Free agents re-signing with previous team

gmo · 03-17-2004, 03:36 AM

The talk about Urbina on Monday's ESPN Florida-Baltimore ST game and the new season in one of my OOTP leagues got me thinking...

What exactly are the MLB rules regarding a player signing back on with the team they had played with the previous season after that player left the team for free agency at season's end? I thought it was simply that such players may not negotiate with the former team until May 1 of the next season. Is that all there is to it? Whatever the case, does anyone know why it is so?

Skipaway · 03-17-2004, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by gmo
The talk about Urbina on Monday's ESPN Florida-Baltimore ST game and the new season in one of my OOTP leagues got me thinking...

What exactly are the MLB rules regarding a player signing back on with the team they had played with the previous season after that player left the team for free agency at season's end? I thought it was simply that such players may not negotiate with the former team until May 1 of the next season. Is that all there is to it? Whatever the case, does anyone know why it is so?

They would need to stop the negotiation only if arbitration is not offered.

rickhemler · 03-17-2004, 07:06 AM

I belive it is May 1st

Skipaway · 03-17-2004, 07:20 AM

A team can negotiate with its own free agents up until Dec 7. Then the team would need to offer arbitration to continue the talk. If the arbitration is not offered, both sides can not talk again until May 1 the next year. If the team did offer arbitration, the player would need to take it before Dec 19. If the player declines, the negotiation deadline for a contract would then be Jan 8. After that, it's May 1 again.

03-17-2004, 03:36 AM	#1
gmo Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Longmont, CO Posts: 3,435	Free agents re-signing with previous team The talk about Urbina on Monday's ESPN Florida-Baltimore ST game and the new season in one of my OOTP leagues got me thinking... What exactly are the MLB rules regarding a player signing back on with the team they had played with the previous season after that player left the team for free agency at season's end? I thought it was simply that such players may not negotiate with the former team until May 1 of the next season. Is that all there is to it? Whatever the case, does anyone know why it is so?

03-17-2004, 07:06 AM	#3
rickhemler Minors (Single A) Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 60	I belive it is May 1st __________________ WBL: New York Mets 2014- 110-52 2015- 77-85 2016: 95-67 World Series Champs LBB: Baltimore Orioles 2010- 79-83

03-17-2004, 07:20 AM	#4
Skipaway Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Where you live Posts: 11,017	A team can negotiate with its own free agents up until Dec 7. Then the team would need to offer arbitration to continue the talk. If the arbitration is not offered, both sides can not talk again until May 1 the next year. If the team did offer arbitration, the player would need to take it before Dec 19. If the player declines, the negotiation deadline for a contract would then be Jan 8. After that, it's May 1 again. __________________ Jonathan Haidt: Moral reasoning is really just a servant masquerading as a high priest.