Player options?

Question

If someone has no more options left and can't be sent down to the minors because someone else might claim him.... how many options does someone have in a year(s) or what are the general rules?

Answer 1

When a player is placed on the 40-man roster he signs a Major League contract. This usually happens when they work their way up through the minor leagues. It is becoming more common to happen when first round draft picks sign a Major League contract right out of college.

Whenever it happens, a team has three (3) option years for the player. That means the play can be sent to the minor leagues during three consecutive seasons from the time they are assigned to the 40-man roster.

For example, Andrew Miller was drafted by the Detroit Tigers last year from North Carolina. When he signed the contract, it was a Major League contract placing him on the 40-man roster. The Tigers are able to send him to the minor leagues during the 2006; 2007; and 2008 seasons---these are his option years. But come 2009 he would have to pass through waivers (becoming available to all teams in inverse order of record) in order to be sent to the minor leagues because of poor performance.

Major League players may still be sent to the minor leagues for their rehabilitation from injury.

Former Major Leaguers that became free agents often sign minor league contracts with Major League teams. This allows the player to play in the minor leagues without counting against the Major League team's 40-man roster. This is what Roger Clemons did this spring during his comeback through the minor leagues before signing a new Major League contract with the Yankees.

Sammy Sosa also signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers during his comeback attempt. He did not sign a new Major League contract until the season started and he was added to the Rangers' 40-man roster.

Answer 2

You seem to have a common misconception about minor league options. You do not use up an option every time you get sent down to the minors. Rather, the option applies to the entire year, no matter how many times the player is called up or sent down.

One a minor league player has been placed on the 40-man roster, he has three "option years" - that is, 3 years in which he can spend all or part of the year in the minor leagues without having to go through waivers. Sometimes (though rarely) a team will be granted an extra option year on a player, usually when he has been on the disabled list for an entire season or more.

Answer 3

Only answering to say that I starred this as a good question. I don't have the info requested. NQ man.