[sixto]

I do want to point out what is an apparent error on screen shot 3, regarding the 40-man roster and the waiver rules. If this post gets lost, I will start a new thread.

If the screen shot is accurate and accurately worded, the rule as listed for waivers is incorrect. It states:

Players with more than three years on the 40 man roster must clear waivers before being able to be sent to the minor leagues (if minor league options are enabled) or to be released. Also, in order to trade players after the trading deadline, players have to clear waivers as well. Teams my (sic) claim players from the waiver wire, but they have to keep the player on the active roster the entire season.

Actually there are two procedural mistakes in this paragraph.

1. There is no relationship between the length of time a player spends on the 40-man, and when he must go through waivers to be removed from the 40-man. From the very first day a player is on the 40-man roster, he must clear waivers in order to be removed from it. He does only have three seasons after he's first promoted to the majors (not first placed on the 40-man) in which he can be optioned to the minors - but that should be covered in the Minor League Option Years option.

As an example, say today I promote Cole Hamels to the Phillies 40-man roster. I cannot demote him from the 40-man roster, tomorrow or three years down the road, without sending him through waivers. If I could, it would essentially invalidate the purpose of waivers, which is to distribute talent.

(There is a 2- or 3-day period after the season ends when players can be demoted from the 40-man without going through waivers. I believe that players who are removed from the 40-man may opt for free agency at this time.)

2. The last sentence, "Teams may claim players from the waiver wire, but they have to keep the player on the active roster the entire season," is also procedurally inaccurate with regard to MLB rules. A player waived from the 40-man must be placed on the claiming teams 40-man, unless the waiving team recalls the waivers, in which case, waivers are recalled. However, there is no stipulation that the player must remain on the major-league roster.

Additionally, the rules for waivers with regard to the July 31 trade deadline have little bearing on waiver rules at other times of the season. Starting August 1, for example, when the Mariners are hopelessly out of first place, they may place Bret Boone on waivers with the intention of making him eligible to trade. However, should he be claimed by opposing teams, they will pull him back; more importantly, should he not be claimed, he will not then be removed from the 40-man - he will simply be eligible for trading. However, there may be times when it is necessary to remove a player via waivers from the 40-man, after the trade deadline. Now, I assume that Markus has accounted for this, but not knowing for sure, I figure it's safer to mention it now.

{edit: also, there is such a thing as irrevocable waivers, which I don't understand whatsoever.}

The waiver rules are exceptionally complicated and furthermore, there is no guidebook on waiver rules that's available for the public, so every word I've typed above would need to be confirmed. However, I'm 90% certain that the great majority of what I've typed here is accurate or nearly so.