Quick question that may have been answered before, but I couldn't find it. How does the playoff roster affect a player's arbitration clock? I have a guy in the minors who I would prefer not to call up until after the 20-game mark next season (to delay his arb clock). However, he is good enough to be playing in the majors right now, and it looks as if my team has a good shot at making the playoffs. I'd love to have him up for the playoffs but I'd rather not activate his arbitration clock.

So anyway, does bringing a guy up strictly for the playoffs affect a player's arbitration clock? If I started him the next season in AAA, would I now have to keep him down for 20 games plus the number of playoff games in which he was active? Thanks in advance.

Only regular season days count for ML service time.

Great, thanks!

Follow up question. I called up a good young player when roster expanded and sent him back to AAA after being eliminated from the playoffs. Can I still delay his arbitration clock by keeping him in AAA for a certaing ammount of time the following season? If its possible, how long do i need to keep him in AAA?



Thanks is advance

Same thing. Since you just brought him up when the rosters expanded and sent him back to AAA when the season ended, you will be OK as far as delaying arb. You should start him at AAA next year and bring him up after about 25 games.

Quote: Originally posted by torrone on 12/31/2009Same thing. Since you just brought him up when the rosters expanded and sent him back to AAA when the season ended, you will be OK as far as delaying arb. You should start him at AAA next year and bring him up after about 25 games.

I don't think this is correct. If you had never brought him up before and waited the ~25 games, he would finish the season with ~150 service days.

If he's already been in the majors for x amount of days (check his service time by mousing over the "0" next to ML years) then he will end up with ~150 + x service days. If x is 25 or so, then he'll almost definitely get over the 172-day threshold and earn a full year of service.

So I might be better off leaving him in AAA for 25 + (the number of service days he has already)?

Quote: Originally posted by ozdoltorps on 12/31/2009So I might be better off leaving him in AAA for 25 + (the number of service days he has already)?

If you want to save the arb/FA year, then generally yes (although the number is 20+ minor league days).

For this guy specifically, take 171 and subtract the number of days he had this past season. That is the maximum number of days you can have him in the ML and *not* earn a full service year.

Depending on the number of days he has, his age, ratings, and some other factors, a prior-season callups is one of the few times I'd suggest possibly having him there from Day 1 if he makes you a playoff team.

Side question, when you call a player up at the end of the year for a playoff run, then demote them after the season (but before spring training) are you risking a demotion penalty?

I've heard it both ways (and it's not something I've done). Everyone seems to agree that a demotion after rollover but before ST starts will not risk a penalty, but then you end up paying the ML salary for the full season.