Waivers & DFA Question

[Qeltar]

Okay so I STILL do not fully understand when and how a player gets granted a major league contract. I have searched the manual, read past threads here, experimented, taken screenshots.. and I still don't entirely get it.

I just hit opening day on my second season and upon the transition my player expenses in the accounting area went up by $2,725,000. This happens to be 4 times $545,000.. which is the major league minimum... or rather, was. This year I think it should be $555,000. So it appears that I have 4 players who were granted major league contracts but I am not sure why, nor why they are for what I thought was last year's minimum.

Anyone know? Thanks.

[RchW]

Originally Posted by Qeltar

He has a major league contract. I'm pretty sure you can't demote a player with a major league contract without clearing waivers, even if he has options left.

You can until a player has 5 year in the majors. Then he can refuse. This is clearly indicated by the symbols on each player name in the rosters and transactions page. Symbol explanation is at the bottom of the page.

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by Qeltar

He has a major league contract. I'm pretty sure you can't demote a player with a major league contract without clearing waivers, even if he has options left.

Originally Posted by RchW

You can until a player has 5 year in the majors. Then he can refuse.

It depends on what is meant by "demote".

If one means assigning to the minors while removing the player from the 40-man roster (an outright assignment to the minors), then yes, the player must clear waivers before the assignment can take place. Note that under real-life rules players with five or more years of major league service can refuse an outright assignment, while players with three or more years of ML service, or who have been outrighted once before in their career, have the option of either accepting the assignment or becoming a free agent. (If they elect free agency, they forfeit the remainder of their contract.)

If one means assigning to the minors while retaining the player on the 40-man roster (an optional assignment to the minors), then no, the player does not need to clear waivers before the assignment can take place, There is an exception under the real-life rules: if it has been three or more years since the player first appeared on the major league roster, then the player DOES have to clear (revocable) waivers in order to be optioned to the minors. This year requirement is reduced by one for each option year used prior to the player first appearing on the major league roster. (Note that some players are eligible for a fourth option year which is entirely waiver-free for optional assignment purposes.)

[Qeltar]

Originally Posted by Le Grande Orange

If one means assigning to the minors while retaining the player on the 40-man roster (an optional assignment to the minors), then no, the player does not need to clear waivers before the assignment can take place.

.. unless they are out of option years, yes?

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by Qeltar

.. unless they are out of option years, yes?

A player can only be on the 40-man roster AND in the minors at the same time on optional assignment. A player without options remaining can only be assigned to the minors on outright assignment (i.e. he must also be removed from the 40-man roster; being removed from the 40-man roster always requires waivers).