Refuse minor league assignment in real life?

[robc]

I don't really know baseball history.

When did players get the right to refuse minor league assignments? I am setting up my league and want to try and model the rule changes accurately.

Thanks

[Le Grande Orange]

In 1914, players with ten years of major league service were granted the right to refuse an assignment to the minor leagues. This meant they could remain with the major league club (unless, of course, it then decided to release the player). In 1954 the threshold was lowered to eight years, and in 1976 it was lowered again to five years.

In 1990 an additional limitation was added that allowed players with three years of major league service, or those being outrighted for a second time, to refuse the assignment and become a free agent instead.

Note that OOTP only allows an on/off approach to refusing a minor league assignment; you cannot, unfortunately, customize the service time needed to acquire that right. It also does not model the 1990 rule change.

[Cryomaniac]

Originally Posted by Le Grande Orange

Note that OOTP only allows an on/off approach to refusing a minor league assignment; you cannot, unfortunately, customize the service time needed to acquire that right.

That should be a relatively easy thing to add (although going on the past, you never know lol), since you can customize it for a lot of other things. The 1990 rules change is a little more complex I would think.

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by Cryomaniac

The 1990 rules change is a little more complex I would think.

Perhaps so, but if you peruse the real life MLB transactions, every year you'll find a number of players refusing an outright assignment and opting for free agency instead.

[Jaxxvain]

I think Pat Burrell of the Rays just did that, or will today.