Minor League Season and Major League Players

[Bahama O's Fan]

If the MLB regular season is delayed but the minor leagues start on time, can major league players on the 40 man with options be sent to the minors to play? Aren't they only locked out of MLB?

[wildcard]

No.  Any player on the major league roster is part of the union and is locked out until the lockout is lifted.   I don't think they can even talk to the major league management  to be assigned to the minors much less play in minor league games.

[Bahama O's Fan]

37 minutes ago, wildcard said:

No.  Any player on the major league roster is part of the union and is locked out until the lockout is lifted.   I don't think they can even talk to the major league management  to be assigned to the minors much less play in minor league games.

So that's on the 40 man right? Like D.L. Hall?

[ChosenOne21]

12 minutes ago, Bahama O's Fan said:

So that's on the 40 man right? Like D.L. Hall?

My understanding is that anyone on a team's 40 man roster is ineligible to play major or minor league baseball until the lockout is lifted. I believe everyone else can proceed as normal

[wildcard]

51 minutes ago, Bahama O's Fan said:

So that's on the 40 man right? Like D.L. Hall?

Yes

[NCRaven]

MLB will allow former major league veteran’s that have signed minor league contracts to opt out of minor league spring training and games.  They are not current members of the MLBPA, but the are former members.  Concern was that forcing them to play would have made them look like scabs.

[Can_of_corn]

2 minutes ago, NCRaven said:

MLB will allow former major league veteran’s that have signed minor league contracts to opt out of minor league spring training and games.  They are not current members of the MLBPA, but the are former members.  Concern was that forcing them to play would have made them look like scabs.

Good of MLB to give them the choice.

[SteveA]

1 hour ago, Can_of_corn said:

Good of MLB to give them the choice.

Most veterans who sign minor league contracts do so with an implicit or explicitly stated invitation to Major League spring training, as a "non-roster invitee".   Since there may not be Major League spring training in February, this makes sense.

I suppose there might be a few exceptions to this, for example I think the first year Cesar Valdez was signed to a minor league contract with the Orioles, he wasn't even a non roster camp invitee..   And technically he had appeared in the majors before.  But those exceptions are pretty  rare

[SteveA]

8 hours ago, ChosenOne21 said:

My understanding is that anyone on a team's 40 man roster is ineligible to play major or minor league baseball until the lockout is lifted. I believe everyone else can proceed as normal

They can't even work out at team facilities, and I don't think they are supposed to even communicate with the team (i.e, talk about what workouts they are doing with the coaching staff, etc).   Although I wonder if maybe in some situations where there is history and trust that some conversation may still be going on.

[forphase1]

1 hour ago, SteveA said:

They can't even work out at team facilities, and I don't think they are supposed to even communicate with the team (i.e, talk about what workouts they are doing with the coaching staff, etc).   Although I wonder if maybe in some situations where there is history and trust that some conversation may still be going on.

Does this apply 100%?  I'd think that those that are dealing with injuries from the prior year or something could at least consult with team doctors and the like, but maybe even that isn't allowed right now.

[jarman86]

On 2/7/2022 at 1:57 AM, forphase1 said:

Does this apply 100%?  I'd think that those that are dealing with injuries from the prior year or something could at least consult with team doctors and the like, but maybe even that isn't allowed right now.

I would assume "team doctor" doesn't apply. From my knowledge, there really isn't a team doctor solely for one MLB team. Team doctor is generally a preferred doctor who is referred "patients" from the team. Also, for an injury, such as torn ligament of arm or leg, would most likely be under a specialist, who also would be paid by team in normal years but isn't exactly a team employee. Because they still operate as independent doctors, I would assume a player could still meet with them and either pay out of pocket or file a claim for reimbursement after. The player would not be able to work with physical therapists and trainers employed by the team.  This may be where the informal communication may come in. For example, Anthony Santander is posting a lot of his "rehab" on instagram. 

Edited February 8, 2022 by jarman86

[Gentile4]

I get the part about not being seen as a scab, but if a veteran signed a minor league deal, then his career and ability to support is family hangs by a thread. Why would he choose to decline the opportunity to display his skills? I get there are exceptions, but if you're not in the union, you're not in the union. It certainly doesn't appear MLB cares that much about the minor leaguers when you consider how they're treated, but I guess you have to be there.

[Can_of_corn]

41 minutes ago, Gentile4 said:

I get the part about not being seen as a scab, but if a veteran signed a minor league deal, then his career and ability to support is family hangs by a thread. Why would he choose to decline the opportunity to display his skills? I get there are exceptions, but if you're not in the union, you're not in the union. It certainly doesn't appear MLB cares that much about the minor leaguers when you consider how they're treated, but I guess you have to be there.

Maybe if the Union wasn't so quick to remove these type of fringe cases this wouldn't be an issue?

[OriolesMagic83]

On 2/6/2022 at 10:02 PM, NCRaven said:

MLB will allow former major league veteran’s that have signed minor league contracts to opt out of minor league spring training and games.  They are not current members of the MLBPA, but the are former members.  Concern was that forcing them to play would have made them look like scabs.

So if your a veteran who has lost his spot in the majors and is trying to make it back and get a major league contract this year, you don't want to go to a minor league camp.  You know, to give yourself a boost to getting a contract.  But at least you'll know when you don't get a major league contract after a shortened major league camp, no one will think you're a scab.  That will help pay the bills.