Page : GM Basics
Location : General
Roster Terms
Waiver Status Indicates whether the player has cleared waivers, has not cleared waivers, is in the process of attempting to clear waivers or has not even tried to clear waivers. In order for a player out of options to be sent to the minors or traded, he has to clear waivers first. Claimed players may be pulled back following the Trade Deadline, but not before. Players claimed and pulled back following the deadline may only be traded to the claiming franchise. The waiver status of a player is reset at the transaction deadline in order to make the transition from irrevocable waivers to revocable waivers.
Playing Status Indicates whether the player's current status with his team.
Pro The number of years the player has played professional ball.
ML The number of years the player has played at the big league level (based on accrued days).
Same Team The number of years the player has played for the same big league team. If a player has 10+ years of big league experience and 5+ years with the same club, he is considered a 10-and-5 player and can reject any trade he's involved in.
Options Indicates the number of minor league options the player has remaining. Once a player is added to the 40-Man Roster for the first time, his clock begins ticking and he has 3 option years remaining. Any future season in which he is assigned to a minor league team for 20 or more days (HBD days), he burns an additional option. Once he is out of options, he must then clear waivers before he may be removed from the big league team or the 40-man roster.
40-Man Roster Is the player on the 40-man roster? If so, he is considered protected by the franchise and won't be exposed to the Rule 5 Draft. Players on the 40-Man roster have a minimum salary.
Signed Thru Thru what season is the player under contract? 0 indicates the player is scheduled to have an arbitration hearing.
$ The amount of money the franchise must pay the player for the current season. $0 indicates the player is scheduled to have an arbitration hearing.
Contract Renewals Any player with less than 3 years of big league experience may have his contract automatically renewed by the club.
Arbitration Eligibility Any player not under contract that has between 3 and 5 years of big league experience is eligible for arbitration.
Free-Agent Eligibility Any player not under contract with 6+ years of big league experience is eligible for free-agency. If a player decides to become a free-agent, the franchise must offer the player arbitration in order to receive a compensation pick in the Amateur Draft.
6-Year Minor Leaguers Any player not under contract and not on the 40-man roster with 6+ years of minor league experience is considered a 6-Year Minor League Free-Agent.
Playoff Roster Status Indicates whether the player can appear in the postseason at the big league level. "On" indicates he's on the active playoff roster, "Off" indicates he is not. "Eligible" indicates he may be added to the playoff roster at the start of the next round.
Roster Move Definitions
Demote Send a player down at least one level (i.e. ML to AAA). In order to send a player down from the big leagues, the player must either have options remaining or clear waivers. An injured player may not be demoted. A player demoted from the big leagues may not be recalled for 10 days (Hardball cycles) unless a player at the big league level is placed on the disabled list.
Promote Bring a player up at least one level (i.e. AAA to ML). In order to bring a player up to the big leagues, the player must be on the 40-man roster. Being promoted typically results in a pay increase, since each increasing level has a higher league minimum.
Release Remove a player from your franchise entirely. If the player is under contract, the team issuing his release is still liable for the remainder of his contract. If another team signs him, they only have to pay a prorated amount of the league minimum. Anytime a player is released, he goes thru the waiver process.
Assign Move a player needing assignment to a specific level within the organization. Whether the player can move to certain levels depends on his 40-man roster status and option years.
Designate If a player is on the 40-man roster, he may be designated for assignment. This means he is immediately removed from the 40-man roster and, if necessary, the big league roster . The franchise then has 10 actual days (30 HBD cycles) to make a decision on this player. He may be traded, released or placed on waivers. If he clears waivers, he may be outrighted to the minors (assuming he'll accept the assignment). Players who have been designated for assignment for 7 actual days and are not part of an accepted trade and who have not gone through waivers will be automatically waived. After 10 days, they will be automatically released.
Waive Attempt to have the player clear waivers for future decisions (demotion or trade). In order to demote a player out of options, he must clear waivers. In order to remove a player from the 40-man roster, he must clear waivers. In order to trade a player after the trade deadline, he must clear waivers. Prior to the trade deadline, a player that is claimed cannot be pulled back. After the trade deadline, he may be pulled back.
Add to 40 Add the player to the 40-man roster. In order for a player to be on the big league club, he must be on the 40-man roster. Once a player is on the 40-man roster, his option years start ticking down from 3. A player must clear waivers in order to be removed from the 40-man roster. A player on the 40-man roster is not exposed to the Rule 5 Draft.
Remove from 40 Remove the player from the 40-man roster. A player must clear waivers before he can be removed from a club's 40-man roster.
Add to DL Add a player to the disabled list. Only injured players may be placed on the disabled list. Any player on the 60-Day DL frees an additional spot on the 40-man roster.
Remove from DL Remove a player from the disabled list. The player is required to return to his previous team after removal.
Add to Inactive Add a player to the minor league team's inactive list. The inactive list simply means the player can't play in his team's games.
Act. from Inactive Remove a player from his minor league team's inactive list.
Add to Playoff Roster Adds a player to the roster of players eligible for postseason play at the big league level.
Rem. from Playoff Roster Removes a player from the roster of players eligible for postseason play at the big league level.
Rule 5 Return Accept This will accept a Rule 5 Draft pick back onto your franchise. It will cost $25,000 to do so, but it allows you to bring the player back. This will also clear his Rule 5 status so he can be demoted/assigned without any additional rules in place.
Rule 5 Return Decline This will allow the franchise that currently controls the Rule 5 Draft pick that was drafted from your system in this season's Rule 5 Draft to keep the player rather than returning the player to your franchise for $25,000. This will also clear his Rule 5 status so he can be demoted/assigned without any additional rules in place.
Rule 5 Offer Back This will begin the process of offering a Rule 5 selection back to his original franchise for $25,000. First, however, the player must go through the waiver process so that the other franchises have a chance to land the player while maintaining his special Rule 5 selection status.