League is winding down and it's time for expanded rosters. I figure I'd give some of my AAA guys a shot... except I'm worried that I might trigger their Options clock. Also, when do I send them back to AAA to avoid the demotion penalty?

If they're already on the 40, their option clock has already started.  If they're not on the 40, then adding them will start their clock.  Once promoted, they will accrue ML service time, though.

You can demote them back to the minors after the ML regular season has ended with no demotion penalty.

Anytime before the end of the WS

I've been hit with the demotion penalty when I brought up a good def C after roster expanded and then sent him back down to AAA for a bit more development at the start of the next season.

I think that's a poor implementation of the demotion penalty, but as long as it works that way, it's probably not a good idea to ever put someone on the ML team unless you think they are there for good.

If you demote before ST, you don't get a penalty.

Isn't that before roster freeze for Rule 5?

And if you DO wait until after rollover he will make the BL minimum, whereas if you demote before rollover they will revert back to 55K or whatever.

There's a half cycle between R5 draft and ST.    I'm pretty sure you're OK in that window.   I've done it a few times without a penalty.   But that's not a 100% guarantee.

What in the world is a half cycle?

Posted by peanutjets on 11/17/2011 9:29:00 PM (view original):
What in the world is a half cycle?

HBD has 6 cycles a day, four hours apart.

AM Part 1
AM Part 2
PM Part 1
PM Part 2
PM2 Part 1
PM2 Part 2

The "Part 1"s are the game simulation cycles.

The "Part 2"s are when other things happen, like FA/IFA correspondence/signings, coach hiring correspondence/signings, trade completions, etc.  They are generally considered the "half cycles", because they are in-between game cycles.

Most of my players own motorcycles.