Of note, while right-handed pitchers Adam Miller and Yohan Pino are both listed here both have already been resigned by agreeing to a successor contract. I have provided an explanation of what a successor contract is as well as the rules for determining minor league free agency below the list.
Right-handed pitchers (6): Jason Grilli, Shane Lindsay, Adam Miller*, Yohan Pino*, Saul Rivera, Gregorio Rosario
Left-handed pitchers (2): Mike Gosling (retired), Jeremy Sowers
Catchers (6): Juan Apodaca*, Alex Castillo, Damaso Espino, Richard Martinez, Miguel Perez, Wyatt Toregas
Infielders (3): Juan Aponte, Cristo Arnal, Argenis Reyes
Outfielders (2): Jose Constanza, Lucas Montero
* - resigned
Minor League Free Agency (Rule 55)
Who is eligible: If a player is not on the 40-man roster, a minor leaguer is eligible for free agency and becomes a minor league free agent (MLFA) six years after their first season ends with an organization. This is why they are often called “six year minor league free agents” because they become a free agent after six renewal options afforded to the major league organization have all expired.
In general, once a player has six full seasons in the minors he is eligible for minor league free agency. For example, if a player was drafted in June of 2004 and signed in July of the same year, then his renewal seasons were 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 and he would be a minor league free agent after the 2010 season.
There is an exception to this rule for a player that has been released from their first organization before they have used up all six renewal options. When this happens and the player signs with another club, that organization has the option of signing the player to as many years as they want up until the expiration of their sixth renewable contract. In most cases, however, the new club opts to sign the player to a one year deal, and even if the player has not had six full seasons he would be a MLFA after that season.
Also, a player does not become a MLFA if they agree to a successor contract prior to October 15th. A successor contract is basically just an agreement between player and organization to extend and sign for the following season in the period between the end of the season and the start of minor league free agency (this is what happened with Adam Miller and Juan Apodaca this offseason).
Timeline: On August 1st the Commissioner issues a listing of all players eligible to become MLFAs for the upcoming offseason. On October 15th a player officially becomes a minor league free agent (MLFA) if the club that originally signed him no longer has one of their six renewal options available to them. On October 16th the Commissioner issues the final MLFA list to all clubs, and a MLFA may negotiate a deal with any major league club for a major league or minor league contract.
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4 comments:
As usual great information for those that try to find the "hidden" talent that may end up being a story in 2011. Last year R.A. Dickey was on the list, so you never know.
Thanks. Yeah, really the two high priority guys were Miller and Pino who have already resigned. Constanza is the only guy of true value likely to not resign. I think Toregas will resign eventually since we need AAA catching and he will find opportunities limited with other orgs.
I would suggest Torregas may have the closest path to the big leauges by signing with the KC Royals who will be looking for a catcher with Kendall likely gone for the year. Even with a prospect being elevated and a guy like Navarro probably being signed, the Royals may find themselves thin at the upper levels.
I wonder if he wants to get away from the organization after a tumultuous 2010?
It will be interesting to see what happens with Toregas. My understanding is when the Indians offered him up to all the other 29 teams for no compensation no one wanted him. Will be interesting if that carries over into the offseason, because if so, he may have no choice but to come back to the Indians (and there is a need for a vet AAA catcher).
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