested.

While a player claimed off Outright Assignment Waivers costs $20,000 (or $25,000 for a Rule 5 or Draft-Excluded player), a club can claim a player off Outright Release Waivers for the miniscule sum of $1. However, a club that claims a player off Release Waivers is responsible for paying 100% of the player's remaining salary, whereas if the same club waits until the player clears Release Waivers, the club can sign the player for the MLB minimum salary (or prorated portion of the MLB minimum salary), with the player's former club responsible for the balance.

A player who is claimed off Outright Release Waivers has the option to decline the assignment and become a free-agent (he has up to five days to decide). For most players, refusing an Outright Release waiver claim means the player's contract is terminated with no severance and his former club owes him nothing (same as an Article XX-D minor league FA who refuses an Outright Assignment), but for a player with "no trade" rights who refuses an Outright Release waiver claim, the player is owed his full salary for the balance of the contract, same as if he had not been claimed.

A player on an MLB 40-man roster who is released during the period of time extending from April 1st through August 31st cannot be added back to the MLB Active List of the club that released the player for at least 30 days, and a player on an MLB 40-man roster who is released anytime during the period of time extending from September 1st through March 31st cannot be added back to the MLB 40-man roster (or MLB 25-man Active List) of the club that released the player until May 15th. Note that while a player who is "non-tendered" on 12/2 becomes a free-agent, it is not considered the same thing as an outright release, so a club can re-sign a non-tendered player to a Major League contract (or minor league contract) without any restrictions anytime after the player is non-tendered. Thus, December 2nd is a sort of roster "island oasis" in the middle of the off-season where a club can drop a player from its MLB Reserve List (including injured players) without having to worry about waivers or restrictions on off-season outright assignments or outright release.

A player on an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) signed to a non-guaranteed contract who is released more than 15 days prior to Opening Day receives 30 days salary as termination pay (paid at the "minor league rate" if the player is signed to a "split contract"), and a player on an MLB Reserve List signed to a non-guaranteed contract who is released 15 or fewer days prior to Opening Day receives 45 days salary as termination pay (all players paid at the "Major League rate"). A player on an MLB Reserve List signed to a non-guaranteed contract who is released during the MLB regular season receives 100% of his salary as termination pay (paid at the "minor league rate" for players on Optional Assignment to the minors). An unsigned player on an MLB Reserve List released during the off-season receives no termination pay.

A Rule 5 player cannot be released until Rule 5 restrictions have been removed, and if Rule 5 restrictions have been removed and the player is released, the player's termination pay is always paid at the "Major League rate" as long as he is released prior to being outrighted to the minors.

Outright Release Waivers cannot be requested on a player while he is on the Bereavement List, Military List, Suspended List, Disqualified List, or Ineligible List.

A club cannot option a player signed to a "split contract" to the minors if the purpose of the assignment is to release the player and avoid paying termination pay at the "Major League rate."

A player is automatically & immediately removed from his club's Reserve List (40-man roster) and Active List when placed on Outright Release Waivers.

4. A maximum of three players on a minor league rehab assignment may be assigned to any one affiliate at any one time, but there is no limit to the number of players who can be on a minor league rehab assignment with the organization's Extended Spring Training and post-season Instructional League squads.

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Designated for Assignment (DFA)

Sometimes a club wants to remove a player from its MLB Reserve List (40-man roster), but it has to be done immediately because the player's roster slot is needed. Or sometimes a club wants to remove a player only from its MLB Active List (25-man roster), but Optional Assignment Waivers must be secured before the player can be optioned to the minors. In those cases, a player can be Designated for Assignment (DFA).

When a player is Designated for Assignment, the "Designated Player" is removed from his club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster), and then the club has up to ten days to either trade, release, non-tender, or outright the player to the minors, or return the Designated Player to its MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) and option the player to the minors (if the player has minor league options available and Optional Assignment Waivers are secured if needed, unless the player has the right to refuse an Optional Assignment and does not give his consent), but a player who has been Designated for Assignment can be returned to the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) and optioned to the minors only if the Designated Player was not replaced on the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) by another player after being Designated for Assignment. (A club might have to DFA a player to buy time while it attempts to secure Optional Assignment Waivers).

Any player who was selected in the immediately preceding Rule 5 Draft and any player who was selected in an earlier Rule 5 Draft who still has Rule 5 restrictions cannot be Designated for Assignment until Rule 5 restrictions have been removed, and Draft-Excluded Players cannot be Designated for Assignment starting with the concluion of the Rule 5 Draft and extending until 20 days prior to MLB Opening Day.

A player on Optional Assignment to the minors must be "Recalled - Not to Report" before he can be Designated for Assignment.

The player continues to be paid and the player accrues MLB Service Time for the entire period of time he is Designated for Assignment during the MLB regular season.

A player acquired off waivers can be optioned to the minors by his new club (as long as the player has a minor league option available, unless the player has the right to refuse an optional assignment and does not give his consent) or can be placed onto Outright Assignment Waivers and be outrighted to the minors if he is not claimed (unless he has the right to refuse an Outright Assignment and does not give his consent), but if a club acquires a player off waivers and the claiming club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) is full so that the club needs to remove a player from its MLB Reserve List in order to open a spot on its 40-man roster for the newly-acquired player, or the claiming club's MLB Active List (25-man roster) is full so that the club needs to remove a player from its MLB Active List in order to open a spot on its 25-man roster for the newly-acquired player, the player who was claimed off waivers cannot be Designated for Assignment to alleviate the roster logjam.

Recalled - Not to Report

Before a player on Optional Assignment to the minors can be traded or Designated for Assignment, he must be recalled from his minor league assignment ("Recalled - Not to Report").

If a player who was "Recalled - Not to Report" is claimed off waivers while on the Designated List and either the waivers are irrevocable (Outright Assignment Waivers) or the player's club elects not to withdraw a revocable waiver request, the player is assigned to the claiming club.

A player acquired off waivers after being "Recalled - Not to Report" who is subsequently optioned to the minors by his new club must remain on Optional Assignment for a minimum of ten days, unless he is recalled to replace a player on his club's MLB Active List (25-man roster) who is placed on an MLB Inactive List (Disabled List, Bereavement List, Paternity List, etc), or the player is recalled as a "26th Man" for a doublheader scheduled at least 48 hours in advance, or the player's minor league season is over, or the player gets traded. However, if a player is traded after being "Recalled - Not to Report" and then is optioned to the minors by his new club within 24 hours after the trade, the player can be recalled (without any restriction) prior to spending ten days on optional assignment to the minors.

A player who is "Recalled - Not to Report" for the purpose of being Designated for Assignment accrues MLB Service Time equal to the number of days he is on the Designated List prior to being traded, released, or sent outright to the minors.

MLB Inactive Lists

There are a number of inactive lists used by MLB clubs.

Disabled Lists

Only players with a verified injury or illness may be placed on a disabled list.

A player placed on the Disabled List (MLB 15-day DL or minor league 7-day DL, or MLB 7-day DL for players who have suffered a concussion) does not count against his club's Active List, but he does count against his club's Reserve List. A player can be placed on the MLB 15-day DL no earlier than nine days prior to MLB Opening Day, and a player can be placed on a minor league 7-day DL no earlier than the start of his club's regular season. As long as the player did not appear in a game during the retroactive period, an MLB 15-day DL assignment can be backdated up to ten days during the season, and to a date no more than nine days prior to the start of the MLB regular season if the player is placed on the 15-day DL during Spring Training. A 7-day DL assignment can be backdated no more than four days, and If a player is not reinstated from the MLB 7-day within 15 days of initially being placed on the MLB 7-day DL, the player is automatically transferred to his club's 15-day DL.

A player placed on the Emergency Disabled List (60-day DL) does not count against his club's Active List or Reserve List. A player can be placed on the MLB Emergency Disabled List (60-day DL) during Spring Training or anytime during the MLB regular season (a minor league player can be placed on a minor league club's 60-day DL only during the regular season), and a player can be transferred from the MLB 15-day DL to the MLB 60-day DL (or minor league 7-day DL to minor league 60-day DL). However, a player cannot be moved back to the MLB 15-day DL (and a minor league player cannot be moved back to the 7-day DL) once he is placed on the 60-day DL, and a player cannot be placed on the 60-day DL or transferred to the 60-day DL from the MLB 15-day DL (or minor league 7-day DL) unless his club's Reserve List is full.

For a player who is transferred from the MLB 15-day DL to the MLB 60-day DL (or from a minor league club's 7-day DL to the minor league club's 60-day DL), time spent on the MLB 15-day DL (or minor league 7-day DL) prior to being transferred counts toward the minimum 60 days a player must spend on the Emergency Disabled List.

Any player on an MLB 15-day or 60-day DL who is eligible to be an Article XX-B MLB free-agent must be reinstated from the DL no later than 9 AM (Eastern) on the day after the final game of the World Series, and all other players on an MLB 15-day or 60-day DL must be reinstated no later than 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series, even if the player was on an MLB 60-day DL and did not spend 60 days on the DL.

A player on a minor league club's DL must be reinstated no later than September 30th, even if the player was on the minor league club's 60-day DL and did not spend 60 days on the DL.

In most cases a player on a disabled list can be traded, even if the player is not eligible to be reinstated and/or healthy enough to play. The one exception is if Trade Assignment Waivers must be secured before the player can be traded. In that case (only), the player must be eligible to be reinstated from the Disabled List AND healthy enough to play before the player can be placed on waivers. Otherwise the disabled player would have to remain a "Player to Be Named Later" until the conclusion of the MLB regular season.

If a player on a disabled list is traded, the player can be transferred directly from his former club's 7-day, 15-day, or 60-day DL to the corresponding DL of his new club. Time spent on a 7-day, 15-day, or 60-day DL prior to the trade counts toward the minimum number of days required before the player is eligible to be reinstated.

If a player on an MLB 60-day DL is claimed off waivers after conclusion of the MLB regular season, the player can be transferred directly to the 60-day DL of his new club.

A player accrues one day of MLB Service Time for each day spent on an MLB Disabled List.

Minor League Rehabilitation Assignment

With the player's consent, a player on the MLB 7-day DL may be assigned to a minor league club for rehabilitation purposes for up to five days (or maximum eight days for a pitcher), and a player on the MLB 15-day or 60-day DL may be assigned to a minor league club for rehabilitation purposes for up to 20 days (or maximum 30 days for a pitcher).

A player on a minor league "rehab" assignment continues to accrue MLB service time, and does not count against a minor league club's Active Roster.

A player on a minor league 7-day or 60-day DL may be assigned to Extended Spring Training for rehabilitation purposes prior to the start of the minor league "short season" in June, or to a "short-season" minor league club for rehabilitation purposes for up to 20 days (or maximum 30 days for pitchers) after the conclusion of Extended Spring Training. (If a player on a DL of a minor league club is assigned to a "short season" club for "rehab" purposes, the club to which the player is assigned must be in a league with a lower classification than the player's club). A minor league player on a "rehab" assignment does not count against the Reserve List or Active Roster of the club to which he is assigned. (There is no roster limit at Extended Spring Training).

A maximum of three "rehab" players may be assigned to any one minor league club at the same time, but there is no limit to the number of "rehab" players who may be assigned to Extended Spring Training.

Bereavement List

A player can be placed on the Bereavement List when the player leaves his club as the result of a death in his immediate family (spouse, child, grandchild, parent, grandparent, or sibling).

A player must remain on the Bereavement List for at least three days, but no more than seven days.

The Bereavement List functions just like the 7-day or 15-day DL, in that a player on Bereavement Leave does not count against his club's Active List, so he can be replaced by another player while on the Bereavement List. He does count against his club's Reserve List (40-man roster), however.

MLB players on the Bereavement List continue to accrue MLB service time.

Family Medical Emergency List

A player can be placed on the Family Medical Emergency List when the player leaves his club as the result of a medical emergency in his immediate family (spouse, child, grandchild, parent, grandparent, or sibling).

A player cannot be placed on the Famikly Medical Emergency List to attend the birth of a child (see Paternity List).

A player must remain on the Medical Emergency List for at least three days, but no more than seven days.

The Medical Emergency List functions just like the 7-day or 15-day DL, in that a player on Medical Emetgemcuy List does not count against his club's Active List, so he can be replaced by another player while on the Medical Emergency List. He does count against his club's Reserve List (40-man roster), however,

An MLB player on the Medical Emergency List continues to accrue MLB service time.

Paternity List

A player can be placed on the Paternity List when he leaves his club to attend the birth of his child.

A player must remain on the Paternity List for at least 24 hours, but no more than 72 hours.

The Paternity List functions like a Disabled List or Bereavement List, in that a player on Paternity Leave does not count against his club's Active List, so he can be replaced by another player while on the Paternity List. He does count against his club's Reserve List (40-man roster), however.

An MLB player continues to accrue MLB service time while on the list.

Temporarily Inactive List (Minor Leagues Only)

The Temporarily Inactive List is essentially an in-season excused Leave of Absence. Only minor league players (including players on Optional Assignment to the minors) can be placed on this list.

A player on the Temporarily Inactive List does not count against his club's Active List, but he does count against the club's Reserve List. (If a minor league club's Reserve List is full, a player who ordinarily would have been placed on the Temporarily Inactive List can be placed on the Restricted List instead, but placing a player on the Restricted List does require the approval of the MLB Commissioner).

A player cannot be placed on the Temporarily Inactive List any earlier than the start of his club's regular season, the player must remain on the Temporarily Inactive List for at least three days, and a player on the Temporarily Inactive List must be reinstated no later than the conclusion of his club's season.

A player normally is not paid while on the Temporarily Inactive List (club option).

Voluntary Retired List

A player who submits written notice of retirement while under contract to a club or while under club control can be placed on the Voluntary Retired List.

A player on the Voluntary Retired List does not get paid while on the list, does not accrue service time, and does not count against the club's Active List or Reserve List.

A player on the Voluntary Retired List must spend at least 60 days of the regular season on the list before he can apply for reinstatement. If the player is placed on the Voluntary Retired List within 60 days of the conclusion of the regular season, the balance of the 60 days would carry-over into the next season.

Restricted List

The Restricted List is essentially an excused but unpaid absence, although a club can pay the player while he is on the Restricted List if the club so chooses.

A player on the Restricted List does not count against his club's Active List or Reserve List, and a player who is on the Restricted List for any reason other than a suspension for violation of the ban on the use of a prohibited substance or a suspension or leave of absence related to a violation or possible violation of the MLB domestic violence/child abuse policy does not accrue Service Time while on the Restricted List. (A player who is suspended for violation of the ban on the use of a prohibited substance or a suspension or leave of absence related to a violation or possible violation of the MLB domestic violence/child abuse policy is automatically placed on the Restricted List by MLB, and the suspended player does accrue MLB or minor league service time if placed on the Restricted List for this reason).

Besides a suspension related to a violation of the ban on the use of a prohibited substance or a suspension or leave of absence related to a violation or possible violation of the MLB domestic violence/child abuse policy, other reasons why a player might be placed on the Restricted List would include an absence due to an illness or death in the family where the absence exceeds the seven-day Bereavement List limit, failing to report to Spring Training, or if a player is serving a prison sentence, attending college, or pursuing a career in another sport or profession, or if a player from a foreign country is unable to secure a U. S. work visa.

A player who is on the Restricted List as the result of a suspension related to a violation of the ban on the use of a prohibited substance or a suspension or leave of absence related to a violation or possible violation of the MLB domestic violence/child abuse policy may participate in Spring Training, Extended Spring Training, and post-season Instructional Leagues, but a suspended player is not eligible to participate in the Arizona Fall League (AFL). Only regular season games missed while on the Restricted List count toward the number of games required to be missed by the player in order to complete the suspension.

Prior to being reinstated, an MLB player who is on the Restricted List as the result of a suspension related to a violation of the ban on the use of a prohibited substance or a suspension or leave of absence related to a violation or possible violation of the MLB domestic violence/child abuse policy may consent to an assignment to a minor league affiliate of his club for no more than five days (eight days for pitchers) if the player is serving a suspension of 25 games or less, or for no more than ten days (15 days for pitchers) if the player is serving a suspension greater than 25 games.

An MLB player who is on the Restricted List for any reason other than extended Bereavement Leave or a suspension for violation of the ban on the use of a prohibited substance or a suspension or leave of absence related to a violation or possible violation of the MLB domestic violence/child abuse policy cannot be reinstated from the Restricted List from August 1st through October 31st, and a minor league player on the Restricted List for any reason other than extended Bereavement Leave or a suspension for violation of the ban on the use of a prohibited substance cannot be reinstated from the Restricted List from August 1st through the end of his club's season (including post-season).

A player on the Restricted List must be added back to his club's Reserve List within 30 days of reinstatement or when he is placed on the club's Active List (whichever comes first), or by Opening Day of the following season if the player is reinstated during the off season, but if the player is assigned to another club after reinstatement he must be placed on that club's Reserve List immediately.

Military List

A player can be placed on the Military List after being called to active duty (this includes foreign players called to active duty with their home country's military).

A player on the Military List does not count against his club's Active Roster or Reserve List, but the player does accrue service time.

A player on the Military List must be reinstated when the player is released from active duty, and must be added back to his club's Reserve List within 15 days after physically reporting to his club.

Suspended List

An MLB player on the Suspended List counts against both his club's Active List (25-man roster) and Reserve List (40-man roster), while a minor league player on the Suspended List counts against his club's Reserve List but does not count against his club's Active List. (A player on an MLB 40-man roster who is placed on the Suspended List while on Optional Assignment to the minors does not count against his club's MLB 25-man roster or the minor league club's Active List).

A player on the Suspended List continues to accrue service time.

The main instance where it is used is when a player is suspended by the league as the result of an on-field incident, but it can also be initiated by the player's own club in the case of unacceptable behavior (such as a player getting into an altercation with his manager, a teammate, or a fan), or a violation of team rules related to chronic tardiness, possession of alcohol or reporting to work intoxicated, missing a doctor's appointment, et al. The Suspended List is used more liberally in the minor leagues, mainly because minor league players don't have the protection of a union.

NOTE: When an MLB player is placed on the Suspended List, a grievance is usually filed by the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) on behalf of the suspended player because the player does not get paid while on the list.

Disqualified List

A player can be placed on the Disqualified List if he violates the terms of his contract (usually involving a refusal to render service and/or an unexcused absence).

A player can be placed on the Disqualified List only with the approval of the MLB Commissioner.

A player on the Disqualified List does not count against the club's Active List or Reserve List, and he does not accrue service time or get paid while on the list.

An MLB player on the Disqualified List cannot be reinstated from August 1st through October 31st, and a minor league player on the Disqualified List cannot be reinstated from August 1st through to the end of his club's season (including post-season).

A player reinstated from the Disqualified List must be added back to his club's Reserve List within 30 days if he is reinstated prior to August 1st, or by Opening Day if the player is reinstated from the Disqualified List during the off-season.

If a player is assigned to another club after reinstatement he must be placed on that club's Reserve List immediately.

Ineligible List

The MLB Ineligible List is the "capital punishment" of baseball, reserved for individuals who have been indefinitely or permanently banned from baseball, usually related to throwing games, betting on baseball, or consorting with gamblers, but it also could involve something like embezzlement of funds, or a significant drug-related offense, or a hate crime, or some heinous activity.

Individuals are placed on the Ineligible List by the MLB Commissioner, and once placed on the Ineligible List a player must remain on the list for at least one year.

A player on the Ineligible List does not count against his club's Active List or Reserve List, and he does not accrue service time or get paid while on the list.

An MLB player on the Ineligible List cannot be reinstated from August 1st through October 31st, and a minor league player on the Ineligible List cannot be reinstated from August 1st through the end of his club's season (including post-season).

A player reinstated from the Ineligible List must be added back to his club's Reserve List within 30 days if he is reinstated prior to August 1st, or by Opening Day if the player is reinstated from the Ineligible List during the off-season.

If a player is assigned to another club after reinstatement he must be placed on that club's Reserve List immediately.

Post-Season Roster Eligibility

A club's Active List (25-man roster) must be submitted to the MLB Commissioner prior to the start of each post-season series (LDS, LCS, and World Series).

A club's Active List can be changed (tweaked) prior to the start of each series (WC, LDS, LCS, and WS)

1. A player who received a Prohibited Substance Suspension prior to the start of Spring Training, during Spring Training, during the regular season, or during a post-season series (Wild Card, LDS, LCS, or World Series), is ineligible to play in any MLB or minor league post-season game(s) or series in that season, even if the player has completed serving the suspension.

2. All other players on a club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster), MLB 60-day DL, or Military List prior to midnight (Eastern) on August 31st are automatically eligible to be included on a post-season Active List (25-man roster).

3. A player must remain on his club's MLB Reserve List, MLB 60-day DL, and/or Military List continously throughout the remainder of the MLB regular season and post-season in order to be automatically eligible to be included on a post-season Active List (25-man roster). If a player is sent outright to the minors after midnight (Eastern) on August 31st, he is no longer automatically eligible to be included on a post-season Active List (25-man roster).

4. A player on an MLB club's Disabled List (7-day, 15-day, or 60-day), Bereavement List, Family Medical Emergency List, or Paternity List is eligible to be included on a post-season Active List only after spending the minimum number of days required to be served by a player on that list.

5. A post-season eligible player who is injured during a post-season series (LDS, LCS, or World Series) can (with the approval of the MLB Commssioner) be replaced during the series by another player, but the injured player is ineligible to be reinstated to his club's Active List (25-man roster) for the balance of that series and the next series (LCS or World Series). Also, a pitcher must replace a pitcher and a position player must replace a position player. However, it is NOT necessary for a catcher to replace a catcher, an infielder to replace an infielder, or an outfielder to replace an outfielder.

6. Any player on the Disqualified List, Ineligible List, Voluntary Retired List, or Restricted List as of midnight (Eastern) on August 31st or who is placed on the Disqualified List, Ineligible List, Voluntary Retired List, or Restricted Lisi anytime after midnight (Eastern) on August 31st is ineligible to be included on a post-season Active List that season.

7. An injured post-season eligible player can (with the approval of the MLB Commissioner) be replaced on his club's LDS, LCS, or World Series Active List by a player who was on an Active List, Reserve List, 60-day DL, or Military List of a minor league affiliate from that organization prior to midnight (Eastern) on August 31st, or by a player who was on the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster), MLB 60-day DL, or Military List prior to midnight (Eastern) on August 31st but who was subsequently sent outright to the minors. The minor league player must remain on an Active List, Reserve List, 60-day DL, or Military List of a minor league affiliate from that organization continously throughout the remainder of the MLB regular season and post-season in order to be eligible to replace an injured post-season eligible player.

8. A minor league player who replaces an injured post-season eligible player must have his contracted selected and be placed on the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) before he can be placed on the club's post-season Active Roster, and a minor league player cannot replace a post-season eligible player on the club's MLB 40-man roster if the replaced player is on the 60-day DL and the disabled player has not served at least 60 days on the DL. (A different player would have to be removed from the club's MLB 40-man roster to make room for the minor leaguer).

Amateur & International Talent Acquisition

The variety of ways that organizations can bring in talent domestically or internationally.

First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft)

The First-Year Player Draft (or "MLB Rule 4 Draft") is held annually over a three-day period in June.

There are 40 rounds (there were 50 rounds prior to 2012), and draft order is based upon the inverse order of winning percentages from the previous season. If the winning percentages of two or more clubs are the same, the club with the lowest winning percentage from the previous season picks first. If two or more clubs are still tied, league standings from two years back (or three years back, four years back, etc) are used to break the tie.

Article XX-B Free-Agent Compensation draft picks are slotted in the Supplemental 1st Round of the MLB Rule 4 Draft pick (between the 1st and 2nd rounds), and the 12 Competitive Balance Rule 4 Draft picks that are awarded annually are slotted in two groups (six of the Competitive Balance picks are slotted immediately after the Article XX-B Free-Agent Compensation draft picks in the Supplemental 1st Round, and the other six Competitive Balance picks are slotted in the Supplemental 2nd Round between the 2nd and 3rd rounds).

First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) Eligibility

An individual is eligible for selection in the First-Year Player Draft (Rule 4 Draft) if the person has not previously signed an MLB or minor league contract, and is either a resident of a U. S. state or territory or Canada, or is not a resident but was enrolled in a high school or college in a U. S. state or territory or Canada within the previous year, and...

1. Has graduated from high school; or

2. High school athletic eligibility has expired; or

3. Dropped out of high school at least 365 days prior to the draft; or

4. Attended a junior college the previous school year; or

5. Is attending a four-year college and has completed at least junior year of athletic eligibility, or

6. Is attending a four-year college and is age 21 or older (or will turn 21 within 45 days of the draft); or

7. Is attending a four-year college and the school has no baseball program, or

8. Was dismissed from a four-year college for academic reasons; or

9. Withdrew from a four-year college at least 120 days prior to the draft,

First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) Negotiation List

Players selected in the MLB First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) are placed on a club's Negotiation List.

In most cases, a player selected by a club in the Rule 4 Draft will remain on the club's Negotiation List until either the player signs, or until 5:00 PM (EDT) on the Friday that falls during the week July 12-18 (whichever comes first), and if a club does not sign a Rule 4 Draft pick by the deadline, the player is removed from the club's Negotiation List and becomes eligible for selection again in the next Rule 4 Draft in which the player would be eligible for selection. The exception to this rule is any college senior with no baseball eligibility left. This class of player remains on the club's Negotiation List until the player signs or until one week prior to the next Rule 4 Draft (whichever comes first).

Also, any player eligible for selection in the Rule 4 Draft who is not drafted ("Non-Drafted Free-Agent" or "NDFA") can sign with any club after the conclusion of the draft any time up until one week prior to the next Rule 4 Draft, unless and until the NDFA enrolls in a junior college or four-year college, in which case MLB Rule 4 Draft eligibility rules apply.

A player selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft or a Rule 4 eligible NDFA cannot be signed to a Major League contract.

A player selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft or a Rule 4 eligible NDFA can be "Signed for Future Service" (contract is for the following season) if the player signs a contract after July 1st.

A club is not permitted to select a player in the Rule 4 Draft two years in a row, unless the player gives his approval in advance.

First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) Signing Bonus Pool

There is a maximum limit on the aggregate amount of money that each club can pay as signing bonuses to players selected in a First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) before penalties begin to accrue.

Prior to the Rule 4 Draft, each MLB club is assigned a “Signing Bonus Pool” (SBP) equal to the aggregate pre-assigned bonus value of all of the club’s draft slots in the first ten rounds (including supplemental & compensatory draft picks). The higher the slot, the higher the bonus value. (The collective MLB SBP is determined in advance by calculating industry revenues).

If a club fails to sign a player selected in the first ten rounds (including supplemental draft picks), the value of that slot is deducted from the club’s SBP. There is no bonus value assigned to draft slots after the 10th round, but if a club pays a signing bonus in excess of $100,000 to a player selected in the 11th round or later or to a player eligible for selection who was not drafted, the amount of that bonus in excess of $100,000 is deducted from the club’s SBP.

If a club exceeds its SBP in a given Rule 4 Draft, a tax will be assessed and future Rule 4 Draft picks could be forfeited, depending on how much the club exceeded its SBP. (The club’s 1st Round draft pick in the next Rule 4 Draft is forfeited if the club exceeds its SBP by 5-10%, its 1st & 2nd round draft picks in the next Rule 4 Draft are forfeited if the club exceeds its SBP by 10-15%, and the club’s 1st Round picks in the next two Rule 4 Drafts are forfeited if the club exceeds its SBP by more than 15%).

Money collected from the tax on clubs that exceed their SBP will be distributed to qualifying clubs as Revenue Sharing funds, and forfeited draft picks will be reassigned by lottery. (Any club that exceeds its SBP is excluded from the lottery).

Rule 4 Compensation Draft Picks

A Rule 4 Draft compensation pick is available only if a club is unable to sign a player selected in one of the first three rounds (including supplemental compensation draft picks between rounds 1-2, 2-3, and 3-4).

A club must offer a drafted player at least 40% of the slot value in order to be eligible to receive a compensation draft pick if the player does not sign.

If a player selected in the 1st or 2nd round of the Rule 4 Draft does not sign, the club receives an extra compensation selection in the next Rule 4 Draft, one slot lower in the 1st or 2nd round than where the club selected the previous season.

If a player selected in the 3rd round of the draft does not sign, the club receives an extra compensation selection between the 3rd & 4th rounds in the next Rule 4 Draft, with clubs selecting in inverse order of league standings from the previous season. (In the case of two clubs finishing with the same winning percentage the previous season, league standings from two seasons back will be used to break the tie. If the clubs are still tied, league standings from three seasons back, four seasons back, etc, will be used to break the tie).

A club would receive another compensation pick in the next Rule 4 Draft after that (one slot lower than the slot where the unsigned player was selected in the previous draft) if a player selected with an extra compensation pick does not sign, but there is no additional compensation pick awarded the following season (three years removed from the original draft pick) if a club is unable to sign that player.

Compensation draft picks awarded to clubs for losing an Article XX-B MLB Free-Agent (Qualified Player) will be slotted between the 1st and 2nd rounds of the next MLB Rule 4 Draft, with clubs selecting in inverse order of league standings from the previous season. (In the case of two clubs finishing with the same winning percentage the previous season, league standings from two seasons back will be used to break the tie. If the clubs are still tied, league standings from three seasons back, four seasons back, etc, will be used to break the tie).

If a player selected with a draft pick awarded as the result of a club losing a Qualified Player does not sign, the club receives a compensation selection between the 1st & 2nd rounds in the next Rule 4 Draft, one slot lower than where the club selected the previous season. There is no further compensation if a player selected with that compensation draft pick does not sign.

Rule 4 Competitive Balance Draft Picks

Six "Competitive Balance" Rule 4 Draft slots between the 1st and 2nd rounds and six more between the 2nd and 3rd rounds are awarded each year by lottery.

The Competitive Balance Lottery (CBL) is held during the week following the Rule 4 Draft signing deadline in July. Only MLB clubs that receive revenue sharing and clubs from the ten smallest markets are eligible to participate in the lottery for the CBL draft slots.

Once awarded, a CBL draft slot can be traded, but only during the MLB regular season. The slot cannot be traded for cash unless it is a financial adjustment made to offset the salary of one or more of the players involved in the trade. Also, a CBL draft slot can be traded only once (only by the club that was awarded the pick). Once traded, the slot cannot be "flipped" to a third club.

If a player selected with a CBL draft pick does not sign, the club receives a compensation selection in the next Rule 4 Draft, one slot lower than where the club selected the previous season. There is no further compensation if a player selected with a Competitive Balance compensation draft pick does not sign.

Rule 4 SBP Forfeited Draft Picks

A Rule 4 Draft pick forfeited because a club exceeded its Rule 4 Draft bonus limit will be reassigned to another club by lottery held on the same day as the Competitive Balance draft pick lottery. All MLB clubs that did not exceed its SBP limit are eligible to participate in this lottery.

As with the Competitive Balance draft pick lottery, Rule 4 forfeited draft picks can be traded, but only during the MLB regular season, and the pick cannot be traded for cash unless it is a financial adjustment made to offset the salary of one or more of the players involved in the trade. Also, a Rule 4 forfeited draft pick can be traded only once (only by the club that was awarded the pick). Once traded, the pick cannot be "flipped" to a third club.

If a player selected with a Rule 4 forfeited draft pick does not sign, the club receives a compensation selection in the next Rule 4 Draft, one slot lower than the forfeited draft pick slot from the previous season. There is no further compensation if a player selected with a compensation Rule 4 forfeited draft pick does not sign.

International First-Year Players - Eligibility & Restrictions

The "International Signing Period" extends from July 2nd through June 15th of the following year.

Any individual who is age 17 or older, has not previously signed an MLB or minor league contract, resides outside the U. S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, and has not been enrolled in a high school or college in the U. S., Canada, or Puerto Rico within the previous year, can be signed during the ""International Signing Period." Also, a 16-year old international player can be signed if the individual will turn 17 prior to September 1st or prior to the conclusion of the minor league season (whichever comes first).

An international player can be "Signed for Future Service" (contract is for the following season) if the player signs a contract July 2nd up through the conclusion of the MLB regular season.

In addition, a 16-year old international player who otherwise would not be eligible to sign can be "Signed for Future Service" (that is, signed for the next season) if the player signs a contract July 2nd through August 31st.

No international player can be signed during the period of time extending from June 16th through July 1st.

International Signing Bonus Pool

There is a maximum limit on the aggregate amount of money each MLB club can pay as signing bonuses to international first-year players before penalties begin to accrue.

Each MLB club is assigned an International Signing Bonus Pool (ISBP) for each International Signing Period (ISP). A club’s ISBP is based upon the club’s winning percentage from the previous season. (Clubs that finish with lower winning percentages will receive a larger ISBP than clubs with higher winning percentages, with the ISBP increasing inverse to the previous season’s standings). In the case of two clubs finishing with the same winning percentage the previous season, league standings from two seasons back will be used to break the tie. If the clubs are still tied, league standings from three seasons back, four seasons back, etc, will be used to break the tie.

A club's ISBP consists of four separate "Signing Bonus Values" (SBV) plus an additional $700,000. Each SBV corresponds to a particular "slot," and each slot is assigned a specific cash value (TBA prior to the start of the ISP).

A Signing Bonus Value (SBV) can be traded, but with some restrictions:

1. An SBV can only be traded during the International Signing Period (ISP) to which the SBV was assigned (July 2nd through June 15th of the following year);

2. An SBV cannot be sold for cash. However, cash can be exchanged if it is used to offset the salary or salaries of a player or players acquired in return for the SBV;

3. An SBV cannot be substituted for a "Player to Be Named Later" (PTBNL);

4. The entire SBV must be assigned to the other club when it is traded;

5. A club may not acquire an SBV in a trade if the club has already paid signing bonuses equal to or in excess of its ISBP;

6. Once acquired, an SBV can be traded ("flipped") to a third club, as long as the third club has not already paid signing bonuses equal to or in excess of its ISBP;

7. A club's originally assigned ISBP can be increased by a maximum of 50%. If a club acquires an SBV in a trade that causes the club's ISBP to increase to an amount that is more than 50% above the club's originally-assigned ISBP, the portion of the SBV that caused the club's ISBP to increase to an amount that is more than 50% above the club's originally-assigned ISBP is subtracted from the SBV.

A signing bonus paid to a first-year international player age 23 or older who has spent all or part of at least five seasons playing in an MLB-recognized foreign professional or "major" league does not count against the club’s ISBP. (A signing bonus paid to a first-year Cuban international player age 23 or older who has spent all or part of at least three seasons playing in Serie Nacional does not count against the club’s 2013-14 ISBP, then beginning with the 2014-15 ISP, a signing bonus paid to a first-year Cuban international player age 23 or older who has spent all or part of at least five seasons playing in Serie Nacional does not count against the club’s ISBP).

Also, a club’s six highest signing bonuses of $50,000 or less and ALL signing bonuses of $7,500 or less that are paid to first-year international players do not count against the club’s ISBP. (Beginning in July 2014, only signing bonuses of $10,000 or less that are paid to first-year international players will not count against a club’s ISBP).

The penalty for a club paying signing bonuses in excess of its ISBP is a tax (no draft picks are forfeited) and a restriction on bonuses that can be paid to international players during the next ISP:

1. A club that pays signing bonuses that exceed its ISBP by 5% or less must pay a 75% tax on the ISBP overage, but there are no restrictions on bonuses in the next ISP.

2. A club that pays signing bonuses that exceed its ISBP by 5-10% must pay a 75% tax on the ISBP overage, and is permitted to sign only one international first-year player to a bonus of $500K or more in the next ISP.

3. A club that pays signing bonuses that exceed its 2013-14 ISBP by 10-15% must pay a 100% tax on the overage, and is prohibited from paying a bonus in excess of $500K to any international first-year player in the 2014-15 ISP; then beginning with the 2014-15 ISBP, a club that pays signing bonuses that exceed its ISBP by 10-15% must pay a 100% tax on the ISBP overage, and no player may be signed to a bonus of $300K or more in the next ISP.

4. A club that pays signing bonuses that exceed its 2013-14 ISBP by 15%+ must pay a 100% tax on the overage, and is prohibited from paying a bonus in excess of $250K to any international first-year player in the 2014-15 ISP; then beginning with the 2014-15 ISBP, a club that pays signing bonuses that exceed its ISBP by 15%+ must pay a 100% tax on the ISBP overage, and no player may be signed to a bonus of $300K or more in the next two ISPs.

Money collected from the tax on clubs that exceed their ISBP will be used to further the development of international baseball.

A player subject to ISBP restrictions cannot be signed to a Major League contract.

Player Posting - NPB & KBO

NIPPON PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL (JAPAN):

There are two Japanese "major" leagues, the Pacific League and the Central League, with each league consisting of six teams. Together the two leagues are known as "Nippon Professional Baseball" (or "NPB").

Unless the player is released or signed by an MLB club after being posted, all NPB players remain under club control (the player is "reserved") for nine seasons. After the 9th season, the player becomes an unrestricted free-gent.

1. An NPB player who is not under the control of an NPB club can sign with any MLB club.

2. With the consent of the NPB club, an NPB player who is under club control can be "posted" (made available to be signed by an MLB club) anytime during a three-month period extending from November 1st to February 1st.

3. The NPB club decides in advance on the amount of the release fee it will be paid if the player signs with an MLB club (it can be any amount up to $20M), and all MLB clubs are notified of the posting by the MLB Commissioner.

4. Any MLB club willing to pay the release fee can negotiate with the NPB player during a 30-day period starting on the day after the player is posted.

5. If an MLB club signs a posted NPB player, the NPB club receives the designated release fee from that MLB club. The release fee can be paid in installments over an 18-month period, with the MLB club required to pay 50% of the release fee within 14 days of the submission of the posted player's contract, 17% of the release fee within six months of the submission of the posted player's contract, 17% of the release fee within 12 months of the submission of the posted player's contract, and 16% of the release fee within 18 months of the submission of the posted player's contract. (The release fee is not considered when calculating the MLB club's payroll).

6. If a posted NPB player does not sign with an MLB club within 30 days after being posted, the NPB club does not receive the release fee, and the player cannot be posted again until the next November 1st (unless he becomes an unrestricted free-agent in the meantime).

KOREA BASEBALL ORGANIZATION (SOUTH KOREA):

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) is the South Korean "major" league. With a new club beginning play in 2015, there are now ten teams in the KBO.

Unless the player is released or signed by an MLB club after being posted, all KBO players remain under club control (the player is "reserved") until the player's contract has expired.

1. A KBO player who is not under the control of a KBO club can sign with any MLB club.

2. With the consent of the KBO club, a KBO player who is under club control can be "posted" (made available to be signed by an MLB club) anytime during a three-month period extending from November 1st to February 1st.

3. If a KBO club decides to post a player, the KBO club advises the MLB Commissioner of the posting, and then the MLB Commissioner notifies all MLB clubs. Once the posting notification is transmitted, MLB clubs have four days to decide whether to submit a bid. The bid is what the MLB club is willing to pay to the KBO club as a "release fee" if the MLB club signs the posted KBO player.

4. The bidding closes at 5 PM (Eastern) on the 4th day following the posting notification. Any interested MLB club may submit a sealed (secret) bid to the MLB Commissioner prior to the deadline. There is no limit on the amount an MLB club may bid.

5. Once the deadline has passed, the MLB Commissioner advises the KBO club if any bids were received, and if so, the amount of the winning bid, but not the identity of the club that submitted it. The KBO club then has three days to decide whether to accept the winning bid.

6. If the KBO club accepts the bid, the MLB club that submitted the highest bid is awarded exclusive negotiation rights to the posted KBO player, but the club can negotiate with the player for no more than 30 days.

7. If an MLB club signs a posted KBO player within the 30-day "window," the KBO club receives the release fee from that MLB club. (The release fee is not considered when calculating the MLB club's payroll).

8. If a KBO player does not sign with an MLB club after being posted, the KBO club does not receive the release fee, and the player cannot be posted again until the next November 1st (unless he becomes an unrestricted free-agent in the meantime).

Minor League Contracts & Roster Rules

MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACTS & ROSTER RULES

1. A free-agent with prior MLB and/or minor league service who signs a minor league contract must be added to a minor league Reserve List within 15 days, and is not eligible to play in a game until he is added to his minor league team's Reserve List and Active List.

2. A player who was eligible for selection in the First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) who signs a minor league contract after being selected in the previous Rule 4 Draft or as a Non-Drafted Free-Agent (NDFA) and who is not "Signed for Future Service" must be added to a minor league club's Active List within 15 days or when he plays in his first game (whichever comes first), but the player does not count against the minor league club's Reserve List until MLB and Minor League reserve lists are filed in November. The player cannot be released until he spends at least 15 days on a minor league active list.

3. With the approval of the MLB Commissioner, a club may assign (loan) a player signed to a minor league contract to the Active List of a minor league club in another organization or to a club in the Mexican League. However, the player must be returned no later than September 30th.

4. With the consent of the player and the club, a player who has not previously signed an MLB or minor league contract may be "Signed for Future Service" (contract is for the following season) if the player signs a minor league contract after July 1st and is not placed on a minor league club's Active List prior to the conclusion of the Minor League season. (Attendance at a post-season Instructional League and/or participation in Instructional League games do not count).

5. An international player who has not previously signed an MLB or minor league contract MUST be "Signed for Future Service" (contract is for the following season) if the player signs a minor league contract after July 1st and the player does not turn 17 before September 1st or until after the conclusion of the regular season of the minor league club to which the player is assigned (whichever is later).

6. A player who is "Signed for Future Service" does not count against a minor league club's Active List or Reserve List until Opening Day of the following season.

7. A player who is "Signed for Future Service" cannot be released until he receives a 15-day trial in Spring Training.

8. An MLB club can automatically renew a minor league player's contract no more than six times, so a club can unilaterally control a minor league player (that is, a player not on an MLB 40-man roster) for no more than seven minor league seasons. For purposes of determining eligibility to be a free-agent, a player does not accrue a minor league season if the player spends the entire season on an MLB Active List, MLB Disabled List(s), and/or other MLB Inactive List, or if the player spends an entire season on the Restricted List, Disqualified List, Suspended List, Ineligible List, Voluntarily Retired List, and/or Military List. Also, participation in a post-season instructional league, the Arizona Fall League, and/or international winter league(s) do not count toward a minor league season.

MINOR LEAGUE SERVICE TIME & ROSTER LIMITS

For the purpose of determining minor league roster limits & restrictions, a minor league player accrues a year of "service time" for every season where the player spends at least 30 days on an MLB and/or minor league active list and/or disabled list, unless the player spent the entire season on the Disabled List.

1. Service time accrued by a player while assigned to a club or clubs in the Dominican Summer League (DSL) and/or Venezuelan Summer League (VSL) does not count when determining minor league roster limits and restrictions for minor league clubs in non-foreign affilated leagues.

2. A position player making a position change to pitcher or a pitcher making a position change to position player receives a one-year exemption from minor league service time restrictions. However, a position player being converted to a pitcher may not be used as a position player in a minor league game during the exempt year, and a pitcher being converted to a position player may not be used as a pitcher in a minor league game during the exempt year.

3. A player on a minor league "rehab" assignment does not count against the Active List or Reserve List of the affiliate to which he is assigned.

All information courtesy Arizona Phil

Edited by weams
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I wonder how many posters will actually read and try to understand these posts in there entirety??

Points for posting this. Should be a must read for ALL posters so the less than thought out questions that are repeated over and over would become extinct. On second thought some posters can not read and comprehend what they read.

Again Thanks for posting the list.

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I wonder how many posters will actually read and try to understand these posts in there entirety??

Points for posting this. Should be a must read for ALL posters so the less than thought out questions that are repeated over and over would become extinct. On second thought some posters can not read and comprehend what they read.

Again Thanks for posting the list.

Link it in the main forum. I'll move it eventually. Again, I did not do the work. A Cubs fan did.

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Link it in the main forum. I'll move it eventually. Again, I did not do the work. A Cubs fan did.

Yeah, I know this as I have had this bookmarked for obvious reasons on that site. I wonder what parts may get changed with the New CBA when it is hammered out???

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Article XX(B) Free Agents Update:

By Jeff Todd

Major League Baseball’s collective bargaining agreement contains a provision that allows certain free agents who are signed to minor league contracts to receive a $100K retention bonus if they are not on the team’s 25-man roster or the Major League disabled list five days prior to the season.

Free agents who qualify for this distinction are those who have at least six years of Major League service time and had a Major League contract expire at the end of the previous season, but signed a minor league deal ten or more days prior to Opening Day.

The deadline for teams to decide on these players is today at 11am central time. By the deadline, teams with these players in camp need to decide whether to:

Add the player to their 25-man roster or Major League disabled list (or agree to do so in writing).

Grant the player his outright release from the minor league contract so that he may pursue opportunities with other teams.

Pay the player a $100K retention bonus to keep him in the organization beyond the deadline and send him to the minors.

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