Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt Arnold
It's certainly confusing. When I last parsed through I read it the same way LGO was. But yeah, maybe it should only count the guys who re-sign with their own team? I feel like where I found the information before may not have included that last bit.
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The 2008 MLR use the same phrasing as the 2021 MLR, although the formatting is different. The 1986 MLR state it this way, which perhaps makes it clearer:
Code:
MLR 5(f) [Players subject to selection]
(2) A player who signs as a free agent after having been
released from a previous contract shall, if never before
subject to draft under Rule 5, be subject thereto at the
fourth Rule 5 selection meeting which follows the effective
season of his first professional baseball contract.
EXCEPTION: If re-signed by the releasing club (or an
affiliate thereof) within one year from the date of his
release, he shall be subject at the Rule 5 meeting next
following the date of the latest contract with that club.
The above, leaving aside the protected period for younger players being defined differently, suggests locuspc's interpretation is correct and the protected period reattaches unless the player is being re-signed by the club that released him.
I unfortunately don't have any copies of the MLR between 1987 and 2008 to do additional crosschecks.