Anybody know the criteria as to whether a player will exercise his player option or not?

Thanks,
Marc

I've never seen a player decline an option but then I haven't given a lot of player options out either.

I haven't either. Kinda defeats the the idea if they never do.

They do.  I haven't had enough of them to see a pattern but they do opt out.   If you have a 20m slug who was once worth 20m, don't count on it. 

I have a 12m slug. I'm sure he will exercise it.

I've yet to have a high-priced player opt out.    I've had a few 5-6m guys do it.

I've had a number of players opt out of mutual options (as a rule, I generally give mutual, not player, options, but I'm assuming that the logic "should" be the same). It seems that it's always a  guy who has already started his decline phase and now wants the security of a multi-year committment - even if the next contract is for less than the rejected option. For example, I've seen guys with 4th or 5th year options for $5M, turn down the guarenteed money and then go out on the market and ask for a two year deal at $4M/yr.

Case in point: Hardball Dynasty – Fantasy Baseball Sim Games - Player Profile: Vin Hart declined an S27 option for $8.5M in favor of seeking a multiyear contract. His asking price/year was considerably lower than what he'd just turned down.

I've had a guy opt out of his player option to make $8M.  He then signed a 2 year deal with me worth only $7.2M total.

http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1728292