As has been previously discussed on MLBTR, the MLB collective bargaining agreement contains a provision that allows certain free agents who are signed to minor league contracts to receive a $100K retention bonus if they do not receive a binding promise to be added to the team's 25-man roster (or the Major League disabled list) five days prior to the season. If the team decides to pay the retention bonus, the player also receives a June 1st opt-out clause. Contracts can permissibly include terms that are more favorable to the player, such as greater retention bonuses and/or earlier opt-out clauses.
For the current season, MLBTR's Tim Dierkes tweets, decisions must be made by March 17th for the Diamondbacks and Dodgers, and by March 25th for the rest of the league. (Of course, at present, neither of the clubs opening play in Australia has signed an XX(B) free agent.) Last year, numerous XX(B) free agents received either a roster guarantee or a bonus from teams hoping to maintain control over the player.
There are many different ways to become a free agent, but only those players who reach free agency through Article XX(B) and certain international free agents are eligible for this added protection. There are two types of players who can qualify in this manner at the end of a season. (In either case, of course, the player must not already be a free agent; i.e., he must be on a club's 40-man roster upon the conclusion of the World Series.) First are those players who have accrued at least six years of Major League service time and are not under contract for the following season. Second are those players with expiring contracts who signed with an MLB club after turning 23 and after playing five seasons in one of the major international leagues. (In the below list, Kawasaki and Wada are examples.) In either case, the XX(B) free agenty must sign his minor league deal ten or more days prior to Opening Day to qualify for the added contractual protections.
Here is a list of this year's crop of Article XX(B) free agents who have signed minor league deals and thus come within the ambit of the rule, as of today. (Several other players likely to land minor league deals could also qualify — including names like Kevin Gregg and Juan Pierre — if they sign in time.)
Angels: John McDonald, Carlos Pena, Yorvit Torrealba, Chad Tracy
Astros: Cesar Izturis
Blue Jays: Munenori Kawasaki
Braves: Freddy Garcia
Brewers: Zach Duke, Lyle Overbay, Mark Reynolds
Cubs: Tsuyoshi Wada
Giants: Kameron Loe
Indians: David Aardsma, Aaron Harang
Mariners: Scott Baker, Endy Chavez, Humberto Quintero
Marlins: Reed Johnson
Mets: Kyle Farnsworth, Daisuke Matsuzaka
Nationals: Luis Ayala, Mike Gonzalez, Chris Snyder
Orioles: Alexi Casilla, Johan Santana, Delmon Young
Philies: Ronny Cedeno
Rays: Erik Bedard
Red Sox: Rich Hill
Reds: Jeff Francis, Ramon Santiago
Rockies: Nick Masset
Twins: Matt Guerrier, Jason Kubel
Wait, when did the giants sign Kameron Loe?
I never understood any of this chromosome stuff.
So the 100K bonus is mandatory if the player qualifies?
They can either:
1) promise an active roster spot (no bonus, but they will soon be on a MLB deal, so of course this is even more expensive);
2) keep them in the minors and give them the $100K (at a minimum … they could have negotiated a higher rate) and June 1 opt-out;
3) release
Of course, the last scenario also creates the possibility of a release followed by a new deal. And many of these guys have earlier opt-out dates built in that they can use for leverage.
Is there a reason Jose Valverde isn’t on this list? Is it because he wasn’t on the Tigers postseason roster to end the year…
I guess he negotiated a late March opt out on his own, so he’s basically in the same situation.
Was he on the Tigers’ 40-man roster? If he wasn’t he’s not eligible (as it states in the article)
Ok, then that is the question.
No site I know of will provide date specific MLB rosters, just current.
He was released last August by the Tigers.
Some decent names on this list. None great but certainly some guys who can contribute to a club in back up roles.
There’s a nice collection of names here with varies success. Kubel, Overbay, Reynolds, Dice-K, Baker, Farnsworth, Bedard, Johan, Harang, Garcia, and Pena is a good group of names. Kubel has hit 30 HR, Reynolds has hit 40, Pena nearly 50, Overbay’s a doubles machine, and that collection of pichers includes accomplished veterans near the end like Freddy and Harang as well as injury-prone former aces like Bedard and Johan.