Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2017 12:54:16 GMT -5
1. Clearly defining playoff bracket creation:
Existing text: "Each division winner will advance to the playoffs. A wild card franchise from each of the American and National league will also advance to the playoffs. Matchups will be decided in the same method as the MLB. Two franchises from the same division will not play each other in the first round."
New text: "Each division winner will advance to the playoffs. A wild card franchise from each of the American and National league will also advance to the playoffs. The wild card winner from each league will be decided as the top non-division winning team, based off of combined standings. Matchups will be decided in the same method as the MLB, with the wildcard team of each league facing that league's top seed."
Wild card determination has always been in effect but clarified as of today. The wildcard facing the top seed goes into effect for this year's playoffs.
2. Update age threshold for international prospects:
Existing text: In separate parts, "IFAs under the age of 23 (from the time of signing) go into the minor league draft pool" and "IFAs aged 23 and older (from the time of signing) with a major league contract are considered free agents that cannot be drafted."
New text: In their respective parts, "IFAs under the age of 25 (from the time of signing) go into the minor league draft pool" and "IFAs aged 25 and older (from the time of signing) with a major league contract are considered free agents that cannot be drafted."
Any other section referencing IFAs of 23 will also be updated to reflect the new change to 25.
Changes will go into effect today.
3. Clarify club options in rules:
Under 4.1.1.
Existing text: "A franchise tag applied to a major leaguer whose contract has expired will not be eligible for free agency within our league and will be forced to sign with the same franchise. In this case, the franchised player will have to assume the remaining "real life" contract he receives (including one-year deals or holdouts), as outlined on the Cot's Baseball Contracts website. ( www.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/ )"
New text: "A franchise tag applied to a major leaguer whose contract has expired will not be eligible for free agency within our league and will be forced to sign with the same franchise. In this case, the franchised player will have to assume the remaining "real life" contract he receives (including one-year deals or holdouts), as outlined on the Cot's Baseball Contracts website. ( www.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/ ) Note, however, that when assuming the real life contract, only the club option — if any — is carried over; any other options are ignored. Additionally, you will have the choice to decline or accept the club option in the future. Declining the option occurs either by dumping the player to waivers before the option year arrives (with penalties, as outlined in 4.6) or by declaring him a free agent before the December 31 tag deadline. Accepting the option occurs when you retain the player after the December 31 tag deadline."
Also, the first sentence of 4.1.1 and 4.1.2 will be changed from "During the offseason (typically in January)..." to "During the offseason (typically before end-of-day December 31)...".
The club option was always a used guideline, but now it is part of the rule set as of today.
4. Miscellaneous:
Per request, under 4.3.2 concerning league minimum, "The longest you may sign a player to a contract at the league minimum is two years" will be changed to "The longest you may sign a player to a contract at the league minimum is two years (except in the case of a restricted free agent not receiving an offer, as outlined in 4.1.2)."
Existing text: "Each division winner will advance to the playoffs. A wild card franchise from each of the American and National league will also advance to the playoffs. Matchups will be decided in the same method as the MLB. Two franchises from the same division will not play each other in the first round."
New text: "Each division winner will advance to the playoffs. A wild card franchise from each of the American and National league will also advance to the playoffs. The wild card winner from each league will be decided as the top non-division winning team, based off of combined standings. Matchups will be decided in the same method as the MLB, with the wildcard team of each league facing that league's top seed."
Wild card determination has always been in effect but clarified as of today. The wildcard facing the top seed goes into effect for this year's playoffs.
2. Update age threshold for international prospects:
Existing text: In separate parts, "IFAs under the age of 23 (from the time of signing) go into the minor league draft pool" and "IFAs aged 23 and older (from the time of signing) with a major league contract are considered free agents that cannot be drafted."
New text: In their respective parts, "IFAs under the age of 25 (from the time of signing) go into the minor league draft pool" and "IFAs aged 25 and older (from the time of signing) with a major league contract are considered free agents that cannot be drafted."
Any other section referencing IFAs of 23 will also be updated to reflect the new change to 25.
Changes will go into effect today.
3. Clarify club options in rules:
Under 4.1.1.
Existing text: "A franchise tag applied to a major leaguer whose contract has expired will not be eligible for free agency within our league and will be forced to sign with the same franchise. In this case, the franchised player will have to assume the remaining "real life" contract he receives (including one-year deals or holdouts), as outlined on the Cot's Baseball Contracts website. ( www.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/ )"
New text: "A franchise tag applied to a major leaguer whose contract has expired will not be eligible for free agency within our league and will be forced to sign with the same franchise. In this case, the franchised player will have to assume the remaining "real life" contract he receives (including one-year deals or holdouts), as outlined on the Cot's Baseball Contracts website. ( www.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/ ) Note, however, that when assuming the real life contract, only the club option — if any — is carried over; any other options are ignored. Additionally, you will have the choice to decline or accept the club option in the future. Declining the option occurs either by dumping the player to waivers before the option year arrives (with penalties, as outlined in 4.6) or by declaring him a free agent before the December 31 tag deadline. Accepting the option occurs when you retain the player after the December 31 tag deadline."
Also, the first sentence of 4.1.1 and 4.1.2 will be changed from "During the offseason (typically in January)..." to "During the offseason (typically before end-of-day December 31)...".
The club option was always a used guideline, but now it is part of the rule set as of today.
4. Miscellaneous:
Per request, under 4.3.2 concerning league minimum, "The longest you may sign a player to a contract at the league minimum is two years" will be changed to "The longest you may sign a player to a contract at the league minimum is two years (except in the case of a restricted free agent not receiving an offer, as outlined in 4.1.2)."