If I promote a player during the regular season or at the end of the season there is a line that says "promotion". There is a slight ratings boost. The same usually holds true for a demotion, unless the player has high makeup.

If I promote a player before ST begins, say during the arbitration cycle, will my player realize the promotion bump? Will it be reflected in the beginning of the season rating that occurs after ST?

For example say I promote a player during the arb cycle and the player plays in ST. The player is in his 4th season. Will the player have a bump from ST and the promotion or just the typical ST bump?

Thanks for any replies.

There is no promotion "bump."

If you promote in preseason, there's no promotion "event," but that doesn't matter to ratings development.

What matters to ratings development is playing time, coaching, and (probably) makeup. The "events" that show ratings development (5-6 times in the regular season, trades, promotions, demotions) do just that - they show them, they don't cause them.