A player on the 40-man roster has three Minor League Options. When a player is optioned, it means he is taken off the team’s 26-man roster and sent to the Minor Leagues without going through waivers. The player remains on the team’s 40-man roster. Only one option is used per season, it does not matter how much time he spent in the Minors or how many times he was called up to the Majors.
If a position player is optioned, he has to remain off the 26-man roster for 10 days. Pitchers have to remain off the roster for 15 days. This timeframe has exceptions if a player on the Major League team is placed on the injured list.
Players lose their options when:
- They do not start the season on the 26-man roster
- They spend 20 or more days in the Minor Leagues during one season
If a player is out of options, he must be designated for assignment. That means he is removed from the 40-man roster and placed on waivers, which allows other teams to claim the player and place him on their 40-man. If he passes through waivers, he can be sent to the Minors.
Who Qualifies for Minor League Options?
Players who were drafted or signed as amateur free agents start their careers with three options.
If a player has more than 5 full years of service time, the team needs the player’s permission to option him. If a player reaches 5 years of service with options remaining, the team can still option the player without subjecting him to waivers. The catch, however, is that the player can opt out at his discretion.
If the player has less than 5 full years of service time and has remaining options, the team can exercise the option at any time.
Are there Any Exceptions?
Yes. This typically occurs due to injury.
While players usually have three options, they can obtain a 4th if they spend less than 5 full seasons on a Minor or Major League roster. A full season is considered:
- 90 days on a Minor/Major League roster
- 30 days on a Minor/Major League roster and time spent on the injured list that adds to at least 90 days
For reference, a full MLB year for service time is 172 days.
Do you have any questions about options?