MAJOR LEAGUE RULES

2021

THE OFFICIALPROFESSIONAL BASEBALL
RULES BOOK

Office of the Commissioner of Baseball245 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10167
Copyright © 1988, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2009,2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
The Commissioner of Baseball

MAJOR LEAGUE RULESTABLE OF CONTENTS
Page

Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1

RULE 1—Reserve Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3(a) Filing of Reserve Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3(b) Maintenance of and Changes to Reserve Lists. . . . . . . . . . .

4(c) Effect of Placement on Reserve List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5

RULE 2—Player Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5(a) Reserved List Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5(b) Active Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6(c) Inactive Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

11(d) Limitations on Coaches, Player-Coaches andPlayer-Managers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

35

RULE 3—Eligibility to Sign Contract, Contract Terms, andContract Tenders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

38(a) Eligibility to Sign Major League or Minor League
Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

38(b) Uniform Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

46(c) Contract Terms for First-Year Player Contracts . . . . . . . . .

47(d) Acceptance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

59(e) Reporting and Filing of Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

60

(f)

Contracts in Violation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

60(g) Contacts and Tryouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

60(h) Tender of Contract Renewals or Salary Addendums . . . . . .

63

(i)

Uniform Manager’s and Employee’s Contracts . . . . . . . . . .

65

(j)

Certain Payments Forbidden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

65(k) Tampering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

66

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RULE 4—First-Year Player Draft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

66(a) Players Subject . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

66(b) Selection Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

67(c) Order of Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

68(d) Effect of Selection on Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

70(e) Negotiation Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

71

(f)

Closed Period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

72(g) Effect on Player Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

72(h) If Selected Player Does Not Sign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

72

(i)

If Player Is Not Selected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

72

(j)

Medical Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

72(k) Forfeited Draft Lottery and Competitive Balance
Selections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

79

Interpretation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

82

RULE 5—Annual Selection of Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(l)

82

(a) Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

82(b) Method and Priority of Selections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

82(c) Players Subject to Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

83(d) Consideration, Payment, and Responsibility . . . . . . . . . . .

85(e) Player-Managers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

85

(f)

Covering Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

85(g) Selected Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

85(h) Draft-Excluded Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

88

RULE 6—Assignment of Player Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

88(a) Notice to Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

88(b) Effective Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

88(c) Obligations of Assignor and Assignee Clubs . . . . . . . . . . .

89(d) Closed Periods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

90(e) Consent to Assignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

91

(f)

91

Assignment Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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(g) Injury Rehabilitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

94

RULE 7—Optional Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

96(a) Definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

96(b) Limitations on Recall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

97(c) Limitations on Optional Assignments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

99(d) Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

100(e) Closed Period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

101

(f)

Salary Arrears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

102(g) Salary on Option or Recall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

102(h) Salary Between Season Openings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

102

(i)

Player Loans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

102

(j)

Reacquiring Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

102

RULE 8—Major League Waivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

104(a) Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

104(b) The Procedures for Obtaining Waivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

105(c) Waiver Claims and Awarding of Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . .

109(d) Restrictions on Waiver Requests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

111(e) Effect on Waivers of Transfer of Optional Assignment . . . .

113

(f)

Penalties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

113(g) Player Limit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

113

RULE 9—Termination of Player-Club Relation . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

114(a) Termination of Player-Club Relation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

114(b) Major League Unconditional Release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

114(c) Minor League Free Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

116

RULE 10—Bulletins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

118

RULE 11—Player Salaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

118(a) First-Year Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

118(b) Part-Season Salary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

118(c) Delay in Reporting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

119

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(d) Minimum Salary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

119(e) Renewal of Contract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

119

RULE 12—Playing Otherwise Than for Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

119(a) Winter Leagues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

119(b) Exhibition Games . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

119(c) Penalty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

120(d) All-Star Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

120(e) Hall of Fame Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

120

(f)

Foreign Leagues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

121

RULE 13—Claim Presentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

121(a) Discipline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

121(b) Disputes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

121(c) Time for Presentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

121

RULE 14—Suspended Personnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

121(a) Discipline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

121(b) Appeals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

122(c) Effect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

122

RULE 15—Umpires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

122(a) Staffing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

122(b) Duties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

122(c) Control of Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

122(d) Umpire Claims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

123(e) Umpires Acting as Scouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

123

RULE 16—Official Scorers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

123(a) Appointment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

123(b) Responsibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

123(c) Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

123(d) Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

123(e) Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

124

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(f)

Discipline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

124

RULE 17—Uniform Playing Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

124(a) Official Baseball Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

124(b) Playing Rules Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

125(c) Duties of Playing Rules Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

125(d) Official Scoring Rules Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

126(e) Duties of Official Scoring Rules Committee . . . . . . . . . . . .

126

(f)

Copyright and Publication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

126

RULE 18—Schedules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

126(a) Major Leagues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

126(b) Minor Leagues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

127

RULE 19—Major League Disaster Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

127(a) Event Qualifying as a Disaster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

127(b) Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

127(c) Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

131

RULE 20—Conflicting Interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

131(a) Ownership and Financial Interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

131(b) Loans to and Relationships with Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

132(c) Loans to Clubs and Other Individuals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

133(d) League Officials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

133(e) Within Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

133

(f)

Winter Leagues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

134(g) Application to Major League Clubs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

134(h) Information to Commissioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

134

RULE 21—Misconduct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

135(a) Misconduct in Playing Baseball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

135(b) Gift for Defeating Competing Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

135(c) Gifts to Umpires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

135(d) Gambling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

136

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(e) Violence or Misconduct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

136

(f)

Other Misconduct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

136(g) No Discrimination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

137(h) Rule to Be Kept Posted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

137

RULE 22—Circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

137(a) Conditions to Relocation to Another Club’s Territory . . . . .

137(b) Number of Clubs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

138(c) Notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

138(d) Definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

138

RULE 23—Gate Receipts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

138(a) Paid Attendance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

138(b) Assessment of Paid Attendance Receipts . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

138(c) Establishing Admissions total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

139(d) Free Admissions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

139

RULE 24—Reserved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

140

RULE 25—Finances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

140(a) Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

140(b) Audit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

140(c) Budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

140(d) Funds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

140

RULE 26—Major and Minor League Territorial Rights . . . . . . . .

141(a) Operating Territory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

141(b) Location of Home Ballpark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

141(c) Establishing New Operating Territories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

142(d) Exceptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

143(e) Recognition of Future Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

147

(f)

Approval of Minor League Territorial Rights . . . . . . . . . . .

147(g) Loss of Territorial Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

147

RULE 27—Classification of Minor Leagues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

148

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RULE 28—Reserved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

148

RULE 29—Reserved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

148

RULE 30—Reserved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

148

RULE 31—Reserved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

148

RULE 32—Reserved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

148

RULE 33—Lien on Territory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

148(a) Amount and Priority of Liens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

148(b) Deductions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

149(c) Effect of Assignments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

149

RULE 34—Qualification for Post-Season Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

149(a) Division Champions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

149(b) Wild Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

149(c) Tie-Breaking Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

150

RULE 35—Post-Season Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

166(a) Wild Card Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

166(b) Division Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

167(c) League Championship Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

169(d) World Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

169

RULE 36—Post-Season Supervision by the Commissioner . . . . . .

170

RULE 37—Pennant and Memento . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

170(a) World Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

170(b) Presentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

170(c) League Champions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

170

RULE 38—Post-Season Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

170(a) Order of Games . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

170(b) Postponed and Suspended Games . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

171

RULE 39—Post-Season Series Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

172(a) By Victory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

172(b) By Commissioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

172

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RULE 40—Post-Season Playing Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

172

RULE 41—Players Eligible for Post-Season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

172(a) Players Eligible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

172(b) Coaches Eligible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

178(c) Players Eligible—Minor League Post-Season . . . . . . . . . . .

178

RULE 42—Post-Season Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

179(a) Paid by Commissioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

179(b) Clubs’ Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

179

RULE 43—Post-Season Playing Grounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

179

RULE 44—Post-Season Admissions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

179(a) Rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

179(b) Free List Suspended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

180(c) Tickets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

180(d) Seat Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

180(e) Ticket Priorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

180

(f)

Daily Settlement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

181

RULE 45—Division of Post-Season Receipts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

181(a) Commissioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

181(b) Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

181(c) Clubs’—Commissioner’s Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

184(d) Guarantee of Players’ Pool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

185

RULE 46—Bonus Forbidden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

186(a) Prohibition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

186(b) Penalties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

186

RULE 47—Exhibition Games . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

186

RULE 48—Obligations of Participants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

187

RULE 49—Holidays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

187

RULE 50—Enforcement of Major League Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . .

187(a) Penalties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

187

viii

Page

(b) Payment of Fines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

188(c) Continuity of Assignments, Agreements and Transactions . .

188

Acceptance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

188

ATTACHMENT 3—Minor League Uniform Player Contract . . . .

189

Addendum A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

208

Addendum B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

211

Addendum C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

212

Addendum D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

215

ATTACHMENT 12—Notice to Player of Release or Transfer . . . .

216

ATTACHMENT 26—Major and Minor League Territories . . . . .

218

ix

IMPORTANT NOTE: TO THE EXTENT OF ANY CONFLICTBETWEEN THE PROVISIONS OF THESE RULES AND THE
PROVISIONS OF THE CURRENTLY EFFECTIVE BASIC
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE MAJOR LEAGUE CLUBS AND THE
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION, THE BASIC
AGREEMENT SHALL IN ALL RESPECTS CONTROL.
DEFINITIONS
The definitions set forth below shall apply to the following terms as they
are used in the Major League Constitution, the Major League Rules and all
documents incorporated into or appended to the Major League
Constitution and Major League Rules.
(a) The term “Major League” shall refer to the American League
and the National League and any other professional baseball league
that is recognized as a Major League under the Major League
Constitution.
(b) The term “Major League Club” shall refer to a professional
baseball club that plays in a Major League.
(c) The term “Major League Player” shall refer to a professional
baseball player who is on the Major League Reserve List of a Major
League Club.
(d) The term “Minor League” shall refer to any league within theprofessional development league system operated by Major League
Baseball in which Minor League Clubs are assigned to compete.
(e) The term “Minor League Club” shall refer to any professional
baseball club that is party to a PDL.
(f) The term “Club” shall refer to any Major League Club or
Minor League Club.
(g) The term “Minor League Player” shall refer to any professional
baseball player who is on a Minor League Reserve List of a Major
League Club.
(h) The term “first-year player” shall refer to any player who has
never before signed a Major or Minor League contract.

1

(i) The term “Commissioner” shall refer to the individual who
holds the office of Commissioner of Baseball pursuant to Article III of
the Major League Constitution, or in the absence of a Commissioner,
any person, entity, or body succeeding to the powers and duties of theCommissioner pursuant to the Major League Constitution.
(j) The term “Major League Reserve List” shall refer to the lists
filed and maintained by a Major League Club pursuant to Rule 1 of all
players, player-managers and player-coaches with whom the Major
League Club is party to a Major League Uniform Player’s Contract(unless such players have been assigned outright to a Minor LeagueClub) and players whom the Major League Club has promoted to
Major League status and also must be tendered Major League Uniform
Player’s Contracts on or before the following December 2.
(k) The term “Minor League Reserve List” shall refer to the list
filed and maintained pursuant to Rule 1 of all players, player-managers
and player-coaches with whom a Major or Minor League Club is party
to Minor League Uniform Player Contracts, including players under
Major League Uniform Player’s Contracts who have been assigned
outright to Minor League Clubs.
(l) The term “Domestic Reserve List” shall refer to the list filed
pursuant to Rule 2(a) and includes all players, player-managers andplayer-coaches with whom the Major League Club is party to Minor
League Uniform Player Contracts who are assigned to domestic Minor
League affiliates (i.e., affiliates in the United States or Canada). Fromthe earliest Opening Day of the Minor League championship season
through 5:00 pm ET on the 5th day after the World Series, the Domestic
Reserve List will include players under Major League Uniform Player’s
Contracts who have been assigned on option to a Minor League Club.
(m) The term “Major League Active List” shall refer to the list filed
pursuant to Rule 2(b)(2) of all players, player-managers andplayer-coaches who are currently eligible to play in a game for that
Major League Club.
(n) The term “Minor League Active List” shall refer to the list filed
pursuant to Rule 2(b)(3) of all players, player-managers andplayer-coaches who are currently eligible to play in a game for that
Minor League Club.

2MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 1(a)(o) The term “championship season” shall refer to the full scheduleof regular-season games that has been approved for a Major or Minor
League Club in accordance with the provisions of Rule 18 in the case ofMajor League Clubs or the Minor League Guidelines in the case of
Minor League Clubs.
(p) The term “Player Development License Agreement (PDL)”
shall refer to a player development license agreement pursuant to whicha professional baseball club has been granted the right to compete in the
Minor Leagues.
(q) The term “Minor League Guidelines” shall refer to the
mandates, rules, regulations, policies, bulletins, directives and guidelines
issued or adopted by Major League Baseball that are applicable to
Minor League Clubs.
(r) The term “Inactive Lists” shall refer:(1) with respect to Major League Clubs, to the Injured,
Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency, Paternity Leave,
Suspended, Voluntarily Retired, Restricted, Disqualified andIneligible Lists; and(2) with respect to Minor League Clubs, to the Injured,
Development, Suspended, Voluntarily Retired, Restricted,
Disqualified, Ineligible and Temporarily Inactive Lists.
(s) The term “Winter League” shall refer to a professional baseballleague outside the United States and Canada that plays a schedule ofgames that begins after August 31 and concludes before the start of thenext championship season and that the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee recognizes as a Winter League. Winter
Leagues are not Minor Leagues within the meaning of the Major
League Rules. Winter League Clubs are not Minor League Clubs within
the meaning of the Major League Rules.
(t) The term “Major League Trade Deadline” shall refer to thedeadline each championship season before which a Major League Club
may assign a Major League Uniform Player’s Contract (including foroutrighted players) to another Major League Club (See Rule 6(d)(3).)
Rule 1RESERVE LISTS(a) FILING OF RESERVE LISTS. On a date designated by theCommissioner or the Commissioner’s designee (which shall be no later than
3

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 1(a) to 1(b)November 20, or the last business day preceding November 20, if
November 20 is not a business day), each Major League Club shall file
Major League and Minor League Reserve Lists with the Commissioner or
the Commissioner’s designee. A Major League Club shall include on its
Major League Reserve List all players, player-managers and player-coaches
who are currently under Major League Uniform Player’s Contracts (unlessthey have been assigned outright to a Minor League Club) or who have beenpromoted to Major League status and must be tendered a Major League
Uniform Player’s Contract for the following championship season by
December 2.
A Major League Club also must file a separate Minor League Reserve
List for each Minor League classification in which it desires to reserve
Minor League players. A Major League Club, however, may reserve players
only in classifications in which it owned or was affiliated with a Minor
League Club during the previous season. The Minor League Reserve Lists
filed by a Major League Club must contain all players, player-managers andplayer-coaches that it has under Minor League Uniform Player Contracts,
including players whose Major League Uniform Player’s Contracts havebeen assigned outright to Minor League Clubs. All players on one of the
Minor League Reserve Lists filed by a Major League Club shall be reserved
only to the Major League Club, which shall have the exclusive contractual
right to the services of the players on such a list.
(b) MAINTENANCE OF AND CHANGES TO RESERVE LISTS.
The Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee shall continuously
maintain and update the Reserve Lists filed by Major League Clubs. As partof this process, the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee shallpromptly record any transactions or player transfers permitted by theseRules and shall make them available electronically to all Major League
Clubs. Major League Clubs shall immediately notify the Commissioner or
the Commissioner’s designee of any changes to their Reserve Lists. Such
Reserve List changes shall not take effect until approved by theCommissioner or the Commissioner’s designee and the Commissioner may
establish procedures for notifying the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s
designee of such changes. Except for outright assignments from the Major
League Reserve List in accordance with Rule 6 (Assignment of Player
Contracts), outright assignments of players not subject to selection at thenext Rule 5 Selection Meeting, the addition of players signed as Major
League or Minor League free agents, or releases for the purpose of
permitting players to sign a bona fide contract as a foreign professional,

4

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 1(b) to 2(b)Minor League Reserve Lists may not be amended during the period between
the latest date designated by the Commissioner for filing Minor League
Reserve Lists and the conclusion of the Rule 5 Selection Meeting.
(c) EFFECT OF PLACEMENT ON RESERVE LIST. No player on a
Reserve List filed by a Major League Club shall be eligible to play ornegotiate with any other Major League or Minor League Club until theplayer is removed from the Reserve List because the player’s contract has
been terminated or assigned.
Rule 2
PLAYER LIMITS(a) RESERVED LIST LIMITS.
(1) As used in these Rules, the maximum limits on the number ofplayers that a Major League Club may place on the various Major andMinor League Reserve Lists shall be referred to as “Reserve List” limits.
A Major or Minor League Reserve List may contain more than the
maximum number of players if the additional players are on a List
(Restricted, Disqualified, Ineligible, Voluntary Retired, or Military) that
does not count against the Reserve List limits or these Rules otherwise
provide that such additional players in excess of the maximum number
may be placed on a Major or Minor League Reserve List. See
Rule 2(a)(4) (First-Year Minor Contract), 2(c)(1)(F) (Major League
Injured List; Player Limits), Rule 2(c)(4)(D) (Suspended List; Player
Limits), Rule 2(c)(11)(B) (Minor League Injured List; Player Limits)
and Rule 2(c)(13) (Players Signed for Future Services).
(2) Major League Club Limits. A Major League Club may place amaximum number of(A) 40 players on its Major League Reserve List;(B) 180 players on its Domestic Reserve List from the earliest
Opening Day of the Minor League season until 5 P.M. ET on thefifth day following the day that the last game of the World Series
starts;(C) 190 players on its Domestic Reserve List from 5 P.M. ET
on the fifth day following the day that the last game of the World
Series starts until the earliest Opening Day of the subsequent
Minor League season;
5

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(b)(D) 38 players from the Domestic Reserve List on its AAA
Reserve List pursuant to Rule 1(a) through the conclusion of the
Major League Rule 5 Draft;(E) 35 players on its International Rookie Reserve List foreach International Rookie classification Club that it owned or withwhich it had a PDL during the previous season.
In the event that a Club exceeds the Domestic Reserve List
limit (190 or 180), the Club shall have 48 hours from the time of
the transaction or signing that causes the Club to exceed the limit,
to adhere to the Domestic Reserve List limit.
(F) If two or more Major League Clubs were affiliated with asingle Minor League Club during the previous season, those Major
League Clubs may place additional players on their Minor League
Reserve Lists for the shared Minor League Club’s classification. The
number of players so reserved by each Major League Club sharing anaffiliate, however, shall not cause each Major League Club to exceed thetotal number of players that each Major League Club had placed on the
Active and Inactive Lists of the shared Minor League Club (if anInternational Rookie Club) as of the last day of the most recently
concluded championship season, or the total number of players thateach Major League Club is permitted to reserve under the Domestic
Reserve List.
(3)A player who signs a first-year Minor League contract for thecurrent season with a Major League Club shall be excluded from the
Minor League under control limits of the signing Major League Club
until 15 days have elapsed from the date of the contract or when theplayer has appeared in a championship season game, whichever occurs
first. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a player who signs a Minor
League contract with a Major League Club following the player’s
selection at the First-Year Player Draft shall be excluded from the
Minor League under control limits of the signing Major League Club
until the day following the conclusion of the current year’s Major
League championship season or when the player has appeared in achampionship season game, whichever occurs first (see MLR 4(g)).
(b) ACTIVE LISTS.
(1) FILING AND MAINTENANCE. Each Major League Club
must file and maintain an Active List with the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee for the Major League Club itself and for all
6

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(b)Minor League Clubs that it owns or with which it is affiliated. The
Active List of a Minor League Club owned by a Major League Club oraffiliated with a Major League Club pursuant to a PDL may include
only players who are reserved to and under Major League Uniform
Player’s Contracts or Minor League Uniform Player Contracts withsuch Major League Club.
An Active List must include all players who are currently eligible toplay in a championship season game for the Major League or the
Minor League Club for which the list was filed. All Major League
Active Lists must be filed by such time or times on the opening date of
the Major League championship season as the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee may set forth, provided, however, that any
such filing time shall be no later than one hour before the scheduledstart of the first game of the championship season on such opening
date. All Minor League Active lists must be filed by the opening date of
the championship season of the Minor League Club to which the list
applies.
An optioned player who has been recalled shall be counted against
the Major League Active List in accordance with Article XV(E)(3) of
the Basic Agreement.
For purposes of applying the limits in Rule 2(b), a player-manager
or player-coach shall be considered an active player.
(2) MAJOR LEAGUE CLUB ACTIVE LIST.
(A) From Opening Day through August 31 of thechampionship season and during postseason games, the minimum
number of players who may be placed on an Active List for a
Major League Club shall be 25, and the maximum number ofplayers who may be placed on an Active List for a Major League
Club shall be 26. Major League Clubs may carry a maximum of 13
pitchers on the Active List during this period.
Prior to September 1, a Major League Club may expand its
26-man Active Roster to 27 players for any split or regular
doubleheader (including double-headers in which the first game isa continuation of a suspended game) that is contained in theregular season schedule or created to reschedule games, as follows:(i) The additional roster spot is not available in thefirst game of a doubleheader that is scheduled as a resultof a postponed game earlier in the same series if the7

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(b)rescheduled game takes place the day following theannouncement to reschedule the postponed game, unless
both Clubs agree that the additional roster spot will beavailable for the first game within one hour following thenotice of postponement. Regardless, the additional roster
spot is available in the second game of a doubleheader.
(ii) The additional roster spot shall not be available
in the continuation of a suspended game.
(iii) A player added to the 26-man Active Roster forthese purposes must be on the 40-man Roster (orreinstated from a Major League Inactive List inaccordance with the applicable Rule), and, except as set
forth in Rule 2(b)(2)(A)(i) and (ii) above, will be eligible
to play in both scheduled games of the doubleheader(such player will be referred to as the “27th Player”). If a
Club adds more than one player to the Active Roster, andone of the players is added pursuant to thisRule 2(b)(2)(A),it must identify the 27th Player at the time
he is added to the roster.
(iv) Any Club that expands its roster for these
purposes must return to a 26-man Active Roster
immediately after the conclusion of the second game (i.e.,a post-game roster adjustment). The recall and waiver
requirements and limitations contained in these Rules
shall not apply to the 27th Player if returned to his
previous Minor League Club for these purposes.
Moreover, a player’s addition to the 26-man Active roster
for these purposes shall not affect the expiration of any
10-day or 15-day period that may be required byRule 7(b)(1). The return of the player to his previous
Minor League Club shall not be considered an
assignment (i.e., to a Minor League Club, an optional
assignment under these Rules, or otherwise). A Club may
return to a 26-man Active Roster by removing a player
other than the 27th Player only if the Club’s addition of
the 27th Player complied with all applicable Rules and the
Basic Agreement, and the Club’s subsequent removal of
the other player from its roster complied with all

8

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(b)applicable Rules and the Basic Agreement (and both of
those transactions will not be covered by the exception
created by this Rule 2(b)(2)(A)).
(v) The 27th Player shall be paid one day of Major
League salary and shall receive one day of Major League
service. Such day shall not be counted for purposes ofcounting days on option pursuant to the Articles XIX(E)and XXI(B) of the Basic Agreement or Rule 7(c).
(vi) The addition of the 27th Player must be
consistent with the Prohibition on Taxi Squads containedin Article XV(E)(3) of the Basic Agreement.
(vii) A Club’s addition of the 27th Player pursuant tothis Rule 2(b)(2)(A) is not intended to preclude a Club
from making other player transactions that are
permissible under these Rules or the Basic Agreement.
(viii) The 27th Player shall not count toward the
maximum of 13 pitchers permitted on the Active List.
(B) From September 1 through the end of the championshipseason (including any tiebreaker games), all Major League Clubs
must carry 28 players on the Active List. Major League Clubs may
carry a maximum of 14 pitchers on the Active List during thisperiod.
(C) Except for Two-Way players described in Rule 2(b)(2)(D)
below, Major League Clubs must designate each player on the
Active Roster as either a pitcher or a position player before eachplayer’s first day on the Active Roster for a given season. That
designation (pitcher or position player) will remain in effect forthat player, and cannot change, for the remainder of thatchampionship season and postseason.
(D) Two-Way Players.
(i) Players who qualify as Two-Way players may
appear as pitchers during a game without counting
toward a Club’s pitcher limitations.
(ii) A player will qualify as a “Two-Way player” only
if he fully meets both of the following criteria in any oneof the 2020 or 2021 championship seasons:
9

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(b)(aa) at least 20 Major League innings pitched;and(bb) at least 20 Major League games started as aposition player or designated hitter with at least
three plate appearances in each of those games.
(iii) In order for a qualified player to appear in achampionship season or postseason game as a Two-Way
player, the Club must designate that player in advance ofthat game. Once a Club designates a qualified player as a
Two-Way player, that designation will remain in effect forthat player, and cannot change, for the remainder of thatchampionship season and postseason.
(iv) No player on the Active Roster other than those
designated as Two-Way players or pitchers by the Club
may appear in a championship season or postseason
game as a pitcher, except that any player may appear as apitcher following the 9th inning of an extra inning game,or in any game in which his team is losing or winning byequal to or more than 6 runs when the player enters as apitcher; provided, however, that the 27th Player shall notcount toward the maximum of 13 pitchers permitted on
the Active List.
(E) With the exceptions of unconditional releases,
designations for assignment, and assignments of a Major League
contract to another Major League Club, Clubs may not change
their Active Lists once a game has commenced, unless the game issuspended (in which case Clubs may change their Active Lists prior
to the resumption of the game).
(3) MINOR LEAGUE CLUB ACTIVE LISTS.
(A) The maximum number of players on the Active List of aClass AAA Club shall be 28.
(B) The maximum number of players on the Active List of aClass AA Club shall be 28.
(C) The maximum number of players on the Active List of aClass High-A Club shall be 30.
(D) The maximum number of players on the Active List of a
Low-A Club shall be 30.
10

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(b) to 2(c)(E) The maximum number of players on the Active List of anInternational Rookie League Club shall be 35.
(F) There shall be no maximum number of players on the
Active List of any Spring Training Complex League team. All
players assigned to the Spring Training Complex may participate ingame activity, provided players on any Inactive List may notparticipate in game activity without prior approval from theCommissioner’s Office.
(c) INACTIVE LISTS.
(1) MAJOR LEAGUE INJURED LIST. Upon appropriate
application to the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee, aMajor League Club may request that a player on its Major League
Active List, who is unable to render services because of a specificinjury or ailment, be placed on one of the Injured Lists set forth in
this Rule 2(c)(1).
(A) Lists. The Major League Injured Lists shall consist of
7-day, 10-day, 15-day and 60-day lists, which shall be the minimum
period of inactivity for a player placed on such a list, as follows:(i) 10-day, 15-day and 60-day lists. Only position players
are eligible for placement on the 10-day list, and only pitchers
are eligible for placement on the 15-day list. Two-Way players(as defined in Rule 2(b)(2)(D)) shall qualify as pitchers forpurposes of this Rule 2(c)(1). The application for placementon the 10-day, 15-day or 60-day list shall be accompanied by aStandard Form of Diagnosis completed by the Major League
Club physician, and a copy of this completed form shall begiven to the player. At the time of the request, the player’s
Club must designate the specific list on which the player is tobe placed. The Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee
may approve such requests after having received the Standard
Form of Diagnosis.
(ii) 7-day list. A player is only eligible for the 7-day list if
he has suffered an acute concussion. The application forplacement on the 7-day list shall be documented through an
Event Form in the Electronic Medical Records System andaccompanied by a concussion-specific Standard Form ofDiagnosis, signed by the home or visiting Club physician andthe home Club head certified athletic trainer. The completed
11

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(c)diagnostic form and supporting information must be
submitted to the Commissioner’s Office and the Players
Association prior to the player’s placement on the 7-day list. A
copy of the completed diagnostic form also shall be given to
the player. Upon submission of the diagnostic form to theCommissioner’s Office, Major League Baseball’s Medical
Director will review the form and any available supporting
information, and, if appropriate, approve the placement of theplayer on the 7-day list.
(B) Transfers. Subject to the restrictions above, a player may
be transferred from the 7-day list to the 10-day list (position player)
or 15-day list (pitcher), or from the 7-day, 10-day or 15-day lists to
the 60-day list. A position player on the 7-day list who is recertified
after the initial 7-day list placement shall automatically betransferred to the 10-day list in the event the player is not able toreturn to play after an initial 9-day period of inactivity. A pitcher
on the 7-day list who is recertified after the initial 7-day list
placement shall automatically be transferred to the 15-day list in
the event the player is not able to return to play after an initial
14-day period of inactivity. Time spent on the 7-day, 10-day or
15-day lists prior to any such transfer shall count towards the
10-day, 15-day or 60-day minimum inactivity periods, whichever isapplicable.
(C) Recertifications. The Club physician must complete andsubmit to the Commissioner’s Office and the Players Association
the appropriate Standard Form of Diagnosis for Recertification fora player on the 7-day list when the player first becomes eligible forreinstatement to active status. A position player on the 7-day list
who is recertified shall automatically, without any additional
recertification necessary, be transferred to the 10-day list in theevent the player is not able to return to play after an initial 9-day
period of inactivity. A pitcher on the 7-day list who is recertified
shall automatically, without any additional recertificationnecessary, be transferred to the 15-day list in the event the player is
not able to return to play after an initial 14-day period ofinactivity. Except as provided herein, the Club physician mustcomplete and submit the appropriate Standard Form of Diagnosis
for Recertification for a player on the 10-day list (15-day list for
pitchers) when the player first becomes eligible for reinstatement to12

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(c)active status, and then every 10 days (15-days for pitchers)
following the date upon which the player first becomes eligible forreinstatement. No recertification shall be required for players on
the 60-day Injured List.
(D) Return to Play. Prior to the reinstatement of a concussed
player from any Injured List, and before the player may consent toand undergo an injury rehabilitation pursuant to Rule 6(g), theplayer’s Club must submit a Return to Play Form and supporting
information to the Medical Director and the Players Association.
(E) Disposition of Injured Players. Except as set forth inRule 6(g) and Article XIX(C) of the Basic Agreement, a Major
League Club may not direct, assign or otherwise transfer a player
on a Major League Injured List to a Minor League Club.
(F) Player Limits. There shall be no limit on the number ofplayers placed on any Major League Injured List; provided,
however, that:(i) a player may not be placed on or transferred to the
60-day list unless the Major League Reserve List of theplayer’s Club is at the maximum limit of 40 or the player’s
Club adds a player to its Major League Reserve List who
otherwise would cause the 40-player Reserve List limit to be
exceeded;(ii) players on the 7-day, 10-day, and 15-day lists shallcount against the Reserve List limits, but not against the
Active List limits;(iii) players on the 60-day list shall not count against
either the Reserve List or Active List limits;(iv) after the conclusion of the championship season, aplayer may not be placed on the 7-day Injured List earlier
than the fourth day before the start of the next championshipseason;(v) after the conclusion of the championship season, aplayer may not be placed on the 10-day or 15-day Injured List
earlier than the third day before the start of the next
championship season;(vi) after the conclusion of the championship season, aplayer may not be placed on the 60-day Injured List earlier
13

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(c)than the first date that Clubs may invite injured players,
pitchers and catchers to attend spring training workouts inaccordance with Article XIV(A)(1) of the Basic Agreement;(vii) players placed on or transferred to the 60-day
Injured List prior to the start of the championship season may
not be reinstated until 60 days of the championship season
have elapsed;(viii) except for players on the 60-day Injured List, allplayers on the Injured List must be removed from the Injured
List on or before the day following the conclusion of thechampionship season;(ix) Clubs must remove all players from the 60-day
Injured List no later than the fifth day following the day thatthe last game of the World Series starts; and(x) Clubs may not place players on or transfer players to
the 60-day Injured List after August 31 unless the Club
maintains a complete 40-man Roster.
For the effect of the minimum activity period on
postseason rosters, see Rule 41(a)(2) (Submission of Rosters).
A Major League player on a rehabilitation assignment
shall not count against the Active List limit of either the
Major or the Minor League Club to which the player isassigned, nor the Domestic Reserve List limit, but shallcontinue to count against the Reserve List limit for the Major
League Reserve List unless the player is on the 60-day Injured
List.
(2) MAJOR LEAGUE BEREAVEMENT/FAMILY MEDICALEMERGENCY LIST.
(A) Placement. Upon written application to the Commissioner
or the Commissioner’s designee, a Major League Club may requestthat a player be placed on the Major League Bereavement/Family
Medical Emergency List. No player may be placed on the Major
League Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List unless suchplayer is unable to render services because of the serious or severe
illness or death of a member of such player’s immediate family(e.g., spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, child or grandchild) or a
14

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(c)member of such player’s spouse’s immediate family. Written noticeof placement upon the Major League Bereavement/Family Medical
Emergency List must be given to the player.
(B) Salary and Service. A player on the Major League
Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List shall be paid salary
while on such List. For each day that the player receives salary
while on the Major League Bereavement/Family Medical
Emergency List, the player shall receive one day of Major League
service.
(C) Duration. The minimum period of placement on the
Major League Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List shallbe three consecutive days and the maximum period of placement
shall be seven consecutive days, during which placement the player
is not permitted to be with the player’s Club. No assignment of a
Major League Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List player
shall be permitted until after reinstatement. However, a Major
League Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List player may
be unconditionally released with the prior approval of theCommissioner or the Commissioner’s designee, or assigned toanother Major League Club within the 72-hour window leading up
to the period set forth in Rule 6(d)(3).
If a player’s absence from the player’s Major League Club
continues past the maximum period of Major League
Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List placement, theplayer’s Club may submit written application to the Commissioner
or the Commissioner’s designee to place the player on the
Restricted List. See Rule 2(c)(6) (Restricted List).
(D) Player Limits. A Major League Bereavement/Family
Medical Emergency List player shall not be counted on a Major
League Club’s Active List, but the player shall be included in the
Reserve List limit. A player may not be carried on the Major
League Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List after theconclusion of the championship season.
(3) MAJOR LEAGUE PATERNITY LEAVE LIST.
(A) Placement. Upon written application to the Commissioner
or the Commissioner’s designee, a Major League Club may requestthat a player be placed on the Major League Paternity Leave List.
No player may be placed on the List unless that player is the father
15

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(c)of a child whose delivery or adoption is imminent or has occurred
within the prior 48 hours. Written notice of placement upon the
Major League Paternity Leave List must be given to the player.
(B) Salary and Service. A player on the Major League
Paternity Leave List shall be paid salary while on such List. For
each day that the player receives salary while on the Major League
Paternity Leave List, the player shall receive one day of Major
League service.
(C) Duration. The minimum period of placement on the
Major League Paternity Leave List shall be one day and the
maximum period of placement shall be three consecutive days,
during which placement the player is not to be permitted to be withthe player’s Club. No assignment of a Major League Paternity List
player shall be permitted until after reinstatement. However, aMajor League Paternity List player may be assigned to another
Major League Club within the 72-hour window leading up to theperiod set forth in Rule 6(d)(3).
If a player’s absence from the player’s Major League Club
continues past the maximum period of Major League Paternity
Leave List placement, the player’s Club may submit written
application to the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee
to place the player on the Restricted List, see Rule 2(c)(6)(Restricted List), or, if the player’s absence is as a result of aserious illness or death arising from the delivery of the child, theplayer’s Club may submit written application to the Commissioner
or the Commissioner’s designee to transfer the player to the Major
League Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List, provided
that any time spent on the Paternity Leave List shall count towards
the minimum inactivity period. See Rule 2(c)(2).
(D) Player Lists. A Major League Paternity Leave List player
shall not be counted on the Major League Club’s Active List, but
the player shall be included in the Reserve List limit. A player may
not be carried on the Major League Paternity Leave List after theconclusion of the championship season.
(4) SUSPENDED LIST.
(A) MISCONDUCT OR INSUBORDINATION.
(i) Suspension by Club. A Major League Club may
suspend a player that it has under a Major League Uniform
16

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(c)Player’s Contract or Minor League Uniform Player Contractfor insubordination or other misconduct or for violation by
the player of any regulation or other provision of the player’s
contract. At its discretion, the Major League Club with which
the player is under contract may impose a reasonable fine anddeduct the amount of the fine from the player’s salary or may
suspend the player without salary for a reasonable period, or
both. Written notice of the fine, or suspension, or both, andof the reason for the fine and/or suspension shall in every casebe given to the player. During the period of suspension theplayer shall be ineligible to play with any other Major or
Minor League Club.
(ii) Suspension by Commissioner. The Commissioner or
the Commissioner’s designee may discipline a player assigned
to the Minor Leagues for misconduct or violation by theplayer of any applicable rules and regulations, including,
without limitation, pursuant to any on-field behavior policy
promulgated by the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s
designee. Such discipline may include a fine and/or
suspension. Written notice of the fine, or suspension, or both,and of the reason for the fine and/or suspension shall in every
case be given to the player. During the period of suspension
the player shall be ineligible to play with any other Minor
League Club.
(B) PLAYER NOT IN CONDITION. A player under a Major
League Uniform Player’s Contract or Minor League Uniform Player
Contract who fails to get into playing condition within 60 days after thecommencement of the training season of the player’s Club may besuspended without pay until the player is in condition to play.
(C) APPEAL. A player suspended by a Major League Club or
the Commissioner for a term longer than 10 days shall have theright to appeal to the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s
designee. The Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee mayorder the player’s reinstatement and afford the player adequate
redress if the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee holds
that the punishment is excessive or not merited.

17

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(c)(D) PLAYER LIMITS.
(i) Suspension by Club. A player placed on the Suspended
List by his Major or Minor League Club shall be excluded
from all player limits until the player is reinstated.
(ii) Suspension by League. A player placed on the
Suspended List by the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s
designee , shall count against both Reserve List and Active
List limits.
(E) TENDERS AND RENEWALS. With regard to any
player who is on the Suspended List, a Club shall not be obligatedto tender or renew a contract until the player is removed from such
list and reinstated to active status. If a player is removed from such
list during a period beginning on November 22 and extending
through the next championship season, the Club shall tender acontract to the player within 10 days following such removal.
Thereafter, should the Club and the player agree upon the terms ofa new contract within 10 days after the player’s receipt of thetendered contract, the Club shall be obligated, within the next fivedays, to renew the player’s prior Major League contract, provided,
however, that if the tender is made during the period beginning on
November 22 and ending on the next March 1, the renewal period
shall be as set forth in paragraph 10(a) of the Major League
Uniform Player’s Contract. Should a Club fail to tender or renew acontract as provided in this paragraph, the player shall become afree agent without any restrictions or qualifications.
(5) DESIGNATED PLAYERS. When the Active List and/or
Reserve List limits of a particular Major League Club have beenreached, and the Club desires to acquire, sign, transfer, recall from an
optional assignment or reinstate an additional player, notice must firstbe given to the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee of theClub’s intention to release or assign an equal number of players. The
player(s) so designated shall be released or their contracts assigned
within 7 days after such notice is given, and they shall not be eligible toparticipate in a championship season game after having been so
designated until they are released or assigned to another Major or
Minor League Club. No player obtained from a waiver claim award
may be designated if such designation would violate Rule 8(g) (Player
Limit).

18

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(c)(6) RESTRICTED LIST.
(A) If, without permission from a player’s Major League Club,a player fails, within 10 days of the opening of the player’s Club’schampionship season, to report to, or contract with, the player’s
Club, the player may be reported by the Club to the Commissioner
or the Commissioner’s designee for placement on the “Restricted
List.” A player on the Restricted List shall not be eligible to playfor any Major or Minor League Club.
(B) Before the start of the championship season but not before
January 1, a Major League Club also may report for placement on
the Restricted List any player, whether or not under contract forthe current season, who has given the Club written or electronic
notification that the player will not report until 30 days or more
after the opening of the championship season. Requests to theCommissioner or the Commissioner’s designee shall beaccompanied by the notification which the Club received from theplayer.
(C) The Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee mayplace a Major or Minor League Reserve List player on the
Restricted List if the player’s Club certifies that unusual
circumstances exist.
(D) Except with regard to players with outstanding
suspensions that are required to be placed on the Restricted List
upon signing with a new Club, Clubs may not report a player forplacement on the Restricted List if at the time the Club signed theplayer the Club knew or should have known that the player would
be unavailable to play for or report to the Club during the initialperiod of such placement.
(E) Player Limits. Players on the Restricted List shall notcount against either the Reserve List or Active List limits. A player
under a Major League Uniform Player’s Contract or Minor
League Uniform Player Contract who has been reserved for two
consecutive years on the Restricted List shall be omitted fromfurther Reserve Lists and shall not be eligible to play until theplayer is first reinstated in accordance with Rule 2(c)(6)(K)(Reinstatement of Players). Upon reinstatement, the Major League
or Minor League Club to which the player is reserved shall restore
the player to the same status that the player had at the time when
the player retired or became ineligible.
19

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(c)(F) Salary. A player on the Restricted List (i) shall not be
unconditionally released, and (ii) shall not be entitled to salary
while on any such list, nor after reinstatement from any such list,
until such date (not exceeding 30 days after reinstatement) as theplayer is in condition to participate in championship games to thesatisfaction of the player’s Club, unless the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee approves.
(G) Tenders and Renewals. A Club’s obligations to tender andrenew a contract, as set forth in paragraph 10(a) of the Major
League Uniform Player’s Contract, shall apply with regard to any
player who, at the applicable time, is on the Restricted List. Shoulda Club fail to so tender or renew a contract, the player shallbecome a free agent without any restrictions or qualifications, andthe player shall be removed from the Restricted List.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Player who properly has beenplaced on the Restricted List for a violation of the Joint Drug
Program shall be eligible to become a free agent as provided in
Article XX of the Basic Agreement, if otherwise qualified as set
forth therein, but shall remain on the Restricted List until hecompletes his suspension.
(H) Reservations. A player on the Restricted List may bereserved as such for two consecutive years. At the expiration ofthat two-year period, the player need not be reported on theplayer’s Major or Minor League Club’s annual Reserve List andwill automatically be transferred to a General Restricted List.
(I) Promulgation. Whenever a player is placed on the
Restricted List, such fact shall be promulgated by theCommissioner or the Commissioner’s designee to all Major League
Clubs in the form of a transaction bulletin.
(J) Assignment. The contract of a player on the Restricted
List may be assigned, but the assignee Club shall assume all
responsibility for the player’s reporting.
(K) Reinstatement of Players.
(i) Application. Any player on the Restricted List may
apply for reinstatement, or to have the player’s status changed,
upon the conditions stated in this Rule 2(c)(6). Any Major or
Minor League Club having a player on the Restricted List may
apply for the player’s reinstatement. Such application shall be
20

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(c)filed with the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee.
An application for reinstatement may be granted upon suchterms and conditions as the facts may warrant in the judgmentof the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee.
No Major League player on the Restricted List shall bereinstated during the period from August 1 to and including
October 31, unless the Restricted List placement had followed
a Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List placement
pursuant to Rule 2(c)(2) (Major League Bereavement/Family
Medical Emergency List), had followed a Major League
Paternity List Placement pursuant to Rule 2(c)(3) or had been
made pursuant to the Major or Minor League Drug
Treatment and Prevention Programs, or the Commissioner or
the Commissioner’s designee has approved the reinstatement.
No Minor League player on the Restricted List shall bereinstated during the period from August 1 until theconclusion of the Minor League championship season andplayoffs, unless the Restricted List placement had been madepursuant to the Major or Minor League Drug Treatment andPrevention Programs, or the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee has approved the reinstatement.
(ii) A Restricted List player shall be reinstated
immediately upon receipt of application for reinstatement, inwriting or by approved electronic means, from the player’s
Major League Club.
(iii) Player Limits. A player reinstated from the Restricted
List between the mandatory spring training reporting date andthe conclusion of the championship season shall not countagainst the player limits of the Major or Minor League Club
to which the player is reinstated until such date (not exceeding
30 days after reinstatement) as the player is in condition toparticipate in championship games to the satisfaction of theplayer’s Club. A player reinstated from such a List between the
conclusion of a championship season and the mandatory
spring training reporting date shall not count against theplayer limits of the Major or Minor League Club to which theplayer is reinstated until the fourteenth calendar day following
reinstatement.

21

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(c)(iv) Reinstatement Before Release. A Player on the
Restricted List must be reinstated before the player can bereleased unconditionally.
(7) DISQUALIFIED LIST.
(A) Application. A player who violates a player contract orreservation may be reported to the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee for placement on the “Disqualified List.”
A player on the Disqualified List shall not be eligible to play withany Major or Minor League Club.
(B) Player Limits. Players on the Disqualified List shall notcount against either the Reserve List or Active List limits. A player
under a Major League Uniform Player’s Contract or Minor
League Uniform Player Contract who has been reserved for two
consecutive years on the Disqualified List shall be omitted fromfurther Reserve Lists and shall not be eligible to play until theplayer is first reinstated in accordance with Rule 2(c)(7)(H)(Reinstatement of Players). Upon reinstatement, the Major League
or Minor League Club to which the player is reserved shall restore
the player to the same status that the player had at the time when
the player retired or became ineligible.
(C) Salary. A player on the Disqualified List (i) shall not be
unconditionally released, and (ii) shall not be entitled to salary
while on any such list, nor after reinstatement from any such list,
until such date (not exceeding 30 days after reinstatement) as theplayer is in condition to participate in championship games to thesatisfaction of the player’s Club, unless the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee approves otherwise.
(D) Tenders and Renewals.
(i) A Club’s obligations to tender and renew a contract, as
set forth in paragraph 10(a) of the Major League Uniform
Player’s Contract, shall apply with regard to any player who,at the applicable time, is on the Disqualified List for failure to
render the player’s services to the Club. Should a Club fail toso tender or renew a contract, the player shall become a free
agent without any restrictions or qualifications, and the player
shall be removed from the Disqualified List.
(ii) With regard to any player who is on the Disqualified
List for a reason other than stated in Rule 2(c)(7)(D)(i), a
22

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(c)Club shall not be obligated to tender or renew a contract until
the player is removed from such list and reinstated to active
status. If a player is removed from such list during a period
beginning on November 22 and extending through the next
championship season, the Club shall tender a contract to theplayer within 10 days following such removal. Thereafter,
should the Club and the player agree upon the terms of a newcontract within 10 days after the player’s receipt of thetendered contract, the Club shall be obligated, within the next
five days, to renew the player’s prior Major League contract,provided, however, that if the tender is made during the period
beginning on November 22 and ending on the next March 1,
the renewal period shall be as set forth in paragraph 10(a) of
the Major League Uniform Player’s Contract. Should a Club
fail to tender or renew a contract as provided in thisparagraph, the player shall become a free agent without any
restrictions or qualifications.
(E) Reservations. A player on the Disqualified List may bereserved as such for two consecutive years. At the expiration ofthat two-year period, the player need not be reported on theplayer’s Major or Minor League Club’s annual Reserve List andwill automatically be transferred to a General Disqualified.
(F) Promulgation. Whenever a player is placed on the
Disqualified List, such fact shall be promulgated by theCommissioner or the Commissioner’s designee to all Major League
Clubs in the form of a transaction bulletin.
(G) Assignment. The contract of a player on the Disqualified
List may be assigned, but the assignee Club shall assume all
responsibility for the player’s reporting.
(H) Reinstatement of Players.
(i) Application. Any player on the Disqualified List may
apply for reinstatement, or to have the player’s status changed,
upon the conditions stated in this Rule 2(c)(7). Suchapplication shall be filed with the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee. An application for reinstatement
may be granted upon such terms and conditions as the facts
may warrant in the judgment of the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee.
23

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(c)
If a player files an application for reinstatement from theDisqualified List after February 1 of any year, the player’s
Major or Minor League Club shall be entitled to 30 days’
written notice prior to the player’s reinstatement. No Major
League player on the Disqualified List shall be reinstatedduring the period from August 1 to and including October 31,
unless the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee has
approved the reinstatement. No Minor League player on the
Disqualified List shall be reinstated during the period from
August 1 until the conclusion of the Minor League
championship season and playoffs, unless the Commissioner
or the Commissioner’s designee has approved thereinstatement.
(ii) Upon proper application, a player on the Disqualified
List may be reinstated by the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee.
(iii) Player Limits. A player reinstated from theDisqualified List between the mandatory spring training
reporting date and the conclusion of the championship season
shall not count against the player limits of the Major or
Minor League Club to which the player is reinstated until suchdate (not exceeding 30 days after reinstatement) as the player
is in condition to participate in championship games to thesatisfaction of the player’s Club. A player reinstated from sucha List between the conclusion of a championship season andthe mandatory spring training reporting date shall not countagainst the player limits of the Major or Minor League Club
to which the player is reinstated until the fourteenth calendar
day following reinstatement.
(iv) Reinstatement Before Release. A Player on the
Disqualified List must be reinstated before the player can bereleased unconditionally.
(8) INELIGIBLE LIST.
(A) A player or other person found guilty of misconduct orother acts mentioned in Rule 21, or convicted of a crime involving
moral turpitude, may be placed on the “Ineligible List” by theCommissioner or the Commissioner’s designee. A player or otherperson on the Ineligible List shall not be eligible to play or
associate with any Major or Minor League Club.
24

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(c)(B) No Major or Minor League player shall knowingly playwith or against a team with which, during the current season, any
ineligible player or person has had any connection. Should a player
knowingly play with or against any such team, the player shall beplaced on the Disqualified List.
(C)
ACTIONBY
COMMISSIONER
OR
THE
COMMISSIONER’S DESIGNEE. In all cases the Commissioner
or the Commissioner’s designee may determine, at any time, either
on his or her own motion or at the request of a Major League
Club or Major or Minor League player, that the best interests ofBaseball require that a player, Club or League official or employee,or other person, be placed on the Ineligible List and may also, in
his or her sole discretion and upon such terms and conditions as heor she may deem proper, reinstate any such person from theIneligible List or transfer the person from the Ineligible List to theDisqualified List.
(D) Player Limits. Players on the Ineligible List shall not countagainst either the Reserve List or Active List limits. A player undera Major League Uniform Player’s Contract or Minor League
Uniform Player Contract who has been reserved for two
consecutive years on the Ineligible List shall be omitted fromfurther Reserve Lists and shall not be eligible to play until theplayer is first reinstated in accordance with Rule 2(c)(8)(J)(Reinstatement of Players). Upon reinstatement, the Major League
Club to which the player is reserved shall restore the player to thesame status that the player had at the time when the player retired
or became ineligible.
(E) Salary. A player on the Ineligible List (i) shall not be
unconditionally released, and (ii) shall not be entitled to salary
while on any such list, nor after reinstatement from any such list,
until such date (not exceeding 30 days after reinstatement) as theplayer is in condition to participate in championship games to thesatisfaction of the player’s Club.
(F) Tenders and Renewals. With regard to any player who ison the Ineligible List, a Club shall not be obligated to tender orrenew a contract until the player is removed from such list andreinstated to active status. If a player is removed from such list
during a period beginning on November 22 and extending throughthe next championship season, the Club shall tender a contract to25

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(c)the player within 10 days following such removal. Thereafter,
should the Club and the player agree upon the terms of a newcontract within 10 days after the player’s receipt of the tendered
contract, the Club shall be obligated, within the next five days, torenew the player’s prior Major League contract, provided, however,that if the tender is made during the period beginning on
November 22 and ending on the next March 1, the renewal period
shall be as set forth in paragraph 10(a) of the Major League
Uniform Player’s Contract. Should a Club fail to tender or renew acontract as provided in this paragraph, the player shall become afree agent without any restrictions or qualifications.
(G) Reservations. A player on the Ineligible List may bereserved as such for two consecutive years. At the expiration ofthat two-year period, the player need not be reported on theplayer’s Major or Minor League Club’s annual Reserve List andwill automatically be transferred to a General Ineligible List.
(H) Promulgation. Whenever a player is placed on theIneligible List, such fact shall be promulgated by the Commissioner
or the Commissioner’s designee to all Major League Clubs in theform of a transaction bulletin.
(I) Assignment. The contract of a player on the Ineligible List
may not be assigned except with the permission of theCommissioner or the Commissioner’s designee.
(J) Reinstatement of Players.
(i) Application. Any player on the Ineligible List may
apply for reinstatement, or to have the player’s status changed,
upon the conditions stated in this Rule 2(c)(8). Suchapplication shall be filed with the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee. An application for reinstatement
may be granted upon such terms and conditions as the facts
may warrant in the judgment of the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee.
If a player files an application for reinstatement from theIneligible List after February 1 of any year, the player’s Major
or Minor League Club shall be entitled to 30 days’ written
notice prior to the player’s reinstatement. No Major League
player on the Ineligible List shall be reinstated during theperiod from August 1 to and including October 31. No Minor
26

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(c)League player on the Ineligible List shall be reinstated during
the period from August 1 until the conclusion of the Minor
League championship season and playoffs, unless theCommissioner or the Commissioner’s designee has approved
the reinstatement.
(ii) Upon proper application, a player on the Ineligible
List may be reinstated by the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee. However, no such application may
be made until after the lapse of one year from date ofplacement on the Ineligible List.
(iii) Player Limits. A player reinstated from the Ineligible
List between the mandatory spring training reporting date andthe conclusion of the championship season shall not countagainst the player limits of the Major or Minor League Club
to which the player is reinstated until such date (not exceeding
30 days after reinstatement) as the player is in condition toparticipate in championship games to the satisfaction of theplayer’s Club. A player reinstated from such a List between the
conclusion of a championship season and the mandatory
spring training reporting date shall not count against theplayer limits of the Major or Minor League Club to which theplayer is reinstated until the fourteenth calendar day following
reinstatement.
(iv) Reinstatement Before Release. A Player on theIneligible List must be reinstated before the player can bereleased unconditionally.
(9) VOLUNTARILY RETIRED LIST.
(A) APPLICATION. A player under a Major League
Uniform Player’s Contract or a Minor League Uniform Player
Contract who desires to retire from the profession shall makewritten application to the player’s Major League Club, stating fully
the player’s reasons for retiring. The Major League Club shallforward the application and the Club’s recommendation to theCommissioner or the Commissioner’s designee. If theCommissioner or the Commissioner’s designee deems it proper todo so, the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee may
grant an application for voluntary retirement upon the conditions
set forth in this Rule 2(c)(9) and upon such other terms and27

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(c)conditions as the facts and circumstances may warrant, in the
judgment of the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee.
However, no player shall be reinstated within 60 calendar days ofthe championship season or seasons from the date that the player
filed the application for voluntary retirement with theCommissioner or the Commissioner’s designee.
(B) PLAYING WHILE RETIRED. If a voluntarily retired
player, during the player’s retirement, shall desire to play baseballfor hire, otherwise than for the Major League Club entitled to theplayer’s services, the player shall first obtain written consent of theplayer’s Club. The player then must file an application with theCommissioner or the Commissioner’s designee requesting
permission to play otherwise than for the Major League Club towhich the player is under contract. The player’s application shallspecify the teams with and against which the player desires to play,
and their locations, and shall be transmitted with the player’s
Club’s consent to the Commissioner for approval or denial.
(C) PLAYER LIMITS. Players on the Voluntarily Retired List
shall not count against either the Reserve List or Active List limits.
A player under a Major League Uniform Player’s Contract or
Minor League Uniform Player Contract who has been reserved fortwo consecutive years on the Voluntarily Retired List shall beomitted from further Reserve Lists and shall not be eligible to play
until the player is first reinstated in accordance with Rule 2(c)(9)(E)(Reinstatement of Players). Upon reinstatement, the Major League
or Minor League Club to which the player is reserved shall restore
the player to the same status that the player had at the time when
the player retired or became ineligible.
(D) TENDERS AND RENEWALS. With regard to any
player who is on the Voluntarily Retired List, a Club shall not be
obligated to tender or renew a contract until the player is removed
from such list and reinstated to active status. If a player is removed
from such list during a period beginning on November 22 andextending through the next championship season, the Club shalltender a contract to the player within 10 days following such
removal. Thereafter, should the Club and the player agree upon theterms of a new contract within 10 days after the player’s receipt of
the tendered contract, the Club shall be obligated, within the next
five days, to renew the player’s prior Major League contract,provided, however, that if the tender is made during the period
28

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(c)beginning on November 22 and ending on the next March 1, therenewal period shall be as set forth in paragraph 10(a) of the Major
League Uniform Player’s Contract. Should a Club fail to tender orrenew a contract as provided in this paragraph, the player shallbecome a free agent without any restrictions or qualifications.
(E) REINSTATEMENT OF PLAYERS.
(i) APPLICATION. Any player on the Voluntarily
Retired List may apply for reinstatement, or to have theplayer’s status changed, upon the conditions stated in thisRule 2(c)(9). Such application shall be filed with theCommissioner or the Commissioner’s designee. An
application for reinstatement may be granted upon such terms
and conditions as the facts may warrant in the judgment of
the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee.
If a player files an application for reinstatement from theVoluntarily Retired List after February 1 of any year, theplayer’s Major League Club shall be entitled to 30 days’
written notice prior to the player’s reinstatement. No
application for reinstatement shall be received from a
Voluntarily Retired player within 60 playing days of theplayer’s retirement. No Major League player on the
Voluntarily Retired List shall be reinstated during the period
from August 1 to and including October 31. No Minor
League player on the Voluntarily Retired List shall bereinstated during the period from August 1 until theconclusion of the Minor League championship season andplayoffs, unless the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s
designee has approved the reinstatement.
(ii) Upon proper application, a player on the Voluntarily
Retired List may be reinstated by the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee.
(iii) PLAYER LIMITS. A player reinstated from theVoluntarily Retired List between the mandatory springtraining reporting date and the conclusion of thechampionship season shall not count against the player limitsof the Major or Minor League Club to which the player isreinstated until such date (not exceeding 30 days after
reinstatement) as the player is in condition to participate in29

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(c)championship games to the satisfaction of the player’s Club. A
player reinstated from such a List between the conclusion of achampionship season and the mandatory spring training
reporting date shall not count against the player limits of the
Major or Minor League Club to which the player is reinstateduntil the fourteenth calendar day following reinstatement.
(iv) REINSTATEMENT BEFORE RELEASE. A playeron the Voluntarily Retired List may be unconditionallyreleased if both approval of the Commissioner and any
applicable waivers are first obtained.
(10) MILITARY LIST. Players under reserve to Major or Minor
League Clubs may be placed on the Military List subject to conditions
and strictures set forth in this Rule 2(c)(10).
(A) If a player has received definite orders to report for
military service, the player may be placed on the Military List
within 15 days of the date on which the player is to report. A
player may not be placed on the Military List, however, unless theplayer has left the player’s Major League or Minor League Club in
preparation for reporting for military service.
(B) Player Limits. A player on the Military List shall not countagainst any Reserve List or Active List limits as of the date theplayer commences active military service if the player and theplayer’s Major League Club advises the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee in writing of the exact date that theplayer began active military service, the unit with which the player
is serving and the player’s serial number.
(C) Upon discharge from military service a player will countagainst Reserve List and Active List limits after the player has
completed a 15-day trial period or has participated in achampionship season game, whichever comes first. This trial
period shall begin when the player physically reports during either
spring training or the championship season to the Major or Minor
League Club for which the player has been directed to perform. A
player on the Military List who is discharged from military service
after the Rule 5 Selection Meeting, however, shall not count against
any Reserve List or Active List limit until the opening day of the30

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(c)following championship season and such a player shall not countagainst any Reserve List limit in any event until the player has hada trial period of at least 15 days or has played in a championshipseason game.
(D) Upon learning that a player has been separated frommilitary service, the Major or Minor League Club to which theplayer is under reserve must immediately transmit suchinformation to the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee.
(E) A player who is required to return for additional military
service, but who may be available to the player’s Major or Minor
League Club while still in military service, shall be counted against
the player’s Club’s Active List limit from the day the player
participates in a championship season game and for the balance ofthe season. Any time accumulated by such player during springtraining or the championship season shall be charged against the
15-day trial period that the player’s Club must give the player.
(F) Tenders and Renewals. With regard to any player who ison the Military List, a Club shall not be obligated to tender orrenew a contract until the player is removed from such list andreinstated to active status. If a player is removed from such list
during a period beginning on November 22 and extending throughthe next championship season, the Club shall tender a contract tothe player within 10 days following such removal. Thereafter,
should the Club and the player agree upon the terms of a newcontract within 10 days after the player’s receipt of the tendered
contract, the Club shall be obligated, within the next five days, torenew the player’s prior Major League contract, provided, however,that if the tender is made during the period beginning on
November 22 and ending on the next March 1, the renewal period
shall be as set forth in paragraph 10(a) of the Major League
Uniform Player’s Contract. Should a Club fail to tender or renew acontract as provided in this paragraph, the player shall become afree agent without any restrictions or qualifications.
(G) Reinstatement Before Release. A Player on the Military
List must be reinstated before the player can be released
unconditionally.
(11) MINOR LEAGUE INJURED LIST
(A) Application. If a Minor League Player is unable to renderservices because of a specific injury, the player may be placed on
31

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(c)the Injured List for that particular Minor League Club. The twolists a Minor League player may be placed on during thechampionship season are:(i) Regular Injured List. Minimum period of placement
on a Minor League Injured List shall be seven consecutive
days.
(ii) Minor League 60-Day Injured List. No player may beplaced on the Minor League 60-Day Injured List until theplayer has spent at least five days in a roster status where that
player is counting against a Domestic Reserve List limit of aClub (including the assignor Club in the event of a trade).
Placement on the Minor League 60-Day Injured List requires
pre-approval from the Office of the Commissioner. The
application for placement on the Minor League 60-Day
Injured List shall be accompanied by a Standard Form ofDiagnosis completed by the Major or Minor League Club
physician. The Commissioner’s Office, in conjunction with the
MLB Medical Director, will review and approve suchapplications. The minimum period of placement on the Minor
League 60-Day Injured List shall be 60 consecutive days,
unless otherwise approved by the Office of the Commissioner.
Days spent on the Regular Injured List prior to a transfer tothe Minor League 60-Day Injured List shall count towards therequired minimum period of inactivity. Players appropriately
placed on the Minor League 60-Day Injured List may remain
on such list until the 5th day following the conclusion of theWorld Series.
(B) Player Limits. A player on a Regular Minor League
Injured List shall count against the player’s Minor League Club’s
Reserve List limit but not against the Club’s Active List limit. A
player assigned on rehabilitation while on the Injured List shallcount towards the Reserve List limit of the assignor Club and shallnot count against the player limits of the assignee Club. A playeron the Minor League 60-Day Injured List shall not count against
either a Minor League Club’s Active or Reserve List limit or aClub’s Domestic Reserve List limit.
(12) Development List
(A) Placement on the Development List. A Minor League
player may be placed on the Development List for any
32

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(c)non-disciplinary reason, except that a player is not eligible to beplaced on the Development List if the player is injured andotherwise qualifies for placement on the Minor League Injured
List. Players on optional assignment to the Minor Leagues may
not be placed on the Development List without their writtenconsent. Upon request for placement on the Development List, theClub must include the reason for such placement. The minimum
period of placement on the Development List shall be sevenconsecutive days, except that if a player on the Development List
suffers an injury, that player is required to be transferred to theRegular Injured List and the inactive days on the Development
List will count towards the minimum period of inactivity on theRegular Injured List.
(B) Player Limits. A player on the Development List shallcount against the player’s Minor League Club’s Reserve List andthe Domestic Reserve List limit but not against the Club’s Active
List limit.
(13) TEMPORARILY INACTIVE LIST.
(A) Placement on Temporarily Inactive List. If a Minor
League player is(i) not in position to render active service to the player’s
Club due to any of the following:(aa) necessary temporary absence during the playing
season on account of a family member’s bona-fide illness;(bb) absence excused by the Club and approved by
the Commissioner’s Office; or(cc) the player not being in condition to renderservices as a result of an absence described in Rules
2(c)(12)(A)(i) or 2(c)(12)(A)(ii), or as a result of having
reported recently for service in that season; or(ii) awaiting completion of the player’s unconditional
release for the purpose of allowing the player to sign with aclub in a foreign league, provided the player’s Club submits
documentation of the transaction with the foreign clubsatisfactory to the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s
designee,
33

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(c)the player may be placed on the Minor League Club’s Temporarily
Inactive List. If the placement is pursuant to Rule 2(c)(12)(A)(i),the Player’s salary entitlement shall be at the Club’s discretion until
such player returns to the Club in physical condition to renderservices. A Player may not be placed on the Temporarily Inactive
List prior to the start of the championship season.
The minimum period of placement on the Temporarily
Inactive List shall be three consecutive days, during which theplayer will not be allowed in uniform during a game.
(B) Player Limits. A Temporarily Inactive player shall not becounted on a Minor League Club’s Active List, but the player shallbe included in the Reserve List limit. Written notice of placement
upon the Temporarily Inactive List must be given to the player. A
player cannot be carried on the Reserve List as Temporarily
Inactive.
(C) Assignment. No assignment of a Temporarily Inactive
List player shall be permitted until after reinstatement, following
expiration of the minimum period unless the player is being
assigned to another Major League Club; provided, however, that a
40-man Roster player on the Temporarily Inactive List may only be
assigned to another Major League Club within the 72-hour
window leading up to the period set forth in Rule 6(d)(3). However,a Temporarily Inactive List player may be unconditionally released
at any time, provided the player has first been reinstated from the
Temporarily Inactive List.
(14) PLAYERS SIGNED FOR FUTURE SERVICES. No Major
League Club may sign an eligible player if the player has no previous
Major or Minor League experience and if the contract is for services tocommence after the current calendar year, except as provided for in
subparagraphs (A) or (B) of this Rule 2(c)(13).
(A) A Major League Club may sign, after July 1, a player who
has no previous Major or Minor League experience to a contract
for the succeeding year, provided, however, that the number ofplayers so signed shall not exceed 50 assigned in the aggregate to
the Class High-A, Low-A, Spring Training Complex, orInternational Rookie League Clubs that the Major League Club
owns or with which it is affiliated during the current season. Each
such additional player signed to a Minor League Uniform Player
34

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(c) to 2(d)Contract shall be placed on either the Class High-A, Low-A,
Spring Training Complex or International Rookie Reserve List, but
the player shall not count against Reserve List or Active List limits
until the opening day of the succeeding championship season of
the Club to which the player is assigned. The Club shall beobligated to take such player to its spring training camp (Major
League, Minor League or a combination of both) for a minimum
15-day trial period. Each such additional player signed to a Major
League Uniform Player’s Contract shall be placed on a Major
League Reserve List, shall count against such Reserve List limits
immediately, shall be directed not to report until Major League
spring training camp and shall not count against Active List limits
until the opening day of the succeeding championship season of
the Club to which the player is assigned. The Club shall beobligated to take such player to its spring training camp (Major
League, Minor League or a combination of both) for a minimum
15-day trial period.
(B) A player who has no previous Major or Minor League
experience and who is in the Armed Services may contract,
regardless of the date on which the player is scheduled to bedischarged, for either the current or the next succeeding season if
the player is signed between the Rule 4 draft and the WinterMeetings, or for the season following the Winter Meetings if theplayer is signed between the Winter Meetings and the next Rule 4
draft. A player so signed shall not be eligible for placement on the
Military List and shall be counted against the signing Club’s Major
or Minor League Reserve List limits. Players signed pursuant tothis Rule 2(c)(13)(B) shall not be charged for player classification
purposes with any time between the date of the contract and thedate of reporting.
(d) LIMITATIONS ON COACHES, PLAYER-COACHES AND
PLAYER-MANAGERS.
(1) Major League.
(A) A person employed as a coach shall not count against theReserve List or Active List limits unless and until the person signs
a contract as a player. Upon signing as a player the person cannot
be re-employed as a coach during the same season, unless any
applicable waivers are first secured and the person is
unconditionally released as a player.
35

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(d)(B) A person signed as a player or a player-manager cannot be
re-employed as a manager or coach until any applicable waivers are
first secured and the person is unconditionally released as a player.
If the person is then employed under a coach’s or manager’s
contract, a Major League Club cannot release the person as coachor manager and subsequently re-sign the person as a player during
the same championship season.
(C) No contract shall be approved unless a Major League
Club indicates in the contract whether the person is to be employed
as a player or as a coach.
(D) (i) From opening day through August 31 and during thepost-season, a Major League Club shall be permitted no more thaneight on-field uniformed coaches, instructors or bullpen coaches(including honorary coaches or instructors) during an official
Major League Baseball game. Prior to substituting for a manager
or coach who has left the Club on a temporary basis, the teammust notify the Commissioner’s Office, as well as the opposing
Club and umpire crew, of the temporary change prior to the startof the game.
(ii) From September 1 through the conclusion of thechampionship season, a Major League Club shall bepermitted one additional on-field uniformed coach, instructor
or bullpen coach during an official Major League Baseballgame, so long as such additional coach is a full-time employee
who has spent a significant amount of time during thechampionship season as a uniformed manager, coach or
instructor of that Major League Club or a Minor League
Club or Clubs affiliated with that Major League Club and solong as the Major League Club provides such coach’s name to
the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee before suchcoach appears in uniform during a Major League game. A
Major League Club may designate a different additional coachfrom game to game, so long as the Major League Club
complies with all other requirements of this Rule 2(d)(1)(D).
(iii) From September 1 through the conclusion of thechampionship season, a Major League Club shall bepermitted one additional Certified Athletic Trainer orregistered strength and conditioning coach to sit on the benchduring an official Major League Baseball game, so long as
36

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(d)such additional trainer or coach is a full-time employee who
has spent a significant amount of time during thechampionship season as a trainer or coach of that Major
League Club or a Minor League Club or Clubs affiliated withthat Major League Club and so long as the Major League
Club provides the name of such trainer or coach to theCommissioner or the Commissioner’s designee before suchtrainer or coach appears in uniform during a Major League
game. A Major League Club may designate a different coachor trainer under this rule from game to game, so long as the
Major League Club complies with all other requirements ofthis Rule 2(d)(1)(D).
(iv) There shall be no limit on the number of coaches or
instructors who may work with players during any pre-gameor post-game practice; however, additional coaches and/or
instructors who participate in pre-game activities must leave
the dugout, field and bullpen areas during the game.
(2) Minor League.
(A) A person employed as a manager or coach shall notcount against the Reserve List or Active List limits unless anduntil the person signs a contract as a player. Upon signing as aplayer the person cannot be re-employed as a manager orcoach during the same season, unless the person is
unconditionally released as a player. During the samechampionship season, a manager or coach who has beensigned and subsequently released as a player may not be
re-signed as a player.
(B) A person signed as a player, player-manager orplayer-coach cannot be re-employed as a manager or coachuntil the person is unconditionally released as a player. If theperson is then employed under a coach’s or manager’s
contract, a Major League Club cannot release the person ascoach or manager of a Minor League Club and subsequently
re-sign the person as a player during the same championshipseason.
(C) No contract shall be approved unless a Major League
Club indicates in the contract whether the person is to be
employed as a player or as a manager or coach.
37

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 2(d) to 3(a)(3) RE-SIGNING OF COACH OR MANAGER AS
PLAYER. Any Major League Reserve List player who has been
unconditionally released and signed as a coach or manager after
midnight on August 1 of any championship season cannot be
re-signed as a player by the releasing Major League Club until
May 15 of the following championship season.
Rule 3
ELIGIBILITY TO SIGN CONTRACT, CONTRACT TERMS, AND
CONTRACT TENDERS(a) ELIGIBILITY TO SIGN MAJOR LEAGUE OR MINORLEAGUE CONTRACTS.
(1) General Rules. Subject to the High School, College and JuniorCollege Rules listed in this Rule 3(a), a Major or Minor League Club
may contract with a player under the conditions and restrictions set
forth in this Rule 3. A player may be subject to one or more of thefollowing Rules and may contract with a Major or Minor League Club
only if the conditions and restrictions of all Rules applicable to theplayer are satisfied. It is the responsibility of the contracting Club todetermine that a player is eligible to sign in accordance with this Rule 3.
For purposes of this Rule 3, the term “United States” shall mean the 50
States of the United States of America, the District of Columbia,
Puerto Rico, and any other Commonwealth, Territory or Possession of
the United States of America.
(A) A player who has not previously contracted with a Major
or Minor League Club, and who is a resident of the United States
or Canada, may be signed to a contract only after having been
eligible for selection in the immediately preceding First-Year Player
Draft.
(i) A player shall be considered a “resident of the UnitedStates or Canada” if the player enrolls in a United States or
Canadian high school, junior college, or college or establishes
a legal residence in the United States or Canada within one
year prior to the date of the player’s contract. In determining
residency, the Office of the Commissioner will consider all
relevant factors, including, but not limited to, how long theplayer has lived at his current address, where the player
38

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 3(a)intends to live permanently in the future, where the player has
resided in the past, what passports the player holds, theplayer’s citizenship, and the player’s place of birth.
(ii) Except for players who become free agents pursuant
to Rule 4(j)(4)(B), a player who is eligible for selection in the
Draft may only sign a Minor League Uniform Player
Contract. If such a player does not sign a Minor League
contract with the selecting Club before being removed fromthe selecting Club’s Negotiation List pursuant to Rule 4(d), hemay not sign with any Major or Minor League Club until
after the next First-Year Player Draft for which the player iseligible for selection.
(B) A player who has not previously contracted with a Major
or Minor League Club, who is not a resident of the United States
or Canada, and who is not subject to the High School, College or
Junior College Rules, may be signed to a contract if the player:(i) is at least 17 years old at the time of signing, or(ii) is 16 at the time of signing, but will attain age 17 prior
to September 1 of the first season covered by the contract.
Proof of age in the form of a birth certificate or otherappropriate documentation, issued by an appropriate government
agency, shall accompany the filing of such player’s first Minor
League contract. Notwithstanding any other provision of the
Major League Rules (including, but not limited to, Rule 3(f)(1)),
any Minor League contract made in violation of thisRule 3(a)(1)(B) may be declared null and void only in the discretionof the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee, and the
Major or Minor League Club and any official, scout or employeeof the offending Major or Minor League Club who participated in
the violation shall be subject to such penalties or such other action
as the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee may fromtime to time deem appropriate under the circumstances. A Major
League or Minor League Club that recruits such a player may notsign or encourage such a player to sign a professional baseballcontract other than with a Major or Minor League Club.
(C) A Player covered under Rule 3(a)(1)(B) may not be signed
to a Major League contract unless he qualifies as a Foreign
Professional. A Foreign Professional is a player who, at the time of
39

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 3(a)signing, is at least 25 years of age and has played as a professional
in a foreign professional league recognized by the Commissioner’s
Office for a minimum of six seasons.
(D) A player who has previously contracted with a Major or
Minor League Club, and is currently reserved by such Club or byanother assignee Club, may be signed to a contract only by theClub that currently holds reservation rights to the player’s contract.
(E) A player who has previously contracted with a Major or
Minor League Club, but who is no longer subject to reservation bythat Club, may contract with any Major or Minor League Club
subject to the limitations on resigning with a prior Club in
Rule 9(b)(9) (Re-Signing of Released Players).
(F) No player is permitted to, directly or indirectly, provide toa Major or Minor League Club, or to the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee, any false material information or
documentation in regard to the player’s age, identity, citizenship,
residence or scholastic standing in connection with the player
signing with a Major or Minor League Club. Any player found tohave violated this Rule 3(a)(1)(F) shall be declared ineligible to signwith any Major or Minor League Club for a period of one year, if
the player does not have an approved contract with a Major or
Minor League Club, or shall be placed on the Disqualified List fora period of one year, if the player does have an approved Minor
League Uniform Player Contract with a Major or Minor League
Club. The Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee shallhave the discretion to reduce the mandatory sanctions described inthis Rule 3(a)(1)(F) only if the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s
designeeconcludes
thatextraordinary
circumstances exist that call for the exercise of such discretion. If acomplaint is first made to the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee more than one year following the player’s
first appearance in a game in a Major or Minor League in the
United States or Canada and the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee concludes that a player has violated thisRule 3(a)(1)(F), then the mandatory sanctions described in thisRule 3(a)(1)(F) shall not apply and, instead, the Commissioner or
the Commissioner’s designee may impose such sanctions as may bedeemed appropriate, in the discretion of the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee. If the false information or
documentation is in regard to a Major League Uniform Player’s
40

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 3(a)Contract, or if the disclosure of evidence of false information or
documentation in regard to a player is made to the Commissioner
or the Commissioner’s designee while such player is on a Major
League Reserve List, whether or not the false information or
documentation is in regard to a Minor League Uniform Player
Contract, then the mandatory sanctions described in thisRule 3(a)(1)(F) shall not apply and, instead, Rule 21(f) (Other
Misconduct) shall apply. Any person employed by or affiliated withany Major or Minor League Club who participates in, aids or abets
any violation of this Rule 3(a)(1)(F) shall be subject to suchsanctions as may be deemed appropriate, in the discretion of theCommissioner or the Commissioner’s designee.
(G) The mandatory sanctions described in Rule 3(a)(1)(F)shall neither abrogate nor supersede any rights or remedies a Club
may have, whether under a Minor League Uniform Player
Contract, under a Major League Uniform Player’s Contract, atlaw, in equity or otherwise, against a player who has engaged in
conduct prohibited by Rule 3(a)(1)(F). Rule 3(a)(1)(F) shall not be
admissible in any arbitration or other litigation involving a Club
contention that a player induced the Club to execute a Major
League Uniform Player’s Contract by, among other things,
providing false information or documentation in regard to theplayer’s age, identity, citizenship, residence or scholastic standing.
(H) The signing of players covered under Rule 3(a)(1)(B) isgoverned by Attachment 46 to the Basic Agreement, and all
provisions of that attachment are expressly incorporated herein.
(2) High School Rules.
(A) Definitions:(i) The term “high school” for purposes of Rules 3 and 4
shall mean a secondary school that confers a diploma on a
student after the completion of three or four years ofacademic study, typically referred to as grades 9, 10, 11 or 12,
or freshman, sophomore, junior and senior. The term “highschool” also shall include institutions that provide
post-graduate high school courses and allow enrolled students
to participate on a baseball team that competes with otherhigh schools.
(ii) The terms “graduation” or “graduate” for purposes ofRule 3(a)(2) and Rule 4 shall mean the issuance of a diploma
41

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 3(a)to a student by his high school signifying that the student hascompleted the academic requirements of the high school as
determined by the school, the school district, or state or local
government bodies, whichever is applicable. The terms“graduation” or “graduate” does not include the receipt by theplayer of a general equivalency diploma or degree.
(B) A high school student (or a student eligible to attend ahigh school) may only be signed to a contract upon the conclusionof the fourth school year following the date that the student’s classentered its freshman year of high school (i.e., 9th grade). A player
will be eligible to sign a contract prior to the expiration of the
four-year period described in the preceding sentence only if hesatisfies each of the following:(i) the player has graduated from high school after having
attended for a minimum of three full academic years (e.g., 9th,
10th, and 11th grades);(ii) the player will be 17 years old within 45 days of theconclusion of the First-Year Player Draft;(iii) the player will not play baseball for any high school
baseball team following his graduation (except to complete aseason that commenced prior to his date of graduation); and(iv) the player provided the Office of the Commissioner
with written notice by January 15 of his desire to be eligible
for the next First-Year Player Draft as a result of his early
graduation from high school.
No player will be eligible to sign a contract prior to the expirationof the four-year period described herein unless and until the player
provides the Office of the Commissioner with a sworn affidavit by
May 1 that he has satisfied or will satisfy each of the foregoing criteria
within 45 days of the conclusion of the First-Year Player Draft.
(C) A high school player who is eligible to sign a contract
under this Rule 3(a)(2) may do so only after the player has been
subject to selection in the immediately preceding First-Year Player
Draft in accordance with Rule 4. If a player is selected in theFirst-Year Player Draft, the player may sign a contract until being
removed from the selecting Club’s Negotiation List in accordancewith Rule 4(d). If a player is not selected, the player shall remain
42

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 3(a)eligible to sign a contract until the start of the next Closed Period.
Notwithstanding the above, if the player enrolls in junior college orcollege, or the player returns to high school, the right of the player
to sign a contract shall immediately terminate on the day of thefirst scheduled class of the fall semester of the institution in which
the player enrolls, in which case the player will be ineligible to signa contract until the conclusion of the next First-Year Player Draft
for which the player is eligible under the applicable High School,
Junior College or College Rules.
(D) A Club may require a signed high school player to reportfor service prior to his graduation date only with the writtenconsent of the player and approval from the Office of theCommissioner.
(3) College Rules.
(A) Definitions.
(i) The term “college” for purposes of Rules 3 and 4 shallmean any university or other institution of higher education
located in the United States or Canada that confers degrees
upon students following completion of sufficient credit hours
to equal a four-year course. To fall within this definition, theinstitution must be represented by a baseball team which
participates in inter-collegiate competition. This definition
includes but is not limited to all members of the National
Collegiate Athletic Association (“NCAA”) and the National
Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (“NAIA”).
(ii) The term “potential college baseball eligibility” forpurposes of Rules 3 and 4 shall mean that the player has not
exhausted his four years of eligibility for participation incollege baseball competitions under the rules of the NCAA,
NAIA or applicable governing body (in addition to any
extensions that may be granted to the player), irrespective ofwhether the player has enrolled in college, joins the baseballteam or is permitted or eligible to participate on such team by
his college, the NCAA, the NAIA or applicable governing
body.
(iii) The term “college junior” for purposes of Rules 3
and 4 shall mean any student who has completed three yearsof college baseball eligibility (i.e., has one year of remaining
43

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 3(a)potential college baseball eligibility), or has completed six
academic semesters of full-time coursework (or nine academic
quarters of full-time coursework).
(B) Except as set forth in Rule 3(a)(3)(C), a player who enrolls
in a college may not be signed by a Major or Minor League Club
during the period beginning on the day of the first scheduled classof the fall semester of the institution in which the player is enrolled
and ending with the graduation of the class with which the player
originally entered college or with the graduation of the college’s
undergraduate class in a later year if the player retains potential
college baseball eligibility in such later year. The prohibition set
forth in this Rule 3(a)(3)(B) shall apply irrespective of whether theplayer is a member of his college’s baseball team or is permitted toparticipate on such team by his college, the NCAA, the NAIA or
applicable governing body.
(C) A player who is covered by Rule 3(a)(3)(B) may bepermitted to sign a contract with a Major or Minor League Club
only in the following circumstances:(i) the player is at least 21 years old and is currently
between school years;(ii) the player has completed his junior year and iscurrently between school years;(iii) the player has no potential college baseball eligibility
remaining;(iv) the Commissioner grants the player’s written
application to be declared eligible for the next First-Year
Player Draft as a result of his termination from his college forscholastic deficiency; or(v) the player has withdrawn from his college and remains
out for at least 120 days (including the date of withdrawal).
(D) A college player who is eligible to sign a contract under
Rule 3(a)(3)(C) above may do so only after having been subject for
selection in the immediately preceding First-Year Player Draft inaccordance with Rule 4.
(E) A player who is selected in the First-Year Player Draft may
sign a contract with the selecting Club until the earlier of: (i) the
player’s removal from the selecting Club’s Negotiation List in
44

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 3(a)accordance with Rule 4(d); (ii) the player’s return to college in thefall or spring semester (if the player has remaining potential college
baseball eligibility on the day of the first scheduled class of thatsemester); or (iii) the first scheduled class of the fall semester at ajunior college in which the player is enrolled. A player who is notselected in the First-Year Player Draft may sign a contract with any
Club until the earlier of: (i) the commencement of the next Closed
Period; (ii) the player’s return to college in the fall or springsemester (if the player has remaining potential college baseballeligibility on the day of the first scheduled class of that semester);or (iii) the first scheduled class of the fall semester at a juniorcollege in which the player is enrolled.
(F)A college player with remaining potential college baseballeligibility who returns to college is not permitted to sign a contract
until the conclusion of the next First-Year Player Draft for which
the player is eligible.
(G) A college player whose team is eligible for the national
tournaments conducted by the NCAA and NAIA may not besigned until the day after the player’s team has been eliminatedfrom such tournament.
(H) A student enrolled in a college without a baseball team
who claims he is eligible to sign a contract because his college does
not have a baseball team that participates in inter-collegiatecompetitions, or a college student who claims that he qualifies forthe exception set forth in Rule 3(a)(3)(C)(iv), shall make written
application to the Commissioner setting forth the relevant facts
with supporting documentation. If the Commissioner determinesthat the player is eligible to sign a contract, the player and all
Major and Minor League Clubs will be notified that the player isauthorized to sign a contract following the conclusion of the next
First-Year Player Draft.
(4) Junior College Rules. A student at a junior college in the UnitedStates or Canada may not be signed during the period commencing
with the day of the first scheduled class of the fall semester of theinstitution in which the student enrolls and ending after the conclusionof the next First-Year Player Draft.
(5) Time Period for Determining Eligibility to Contract. A player
who will become eligible to sign a contract under the High School,
College or Junior College Rules within 45 days of the conclusion of the45

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 3(a) to 3(b)First-Year Player Draft (and thus is eligible for selection in the draft
under Rule 4(a)) will be deemed eligible to sign a contract with his
selecting Club upon selection, or with any Club if not selected upon the
conclusion of the First-Year Player Draft.
(b) UNIFORM CONTRACTS.
(1) Uniform Contract for Major League Players. To preserve
morale among Major League players and to produce the similarity ofconditions necessary for keen competition, the contracts between all
Major League Clubs and their players on the Major League Reserve
List shall be in the form prescribed by any Basic Agreement in effectbetween the Major Leagues and the Major League Baseball Players
Association.
(2) Uniform Contract for Minor League Players. To preserve
morale among Minor League players and to produce the similarity ofconditions necessary for keen competition, all contracts between either
Major or Minor League Clubs and players on Minor League Reserve
Lists shall be in the form of the Minor League Uniform Player
Contract that is appended to these Rules as Attachment 3. All Minor
League Uniform Player Contracts between either a Major or a Minor
League Club and a player (except a Foreign Professional as defined inRule 3(a)(1)(C)) who has not previously signed a contract with a Major
or Minor League Club shall be for a term of seven Minor League
playing seasons. A Minor League Uniform Player Contract between
either a Major or a Minor League Club and a player who has
previously signed a contract with a Major or Minor League Club (orotherwise qualifies as a Foreign Professional as defined inRule 3(a)(1)(C)) may be for any term not to exceed seven Minor League
playing seasons that is mutually acceptable to the signing Club and theplayer. The minimum salary in each season covered by a Minor League
Uniform Player Contract shall be the minimum amount establishedfrom time to time by the Major League Clubs for each Minor League
classification or League.
(3) Except with the written approval of the Commissioner, no
Major or Minor League Club shall enter into a contract with a playerthat differs from the Major League Uniform Player’s Contracts or
Minor League Uniform Player Contracts. All contracts shall be in
duplicate and the player shall retain a counterpart original. All Major

46

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 3(b) to 3(c)League Uniform Player’s Contracts and all Minor League Uniform
Player Contracts must be filed with the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee for approval.
(4) No player shall participate in any championship season game
until the player has signed a contract in the form prescribed by thisRule 3(b) for services during the current season. Use of an ineligible
player shall subject the offending Club to such penalties as theCommissioner may impose, including, without limitation, forfeiture ofany game won by the Club that uses an ineligible player.
(5) No Major League Uniform Player’s Contract or Minor League
Uniform Player Contract shall be approved if it contains a bonus forplaying, pitching or batting skill or if it provides for the payment of abonus contingent on the standing of the signing Club at the end of thechampionship season.
(6) The contract of a first-year player (i.e., a player who has notpreviously contracted with a Major or Minor League Club) selected in
the First-Year Player draft may not be assigned to anothernon-affiliated Major or Minor League Club until 9:00 A.M. Eastern
Time on the day following the day that the last game of the World
Series had started. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the contracts of
selected players who may remain on the Negotiation List until the startof the next Closed Period in accordance with Rule 4(d)(5) may not be
assigned until the later of 9:00 A.M. Eastern Time on the day following
the day that the last game of the World Series had started or 90 days
from the date the player signs a Minor League contract that is approvedat any time by the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee
pursuant to Rule 3(e)(2).
(c)
CONTRACTCONTRACTS.

TERMS

FOR

FIRST-YEAR

PLAYER(1) First Contract Season. First-year players must contract foreither the current or the following season.
(2) Salary Rates.
(A) Major League Uniform Player’s Contracts. The minimum
salary for Major League service in all Major League Uniform
Player’s Contracts is set forth in the Basic Agreement.
(B) Minor League Uniform Player Contracts. The salary ineach Minor League Uniform Player Contract between a Major
League Club and a first-year player shall be the amount established47

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 3(c)by the Major Leagues for each Minor League classification or
League. On a pro rata basis, a first-year player must receive theminimum salary in a particular Minor League classification foreach day that the player spends on the Active List or Injured Listin that classification.
(3) Trial Period. Unless the contract is terminated or voided
pursuant to Paragraphs XVII(B) or XIX(B)(1)(2)(3) or (5) of the Minor
League Uniform Player Contract, each player must receive a trial of
15 days during the championship season if the player signs for thecurrent season or during the spring training period if the player signs
for the succeeding season. Participation in any Instructional League
shall not count against the 15-day trial period.
(4) Signing Bonuses For Drafted and Undrafted Players.
(A) Signing Bonus Pool.
Each Major League Club will be assigned a Signing
Bonus Pool for each First-Year Player Draft. A Club’s Signing
Bonus Pool will comprise the sum of Signing Bonus Values
that have been assigned to each of a Club’s selections in thefirst ten rounds of the draft (including any compensation
rounds). A Club will be assessed the penalties set forth inRule 3(c)(4)(B) if the aggregate amount in signing bonuses it
provides to players selected in the First-Year Player Draft orundrafted players (“Total Signing Bonuses”) exceeds its
Signing Bonus Pool. Each Club’s preliminary Signing Bonus
Pool will be distributed by April 1, and final Signing Bonus
Pools will be distributed no later than the day prior to the firstday of the First-Year Player Draft. The following rules will be
used to determine whether a Club’s Total Signing Bonuses
exceed its Signing Bonus Pool:(i) The full amount of any Signing Bonus provided
to players selected through the conclusion of the tenthround of the First-Year Player Draft will count toward aClub’s Total Signing Bonuses. The term “Signing Bonus”
shall include all compensation provided to the player inconnection with the execution of the contract.
Notwithstanding
theforegoing,thefollowingcompensation will not be considered part of the Signing
Bonus (and will not count toward a Club’s Total Signing
48

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 3(c)Bonuses): (i) the Contingent Payment set forth inRule 3(c)(5)(B); (ii) the Incentive Bonus Plan set forth inRule 3(c)(5)(C); (iii) the Continuing Education Program
set forth in Rule 3(c)(5)(D); and (iv) salary paid to theplayer for performing services during the playing season
pursuant to Addendum C of the Minor League contract.
(ii) The portion of any Signing Bonus in excess of$125,000 provided to players selected after the tenthround will count toward a Club’s Total Signing Bonuses.
The first $125,000 of the Signing Bonus provided to suchplayers will not count toward a Club’s Total Signing
Bonuses.
(iii) The portion of any Signing Bonus in excess of$125,000 provided to players who were eligible for, but
not selected, in the First-Year Player Draft will counttoward a Club’s Total Signing Bonuses for the mostrecent draft in which the player was not selected(irrespective of when the player is signed). The first$125,000 of the Signing Bonus paid to such players will
not count toward a Club’s Total Signing Bonuses.
(iv) If a Club fails to sign a player selected before theconclusion of the tenth round, or passes on a selection
prior to the conclusion of the tenth round, the Club’s
Signing Bonus Pool will be reduced by the Signing Bonus
Value assigned to the draft selection.
(v) The total amount of the Signing Bonus containedin a Minor League contract (including dual-sport
contracts) will count toward a Club’s Total Signing
Bonuses irrespective of when the Signing Bonus isscheduled to be paid and without any discounting of theface amount of the bonus.
(vi) The total amount of the Signing Bonus
contained in a Minor League contract (including
dual-sport contracts) that a player may be eligible toreceive will count toward a Club’s Total Signing Bonuses
even if a player’s entitlement to a portion of the Signing
Bonus is contingent on future events.
(B) Penalties for Exceeding Signing Bonus Pool.
49

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 3(c)A Club whose Total Signing Bonuses exceed its Signing Bonus
Pool will be assessed the following penalties:(i) 0-5% in excess of Pool — 75% tax on all of the Pool
overage;(ii) >5-10% in excess of Pool — 75% tax on all of the
Pool overage and loss of first-round pick in the next
succeeding First-Year Player Draft;(iii) >10-15% in excess of Pool — 100% tax on all of the
Pool overage and loss of first and second-round picks in thenext succeeding First-Year Player Draft; and(iv) >15% in excess of Pool — 100% tax on all of the Pool
overage and loss of first-round picks in the next two
succeeding First-Year Player Drafts.
If a Club’s Total Signing Bonuses exceed its Signing
Bonus Pool, and it does not possess the draft selections thatare subject to forfeiture, the Club will forfeit the applicable
first and/or second round draft choices in the next First-Year
Player Draft in which it possesses those selections. Any draft
selections forfeited under this Rule 3(c)(4)(B) will be awarded
to other Clubs through the lottery system set forth inRule 4(k)(1). The forfeiture of selections pursuant to thisRule 3(c)(4)(B) will be determined prior to accounting for any
selections forfeited by the Club pursuant to Article XX(B)(4)of the Basic Agreement.
(C) Distribution of Tax Proceeds.
The proceeds collected by the Office of theCommissioner from Clubs whose Total Signing Bonuses
exceed their Signing Bonus Pools will be distributed to Net
Revenue Sharing Payee Clubs, as defined in Article XXIV of
the Basic Agreement, that have a Market Score of 100 or lessas set forth in Attachment 26 of the Basic Agreement, andthat did not exceed their Signing Bonus Pool in the First-Year
Player Draft. To the extent that no Clubs qualify to receive
any tax proceeds, such proceeds will be split among the six
Net Revenue Sharing Payee Clubs (that have a Market Scoreof 100 or less) whose Total Signing Bonuses exceeded their
Signing Bonus Pools by the lowest percentage. For purposes of50

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 3(c)this Rule, the Oakland Athletics shall not be subject to therequirement that tax proceeds recipients cannot have a Market
Score greater than 100 until 2020.
Proceeds from the Pool will be distributed evenly among
the Clubs entitled to receive a distribution under this Rule.
The final accounting of the amount Clubs will be penalized
for providing Total Signing Bonuses exceeding their Signing
Bonus Pools, and the Clubs that will receive a distribution of
the proceeds, will be made during the next Closed Period.
(D) Circumvention.
No Club or player (including their designatedrepresentatives) may enter into any understanding, agreement,
or transaction, or make any representation, whether impliedor explicit, that is designed to defeat or circumvent theprovisions of Rule 3(c)(4). A non-exclusive list of conduct thatis strictly prohibited includes: (i) providing, paying or
promising a player, his advisor or his family members
anything of value other than the compensation and benefits
contained in the Minor League contract; (ii) promising,
representing, or committing that the player will be placed on
the Major League Roster by a particular date (including, forexample, guaranteeing a September call-up); and(iii) promising, representing, or committing to sign the player
to another Minor League contract or Major League contract
in the future, or to provide additional compensation or
benefits under the extant contract. Any Club or Club
representative that is found to have violated thisRule 3(c)(4)(D) will be subject to sanctions by theCommissioner. Such sanctions may include the loss of future
selections in the First-Year Player Draft; the loss ofnegotiating or reserve rights to the player; and other penalties
or sanctions that the Commissioner deems appropriate.
(5) Permissible Special Covenants. A Minor League Uniform
Player Contract with a first-year player (except a Foreign Professional
as defined in Rule 3(a)(1)(C)) may include no special covenants, except
the following:(A) Bonus Payments for Signing Contract.
(i) All payments due the player or any other person inconnection with the player’s signing shall be set forth in the51

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 3(c)contract and must be stated in a fixed dollar amount at thetime of the signing of the contract. Any bonus payment forsigning a contract for a player subject to selection in theFirst-Year Player Draft must be paid before the conclusion of
the calendar year following the date of the contract, provided,
however, that any bonus payment for signing a contract for aplayer not subject to selection in the First-Year Player Draft ispermitted to be paid before the conclusion of the third
calendar year following the date of the contract if the total
amount of all such bonus payments to such player is$1 million or more. Within the time periods set forth in thisRule 3(c)(5)(A) for the payment of bonuses, all or part of any
bonus payment for signing a contract for a player not subject
to selection in the First-Year Player Draft is permitted to bemade contingent upon the player’s ability to obtain
successfully a visa to work for the player’s Club in the UnitedStates, if the player is directed to perform in the United States.
(ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of thisRule 3(c)(5)(A), any bonus payment for signing a contract
may be made in installments extending no more than
five years following the date of the contract if:(aa) the player and Club agree that the player shallbe permitted to participate in or shall refrain fromparticipating in specified professional or amateur sports
during the period of the installment payments; and(bb) the Commissioner determines, in theCommissioner’s sole discretion, that the player has thelegitimate potential to become a professional athlete in atleast one of the sports specified by the player and Club in
the Minor League Uniform Player Contract, pursuant toRule 3(c)(5)(A)(i).
(iii) Clubs and players may not agree to include signingbonus forfeiture clauses that extend the period of recoupment:
beyond five years after the effective date of the contract forbonuses in excess of $1 million; beyond four years after theeffective date of the contract for bonuses of $1 million or lessbut in excess of $250,000; and beyond three years after theeffective date of the contract for bonuses of $250,000 or less.
Notwithstanding the above, the period of recoupment will be
52

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 3(c)coextensive with the length of the contract for players who
receive bonuses in excess of $1 million if the player retires but
subsequently signs a contract with another professional
baseball club during the period covered by the contract. If a
player suffers an injury that in the opinion of the Club
physician prevents him from continuing as a productive
professional baseball player, and the player desires to retire
from professional baseball, the Club will waive any
contractual right it may have to recoup the signing bonus. Any
disputes regarding whether a player qualifies for the exception
contained in the preceding sentence will be resolved withfinality by the Commissioner.
(B) Contingent Payments. A first-year player may be offered a
specified sum of no more than $2,500 contingent upon the player’s
being retained by the signing Major or Minor League Club for aperiod that may not exceed 90 days of one Minor League playing
season. If a player whose contract contains such a contingent
bonus provision is selected under Rule 5 (Annual Selection ofPlayers) before the date the bonus becomes payable, the bonus shallbecome due immediately and shall be paid by the Club from which
the contract was selected.
(C) Incentive Bonus Plan. A Major or Minor League Club
may agree to make standard “incentive bonus payments” in acontract with a first-year player if such payments are conditionedon the player being on the Active List in a certain classification for
90 days of any one championship season, including any official
play-off or other post-season series in which the player might beeligible to participate. The amount of such incentive bonus
payments and the classification in which they are to be paid shallbe as follows:(i) the sum of $1,000 for the Class AA classification;(ii) the sum of $1,500 for the Class AAA classification;and,(iii) the sum of $5,000 for the Major League level.

53

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 3(c)Time spent on any Inactive List shall not count towardthe 90 days to be served before an incentive bonus payment
becomes payable. However, a player shall be credited with
Injured List time if the player is placed on the Injured List
after the player has accumulated 60 or more days of service inany particular season.
A player who has received the incentive bonus payment
applicable to a particular classification shall not be entitled toanother such payment for service in the same classification,
regardless of whether such service occurs in the same or asubsequent season. A player who qualifies for the Major
League or Class AAA incentive bonus payment shall also
receive the incentive payment(s) for the lower classification(s)if the player has not previously received the incentive
payment(s) for that classification(s). The Major or Minor
League Club that holds a player’s contract at the time an
incentive bonus payment becomes due shall pay the bonus to
the player. An unconditional release or free agency shallterminate the incentive bonus plan for the player.
(D) Continuing Education Program. A Major or Minor
League Club may agree through the Continuing Education
Program (“CEP”) to pay on behalf of a first-year player any dollar
amount incident to the player’s pursuit of education or training at
any educational organization or institute (including vocational
training school) that offers training for personal and professional
development that meets the standards of a regional or national
accrediting agency, as follows:(i) Eligible Institutions.
(aa) In the United States, the CEP will be available
for any educational organization or institution that meetsthe standards of a regional or national accrediting body(e.g., NEASC). Similarly, the CEP will be available forvocational training schools that are accredited byrecognized regional or national accrediting agencies (e.g.,
ACCET).
(bb) For educational opportunities outside of theUnited States, the Office of the Commissioner will retain
qualified independent credential evaluation services (e.g.,
54

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 3(c)Center for Educational Documentation) to determine
whether a foreign organization or institution is accredited
by a body that is deemed to meet the standards of the
U.S. Department of Education and thus qualified for the
CEP.
(cc) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the CEP will not
be available for for-profit educational institutions thathave a graduation rate below 50% according to the mostrecent graduation rate published by the U.S. Departmentof Education, unless such institution had a graduation
rate at or above 50% at the time of the player’s initialenrollment.
(dd) The Office of the Commissioner shall maintaina list of pre-approved accredited organizations andinstitutions, both nationally and internationally, for Clubs
and players seeking to access the CEP.
(ii) Any amounts included in a CEP special covenant may
not exceed the actual cost of such participation and shall beallocated into a Tuition Allowance and a Living Allowance, as
follows:(aa) Tuition Allowance. For a player participating in
the CEP, a Club shall make (or cause to be made)payments or reimburse such player for the cost that suchplayer actually incurs for tuition, fees, textbooks andsupplies (less withholding for applicable income andemployment taxes), up to the Tuition Allowancedescribed in his contract.
(bb) Living Allowance. For a player under the CEP,
the player shall be reimbursed for reasonable room andboard expenses that the player actually incurs (lesswithholding for applicable income and employment
taxes), up to the Living Allowance described in his
contract; provided, however, that:(I) expenses incurred after the 10th anniversaryof the date the player executes the Minor League
Uniform Player Contract containing the CEP special
covenant shall not be reimbursable;
55

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 3(c)(II) expenses to be reimbursed must be for roomand board to live away from the home (or homes) of
the player’s parents (custodial and noncustodial)
and/or guardian for the purpose of attending classes(and while not on academic probation);(III) expenses may not exceed the maximum
room and board fees of the educational organization
or institution or, if not applicable, the per diemamount established by the Commissioner from time
to time; and(IV) the player must request reimbursement inwriting, and provide a copy of the receipt for eachreimbursable expense, within 90 days after
completing a semester (or installment) in the CEP in
which he is enrolled (and not after finishing thesemester or installment on academic probation).
If a player lives off campus for a semester, suchplayer’s living allowance for such semester shall not
exceed the cost of living on campus. If a player
attends a college that does not have facilities foron-campus residence, such player’s living allowanceshall not exceed the per diem amount established by
the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee
from time to time.
(iii) Non-covered Expenses. A Club shall not be required
to reimburse a player for any amount that is paid or
reimbursed by an outside source, such as another scholarship.
A Club shall pay any reimbursement of room and board
expenses within 90 days of the date the player submits theplayer’s written request for reimbursement (with all required
documentation). In no case shall a player be reimbursed for,among other things, transportation, parking charges, medical
insurance or infirmary charges, laundry or garment cleaning,clothing, umbrellas, furniture, lamps, calculators, book bags,
computer hardware or software, typewriters, or any othertools or supplies (other than textbooks) that a player may
keep after completing the applicable educational program,unless such purchase is specifically required as a part of theplayer’s coursework.
56

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 3(c)(iv) When Club is Relieved of the Obligation to Make
Payments. An unconditional release of the player or theplayer’s placement on the Military List shall not relieve theClub of the obligation to make CEP payments but the Club
shall be relieved of such obligations under the following
circumstances:(aa) if the player fails to commence participation in
the CEP within two years after the date the player ceases
to be reserved by a Major League, Minor League, foreign
professional, or Independent League club, voluntarily
retires or is reserved on an Inactive List, whichever comes
first, unless the player again becomes reserved to a Major
League, Minor League, foreign professional, orIndependent League club (not on an Inactive List) withinsuch two-year period;(bb) if, after commencement of his participation in
the CEP and after the player retires or is released by a
Major League or Minor League Club and is not signed
again as a player by a Major League, Minor League,
foreign professional, or Independent League club, within
the two years following the player’s release, the player
fails to participate in the CEP within two
consecutive years of the player’s most recent
participation;(cc) if the player is placed on the Ineligible List; or(dd) if the player is shown to have engaged in fraud
in an attempt to secure funds.
(v) Liability for Payment. The original signatory Club
shall continue to be liable to make CEP payments even if theplayer’s contract is selected by, or assigned to, another Club;
provided, however, that, in case of assignment otherwise thanby selection or on waiver claim, the assignee Club may agree,
through a statement set forth in the assignment agreement, toundertake to make any payments that accrue subsequent to
the date of such assignment. For purposes of the CEP, allrights and obligations of “Club” shall be held and borne by
the Club liable for payments in accordance with thisRule 3(c)(5)(D).
57

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 3(c)All payments made under the CEP shall be made by the Club
liable for the payments in accordance with this Rule 3(c)(5)(D). To
the extent possible, all payments under the CEP shall be made to
the institution attended (in person or on-line) by the player.
(vi) Procedure. A Club that agrees to the participation ofa player in the CEP shall include as a special covenant suchprovisions as may be prescribed by the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee, consistent with this Rule 3(c)(5)(D).
Upon receipt of notification that the contract has been
approved, the Club shall notify the player of the procedures tobe followed.
(vii) Coordination of Benefits. In the event that afirst-year player contract contains both an Incentive Bonus
Plan and a CEP special covenant, the following coordinationof benefits shall apply:(aa) If a player receives a payment under the
Incentive Bonus Plan, the player’s aggregate remaining
allowance for tuition, fees and textbooks shall be reducedby the amount of such Incentive Bonus payment.
(bb) If a player receives one or more payments under
the CEP, any amount subsequently due under the
Incentive Bonus Plan shall be reduced sequentially by theaggregate amount of payments that the player received
under the CEP. Any remaining Incentive Bonus Plan
balance earned by the player in excess of the payments
received under the CEP shall be paid directly to theplayer.
It is the intent of this coordination of benefits provision that,to the extent earned, the cumulative benefits received under either
the CEP or the Incentive Bonus Plan (before withholding) willoffset any cumulative amounts due under the other Plan.
(viii) The Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee
may unilaterally amend the CEP to the extent that theCommissioner or the Commissioner’s designee determines isnecessary or appropriate to comply with any applicable law(including any tax law), so long as such amendment does not
reduce the aggregate amount payable to a player under the
CEP.
58

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 3(c) to 3(d)(ix) Nothing contained in this Rule 3(c)(5)(D) is intended
to supplant or otherwise replace any College Scholarship Plan
provision that may be contained in any Major or Minor
League Uniform Player Contract existing at the time of the
adoption of this Rule, which shall continue to be governed by
the terms of Rule 3(c)(5)(D) contained in the 2016 Major
League Rules.
(E) Age and Identity Fraud. A Club may include a special
covenant in a first-year Minor League contract providing the Club
with the right to void the contract ab initio if it determines withinsix (6) months of the signing date that the player falsified his age or
identity in connection with signing the contract. In the event a
Club voids a player’s contract pursuant to such a provision, theresolution of any related dispute shall be resolved pursuant to analternate dispute resolution process that will provide for binding
arbitration before a neutral arbitrator in a forum that is convenient
for the player.
(6) Each contract for a first-year player who is not subject toselection in the First-Year Player Draft shall include an addendum in aform promulgated by the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s
designee in which the player and the player’s parent (or legal guardian),
if the player is under 21 years old, swear under oath:(A) to the accuracy of the player’s age and identity as stated in
Addendum A to the Minor League Uniform Player Contract;(B) that neither the player nor the player’s parent (or legal
guardian) provided money or other valuable consideration to any
Club representative in connection with the signing of the Minor
League Uniform Player Contract; and(C) (that neither the player nor the player’s parent (or legal
guardian) has received any money or other valuable considerationfrom any Club employee for securing the Minor League Uniform
Player Contract.
(d) ACCEPTANCE. Any agreement for service between a Major or
Minor League Club and a player, evidenced by written acceptance, whether
by letter or electronic communication, shall be construed to be a contractand held to be binding if the player declines to enter into a formal contract.
The player’s refusal to sign a formal contract shall disqualify the player fromplaying with the contracting Club or entering the service of any Major or
Minor League Club unless the player is released or assigned.
59

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 3(e) to 3(f)(e) REPORTING AND FILING OF CONTRACTS.
(1) Reporting. The terms of any agreement between a Major or
Minor League Club and a player must be reported to the Commissioner
or the Commissioner’s designee within 24 hours of the time theagreement is reached.
(2) Filing. The validity of any contract, arrangement or agreement
for service between a Major or Minor League Club and a player not on
its Reserve List(s) will not be recognized unless written proof thereof is
submitted to the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee within
20 days after such agreement is made, for promulgation in the next
official bulletin, and unless the agreement is actually approved. A Minor
League player who is not on a Major League Reserve List and whose
contract, arrangement or agreement for service with a Major or Minor
League Club is not received by the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee within 20 days after such agreement is mademay be declared a free agent, in the sole discretion of theCommissioner.
(f) CONTRACTS IN VIOLATION.
(1) Any written or oral contract made in violation of these Rules(including any agreement between a Major or Minor League Club anda player that is not embodied in a Major League Uniform Player’s
Contract or Minor League Uniform Player Contract) shall be declarednull and void, and the official, scout or employee of the offending
Major or Minor League Club who participated in the violation shall be
subject to such penalties as the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s
designee may impose.
(2) In addition, if the violation is of the High School, College or
Junior College Rule, the offending Club shall be prohibited fromsigning such player for a period of three years from the date that suchcontract is declared void, and shall be fined by the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee.
(g) CONTACTS AND TRYOUTS. The following rules shall govern
contacts with and tryouts of all amateur players:(1) Contacts. Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting any
Major or Minor League Club, or its officers, agents or employees, fromtalking to any player, who is not on another Club’s Negotiation List, at
any time concerning a career in professional baseball and discussing the60

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 3(f)merits of the player’s contracting, when eligible, with any particular
Club. However, no discussions shall be held with players during practicesessions or during the progress of games.
Any Club or Club official, employee, agent or representative whosuggests, procures or otherwise influences a student to withdraw fromhigh school, college or junior college, or to refrain from playing highschool, college or junior college baseball, other than in connection withnegotiations to sign such student to a contract that are permitted underthese Rules, or to transfer to another school, shall be held in violationof this Rule 3(g) and subject to penalties.
(2) Tryouts. Tryouts may be held in accordance with the following:(A) High School Students.
(i) During Summer Vacation and One Week Prior toFirst-Year Player Draft. “Tryouts” of high school students
may be conducted during the summer vacation period andduring the one-week period immediately preceding the firstday of the First-Year Player Draft by any Major or Minor
League Club without permission of any high school official orother restriction.
(ii) During School Year. Except during the one-weekperiod immediately preceding the first day of the First-Year
Player Draft, for which Rule 3(g)(2)(A)(i) applies, a student
may be invited to a tryout during the school year, provided
that the athletic director or baseball coach of the player’s highschool, if not employed by the Major or Minor League Club
conducting the tryout, shall have approved such participationin writing.
(B) College and Junior College Players.
(i) During Summer Vacation. Tryouts of college players
by Major and Minor League Clubs may be conducted during
the summer vacation periods falling between school years,
without the permission of any college official or otherrestriction.
(ii) During School Year. Major or Minor League Clubs
may not try out college players during the school year but may
observe players in intercollegiate competition as frequently as
they desire.
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 3(f)(iii) Participation in Summer Baseball. Consistent withthe principle that this Rule 3 protects the eligibility of college
players during the college year and at the same time affords
such players every opportunity to develop for possible future
professional play, a College Player Committee is hereby
empowered to act on behalf of professional baseball to:(aa) survey and investigate the existence of andconditions in summer amateur baseball leagues available
to college players;(bb) cooperate with the NCAA and NAIA orcommittees representing those bodies; and(cc) recommend action or legislation to theCommissioner or the Commissioner’s designee, all withthe objective of extending, liberalizing, and improving thesummer amateur baseball program for college age players
in the United States and Canada.
(C) Player on Negotiation List.
(i) If a Major League Club selects a player in the Rule 4
Draft who was eligible for selection pursuant to Rule 3(a)(2)(High School Rules), and if the player has not yet enrolled in acollege, the Major League Club may pay for the expenses ofthe player in connection with a tryout with the Major League
Club, provided that the tryout visit is no longer than 48 hours.
(ii) If a Major League Club selects a player in the Rule 4
Draft who was eligible for selection pursuant to Rule 3(a)(3)(College Rules), the Major League Club may pay for the
expenses of the player in connection with a tryout with the
Major League Club, provided that the tryout visit is no longer
than 48 hours.
(D) Prohibition of Expense Payments and Future Service
Agreements. Unless Rule 3(g)(2)(C) (Player on Negotiation List)
applies, no Major or Minor League Club shall(i) reimburse, directly or indirectly, any amateur player for
any travel expenditure in connection with a tryout unless theplayer is signed at the tryout;

62

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 3(f) to 3(h)(ii) pay or give anything whatsoever to any high school,
college or junior college student, directly or indirectly, inconnection with any tryout; or(iii) enter into an agreement for the future services of any
high school, college or junior college student unless such
student is eligible to sign at the tryout.
Notwithstanding the prohibition in Rule 3(g)(2)(D)(i), a
Club may advance to, or reimburse, a player who is not aresident of the United States or Canada within the meaning ofRule 3(a) (Eligibility to Sign Major League or Minor League
Contracts) or a high school, college or junior college student
within the meaning of Rule 3(a) (Eligibility to Sign Major
League or Minor League Contracts) for(iv) ground transportation in connection with a tryout at
a Club facility outside the United States and Canada, in an
amount not to exceed a maximum amount set forth from time
to time by the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee;and(v) air transportation, room and board in connection witha tryout at a Club facility in the Dominican Republic or
Venezuela for the player and one family member or guardian,so long as such Club has obtained the prior approval of theCommissioner or the Commissioner’s designee and so long as
such player is eligible to participate in a program at a Club
facility pursuant to regulations set forth from time to time by
the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee.
(h) TENDERADDENDUMS.

OFCONTRACTRENEWALSOR

SALARY(1) Major League Tenders. On or before December 2 (or, if
December 2 is a Saturday or Sunday, then on the preceding businessday), each Major League Club must tender a Major League Uniform
Player’s Contract to each player on its Major League Reserve List. A
Major League Club must tender a contract to each player on its Major
League Reserve List who is on the Restricted List, or is on a
Disqualified List for failure to render services to a Club. Should a Club
fail to so tender or renew a contract, the player shall become a free
agent without any restrictions or qualifications, and the player
automatically shall be removed from the Restricted or Disqualified List.
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 3(h)With regard to any player who is on a Disqualified List for areason other than that stated in the preceding paragraph or who is on
the Suspended, Ineligible, Voluntarily Retired or Military List, a Club
shall not be obligated to tender or renew a contract until the player isremoved from such list and reinstated to active status. If a player isremoved from such list during a period beginning on November 22 andextending through the next championship season, the Club shall tendera contract to the player within 10 days following such removal.
Thereafter, should the Club and the player fail to agree upon the termsof a new contract within 10 days after the player’s receipt of thetendered contract, the Club shall be obligated, within the next five days,
to renew the player’s prior Major League Contract, provided, however,that if the tender is made during the period beginning on November 22
and ending on the next March 1, the renewal period shall be as set forthin paragraph 10(a) of the Major League Uniform Player’s Contract.
Except as set forth in the Basic Agreement, including Article XX(A),should a Club fail to tender or renew a contract as provided in thisparagraph, the Player shall become a free agent without any restrictionsor qualifications.
(2) Minor League Tenders and Salary Addendums.
(A) Between the conclusion of the Rule 5 Selection Meetingand January 15 (or if a Saturday or Sunday, then on the precedingbusiness day), each Major League Club must tender a Minor
League Uniform Player Contract to each player who has been
assigned outright to a Minor League Club and who has either notpreviously signed a Minor League Uniform Player Contract or has
previously signed a Minor League Uniform Player Contract thathas expired. Such tender may be made to the player in person or by
mail addressed to the player’s last address of record with the Major
League Club.
(B) Between the conclusion of the Rule 5 Selection Meetingand March 15 (or, if a Saturday or Sunday, then on the precedingbusiness day), each Major or Minor League Club must tender a
Salary Addendum to each player on its Minor League Reserve
Lists.

64

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 3(h) to 3(j)A Club shall not tender an addendum to a player whose nameappears on its Minor League Reserve Lists as a Voluntarily
Retired, Ineligible, Disqualified or Restricted List Player, but aClub may, at its discretion, tender a contract to a player on the
Military List.
(C) No player shall participate in any championship season
game until the player has signed an addendum in the form
prescribed by this Rule 3(h) for services during the current season.
(See Rule 3(b)(4) (Uniform Contracts)).
(i) UNIFORM MANAGER’S AND EMPLOYEE’S CONTRACTS.
Managers, coaches, trainers and salaried scouts must sign contracts on forms
prescribed by the Commissioner before rendering services to a Major or
Minor League Club. (So-called “Bird Dog” scouts and scouts whose
compensation is conditional upon performance of players are not required
to sign one of the uniform contracts. However, such “Bird Dog” andsub-scouts are required to be signed to a contract or agreement drafted by
the Major or Minor League Club.) An executed copy of each uniform
manager’s or employee’s contract shall be filed with the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee for approval within 10 days after the execution of
the contract.
(j) CERTAIN PAYMENTS FORBIDDEN.
(1) Gift to Employee for Securing Employment. No scout, player,
employee or official of any Major or Minor League Club, or any
umpire, employee or official of any Major or Minor League, or any
other person with any relationship to any of the aforementioned
persons, shall demand or receive any money or other valuable
consideration, whether gratuitous or otherwise, for or because ofservices rendered, or to be rendered, or supposed to have been rendered,in securing the employment of any person with any Major or Minor
League Club. Such money or other valuable consideration shall be
returned immediately upon its receipt, and if not so returned, theCommissioner may impose such penalties, including ineligibility, as theCommissioner may deem proper.
(2) Payment to Player’s Trainer. No Major or Minor League Club
shall make any payment or convey anything of value to any firm or
person for services provided to a player in connection with preparing
such player for professional baseball.
(3) Payment of Finder’s Fee. No Major or Minor League Club
shall make any payment or convey anything of value to any firm or
65

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 3(j) to 4(a)person not retained or employed by such Club for bringing such player
to the attention of such Club as a prospective player. Any firm or
person who is retained or employed by a Major or Minor League Cluband who brings unsigned players to the attention of such Club asprospective players (for example, as a so-called “Bird Dog” scout) shalldisclose to any player the relationship with the Club, shall not act asagent or representative for any player and shall not establish or
maintain with more than one Club at a time any relationship withrespect to scouting or signing players.
(4) Payment to Player’s Representative. No Major or Minor
League Club shall make any payment or convey anything of value toany firm or person for legal, representational or other services provided
by such firm or person to a player in connection with the negotiation ofa contract between the signing Club and the player.
(k) TAMPERING. To preserve discipline and competition, and toprevent the enticement of players, coaches, managers and umpires, there
shall be no negotiations or dealings respecting employment, either present orprospective, between any player, coach or manager and any Major or Minor
League Club other than the Club with which the player is under contract, or
acceptance of terms, or by which the player is reserved or which has theplayer on its Negotiation List, or between any umpire and any baseball
employer other than the baseball employer with which the umpire is undercontract, or acceptance of terms, unless the Club or baseball employer withwhich the person is connected shall have, in writing, expressly authorized
such negotiations or dealings prior to their commencement.
Rule 4
FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT(a) PLAYERS SUBJECT. A Major League or Minor League Club may
contract with a player who is a resident of the United States or Canada andwho has not previously contracted with a Major League or Minor League
Club only if the player was selected, or eligible for selection, in theimmediately preceding First-Year Player Draft in accordance with thisRule 4. Players are eligible to be selected in the First-Year Player Draft ifthey are eligible to sign a contract under the provisions of the applicable
High School, College or Junior College Rules on the date of the First-Year
Player Draft, or within 45 days of the conclusion of the draft, and have notnotified the Office of the Commissioner of their desire not to be selected(see Rule 4(b) below). For purposes of this Rule 4, the term “United States”
66

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 4(a) to 4(b)shall mean the 50 states of the United States of America, the District ofColumbia, Puerto Rico, and any other Commonwealth, Territory or
Possession of the United States of America.
(b) SELECTION MEETING. One selection meeting shall be conductedeach year in June and shall be known as the First-Year Player Draft or theRule 4 draft. The Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee shall,
before August 31 each year, announce the date of the commencement of thenext year’s First-Year Player Draft. The Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee shall choose the place where each First-Year Player
Draft shall be conducted and may determine that such First-Year Player
Draft be conducted by telephone conference or electronic means. Only
Major League Clubs may make selections at the First-Year Player Draft.
The Commissioner shall preside over all selections at the First-Year Player
Draft and shall resolve all procedural questions in connection with theFirst-Year Player Draft, including, but not limited to, all questions regarding
eligibility.
The First-Year Player Draft shall conclude after 40 selection rounds.
Selections made pursuant to Rules 4(c)(2) (Supplemental Selections) and4(k)(2) (Competitive Balance Selections) shall not constitute separate
selection rounds. Selections made as free agent compensation selections
pursuant to Article XX(B) of the Basic Agreement shall be considered partof the round of the draft that they immediately follow, as set forth in
Article XX(B). Each Major League Club shall designate a representative toact on its behalf. As the Major League Club’s turn is called in each selection
round, such representative may select a player for the Major League Club’s
Negotiation List.
The Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee may impose time
limits for the exercise of a selection. A Major League Club shall forfeit its
right to make a particular selection in the event that it is the Club’s turn toselect and the Club fails to respond to a call within the time limit announced
by the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee, after having received
a warning from the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee. If a
Major League Club announces a “pass” when it is such Club’s turn to select,
such Club shall forfeit its right to make that selection, but will not forfeit its
right to make any other selections in the First-Year Player Draft.
The selecting Major League Club shall be responsible for determining
the eligibility of selected players. Any otherwise eligible player who does notwish to be selected in the First-Year Player Draft must notify the Office of
the Commissioner in writing by May 1 in the year of the First-Year Player
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 4(b) to 4(c)Draft. The Office of the Commissioner will notify all Clubs of any players
who have notified the Office of the Commissioner of their desire not to be
selected in the First-Year Player Draft. Any player who notifies the Office of
the Commissioner of his desire not to be selected in the First-Year Player
Draft shall be ineligible for selection in that draft but will be subject toselection in the next First-Year Player Draft for which the player is eligible.
Except as provided in Rule 4(k) below, no Major League Club may transfer
to another Club its right to select.
(c) ORDER OF SELECTION. The following order of priorities shallgovern the Major League Clubs’ selections at each First-Year Player Draft.
(1) Standard Selection Order. The Major League Clubs shall beplaced in the reverse order of their percentages of games won at theclose of the preceding championship season. For purposes of thisRule 4(c)(1), each Club’s winning percentage at the close of thepreceding championship season shall be determined by the percentage
of games won in the championship season, without regard to standings
within any Division or League and without regard to post-season
results. If two or more Clubs had an identical winning percentage at theclose of the preceding championship season, the selection order of
those Clubs shall be determined by the percentage of games won in thenext prior championship season, with any remaining ties resolved bycontinuing to examine the tied Clubs’ respective championship season
winning percentages in each preceding prior year, until the tie is broken.
The Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee shall announce tothe Major League Clubs the standard selection order produced byoperation of this Rule 4(c), and that order shall govern each round.
(2) Supplemental Selections. If a Major League Club selects aplayer before the fourth round of a First-Year Player Draft and suchClub fails to sign such player before such player is removed from suchClub’s Negotiation List pursuant to Rule 4(d) (Effect of Selection on
Player), then such Club shall have the right to make an additional
selection, called a supplemental selection, in the next First-Year Player
Draft, as follows:(A) If the unsigned player had been selected before the thirdround of the First-Year Player Draft, the supplemental selection
awarded shall be exercised immediately after the numbered position
overall that corresponds with the numbered position overall at
which the unsigned player had been selected in the previous

68

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 4(c)First-Year Player Draft. For example, if the unsigned player had
been the 30th selection in the First-Year Player Draft, thesupplemental selection awarded shall be the 31st selection in thenext First-Year Player Draft.
(B) If the unsigned player had been selected in the third roundof the First-Year Player Draft, the supplemental selection awarded
shall be exercised after the completion of the third round. If morethan one Club is in this category, the supplemental selections shallbe made in the same order as the selections giving rise to the
supplemental selections had been made in the previous First-Year
Player Draft.
(C) If a Major League Club fails to sign a player who wasselected with a draft selection awarded pursuant to this Rule 4(c)(2)before the player is removed from the Club’s Negotiation List
pursuant to Rule 4(d) (Effect of Selection on Player), the Club
again shall receive a supplemental selection in the next First-Year
Player Draft as compensation for failing to sign its original
supplemental selection, as follows:(i) If the unsigned supplemental selection was selectedprior to the third round, the Club shall receive a supplemental
selection in the next First-Year Player Draft at the same
numbered position as its unsigned supplemental selection. In
the event that the same numbered position is awarded toanother Club as supplemental compensation pursuant toRule 4(c)(2)(A) above, the Club awarded the supplemental
selection for the second time shall be awarded the selection
following the selection awarded to the other Club pursuant toRule 4(c)(2)(A) above.
(ii) If the unsigned supplemental selection was selected in
the third round, the Club shall receive a supplemental
selection after the completion of the third round, and shallselect after all of the Clubs awarded selections pursuant toRule 4(c)(2)(B) above. If more than one Club is awarded asecond supplemental selection under this paragraph, the Clubs
shall select in the same order as the original draft selections
that resulted in the Club being awarded supplemental
compensation pursuant to Rule 4(c)(2)(B) above.
(3) Competitive Balance Selections. The Competitive Balance
Selections described below in Rule 4(k)(2)(B) (“Competitive Balance
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 4(c) to 4(d)Round A”) shall immediately follow the first round of the First-Year
Player Draft (including any selections at the end of the first round of
the First-Year Player Draft awarded to Clubs pursuant to
Article XX(B) of the Basic Agreement). The Competitive Balance
Selections described below in Rule 4(k)(2)(C) (“Competitive Balance
Round B”) shall immediately follow the second round of the First-Year
Player Draft (and prior to any selections awarded to Clubs pursuant to
Article XX(B) of the Basic Agreement).
(d) EFFECT OF SELECTION ON PLAYER. A selected player shallbe placed on the Major League Club’s Negotiation List and shall remain onsuch Negotiation List until:(1) such player signs a Minor League contract that is approved at
any time by the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee
pursuant to Rule 3(e)(2);(2) such player is removed because of ineligibility for selection;(3) such player is removed because the Major League Club’s
Negotiation Right has been revoked under Rule 4(e) (Negotiation
Rights);(4) the Signing Deadline for the First-Year Player Draft that is set
forth below if such player has not utilized all of his potential college
baseball eligibility:(A) July 7, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time(B) July 6, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time(C) July 12, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time(D) July 10, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time(E) July 9, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time; or(5) the start of the next year’s Closed Period, as defined inRule 4(f), if such player has utilized all of such player’s potential college
baseball eligibility. For purposes of this Rule 4(d)(5), a player shall bedeemed to have utilized all of his potential college baseball eligibility if
he satisfies each of the following criteria:(A) the player is selected in the First-Year Player Draft after
his junior year of college pursuant to Rule 3(a)(3)(C)(ii);70

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 4(d) to 4(e)(B) the player does not sign a contract with the selecting Clubprior to being removed from the Club’s Negotiation List inaccordance with Rule 4(d)(4) above;(C) the player signs a professional baseball contract in a league
that is not affiliated with MLB or any MLB Club; and(D) the player does not attend college or junior college
between his removal from the selecting Club’s Negotiation List andthe next First-Year Player Draft.
If the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee disapproves acontract that a player on a Negotiation List and the Club that had
selected such player each signed before the Signing Deadline, the player
and Club shall have the opportunity to cure any defect in the contract,
resubmit such contract for approval and continue to have such contract
deemed signed before the Signing Deadline for purposes of thisRule 4(d), so long as the contract originally submitted contained thematerial permissible special covenants, if any, of the agreement between
the player and Club. It is the intent of this paragraph not to permit aplayer and Club to extend the Signing Deadline by submitting an
incomplete contract in order to continue negotiations after the Signing
Deadline.
(e) NEGOTIATION RIGHTS.
(1) Tender of Contract. Immediately upon the close of theFirst-Year Player Draft, the Major League Club that has selected theright to negotiate exclusively with a player shall be deemed to havetendered the player an executed Minor League Uniform Player
Contract. The terms of such tendered Minor League contract shall notinclude any signing bonus or other special covenants.
(2) A Major League Club shall have the exclusive right to contract
with a player on its Negotiation List and negotiations must be
conducted by the selecting Club in accordance with Rule 3 (Eligibility
to Sign Contract, Contract Terms, and Contract Tenders).
(3) A Major League Club may not transfer its Negotiation Right toany other Club.
(4) Players on the Negotiation List shall not count against any
player limits.

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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 4(e) to 4(j)(5) Players who join the Armed Forces while on the Negotiation
List shall continue to be subject to this Rule 4 in the same manner as allother selected players.
(f) CLOSED PERIOD. The period of time beginning at 12:01 a.m.
Eastern Time of the seventh day prior to the date of a First-Year Player
Draft and concluding with the beginning of such First-Year Player Draft
shall be called the Closed Period. The right to contract with a player selected
at the preceding First-Year Draft, who is not subject to the signing deadline
set forth in Rule 4(d)(4), or with a player eligible to sign who was notselected at the preceding First-Year Draft, shall terminate at the beginning of
the Closed Period unless such player becomes ineligible to sign at an earlier
date by operation of the applicable High School, College or Junior College
Rule.
(g) EFFECT ON PLAYER LIMITS.
A player who signs a Minor League contract with a Major League Club
following the player’s selection at the First-Year Player Draft shall be
excluded from the Minor League under control limits of the signing Major
League Club until the day following the conclusion of the current year’s
Major League championship season or when the player has appeared in achampionship season game, whichever occurs first.
(h) IF SELECTED PLAYER DOES NOT SIGN. A player who isselected at a First-Year Player Draft and who does not sign a Minor League
contract before being removed from the selecting Club’s Negotiation List,
see Rule 4(d) (Effect of Selection on Player), shall be subject to selection at
the next First-Year Player Draft at which the player is eligible for selection.
A selected player who does not sign may not be selected by the same Major
League Club at any subsequent First-Year Player Draft unless the player has
notified the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee in writing thatthe player has no objection to such re-selection.
(i) IF PLAYER IS NOT SELECTED. A player who is eligible forselection and who is not selected may be signed to a Minor League contractby any Major League or Minor League Club after the conclusion of theFirst-Year Player Draft. Such player shall remain eligible for signing until
the start of the next Closed Period, unless such player becomes ineligible tosign at an earlier date by operation of the applicable High School, College or
Junior College Rule.
(j) MEDICAL INFORMATION.
(1) The Top 300 Pre-Draft Medical Information Program.
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 4(j)(A) Each year, the Office of the Commissioner will select the
300 potential top prospects in the First-Year Player Draft toparticipate in the Pre-Draft Medical Information Program (“theTop 300 Program”). If named to participate in the Top 300
Program, players will be required to submit to the Office of theCommissioner all of their pre-existing medical records relating totheir physical condition, including, but not limited to, MRIs,
X-Rays and CT Scans. Players are not required to provide records
relating to conditions that would not reasonably affect their ability
to perform services as a baseball player. Each player will be
required to certify in writing that he has submitted a complete copyof all of the medical records required to be submitted to the Officeof the Commissioner pursuant to this Rule 4(j)(1)(A). The player
also will be required to submit any updated medical information to
the Office of the Commissioner by the May 1 immediately
preceding the Draft, to the extent such information exists. Clubs
may review the players’ medical records through Major League
Baseball’s Electronic Medical Records system (“EMR”) or anothersecure file-sharing system. Immediately upon the conclusion of the
Draft, a Club’s access to such medical records will be revoked
except with respect to the Club’s Draft selections.
(B) A player named to participate in the Top 300 Program
may not provide additional medical information to one Club
without first providing such information to the Office of theCommissioner for placement on the EMR. In addition, a player
may not submit to a pre-draft physical conducted by a Club unlesshe agrees to submit to a pre-draft physical for any Club thatrequests it.
(C) If a player named to participate in the Program refuses tocomply with the Top 300 Program, the player will be prohibitedfrom submitting medical information, whether orally or in writing,to any Club. The Office of the Commissioner will notify all Clubsof a player’s refusal. A Club may not obtain medical informationfrom a non-compliant player until the player complies with the Top
300 Program.
(2) The Pre-Draft MRI Program.
(A) From the pool of the 300 top prospects selected toparticipate in the Top 300 Program, the Office of theCommissioner will select 50 top pitching prospects to participate in73

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 4(j)the Pre-Draft Pitcher MRI Program (the “Pre-Draft MRI
Program”). Participation in the Pre-Draft MRI Program isvoluntary and does not affect the selected players’ status or
obligations with respect to the Top 300 Program. Players who are
selected and choose to participate in the Pre-Draft MRI Program
must submit to an MRI (without contrast) for their shoulder, theirelbow, and for any body part other than the shoulder or elbow
that, due to injury, caused the player to miss playing time in theseason immediately preceding the draft, pursuant to the MRI
protocols agreed upon by the Office of the Commissioner and thePlayers Association. MRIs must be performed at a facility
approved by both the Office of the Commissioner and the Players
Association. In addition to receiving his own copy of the results of
his MRI, the player must execute a release authorizing the facility
to submit the MRI directly to the Office of the Commissioner.
Upon receiving an MRI for a player participating in the Pre-Draft
MRI Program, the Office of the Commissioner shall provide the
MRI to a radiologist jointly selected by the Office of theCommissioner and the Players Association, who shall in turnreview the MRI and supply an MRI report to the Office of theCommissioner, the Players Association, and the player.
(B) By the March 15 preceding each First-Year Player Draft,the 50 pitching prospects selected for the Pre-Draft MRI Program
will be notified by the Commissioner’s Office of their selection for
the Program and provided information about how to schedule an
MRI at an approved facility. If the player does not live within areasonable distance of an approved facility, the Office of theCommissioner will help the player to identify a suitable facility. If aprospect selected for the Pre-Draft MRI Program chooses toparticipate in the Program, he must receive an MRI at an approved
facility in the period between April 1 and the date 21 days prior tothe commencement of the next First-Year Player Draft (“MRIWindow”). A player who, by the close of the MRI Window (i.e., by
the date 21 days prior to the First-Year Player Draft), does notreceive an MRI at an approved facility and execute the release toensure that the results are provided to the Office of theCommissioner within the MRI Window will be deemed to havedeclined to participate in the Pre-Draft MRI Program for purposesof Rule 4(j)(2)(B). Submission of an MRI taken outside of the74

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 4(j)
MRI Window or at an unapproved facility will not constituteparticipation in the Pre-Draft MRI Program, absent writtenconsent from the Commissioner’s Office.
(C) Prior to the completion of the MRI Window, Clubs may
identify to the Office of the Commissioner, on a confidential basis,
which players selected for the Pre-Draft MRI Program the Clubhas potential interest in selecting in the upcoming First-Year Player
Draft and thus which players’ MRIs and MRI reports (collectively,“MRI Results”) the Club would like to review before the Draft forthat purpose. A Club must include in this notice the list of all Club
officials designated to have access to the request players’ MRI
Results. The Office of the Commissioner will share with those
Clubs’ designated officials only the identified players’ MRI Results
via a secure file-sharing system. Immediately upon being selectedin the Draft, a Club’s access to such MRI Results will be revoked,
and Clubs are prohibited from retaining or storing copies of MRI
Results, except with respect to the Club’s Draft selections. Unlessauthorized by the Basic Agreement, any Club official who
intentionally disseminates, or causes to be disseminated,
information from a draft prospect’s MRI Results to a member ofthe media will be suspended for a minimum of 30 days by the
Office of the Commissioner and the Club shall be fined aminimum of $500,000. The foregoing penalties shall not apply if
the information was first made public by a source other than theClub or the Office of the Commissioner.
(3) Drug Testing.
All players eligible for selection in the First-Year Player Draft
will be subject to Major League Baseball’s Drug Prevention
Program for Potential Selections in the First-Year Player Draft(“Prospect Drug Testing Program”). All players named toparticipate in the Top 300 Program described in Rule 4(j)(1)(A)above will be subject to a random, unannounced drug test prior to
the First-Year Player Draft. Any player subject to random drug
testing under the Prospect Drug Testing Program who refuses to be

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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 4(j)tested shall be deemed ineligible for selection in the First-Year
Player Draft, and shall not be eligible to sign a contract with a
Major or Minor League Club, as fully set forth in the terms of that
Program.
(4) Physical Examinations.
(A) Major League Clubs shall waive their rights underParagraph XVII(B) of the Minor League Uniform Player Contract
when signing drafted players if one of the following conditions is
met:(i) The drafted player submits to a complete physicalexamination conducted by the Club before an agreement isreached on the terms of a Minor League contract; or(ii) The player and the Club reach a tentative agreement
on a Minor League contract that is contingent on the Player
passing a physical examination conducted by the Club, and
the Player passes that physical examination (including thereporting of all test results) prior to the applicable deadline forsubmitting terms of an agreement to the Commissioner’s
Office.
(B) Drafted Players Who Fail Club-Administered PhysicalExaminations.
(i) Drafted Players Not Selected for the Pre-Draft MRI
Program. If a drafted player who was not selected for the
Pre-Draft MRI Program fails a Club-administered physicalexamination, and the Club does not subsequently offer that
player a bonus equal to or greater than 40% of the player’s
Signing Bonus Value (or $50,000 if the player was selected
after the 10th round) and hold that offer open until the earlierof 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the seventh day following the datethe offer was made or the signing deadline (see Rule 4(d)(4)),
the player will become a free agent if no agreement is reachedby the time the player is removed from the Club’s Negotiation
List pursuant to Rule 4(d). In such case, the Club shall notreceive a supplemental selection pursuant to Rule 4(c)(2) for
failing to sign such player, and, for players selected prior to the11th round, the Club’s Signing Bonus Pool (described inRule 3(c)(4)(A)) shall be reduced by the Signing Bonus Value
attributable to his selection. If the Club does subsequently
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 4(j)offer the player a bonus equal to or greater than 40% of theplayer’s Signing Bonus Value and holds that offer open until
the earlier of 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the seventh day
following the date the offer was made or the signing deadline(see Rule 4(d)(4)), but no agreement is reached, the player’s
status will be determined pursuant to Rule 4(h), the Club will
receive, if applicable, a supplemental selection pursuant toRule 4(c)(2) for failing to sign such player, and the Club’s
Signing Bonus Pool (described in Rule 3(c)(4)(A)) shall be
reduced by the Signing Bonus Value attributable to that player.
This Rule 4(j)(4)(B)(i) applies only if a Club does not sign aplayer based on the results of a Club-administered physicalexamination, and does not apply to a Club’s failure to sign aplayer, or its decision not to offer a signing bonus of aparticular amount, for reasons other than the player’s failureof a Club-administered physical examination.
(ii) Drafted Players Selected for the Pre-Draft MRI
Program. If a drafted player who is selected for the Pre-Draft
MRI Program and elects to participate in the Pre-Draft MRI
Program fails a Club-administered physical examination basedon an injury or defect to his shoulder, his elbow, or any otherbody part that was encompassed by the pre-draft MRI he
provided pursuant to Rule 4(j)(2) above, and the Club does
not subsequently offer that player a bonus equal to or greaterthan 60% of the player’s Signing Bonus Value (or $75,000 if
the player was selected after the 10th round) and hold thatoffer open until the earlier of 5 p.m. Eastern Time on theseventh day following the date the offer was made or thesigning deadline (see Rule 4(d)(4)), the player will become afree agent if no agreement is reached by the time the player isremoved from the Club’s Negotiation List pursuant toRule 4(d). In such case, the Club shall not receive a
supplemental selection pursuant to Rule 4(c)(2) for failing tosign such player, and, for players selected prior to the 11thround, the Club’s Signing Bonus Pool (described inRule 3(c)(4)(A)) shall be reduced by the Signing Bonus Value
attributable to his selection. If the Club does subsequently
offer the player a bonus equal to or greater than 60% of theplayer’s Signing Bonus Value and holds that offer open until
the earlier of 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the seventh day
following the date the offer was made or the signing deadline
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 4(j)(see Rule 4(d)(4)), but no agreement is reached, the player’s
status will be determined pursuant to Rule 4(h), the Club will
receive, if applicable, a supplemental selection pursuant toRule 4(c)(2) for failing to sign such player, and the Club’s
Signing Bonus Pool (described in Rule 3(c)(4)(A)) shall be
reduced by the Signing Bonus Value attributable to that player.
Notwithstanding the above, if a pre-signing MRI conductedby the Club shows that the player’s injury or defect occurred,or was exacerbated, following the pre-draft MRI submitted by
the player pursuant to the Pre-Draft MRI Program, the player
shall be treated as a player who was not selected for the
Pre-Draft MRI Program and Rule 4(j)(4)(B)(i) shall govern.
Any dispute regarding whether a player’s injury or defectoccurred, or was exacerbated, following the MRI submitted
by the player pursuant to the Pre-Draft MRI Program will be
submitted to, and resolved on a binding, expedited basis, by aneutral orthopedist selected in advance by the Office of theCommissioner and the Players Association to resolve suchdisputes.
If a drafted player who is selected to participate in the
Pre-Draft MRI Program and declines to participate in the Program
subsequently fails a Club-administered physical examination basedon an injury or defect to his shoulder, elbow, or any other bodypart that would have been encompassed by his pre-draft MRI (perthe terms of Rule 4(j)(2)(A)), the Club shall be relieved of theobligation set forth in Rule 4(j)(4)(B)(i) to offer any signing bonus
in order to retain its right to receive a supplemental selection
pursuant to Rule 4(c)(2) for failing to sign such player, the player’s
status will be determined pursuant to Rule 4(h), and the Club’s
Signing Bonus Pool (described in Rule 3(c)(4)(A)) shall be reducedby the Signing Bonus Value attributable to that player in the event
the Club does not sign the player.
If a drafted player who is selected to participate in the
Pre-Draft MRI Program fails a Club-administered physicalexamination based on an injury to a part of his body that was not,or would not have been, encompassed by his Pre-Draft MRI per
the terms of Rule 4(j)(2)(A), the player shall be treated as a player
who was not selected for the Pre-Draft MRI Program andRule 4(j)(4)(B)(i) shall govern, regardless of whether or not theplayer chose to participate in the Pre-Draft MRI Program.
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 4(k)(k) FORFEITED DRAFTBALANCE SELECTIONS.

LOTTERYAND

COMPETITIVE(1) Forfeited Draft Selection Lottery.
(A) The Office of the Commissioner will award to other Clubs
through a lottery any selections in the First-Year Player Draft thatare forfeited by Clubs whose Total Signing Bonuses exceed their
Signing Bonus Pools (as described in Rule 3(c)(4)). Any Club
whose Total Signing Bonuses did not exceed its Signing Bonus Poolin the applicable First-Year Player Draft will be eligible for entry in
the lottery. A Club’s odds of winning the lottery will be based on
its prior season’s winning percentage and prior season’s Net
Defined Local Revenue (“NDLR”) under Article XXIV of the
Basic Agreement, each weighted equally in a formula that will be
distributed to eligible Clubs prior to the lottery. A Club may beawarded only one selection in the Forfeited Draft Selection Lottery
until such time as all Clubs eligible for the lottery have been
awarded a selection.
(B) The Forfeited Draft Selection Lottery will be held on thefirst Wednesday following the Signing Deadline, and any Club that
had not exceeded its Signing Bonus Pool as of that date will beentered into the lottery. A Club that is awarded a selection in the
Forfeited Draft Selection Lottery and subsequently exceeds its
Signing Bonus Pool will itself forfeit the selection it was awarded.
During the Closed Period following the First-Year Player Draft, a
Supplemental Forfeited Draft Selection Lottery will be held, if
necessary, to redistribute: (i) any selections awarded to a Club in
the original lottery that the Club forfeited pursuant to thisRule 4(k)(1)(B) by exceeding its Signing Bonus Pool between thedate of the lottery and the beginning of the Closed Period; and/or(ii) any selections that a Club forfeited pursuant to Rule 3(c)(4)(B)for exceeding its Signing Bonus Pool between the date of theoriginal lottery and the beginning of the Closed Period. All Clubs
that did not exceed their Signing Bonus Pool as of the beginning of
the Closed Period will be eligible to participate in the Supplemental
Forfeited Draft Selection Lottery, with the odds of winning basedon the same formula as set forth in Rule 4(k)(1)(A) above. A Club
previously awarded a selection in the Forfeited Draft Selection
Lottery will not be eligible to be awarded a selection in the79

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 4(k)Supplemental Forfeited Draft Selection Lottery until such time as
all Clubs eligible for the Supplemental Forfeited Draft Selection
Lottery have been awarded a selection.
(2) Competitive Balance Selections.
(A) Eligibility to Receive Competitive Balance Selections.
Beginning with the 2017 First-Year Player Draft, the ten Clubs
with the lowest NDLR in the preceding year that are not market
disqualified, and to the extent not included in that group, the ten
Clubs with the lowest Market Score as set forth in Attachment 26
to the Basic Agreement, will receive an additional selection in theFirst-Year Player Draft (“Competitive Balance Selection”).
(B) 2017 Competitive Balance Round A. The six eligible Clubs
with the lowest average ranking among eligible Clubs in (i) NDLR
in the 2016 Revenue Sharing Year and (ii) winning-percentage inthe 2016 championship season will receive a selection immediately
following the completion of the first round of the 2017 First-Year
Player Draft, as set forth in Rule 4(c)(3) above (“Competitive
Balance Round A”). Clubs shall select in Competitive Balance
Round A in inverse order of their average ranking among eligible
Clubs in NDLR and winning-percentage in 2016.
(C) 2017 Competitive Balance Round B. The eligible Clubs
that did not receive draft selections in Competitive Balance Round
A will receive selections immediately following the completion of
the second round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft(“Competitive Balance Round B”). Clubs shall select inCompetitive Balance Round B in inverse order of their averageranking among eligible Clubs in NDLR and winning-percentage in2016.
(D) Competitive Balance Selections in Subsequent Years.
Beginning with the 2018 First-Year Player Draft and continuing
thereafter, any eligible Club that received a selection in Competitive
Balance Round A in the immediately preceding First-Year Player
Draft shall receive a selection in Competitive Balance Round B;
and any eligible Club that received a selection in Competitive
Balance Round B in the immediately preceding First-Year Player
Draft shall receive a selection in Competitive Balance Round A.
Clubs will continue to alternate from year-to-year between
Competitive Balance Rounds A and B, provided they remain
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 4(k)eligible to receive a Competitive Balance Selection. Any Club thatis eligible for a Competitive Balance Selection in the 2018
First-Year Player Draft or any subsequent First-Year Player Draft
that was not eligible for a Competitive Balance Selection in theimmediately preceding Draft shall receive a selection in
Competitive Balance Round B. In each year, Clubs will select inCompetitive Balance Rounds A and B in inverse order of theiraverage ranking among eligible Clubs in NDLR andwinning-percentage in the prior year.
(E) The Office of the Commissioner will notify Clubs on
December 1 whether they will receive a selection in Competitive
Balance Round A or B in the next First-Year Player Draft, and theposition they will select within that round (but not the overall
position of the selection within the First-Year Player Draft).
(F) For purposes of this Rule 4(k)(2), the Oakland Athletics
will not be considered market disqualified until the 2020 First-Year
Player Draft.
(3) All selections in the Forfeited Draft Selection andCompetitive Balance Selections are assignable as follows:(A) Selections are only assignable by the Club that was
originally awarded the selection (i.e., the selections may be
assigned only once).
(B) Cash consideration of any kind may not be included
in an assignment involving a Club’s assignable draft selections
unless the cash consideration is included directly to offset thesalary obligations of another player included in theassignment (and is no greater than such obligations), subject
to the Commissioner’s approval.
(C) A Club may only assign (or agree to assign) selectionsin the next succeeding First-Year Player Draft, and may only
assign (or agree to assign) such selections during the period
beginning on the December 2 preceding the First-Year Player
Draft and ending two hours prior to the commencement of
the Draft.
(D) A Club that is awarded a selection in the Forfeited
Draft Selection Lottery and assigns such selection to anotherClub may not subsequently provide an unsigned player (i.e., a
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 4(k) to 5(b)player not subject to the Signing Deadline) with a Signing
Bonus that would cause it to exceed its Signing Bonus Pool. In
addition, a Club may not assign a selection awarded in the
Forfeited Draft Selection Lottery to another Club if it has yet
to sign one or more players selected in the first ten rounds ofthe draft, and its failure to sign one or more of those players
would cause it to exceed its Signing Bonus Pool.
(l) INTERPRETATION. Official interpretations of this Rule 4 may bemade from time to time by the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s
designee.
Rule 5
ANNUAL SELECTION OF PLAYERS(a) MEETINGS. A selection meeting shall be held each year at suchtime and place as the Commissioner shall designate and shall be known as
the Rule 5 Selection Meeting. At the Rule 5 Selection Meeting, Major
League Clubs may claim the contracts of players who are on Minor League
Reserve Lists (filed pursuant to Rule 1) and who are subject to selection as
set forth in this Rule 5. If any Major League Club shall fail to file Minor
League Reserve Lists in accordance with Major League Rule 1, its players on
Minor League Reserve Lists shall be subject to selection under this Rule 5
without any restrictions. The Commissioner shall decide all procedural
questions that may arise during the Rule 5 Selection Meeting.
(b) METHOD AND PRIORITY OF SELECTIONS. Selections under
this Rule 5 shall be made in two separate phases: the Major League phaseand the Class AAA phase. A player selected in one of these phases must beplaced on the Major League Club’s Reserve List in the same classification of
the phase in which the player was selected. Within each phase, only players
from a Reserve List of a lower classification Club are eligible for selection.
Within each phase, selections shall be made according to thefollowing order and conditions:(1) Major League Clubs shall select in reverse order of theirwinning percentages at the close of the preceding championshipseason, without regard to standings within any Division or League
and without regard to post-season results. If two or more Clubs
had an identical percentage of games won at the close of thepreceding championship season, the selection order of those Clubs
shall be determined by the percentage of games won in the next
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 5(b) to 5(c)prior championship season, with any remaining ties resolved bycontinuing to examine the tied Clubs’ respective championshipseason winning percentages in each preceding prior year, until thetie is broken.
(2) As called in the above order of priority in a phase, each
Major League Club shall have a right to select one player subject toselection under this Rule 5. If a Club does not exercise its right ofselection when called, or if its right of selection in that phase hasceased because its Reserve List(s) for the classification covered by
the phase has reached the allowable limit under Rule 2, the next
Club in order shall be called. When a round has been completed,the process of selection shall be repeated until all Major League
Clubs have no further right of selection in that phase. A Club
having announced its selection in proper order cannot later cancel
the selection.
(3) In any year in which one or more new members have been
admitted to a Major League for operations in the next
championship season, each such new member may select player
contracts under this Rule 5. The procedures and regulations
governing such selections shall be as agreed upon by the Major
League Clubs.
(4) Any Major League Club may authorize (in writing or byelectronic communication) any employee, the Commissioner, or an
employee of the Commissioner’s Office to announce its selection or
selections at the meeting. Such authorized selections shall be as
binding and effective as if announced by a Major League Club
official.
(c) PLAYERS SUBJECT TO SELECTION. All players on the Minor
League Reserve Lists of Major League and Minor League Clubs, except
players on the Voluntarily Retired, Disqualified or Ineligible Lists, shall be
subject to selection by other Major League Clubs at the Rule 5 Selection
Meeting in accordance with the following:(1) A player without previous Major or Minor League service who
signs with a Major League or Minor League Club shall be subject toselection based on the following:

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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 5(c)(A) if 18 years of age or under on the June 5 immediately
preceding the player’s signing, the player shall be subject toselection at the fifth Rule 5 Selection Meeting that follows thesigning date of the player’s first Major or Minor League contract,unless Rule 5(c)(1)(C) applies;(B) if 19 years of age or over on the June 5 immediately
preceding the player’s signing, the player shall be subject toselection at the fourth Selection Meeting that follows the signing
date of the player’s first Major or Minor League contract, unless
Rule 5(c)(1)(C) applies;(C) if the signing date of a player’s first Major or Minor
League contract is between:(i) the conclusion of the championship season for the
Major or Minor League Club to which the player is assigned
on such contract and(ii) the next Rule 5 Selection Meeting, then the player
shall be deemed to have signed after the next Rule 5 Selection
Meeting, for purposes of this Rule 5(c)(1).
(2) A player who is re-signed by a Club within one year from thedate the Club released the player shall be subject to draft at the Rule 5
Selection Meeting following the date of the latest contract with thatClub.
(3) A player who has been subject to draft at a Rule 5 Selection
Meeting shall be subject to draft at any subsequent Rule 5 Selection
Meeting if the player is on a Minor League Reserve List (filed pursuant
to Rule 1 (Reserve Lists)) at the time of the Rule 5 Selection Meeting.
(4) A player:(A) whose contract has been assigned outright by a Major
League Club to a Minor League Club,(B) who has been signed as a free agent to a Minor League
Uniform Player Contract for services in the following year and isotherwise subject to selection pursuant to Rule 5(c)(1) orRule 5(c)(2), or(C) who has been released unconditionally from a Minor
League roster and is otherwise subject to selection pursuant toRule 5(c)(1) or Rule 5(c)(2), shall be subject to selection at any
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 5(c) to 5(g)subsequent Rule 5 Selection Meeting if the player is on a Minor
League Reserve List (filed pursuant to Rule 1 (Reserve Lists)) at
the time of the Rule 5 Selection Meeting.
(5) A Major League Club may designate any player on one of its
Minor League Reserve Lists to be subject to selection who otherwise
would not be selectable under this Rule 5.
(d) CONSIDERATION, PAYMENT, AND RESPONSIBILITY. The
consideration for a selection under this Rule 5 shall be as follows:(1) $100,000, if the selected player is placed on a Major League
Reserve List;(2) $24,000, if the selected player is placed on a Class AAA Reserve
List;
Payment of the consideration due the selectee Club shall be madein the same manner as provided in Rule 6 (Assignment of Player
Contracts) regarding other assignments of player contracts.
The selector Major League Club must assume all responsibility forthe player’s physical condition and for the player’s reporting.
(e) PLAYER-MANAGERS. A Player-Manager shall be subject toselection if the player would otherwise be selectable under Rule 5(c) (Players
Subject to Selection). However, a player-manager shall be subject to selection
as a player only and the player-manager selected may reject such selection by
giving written or electronic notification of such rejection to theCommissioner within 30 days from the date that the player-manager receives
notification of such selection from the Commissioner. A player-manager
contract that has been executed within 30 days before the close of the season
shall not be changed to a player contract during the season following
execution of such player-manager contract unless the Commissioner
approves such a change in writing.
(f) COVERING UP. No agreement shall be made for the purpose orwith the effect of covering up a player from selection. If the Commissioner
shall be of opinion that any such agreement has been made, theCommissioner may impose a fine upon each party to such an agreement.
(g) SELECTED PLAYERS.

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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 5(g)(1) RESTRICTIONS. From the date of selection to the closeof the subsequent Major League championship season, no player
selected in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Selection
Meeting shall be released or directed to perform for or otherwisetransferred to any Minor League Club until:(A) the player has received a 15-day trial period during
spring training and/or the championship season of the year
following the player’s selection;(B) Outright Assignment waivers have first been grantedon the player’s contract in accordance with Rule 8 (Major
League Waivers) (see, e.g., Rule 8(d)(3) (Restrictions on
Waiver Requests)); and(C) outright assignment of the player has then beenoffered to and rejected by the Major League Club from which
the player’s contract was selected.
(2)
OFFER
OF
OUTRIGHTASSIGNMENT — PROCEDURES. An offer of outrightassignment to the Major League Club from which a player’s
contract was selected shall be made through the Commissioner andthe consideration shall be 50 percent of the price paid for theselection. Upon receiving notice of the selecting Major League
Club’s intention to make such an offer, the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee shall communicate by electronic means to
the Major League Club from which the player was selected that it
has:(A) 24 hours from the time of dispatch of the electronic
message to accept or reject assignment of the contract, unless
Rule 5(g)(2)(B) applies; or(B) 24 hours after the Club from which the player was
selected is notified by the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee of the selected player’s decision
whether to accept the proposed return assignment, if theplayer was selected to a Major League Reserve List and has
the right to elect free agency after an outright assignment.

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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 5(g)Failure to accept the offer within such period shallconstitute a rejection. Should such an offer be rejected, allobligations of the selecting Major League Club to the Major
League Club from which the player was selected shall be
fulfilled.
If the player was selected to a Major League Reserve List andif such player has the right to elect free agency after an outrightassignment, the selecting Club shall provide the player any written
notice of the contemplated outright assignment to the player’s
former Minor League Club that the collective bargaining
agreement with the players’ union may require and shall provide a
copy of such notice to the Club from which the player’s contract
was selected. If the selecting Club fails to provide the selected
player with such written notice, and the selected player elects free
agency in lieu of the return outright assignment, then the selecting
Club may be subject to a fine by the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee, which the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee may order to be paid, in whole or in part,to the Club from which the player’s contract was selected. The
selecting Club shall communicate immediately to theCommissioner or the Commissioner’s designee the player’s decision
whether to accept the return outright assignment, and theCommissioner or the Commissioner’s designee shall communicate
such decision promptly to the Club from which the player’s
contract was selected.
(3) ACTIVE LIST RESTRICTIONS. If the selected player is not
carried on the Active List of the selecting Major League Club for
90 days of the season following the selection, the restrictions inRule 5(g)(1) shall continue to apply until the player has been on the
Active List for an aggregate of 90 days during a championship season
or seasons.
(4) SALARY ON RETURN. If a selected player was under a
Minor League Uniform Player’s Contract for the entire championshipseason before the player’s selection, a Major League Club that returns
such a player through tender of an outright assignment to the Major or
Minor League Club from which the player was selected shall be liable
for any salary set forth in its Major League Uniform Player’s Contract
with the player in excess of the salary amount in the player’s Minor
League Uniform Player Contract for the season before selection.
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 5(g) to 6(b)If a selected player was under a Major League Uniform Player’s
Contract for all or part of the season preceding the player’s selection, aMajor League Club that returns such a player to the Major League
Club from which the player was selected shall be liable for any salary set
forth in its Major League Uniform Player’s Contract with the player inexcess of the total salary the player received (under both a Major
League Uniform Player’s Contract and a Minor League Uniform Player
Contract) for the previous championship season.
(h) DRAFT-EXCLUDED PLAYERS. A player who has less than
three years of Major League service as of the conclusion of thechampionship season and who is excluded from selection in a Rule 5
Selection Meeting because the player was promoted to a Major League
Reserve List after August 15 of the championship season preceding theselection meeting and remains on a Major League Reserve List through theconclusion of such selection meeting shall be referred to as a “draft-excluded
player.” A draft-excluded player shall not be directed to perform for,assigned to, or otherwise transferred to a Minor League Club unless theplayer first receives a trial with the player’s Major League Club lasting until
20 days before the opening day of the following Major League season. See
Rule 8(d)(4) (Restrictions on Waiver Requests) for rules concerning when
waivers may be requested on a player who would become a draft-excluded
player and Rule 8(c)(4)(B) (Consideration for Assignment of Player; Selectedor Draft-Excluded Player) for rules concerning the waiver claim price for adraft-excluded player.
Rule 6ASSIGNMENT OF PLAYER CONTRACTS(a) NOTICE TO PLAYER. A Club may assign to another Club anexisting contract with a player. Written notice of assignment of a player’s
contract shall be given to a player. Such notice shall not be given until theClub has been formally advised by the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s
designee that waivers have been granted by all Clubs entitled to claim theplayer as set forth in these Rules, and if notice is given prior to the grantingof all waivers, the notice shall be void and the Commissioner shall collect afine from the Club giving such void notice. The player, upon receipt of
written notice of such assignment, is by the player’s contract bound to serve
the assignee Club.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE. The date of assignment shall be deemed to be
the date upon which notice of assignment is delivered to the player.
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 6(c)(c) OBLIGATIONS OF ASSIGNOR AND ASSIGNEE CLUBS.
(1) FOLLOWING DATE OF ASSIGNMENT. After the date ofsuch assignment, all rights and obligations of the assignor Club under
the contract shall become the rights and obligations of the assignee
Club, except as otherwise provided in Rule 3 (Eligibility to Sign
Contract, Contract Terms, and Contract Tenders), and the assignee
Club shall be liable to the player for payments accruing from the date ofassignment and shall not be liable (but the assignor Club shall remain
liable) for payments accrued prior to and including that date.
(2) ON PLAYER REPORTING DATE. In the event that a player
physically reports to the assignee Club on the same date as the player’s
assignment, the assignee Club shall be responsible for salary startingwith that date and the assignor Club shall not be required to pay salary
for that day. EXCEPTION: In the event the player plays or is available
to play for the assignor Club on the day of assignment, the assignor
shall pay the player’s salary for that day.
(3) TRANSPORTATION.
(A) A Club assigning the contract of a player in its active
service to another Major League Club or to a Minor League Club
shall, at the time of notifying the player of the assignment, deliverto the player transportation to the city designated by the assignee
Club and the assignee Club shall reimburse the assignor within
10 days for the cost of such transportation.
(B) If a player’s contract is assigned by a Major League Club
to another Major League Club, any transportation, travel, andmoving allowances shall be governed by the Basic Agreement.
(4) ASSIGNEE CLUB’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR BONUS
PROVISIONS IN PLAYER’S CONTRACT. If a Major League
player’s contract is assigned to another Major League Club and there
are unearned bonuses in the player’s Major League Uniform Player’s
Contract at the time of the assignment, the standard-form Major
League Uniform Player’s Contract sets forth the allocation of
responsibility between the assignor and assignee Clubs for payment ofsuch bonuses, when such bonuses are earned. The assignor and assignee
Clubs may include cash consideration in a transfer agreement that iscontingent upon whether such bonuses become earned. See MLR
6(f)(5)(A)(ii) (Consideration Must Be in Definite Terms).
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 6(c) to 6(d)(5) ASSIGNEE MAJOR LEAGUE CLUB. If at any time theassignee is a Major League Club, it shall be liable to pay the player at
the full rate stipulated in the player’s contract for the remainder of theterm thereof and all prior assignors and assignees shall be relieved of
liability for any payment during the remainder of the player’s contract,
except as otherwise provided in Rule 3 (Eligibility to Sign Contract,
Contract Terms, and Contract Tenders).
(6) ASSIGNEE MINOR LEAGUE CLUB. Unless the assignor
and assignee Clubs agree otherwise, if the assignee Club is a Minor
League Club, the assignee Club shall be liable only to pay the player at
the rate usually paid by said assignee Club to its players of similar skill
and ability in its classification and the assignor Club shall be liable to
pay the player for the remainder of the player’s contract the difference
between the amount payable to the player under the player’s contract
and the amount paid to the player by the assignee Club.
(7) RELEASE FOLLOWING ASSIGNMENT. In the event suchplayer is unconditionally released by the Minor League Club to which
the player’s contract has been assigned and the player would have been
entitled to severance pay had the player been so released under theplayer’s contract with the assignor (Major League Club), then theassignor is liable to pay the player an additional amount equal to thetermination pay provided for in the player’s Major League contract andthe reasonable travelling expenses of the player, including first-class jet
air fare and meals en route, to the player’s home city.
(8) SALARY BETWEEN SEASON OPENINGS. A Club that,after commencement of its championship season, assigns a player’s
contract to a Club whose season commences after that of the assigning
Club, must pay the player at the rate of the player’s assigned contract
up to the day the player’s salary with the player’s new Club begins,provided the player promptly reports to the latter.
(d) CLOSED PERIODS.
(1) No Major League Club shall assign a Minor League player who
is eligible for that year’s Rule 5 Draft to any other professional baseballclub during the period commencing on the date that the Commissioner
or the Commissioner’s designee designates for the filing of Reserve Listsand ending upon the conclusion of the Rule 5 Selection Meeting. See
Rule 1(b).
(2) No contract of a Major League player shall be assigned to a
Club of lower classification during the period from 5:00 p.m. Eastern90

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 6(d) to 6(f)Time of the third day prior to the start of the Rule 5 Selection Meeting
until the Rule 5 Selection Meeting has been concluded.
(3) No Major League Uniform Player’s Contract (including foroutrighted players) shall be traded to another Major League Club
during the period commencing 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on July 31 (the“Major League Trade Deadline”) and ending upon the day following
the day that the last game of the World Series starts. In years in which
July 31 falls on a Saturday, the Major League Trade Deadline shall be
4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, July 30. In years in which July 31
falls on a Sunday, the Major League Trade Deadline shall be 4:00 p.m.
Eastern Time on Monday, August 1.
(4) No contract of a Minor League player shall be traded toanother Major League Club during the period commencing at
12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the seventh day prior to the conclusion of
the regularly scheduled Major League championship season and ending
upon the day following the last game of the Major League
championship season (including any rescheduled game or any
additional game played to break a tie pursuant to Rule 34(c)).
(5) The Commissioner’s Office will prohibit any transaction (orseries of transactions) that, in the judgment of the Commissioner’s
Office, appears (or appear) designed to circumvent the prohibitions ofRule 6(d).
(e) CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT.
(1) The contract of a player with five or more years of Major
League service, not including service while on the Military List (orseven or more years of Major League service, including service while on
the Military List) shall not, without the player’s written consent, beassigned other than to another Major League Club. In ascertaining
such service, part-season shall be computed at the rate of 172 days to afull season. Service preceding or succeeding a championship season
shall not be included.
(2) The contract of a player with 10 or more years of Major
League service, the last five of which have been with one Club, shall not
be assignable to another Major League Club without the player’s
written consent.
(f) ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENTS.
(1) FORM. The Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee
shall prescribe the form of assignments and no such transaction shall be
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 6(f)recognized as valid unless approved by the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee.
(2) PENALTIES. Penalties may be imposed in case anything except
the actual consideration, terms and conditions are stipulated or in caseagreements are made that are not embodied in the document as filed.
Penalties shall also be imposed in the event a player plays in a game forthe assignor Club after notice of the player’s assignment or pending
assignment on any basis has been given to the press for announcement.
Such penalties shall be imposed by the Commissioner and the amountshall be subject to the Commissioner’s judgment.
(3) PROMULGATION.
(A) Assignments and optional agreements shall be
promulgated by the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee.
(B) Assignment agreements shall be executed whenever title toa player’s services is transferred from one Club to another under
any condition — outright, optionally, by waiver claim, by selection,
by recall of an optional player, or by injury rehabilitation
assignment. Official notice of such transfer, and in the case of
unconditional release, shall in each instance promptly be given by
the Club to the player and the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee.
(4) PAYMENT. All payments by a claiming Club must accompany
agreement papers on all transactions in which a player’s contract has
been assigned on waiver claim. Failure to include such payments may
result in a fine.
Payments for all other transactions may not be deferred for morethan one year from the date of assignment. Any agreement providing
for the deferral of payment beyond one year shall subject the offending
parties to such penalties as the Commissioner in the Commissioner’s
judgment shall deem proper.
(5) CONSIDERATION MUST BE IN DEFINITE TERMS.
(A) (i) Every transfer agreement shall express theconsideration for the transfer in definite terms,
unlessRule 6(f)(5)(A)(ii) applies.
(ii) If a transfer agreement includes the assignment of a
Major League Uniform Player’s Contract that includes
unearned performance bonuses, then the assignor and92

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 6(f)assignee Club may include in such transfer agreement cash
consideration that is contingent upon the player earning all ora portion of such performance bonuses. The transfer
agreement must state with specificity all performance-bonus
contingencies. The assignor and assignee Club are notpermitted to alter their respective responsibilities to the player
to pay performance bonuses. Such responsibilities to theplayer are covered by the standard-form Major League
Uniform Player’s Contract. See MLR 6(c)(4) (Assignee Club’s
Responsibility for Bonus Provisions in Player’s Contract).
(B) A transfer agreement may provide for the assignment of
the contract of an unnamed player, provided:(i) the assignment must be made on or before a specified
date, which shall be within six months from the date of theagreement;(ii) the agreement permits a stated cash consideration inlieu of the assignment;(iii) the player has not been on the Active List of any
Major League Club during any part of a championshipseason (and, if applicable, the postseason) between the date of
the agreement and the date of the assignment;(iv) if the player was selected in the immediately
preceding First-Year Player Draft he would otherwise be
eligible to be assigned pursuant to Rule 3(b)(6) at the time ofthe original agreement in which he was the unnamed player;and(v) the player was not a designated player when named.
(6) POST-ASSIGNMENT CIRCUMSTANCES.
(A) The death or permanent incapacitation of a player
following assignment of the player’s contract, or the player’s failure
to report to the assignee Club, shall not void the assignment, unlessthe agreement provides otherwise.
(B) In the event of the bona fide retirement of a player
following assignment of the player’s contract, the player shall beplaced on the Voluntarily Retired List of the assignee Club, unlessthe agreement provides otherwise.
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 6(f) to 6(g)(C) A player who enters the Armed Forces after assignment of
the player’s contract and before the date the player normally would
report to the assignee Club shall be placed on the Military List of
the Assignee Club, unless the agreement provides otherwise.
(g) INJURY REHABILITATION.
(1) Major League.
(A) With the written consent of the player and the priorapproval of the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee, thecontract of a Major League player on an Injured List may be
assigned to a Minor League Club for the purpose of injury
rehabilitation for a maximum period of 20 days in the case of
non-pitchers and 30 days in the case of pitchers. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, a player rehabbing from UCL reconstruction surgery
may consent to up to three consecutive ten-day extensions of his
rehabilitation assignment, with the approval of the Commissioner’s
Office and the Association. In accordance with Rule 2(c)(1), a
concussed player on the 7-day Injured List who has been cleared toreturn to play may then consent to a rehabilitation assignment fora maximum period of 5 days in the case of non-pitchers and 8 daysin the case of pitchers, provided, however, that if the concussed
player is transferred to the 10-day or 60-day Injured List, themaximum periods shall be 20 days for non-pitchers and 30 days for
pitchers. A player so assigned shall continue to receive his Major
League salary. The rights and benefits of such player that do anddo not follow the player to the Minor League Club shall be inaccordance with past practices. Any such service with a Minor
League Club shall be deemed to be Major League service. An
assignment made under the provisions of this Rule 6(g) shall not becounted as an optional assignment under Rule 7 (Optional
Agreements). Waivers, pursuant to Rule 8, shall not be required for
assignments made under this Rule 6(g). If the player sustains a new
injury or a reoccurrence of an injury while on a rehabilitation
assignment, separate written consent from the player and approval
from the Commissioner’s Office is required for a subsequent
rehabilitation assignment. The Office of the Commissioner will
carefully scrutinize any claim by a Club that a new rehabilitation
assignment period is warranted if the player has not been returned
from the original rehabilitation assignment for at least five days fora position player and seven days for a pitcher. A Club that decides
to return a player from an injury assignment should notify the94

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 6(g)Commissioner’s Office at the time a decision is made to end therehabilitation assignment. If it was determined that a new injury orreoccurrence of the player’s original injury occurred, the player’s
five or seven day “down” period would begin on the date theCommissioner’s Office was originally notified. The player would
then be eligible for a new 20 or 30 days rehabilitation assignment,
pending the completion of the five- or seven-day period and thecompletion of a new SFD. If it was determined that there was no
new injury or reoccurrence of the player’s original injury, then theplayer would return on rehabilitation assignment without any
interruption.
(B) Two-Way Players. Except as otherwise provided below,
Two-Way players (as defined in Rule 2(b)(2)(D)) shall qualify as
pitchers for purposes of this Rule 6(g)(1). With the written consent
of the player and the prior approval of the Commissioner’s Office,the contract of a Major League player designated as a Two-Way
player in the current season shall, while remaining on the Major
League Active List, be permitted to participate in official Minor
League games for the purpose of injury rehabilitation for a
maximum of 20 days in the case of an injury that only limits theplayer’s ability to perform as a position player, and 30 days in thecase of an injury that only limits the player’s ability to perform as apitcher. The Commissioner’s Office will determine the appropriate
number of days permitted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, aplayer recovering from UCL reconstruction surgery may consent to
up to three consecutive ten-day extensions of participation with theapproval of the Commissioner’s Office and the Association.
Provided the player remains on the Major League Active List inaccordance with all other Major League Rules, the Two-Way player
also is permitted to participate in Major League games during theperiod of the rehabilitation assignment.
(2) Minor League. The contract of a Minor League player on an
Injured List in a higher classification may be assigned to a Club in theHigh-A or Low-A classification, for the purpose of rehabilitation of an
injury; provided, however, there shall not be more than three suchplayers on a High-A or Low-A Club at any one time. There shall be nolimit to the number of players who may be assigned to the Spring
Training Complex for the purposes of rehabilitation of an injury.
Rehabilitation assignments, per injury, shall not exceed 20 days in thecase of non-pitchers or 30 days in the case of pitchers. Effect on Limits:
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 6(g) to 7(a)The player shall continue to be counted towards the Domestic Reserve
List limit of the assignor Club and will continue to receive salary andbenefits as such. The player shall not count against the player limits of
the assignee Club.
(h) Minor League Transfers(1) Players may be transferred to and from all affiliates, including
the Spring Training Complex. Once assigned to an affiliate, the player
may not remain with or travel to any affiliate other than the assigned
affiliate. Upon notification, transferred player will count against theassignee Club’s Active List limits immediately, if applicable, and mustleave the original affiliate at the time of the transfer.
(2) Spring Training Complex Transfers. Players transferred to the
Spring Training Complex must remain assigned to the Spring Training
Complex for a minimum of 7 days from the date of the transfer, unlessthere has been an intervening change in circumstances that has been
approved by the Office of the Commissioner, or the Basic Agreement
permits the player to be selected or assigned to the Club’s Major League
roster during that period.
(3) International Players Assigned to the Domestic Reserve List.
Once a player on the Reserve List of an affiliate that is located outsideof the United States (i.e., Dominican Summer League) is transferred toa domestic Minor League affiliate (including the Club’s Spring Training
Complex), that player immediately counts as part of the Domestic
Reserve List Limit and cannot be transferred back to an affiliate
outside of the United States, unless pre-approved by theCommissioner’s Office.
Rule 7OPTIONAL AGREEMENTS(a) DEFINITION. An assignment of a player contract must in
general be an absolute assignment, but in a limited number ofcases, as specified in Rule 7(c), the assignor Club may reserve theright to recall, which must be exercised on or before the day
following the last day of the Major League championship season.
Such an assignment shall be designated as an optional assignment
and is permitted between a Major League Club and a Minor
League Club; provided that following the completion of theseasons (including postseasons) of all Minor League affiliates to96

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 7(a) to 7(b)which a player may be assigned in accordance with Rule 7(c), a
Major League Club may option that player to its Spring Training
Complex. Players optionally assigned to a Minor League Club willcount against the Domestic Reserve List limit, described inRule 2(a)(2)(B), once the player reports to the assignee Club. An
optional assignment must be filed with and approved by theCommissioner.
(b) LIMITATIONS ON RECALL.
(1) 10-Day/15-Day Rule. Except as required by Rule 7(a), a Major
League Club may not recall to the Active Roster a player who is on
optional assignment until 10 days of the championship season haveelapsed for a position player or 15 days have elapsed for a pitcher fromthe date of the optional assignment (see Article XXI(B) of the Basic
Agreement regarding counting days on option), unless the Club obtains
prior approval from the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee
and one of the following conditions applies:(A) the optional player’s contract is being recalled for the
purpose of replacing on a Club’s Active List(i) a player placed on a Major League Injured List, theMajor League Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List,
the Major League Paternity Leave List or the Restricted List
pursuant to Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention
and Treatment Program or Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual
Assault and Child Abuse Policy subsequent to the date theoptional player’s contract had been assigned to the optionee
Club; or(ii) a player assigned to another Major League Club;(B) the optional player is being assigned to the Active List ofanother Major League Club;(C) the Major League Club had assigned the player on theoptional assignment within 24 hours after having acquired theplayer in an assignment from another Major League Club, theplayer had been on optional assignment with the other Major
League Club at the time of the assignment and the Major League
Club had not placed the player on its Major League Active List
during the 24-hour period following the assignment; or
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 7(b)(D) the optioned player is being recalled for the purpose of
replacing a player on a Club’s Postseason Roster in accordancewith Rule 41(a).
Two-Way players (as defined in Rule 2(b)(2)(D)) shall qualify as
pitchers for purposes of Rule 7(b)(1).
In the event a player is recalled to the Major League Active Rosterand subsequently optioned prior to the occurrence of a game that has
been cancelled or postponed, any accrual of days under thisRule 7(b)(1) prior to the recall shall not be interrupted.
In the event a player is selected to the Major League Active Rosterand subsequently optioned prior to the occurrence of a game that has
been cancelled or postponed, the 10-Day/15-Day Rule shall not apply tothat assignment.
(2) Certain Optionee Clubs. The recall of an optional player for
immediate service during the optionee’s championship season shall be
prohibited in any case in which the recalling Club owns or is otherwise
affiliated with any other Club in the League of which the optionee Clubis a member, unless the Commissioner approves the recall.
(3) Waivers. The recall of an optional player’s contract for purposesof requesting waivers under Rule 8 is not required. Waivers may berequested in regard to a player on an optional assignment, see Rule 8(a)(Definitions), without requiring recall of the player and without making
the player ineligible to participate in games for the Minor League Club
to which such player may be assigned.
(4) Recall Not to Report. A Major League Club may recall a player
not to report for the purpose of assigning such player to another Major
League Club. A Major League Club may recall a player not to report
after the conclusion of the championship season of the Minor League
Club to which the player is on optional assignment but no later than the
day following the last day of the Major League championship season.
See Rule 7(a) (Definition). In the event that a Major League Club
acquires a player on an optional assignment following the completionof the seasons (including postseasons) of all Minor League affiliates towhich a player may be assigned, the Club may direct the player not toreport only if such player does not have any Major League service inthe current season. Players directed not to report in accordance withthis Rule 7(b)(4) shall not accrue Major League salary or service.
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 7(b) to 7(c)(5) Notice to Player. A Major League Club recalling an optioned
player shall give the player written notice of such recall. The notice shallbe on a form approved by the Major League Executive Council. A copyof such notices shall be given to the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee.
(c) LIMITATIONS ON OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENTS. An optional
assignment of a player contract shall be permitted for not more than threeseasons between Major League Clubs and Minor League Clubs (or Spring
Training facilities); provided that if the player is optioned for less than atotal of 20 days in one season, as determined by the date(s) of the optional
assignment(s) and recall(s), respectively, the player shall not be charged with
an optional transfer in connection with the foregoing limitation.
EXCEPTION: Contracts of Major League players who, prior tocommencement of the current season, have been credited with less than fiveseasons in the Major and Minor Leagues (excluding service on the Military,
Disqualified, Restricted, Voluntarily Retired and Ineligible Lists) shall be
eligible for a fourth optional assignment during that season. For purposes ofthis Rule 7(c), 90 days or more on the Active List or Development List
during a championship season (including time spent on optional assignment
to a Spring Training Complex following the completion of the seasons(including postseasons) of its Minor League affiliates), shall constitute a“season of service.” While time spent on any Inactive List other than theDevelopment List shall not be counted toward the 90 days required before aseason’s service is credited, if a player is placed on the Injured List after theplayer has been credited with 30 or more days of service in any particularseason, the Injured List time shall be counted to the player’s credit.
No optional agreement shall be permitted between Major League
Clubs. No optional assignment shall be permitted for a player unless theplayer is under contract for service in the season for which the optional
agreement is effective.
If, prior to an optional assignment, a player had at least three months
active service in a Minor League classification, the player may not be
optionally assigned to a lower classification unless the player is paid at thesalary rate for the higher classification from which the player entered the
Major Leagues.
Except as described in Rule 7(d) and 7(e), there are no restrictions on
the number of players that may be optionally assigned to Minor League
Clubs at the Class AAA or Class AA levels or, on or after September 1, the99

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 7(c) to 7(d)Spring Training Complex. Prior to September 1, a player cannot be assigned
optionally to a Minor League Club at the Class High-A, Class Low-A,
Spring Training Complex, or International Rookie classification if theassignee Club would exceed the length of service restrictions listed below.
(1) Length of Service. For purposes of this Rule 7(c)(1), a player
shall be credited with a year of “Minor League Service” for eachchampionship season in which the player was on the Active,
Development or Injured List of a Major League or Minor League Clubfor at least 30 days, provided, however, that a player who has spent one
or more championship seasons on an Injured List shall have one year of“Minor League Service” subtracted from the player’s total. A player’stime on the Active, Development or Injured List of a Minor League
Club in an International Rookie classification Minor League entirely
outside the United States and Canada shall not count toward “Minor
League Service” for purposes of Rules 7(c)(1)(A) through (C).
(A) Class High-A: No more than two players and one
player-coach on the Active List may have six or more years ofprior Minor League Service.
(B) Class Low-A: No more than two players on the Active
List may have five or more years of prior Minor League Service.
(C) Spring Training Complex (in the United States or
Canada): No more than three players on the Active List may havefour or more years of prior Minor League Service.
(D) International Rookie (entirely outside the United States
and Canada): No player on the Active List may have four ormore years of prior Minor League Service.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Rule 7(c), a player
may play during one season without regard to prior length of service if theplayer is a pitcher who is changing positions to become a non-pitcher or is a
non-pitcher changing positions to become a pitcher.
Any player playing pursuant to this exception may not pitch if theplayer was formerly a pitcher and may not play at a position other thanpitcher if the player was formerly a non-pitcher.
(d) NUMBER. The maximum number of optional agreements that any
Major League Club may have in effect at any one time shall be 15 before
September 1, and 12 on or after September 1.
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 7(e)(e) CLOSED PERIOD. No player shall be transferred to a Minor
League Club on an optional assignment during the period from the close of
the regularly scheduled season of the optionee Club, including postseason,and the first permissible date in Spring Training for the next season as
determined under the terms of the Basic Agreement except as follows:(1) From September 1 through the end of the Major League
championship season (including any tiebreaker games), a Club may
option players to any Minor League affiliate permissible under
Rule 7(c) that is participating in its regular season or postseason, except
the Club’s Spring Training Complex, and those players will not receive
Major League salary or service during the period of the optional
assignment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, following the completionof the seasons of its Minor League affiliates (including theirpostseasons) to which it would be permissible under Rule 7(c) to assign
a player, a Club may option that player to its Spring Training Complex,
but he will receive Major League service (but not Major League salary)for the period of the optional assignment. An optional assignment
occurring on the day that a Minor League affiliate participated in a
regular season or postseason game shall be deemed to be an assignment
made during the affiliate’s season.
(2) Any player optioned on or after September 1 will receive Major
League service regardless of the timing of his option if:(A) the player was continuously on the Active Roster or
Injured List of a Major League Club from June 1 through the dateof the assignment; and(B) the assignment would deprive the player of sufficient
service to become eligible for salary arbitration under
Article VI(E)(1) of the Basic Agreement or free agency under
Article XX(B)(1) of the Basic Agreement immediately followingthat season.
Nothing contained in this Rule 7 shall affect a Club’s ability to direct aplayer who ends the Minor League season (including his postseason) on
optional assignment to work out at the Club’s Spring Training Complex, in
the Club’s home city, or on the road with the Club, in accordance with
Attachment 15 to the Basic Agreement, without the player receiving Major
or Minor League service. Moreover, nothing herein shall be construed asprohibiting a Major League Club from assigning a player’s contract to a
Minor League Club at any time for the purpose of injury rehabilitation asprovided in Rule 6(g).
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 7(f) to 7(j)(f) SALARY ARREARS. A Club assigning the contract of a player
optionally shall be responsible to such player for salary due to the player.
(g) SALARY ON OPTION OR RECALL. Upon optional assignment,a player shall be paid at the rate stated in the player’s Major League contract
for Minor League service, or at the minimum Minor League service rate set
forth in the Basic Agreement, whichever is applicable. Upon the recall of an
optional player, the player’s contract with the recalling Club, which was the
subject of the optional assignment, shall be in full force and effect as to all of
its terms and conditions.
(h) SALARY BETWEEN SEASON OPENINGS. A Club that, after
contracting with a player for a season, makes an optional assignment ofsuch contract to a Minor League Club whose championship season
commences after that of the assigning Club must pay the player at the rateof the player’s assigned contract from the time it would have become
effective (but for the assignment) up to the day the player’s salary starts withthe player’s new Club, provided the player promptly reports and gives service
to the Club to which the player’s contract is assigned. A Club that assigns aplayer’s contract optionally to a Minor League Club whose championshipseason commences prior to start of the assignor Club’s season must pay theplayer at the rate of salary for service with the assignee from the date theplayer reports to the assignee Club.
(i) PLAYER LOANS.
(1) Prohibited at Major League Level. All right or claim of a
Major League Club to a player, unless it is under an optional agreement
approved by the Commissioner, shall cease upon outright assignment toanother organization. No arrangement between Clubs for the loan or
return of a player shall be binding between the parties to it orrecognized by other Clubs. This Rule 7(i) does not authorize theselection of such players, or other players, from an owned or affiliatedClub under Rule 5.
(2) Permitted at Minor League Level. With the prior approval of
the Commissioner, Clubs may arrange for the loan and return, prior to
November 1 of the same year, for players under Minor League
contracts during the championship season.
(j) REACQUIRING PLAYER.

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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 7(j)(1) If the player’s contract has been assigned outright by a Major
League Club to a Minor League Club, the player’s contract may bereacquired at any time during the year by the assignor Major League
Club without restrictions, except:(A) during the closed period set forth in Rule 6(d); or(B) within 10 days (15 days for a pitcher) from the date of themost recent assignment to the Minor League Club, if theassignment was made during the championship season. Two-Way
players (as defined in Rule 2(b)(2)(D)) shall qualify as pitchers forpurposes of this Rule 7(j)(1)(B).
(2) The restriction in Rule 7(j)(1)(B) shall not apply, and a Major
League Club may reacquire for immediate service the contract of an
outrighted player prior to the expiration of the 10-day period (15-day
period for a pitcher) from the date of the most recent assignment to the
Minor League Club, if the Major League Club obtains prior approval
from the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee and one of thefollowing conditions applies:(A) the outrighted player’s contract is being reacquired for the
purpose of replacing on a Club’s Active List(i) a player placed on a Major League Injured List, theMajor League Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List,
the Paternity List, or the Restricted List pursuant to Major
League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment
Program or Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault andChild Abuse Policy subsequent to the date the outrighted
player’s contract had been assigned to the assignee Club; or(ii) a player assigned to another Major League Club;(B) the outrighted player is being assigned to the Active Listof another Major League Club.
(C) the outrighted player is being reacquired for the purposeof replacing on a Club’s Post-Season Roster a player in accordancewith Rule 41(a).
Two-Way players (as defined in Rule 2(b)(2)(D)) shall qualify as
pitchers for purposes of this Rule 7(j)(2).
(3) In the event that a player has Major League options remaining
at the time of the player’s optional assignment to a Minor League Club(or Spring Training Complex) and the contract is reacquired by the103

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 7(j) to 8(a)assignor Club after 20 or more days of the Major League championshipseason have elapsed from the date of the assignment, such player shallbe credited with a Major League option.
(4) A player will not be credited with a year’s optional service untilcommencement of that year’s closed period prohibiting optional
assignment of player contracts, regardless of the number of times theplayer’s contract may be optioned during that year.
(5) No player shall be credited with more than one season of
optional service in a single season regardless of the number of times theplayer’s contract may be assigned optionally for service in a single
season.
(6) No Club shall be charged with more than one optional
assignment of a player’s contract regardless of the number of times thecontract is optionally assigned for service in a single season.
Rule 8
MAJOR LEAGUE WAIVERS(a) DEFINITIONS.
(1) Generally. A waiver is a permission granted for certain
assignments of player contracts or for the unconditional release of a
Major League player (see Rule 9). There are two types of waivers:
Outright assignment waivers and Unconditional Release waivers.
Waiver requests are always irrevocable. See Rule 8(d)(2) (Restrictions on
Waiver Requests).
(2) Outright Assignment Waivers. Outright assignment waivers
must be sought and obtained in order for a Major League Club toassign a Major League player outright (i.e., without right of recall) to a
Minor League club. Outright assignment waivers are obtained only
after each Major League Club has been given the opportunity to accept
the assignment of that player contract, and none has filed a claim
requesting assignment of that contract. Once obtained such permission
is granted either for that entire waiver period or for seven days
(depending upon the time the waivers are obtained), unless the player ison an optional assignment. See Rule 8(b)(4) (Grant of Waivers andEffective Periods). Outright assignment waivers may be requested andobtained in regard to a player who is on an optional assignment,
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 8(a) to 8(b)without the requesting Club having to recall such player. Any outrightwaiver request in regard to a player on an optional assignment shall
include a notation that the player is on an optional assignment.
(3) Unconditional Release Waivers. Unconditional Release waivers
must be sought and obtained in order for a Major League Club tounconditionally release a Major League player at any time. See
Rule 9(b) (Major League Unconditional Release). Once Unconditional
Release waivers are obtained, the player is released in accordance with
Rule 9(b)(7) (Notice of Termination If No Claims).
(b) THE PROCEDURES FOR OBTAINING WAIVERS. The
procedures for obtaining waivers are as follows:(1) Request. A Club desiring a waiver notifies the Commissioner or
the Commissioner’s designee, in writing or by approved electronicmeans, by 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time during any permissible day, as set
forth in Rules 8(b)(1)(A), (B), and (C), designating in its notice which of
the two types of waivers (Outright or Unconditional Release) it isrequesting. No Club may give notice of its request by telephone. Onceregistered with the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee, nowaiver request may be canceled. See Rule 8(d) for certain restrictions on
waiver requests.
(A) Spring Training/In-Season Waivers. During the period
beginning with the earliest date that a Major League Club ispermitted to invite a Major League player to spring training
pursuant to the Basic Agreement with the Major League BaseballPlayers Association (“Spring Training Voluntary Report Date”)
and ending with the last day of the championship season for any
Major League Club, inclusive, any day, including Saturdays,
Sundays and holidays, shall be a permissible day, within themeaning of Rule 8(b)(1), except as provided for in Rule 8(b)(1)(C).
(B) Off-Season Waivers. During the period between the last
day of the championship season for any Major League Club andthe Spring Training Voluntary Report Date, a permissible day
within the meaning of Rule 8(b)(1) shall be any Monday to Friday.
Notices received after 2:00 p.m. on Friday shall be considered asreceived on Monday morning. Waiver requests will not be accepted
on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays as published by notice from theCommissioner’s Office. Such requests shall be deemed received themorning of the following business day.
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 8(b)(C) End-of-Spring Training Waivers. During the four-day
period ending with the day that the first championship season
game is played by any Major League Club (unless the firstchampionship season game is played on a Wednesday, in whichcase a five-day period shall apply), a permissible day within themeaning of Rule 8(b)(1) shall be any Monday to Friday. Notices
received after 2:00 p.m. on Friday shall be considered as received
on Monday morning. Waiver requests shall not be accepted on
Saturdays, Sundays or holidays as published by notice from theCommissioner’s Office. Such requests shall be deemed received themorning of the following business day.
Once a Club requests waivers with respect to a player, the Club ispermitted to make certain transactions and not permitted to make certain
other transactions with respect to such player before the expiration of thewaiver claiming period, as set forth in Rule 8(b)(3) (Claiming Period), as
follows:(D) If a Club requests Outright assignment waivers withrespect to a player, such Club is permitted to designate such player
for assignment during such period, subject to all other rules andrestrictions contained in the Major League Rules. See Rule 2(c)(5)(Designated Players).
(E) If a Club requests Outright assignment waivers withrespect to a player, such Club is permitted, during such time period
and subject to all other rules and restrictions contained in the
Major League Rules and the Basic Agreement in effect between the
Major League Clubs and the Major League Baseball Players
Association, to option such player, recall such player from optional
assignment, transfer such player’s optional assignment from anaffiliated Minor League Club to another affiliated Minor League
Club or transfer such player’s rehabilitation assignment from anaffiliated Minor League Club to another affiliated Minor League
Club. See Rule 8(b)(4) (Grant of Waivers and Effective Periods) for
the duration of waivers that are obtained while a player is on an
optional assignment.
(F) If a Club requests Outright assignment waivers withrespect to a player, such Club is permitted, during such time period
and subject to all other rules and restrictions contained in the
Major League Rules and the Basic Agreement in effect between the106

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 8(b)Major League Clubs and the Major League Baseball Players
Association, to reinstate such player from the Injured List. See
Rules 2(c)(1) (Major League Injured List) and 8(d)(6) (Restrictions
on Waiver Requests).
(G) If a Club requests Unconditional Release waivers while an
Outright assignment waiver request is pending, the Commissioner
or the Commissioner’s designee shall cancel the different type of
waiver request. The Unconditional Waiver request shall remain.
(H) If a Club requests Outright assignment waivers withrespect to a player, such Club is not permitted during such time
period to assign such player outright to a Minor League Club or toanother Major League Club.
(I) If a Club requests Outright assignment waivers withrespect to a player on the Injured List, such Club is not permitted
to assign such player to a rehabilitation assignment. See Rules 6(g)(Injury Rehabilitation; Major League) and 8(d)(6) (Restrictions on
Waiver Requests).
Permitted Transactions While an Outright Assignment Waiver Request Is
Pending*
Contemplated Transaction

Designate for assignment
OptionPermitted
Permitted

Recall from optional assignment
Transfer optional assignment
Transfer injury rehabilitation assignment
Reinstate from Injured List
Unconditional Release
Outright to Minor League Club
Outright to Major League Club (i.e., trade)
Injury rehabilitation assignment

107

Permitted
Permitted
Permitted
Permitted
Permitted (waiver
request cancelled)
Not permitted
Not permitted
Not permitted

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 8(b)*In each instance, a contemplated transaction is permitted only to theextent that it is permitted by all other rules and restrictions contained in
the Major League Rules and the Basic Agreement in effect between the
Major League Clubs and the Major League Baseball Players
Association.
(2) Notification to Clubs. The Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee shall notify all other Major League Clubs of
the request for waivers, noting which type of waiver (Outright or
Unconditional Release) is being requested.
(3) Claiming Period. The period in which a Club may claim aplayer on whom waivers have been sought is as follows:(A) Spring Training/In-Season Waivers. Except as provided forin Rule 8(b)(3)(B), the period in which a Club may claim a player
on whom waivers have been sought is as follows:
Waivers Requested by
2:00 p.m.
Eastern Time on:
MondayTuesday
Wednesday

Waiver Claim Must Be
Entered by
1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on:
WednesdayThursdayFridayThursdayFridaySaturday
SundaySaturday
SundayMondayTuesday(B) Off-Season and End-of-Spring Training Waivers. When
waivers are requested during the periods set forth in Rules
8(b)(1)(B) and 8(b)(1)(C), the period in which a Club may claim aplayer on whom waivers have been sought is as follows:
Waivers Requested by
2:00 p.m.

Waiver Claim Must Be
Entered by

Eastern Time on:
Monday1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on:
Wednesday

Tuesday

Thursday108

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 8(b) to 8(c)WednesdayThursdayFridayFridayMondayTuesday

The Commissioner’s Office may publish a notice of holidays for which
the waiver claiming period may be extended, if the last date on which a
waiver claim may be entered would otherwise fall on such a holiday.
(4) Grant of Waivers and Effective Periods. In the event no claims
are made before the deadline, waivers of the type requested are
obtained, and the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee shallso notify the requesting Club. Outright assignment waivers obtained
between September 1 and the 30th day of the following championshipseason (as determined by the first scheduled championship season
game, excluding international openers), inclusive, shall be in effect until
1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the seventh day after the date they wereobtained, or until 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the 30th day of thechampionship season, whichever comes first. Outright assignment
waivers obtained on and after the 31st day of the championship season
shall be in effect until one hour following the Major League Trade
Deadline described in Rule 6(d)(3); and outright assignment waivers
obtained after the Major League Trade Deadline shall be in effect until
midnight, Eastern Time on August 31, inclusive.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, outright waivers obtained while aplayer is on an optional assignment shall be in effect only until 72 hours
after the expiration of the waiver claiming period.
The expiration date of Outright assignment waivers shall be statedin the waiver bulletin.
(c) WAIVER CLAIMS AND AWARDING OF CONTRACTS.
(1) Notice of Claim by Club. A Club desiring assignment of aplayer contract on which waivers have been requested shall notify
the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee, in writing or byapproved electronic means, of its claim before the claiming
deadline published in the waiver bulletin in which the player’s nameappeared. No Club may give notice of its claim by telephone. Oncea claim is registered with the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s
designee, it may not be canceled.

109

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 8(c)(2) Notice to Requesting Club. At the conclusion of theclaiming period, the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee
shall notify the requesting Club of any claims.
(3) Assignment of Player. If a waiver claim is made, thecontract shall be assigned in the following manner:(A) If only one claim is entered, assignment shall be madeto that claiming Club.
(B) If more than one Club makes a claim, assignment
shall be to the Club with the lowest winning percentage among
the claiming Clubs, without regard to the League of theclaiming Clubs.
During the first 30 days of a championship season (asdetermined by the date of the first game scheduled for either
Major League in that season, excluding international openers),
percentages of games won at the close of the preceding
championship season, without regard to post-season results, shallbe used instead of the current championship season percentages ofgames won. At all other times during the championship season,
percentages of games won shall be based on the result of playthrough the date prior to the expiration of the claiming period.
During the off-season, the final percentages of games won at theclose of the last preceding championship season shall control,
without regard to post-season results.
If two or more claiming Clubs are tied with thelowest percentage of games won, the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee shall make the award(i) to the tied Club that is in the same League as the Club
making the waiver request; or,(ii) if the tied Clubs are in the same League, then to thetied Club with the lower percentage of games won at the closeof the prior championship season, without regard to
post-season results. If the tied Clubs
hadanidentical percentage of games won at the close of thepreceding championship season, the award shall be made to
the tied Club with the lower percentage of games won in thenext prior championship season, without regard to110

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 8(c) to 8(d)post-season results, with any remaining ties resolved bycontinuing to examine the tied Clubs’ respective championshipseason winning percentages in each preceding prior year, until
the tie is broken.
(4) Consideration for Assignment of Player.
(A) When Unconditional Release Waivers Are Requested. The
consideration for a player claimed after Unconditional Releasewaivers are requested shall be the consideration set forth inRule 9(b)(5) (Waiver Claims and Consideration).
(B) Selected or Draft-Excluded Player. The consideration to
be paid for an award on waiver claim, when such claim is not an
Unconditional Release waiver claim, of the contract of a player
selected at the preceding Rule 5 Selection Meeting or excluded
from draft at such meeting in accordance with Rule 5(h) shall be
50 percent of the price paid for selection under Rule 5.
(C) Other Player. The consideration for the assignment as aresult of an Outright waiver claim of any player contract otherthan ones described in Rules 8(c)(4)(A) (When Unconditional
Release Waivers Are Requested) and 8(c)(4)(B) (Selected or
Draft-Excluded Player) shall be $50,000.
(d) RESTRICTIONS ON WAIVER REQUESTS. The following
restrictions on waiver requests shall apply:(1) A Club shall not request any type of waivers on more thanseven players on any one day.
(2) A waiver request shall state that it is irrevocable and that it may
not be withdrawn in response to a claim by another Club.
(3) Outright assignment waivers may not be requested on thecontract of a player selected pursuant to Rule 5 during the period
beginning with the player’s selection and ending 25 days prior to the
opening of the championship season of the year following the player’s
selection. If waivers are obtained, no assignment may be made pursuant
to such waivers until 20 days prior to the opening of the championshipseason of said year.
(4) Outright assignment waivers may not be requested on thecontract of a player who stands to become a draft-excluded player, as
described in Rule 5(h), during the period beginning five days following
111

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 8(d)the last day of the World Series and ending 25 days prior to the openingof the championship season of the year following the year the player
became a draft-excluded player. If waivers are obtained, no assignment
may be made pursuant to such waivers until 20 days prior to the
opening of the championship season of said year.
(5) Outright assignment waivers may not be requested on a player
who appears on the Military, Voluntarily Retired, Bereavement/Family
Medical Emergency, Paternity, Restricted, Suspended, Disqualified,Ineligible List, or Temporarily Inactive List until the player has been
reinstated to the Active List of the player’s Club. See Rule 9(b)(3) for
restrictions on Unconditional Release waiver requests.
(6) Outright assignment waivers may not be requested on a Major
League Injured List Player during the championship season unless theminimum period of inactivity as prescribed in Rule 2(c)(1) (Major
League Injured Lists) has expired and the requesting Club guarantees
that the player has recovered from the player’s ailment and is capable ofperforming at the player’s accustomed level. If waivers are obtained onsuch a player, the requesting Club shall, within 72 hours, assign theplayer outright or restore the player to its Active List.
(7) Outright assignment waivers shall not be requested on a player
during any period in which waivers are already in effect, with the
exception that waivers may be requested two permissible days prior to
the date on which such existing waivers expire, so that waivers, if
secured, will be in effect as early as possible in the subsequent waiver
period. A waiver claim made on any waiver request permitted by thisRule 8(d)(7) shall immediately cancel the waivers existing when thesubsequent waiver request was made.
(8) From the Spring Training Voluntary Report Date through thelast day of the championship season for any Major League Club, aClub may not ask Outright assignment waivers on a player claimed on
Outright assignment waivers within 48 hours after the time of theaward of the claim or until the player has spent at least one game on the
Major League Active List, whichever is earlier. During the period
between the last day of the championship season for any Major League
Club and the Spring Training Voluntary Report date, a Club may not
ask Outright assignment waivers on a player claimed on Outrightassignment waivers within 7 days after the time of the award of theclaim.

112

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 8(e) to 8(g)(e) EFFECT ON WAIVERS OF TRANSFER OF OPTIONALASSIGNMENT. No waivers are required when a Major League Club
assigns a player who is on an optional assignment from one Minor League
Club to another Minor League Club.
(f) PENALTIES. The waiver rules are for the benefit of the players aswell as the Clubs. No Club, therefore, shall solicit another Club, directly or
indirectly, to claim or not to claim a player on whom waivers have beenrequested, nor shall a Club otherwise act in concert with any Club or Clubsin the operation of the waiver system. In addition to any remedy that players
injured by a violation of this Rule 8(f) may be awarded pursuant to remedies
afforded by a collective bargaining agreement between players and Major
League Clubs, the Commissioner shall have authority to impose penalties forsuch conduct.
(g) PLAYER LIMIT.
(1) In the case of award of a player on waiver claim to anotherClub already having the limit of players prescribed by Rule 2(a)(2)(Major League Club Limits), such Club must immediately upon noticeof award give notice of its intention to release or assign the contract ofa player or players in accordance with Rule 2(c)(5) (Designated Players)
or transfer to or place on the 60-day Injured List, in accordance with
Rule 2(c), an Injured player, or a combination thereof. Such designatedplayer or players may not be the same player obtained from the waiverclaim award. In addition, a Club may not designate a claimed player
within 48 hours after the time of the award of the claim or until theplayer has spent at least one game on the Major League Active List,
whichever is earlier.
(2) In the case of award of a player on waiver claim to anotherClub already having the limit of players prescribed by Rule 2(b) (Active
Lists), such Club must, upon the reporting of the player claimed, givenotice of its intention to release or assign the contract of a player(s) inaccordance with Rule 2(c)(5) (Designated Players). Such designatedplayer may not be the same player obtained from the waiver claim
award. In addition, a Club may not designate a claimed player within 48
hours after the time of the award of the claim or until the player has
spent at least one game on the Major League Active List, whichever isearlier.

113

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 8(g) to 9(b)(3) The Commissioner’s Office will prohibit any transaction (orseries of transactions) that, in the judgment of the Commissioner’s
Office, appears (or appear) designed to circumvent the designatedplayer prohibition contained herein.
Rule 9TERMINATION OF PLAYER-CLUB RELATION(a) Termination of Player-Club Relation. The relation between a Cluband a player created by contract may be terminated before the expiration of
the specified term either by the Club (by release or assignment or, in the caseof a Minor League Uniform Player Contract, by other termination) or by
the player as provided in the contract.
(b) MAJOR LEAGUE UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE.
(1) WAIVER REQUIREMENTS. No Major League Club may
unconditionally release a player unless it has tendered and received awaiver of the contract from all other Major League Clubs.
(2) PROCEDURES FOR OBTAINING WAIVERS. The
procedures for obtaining unconditional release waivers are as follows:(A) A waiver request may be made at any time during the year,
and must state that it is for the purpose of unconditional release.
(B) Waiver requests will be processed in accordance with theprocedures in Rule 8 (Major League Waivers) and may not be
withdrawn after being registered with the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee.
(C) Waiver claims must be entered in accordance with
Rule 8(c) (Waiver Claims and Awarding of Contracts).
(3) RESTRICTIONSWAIVER REQUESTS.

ON

UNCONDITIONALRELEASE(A) No Major League Club may release a player on the
Military or Ineligible Lists unless the player is first reinstated fromsuch list to the Active List.
(B) No Major League Club may release a player on the
Voluntarily Retired List without first having obtained the approvalof the Commissioner.
114

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 9(b)(4) EFFECT ON PLAYER LIMITS. On the day of the waiver
request, the player shall be advised in writing that the Major League
Club has requested waivers for the purpose of unconditional releaseand the date on which the waiver request will expire. The player shall be
removed from all player limits at the time that the waiver request istransmitted to the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee.
(5) WAIVER CLAIMS AND CONSIDERATION. Any other
Major League Club may claim the contract at a waiver price of $1 andthe priority of claim shall be determined in accordance with
Rule 8(c)(3) (Waiver Claims and Awarding of Contracts).
(6) NOTICE TO PLAYER OF WAIVER CLAIMS, AND RIGHTOF PLAYER TO TERMINATE CONTRACT. At the expiration of thewaiver period, the player may contact the Major League Club todetermine whether the player’s contract has been claimed.
If the player’s contract is claimed, the Major League Club shallpromptly and before any assignment notify the player that the contract
has been claimed.
Within five days after receipt of notice from a Major League Clubthat a player’s contract has been claimed, the player shall be entitled by
written notice to the Major League Club to terminate the player’s
contract on the date of the player’s notice of termination. If the player
fails to notify the Major League Club, the player’s contract shall beassigned to the claiming Major League Club entitled to the assignment
under Rule 8(c)(3) (Waiver Claims and Awarding of Contracts).
(7) NOTICE OF TERMINATION IF NO CLAIMS. If theplayer’s contract is not claimed, the player is a free agent, and the Major
League Club shall give the player notice of termination.
(A) Telephone notice shall be effective immediately upon
communication with the player.
(B) Written notice, if handed to the player personally, shall beeffective immediately upon delivery to the player.
(C) Written notice, if mailed to the player, shall be effective
three days from the date of mailing to the last address that theplayer has supplied to the Major League Club.
Other procedures for unconditional release may be agreed uponfrom time to time and set out in the current Basic Agreement between
the Major League Clubs and the Players Association.
115

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 9(b) to 9(c)(8) SALARY OBLIGATIONS. If a contract is terminated by theplayer, as provided in Rule 9(b)(6) (Notice to Player of Waiver Claims,
and Right of Player to Terminate Contract), the player shall be entitled
to compensation through the date of the player’s notice of terminationand not thereafter.
If the player’s contract is not claimed, upon effective terminationof the contract according to Rule 9(b)(7) (Notice of Termination If No
Claims), the player shall be entitled to termination pay in accordancewith the terms of the contract.
If the player’s contract is claimed and not terminated by the player,
the Major League Club shall give notice to the player of the assignmentof the player’s contract. The assignee Major League Club shall be liable
to the player for payments accruing after the date of such notice ofassignment.
(9) RE-SIGNING OF RELEASED PLAYERS. A player may be
re-signed by the releasing Major League Club, except that:(A) A player released during the playing season shall not again
be placed on the Active List of the Major League Club during the
30-day period that starts on the date of the waiver request, unlessthe Major League Club has had less than the full complement ofactive players at all times from the date of the waiver request to thedate player is resigned; and,(B) Absent an intervening Major League contract withanother Club, any player who has been unconditionally released
between midnight, August 31 of any championship season and theopening day of the following championship season, may not be
re-signed to a Major League Uniform Player’s Contract by thereleasing Major League Club until May 15 of that following
championship season.
(c) MINOR LEAGUE FREE AGENCY.
(1) ELIGIBILITY FOR FREE AGENCY. At 5 p.m. Eastern Timeon October 15 or on the fifth day following the last day of the World
Series, whichever is later, of the last year of a player’s Minor League
Uniform Player Contract, the player’s Minor League Uniform Player
Contract shall expire and the player shall become a “Minor League free
agent” unless the player’s Major League Club has remaining options torenew the contract. As a “Minor League free agent,” the player may
116

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 9(c)negotiate and enter into a contract with any Major League Club
beginning on the first day that year that a Major League free agent iseligible to sign with a different Major League Club upon expiration of
the player’s Major League contract. A player who qualifies for Minor
League free agency under this Rule 9(c)(1), but who is not signatory to
an expiring Minor League contract because he was assigned outrightfollowing the conclusion of the Minor League season, shall be deemed
to have signed an expiring Minor League contract for that current year
for these purposes.
(2) SUCCESSOR CONTRACT. A player shall not become a“Minor League free agent” if the player has entered into a successor
contract with the player’s Major League Club or has been placed on the
Major League Reserve List before the expiration of the player’s Minor
League Uniform Player Contract on the date described in Rule 9(c)(1)(Eligibility for Free Agency). No negotiations for a successor contract
may take place before the completion of the Minor League player’s
championship season and playoffs or after 5 p.m. Eastern Time on thedate the player’s Minor League Uniform Player Contract expires, as set
forth in Rule 9(c)(1)(3) LIST OF ELIGIBLE PLAYERS. On or before August 1 ofeach year, the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee shallprepare and circulate a list of all players (on both Major and Minor
League Reserve Lists) whose Minor League Uniform Player Contracts
have expired or are scheduled to expire following that season. This list
shall be circulated immediately to all Major League Clubs. All players
on the list also shall be notified promptly that they may be eligible tobecome “Minor League free agents” on the following date described inRule 9(c)(1) (Eligibility for Free Agency).
(4) PETITIONS FOR CHANGES TO LIST. If a player believes
that the player was erroneously omitted from the list circulated by theCommissioner, the player may petition the Commissioner at any time
for a determination that the player is eligible to become a “Minor
League free agent” as of the date described in Rule 9(c)(1) (Eligibility
for Free Agency). If a Major League Club believes that a player that it
has under contract has been improperly included on the list circulatedby the Commissioner, it may petition the Commissioner for adetermination that its Minor League Uniform Player’s Contract withthe player will not terminate on the following date described inRule 9(c)(1) (Eligibility for Free Agency) and that the player is therefore
not eligible to become a “Minor League free agent.” The decision of the117

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 9(c) to 11(b)Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee regarding such apetition by a player or a Major League Club shall be final and shall not
be challenged in any federal or state court, administrative agency orother tribunal.
(5) FINAL LIST. As soon as practicable after the date on which
the player’s Minor League Uniform Player Contract expires, as set forthin Rule 9(c)(1) (Eligibility for Free Agency), the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee shall issue to all Major League Clubs a list of
all players who have become “Minor League free agents” on the datedescribed in Rule 9(c)(1) (Eligibility for Free Agency).
(6) RESTRICTIONS ON OUTRIGHTING POTENTIALMINOR LEAGUE FREE AGENT. A Club is not permitted to assign
outright a player who is a potential Minor League free agent to theroster of a Minor League Club on or after the date described inRule 9(c)(1) (Eligibility for Free Agency) unless such player has signed a
Major League contract for the next season or has signed a letter ofagreement with such Club describing the terms of a Major League
contract for the next season.
Rule 10
BULLETINSThe Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee shall transmit
bulletins of information covering all releases of players, assignment ofplayers’ contracts and all other matters of Major League interest or concern.
These bulletins shall be transmitted periodically to all Major League Clubs.
Rule 11
PLAYER SALARIES(a) FIRST-YEAR PLAYER. If a Club is assigned a non-drafted player
without previous Major or Minor League experience within the first seasonof the player’s service and the Club does not assume the salary stipulated in
the player’s original contract to the close of the contract’s term, the player
shall be declared a free agent.
(b) PART-SEASON SALARY. A player who is in the service of a Clubfor part of a season only, under a contract fixing a salary at a stipulated rate
for the season, shall receive such proportion of the stipulated season’s salaryas the number of days of the player’s actual employment bears to thenumber of days in the Club’s championship season.
118

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 11(c) to 12(b)(c) DELAY IN REPORTING. A player who fails to report for springtraining as directed by the player’s Club in accordance with the player’s
contract shall be required to get in playing condition to the satisfaction of
the team manager, and at his own expense, before the player’s salary shallcommence.
(d) MINIMUM SALARY. The minimum rate of payment to eachplayer for each day of service during the Major League season shall be as
agreed in the current Basic Agreement between the Major League Clubs andthe Players Association.
Minimum rates of payment for a player under a Major League Uniform
Player’s Contract assigned to a Minor League Club for service shall be as set
forth in the current Basic Agreement.
(e) RENEWAL OF CONTRACT. Upon request by a Major League
player to the Commissioner, the Commissioner may, on such conditions as
he stipulates, consent to such player accepting a renewal of his contract at asalary rate less than eighty (80) percent of the rate stipulated for thepreceding year, providing the salary rate is mutually agreed upon between
the club and the player prior to January 10 and providing the request forconsent to accept such salary is made by the player and received by theCommissioner prior to January 10.
Rule 12PLAYING OTHERWISE THAN FOR CLUB(a) WINTER LEAGUES. The Major League Clubs may establish one
or more Winter Leagues. The Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee
may, on behalf of the Major League Clubs, enter into an agreement oragreements with one or more Winter Leagues or associations of Winter
Leagues. Such agreements shall set forth the relationship between the Major
League Clubs and such Winter Leagues and Winter League clubs and shallset forth the terms and conditions under which Major League players andMinor League players under contract to Major League Clubs may
participate in Winter League play.
(b) EXHIBITION GAMES. No player shall participate in any
exhibition game during the period between the close of the Major League
championship season and the following training season, except that, with theconsent of the player’s Club and permission of the Commissioner, a player

119

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 12(b) to 12(e)may participate in exhibition games for a period of not less than 30 days,
such period to be designated annually by the Commissioner. Players who
participate in barnstorming during this period cannot engage in any Winter
League activities.
Player conduct, on and off the field, in connection with such
post-season exhibition games shall be subject to the discipline of theCommissioner. The Commissioner shall not approve of more than threeplayers of any one Club on the same team. The Commissioner shall not
approve of more than three players from the joint membership of the World
Series participants playing in the same game.
No player shall participate in any exhibition game with or against any
team which, during the current season or within one year, has had any
ineligible player or which is or has been during the current season or within
one year, managed and controlled by an ineligible player or by any person
who has listed an ineligible player under an assumed name or who otherwise
has violated, or attempted to violate, any exhibition game contract; or withor against any team which, during said season or within one year, has played
against teams containing such ineligible players, or so managed orcontrolled. Any player who participates in such a game in violation of thisRule 12 shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than $500, except that in
no event shall such fine be less than the consideration received by suchplayer for participating in such game.
No Club shall participate in any exhibition game with any club that has
been expelled or terminated from membership in a Major or Minor League.
(c) PENALTY. A player who, during the championship season,
participates in a game of Baseball with a Club other than the one with which
the player has contracted, shall be fined such amount as may be determinedby the Commissioner.
(d) ALL-STAR GAME. No Major League player shall participate inany all-star game, except the official Major League All-Star Game, in the
period from the beginning of the training period to the end of the regularseason.
No exhibition games shall be played by any Club following the Sunday
immediately preceding the All-Star Game until the day following thecompletion of the All-Star Game.
(e) HALL OF FAME GAME. On a date designated by the Directors of
the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc., subject to theapproval of the Commissioner, two Major League Clubs may play in an
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MLR 12(e) to 14(a)exhibition game at Cooperstown, New York, under the auspices of the
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. The participating Clubs
shall be selected by the Commissioner. Each participating Club’s reasonable
expenses incurred as a result of the Club’s having played the Hall of Fame
game shall be reimbursed by the Office of the Commissioner.
(f) FOREIGN LEAGUES. Provisions covering a player’s participationin certain foreign leagues, including Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and China (and aJapanese, Korean, Taiwanese, or Chinese player’s participation in the Major
or Minor Leagues) are embodied in protocol agreements available in Clubs’
offices. Details also may be obtained from the Commissioner’s Office.
Rule 13
CLAIM PRESENTATION(a) DISCIPLINE. All Clubs and players shall submit themselves to thediscipline of the Commissioner as provided in the Major League
Constitution and accept the Commissioner’s decisions rendered inaccordance with the Major League Constitution and these Rules.
(b) DISPUTES. All disputes between players and Clubs shall bereferred to the Commissioner and the Commissioner’s decisions shall be
accepted by all parties as final. Negotiations between player and Club
regarding the player’s compensation under the player’s contract shall not bereferable to the Commissioner.
(c) TIME FOR PRESENTATION. Any disputed monetary claim,
claim for free agency or complaint which any party may desire to submit forconsideration, action or decision by the Commissioner must be presented
within one year from the date the claim arose.
Rule 14SUSPENDED PERSONNEL(a) DISCIPLINE.
(1) By the Commissioner or a Club. Both the Commissioner and aClub are entitled to discipline any manager, trainer, coach, scout, orother personnel who is not a player, in case of a violation of contract,
the Major League Constitution, the Major League Rules, the Minor
League Guidelines, a PDL, the Commissioner’s regulations, or otherrules, policies and guidelines. Such discipline may include fining,
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MLR 14(a) to 15(c)dismissing, releasing, suspending or expelling the offender. Any Club
dismissing, releasing, suspending or expelling any such person shall at
once notify the Commissioner’s Office in writing stating the cause ofsuch action.
(b) APPEALS. In the event a Club suspends a person who is not aplayer for a period in excess of 10 days, or fines such a person in excess of$10,000, such person shall have the right to appeal to the Commissioner. The
appealing person must exercise this right to appeal, if at all, within 30 daysof the Club action, by filing a written statement with the Commissioner
stating that an appeal is being taken and describing the reasons in support of
the appeal. The decision of the Commissioner on the appeal shall be final
and unappealable.
(c) EFFECT. Unless prior approval of the Commissioner is granted, no
person who has been suspended or otherwise declared ineligible shallperform any function for any Club or any other entity related to the Clubs
during the duration of the suspension or period of ineligibility.
Rule 15UMPIRES(a) STAFFING. The Commissioner shall employ a staff of umpires to
officiate Major League games. Each Major League Club shall accept theumpire or umpires assigned by the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s
designee for any game.
(b) DUTIES. The umpires assigned by the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee shall be responsible for the conduct of allchampionship season, Wild Card, Division Series, League ChampionshipSeries and World Series games, as well as the All-Star Game, according to
the Official Baseball Rules, as described in Rule 17. The umpires shall know
thoroughly and obey meticulously the instructions of the Commissioner or
the Commissioner’s designee as to the mechanics and manner of performing
their duties. The umpires shall be thoroughly familiar with and alert to theduties and responsibilities placed on the umpires by the Major League Rules
and shall know and follow the interpretations of the Official Baseball Rulesof the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee.
(c) CONTROL OF EMPLOYMENT. All Major League umpires shallbe under the sole control and direction of the Commissioner. They shallreceive from the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee allassignments to duty and all instructions regarding the interpretation of the122

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 15(c) to 16(d)Official Baseball Rules and performance of their duties. If an umpire does
not perform an assignment, the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s
designee may impose such penalty as the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee may deem adequate.
(d) UMPIRE CLAIMS. The Commissioner shall have jurisdiction tohear and determine finally any claim affecting a Major League umpire’scontract or salary upon appeal by the umpire. The Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee shall also have jurisdiction to hear and determine
finally any controversy respecting title to an umpire’s services.
(e) UMPIRES ACTING AS SCOUTS. No Major or Minor League
umpire shall receive or be offered money or other valuable consideration forservices rendered or to be rendered, or supposed to be or to have been
rendered, in connection with the acquisition of players by any Club. An
umpire or Club violating this Rule 15 shall be fined double the amountreceived or offered, but in no event shall such fine be less than $500.
Rule 16
OFFICIAL SCORERS(a) APPOINTMENT. The Commissioner or the Commissioner’s
designee shall appoint official scorers for each Major League Club.
(b) RESPONSIBILITIES. The official scorer for each Major League
game shall observe the game from a position in the press box. Subject to the
Official Baseball Rules, the official scorer shall have sole authority to makeall decisions involving judgment, such as whether a batter’s advance to firstbase is the result of a hit or an error. The official scorer shall communicate
such decisions to the press box and broadcasting booths and shall advise theballpark public address announcer of such decisions, if requested. Club
officials and players are prohibited from communicating with the officialscorer regarding any such decisions.
(c) REVIEW. A player or club may request that the Chief Baseball
Officer or the individual with an equivalent title within the Office of theCommissioner’s organizational structure review a judgment call of an officialscorer made in a game in which such player or club participated by notifying
the Office of the Commissioner in writing within 72 hours of the judgment
call becoming final as provided in Official Baseball Rule 9.01.
(d) REPORT. After each Major League game, including drawn andforfeited games, the official scorer shall prepare a report listing the date of
the game, where it was played, the names of the competing Clubs and the123

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 16(d) to 17(a)umpires, the full score of the games, and all records of individual players
compiled according to the system specified in the Official Baseball Rules.
The official scorer shall forward this report to the Commissioner’s Officestatistician within 36 hours after the game ends. The official scorer shallforward the report of any suspended game within 36 hours after the gamehas been completed, or after it becomes an official game because it cannot
be completed.
(e) FEES. Official scorers shall be paid such fees as the Commissioner
or the Commissioner’s designee may determine.
(f) DISCIPLINE. The Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee
shall have authority to discipline or remove any official scorer.
Rule 17
UNIFORM PLAYING RULES(a) OFFICIAL BASEBALL RULES. Major League and Minor League
Clubs shall play all games according to the provisions of the Official
Baseball Rules as Recodified, Amended and Adopted at New York City,
December 21, 1949, and thereafter amended by the Playing Rules
Committee, except as otherwise provided for in this Rule 17(a).
For any Wild Card, Division Series, League Championship Series orWorld Series game and for any additional Major League championshipseason game played to break a tie pursuant to Rule 34(c) (Tie-Breaking
Procedures), the following modifications to the Official Baseball Rules shallapply:(1) Official Baseball Rules 4.04(a) (authority to call, suspend orresume a game), 7.01(c) (called game), 7.01(e) (“No Game”), 7.02(a)(causes for a suspended game) and 7.02(b) (place for resumption of asuspended game) shall not apply.
(2) Any called game, including any game that has not progressed tothe point of becoming a regulation game, shall become a suspended
game that shall be resumed pursuant to Official Baseball Rule 7.02(c).
(3) A suspended game shall be resumed at the same ballpark at
which it had begun.
(4) The Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee shalldetermine, consistent with MLR 38(b) (Postponed and Suspended
Games), when a game shall be postponed, suspended or resumed on
account of weather or the condition of the playing field.
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MLR 17(b) to 17(c)(b) PLAYING RULES COMMITTEE. The Playing Rules Committee
shall consist of nine members, with three members representing theAmerican League, three members representing the National League, twoat-large members and one member representing the Minor Leagues. The
Commissioner shall appoint the six Major League, the two at-large and theMinor League representative on the Playing Rules Committee. The
Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee shall select the Chairman of
the Committee. Should any Committee member be unable to attend a
Committee meeting, or vote upon a mail or electronic proposal, theCommissioner shall appoint a substitute to act in the member’s stead.
(c) DUTIES OF PLAYING RULES COMMITTEE.
(1) Meetings. The Playing Rules Committee shall meet, upon callby the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee. Any Official
Baseball Rule may be revised, repealed, or adopted by a two-thirds voteof the Playing Rules Committee. The Chairman of the Committee shallcertify to the Commissioner any action taken at any meeting, stipulating
the date on which such revision, adoption or repeal shall become
effective.
(2) Voting Between Meetings. If, in the judgment of theCommissioner, a situation arises between meetings of the Playing Rules
Committee under which it appears desirable to consider an amendment
to an Official Playing Rule, the Commissioner shall direct the Chairman
to conduct a vote by mail or electronic means. Upon receipt of suchdirection, the Chairman shall contact each Committee member (by mailor by electronic communication, as directed by the Commissioner), witha request that the member vote within a specified number of days (notto exceed 14) on adoption of the proposed amendment. The affirmative
vote of seven members of the Playing Rules Committee shall be
required to adopt an amendment by mail or electronic vote.
(3) Experimental Rulings. The Playing Rules Committee, byaffirmative vote of not less than seven of its members, may authorize
the Major Leagues or any Minor League or Leagues to adopt a rulethat does not conform to the Official Playing Rules. Such authorizations
shall be known as “experimental rulings” and shall be subject to thefollowing:(A) An application for an experimental ruling must be
certified by:

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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 17(c) to 18(a)(1) the Commissioner, in the case of a Major League, as
reflecting the desire of not less than three-fourths of the Clubs
making up the League; or(2) the Commissioner, in the case of the Minor Leagues,in accordance with the Minor League Guidelines.
(B) Such an application must be received by the Playing Rules
Committee on or before opening day of the championship seasonof the year such experimental ruling is to be effective.
(C)(D) The Playing Rules Committee shall fix or extend theperiod of time during which the experimental ruling is to beeffective; however, an experimental ruling that is not adopted as apermanent rule after the expiration of such period must be
re-submitted to the Playing Rules Committee by any League or
Leagues wishing its continuance.
(d) OFFICIAL SCORING RULES COMMITTEE. The Official
Scoring Rules Committee shall be a subcommittee of the Playing Rules
Committee. It shall consist of seven members: the Chairman of the Playing
Rules Committee, and six members to be appointed by the Commissioner.
(e) DUTIES OF OFFICIAL SCORING RULES COMMITTEE. The
Official Scoring Rules Committee shall determine which batting, fielding
and pitching records of players, teams and Leagues shall be included in theofficial statistical records of the Major Leagues and the Minor Leagues, andprescribe minimum standards of performance for individual batting, fielding
and pitching champions of the Major Leagues and the Minor Leagues.
(f) COPYRIGHT AND PUBLICATION. The Official Baseball Rules
and all amendments thereto shall be copyrighted by the Commissioner who,
each year, shall publish or authorize the publication of an official edition of
the Official Baseball Rules.
Rule 18SCHEDULES(a) MAJOR LEAGUES.
(1) Preparation of Schedules. In each year the Commissioner shallprepare or cause to be prepared a draft schedule of championshipseason games showing proposed game start times. The draft schedule126

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 18(a) to 19(b)for the next championship season of both Leagues shall be prepared byno later than June 30 of each year so that copies can be provided to the
Major League Baseball Players Association by no later than July 1. The
Commissioner shall then issue the official schedule for the following
season by no later than November 15 and no change shall thereafter bemade in the official schedule without the consent of the Commissioner.
(2) All-Star Break. No Major League games shall be scheduledduring the All-Star break.
(b) MINOR LEAGUES. The schedule of each Minor League andMinor League Club shall comply with the standards set forth in the Minor
League Guidelines.
Rule 19
MAJOR LEAGUE DISASTER PLAN(a) EVENT QUALIFYING AS A DISASTER. If a common accident,
epidemic illness or other common event (referred to in this Rule 19 as an“occurrence”) causes the death, dismemberment or permanent injury fromplaying professional baseball of(1) at least five players on a Major League Club’s Active, Injured or
Suspended Lists during the period beginning with the opening date ofsuch Club’s championship season through the conclusion of suchClub’s playing season (including any post-season series); or(2) at least six players on a Major League Club’s Major League
Reserve List during the period beginning with the conclusion of suchClub’s playing season (including any post-season series) up to the
opening date of such Club’s next championship season then thisRule 19 shall apply and the affected Major League Club shall be a
“Disabled Club.”(b) PROCEDURES. The following policies and procedures shall governin the event that there is a Disabled Club or Clubs:(1) Mourning Period. The Commissioner may, after consultation
with the Major League Baseball Players Association (“Players
Association”), establish a mourning period following the occurrence
that leads to a Club becoming a Disabled Club, during which Major
League games may be postponed or cancelled.
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MLR 19(b)(2) Continuation of Disabled Club’s Season. The Commissioner
shall, after consultation with the Players Association, determine
whether the Disabled Club is able to continue play until the conclusionof the championship season and post-season, taking into account thedate of the occurrence, the standing of the Disabled Club at the time ofthe occurrence, the Disabled Club’s wishes and the integrity of the gameof Baseball. The Commissioner and the Players Association shall jointly
resolve all scheduling issues that may arise from prolonged interruption
or cancellation of the Disabled Club’s season.
(3) Restocking Draft. The Commissioner may, after consultation
with the Players Association, conduct a selection meeting, at which aDisabled Club may claim the contracts of players from other Major
League Clubs. Such selection meeting shall be known as a Restocking
Draft or Rule 19 draft. In the event the Commissioner decides to
conduct a Restocking Draft, the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s
designee shall fix the time of such Restocking Draft and the procedures
described in Rules 19(b)(3)(A) through 19(b)(3)(C) shall apply.
(A) Players Available.
(i) Number. Each Major League Club that is not a
Disabled Club shall, on a date determined by theCommissioner or the Commissioner’s designee, submit a listof five players who shall be made available for selection by the
Disabled Club at a Restocking Draft. Such lists shall be
submitted by each non-Disabled Club to the Commissioner or
the Commissioner’s designee, who promptly shall make such
lists available to the Disabled Club. If the Restocking Draft isin response to an in-season occurrence, as described inRule 19(a)(1), then each non-Disabled Club shall choose thefive players to make available from among such Club’s Major
League Active List as of the date of the Disabled Club’s
accident, or as of a date determined by the Commissioner or
the Commissioner’s designee in the event of an occurrence
that is not a common accident. If the Restocking Draft is in
response to an off-season occurrence, as described inRule 19(a)(2), then each non-Disabled Club shall choose thefive players to make available from among such Club’s Major
League Reserve List as of the date of the Disabled Club’s
accident, or as of a date determined by the Commissioner or
the Commissioner’s designee in the event of an occurrence
that is not a common accident.
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 19(b)(ii) Positions. Unless otherwise ordered by theCommissioner or the Commissioner’s designee, after
consultation with the Players Association, each Club’s list ofavailable players for a Restocking Draft shall include one
pitcher, one catcher, one outfielder, one infielder and a fifth
player of any position. The Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee may, after consultation with thePlayers Association, modify the playing positions at which theClubs must make players available for a Restocking Draft,
depending upon the playing positions of the players lost by
the Disabled Club. Notwithstanding any other provisions of
this Rule 19(b)(3)(A)(ii), no Club shall be required to makeavailable in a Restocking Draft any player who is primarily acatcher if such Club had, as of the date of the Disabled Club’s
accident (or as of the date determined by the Commissioner
or the Commissioner’s designee in the event of an occurrence
that is not a common accident), fewer than three catchers who
are otherwise eligible to be made available for selection.
(iii) Service. Subject to paragraph 19(b)(3)(A)(i) above,
each Club that is not a Disabled Club shall include in its list ofavailable players for a Restocking Draft at least as many
players who have accrued no less than 60 days of Major
League service time as of August 31 of the season preceding
such Restocking Draft as the Disabled Club lost.
(iv) No-Trade Rights. Any player with a right to consent
to an assignment to another Major League Club, including aplayer:(aa) with a contractual provision that prohibits anassignment to the Club that has become a Disabled Club;(bb) with a contractual provision that lists Clubs towhich the player may be assigned and the Club that has
become a Disabled Club is not on such list; or(cc) who has a right to consent to an assignment
pursuant to Article XIX(A)(1) of the Basic Agreement(Consent to Assignment),
may not be made available for selection at a Restocking Draft,unless such player has waived such rights in writing and inaccordance with the provisions of Article XIX(A)(1) of the129

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 19(b)Basic Agreement, prior to the time the lists described inRule 19(b)(3)(A) are required to be submitted. The Club shallprovide a copy of the Player’s consent to the Players
Association contemporaneously upon the Club’s receipt ofsuch consent.
(v) Availability. Each Club warrants that each player itmakes available for selection at a Restocking Draft isphysically fit, not on a Suspended, Restricted, Disqualified, orIneligible List and capable of playing immediately uponselection by a Disabled Club.
(B) Conduct of Restocking Draft. The Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee shall fix the time and place of eachRestocking Draft. A Restocking Draft may be conducted by
telephone conference or other electronic means, as theCommissioner or the Commissioner’s designee may announce inadvance of such Restocking Draft. The Players Association shallhave an opportunity to have a representative at any Restocking
Draft. A Disabled Club shall be entitled to select as many players
as it lost in the occurrence, provided that the Disabled Club may
select no more than one player from each of the other Major
League Clubs.
(C) Effect of Selection. Each player selected in response to an
in-season occurrence, as described in Rule 19(a)(1), shall beassigned to the Major League Active List of the selecting Disabled
Club. Each player selected in response to an off-season occurrence,
as described in Rule 19(a)(2), shall be assigned to the Major
League Reserve List of the selecting Disabled Club. Within 48
hours of selection of a player in a Restocking Draft, the DisabledClub may, in its discretion, conduct a physical examination of suchplayer. If the player is deemed by the Disabled Club’s physician not
fit to play, the Disabled Club may return the player to the Club
from which the player was selected and select, from among the lists
submitted pursuant to Rule 19(b)(3)(A), a different player fromthat Club or from any other Major League Club from which the
Disabled Club has yet to make a selection. If a player is returned
pursuant to this Rule 19(b)(3)(C), the Club from which the player
had been selected may be fined and otherwise sanctioned by theCommissioner or the Commissioner’s designee for having madeavailable for selection a physically unfit player.
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 19(b) to 20(a)(D) Confidentiality. The Commissioner or the Commissioner’s
designee shall make available only to the Disabled Club and thePlayers Association the names of the players whose contracts areavailable for selection in the Restocking Draft. The names of theplayers whose contracts are not thereafter selected shall beconsidered privileged material, and shall not be divulged by theCommissioner (or his designee), the Disabled Club or the Players
Association at any time whatsoever.
(4) The Commissioner and the Players Association may agree
that it is appropriate to provide other relief to a Disabled Club,
including, for example, the awarding of additional selections insubsequent Rule 4 or Rule 5 drafts, priority on waiver claims for aset period of time and the modification of the deadline for naming
a post-season roster.
(c) INSURANCE. The Office of the Commissioner shall exercise
best efforts to maintain appropriate insurance to assist in the financial
rehabilitation of a Disabled Club and other Major League Clubs
affected by the occurrence giving rise to the Disabled Club. The
Commissioner shall have sole discretion over the allocation of any
resulting insurance proceeds and may elect to distribute such proceeds,
in whole or in part, to a Disabled Club, to Clubs that lose a player in a
Restocking Draft and to other Clubs whose operations may be affectedby an interruption in a Disabled Club’s season.
Rule 20
CONFLICTING INTERESTS(a) OWNERSHIP AND FINANCIAL INTERESTS. No Major
League Club, or owner, stockholder, officer, director or employee (including
manager or player) of a Major League Club, shall, directly or indirectly, own
stock or any other proprietary interest or have any financial interest in any
other Major League Club, other than:(i) on a transitional basis as approved by the Commissioner inconnection with the acquisition by a Major League Club owner orstockholder of an interest in another Major League Club;(ii) a Major League Club owner or stockholder that is aninvestment vehicle that owns less than a 15% passive, non-controllinginterest in each Major League Club in which it owns an interest;
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 20(a) to 20(b)(iii) a direct or indirect owner of any investment vehicle referenced
in clause (ii) above; or
as a result of the ownership by a Major League Club owner, stockholder,
officer, director or employee of either (x) a less than 5% interest in the stockof a diversified publicly-traded company one of the assets of which isanother Major League Club or (y) a less than 5% limited partnership orother non-managing interest (unless otherwise permitted by clause (ii) or(iii) above) in a diversified investment vehicle that owns an interest inanother Major League Club, subject in all events to the Commissioner’s
determination as to whether owning or having such an interest in more than
one Club in its League would or would not be in the best interests ofBaseball. The rules governing whether a Minor League Club or owner,
stockholder, officer, director or employee (including manager or player) of a
Minor League Club can own stock or any other proprietary interest or haveany financial interest in any other Minor League Club are set forth in the
Minor League Guidelines.
(b) LOANS TO AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH PLAYERS. No Club,or owner, stockholder, officer, director or employee (including manager orplayer) of a Club, shall, directly or indirectly, loan money to or become
surety or guarantor for a player of any other Club in any League, nor be anagent or representative of any player in any League. In the event of anassignment of a player’s contract to another Club, any debt outstanding
between the assignor Club and the player must be settled before there can bea public announcement, before the player can physically report, and before
the assignment can be finally approved. All particulars of said debt, whether
it is provided for in the contract between the player and the assignor Club ornot, must be divulged to the assignee Club before formal negotiationscommence. Repayment of that debt must be made by the player to theassignor Club, or the debt may be assumed by the assignee Club in which
instance the monies due and owing to the assignor Club now or in the future
must be paid on the passing of the contract to the assignee Club. In all
instances the assignment papers must reveal all the details of the debt andthe arrangements for satisfying same. Loans made against accrued or futuredeferred compensation must be satisfied in the same manner as any otherloan before the contract can pass. No assignment of a contract will be
accepted and approved by the Commissioner’s Office if the assignment
stipulates that the assignor Club will remain the final guarantor of acontract, or a loan obligation of the player to any third party, after thecontract is assigned to another Club. No Club, or owner, stockholder,
officer, director or employee (including manager or player) of a Club shall,
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 20(b) to 20(e)directly or indirectly, own stock or any other proprietary interest orotherwise have any financial interest in any entity that advances or loansmoney to, or otherwise invests in, a player in any League in exchange for ashare of such player’s future earnings.
(c) LOANS TO CLUBS AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS. No Major
League Club, or owner, stockholder, officer, director or employee (including
manager or player) of a Major League Club shall, directly or indirectly, loan
money to or become surety or guarantor for any other Major League Clubor any officer, employee or umpire of the Major Leagues, unless all facts ofthe transaction shall first have been fully disclosed to all other Major League
Clubs, and also to the Commissioner, and the transaction has been approvedby them. The rules governing whether a Minor League Club or owner,
stockholder, officer, director or employee (including manager or player) of a
Minor League Club can loan money to or become surety or guarantor for
any other Minor League Club, any Minor League umpire or any individual
responsible for operating the professional development league system are set
forth in the Minor League Guidelines.
(d) LEAGUE OFFICIALS. No officer, employee or umpire of a League
shall, directly or indirectly, own stock or any other proprietary interest or
have any financial interest in any Club of any League, or loan money to or
become surety or guarantor for any such Club, except that owning aninterest in any such Club as a result of any such person’s investment in adiversified mutual or pension fund and/or ownership of a limited
partnership or similar non-managing interest in a diversified investment
vehicle that is not publicly traded shall be permissible, unless theCommissioner determines that any such investment or ownership would not
be in the best interests of Baseball.
(e) WITHIN CLUB. No manager or player on a Club shall, directly or
indirectly, own stock or any other proprietary interest or have any financial
interest in the Club by which the manager or player is employed except
under an agreement approved by the Commissioner, which agreement shallprovide for the immediate sale (and the terms thereof) of such stock or otherproprietary interest or financial interest in the event of the manager orplayer’s transfer (if a player or playing manager) to or joining another Club.
A manager or player having any such interest in the Club by which the
manager or player is employed shall be ineligible to play for or manage anyother Club in that League while, in the opinion of the Commissioner, suchinterest is retained by or for the manager or player, directly or indirectly.

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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 20(f) to 20(h)(f) WINTER LEAGUES. No Major League Club or Minor League
Club shall, directly or indirectly, own stock or have any other proprietary or
financial interest in a Winter League or Winter League Club, nor may any
Major League or Minor League Club loan money to or become a surety or
guarantor for any Club, officer, employee or umpire of a Winter League
Club or of a Winter League itself.
(g) APPLICATION TO MAJOR LEAGUE CLUBS. As used in thisRule 20, with respect to a Major League or Major League Club, “League”
shall mean both the American League and the National League.
(h) INFORMATION TO COMMISSIONER. On or before the firstday of the playing season and on such subsequent dates as the information
may be requested, each Major League Club shall certify in writing thefollowing information, to the Commissioner:(1) A list of the name, address and amount of ownership interestof each owner of stock or other proprietary interest in the filing Club.
If the filing Club is a corporation, the list shall state the number ofshares of stock held by each stockholder.
(2) A list of the names and addresses of the officers and directorsof the filing Club.
(3) A list (or an indication on the list of stockholders or owners of
the filing Club) stating the kind and amount of each ownership ofstock or other proprietary or financial interest in the filing Club by anyother Club or by any stockholder, owner, officer, director or employee(including manager or player) of any other Club, to the best knowledge
and belief of the filing Club.
(4) A list stating the kind and amount of each ownership of stockor other proprietary or financial interest in any other Club by the filingClub or by any stockholder, owner, officer, director or employee(including manager or player) of the filing Club, to the best knowledge
and belief of the filing Club.
(5) Each and every agreement and understanding covering theoperation of any other Club either in whole or in part by the filing
Club, with a certified copy of such agreement.
(6) Each and every agreement and understanding covering theoperation of the filing Club in whole or to any extent by any other
Club.
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 20(h) to 21(c)(7) Each and every agreement and understanding covering
payment by the filing Club to any other Club, of any loss or deficits orshare of the profits of any Club.
(8) Each and every agreement and understanding giving any otherClub the right to acquire the contract of any player on the filing Clubor to be consulted respecting the player’s transfer or release, unless suchright be covered by a regulation form optional agreement duly filed.
The rules governing the information required to be delivered by each
Minor League Club are set forth in the Minor League Guidelines.
Rule 21MISCONDUCT(a) MISCONDUCT IN PLAYING BASEBALL. Any player or person
connected with a Club who shall promise or agree to lose, or to attempt tolose, or to fail to give his best efforts towards the winning of any baseballgame with which he is or may be in any way concerned, or who shallintentionally lose or attempt to lose, or intentionally fail to give his best
efforts towards the winning of any such baseball game, or who shall solicit
or attempt to induce any player or person connected with a Club to lose or
attempt to lose, or to fail to give his best efforts towards the winning of any
baseball game with which such other player or person is or may be in any
way concerned, or who, being solicited by any person, shall fail to inform theCommissioner immediately of such solicitation, and of all facts andcircumstances connected therewith, shall be declared permanently ineligible.
(b) GIFT FOR DEFEATING COMPETING CLUB. Any player or
person connected with a Club who shall offer or give any gift or reward to aplayer or person connected with another Club for services rendered or
supposed to be or to have been rendered in defeating or attempting to defeat
a competing Club, and any player or person connected with a Club who
shall solicit or accept from a player connected with another Club any gift or
reward for any such services rendered, or supposed to have been rendered, or
who, having been offered any such gift or reward, shall fail to inform theCommissioner immediately of such offer, and of all facts and circumstances
connected therewith, shall be declared ineligible for not less than three years.
(c) GIFTS TO UMPIRES. Any player or person connected with a
Club who shall give, or offer to give, any gift or reward to an umpire forservices rendered, or supposed to be or to have been rendered, in defeating
or attempting to defeat a competing Club, or for the umpire’s decision on
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MLR 21(c) to 21(f)anything connected with the playing of a baseball game, and any umpire
who shall render, or promise or agree to render, any such decision otherwise
than on its merits, or who shall solicit or accept such gift or reward for any
such service or decision, or who, having been offered any such gift or reward,or, having been solicited to render any such decision otherwise than on its
merits, shall fail to inform the Commissioner immediately of such offer orsolicitation, and all facts and circumstances connected therewith, shall bedeclared permanently ineligible.
(d) GAMBLING.
(1) Any player, umpire, or Club or League official or employee,
who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game inconnection with which the bettor has no duty to perform, shall bedeclared ineligible for one year.
(2) Any player, umpire, or Club or League official or employee,
who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game inconnection with which the bettor has a duty to perform, shall bedeclared permanently ineligible.
(3) Any player, umpire, or Club or League official or employee whoplaces bets with illegal book makers, or agents for illegal book makers,
shall be subject to such penalty as the Commissioner deems appropriate
in light of the facts and circumstances of the conduct. Any player,
umpire, or Club or League official or employee who operates or works
for an illegal bookmaking business shall be subject to a minimum of a
one-year suspension by the Commissioner. For purposes of thisprovision, an illegal bookmaker is an individual who accepts, places orhandles wagers on sporting events from members of the public as partof a gaming operation that is unlawful in the jurisdiction in which thebets are accepted.
(e) VIOLENCE OR MISCONDUCT. In case of any physical attack orother violence upon an umpire by a player, or by an umpire upon a player,
or of other misconduct by an umpire or a player, during or in connection
with any Major or Minor League game or any exhibition game of a Major
or Minor League Club, the Commissioner shall impose upon the offender oroffenders such fine, suspension, ineligibility or other penalty, as the facts
may warrant in the judgment of the Commissioner.
(f) OTHER MISCONDUCT. Nothing herein contained shall be
construed as exclusively defining or otherwise limiting acts, transactions,practices or conduct not to be in the best interests of Baseball; and any and136

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MLR 21(f) to 22(a)all other acts, transactions, practices or conduct not to be in the bestinterests of Baseball are prohibited and shall be subject to such penalties,
including permanent ineligibility, as the facts in the particular case may
warrant.
(g) NO DISCRIMINATION. The provisions of these Major League
Rules shall be applied to all individuals covered by the Rules without regard
to race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or any otherclassification protected under Federal Law.
(h) RULE TO BE KEPT POSTED. A printed copy in English andSpanish of this Rule 21 shall be kept posted in each clubhouse.
Rule 22CIRCUITS(a) CONDITIONS TO RELOCATION TO ANOTHER CLUB’STERRITORY. A Major League Club, in order to relocate within the hometerritory of another Major League Club, must comply with the following
conditions:(1) The Major League Club intending to so relocate shall givenotice of such intention to the Commissioner not later than midnight ofOctober 31 of the year next preceding the first year it proposes tooperate a second Major League Club in such home territory.
(2) Such Major League Club shall satisfy the Commissioner as tothe bona fides of such Club’s intention to operate in such hometerritory on a long-term basis and as to the financial ability andcharacter of the owners of such Club to maintain such Club for aperiod of five years.
(3) Any park owned or occupied by such second Major League
Club in such home territory shall be located not less than five air miles
distant from the park of the Club first located in such home territory,
unless the two Clubs mutually agree otherwise.
(4) Such second Major League Club, before commencing its firstyear of operation in such home territory, shall pay to the Club alreadylocated in such home territory such sum of money as the Commissioner
deems appropriate under the circumstances. Any disputes as to theamounts paid as such compensation shall be determined by theCommissioner.
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MLR 22(b) to 23(b)(b) NUMBER OF CLUBS. In no event shall any home territory ineither Major League circuit have more than two Major League Clubs.
(c) NOTICE.
(1) A Major League Club desiring to locate in a home territory inwhich a Minor League Club is operating must file notice of its intention
to do so with the Commissioner between October 1 and October 31(both inclusive) next preceding the first season it proposes to operate insuch city.
(2) If a Major League Club transfers its location to another hometerritory after approval is obtained under the Major League
Constitution, such Club shall notify the Commissioner of the transfer
as soon as the agreements or proceedings necessary to effect suchtransfer and relocation have been completed. Fifteen days after deliveryof such notice, but in no event later than February 1 next preceding thefirst season such Club proposes to operate in its new location, theMajor League Constitution shall be deemed amended to reflect such
relocation and the city from which such Major League Club transferred
shall be deemed vacated by such Club unless another Major League
Club has located in such home territory prior to the expirationof
15 days after the delivery of such notice.
(d) DEFINITION. For the purposes of this Rule 22, “home territory”
shall refer to the operating territories described in Attachment 26 to theseRules in the case of both Major and Minor League Clubs.
Rule 23
GATE RECEIPTS(a) PAID ATTENDANCE. “Paid attendance receipts” shall be definedas the total sum of gross receipts from tickets sold to each championshipseason or post-season game, less any admission tax, sales tax or use tax
levied on such game tickets. Only taxes that are directly assessed on
individual admissions or gate receipts, and paid by the customer as part ofthat ticket price, are deductible. Taxes on general sources of Major League
Club income are not deductible.
(b) ASSESSMENT OF PAID ATTENDANCE RECEIPTS. Each
Major League Club shall pay to the Commissioner’s Office a percentage ofpaid attendance receipts for each of its home games in both thechampionship season and the post-season. Subject to the approval of the138

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 23(b) to 23(d)Major League Executive Council, the Commissioner shall annually set
the percentage to be assessed and establish a reporting and payment processthat provides sufficient cash flow to support all umpire-related obligations of
the Commissioner’s Office.
(c) ESTABLISHING ADMISSIONS TOTAL. Self-registering
turnstiles, of a style approved by the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s
designee, shall be installed at every entrance to a Major League ballpark on
the day a championship game or post-season game is scheduled. Each
entrance and its turnstiles shall be numbered for identification. At eachturnstile shall be a ticket box or appropriate electronic device.
Police personnel assigned to duty in the ballpark; employees (including
managers and players) of the two contesting Major League Clubs; umpires
and persons having business with either Club may enter the ballpark on the
day of a game through an office entrance, but all other persons, including
those entitled to free admission, shall pass in through a turnstile gate. At
each paid admission gate, a portion of each patron’s ticket shall be depositedin the ticket box or registered with an appropriate electronic device.
Before the gates are opened, the home Club shall make a record of thenumber registered on each turnstile. When the home Club stops sellingtickets for the current day’s game, all gates shall be closed, and the home
Club shall make a record of the number then registered on each turnstile.
The home Club shall prepare a statement listing each gate opened for the
day’s game; the “opening number” and “closing number” on each turnstile;
the number of admissions thus indicated at each gate, and the total numberof paid admissions and free admissions. Copies of this statement shall befurnished to the visiting Club and to the Commissioner’s Office.
The visiting Club shall have the right to inspect all turnstiles before thegates are opened and to record the “opening number” on each turnstileregister. The visiting Club shall have access to all entrances at all times toverify which gates are open. The visiting Club shall have the right to record
the “closing number” on each turnstile register. The visiting Club shall havethe right to open the ticket boxes and count the retained portions ofadmission tickets as a check against the turnstile count or for any otherreason.
(d) FREE ADMISSIONS. The home Club may offer free admission to
any championship game to such individuals or groups as it may choose. Any
person presenting a pass shall be admitted free. The home Club may admit
such persons absolutely free or may impose a service charge. Neither the139

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 23(d) to 25(d)visiting Club nor the Commissioner’s Office shall be paid for such freeadmissions. Should the visiting Club believe that the number of freeadmissions is excessive, it may ask the Commissioner to investigate thecircumstances, and the Commissioner shall take such action as theCommissioner deems advisable.
A special entrance gate or gates shall be provided for all persons
admitted free.
Should any such person admitted free enter through a paid admissiongate, inadvertently or otherwise, the visiting Club and the Commissioner
shall be paid their shares on such admission. Under no circumstances shall apaid ticket holder be admitted through a free turnstile.
Rule 24[Reserved]
Rule 25
FINANCES(a) CHECKS. All money received by the Commissioner in theCommissioner’s official capacity shall be deposited in accordance with
Article III, Section 5 of the Major League Constitution.
(b) AUDIT. The audited financial statements of the Office of theCommissioner required by Article III, Section 8 of the Major League
Constitution shall be prepared by a certified public accountant to be
designated by the Commissioner, and a copy of such statements shall be sentby the Commissioner to each Major League Club.
(c) BUDGET. The proposed budget for the Office of the Commissioner
required by Article III, Section 9 of the Major League Constitution shall
include all items of administrative expense for the ensuing year, the salariesof the Commissioner and all general and special employees, office rent,
equipment, accessories and supplies, traveling expenses, printing, postage,and World Series expenses, and reasonable contingencies. All such expenses
shall be funded in accordance with Article III, Section 4(j) of the Major
League Constitution.
(d) FUNDS. All funds in the hands of the Commissioner in theCommissioner’s official capacity shall be deemed the joint funds of the
Major League Clubs, and the Major League Clubs shall, by such means as
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 25(d) to 26(b)they shall from time to time decide upon, supply the Commissioner withmoney needed to meet authorized expenditures to the extent that the funds
otherwise available may at any time prove inadequate.
Rule 26
MAJOR AND MINOR LEAGUE TERRITORIAL RIGHTS(a) OPERATING TERRITORY.
(1) Each Major League Club shall be granted protected territorial
rights covering a specific geographic area, called an “operating
territory.” Attachment 26, appended to these Rules, identifies anddefines each operating territory. Attachment 26 shall be revised by theCommissioner to the extent that any such operating territory isamended in accordance with Article V, Section 10(c) of the Major
League Constitution.
(2) Each Minor League Club shall be granted protected territorial
rights covering a specific geographic area called an “operating territory”
pursuant to its PDL. Attachment 26 identifies and defines each
operating territory. Attachment 26 shall be revised by theCommissioner to the extent that any such operating territory isamended in accordance with the applicable PDL and the Minor League
Guidelines.
(3) The territorial rights of Major League Clubs with respect toother Major League Clubs are governed by Rule 22 (Circuits) and by
the Major League Constitution and are not governed by this Rule 26.
The territorial rights of Minor League Clubs with respect to other
Minor League Clubs are governed by the PDLs and the Minor League
Guidelines and are not governed by this Rule 26.
(b) LOCATION OF HOME BALLPARK.
(1) No Major League Club may locate its home ballpark (i) within
the operating territory of a Minor League Club except pursuant to an
exception granted in accordance with Rule 26(d) or (ii) within 25 miles
from the home ballpark of any Minor League Club without the writtenconsent of the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee (whichconsent may be made subject to any conditions and limitations
determined by the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee).
(2) No Minor League Club may locate its home ballpark (i) within
the operating territory of a Major League Club except pursuant to an
exception granted in accordance with Rule 26(d) or (ii) within 15 miles
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MLR 26(b) to 26(c)from the boundary of the operating territory of any Major League
Club without the written consent of such Major League Club and thewritten consent of the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee(which consent may be made subject to any conditions and limitations
determined by the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee).
(3) With respect to any operating territories that are shared by botha Major League Club and a Minor League Club:(A) the Minor League Club may not move its home ballpark
to a new location within such shared operating territory without
the written consent of the Major League Club and the writtenconsent of the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee(which consent may be made subject to any conditions andlimitations determined by the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee); provided that the Minor League Clubmay relocate its home ballpark within such shared operating
territory without obtaining any such consents if such new location
is no more than 5 miles from the then-current location of its homeballpark; and(B) if the home ballpark of the Major League Club is not
located in such shared operating territory and the Major League
Club intends to move its home ballpark to a location in suchshared operating territory, the Major League Club may draft theshared operating territory and require the Minor League Club torelocate from the shared operating territory in accordance with
Rule 26(d)(5).
(c) ESTABLISHING NEW OPERATING TERRITORIES.
(1) Any new operating territory of a Minor League Club shall nothave boundaries that are closer than 15 miles from the boundaries ofany existing operating territory of a Major League Club except inaccordance with Rule 26(d), unless the newly created operating territoryis adjacent to the existing operating territory of a Major League Cluband the home ballpark or proposed home ballpark of the Minor League
Club within the newly created operating territory of the Minor League
Club is greater than 50 miles from the boundaries of the existing
operating territory of such Major League Club.
(2) Any new operating territory of a Major League Club shall not
be located within the operating territory of any Minor League Club
except in accordance with Rule 26(d).
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MLR 26(c) to 26(d)(3) The operating territory of each Major and Minor League Club
must be defined by the boundary lines of an entire county or counties(or parish or Canadian division or district) or, in the case of theCommonwealth of Virginia, an entire city or cities and/or an entire
county or counties. If a Major or Minor League Club wishes toestablish a territory outside the United States or Canada, theCommissioner may agree to recognize a boundary not defined bycounty boundaries or the equivalent.
(4) The 15-mile “buffer” for Major League Clubs is not included
as part of a Major League Club’s operating territory and may coincide(in whole or in part) with the 15-mile “buffer” surrounding another
Major League Club’s operating territory and the 25-mile “protected
territory” of any Minor League Club.
(5) The 25-mile “protected territory” for Minor League Clubs is
not included as part of a Minor League Club’s operating territory andmay coincide (in whole or in part) with the 25-mile “protected
territory” of another Minor League Club and the 15 mile “buffer”
surrounding a Major League Club’s operating territory.
(d) EXCEPTIONS.
(1) Existing Operating Territories. The location of any operating
territory that has been established in accordance with the Major League
Rules, the applicable PDL and the Minor League Operating Guidelines
and is set forth in Attachment 26 and would otherwise violate theterritorial protections of a Major or Minor League Club under thisRule 26 shall be deemed not to be in violation of such territorial
protections.
(2) Existing Locations of Home Ballpark. The location of any
home ballpark of a Major or Minor League Club that exists as ofJanuary 1, 2021 and would otherwise violate the territorial protectionsof a Major or Minor League Club under this Rule 26 shall be deemed
not to be in violation of such territorial protections.
(3) Major League Club Consent. A Minor League Club may
establish a new operating territory or play its home games in a location
otherwise prohibited by this Rule 26 only if the Minor League Club
first obtains the written consent of each Major League Club whose
territorial protection would otherwise be violated and the writtenconsent of the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee; provided
that, to the extent applicable, such written consents shall be obtained
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 26(d)before the filing of a request for relocation of the Minor League Club
pursuant to the Minor League Guidelines. A written consent may
condition or limit the exception. Such consent may be revoked only
according to the written terms of the consent. Any Minor League Club,
prospective Minor League Club, prospective Minor League Club owner
or any person acting on behalf of any of the foregoing who wishes to
explore the possibility of establishing an operating territory or playing
its home games in a location otherwise prohibited by this Rule 26 shallobtain, before making any such exploration, inquiries or comments(either public or private), the written permission of (i) each Major
League Club whose territorial protection would otherwise be violatedby the establishment of such operating territory or by the playing ofsuch games and (ii) the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee.
(4) Minor League Club Consent. A Major League Club may
establish a new operating territory or play its home games in a location
otherwise prohibited by this Rule 26 only if the Major League Club
first obtains the written consent of each Minor League Club whose
territorial protection would otherwise be violated and the writtenconsent of the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee. A
written consent may condition or limit the exception. Such consent may
be revoked only according to the written terms of the consent.
(5) Draft of Minor League Club Operating Territory by Major
League Club.
(A) A Major League Club may draft a Minor League Club’s
operating territory pursuant to this Rule 26(d)(5) by filing notice of
its intention to do so with the Commissioner and such Minor
League Club within 90 days after the awarding of a franchise orapproval of relocation, or at least 18 months prior to the date that
the Major League Club will play any championship season gamewithin such territory, whichever is later. Such notice shall betermed a “draft” of territory and shall include a precise descriptionof the territory the Major League Club intends to include as partof its new operating territory. A drafting Major League Club shallnot be required to include as part of its operating territory eachcounty (or its equivalent) that the Major League Club drafts. Upon
receipt of such draft notice, the Minor League Club shall then have
90 days to request that the drafting Major League Club consent to
the Minor League Club remaining in the drafted territory. If the
Minor League Club requests to remain in the drafted territory, theMajor League Club shall have 30 days to decide whether, and on
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 26(d)what terms, it will provide its consent. If the Major League Club
provides written consent for the Minor League Club to remain in a
drafted territory and the Minor League Club agrees to accept suchconsent within 30 days of the receipt thereof, the Minor League
Club shall retain such territorial rights as provided in the writtenconsent (including any conditions and limitations set forth
therein). If the Minor League Club does not request to remain in
the drafted territory, the Major League Club denies any request of
the Minor League Club to remain in the drafted territory or the
Minor League Club rejects any consent to remain in the drafted
territory offered by the Major League Club, the drafted Minor
League Club shall relocate prior to the later of: (i) thecommencement of the championship season in which the drafting
Major League Club will play its first home game in the drafted
territory and (ii) to the extent so requested, the date that thedrafting Major League Club pays in full to the drafted Minor
League Club any agreed-upon or awarded compensation inaccordance with Rule 26(d)(5)(B). The drafting of the operating
territory of a Minor League Club shall not cause the Minor
League Club’s PDL to terminate, and the Commissioner and thedrafted Minor League Club shall work together to identify a new
operating territory to which the Minor League Club will relocate.
(B) Upon receipt of a draft notice, the drafted Minor League
Club shall have 150 days to request that compensation be provided
by the drafting Major League Club. The Major League Club andMinor League Club shall until 210 days after delivery of draft
notice to agree upon such compensation. If no agreement isreached, then the matter shall be promptly submitted to the PDL
Executive Board for resolution. Within 90 days of the submissionof the matter to the Executive Board, the Executive Board shallhold a two-day hearing to determine the compensation that is
owed to the Minor League Club. Evidence and arguments may bepresented by both the Major League Club and the Minor League
Club, and the Executive Board shall determine the manner inwhich the hearing is conducted. The Executive Board shall only
consider the following in their decision: (i) the population of thedrafted territory; (ii) the location of the drafted territory; (iii) the
historical revenue of the Minor League Club over the last
five years; (iv) the projected revenue of the Minor League Club
during the remainder of the term of the Minor League Club’s
PDL; (v) expenditures for capital improvements made by the145

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 26(d)Minor League Club over the last five years; (vi) projected
expenditures for capital improvements to be made by the Minor
League Club during the remainder of the term of the Minor
League Club’s PDL, (vii) the level of play of the Minor League
Club ; and, if relevant, (viii) the estimated fair market value of the
Minor League Club after it relocates to a new operating territory;(ix) the projected revenue of the Minor League Club in the new
operating territory during the remainder of the term of the Minor
League Club’s PDL; and (x) any expenses associated with therelocation to a new operating territory (including, without
limitation, any costs incurred in connection with the termination of
any lease to the extent such costs are not mitigated). Based uponsuch hearing, the Executive Board shall award just and reasonable
compensation to the Minor League Club; provided that suchcompensation may not exceed the greater of (x) $75 million,(y) three times the average baseball operating revenue (as defined in
the Standard Financial Report required to be provided to theCommissioner in accordance with the PDL and the Minor League
Guidelines) of the drafted Minor League Club over the last threefiscal years and (z) the average sales price of the last three sales of a
Minor League Club at such drafted Minor League Club’s level ofplay as determined by the Executive Board; provided further thatthe foregoing clause (y) will only be applicable to the extent thatthe drafted Minor League Club has provided audited financial
statements for the last three fiscal years to the Commissioner inadvance of the hearing. Any necessary calculations shall be madein accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The
Executive Board shall issue their decision within 60 days following
the conclusion of the hearing. The total amount of compensation
shall be paid by the Major League Club in a single lump sum
payment within 30 days of the date that the final amount of thecompensation is determined pursuant to this Rule 26(d)(5)(B);
provided that if such payment is not so made, the operating
territory in question shall be deemed not to have been drafted by
the Major League Club.
(C) Notwithstanding Rule 26(b)(1), a drafting Major League
Club may play its home games in the operating territory of adrafted Minor League Club so long as the Commissioner has been
notified of the Minor League Club’s request that compensation beawarded in accordance with Rule 26(d)(5)(B). The drafting Major
League Club shall not, however, have any territorial protection
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 26(d) to 26(g)under this Rule 26 until it shall have paid any compensation
awarded pursuant to Rule 26(d)(5)(B). If a Minor League Club’s
territory is drafted, a Minor League Club may relocate from thedrafted territory immediately, subject to complying with allapplicable procedures set forth in the Minor League Guidelines,
without forfeiting or waiving any right it may have to seek
compensation for the draft of territory, notwithstanding theprovision in Rule 26(g) (Loss of Territorial Rights) that the
territory of a relocated Club shall be considered unprotected and“open territory.”(e) RECOGNITION OF FUTURE RIGHTS. A Minor League Clubthat has been granted approval in accordance with the Minor League
Guidelines to relocate or to operate an expansion Club shall enjoy full
protection under this Rule 26 of the operating territory granted as part ofthe expansion or relocation approval, conditioned upon the Club
commencing play of its home games on or before the date specified in theapproval. To the extent that the Commissioner receives an application from a
Major League Club for rights to the same territory prior to the grant of an
approval to expand or relocate, such Major League Club shall be given
preference.
(f) APPROVAL OF MINOR LEAGUE TERRITORIAL RIGHTS. All
grants of protected territory to Minor League Clubs must first be approvedby the Commissioner in accordance with the Minor League Guidelines andmust otherwise be in accordance with these Rules.
(g) LOSS OF TERRITORIAL RIGHTS. If a Minor League Club has
relocated or has otherwise lost its rights to an operating territory pursuant
to its PDL and/or the Minor League Guidelines, the Club’s original
operating territory or the operating territory to which the Club has lost its
rights shall be considered unprotected and “open territory.” No Minor
League Club may assert any rights with respect to such “open territory”
against any Major League Club or the Commissioner’s Office, including any
right to relocate pursuant to the Minor League Guidelines, nor may any
Minor League Club assert any claim to damage relating to or arising out ofsuch “open territory” in connection with any request to relocate. Nothing inthis Rule 26(g) shall be construed as limiting the compensation that a Minor
League Club may claim in any proceeding contemplated by Rule 26(d)(5)(B)
when the Minor League Club vacates a territory after having been notifiedof the draft of such Minor League Club’s territory by a Major League Club.

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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 27 to 33(a)Rule 27
STANDARDS FOR MINOR LEAGUE PLAYING FACILITIESMinor League Clubs shall be required to comply with the facility
standards set forth in the Minor League Guidelines.
Rule 28[Reserved]
Rule 29[Reserved]
Rule 30[Reserved]
Rule 31[Reserved]
Rule 32[Reserved]
Rule 33
LIEN ON TERRITORY(a) AMOUNT AND PRIORITY OF LIENS. The amount of a Major
or Minor League Club’s indebtedness:(1) For obligations owed by a Major League Club to its players
and for its pro-rata share of salary obligations to umpires and to officialscorers or for its pro-rata share of indebtedness to official scorers;(2) To other Major and/or Minor League Clubs for, or inconnection with, assignments of player contracts, any of its
commitments under a PDL or to any Major or Minor League Club or
to any Major or Minor League for money loaned (if such loans havebeen recorded with the Commissioner within 10 days from the date of
the loan); and,148

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 33(a) to 34(b)(3) For obligations to the Major or Minor League Club’s League,
shall become liens against the territory it represents. The liens shall rank
in the order or priority stated in Rules 33(a)(1) through (a)(3). Except
under such conditions as the Commissioner may impose, in the case of
Minor League Clubs, League membership shall not be extended to any
Major or Minor League Club in the debtor Club’s territory until suchdebts are discharged. Liens established under this Rule 33 shallterminate at the expiration of two years from the date they were
established. However, one year shall be added to the lien period for eachseason that membership is extended to a Major or Minor League Clubin the territory of the debtor Club.
(b) DEDUCTIONS. The Commissioner shall deduct the amount of thedebts set forth in Rule 33(a) (Amount and Priority of Liens) from any
monies received for the account of or to the credit of the debtor Major or
Minor League Club. .
(c) EFFECT OF ASSIGNMENTS. Except as may be authorized by
the Commissioner, any assignment by a Club of monies due or to becomedue shall be subject to the provisions of this Rule 33, and shall not constituteany preference or priority contrary to the preferences and priorities in thisRule 33, or otherwise affect any obligation specified in Rule 33(a) (Amountand Priority of Liens) that is of equal or superior priority.
Rule 34QUALIFICATION FOR POST-SEASON SERIES(a) DIVISION CHAMPIONS. The Commissioner’s Office shallmaintain a tabulated record of championship season games won and lost byeach Major League Club as reported by the official scorers. The
Commissioner shall award the championship of each Division to the Club inthat Division that won the highest percentage of its games during thechampionship season. If two or more Clubs in a Division are tied inwinning percentage at the close of the championship season as scheduled,
the championship season may be extended by the playing of a tie-breaking
game or games, as provided in Rule 34(c). Tie games shall not count asgames played, won or lost for purposes of calculating the percentage ofgames won and lost during the championship season.
(b) WILD CARDS. The Commissioner shall award two Wild Cards ineach Major League to the Clubs that won the highest percentage of theirgames during the championship season among the Clubs that were not
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 34(b) to 34(c)Division champions. Such Clubs shall be referred to as the Wild Card Clubsin their League. If two or more Clubs are tied for a Wild Card designation at
the close of the championship season as scheduled, the championshipseason may be extended by the playing of a tie-breaking game or games, as
provided in Rule 34(c). Tie games shall not count as games played, won orlost for purposes of calculating the percentage of games won and lost during
the championship season.
(c) TIE-BREAKING PROCEDURES. Any additional game played tobreak a tie pursuant to this Rule 34(c) shall be a championship season game.
Statistics from any such game shall count in the official League
championship season statistics. Notwithstanding the foregoing, tie-breaking
games shall not count as games played, won or lost for purposes ofcalculating the percentage of games won and lost during the championshipseason under Rules 34, 35 and 38. Paid attendance for any such game shallbe included in the official paid attendance records for the championshipseason. In the event that a regular season tiebreaker game must be played,
the host Club and visiting Club will share the net gate receipts after
deducting food and beverage costs, admissions taxes, host Club stadium
operations expenses, and visiting Club travel expenses. See Rule 17(a) for
modifications to the Official Baseball Rules that apply to any such game.
The Commissioner may determine the procedures to break any ties that are
not otherwise provided for in this Rule 34(c).
(1) Division Championship Ties In Which The Non-Division
Champion(s) Will Not Qualify For A Wild Card Designation. If Two or
more Clubs in a League are tied for first place in a Division withidentical winning percentages at the conclusion of the championshipseason as originally scheduled (including all rescheduled games), andthe Club that is not awarded the Division Championship will not be a
Wild Card Club, the Commissioner shall award the Divisionchampionship as follows:(A) Two-Club Tie. If two Clubs are tied for first place in a
Division, the championship season shall be extended to include
one additional game between these two Clubs. Such game shall beplayed the day after the championship season. The site of the game
may be determined by mutual agreement among the Clubs and theCommissioner to keep travel at a minimum. In the absence of suchan agreement, the Commissioner shall determine the site of theadditional game between the tied Clubs as follows:

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MLR 34(c)(i) The home Club shall be the Club with the higher
winning percentage in head-to-head competition between the
two tied Clubs during the championship season; or(ii) if the Clubs remain tied, then the home Club shall be
the Club with the higher winning percentage in intradivision
games during the championship season; or(iii) if the Clubs remain tied, then the home Club shall be
the Club with the higher winning percentage in the last half of
intraleague games during the championship season; or(iv) if the Clubs remain tied, then the home Club shall be
the Club with the higher winning percentage in the last halfplus one of intraleague games during the championshipseason, provided that such additional game was not a gamebetween the tied Clubs.
If the Clubs remain tied, then the procedure described inRule 34(c)(1)(A)(iv) of adding the immediately preceding
intraleague game played by each Club, provided that such added
game was not between the tied Clubs, and then considering thewinning percentages of the tied Clubs over the period from thatgame through the end of the championship season, shall be
continued until one Club emerges with a better winning percentage
in that span of games, and the Club with such better
winning percentage shall be the home Club.
The Commissioner shall award the Division championship to
the winner of the additional game.
(B) Three-Club Tie. If three Clubs are tied for first place in a
Division, and the Clubs that are not awarded the Division
Championship will not be Wild Card Clubs, the Commissioner
shall schedule additional championship season games in order todetermine the Division championship, as follows:(i) If the three tied Clubs have identical records against
one another in the championship season, their designations as
Club “A,” “B,” or “C,” for purposes of Rule 34(c)(1)(B)(iii),
shall be determined as follows:(aa) The Club with the higher winning percentage
among the three tied Clubs in intradivision games during
the championship season shall choose a designation as
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MLR 34(c)Club “A,” “B,” or “C.” The Club among the three tied
Clubs with the next highest winning percentage inintradivision games during the championship season shallchoose one of the remaining two designations. The
remaining Club among the three tied Clubs shall beassigned the remaining designation. If any two of the tied
Clubs have identical winning percentages in intradivision
games during the championship season, then the Clubthat would be the home Club in a two-Club tie, according
to the procedures of Rule 34(c)(1)(A), shall have priority
over the other Club in choosing a designation pursuant tothis Rule 34(c)(1)(B)(i)(aa).
(bb) If the three tied Clubs have identical
winning percentages in intradivision games during thechampionship season, then the Club that first chooses a
designation as Club “A,” “B,” or “C” shall be the Club
among the three tied Clubs with the higher
winning percentage in the last half of intraleague games
during the championship season. The Club among thethree tied Clubs with the next highest winning percentage
in the last half of intraleague games during thechampionship season shall choose one of the remaining
two designations. The remaining Club among the threetied Clubs shall be assigned the remaining designation. If
any two of the tied Clubs have identical
winning percentages in the last half of intraleague games
during the championship season, then the Club thatwould be the home Club in a two-Club tie, according to
the procedures of Rule 34(c)(1)(A), shall have priority
over the other Club in choosing a designation pursuant tothis Rule 34(c)(1)(B)(i)(bb).
(cc) If the three tied Clubs have identical
winning percentages in the last half of intraleague games
during the championship season, then the Club that firstchooses a designation as Club “A,” “B,” or “C” shall be
the Club with the higher winning percentage in the last
half plus one of intraleague games during thechampionship season, provided that such additional
game was not a game between any of the tied Clubs. The
Club among the three tied Clubs with the next highest
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 34(c)winning percentage in the last half plus one ofintraleague games during the championship season,
provided that such additional game was not a gamebetween any of the tied Clubs, shall choose one of theremaining two designations. The remaining Club among
the three tied Clubs shall be assigned the remaining
designation. If any two of the tied Clubs have identical
winning percentages in the last half plus one ofintraleague games during the championship season,
provided that such additional game was not a gamebetween any of the tied Clubs, then the Club that would
be the home Club in a two-Club tie, according to theprocedures of Rule 34(c)(1)(A), shall have priority over
the other Club in choosing a designation pursuant to thisRule 34(c)(1)(B)(i)(cc).
If the Clubs remain tied, then the procedure described inRule 34(c)(1)(B)(i)(cc) of adding the immediately preceding
game played by each Club, provided that such added gamewas not between any of the tied Clubs, and then considering
the winning percentages of the tied Clubs over the period
from that game through the end of the championship season,shall be continued until one Club emerges with a better
winning percentage in that span of games or one Club
emerges with a worse winning percentage in that span ofgames, and the Club that first chooses a designation as Club
“A,” “B,” or “C” shall be the Club with such better
winning percentage and/or the Club that emerges with such
worse winning percentage shall have the last choice, with any
two-Club ties at any stage of the process resolved according to
the procedures of Rule 34(c)(1)(A).
(ii) If the tied Clubs do not have identical records against
one another in the championship season, their designations as
Club “A,” “B,” or “C” shall be determined as follows:(aa) If Club 1 has a better record against each ofClubs 2 and 3, and Club 2 has a better record against
Club 3, then Club 1 shall choose a designation as Club
“A,” “B,” or “C,” and Club 2 shall choose a designationfrom the remaining two designations. Club 3 shall beassigned the remaining designation.
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 34(c)(bb) If Club 1 has a better record against each ofClubs 2 and 3, and Club 2 and Club 3 have the same
record against each other, then Club 1 shall choose adesignation as Club “A,” “B,” or “C,” and the Club
among Clubs 2 and 3 that would be the home Club in a
two-Club tie, according to the procedures ofRule 34(c)(1)(A) shall choose one of the remaining two
designations. The remaining Club shall be assigned theremaining designation.
(cc) If Club 1 and Club 2 have the same record
against each other but each has a better record against
Club 3, then the Club among Clubs 1 and 2 that would be
the home Club in a two-Club tie, according to theprocedures of Rule 34(c)(1)(A), shall chose a designationas Club “A,” “B,” or “C.” The Club that would not be thehome Club in a two-Club tie between Clubs 1 and 2,
according to the procedures of Rule 34(c)(1)(A), shallchoose one of the remaining two designations. Club 3
shall be assigned the remaining designation.
(dd) If:(I) Club 1 has a better record against Club 2,
Club 2 has a better record against Club 3, and Club
3 has a better record against Club 1,(II) Club 1 has a better record against Club 2,
Club 2 and Club 3 have the same record against eachother and Club 3 has a better record against Club 1,or(III) Club 1 and Club 2 have the same record
against each other, Club 1 has a better record against
Club 3 and Club 2 and Club 3 have the same record
against each other,
then the three Clubs shall be ranked on the basis ofoverall winning percentage within that three-Club group,and the Club with the highest winning percentage fromamong that three-Club group shall have first choiceamong designations as Club “A,” “B,” or “C,” the Club
with the next highest winning percentage from amongthat three-Club group shall have the next choice between
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 34(c)the two remaining designations, and the Club with thelowest winning percentage from among that three-Club
group shall be assigned the remaining designation. If twoof the Clubs within such three-Club group have the same
winning percentage among the group, then the Club thatwould be the home Club in a two-Club tie, according to
the procedures of Rule 34(c)(1)(A), shall have priority
over the other Club in choosing a designation pursuant tothis Rule 34(c)(1)(B)(ii)(dd). If all of the Clubs withinsuch three-Club group have the same winning percentage
among the group, then the procedures ofRule 34(c)(1)(B)(i) shall determine the priority of theClubs so tied to select among the designations.
(iii) Club “A” shall play Club “B” at the ballpark of Club“A” the day after the conclusion of the championship season.
The following day, the winner of that first game shall be thehome Club in a second game, against Club “C.” The site ofeach game instead may be determined by mutual agreement
among the Clubs involved and the Commissioner to keep
travel at a minimum. The Commissioner shall award theDivision championship to the winner of the game between
Club “C” and the Club that won the game between Club “A”
and Club “B.”(C) Four-Club Tie. If four Clubs are tied for first place in a
Division, the Commissioner shall schedule additional
championship season games in order to determine the Divisionchampionship, as follows:(i) The Clubs shall choose a designation as Club “A,” “B,”“C,” and “D” for purposes of Rule 34(c)(1)(C)(ii), as follows:(aa) The Club with the highest winning percentage ingames among the tied Clubs in the championship season
shall have first choice among designations. The Club withthe second-highest winning percentage in games among
the tied Clubs in the championship season shall choose
one of the remaining three designations. The Club withthe third-highest winning percentage in games among thetied Clubs in the championship season shall choose oneof the remaining two designations. The remaining Club
shall be assigned the remaining designation. In the event
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 34(c)there is a three-Club tie in games among the tied Clubs inthe championship season, the procedures ofRule 34(c)(1)(B) shall determine the priority of theselections among those tied Clubs. In the event there is a
two-Club tie in games among the tied Clubs in thechampionship season, the Club that would be the home
Club in a two-Club tie, according to the proceduresofRule 34(c)(1)(A), shall have priority
over the other Club in choosingadesignation
pursuanttothisRule 34(c)(1)(C)(i)(aa).
(bb) If the four tied Clubs have identical records ingames among them during the championship season,
then the Club among the four tied Clubs with the higher
winning percentage in intradivision games during thechampionship season shall have first choice among
designations. The Club among the four tied Clubs withthe second-highest winning percentage in intradivision
games during the championship season shall choose oneof the remaining three designations. The Club among thefour tied Clubs with the third-highest winning percentage
in intradivision games during the championship season
shall choose one of the remaining two designations. The
remaining Club among the four tied Clubs shall beassigned the remaining designation. In the event there is athree-Club tie in intradivision games during thechampionship season, the procedures of Rule 34(c)(1)(B)shall determine the priority of the selections among thosetied Clubs. In the event there is a two-Club tie in
intradivision games during the championship season,
then the Club that would be the home Club in a two-Club
tie, according to the procedures of Rule 34(c)(1)(A), shallhave priority over the other Club in choosing adesignation pursuant to this Rule 34(c)(1)(C)(i)(bb).
(cc) If the four tied Clubs have identical
winning percentages in intradivision games during thechampionship season, then the Club that first chooses a
designation as Club “A,” “B,” “C” or “D” shall be theClub among the four tied Clubs with the higher
winning percentage in the last half of intraleague games
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 34(c)during the championship season. The Club among thefour tied Clubs with the next highest winning percentage
in the last half of intraleague games during thechampionship season shall choose one of the remaining
three designations. The Club among the four tied Clubs
with the next highest winning percentage in the last halfof intraleague games during the championship season
shall choose one of the remaining two designations. The
remaining Club among the four tied Clubs shall beassigned the remaining designation. In the event there is athree-Club tie in the last half of intraleague games during
the championship season, the procedures ofRule 34(c)(1)(B) shall determine the priority of theselections among those tied Clubs. In the event there is a
two-Club tie in the last half of intraleague games during
the championship season, then the Club that would be
the home Club in a two-Club tie, according to theprocedures of Rule 34(c)(1)(A), shall have priority over
the other Club in choosing a designation pursuant to thisRule 34(c)(1)(C)(i)(cc).
(dd) If the four tied Clubs have identical
winning percentages in the last half of intraleague games
during the championship season, then the Club that firstchooses a designation as Club “A,” “B,” “C” or “D” shallbe the Club among the four tied Clubs with the higher
winning percentage in the last half plus one ofintraleague games during the championship season,
provided that such additional game was not a gamebetween any of the tied Clubs. The Club among the fourtied Clubs with the next highest winning percentage in thelast half plus one of intraleague games during thechampionship season, provided that such additional
game was not a game between any of the tied Clubs, shallchoose one of the remaining three designations. The Club
among the four tied Clubs with the next highest
winning percentage in the last half plus one ofintraleague games during the championship season,
provided that such additional game was not a gamebetween any of the tied Clubs, shall choose one of theremaining two designations. The remaining Club among
the four tied Clubs shall be assigned the remaining
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 34(c)designation. In the event there is a three-Club tie in thelast half plus one of intraleague games during thechampionship season, provided that such additional
game was not a game between any of the tied Clubs, theprocedures of Rule 34(c)(1)(B) shall determine thepriority of the selections among those tied Clubs. In theevent there is a two-Club tie in the last half plus one ofintraleague games during the championship season,
provided that such additional game was not a gamebetween any of the tied Clubs, then the Club that would
be the home Club in a two-Club tie, according to theprocedures of Rule 34(c)(1)(A), shall have priority over
the other Club in choosing a designation pursuant to thisRule 34(c)(1)(C)(i)(dd).
If the Clubs remain tied, then the procedure described inRule 34(c)(1)(C)(i)(dd) of adding the immediately preceding
game played by each Club, provided that such added gamewas not between any of the tied Clubs, and then considering
the winning percentages of the tied Clubs over the period
from that game through the end of the championship season,shall be continued until one Club emerges with a better
winning percentage in that span of games or one Club
emerges with a worse winning percentage in that span ofgames, and the Club that first chooses a designation as Club
“A,” “B,” “C” or “D” shall be the Club with such better
winning percentage and/or the Club that emerges with such
worse winning percentage shall have the last choice, with any
three-Club or two-Club ties at any stage of the processresolved according to the procedures of Rule 34(c)(1)(B), in
the case of three-Club ties, or according to the procedures ofRule 34(c)(1)(A), in the case of two-Club ties.
(ii) Club “B” shall play one game at the ballpark of Club
“A.” Club “D” shall play one game at the ballpark of Club
“C.” Each of these two games shall be played on the day after
the conclusion of the championship season. The following
day, the winning Clubs of each of those two games shall play
one game, at the ballpark of Club “A” or Club “B,” whichever
has won the game between the two. The site of each gameinstead may be determined by mutual agreement among theClubs involved and the Commissioner to keep travel at a
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 34(c)minimum. The Commissioner shall award the Divisionchampionship to the winner of the third game, which iscontested between the winners of the respective first twogames.
Games played for the Division championship pursuant toRule 34(c)(1) shall nevertheless be included in the final Club
standings and in all statistics, as provided for in the firstparagraph of this Rule 34(c).
(2) Division Championship Ties Affecting A Wild Card
Designation. If two or more Clubs in a League are tied for first place ina Division and a Wild Card designation with identical
winning percentages at the conclusion of the championship season as
originally scheduled (including all rescheduled games), and notincluding additional games to determine the Division champion, theCommissioner shall determine the Division Champion and Wild Card
designation as follows:(A) Two-Club Tie.
(i) If two Clubs from the same Division are tied for a
Division championship and a Wild Card designation, then thechampionship season shall be extended to include one
additional game between such Clubs. Such game shall beplayed the day after the conclusion of the championshipseason. The site of the game may be determined by mutual
agreement among the Clubs and the Commissioner to keep
travel at a minimum. In the absence of such an agreement, theCommissioner shall determine the site of the additional gamebetween the tied Clubs according to the procedures ofRule 34(c)(1)(A). The Commissioner shall award the Divisionchampionship to the winner of the additional game anddeclare the loser of the additional game to be a Wild Card
Club.
(ii) If two Clubs are tied for a Division championship,and both Clubs are tied with a Club from another division for
at least one Wild Card designation, the championship season
shall be extended to include two additional games as follows:(AA) If two Clubs are tied for a Divisionchampionship, and both Clubs are tied with a Club fromanother division for one Wild Card designation, both
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 34(c)Clubs shall play a game to determine the Divisionchampion the day after the conclusion of thechampionship season. The site of the game may be
determined by mutual agreement among the Clubs andthe Commissioner to keep travel at a minimum. In theabsence of such an agreement, the Commissioner shalldetermine the site of the additional game between thetied Clubs
accordingtotheproceduresofRule 34(c)(1)(A). The
Commissioner shall award the Division championship to
the winner of the additional game.
(BB) If two Clubs are tied for a Divisionchampionship, and both Clubs are tied with a Club fromanother division for one Wild Card designation, the loser
of the game described in Rule 34(c)(2)(A)(ii)(AA) shallplay one additional game against the Club from anotherdivision in that Club’s (the Club from another division)home city to determine the Wild Card.
(CC) If two Clubs are tied for a Divisionchampionship, and both Clubs are tied with a Club fromanother division for two Wild Card designations, both
Clubs shall play a game to determine the Divisionchampion the day after the conclusion of thechampionshipseasoninaccordancewith Rule 34(c)(2)(A)(ii)(AA);provided, however, that the loser of that game and theClub from another division both shall be designated Wild
Card Clubs and home field advantage for the Wild Card
Game will be determined pursuant to Rule 35(a).
(iii) If two Clubs are tied for a Division championship,and both Clubs are tied with two Clubs from outside theirdivision for at least one Wild Card designation, then thechampionship season shall be extended to include three
additional games as follows:(AA) If two Clubs are tied for a Divisionchampionship, and both Clubs are tied with two Clubs
from outside their division for one Wild Card
designation, then the championship season shall be
extended to include three additional games as follows.
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 34(c)The day after the conclusion of the championship season
the Clubs tied for a Division championship shall play agame to determine the Division champion, and the Clubs
from outside their division that are tied for the Wild Card
designation shall play a game, the winner of which willplay the loser of the Division championship game in thewinner’s home city to determine the Wild Card
designation on the following day. If the Clubs are tied forboth Wild Card designations, the winner of the gamebetween the Clubs from another Division tied for theWild Card designation shall be declared a Wild Card
Club, and the loser of that game shall play the loser ofthe Division championship game on the following day todetermine the other Wild Card Club.
(BB) Except as may otherwise be set forth herein, thesite of the games described in Rule 34(c)(2)(A)(iii)(AA)
may be determined by mutual agreement among theClubs and the Commissioner to keep travel at aminimum. In the absence of such an agreement, theCommissioner shall determine the site of the additional
games between tied Clubs according to the procedures ofRule 34(c)(1)(A).
(B) Three-Club Tie.
(i) If three Clubs from the same division are tied for a
Division championship and at least one Wild Card
designation, and the three tied Clubs have identical records
against one another in the championship season, theirdesignations as Club “A,” “B,” or “C,” for purposes ofRule 34(c)(2)(B), shall be determined according to theprocedures of Rule 34(c)(1)(B)(i). If the tied Clubs do nothave identical records against one another in thechampionship season, their designations as Club “A,” “B,” or“C” shall be determined according to the procedures ofRule 34(c)(1)(B)(ii). The Commissioner shall schedule
additional championship season games as follows:(aa) If three Clubs from the same division are tied
for a Division championship and one Wild Card
designation, Club “A” shall play Club “B” at the ballparkof Club “A” the day after the conclusion of the161

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 34(c)championship season. The following day, the winner ofthat first game shall be the home Club in a second gameagainst Club “C.” The site of each game instead may be
determined by mutual agreement among the Clubs
involved and the Commissioner to keep travel at aminimum. The Commissioner shall award the Divisionchampionship to the winner of the second game withClub “C” and declare the loser be a Wild Card Club.
(bb) If three Clubs from the same division are tied
for a Division championship and both Wild Card
designations, the loser of the first game between Club “A”
and Club “B” also shall be declared a Wild Card Club.
(ii) If three Clubs are tied for a Division championship,
and also are tied with a Club from another division for at least
one Wild Card designation, and the three Clubs tied for a
Division championship have identical records against one
another in the championship season, their designations as
Club “A,” “B,” or “C,” for purposes of Rule 34(c)(2)(B)(ii),shall be determined according to the procedures ofRule 34(c)(1)(B)(i). If the three tied Clubs do not haveidentical records against one another in the championshipseason, their designations as Club “A,” “B,” or “C” shall be
determinedaccordingtotheproceduresofRule 34(c)(1)(B)(ii). The Club
from another division shall be designated as Club “D” forthese purposes. The Commissioner shall schedule additional
championship season games as follows:(aa) If three Clubs are tied for a Divisionchampionship and also are tied with a Club from anotherdivision for one Wild Card designation, Club “B” shallplay one game at the ballpark of Club “A.” Club “D”
shall play one game at the ballpark of Club “C.” Each ofthese two games shall be played on the day after theconclusion of the championship season. If Club “D”
wins, the Commissioner shall declare Club “D” to be a
Wild Card Club, and the winner of the game between
Clubs “A” and “B” shall be awarded the Divisionchampionship. If Club “C” wins, the following day Club“C” shall play one game at the ballpark of Club “A” or
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 34(c)Club “B,” whichever has won the game between the two.
The site of each game instead may be determined bymutual agreement among the Clubs involved and theCommissioner to keep travel at a minimum. The
Commissioner shall award the Division championship to
the winner of the third game and shall declare the loser tobe a Wild Card Club.
(bb) If three Clubs are tied for a Divisionchampionship and also are tied with a Club from anotherdivision for both Wild Card designations, Club “B” shallplay one game at the ballpark of Club “A.” Club “D”
shall play one game at the ballpark of Club “C.” Each ofthese two games shall be played on the day after theconclusion of the championship season. If Club “D”
wins its game against Club “C”, the Commissioner shalldeclare Club “D” to be a Wild Card Club, the winner ofthe game between Clubs “A” and “B” shall be awarded
the Division championship, and the following day Club“C” shall play one game at the ballpark of Club “A” orClub “B,” whichever has lost the game between the two,
to determine the second Wild Card designation. If Club“C” wins its game against Club “D”, the following day
Club “C” shall play one game at the ballpark of Club “A”
or Club “B,” whichever has won the game between thetwo, to determine the Division championship and one of
the Wild Card designations; on the same day Club “D”
will play the loser of the game between Club “A” andClub “B” at such Club’s ballpark to determine the second
Wild Card designation. The site of each game instead
may be determined by mutual agreement among theClubs involved and the Commissioner to keep travel at aminimum.
(C) Four-Club Tie. If four Clubs from the same division aretied for the Division championship and at least one Wild Card
designation, the Clubs shall choose a designation as Club “A,” “B,”“C,” and “D” for purposes of Rule 34(c)(2)(C) according to theprocedures of Rule 34(c)(1)(C), and the Commissioner shallschedule additional championship season games as follows:(i) If four Clubs from the same division are tied for theDivision championship and one Wild Card designation, Club
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 34(c)“B” shall play one game at the ballpark of Club “A.” Club“D” shall play one game at the ballpark of Club “C.” Each ofthese two games shall be played on the day after theconclusion of the championship season. The following day,the winning Clubs of each of those two games shall play one
game, at the ballpark of Club “A” or Club “B,” whichever has
won the game between the two. The site of each game instead
may be determined by mutual agreement among the Clubs
involved and the Commissioner to keep travel at a minimum.
The Commissioner shall award the Division championship to
the winner of the third game (which is contested between thewinners of the respective first two games), and declare theloser to be the Wild Card Club.
(ii) If four Clubs from the same division are tied for theDivision championship and both Wild Card designations,then in addition to the third game describedinRule 34(c)(2)(C)(i) above, the losers of the respective first twogames shall play a game at the ballpark of Club “A” or Club“B”, whichever Club lost its first game, on the same day as thethird game to determine the second Wild Card designation.
The site of this game instead may be determined by mutual
agreement among the Clubs involved and the Commissioner
to keep travel at a minimum.
(3) Wild Card Ties Not Involving A Tie For A Division
Championship. If two or more Clubs in a League are tied for a Wild
Card designation with identical winning percentages at the conclusionof the championship season as originally scheduled (including all
rescheduled games), the Commissioner shall determine the Wild Card
designation as follows:(A) Two-Club Tie. If two Clubs are tied for only one of theWild Card designations then the championship season shall be
extended to include one additional game between such Clubs. Suchgame shall be played the day after the conclusion of thechampionship season. The site of the game may be determined bymutual agreement among the Clubs and the Commissioner to keep
travel at a minimum. In the absence of such an agreement, theCommissioner shall determine the site of the additional gamebetween the tied Clubs according to the procedures ofRule 34(c)(1)(A). The Commissioner shall declare the winner of
the additional game to be a Wild Card Club. If two Clubs are tied
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 34(c)for both Wild Card designations then no additional championshipseason games shall be played and home field advantage for theWild Card Game will be determined pursuant to Rule 35(a).
(B) Three-Club Tie. If three Clubs are tied for at least one
Wild Card designation, and the three tied Clubs have identical
records against one another in the championship season, theirdesignations as Club “A,” “B,” or “C,” for purposes ofRule 34(c)(3)(B), shall be determined according to the proceduresof Rule 34(c)(1)(B)(i). If the tied Clubs do not have identical
records against one another in the championship season, theirdesignations as Club “A,” “B,” or “C” shall be determinedaccording to the procedures of Rule 34(c)(1)(B)(ii). The
Commissioner shall schedule additional championship season
games as follows:(i) If three Clubs are tied for one Wild Card designation,
Club “A” shall play Club “B” at the ballpark of Club “A” theday after the conclusion of the championship season. The
following day, the winner of that first game shall be the home
Club in a second game against Club “C.” The site of eachgame instead may be determined by mutual agreement among
the Clubs involved and the Commissioner to keep travel at aminimum. The Commissioner shall declare the winner of thegame between Club “C” and the Club that won the gamebetween Club “A” and Club “B” to be a Wild Card Club.
(ii) If three Clubs are tied for both Wild Card
designations, then the winner of the game between Club “A”
and “B” in Rule 34(c)(3)(B)(i) above shall be a Wild Card
Club, and the loser of that first game shall play a second gameagainst Club “C” the following day in the home city of Club“C” to determine the other Wild Card Club.
(C) Four-Club Tie. If four Clubs are tied for at least one Wild
Card designation, the Clubs shall choose a designation as Club
“A,” “B,” “C,” and “D” for purposes of Rule 34(c)(3)(C) according
to the procedures of Rule 34(c)(1)(C), and the Commissioner shallschedule additional championship season games as follows:(i) If four Clubs are tied for one Wild Card designation,
Club “B” shall play one game at the ballpark of Club “A.”Club “D” shall play one game at the ballpark of Club “C.”165

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 34(c) to 35(a)Each of these two games shall be played on the day after theconclusion of the championship season. The following day,the winning Clubs of each of those two games shall play one
game, at the ballpark of Club “A” or Club “B,” whichever has
won the game between the two. The site of each game instead
may be determined by mutual agreement among the Clubs
involved and the Commissioner to keep travel at a minimum.
The Commissioner shall declare the winner of the third game,
which is contested between the winners of the respective firsttwo games, to be a Wild Card Club.
(ii) If four Clubs are tied for both Wild Card
designations, then the Commissioner shall declare the winnersof the first two games described in Rule 34(c)(3)(C)(i) above tobe the Wild Card Clubs.
Rule 35
POST-SEASON SERIES(a) WILD CARD GAME. A game between the Wild Card Clubs shalltake place after the conclusion of the championship season of each year.
The Wild Card Game shall be scheduled to be played in the ballpark of theClub with the higher percentage than its opponent of games won and lost in
the championship season. In the event the Wild Card Clubs are tied withidentical percentages, then the Club deemed to have the higher
winning percentage shall be as follows:(1) the tied Club with the higher winning percentage inhead-to-head competition between the two tied Clubs during thechampionship season; or(2) if the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Club with the higher
winning percentage in intradivision games during the championshipseason; or(3) if the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Club with the higher
winning percentage in intraleague games during the championshipseason; or(4) if the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Club with the higher
winning percentage in the last half of intraleague games during thechampionship season; or
166

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 35(a) to 35(b)(5) if the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Club with the higher
winning percentage in the last half plus one of intraleague games during
the championship season.
If the Clubs remain tied, then the procedure described inRule 35(a)(5) of adding the immediately preceding intraleague gameplayed by each Club and then considering the intraleague
winning percentages of the tied Clubs over the period from that gamethrough the end of the championship season, shall be continued until
one Club emerges with a better winning percentage in that span ofgames. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Wild Card
Clubs played an additional championship season game against eachother pursuant to Rule 34(c), the Wild Card Game shall be scheduled to
be played in the ballpark of the Club that won that game.
(b) DIVISION SERIES. Two Division Series in each Major League
shall take place after the conclusion of the Wild Card Game each year. Each
Division Series shall be a best-of-five-games format. In each Major League,
the three Division Champions and the winner of the Wild Card Game shallqualify for a Division Series. The Division Series matchups within each
Major League shall be:(1) The Club with the best percentage of games won and lost
during the championship season versus the winner of the Wild Card
Game.
(2) The two remaining Clubs that have qualified for a Division
Series.
(3) For purposes of determining Division Series matchups
pursuant to this Rule 35(b) and scheduling pursuant to Rules 38(a)(2)(Division Series), 38(a)(3) (League Championship Series), and 38(a)(4)(World Series), if two or more Clubs are tied with identical percentagesof games won and lost during the championship season, then the tie
shall be broken as follows:(A) Two-Club Tie. The Club deemed to have the higher
winning percentage shall be(i) the tied Club with the higher winning percentage inhead-to-head competition between the two tied Clubs during
the championship season; or(ii) if the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Club with thehigher winning percentage in intradivision games during thechampionship season; or
167

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 35(b)(iii) if the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Club with thehigher winning percentage in intraleague games during thechampionship season; or(iv) if the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Club with thehigher winning percentage in the last half of intraleague
games during the championship season; or(v) if the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Club with thehigher winning percentage in the last half plus one ofintraleague games during the championship season.
If the Clubs remain tied, then the procedure described inRule 35(b)(3)(A)(v) of adding the immediately preceding
intraleague game played by each Club and then considering
the intraleague winning percentages of the tied Clubs over theperiod from that game through the end of the championshipseason, shall be continued until one Club emerges with abetter winning percentage in that span of games, and thatClub shall be deemed to have the higher winning percentage
for purposes of determining Division Series matchups
pursuant to this Rule 35(b) and scheduling pursuant to Rules
38(a)(2) (Division Series), 38(a)(3) (League ChampionshipSeries), and 38(a)(4) (World Series).
(B) Three-Club Ties. The Club deemed to have the higher
winning percentage shall be the tied Club that has a higher
winning percentage in head-to-head competition against each of
the other Division champions during the championship season, in
which case the tie between the two remaining Clubs shall be broken
by the procedures set forth in Rule 34(b)(3)(A). If none of the threetied Clubs has a higher winning percentage in head-to-headcompetition against each of the other Division champions during
the championship season, then the Club deemed to have the higher
winning percentage shall be(i) the tied Club with the higher winning percentage inhead-to-head competition among the tied Clubs during thechampionship season; or(ii) if the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Club with thehigher winning percentage in intradivision games during thechampionship season; or
168

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 35(b) to 35(d)(iii) if the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Club with thehigher winning percentage in intraleague games during thechampionship season; or(iv) if the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Club with thehigher winning percentage in the last half of intraleague
games during the championship season; or(v) if the Clubs remain tied, then the tied Club with thehigher winning percentage in the last half plus one ofintraleague games during the championship season.
If the Clubs remain tied, then the procedure described inRule 35(b)(3)(B)(v) of adding the immediately preceding
intraleague game played by each Club and then considering
the intraleague winning percentages of the tied Clubs over theperiod from that game through the end of the championshipseason, shall be continued until one Club emerges with abetter winning percentage in that span of games, and thatClub shall be deemed to have the higher winning percentage
for purposes of determining Division Series matchups
pursuant to this Rule 35(a) and scheduling pursuant to Rules
38(a)(2) (Division Series) and 38(a)(3) (League ChampionshipSeries).
Upon determination of the Club deemed to have thehigher winning percentage, the sequence of procedures set
forth in Rule 34(b)(3)(A) shall be applied to the two remaining
tied Clubs in order to determine which of them shall bedeemed to have the better winning percentage for purposes ofdetermining Division Series matchups pursuant to thisRule 35(b) and scheduling pursuant to Rules 38(a)(2)(Division Series) and 38(a)(3) (League Championship Series).
(c) LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES. One League ChampionshipSeries shall be contested in each League between the winners of the two
Division Series in that League. Each League Championship Series shall be a
best-of-seven-games format.
(d) WORLD SERIES. The World Series shall take place at the end of
the League Championship Series each year. The World Series shall be a
best-of-seven-games format.

169

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 36(a) to 38(a)Rule 36
POST-SEASON SUPERVISION BY THE COMMISSIONER(a) The games in each post-season series shall be played under thesupervision, control and direction of the Commissioner.
(b) All questions arising out of the playing of the Wild Card Game,
Division Series, League Championship Series or World Series not provided
for in the Major League Rules, nor covered by the Official Baseball Rules,
shall be dealt with and decided by the Commissioner.
Rule 37PENNANT AND MEMENTO(a) WORLD SERIES. The emblem of the World Series championshipshall be a pennant, to be presented to the victorious World Series Club eachyear, and an appropriate memento shall be awarded to each player, themanager, each coach and the general manager of the victorious Club. Boththe pennant and the memento shall be selected by the Commissioner. The
cost of the mementos for the World Series winner shall not exceed $1,500
each, including tax.
(b) PRESENTATION. The World Series pennant and mementos shallbe presented to the victorious Club and its players, each year, by theCommissioner, who is authorized to arrange for all of the details of suchpresentation.
(c) LEAGUE CHAMPIONS. The victorious Club in each season’s
League Championship Series shall be entitled to display a pennant
symbolizing the Club’s League championship.
Rule 38
POST-SEASON SCHEDULE(a) ORDER OF GAMES. The Commissioner shall promulgate aschedule for the Wild Card Game, Division Series, the League
Championship Series and the World Series.
(1) Wild Card Game. The Wild Card Game shall be scheduled to
be played in the ballpark of the Club with the higher percentage than its
opponent of games won and lost in the championship season as set
forth in Rule 35(a).
170

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 38(a) to 38(b)(2) Division Series. Games 1, 2 and 5 of each Division Series shallbe scheduled to be played in the ballpark of the Club with thehigher percentage than its Division Series opponent of games won andlost in the championship season; provided, however, that Games 1, 2
and 5 shall be scheduled in the ballpark of the opponent of the winnerof the Wild Card Game, notwithstanding the percentage of games won
and lost by such Wild Card Club. Games 3 and 4 shall be scheduled to
be played in the ballpark of the Club that is the visiting Club in Games1, 2 and 5.
(3) League Championship Series. Games 1, 2, 6 and 7 of each
League Championship Series shall be scheduled to be played in theballpark of the Club with the higher percentage than its League
Championship Series opponent of games won and lost in thechampionship season; provided, however, that Games 1, 2, 6 and 7 shallbe scheduled in the ballpark of the opponent of a Wild Card Club in
the League Championship Series, notwithstanding the percentage ofgames won and lost by such Wild Card Club. Games 3, 4 and 5 shall bescheduled to be played in the ballpark of the Club that is the visiting
Club in Games 1, 2, 6 and 7.
(4) World Series. Games 1, 2, 6 and 7 shall be scheduled to beplayed in the ballpark of the League Championship Club with thehigher percentage than its World Series opponent of games won andlost during the championship season. Games 3, 4 and 5 shall bescheduled to be played in the ballpark of the Club that is the visiting
Club in Games 1, 2, 6 and 7.
(5) Home-field Advantage for Tied Clubs. In the event two Clubs
have identical winning percentages in the championship season, then for
purposes of Rules 38(a)(2) (Division Series), 38(a)(3) (League
Championship Series), and 38(a)(4) (World Series), the Club that shallbe scheduled to host the majority of games in the applicable series shallbe the Club deemed to have the higher winning percentage pursuant to
the procedures set forth in Rule 35(b)(3).
(b) POSTPONED AND SUSPENDED GAMES. A Wild Card,
Division Series, League Championship Series or World Series game that is
postponed or suspended shall be played or resumed, as the case may be, on
the grounds for which it was scheduled or begun before the succeedingscheduled game hosted by the other competing Club shall be contested. The
dates assigned for subsequent games shall be adjusted accordingly. The
Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee, after consultation with
171

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 38(b) to 41(a)officials of the home and visiting Clubs and, with regard to player healthand safety issues, the designee of the Major League Baseball Players
Association, shall determine whether, on account of weather or theconditions of the playing field, a Wild Card, Division Series, League
Championship Series or World Series game shall be played or resumed orshall be suspended.
Rule 39
POST-SEASON SERIES TERMINATION(a) BY VICTORY. The Clubs participating in the Division Series,
League Championship Series, or World Series shall play each day according
to the authorized schedule until one of them has won the required numberof victories at which time the series shall end. The required number ofvictories shall be three in the case of each Division Series and four in thecase of each League Championship Series or the World Series.
(b) BY COMMISSIONER. The Commissioner shall have the right toterminate a post-season series at any time that the Commissioner deems theinterest of Baseball demands it, and to declare one of the contesting Clubs
the winner of that series regardless of previous performances.
Rule 40
POST-SEASON PLAYING RULES
The games shall be conducted according to the playing rules governingcompetition for the championship season, except as provided for in
Rule 17(a) (Official Baseball Rules). If the playing rules of the two Major
Leagues differ, then the playing rules used for each game of the World Series
shall be the playing rules of the League of the Club in whose ballpark such
World Series game is scheduled to be played.
Rule 41
PLAYERS ELIGIBLE FOR POST-SEASON(a) PLAYERS ELIGIBLE.
(1) Major League Roster Players. To be eligible to play for a Major
League Club in a Wild Card Game, Division Series, League
Championship Series, or the World Series, a player must
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 41(a)(A) have been on a Major League Active, Injured,
Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency, Paternity, Suspended or
Military List of such Major League Club as of Midnight Eastern
Time on August 31, or on such date be under control, but on
optional assignment, or on assignment from another Major League
organization and not yet reported; and(B) have remained reserved to such Major League Club (at the
Major or Minor League levels) through the beginning of theapplicable post-season series, unless the player is replacing an
injured player pursuant to Rule 41(a)(3).
(2) Submission of Rosters. Each Major League Club thatparticipates in a postseason series (including the Wild Card Game)
must establish for each such series, from its complement of eligible
players, an active roster of no more than 26 (and no less than 25)
players and transmit such active roster to the Office of theCommissioner at such time before the scheduled start of eachpost-season series as the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee
may set. Each player named to the roster for a series must be expected
to be physically able to perform at some point in such series. No playeron the Injured List whose minimum period of inactivity has not yet
expired before the scheduled start of the post-season series may be
named to the roster for such series or otherwise replaced under thisRule 41. No player who has been assigned optionally or outright to the
Minor Leagues may be named to the roster for such series or otherwise
replaced under this Rule 41 unless 10 days for position players or
15 days for pitchers or “Two-Way Players” have elapsed from the mostrecent assignment to the Minor Leagues (or Spring Training facility),
unless the player is replacing a player who, subsequent to theassignment (A) is unable to render service in such series because of a
specific injury or ailment; (B) is unable to render service in such series
because of the serious or severe illness or death of a player’s immediatefamily (e.g. spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, child, or grandchild) ora member of such player’s spouse’s immediate family; or (C) is thefather of a child whose delivery or adoption is imminent (i.e., within 48
hours of the assignment). In the event the player is replacing a player
who subsequent to the assignment is unable to render service in suchseries because of a specific injury or ailment, and the replacement
occurs prior to the start of the postseason series, the injured player
being replaced shall be ineligible to play for the entirety of thatpostseason series (as well as the Division Series, in the event the173

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 41(a)replacement occurred prior to the start of the Wild Card Game inwhich the player’s team was participating). In the event the player isreplacing a player who subsequent to the assignment is unable to renderservice in such series because of the serious or severe illness or death ofa player’s immediate family (e.g. spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling,child, or grandchild) or a member of such player’s spouse’s immediatefamily, or because he is the father of a child whose delivery or adoption
is imminent (i.e., within 48 hours of the assignment), the player being
replaced shall be ineligible to play in a postseason game until he satisfies
the minimum period of placement on the Post-Season Bereavement/
Family Medical Emergency List or the Post-Season Paternity List under
Rule 41(a)(5) or (6) following the start of that series.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Club may designate a 27th player
for any postseason series except the Wild Card Game, provided that the27th player is a catcher replacing a catcher who is unable to play as aresult of an acute concussion and who is expected to be able to returnto play once at least seven days have elapsed since the date theconcussion diagnostic form and supporting documentation wereappropriately submitted; provided that the replaced catcher may be
eligible to play prior to the expiration of the seven-day period ofinactivity if Major League Baseball’s Medical Director has reviewed a
Return to Play form and supporting information and approved thereinstatement, and the Players Association and the player consent to thereinstatement. In order to submit a roster of 27 players under this Rule,
the Club must submit documentation necessary to place the concussed
player on the seven (7) day Injured List under Rule 2(c)(1)(A)(ii). Oncethe concussed catcher returns to play as set forth in Rule 2(c)(1)(D), theClub must remove the replacement catcher from the roster. Except aspermitted in Rule 41(a)(2), 41(a)(4), 41(a)(5) and 41(a)(6), there shall be
no substitutions made during a post-season series following a Major
League Club’s submission of its active roster for that series.
(3) Replacements for Injured Players Before a Series. With theexpress consent of the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee
prior to the start of a postseason series (including the Wild Card
Game), a Club may name a player in its organization to a roster forsuch series in order to replace an injured Major League player. A Club
will not be permitted to name such a replacement unless(A) the injured Major League player is eligible under
Rule 41(a)(1);174

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 41(a)(B) the injured Major League player is unable to render service
in such series because of a specific injury or ailment;(C) the injured Major League player’s Club has submitted
written proof of the player’s injury; and(D) the injured Major League player’s Club has requested
permission from the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s
designee to name such a replacement.
If the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee grants
permission to the injured Major League player’s Club to make sucha replacement, the player named to the roster for the series(including the Wild Card Game) as a replacement must also be aneligible player pursuant to Rule 41(a)(1) or must(E) have been on a Minor League Active, Injured, Temporarily
Inactive, Development, Suspended or Military List of such Major
League Club as of Midnight Eastern Time on August 31, or onsuch date be designated for assignment or under control, but not
yet reported, on assignment from another Major League
organization;(F) have remained reserved to such Major League Club (at the
Major or Minor League levels) through the time of replacement;
and(G) be placed on the Club’s Major League Reserve List.
(4) Replacements for Injured Players During a Series. A Club may
request permission from the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s
designee to replace on the Club’s active roster for the remainder of apost-season series a player who is unable to render service in such
post-season series because of an acute, non-chronic injury or ailment(not recurring soreness over time) that occurred after the Club’s roster
for such series had been submitted, provided that the Club submits
written proof of the injury to the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s
designee. The Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee may
approve or disapprove a request for a roster substitution and may makewhatever investigation the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s
designee deems appropriate in exercising such discretion. The
Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee’s exercise of discretion
may include disapproval of the request for a roster substitution if theCommissioner or the Commissioner’s designee determines that the175

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 41(a)request was not made in a reasonable amount of time in advance of agame to allow for investigation of the facts and circumstances. If theCommissioner or the Commissioner’s designee gives express approval
for the substitution,(A) the player added to the roster must also be an eligible
player pursuant to Rule 41(a)(1) or Rules 41(a)(3)(E) through (G);(B) a pitcher may be replaced only by a pitcher or a Two-Way
player; a position player may be replaced only by a position player
or a Two-Way Player; a Two-Way player may be replaced only by aposition player or a Two-Way player, unless the Club’s postseason
active roster has less than 13 pitchers at the time of such
replacement, in which case the Two-Way player may be replaced bya position player, a Two-Way player or a pitcher; and(C) the injured player being replaced shall be ineligible to playfor the remainder of such series, as well as the next subsequentpost-season series that year. Notwithstanding the foregoing, areplaced player, who has suffered an acute concussion during a
post-season series, may be eligible to play in the next subsequentpost-season series that year, provided that the replaced player has
been ineligible to play for a minimum of seven days since the datethe concussion diagnostic form and supporting documentation
were appropriately submitted, and Major League Baseball’s
Medical Director has reviewed a Return to Play form andsupporting information and approved the reinstatement; and,provided further that a replaced catcher, who has suffered an acuteconcussion during a post-season series that year, may be eligible toplay prior to the expiration of the seven-day period of inactivity if
Major League Baseball’s Medical Director has reviewed a Return
to Play form and supporting information and approved thereinstatement, and the Players Association and the player consent
to the reinstatement.
(5) Replacement for Players Placed on Post-Season Bereavement/
Family Medical Emergency List. Upon written application to theCommissioner or the Commissioner’s designee, a Major League Clubmay request that a player (other than a pitcher who has pitched at least
four consecutive innings in any game in that post-season series, unless
three days have elapsed) be placed on the Post-Season Bereavement/
Family Medical Emergency List during a post-season series. No player
may be placed on the Post-Season Bereavement/Family Medical
176

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 41(a)Emergency List unless such player is unable to render services becauseof the serious or severe illness or death of a player’s immediate family(e.g., spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, child, or grandchild) or amember of such player’s spouse’s immediate family. The Office of theCommissioner shall carefully scrutinize such application, including any
documentation submitted by the Club in furtherance thereof, andreserves the right to deny such placement in the absence of appropriate
evidence to support such placement.
The minimum period of placement on the Post-Season
Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List shall be three consecutive
days and the maximum period of placement shall be seven consecutive
days, during which placement the player is not permitted to be with theplayer’s Club. During such placement the player may be replaced,
provided the replacement meets the requirements of Rule 41(a)(4)(A)and (B). Following the period of leave or the expiration of the
maximum period for placement on the Post-Season Bereavement/
Family Medical Emergency List, the player must be reinstated to thepost-season roster in effect at the time, regardless of whether the player
has returned, and the replacing player must be removed from the roster.
Placement on this list during one series (including the required
minimum period of placement) shall not carry over to a subsequent
series. Thus, following the completion of the series during which theplayer was placed on the Post-Season Bereavement/Family Medical
Emergency List, the player must be included on the Club’s roster forany subsequent series in order to be eligible to play even if the term of
his placement (or the maximum period of placement) has not expired.
(6) Replacement for Players Placed on Post-Season Paternity List.
Upon written application to the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s
designee, a Major League Club may request that a player (other than apitcher who has pitched at least four consecutive innings in any game inthat post-season series, unless three days have elapsed) be placed on the
Post-Season Paternity Leave List during a post-season series. No player
may be placed on the List unless that player is the father of a child
whose delivery or adoption is imminent or has occurred within the prior48 hours. The Office of the Commissioner shall carefully scrutinize suchapplication, including any documentation submitted by the Club infurtherance thereof, and reserves the right to deny such placement in
the absence of appropriate evidence to support such placement.
The minimum period of placement on the Post-Season Paternity
Leave List shall be one day and the maximum period of placement shall177

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 41(a) to 41(c)be three consecutive days, during which placement the player is not tobe permitted to be with the player’s Club. During such placement theplayer may be replaced, provided the replacement meets therequirements of Rule 41(a)(4)(A) and (B). If the player’s absence fromthe player’s Major League Club continues past the maximum period ofPost-Season Paternity Leave List placement as a result of a serious
illness or death arising from the delivery of the child, the player’s Club
may submit written application to the Commissioner or theCommissioner’s designee to transfer the player to the Post-Season
Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List, provided that any timespent on the Post-Season Paternity Leave List shall count towards theminimum inactivity period. See Rule 41(a)(5). Following the period ofleave or the expiration of the maximum period for placement on the
Post-Season Paternity Leave List (or maximum period for placement on
the Post-Season Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List if asubsequent transfer to such list was requested and approved), the player
must be reinstated to the post-season roster in effect at the time,
regardless of whether the player has returned, and the replacing player
must be removed from the roster. Placement on this list during one
series shall not carry over to a subsequent series. Thus, following thecompletion of the series during which the player was placed on the
Post-Season Paternity Leave List, the player must be included on theClub’s roster for any subsequent series in order to be eligible to playeven if the term of his placement (or the maximum period ofplacement) has not expired.
(b) COACHES ELIGIBLE. To be eligible for a Wild Card Game,
Division Series, League Championship Series, or the World Series, a coachmust be a bona fide member of a qualifying team on and after August 31 to
the end of the season of the year in which the series is played, undercontract or terms of acceptance approved and promulgated by theCommissioner. No additional coaches will be permitted, but coaches may besubstituted for, subject to the approval of the Commissioner.
(c) PLAYERS ELIGIBLE — MINOR LEAGUE POST-SEASON.
Each Minor League Club that participates in post-season playoffs must
establish for such playoffs, from its complement of eligible players, an activeroster of no more than the maximum number of Active List players set forthin
Rule 2(b)(3) as of the end of the championship season for such
Minor League Club’s classification. Each Minor League Club that178

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 41(c) to 44(a)participates in post-season playoffs shall transmit such active roster to the
Office of the Commissioner no later than noon local time of the firstscheduled date of such playoffs for such Club.
Rule 42
POST-SEASON EXPENSES(a) PAID BY COMMISSIONER. The expenses of the Commissioner
pertaining to these games, the compensation of the umpires, scorers,
business representatives, and other miscellaneous and contingent expenses inconnection with these games shall be met by the Commissioner. The
Commissioner shall also pay expenses incurred by a Club not participatingin the Series in the printing of tickets for such a Series, when such printing
has been authorized previously by the Commissioner.
(b) CLUBS’ EXPENSES. Except as set forth in Rule 45(b)(1)(D), theexpenses of both Clubs, such as hotel bills and traveling expenses, baseballs,
advertising, printing of all tickets, policing of grounds, ticket sellers andtakers, incidentals, etc., shall be paid by the Club incurring the same. Should
any difference arise at any time as to the latter expense, the same shall be
submitted to the Commissioner for adjudication, and the Commissioner’s
findings shall be conclusive.
Rule 43
POST-SEASON PLAYING GROUNDS
Spectators will not be permitted to encroach or stand on the playing
field at any time during a Wild Card, Division Series, League ChampionshipSeries, or World Series game, unless the Commissioner grants special
authority to do so. A Club that plans to accommodate patrons in excess of
the regular seating capacity of its plant is required to erect, with the approvalof the municipal authorities and permission of the Commissioner, safe
temporary stands or seats with a strong railing in front thereof, extending
from the grandstand or skirting the outfield.
Rule 44
POST-SEASON ADMISSIONS(a) RATES. The rates of admission and the conditions governing thesame for Wild Card, Division Series, League Championship Series andWorld Series games shall be fixed by and under the control of the Major
League Executive Council.
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 44(b) to 44(e)(b) FREE LIST SUSPENDED. The free list shall be suspended during
Wild Card, Division Series, League Championship Series and World Series
games, except to representatives of the press and official guests of theCommissioner.
(c) TICKETS. The sale, distribution of and settlement for tickets forWild Card, Division Series, League Championship Series and World Series
games will be conducted as follows:(1) Each Club shall provide its reserved seat and general admission
tickets with rain checks attached.
(2) Reserved seat coupon tickets for home games of the sellingClub shall be sold and distributed prior to the opening of the series at atime and in a manner annually approved by the Commissioner, to meet
local conditions.
(3) Clubs shall print post-season tickets if and when theCommissioner or the Commissioner’s designee so directs, in a form andmanner the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee may
determine. A Club printing post-season tickets shall pay for them insuch manner as the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee may
direct.
(d) SEAT DIAGRAM. Prior to the day of the Wild Card Game, and thefirst scheduled game of each Division Series, League Championship Series
or World Series in its city, each contesting Club shall furnish therepresentatives of the Commissioner with a numbered diagram of all its
reserved seats, whether in permanent or temporary stands, and thesettlement therefor by the Club with the representatives of theCommissioner shall be on the basis of the difference between the number of
unsold tickets and the number listed on such diagram. The count of alltickets sold for each such game shall be compared by the Commissioner’s
representatives with the turnstile registers, and the home Club shall settle forthe larger number.
(e) TICKET PRIORITIES. The order in which requests for reserved
seat tickets for the World Series shall be filed is as follows:(1) Visiting Club. Five hundred reserved seat tickets for each gameto the visiting club, for accommodations of its officials and guests, thesame to be paid for by the visiting Club.
(2) Players. Five tickets for each eligible player of the visiting team,which shall be delivered to and paid for by each player through thebusiness manager of the player’s Club.
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MLR 44(e) to 45(b)(3) Commissioner’s Office and Club Officials. Requests filed by theCommissioner’s Office and Major League Club officials or parties ofprominence with the Commissioner.
(4) Major League Clubs. Major League Clubs (other than thevisiting Club), 100 reserved seat tickets, 16 of which shall be box seats.
Eight of the 16 box seats shall be grouped together in the lower deck
between first and third base, and 20 of the remaining 84 reserved seats
shall be so situated.
(f) DAILY SETTLEMENT. A settlement shall be made by the home
Club with the representatives of the Commissioner after the close of each
Wild Card, Division Series, League Championship Series or World Seriesgame, by turning over to them within 24 hours one check for the gross paid
attendance receipts, as defined in Rule 23(a) (Paid Attendance), the same
being made payable to the Commissioner’s Office.
Rule 45
DIVISION OF POST-SEASON RECEIPTS
The gate receipts from the World Series, from the first four games ofeach League Championship Series, from the first three games of each
Division Series, and from the Wild Card games (which shall be remitted by
the participating Clubs to the Office of the Commissioner within 24 hours
after the completion of each game) shall be divided as follows:(a) COMMISSIONER. Fifteen percent from all World Series games
shall be paid to the Office of the Commissioner. A percentage set annuallyby the Commissioner, and approved by the Major League Executive
Council, in accordance with Rule 23(b) (Assessment of Paid AttendanceReceipts), from all League Championship Series, Division Series, and Wild
Card games shall be paid to the Office of the Commissioner.
(b) PLAYERS.
(1) Creation of Pool. One players’ pool shall be created from theWorld Series, the two League Championship Series, the four Division
Series, and the two Wild Card games. Contributions shall be made into
the pool as follows:(A) Sixty percent of the total gate receipts from the first fourWorld Series games;
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 45(b)(B) Sixty percent of the total gate receipts from the first fourgames of each League Championship Series; and(C) Sixty percent of the total gate receipts from the first threegames (four if the Division Series is expanded to the best of seven
games) of each Division Series.
(D) Fifty percent of the total gate receipts from each Wild
Card Game after deducting the traveling expenses of the visiting
Clubs (up to a maximum of $100,000 per Club) from the total gate.
(2) Distribution of Pool. The players’ pool shall be apportioned
and distributed to the players, by Club, by the Secretary-Treasurer asfollows:(A) Thirty-six percent to the team winning the World Series.
(B) Twenty-four percent to the team losing the World Series.
(C) Twenty-four percent to be divided equally between thelosing teams in each of the two League Championship Series.
(D) Thirteen percent to be divided equally among the losing
teams in each of the four Division Series.
(E) Three percent to be divided equally between the losing
teams in each of the Wild Card Games.
(3) How Apportioned. At meetings presided over by the player
representatives, the players’ pool shall be apportioned according to thevote of all players of each team referred to in Rule 45(b)(2) who(A) are eligible to participate in the World Series for that year
under Rule 41 if their team wins its League Championship; and(B) have been with their respective Major League Clubs (i.e.,
on a Major League Active, Injured, Bereavement/Family Medical
Emergency, Paternity, Suspended or Military List of such Major
League Club, or on assignment from another Major League
organization not yet reported) on and subsequent to June 1 of thecurrent year.
Attendance at each such meeting shall be limited to players, exceptthat the field manager, prior to being excused from such meeting, shallbe given first the opportunity to express his views as to the division of
the pool. At the invitation of the player representative, the fieldmanager may be present during the remainder of the meeting, or any
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MLR 45(b)part thereof. Club personnel are otherwise prohibited from attempting
to influence, or interfere with, the players’ division of the pool, either
before or after the vote is completed. The vote of the players shall not
be subject to alteration, except as may be required to conform to the
Major League Rules.
The Office of the Commissioner shall send a draft of the voting
schedules to the Players Association for approval before transmitting
the final schedules to the Club. On or before the final day of thechampionship season, the player representative shall provide the Club
with the schedules reflecting the vote of the players. The player
representative shall execute the schedules and complete them in his own
handwriting. The Club shall, within 48 hours of receipt from the player
representatives, submit copies of such executed and handwrittenschedules to the Commissioner’s Office and the Players Association.
(4) Eligibility. All players and managers with their respective Major
League Clubs (i.e., on a Major League Active, Injured, Bereavement/
Family Medical Emergency, Paternity, Suspended or Military List ofsuch Major League Club, or on assignment from another Major League
organization not yet reported) on and subsequent to June 1 of thecurrent year and eligible to participate in the World Series for thecurrent year under Rule 41 shall receive a full share. Players andmanagers not with their respective teams on and subsequent to June 1of the current year, two certified athletic trainers and one strength andconditioning coach shall be entitled only to such shares as are voted by
the players entitled to receive a full share.
A player who, during the year, has been a member of more than
one Club shall be entitled to receive such shares as may be voted to theplayer by the players of any participating Clubs of which the player wasa member, provided that the total amount voted to a player shall not
exceed the larger of the amounts receivable by a player voted a fullshare by any such Club. The term “a full share” shall be construed tomean one equal part (disregarding fractional differences) of the funds
payable to the team, according to the total number of shares, after
deducting or allowing for the special allotments as voted by the players.
All other non-uniformed personnel (including, but not limited to,spring training coaches, traveling secretaries, clubhouse personnel,
media relations personnel, scouts, and members of the grounds crew)
shall not be eligible to receive a percentage share of the players’ pool,but shall be eligible to receive cash awards of defined dollar value;183

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 45(b) to 45(c)provided, however, that no cash award may exceed the value of a fullshare. Notwithstanding the above, the following individuals are noteligible to receive, or be paid, any money out of the players’ pool:
employees of a Club in an executive level position (including, but notlimited to, general manager, assistant general manager, or director of
baseball operations), club-affiliated physicians, individuals employed orotherwise retained by the Commissioner’s Office, including Resident
Security Agents (RSAs), or individuals on the Ineligible List at the timethe distribution is made.
(5) Pooling Shares Penalized. Any player or person who shallpromise or agree to pool his or her interest, apportionment or share in
any of said receipts or funds with any other person or persons entitledto participate in the apportionment of such receipts or funds; or who
shall give, or promise to give, any part thereof to a player, coach, official
or employee of any other Major League Club, or to a Major League
umpire; or who shall solicit or attempt to induce a player or otherperson to make any such promise, agreement or gift; or who, being
solicited to make any such promise, agreement, or gift, shall fail to
inform the Commissioner immediately of such solicitation, and of all
facts and circumstances connected therewith, shall be subject to such
penalties (including forfeiture of his or her apportionment or share,fine, suspension, and/or temporary or permanent ineligibility) as, in the
judgment of the Commissioner, the facts and circumstances in theparticular case may warrant.
(c) CLUBS — COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE.
(1) World Series. After the fifteen percent payable to the Office of
the Commissioner and the sixty percent which forms the players’ poolin the first four games of the World Series, as required byRule 45(b)(1)(A), the balance of the gate receipts shall be equallydivided between the two participating Major League Clubs.
(2) League Championship Series.
(A) After the percentage payable to the Commissioner’s Officepursuant to Rule 45(a) and the sixty percent which forms theplayers’ pool in the first four League Championship Series games
in each League, as required by Rule 45(b)(1)(B), the balance of thegate receipts from said four League Championship Series games ofa League shall be equally divided between the two Clubs
participating in the League Championship Series of that League.
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 45(c) to 45(d)(B) If the League Championship Series games in a League
shall exceed four, the gate receipts of such playoff games in excess
of four shall be divided as follows: first, the Commissioner’s Officeshall be paid the percentage described in Rule 45(a), and then theremaining receipts shall be equally divided between the two Clubs
participating in the League Championship Series of that League.
(3) Division Series.
(A) After the percentage payable to the Commissioner’s Officepursuant to Rule 45(a) and the sixty percent which forms theplayers’ pool in the first three Division Series games in each
Division Series, as required by Rule 45(b)(1)(C), the balance of thegate receipts from said three Division Series games in each Division
Series shall be equally divided between the two Clubs participatingin such Division Series.
(B) If the games in a Division Series shall exceed three, thegate receipts of such playoff games in excess of three shall be
divided as follows: first, the Commissioner’s Office shall be paid
the percentage described in Rule 45(a), and then the remaining
receipts shall be equally divided between the two Clubs
participating in such Division Series.
(4) Wild Card. After the percentage payable to the Commissioner’s
Office pursuant to Rule 45(a) and the fifty percent which forms theplayers’ pool in the Wild Card games, as required by Rule 45(b)(1)(D),
the balance of the gate receipts from the Wild Card games shall beequally divided between the two Clubs participating in each Wild Card
game.
(d) GUARANTEE OF PLAYERS’ POOL.
(1) To the extent, if any, that the players’ pool provides a total ofless than $4,608,000 for the World Series winner, the amount to be
distributed to such winner shall be increased to $4,608,000. To theextent, if any, that the players’ pool provides a total of less than
$3,072,000 for the World Series loser, the amount to be distributed tosuch loser shall be increased to $3,072,000.
(2) To the extent, if any, that the players’ pool provides a total ofless than $3,072,000 for both League Championship Series losers($1,536,000 each), the amount to be distributed to such losers shall be
increased to $3,072,000 ($1,536,000 each).
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 45(d) to 47(3) To the extent, if any, that the players’ pool provides a total ofless than $1,664,000 ($416,000 each) for the Division Series losers, thetotal amount to be distributed to such Division Series losers shall be
increased to $1,664,000 ($416,000).
(4) To the extent, if any, that the players’ pool provides a total ofless than $384,000 ($192,000) for the Wild Card losers, the total amountto be distributed to such Wild Card losers shall be increased to $384,000($192,000).
(5) If, during the term of any Basic Agreement in effect between
the Major Leagues and the Major League Baseball Players Association,
the Clubs raise World Series ticket prices, the guarantees set forth
subparagraphs (1), (2), (3) and (4) of this Rule 45(d) shall be increased a
pro rata amount, such amount established by averaging the percentage
increase of a box seat ticket and the percentage increase of a reserved
seat ticket and increasing each guarantee by such percentage.
Rule 46
BONUS FORBIDDEN(a) PROHIBITION. Neither of the contesting Clubs shall give or pay abonus or prize to any or all of its players before or after the completion of
the series, and a player released or transferred by a Club and thereafter
signed by another Club in the same League shall not participate in theproceeds of such series as a present or reward from the player’s former
teammates, the releasing Club or any of its officials.
(b) PENALTIES. Violations of this Rule 46 are punishable by a fine to
be imposed by the Commissioner. The amount of the fine may equal but
shall not exceed the aggregate amount paid to any and all players inviolation of this Rule 46, notwithstanding the limitations of penalties set
forth in Rule 50.
Rule 47
EXHIBITION GAMESBoth teams that contest in the World Series are required to disband
immediately after its close and the members thereof are forbidden toparticipate as individuals or as a team in exhibition games during the year inwhich that World Championship was decided; provided, however, that theCommissioner may grant permission to individual members of the two
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 47 to 50(a)teams on their application to participate in such exhibition games, on
conditions to be prescribed by the Commissioner, but in no event shall suchpermission authorize the appearance in any one exhibition game of morethan three players out of the joint membership of the two World Series
teams, nor shall such permission authorize the playing of any such
exhibition games after 30 days following the close of the Major League
championship season.
Rule 48
OBLIGATIONS OF PARTICIPANTS
Each of the Clubs, players, and umpires, participating or eligible toparticipate in a World Series, or in any series played or to be played underthese Rules and under the Commissioner’s auspices, shall faithfully carry out
all the provisions of these Rules and regulations, and such others as mayhereafter be made to govern such games, and shall not abandon such series,
or any game thereof, until it shall have been legally terminated. Any suchparticipant who in connection with any such series or game shall violate anyof the Major League or World Series Rules (including particularly but not
exclusively Rule 21 (Misconduct)) shall be subject to forfeiture, in whole orin part, of the share of the receipts or other compensation which otherwise
would accrue to such participant, and/or to such other penalties, including
ineligibility, as the Commissioner, upon consideration of the facts andcircumstances connected therewith, shall determine.
Rule 49
HOLIDAYS
Except as otherwise may be provided in the Basic Agreement or Major
League Rules, whenever, by the terms of a player’s contract, or of the Major
League Constitution or Rules, a particular act or thing is required to bedone on or before a designated date, and said date falls on a Sunday, or on a
January 1, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day,
Thanksgiving Day, Christmas or any legal holiday, the following business
day shall be substituted.
Rule 50
ENFORCEMENT OF MAJOR LEAGUE RULES(a) PENALTIES. In case the Commissioner shall determine that a
League or a Club has violated any of the foregoing Rules, as to which187

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR 50(a) to 50(c)penalty provisions are not otherwise set forth in the Major League
Constitution or Major League Rules, the Commissioner may take action
consistent with the Commissioner’s powers under the Major League
Constitution.
(b) PAYMENT OF FINES. Upon notification of fine, it shall become
the duty of the League or Club to make prompt payment thereof to theCommissioner. In case of non-payment, the Commissioner may suspend thebenefit of any or all of these Rules as respects the League or Club in default
until such time as payment is made.
(c) CONTINUITY OF ASSIGNMENTS, AGREEMENTS AND
TRANSACTIONS. All assignments whether optional or otherwise ofplayers’ contracts and all agreements and/or other transactions involving
players’ contracts mentioned in or provided for by the Major League
Constitution and the Major League Rules shall be given, and shall have thesame force and effect for all and every purpose, notwithstanding the stock
ownership or control either directly or indirectly by any one Club or by astockholder or stockholders of any one Club in/or of one or more other
Clubs.
Provided further that in no event shall ownership and/or control directly
or indirectly be permitted by one Club or by a stockholder or thestockholders of one Club in another Club of the same League.
ACCEPTANCE
The foregoing Major League Rules having been proposed by the Major
League Executive Council pursuant to the provisions of the Major League
Constitution and have been duly accepted by the Major League Clubs. These
Rules are recognized as binding upon all their constituent Clubs and can beamended only as provided in said Major League Constitution, and, to theextent applicable, the PDL and the Minor League Guidelines.

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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 3
ATTACHMENT 3
MINOR LEAGUE UNIFORM
PLAYER CONTRACT
I. Parties
The parties to this Minor League Uniform Player Contract are those
identified in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Addendum A.
II. Definitions
A. As used in this Minor League Uniform Player Contract, the term
“Player” shall refer to the individual identified in paragraph 1 ofAddendum A.
B. The term “Major League” shall refer to The American League of
Professional Baseball Clubs, The National League of Professional Baseball
Clubs and any other professional baseball league that is granted Major
League status pursuant to the Major League Agreement (MLA).
C. The term “Major League Club” shall refer to a professional baseballclub that is a member in good standing of a Major League.
D. The term “Major League Player” shall refer to a professional
baseball player who is on an Active List, Injured List or other Inactive Listof a Major League Club.
E. The term “Minor League” shall refer to any domestic or foreign
professional baseball league that, either directly or through membership in
an association or other entity, is party to an agreement with the Major
Leagues and that recognizes the authority of the Commissioner.
F. The term “Minor League Club” shall refer to any professional
baseball club that is a member in good standing of a Minor League.
G. The term “Minor League Player” shall refer to any professional
baseball player who is on a Minor League under control list and/or a Minor
League Reserve List of a Major League Club and/or any professional
baseball player who is on the Active List, Injured List or other Inactive Listof a Minor League Club.
H. The term “Commissioner” shall refer to the individual who holds theoffice of Commissioner of Baseball pursuant to Article I of the MLA (or, in
the absence of a Commissioner, any person or entity succeeding to thepowers and duties of the Commissioner pursuant to the MLA) or theCommissioner’s designee.
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 3
I. The term “Club” shall refer to the professional baseball club
identified in paragraph 2 of Addendum A, and any other Major League
Club or Minor League Club to which this Minor League Uniform Player
Contract may be assigned, loaned, leased or otherwise transferred. The term
“Club” also shall refer to any Major League Club or Minor League Club forwhich Player is directed to perform.
J. The terms “Minor League Reserve List” and “Minor League undercontrol list” shall refer to the lists filed pursuant to the Major League Rulesof all Minor League Uniform Player Contracts to which that Club holds
title.
K. The terms “Major League Reserve List” and “Major League undercontrol list” shall refer to the lists filed pursuant to the Major League Rulesof all Major League Uniform Player Contracts that Club holds title to andthat Club has placed on the Major League roster.
L. The term “championship playing season” shall refer to the fullschedule of regular-season games that has been approved for Club.
M. The term “Minor League Association” shall refer to any associationof Minor League Clubs and/or Minor Leagues that is party to an agreementwith the Major Leagues and that recognizes the authority of theCommissioner.
III. Recital
The Major Leagues have jointly subscribed to the Major League
Agreement (MLA) and the Major League Rules (MLR). The parties agree
that they and this Minor League Uniform Player Contract are therefore
subject to and governed by the MLA and MLR, which are fully
incorporated in this Minor League Uniform Player Contract as if set forth
herein verbatim. The Major Leagues are currently party to the Professional
Baseball Agreement (PBA) with the National Association of Professional
Baseball Leagues (National Association). To the extent that this Minor
League Uniform Player Contract is assigned, loaned, leased or otherwisetransferred to a Minor League Club which is a member of a National
Association League (or the player is directed by the Club to perform for, or
report to, such Minor League Club), the parties acknowledge (A) that theyand this Minor League Uniform Player Contract are bound by, subject toand governed by the then-existing PBA and any subsequent amendments tothat document, and (B) that the then-existing PBA (and any subsequent
amendments to that document) are fully incorporated in this Minor League
Uniform Player Contract as if set forth herein verbatim.
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 3
To the extent that this Minor League Uniform Player Contract is
assigned, loaned, leased or otherwise transferred to a Minor League Club
which is not a member of a National Association League (or the Player isdirected by the Club to perform for, or report to, such Minor League Club),the parties acknowledge (A) that they and this Minor League Uniform
Player Contract are bound by, subject to and governed by any agreement(s)and any subsequent amendments to any present or future agreements then in
effect between the Major Leagues and the Minor League or Minor League
Association of which the Minor League Club is a member and (B) that any
such agreements (and any subsequent amendments to any such agreements)
are fully incorporated in this Minor League Uniform Player Contract as if
set forth herein verbatim.
IV. Scope
Subject to the provisions of the Basic Agreement applicable to Major
League Players performing for Minor League Clubs and/or in Minor
Leagues, this Minor League Uniform Player Contract shall set the terms andconditions of Player’s employment during all periods in which Player is
employed by Club as a Minor League Player. The Basic Agreement and the
Major League Uniform Player Contract shall exclusively govern the terms
and conditions of Player’s employment during all periods in which Player isperforming services for Club as a Major League Player. This Minor League
Uniform Player Contract therefore shall have no application during any
period in which Player is on Club’s Major League Active, Injured or other
Inactive List.
V. Agreement
In consideration of the foregoing Recital and Scope provisions, for themutual representations, promises, covenants and agreements contained
herein (including in Addenda A, B and C) and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties,
intending to be legally bound, promise, covenant and agree as follows.
VI. Duration and Conditions of Employment
A. Unless a different term of this Minor League Uniform Player
Contract is set forth in Addendum A, Club hereby employs Player to render,
and Player agrees to render, skilled services as a Minor League Player inseven (7) separate championship playing seasons, commencing with the
beginning of the championship playing season identified in paragraph 3 ofAddendum A, or the portion of that regular championship playing season
remaining after the execution date of this Minor League Uniform Player
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 3
Contract, as specified in paragraph 4 of Addendum A, whichever date islater. Unless this Minor League Uniform Player Contract is terminatedpursuant to Paragraph XIX, the term of employment shall extend until
Player has performed services for Club as a Minor League Player in therequisite total of separate championship playing seasons. For purposes ofdetermining whether Player has performed in the requisite total of separate
championship playing seasons, Player shall not be deemed to have
performed services as a Minor League Player during any championshipplaying season in which Player is on either the Major League Active List, theMajor League Injured List or other Major League Inactive List (orcombination of the foregoing) for the entire season. Player also shall not be
deemed to have performed services as a Minor League Player in any
championship playing season in which Player is on the Restricted List,
Disqualified List, Suspended List, Ineligible List, Voluntarily Retired List or
Military List (or combinations of the foregoing) for the entire season. Player
also shall not be deemed to have performed services as a Minor League
Player in any championship season in which Player withholds services forany portion of the championship playing season or playoff games at theconclusion of that championship playing season. For purposes ofdetermining whether Player has performed services in the requisite total of
separate championship playing seasons, service in winter league play shall be
excluded.
B. This Minor League Uniform Player Contract obligates Player toperform professional services on a calendar year basis, regardless of the factthat salary payments are to be made only during the actual championshipplaying season. The salary paid is in part based on considerations inaddition to the actual performance of services during the championshipplaying season. Player therefore understands and agrees that Player’s duties
and obligations under this Minor League Uniform Player Contract continue
in full force and effect throughout the calendar year, including Club’schampionship playing season, Club’s training season, Club’s exhibition
games, Club’s instructional, post-season training or winter league games, any
official play-off series, any other official post-season series in which Club
shall be required to participate, any other game or games in the receipts ofwhich Player may be entitled to a share, and any remaining portions of thecalendar year. Player’s duties and obligations shall continue in full force andeffect until October 15 of the calendar year of the last championship playing
season covered by this Minor League Uniform Player Contract.

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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 3
C. Player and Club also agree to comply with all decisions of theCommissioner pursuant to the provisions of the MLA and MLR and, to theextent applicable, the PBA or other agreement in effect between the Major
Leagues and one or more Minor Leagues or Minor League Associations.
D. Player’s physical condition is important to the safety and welfare ofPlayer and to the success of Club. Thus, to enable Player to become properly
fit for Player’s duties under this Minor League Uniform Player Contract,
Club may require Player to maintain Player’s playing condition and weight
during the off-season and to report for practice and conditioning at suchtimes and places as Club may determine and may require Player toparticipate in such exhibition games prior to the championship playing
season as Club may arrange. Club shall reimburse Player for expenses
incurred in traveling from Player’s home city to Club’s training place andClub shall have the right to select the mode and class of transportation to be
used and the route to be taken by Player. In the event Player fails to reportfor practice and conditioning as required, or fails to participate in exhibition
games, Club may impose a reasonable fine upon Player in accordance with
Paragraph XX and also require Player to become fit for Player’s duties to thesatisfaction of Club at Player’s own expense.
E. Player represents that Player is aware of the Commissioner’s Office
Policy (the Policy) prohibiting Minor League Players and other Minor
League Personnel from using or possessing tobacco or similar products onballpark premises or during Club travel. Player also agrees that all Policy
provisions (and any subsequent amendments, revisions or additions) shall beincorporated in this Minor League Uniform Player Contract as if set forth
herein verbatim.
Player further promises that Player will comply fully with all Policy
provisions and that Player’s obligation to do so is a material term of thisMinor League Uniform Player Contract. Player understands and agrees thatany violation of the Policy may subject Player to discipline (including, but
not limited to, a monetary fine and/or a suspension) under the terms of thisMinor League Uniform Player Contract, the MLA and the MLR.
Moreover, Player stipulates and agrees that all disputes concerning the Policy
and/or Player’s compliance with the Policy shall be resolved in accordancewith this Minor League Uniform Player Contract, the MLA and the MLR.
VII. Payment
A. For the performance of all of the skilled services by Player and forPlayer’s other promises herein contained, Club will pay Player at themonthly rate set out in Addendum C-1 during the first championship
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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 3
playing season covered by this Minor League Uniform Player Contract. The
Player and Club shall attempt annually to negotiate an applicable monthly
salary rate for the next subsequent championship playing season covered bythis Minor League Uniform Player Contract. Such negotiations shall be inaccordance with the applicable provisions of the MLA and, if applicable, thePBA or other agreement in effect between the Major League and one ormore Minor Leagues or Minor League Associations. If the Player and Club
reach agreement, the agreed-upon monthly salary rate shall be set out in a
new Addendum C, and Player agrees to execute same. If the Player and Clubdo not reach agreement, then the Player’s monthly salary rate for the next
championship playing season shall be set by the Club, but shall not be lessthan eighty percent (80%) of the monthly salary rate set out in the mostrecently executed Addendum C. If the Player’s monthly salary rate is set by
the Club, that monthly salary rate shall be set out in a new Addendum C,
and Player agrees to execute same. Any monthly salary rate set out in any
Addendum C shall conform to any applicable minimum salary requirements
contained in the MLR. If Player is a foreign national with a nonimmigrantvisa, monthly salary rates set out in any Addendum C shall be adjusted
upward as necessary to conform with the minimum required salary levels.
The various Addenda C for this Minor League Uniform Player Contract
shall be numbered consecutively, for example, Addendum C-1, Addendum
C-2, et cetera.
B. The monthly payments under this Minor League Uniform Player
Contract will be made in two (2) semi-monthly installments on the 15th day
and last day of the month after the beginning of Club’s championshipplaying season. The obligation to make such payments to Player shall startwith the beginning of Club’s championship playing season or such later dateas Player reports for championship season play. The obligation to make suchpayments shall end with the termination of Club’s championship playing
season and any official play-off series in which Club shall participate, or
upon the termination of this Minor League Uniform Player Contract,whichever shall occur first. Player shall not be entitled to any payment under
this Minor League Uniform Player Contract for any period that Player is ona Major League Active, Injured or other Inactive List. If Player is in theservice of Club for part of Club’s championship playing season only, Player
shall receive such proportion of the rate set forth above as the number ofdays of Player’s actual employment in any month compares to the number ofdays in said month.

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MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 3
VIII. Injury of Player
A. If Player is injured during Club’s training season and if this Minor
League Uniform Player Contract is terminated during Club’s training season
as a result of that injury, or if this Minor League Uniform Player Contract islater terminated during the first fourteen days of Club’s championshipplaying season while Player is so injured, Player shall be paid by Club at therate of compensation set out in the most recently executed Addendum C fora period of two weeks from the first day of Club’s championship playing
season. However, if Player is injured during Club’s training season and is notreleased on or before the fourteenth day of Club’s championship playing
season, Club shall continue to be obligated to pay Player at the rate ofcompensation set out in the most recently executed Addendum C until theconclusion of Club’s championship playing season, or until an earlier dateon which Club may give Player an unconditional release.
B. If Player is injured during Club’s championship playing season, thatinjury shall not impair Player’s rights to receive the compensation set forth insubparagraph A of Paragraph VII for a period of fourteen days from thedate of such injury if that injury continues for all of such period. It is
specifically provided, however, that said fourteen days’ period shall not be
considered for purposes of determining whether any additional payments
may be due Player under any Special Covenants to this Minor League
Uniform Player Contract. However, if Player is not released during or at theend of the fourteen days’ period, Club shall continue to be obligated toPlayer for compensation under the terms of subparagraph A of Paragraph
VII to the conclusion of Club’s championship playing season, or to suchearlier date on which Club may give Player an unconditional release.
C. Club also shall pay all of Player’s necessary and reasonable hospitaland medical expenses incurred during the term of this Minor League
Uniform Player Contract by reason of said injury, which expenses are notpaid by worker’s compensation insurance or other surgical, medical or
hospitalization insurance policy, for the number of days in the period of
injury or 180 days, whichever is less. Club, however shall always have theright to select the physician or dentist to perform professional services to berendered to Player as well as the place of delivery of said services, including
hospital, offices or clinic, or to approve the person rendering such services or
the place where such services are to be performed if selected by Player.

195

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
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D. The following conditions are expressly established as conditions
precedent to Club’s obligation to pay any of the salary provided for in
subparagraphs A and B of this Paragraph VIII, or to pay any of the medical
or hospital expenses provided for in subparagraph C of this Paragraph VIII:
1.

Player’s injury must have been a direct and proximate result of an
injury sustained in the course and within the scope of Player’s
employment under this Minor League Uniform Player Contract;and2.

Player must give Club written notice of the place, time, cause andnature of Player’s injuries within five (5) days from the date ofreceiving such injuries or prior to the termination of this Minor
League Uniform Player Contract, whichever is earlier. The failureof Player to give such notice shall not impair the rights of Player,
as set forth herein, if Club has actual knowledge of such injury toPlayer; and3.

Player, if requested by Club, must provide Club with written
medical proof of Player’s injury.

E. Any worker’s compensation payments, or any surgical, medical or
hospitalization insurance payments received by Player for the period forwhich Club is paying Player, as specified in this Paragraph VIII, shall be
immediately paid by Player to Club. If Player fails or refuses to pay thesemonies to Club, Club shall deduct the same from any compensation due
Player.
IX. Allowance
Club will provide Player during Club’s training season and while Club is“abroad” with lodging (if Player is required to remain “abroad” overnight)
and the meal allowance required by the MLR. If while “abroad” Club elects
to require Player to remain “home” and Player is on Club’s Active or Injured
List, Club shall pay Player the meal allowance required by the MLR. No
such meal allowance shall be due Player, however, if Player’s permanent
residence is located in the home city of Club or if Player returns to Player’s
permanent residence while Club is abroad. The terms “home” and “abroad”
mean, respectively, at and away from the city in which Club has its home
baseball park.
X. Transportation
Club will provide Player with the mode and class of transportation of
its choice from “home” to “abroad” games and back. Player agrees to use
the mode of transportation furnished by Club to and from all “abroad”
196

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
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games at all times. Club will provide Player return transportation to Player’s
home city at the conclusion of the championship playing season or playoffs,
or if unconditionally released prior thereto. Mode and class oftransportation shall be at the Club’s discretion.
XI. Uniform
Club will select and furnish Player with necessary baseball uniforms,
excluding shoes, but including all numerals, emblems, logos or devices to beworn on the uniform or affixed thereto. Additionally, Club may, if it wishes
to do so, provide shoes or other personal equipment items or apparel, suchas batting gloves or fielding gloves. Player shall wear uniforms, personalequipment items and apparel as furnished and shall not alter or disfigure
them. At the end of the championship playing season, or at the end of any
post-season series games, or upon the assignment or other transfer of thisMinor League Uniform Player Contract, or upon the unconditional releaseof Player from this Minor League Uniform Player Contract, or upon any
direction by Club to perform services for a different Club, Player
immediately shall return to Club such uniforms, personal equipment items,
apparel and any and all other property of Club in the possession of Player.
Player shall not wear or use any personal equipment item, article of apparelor any other item with or upon Player’s uniform which is not approved byClub, or which is not in accordance with the MLR.
XII. Loyalty
Player agrees to serve Club diligently and faithfully, to keep in first-classcondition, and to observe and comply with all rules and regulations of Club.
Further, Player agrees to conform to high standards of personal conduct(before, during and after working hours), fair play and good sportsmanship.
XIII. Promotion of BaseballIn addition to the furnishings of professional baseball services to Club,
Player agrees, beginning with the date that this Minor League Uniform
Player Contract is executed, to cooperate with Club and to participate in any
and all promotional activities of Club which, in the sole opinion of Club,
will promote the welfare of Club or of professional baseball.
XIV. Pictures of Player
Player agrees, beginning with the date that this Minor League Uniform
Player Contract is executed, that current or future photographs, whether stillor action, and motion pictures may be taken and any form of broadcasts or
telecasts of Player, individually or with others, may be made at such times or
197

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 3
places as Club may designate and agrees that all rights therein and all rights
to Player’s name, voice, signature, biographical information and likenessshall belong to Club and that they may be used, reproduced, sold, licensed,
or otherwise disseminated or published by Club or its licensees, assignees,
and/or other designees directly or indirectly in any medium whatsoever for
any purpose (including but not limited to in broadcast, in print, on tradingcards, posters and other merchandise of any kind, in electronics, in audio, invideo or in connection with any media), in any manner and at any time,
including after the term of this Minor League Uniform Player Contract,that Club desires. Player acknowledges that the foregoing rights include,
without limitation, all related copyright, trademark, trade name, service
mark, right of publicity and/or right of privacy rights. Club may exploit
each of the rights granted to it by Player pursuant to this Paragraph XIV
without additional payment or other compensation to Player. Player further
agrees that during the term of this Minor League Uniform Player Contract
Player will not make public appearances, participate in radio or television
programs, or on-line computer forums or any public conferences of any sort,permit Player’s picture to be taken while in Club’s uniform or a part thereof,
sponsor or permit Player’s name, voice, signature, biographical information
and/or likeness to be used in conjunction with any commercial purpose,including but not limited to the sale, rental or advertising or promotion of
products or services, or write or sponsor newspaper, magazine or any otherarticle for publication, without the express prior written consent of Club.
XV. Player’s Representations
As a further inducement to Club to enter into this Minor League
Uniform Player Contract, Player represents to Club as follows:
A. Player has no physical or mental defects which would prevent or
impair the performance of Player’s skilled services as a professional baseballplayer for Club. Player is capable of and will perform services and such otherduties as may be required pursuant to this Minor League Uniform Player
Contract with expertness, diligence and fidelity.
B. Player does not own, directly or indirectly, stock or have any
financial interest in the ownership or earnings of any Minor League Club or
Major League Club except as hereinafter expressly set forth, and covenants
that Player will not hereafter, while under this Minor League Uniform Player
Contract, acquire or hold any such stock or interest.
C. Player has exceptional and unique skill and ability as a baseballplayer, and Player’s services to be rendered to Club are of a special andextraordinary character which gives Player a peculiar value which cannot be
198

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
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reasonably or adequately compensated for in damages at law. Therefore,
Player agrees that Player’s breach of this Minor League Uniform Player
Contract will cause Club great and irreparable injury and damage.
Accordingly, Player agrees that, in addition to other remedies, Club shall beentitled to injunctive and other equitable relief to prevent a breach of thisMinor League Uniform Player Contract by Player, including the right toenjoin Player from playing professional baseball for any other person ororganization during the term of this Minor League Uniform Player
Contract.
D. Player is not a party to, and will not enter into, any contract or any
contractual obligation to render skilled services as a professional baseballplayer with any person or organization other than Club. Additionally, Player
is not a party to, and will not enter into, any contract or any contractual
obligation that conflicts with any of Player’s obligations under this Minor
League Uniform Player Contract or limits (as determined by the Club in thesole exercise of its discretion) the rights granted Club under this Minor
League Uniform Player Contract or that impairs Club’s ability to fully
exercise such rights.
E. Player’s name, as set forth in this Minor League Uniform Player
Contract, and of which Player’s signature to this Minor League Uniform
Player Contract consists, is Player’s proper and legal name and is not a
fictitious or assumed name.
F. All personal information concerning Player in Addendum A is true
and accurate.
G. Player is eligible, in accordance with the MLR, to execute this Minor
League Uniform Player Contract.
H. Player represents and warrants that:
1.

Player has the full authority to grant the rights contained inthis Minor League Uniform Player Contract and to execute,deliver and perform the obligations under this Minor League
Uniform Player Contract,2.

the execution and delivery of this Minor League Uniform
Player Contract will not conflict with or result in any breachof any agreement to which Player is a part or by which Player
is bound, and3.

this Minor League Uniform Player Contract is duly executedand delivered by Player.
199

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 3
XVI. Playing For Others
A. For the purpose of avoiding physical injuries, Player agrees thatduring the term of this Minor League Uniform Player Contract, Player will
not play baseball other than for Club, without the written consent of theClub. If Club consents to Player’s participation in a winter league, the terms
and conditions of Player’s employment during winter league play shall begoverned by this Minor League Uniform Player Contract, except that Player
and Club shall agree on the amount of monetary compensation for Player’s
participation in winter league play.
B. Player and Club agree and recognize that Player’s participation in
any other sport may impair or destroy Player’s ability and skill as aprofessional baseball player. Accordingly, from and after the date of
execution of this Minor League Uniform Player Contract, Player agrees that
Player shall not engage in automobile or motorcycle racing, hanggliding,fencing, parachuting, skydiving, boxing, wrestling, karate, judo, football,basketball, skiing, hockey, or any other sport or activity involving asubstantial risk of personal injury. Player also agrees that, except with thewritten consent of Club, Player will not participate in amateur, intramural,intercollegiate or professional athletics in any sport whatsoever.
XVII. Physical Examination
A. When requested by Club, Player shall submit to a complete physical,
psychiatric, psychological and/or dental examination at the expense of Club,
and, if necessary, to medical, surgical, psychiatric or dental treatment at
Player’s own expense, except as otherwise provided in this Minor League
Uniform Player Contract. Upon the failure or refusal of Player to do so,
Club may take such action against Player as it deems advisable in themanner agreed to between the parties and set forth at Paragraph XX.
B. It is specifically provided, however, that if Player signed this Minor
League Uniform Player Contract as a free agent (whether or not previously
party to a Major League or Minor League Uniform Player Contract), within
ninety days subsequent to the execution of this Minor League Uniform
Player Contract by Player, Club may require Player to undergo a complete
physical, psychiatric, psychological and/or dental examination by a physician
and/or dentist of Club’s choosing and at Club’s expense. If such examination
reveals the presence of any physical and/or dental defect, congenital orotherwise, which in the judgment of the physician or dentist would or might
substantially impair Player’s ability to play professional baseball and waspresent at the time of execution of this Minor League Uniform Player
200

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 3
Contract by Player, Club may terminate this Minor League Uniform Player
Contract without further payment to Player of any bonus, benefits or othercompensation provided for in this Minor League Uniform Player Contract
or any Special Covenants to this Minor League Uniform Player Contract.
Such a termination, however, must be effected (including notification to theCommissioner’s Office) within one hundred and five (105) days subsequent
to the execution of this Minor League Uniform Player Contract by Player.
In the event of a termination pursuant to this subparagraph B of Paragraph
XVII, this Minor League Uniform Player Contract shall be void and of noforce or effect between the Parties and Player shall repay any bonus, benefits
or other compensation provided pursuant to any Special Covenants to thisMinor League Uniform Player Contract.
XVIII. Assignments, Transfers and Directions to Perform For Minor or
Major League Clubs
A. Player specifically agrees and understands that this Minor League
Uniform Player Contract may be freely assigned by Club, and re-assigned byany assignee Club, to any other Major League Club or Minor League Club.
B. Upon assignment of this Minor League Uniform Player Contract,
the assignee Club shall be liable to Player only for payments accruing fromthe date Player reports to the Club for which Player is directed to perform byassignee Club. Assignor Club shall remain liable to Player for all payments
accrued as of the date of the assignment. In addition, if Player reports to theClub for which Player is directed to perform by assignee Club as soon as themode of transportation authorized or furnished to player permits, assignor
Club shall be liable to Player for the travel time required to reach the city towhich Player is directed to report to join the Club for which Player isdirected to perform by assignee Club.
C. In the event this Minor League Uniform Player Contract is assigned,
following Player’s receipt of written or telegraphic notice of the assignment,
Player shall report to the Club for which Player is directed to perform by theassignee Club as soon as the mode of transportation authorized or
furnished to Player permits. If Player fails or refuses to report as soon as themode of transportation authorized or furnished to Player permits, Player
shall not be entitled to any payment for the period from the date upon which
Player received written or telegraphic notice of the assignment to the date on
which Player reports to the Club for which Player is directed to perform by
the assignee Club.
D. Player also specifically agrees and understands that this Minor
League Uniform Player Contract (and the Club’s exclusive rights to Player’s
201

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 3
services under this Minor League Uniform Player Contract) may be freely
loaned, leased or otherwise transferred to any Minor League Club. In theevent this Minor League Uniform Player Contract is loaned, leased, orotherwise transferred, following Player’s receipt of written or telegraphic
notice of the loan, lease or transfer, Player shall report to the Club to which
this Minor League Uniform Player Contract is loaned, leased or otherwisetransferred as soon as the mode of transportation authorized or furnished toPlayer permits. If Player fails or refuses to report as soon as the mode oftransportation authorized or furnished to Player permits, Player shall not be
entitled to any payment for the period from the date upon which Player
received written or telegraphic notice of the loan, lease or transfer to thedate on which Player reports to the Club to which this Minor League
Uniform Player Contract is loaned, leased or otherwise transferred.
E. Player also specifically agrees and understands that Club may freely
direct Player to perform services for any Major League or Minor League
Club. Further, following Player’s receipt of written or telegraphic notice ofthe direction to perform, Player specifically agrees and understands that
Player’s obligation under this Minor League Uniform Player Contract toperform services for the directed Club shall be the same as Player’s
obligation to perform services for Club under this Minor League Uniform
Player Contract. If Club directs Player to perform services for a Club, Player
agrees to report to the Club as soon as the mode of travel authorized orprovided permits, and to perform all services for such Club in a diligent andfaithful manner. If Player fails or refuses to report as soon as the mode oftransportation authorized or furnished to Player permits, Player shall not be
entitled to any payment for the period from the date upon which Player
received written or telegraphic notice of the direction to perform to the dateon which Player reports to the directed Club.
F. Player agrees that Player will execute the standard form Major
League Uniform Player Contract then in effect in the Major Leagues if
Player is placed (following an assignment, direction to perform or otherwise)
on a Major League roster, Major League under control list or Major League
Reserve List at any point during the term of this Minor League Uniform
Player Contract.
G. If Player agrees, this Minor League Uniform Player Contract may be
assigned, loaned, leased or otherwise transferred to (or Player directed toperform for) a Minor League Club or other professional baseball clubparticipating in winter league play. The terms and conditions of Player’s
employment during winter league play shall be as stated in Subparagraph A
of Paragraph XVI.
202

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 3
XIX. Termination
A. If Club is in arrears to Player for any payments due Player under thisMinor League Uniform Player Contract for more than fifteen (15) days, or if
Club fails for more than fifteen (15) days to perform any other obligations
agreed or required to be performed by Club, Player shall be entitled to apply
to the Commissioner to terminate this Minor League Uniform Player
Contract. Thereafter, if Club fails to remedy the default as to the payment
or other obligation within such time as the Commissioner may fix, theCommissioner shall terminate this Minor League Uniform Player Contractby a declaration of Player’s free agency. It is specifically provided, however,that Club shall remain liable to Player for all payments due him as of thedate of the termination of this Minor League Uniform Player Contract andthe declaration of Player’s free agency.
B. Club may terminate this Minor League Uniform Player Contract
upon the delivery of written or telegraphic notice to Player if Player at any
time shall:
1.

Fail, refuse or neglect to conform Player’s personal conduct to highstandards of good citizenship and good sportsmanship;

2.

Fail, refuse or neglect to keep himself in first-class physicalcondition;

3.

Fail, refuse or neglect to obey Club’s requirements respecting
Player’s conduct and service;

4.

Fail in the judgment of Club to exhibit sufficient skill orcompetitive ability to qualify or to continue as a professional
baseball player as a member of Club’s team; or

5.

Fail, refuse or neglect to render Player’s services hereunder, or in
any other manner to materially breach this Minor League Uniform
Player Contract.

C. If Player becomes injured, Club may also terminate this Minor
League Uniform Player Contract in accordance with Paragraph VIII above.
XX. Disputes
A. For the violation by Player of any of the obligations or duties ofPlayer as set forth in this Minor League Uniform Player Contract, or for theviolation by Player of any of Club’s rules or regulations, Player agrees thatClub may impose a reasonable fine upon Player and deduct the amount203

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 3
thereof from Player’s compensation, or may suspend Player withoutcompensation, or both. Player also agrees that Club may place him on any
disciplinary list or lists prescribed by the MLR or any other applicable
Major League or Minor League rules.
B. In the event of any dispute or claim between Player and Club arisingunder any of the provisions of this Minor League Uniform Player Contract,
the sole and exclusive forum available to Player and Club to resolve suchdispute shall be arbitration by the Commissioner. Player or Club may
exercise such right to arbitration by filing a written, itemized and detailed
appeal with the Commissioner within 120 days of the event giving rise to theclaim. The decision of the Commissioner shall be final and binding. Player
and Club understand that the decision of the Commissioner may not bechallenged in any federal or state court or any other tribunal or forum.
C. Player specifically consents that either Club or the Commissioner
may make known to the public the findings, decisions or record of any
inquiry, investigation or hearing, including all evidence, information or
testimony given, received, obtained or elicited as the result of any suchinquiry, investigation or hearing.
XXI. Contingent Bonus
A. Any Special Covenants to this Minor League Uniform Player
Contract which entitle Player to receive bonus payments if Player is retainedby Club on a designated date or for a designated period shall be subject tothe following: In the event Player is placed on the Restricted, Voluntarily
Retired, Military, Disqualified or Ineligible List prior to the date upon which
the bonus payment becomes due and payable to Player, payment of thebonus shall be suspended by Club until Player is reinstated to an Active List
and reports to and is retained by Club for the number of days required bythis Minor League Uniform Player Contract, including any special
covenants.
B. In the event the official date of placement on any of the lists
enumerated in subparagraph A of this Paragraph XXI is later than the datePlayer ceased to be an active Player, the earlier date shall apply indetermining the new date for payment of the Contingent Bonus following
Player’s reinstatement to an Active List of Club.
XXII. Special Covenants
If Player is to receive or has received any additional payment
whatsoever from Club or from any other source in connection with thisMinor League Uniform Player Contract, it must be fully described on
204

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 3
Addendum B, giving name of payor, amount and nature of payment, when
paid or to be paid, et cetera.
XXIII. Legislation and Suspension
This Minor League Uniform Player Contract is subject to federal andstate legislation, regulations, executive or other official orders and othergovernmental action, now or hereafter in effect, which may affect directly or
indirectly Player or Club. Additionally, this Minor League Uniform Player
Contract is subject to the authority of the Commissioner to suspend theoperation of this Minor League Uniform Player Contract, including thepayment of compensation to Player, during any national emergency or any
cessation or suspension of play in the Major Leagues. In the event that thisMinor League Uniform Player Contract is suspended pursuant to the termsof this paragraph, it is specifically agreed between Player and Club that thecompensation provisions of Paragraph VII shall be modified and thecompensation paid to Player at the monthly rate set forth in Paragraph VII
shall be paid only for the portion of the championship playing season
actually played by Player. Moreover, in the event that this Minor League
Uniform Player Contract is suspended pursuant to the terms of thisParagraph XXIII, it is also specifically agreed between Player and Club that
the Club’s exclusive right to the Player’s services shall remain in effect andthat this Minor League Uniform Player Contract shall continue in full force
and effect for the remainder of its term once the suspension ends.
XXIV. Entire Agreement
Club and Player covenant that this Minor League Uniform Player
Contract fully sets forth all understandings and agreements by and between
them and agree that no understandings or agreements, whether heretofore or
hereafter made, shall be valid, recognized, or of any effect whatsoever, unlessand until they are set forth in a subsequent Minor League Uniform Player
Contract executed by Player and Club, filed with and approved by theCommissioner of Baseball and complying with the MLR.
XXV. Governing Law
This Minor League Uniform Player Contract shall be governed by andinterpreted in such a manner as to be effective and valid under New York
law. However, if any provisions of this Minor League Uniform Player
Contract shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, suchprovision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidation
only, without invalidating the remainder of such provisions or the remaining
provisions of this Minor League Uniform Player Contract.
205

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 3
XXVI. Approval Required
This is the only Minor League Uniform Player Contract form
prescribed by the MLR. No different form shall be used and no clause shallbe added or eliminated without the specific written approval of theCommissioner. Any written or oral agreement between Player and Club notcontained in this Minor League Uniform Player Contract shall subject bothparties to discipline. No such agreement shall be recognized or enforced by
the Commissioner. This Minor League Uniform Player Contract, including
any addenda or attachments, shall not be valid, recognized or enforced
unless filed with and approved by the Commissioner.
XXVII. Player Information and Notices
Player will immediately provide Club and any Club to which this Minor
League Uniform Player Contract is assigned, loaned or leased (and any Clubfor which Player is directed to perform services) with Player’s current homeaddress and telephone number, and will keep such information current. Any
written notice required to be given by the Club to the Player under thisMinor League Uniform Player Contract may be accomplished, at Club’s
option, by sending the notice via registered mail to the Player’s last known
address and/or by physically delivering the notice to the Player. The effective
date of any written notice shall be the date on which the notice is mailed or
physically delivered, whichever is earlier. The effective date of any
telegraphic notice by the Club to the Player will be the date on which thetelegram is sent.

206

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 3
ASSIGNMENTS OF THIS MINOR LEAGUE UNIFORM PLAYERCONTRACT
1. On, this contract was assigned from
(Date)
to(Assignor Club)

2. On(Assignee Club), this contract was assigned from

(Date)
to(Assignor Club)
3. On(Assignee Club), this contract was assigned from

(Date)
to(Assignor Club)
4. On(Assignee Club), this contract was assigned from

(Date)
to(Assignor Club)(Assignee Club)

207

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 3
ADDENDUM A
1. Player’s
Information
Name(First)(Middle)(Last)

Permanent Street Address

City

State

Social Security No.

Country

Zip

Telephone No.

Date of Birth

2. Club’s Name:
3. First championship playing season covered by this Minor League
Uniform Contract:(Year)
4. Execution Date of this Minor League Uniform Player Contract:
Month/Day/Year
5. Pursuant to subparagraph E of Paragraph XVIII, and subject to change
at any time, Club initially directs Player to perform for theClub of the
League.
STATUS OF PLAYERFirst Minor League Contract☐ Non-drafted Player☐ Rule 4 Drafted Player☐ Not Subject to Rule 4 Draft
Draft
Selection
OverallYear
Round
Sel. No.

Previous Contract☐ Assigned from Major League
Club☐ Completed Previous Minor
League Contract☐ Released/Nontendered Player☐ Major League Re-entry FreeAgent
☐ Other(explain)

208

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 3
PLAYER INFORMATION (MUST BE COMPLETED FOR
FIRST MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACTS)
POS
HGT
WGT
BATS
THROWSHIGH SCHOOLGRAD DATE(State)JUNIOR COLLEGE(M/Y)

GRAD DATE(State)COLLEGE(M/Y)

GRAD DATE(State)(M/Y)

DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL? Y/N (Circle One)If Yes, Drop Out Datefrom (College/JC/HS)(M/Y)(Circle One)

(City)(State)PLACE OF BIRTH(Country)

CONTRACT TERM (FOR PREVIOUSLY-SIGNED PLAYERS ONLY)
If Player has previously signed a Minor League or Major League contract,
this Minor League Uniform Player Contract shall be, consistent with the
MLR, for the following term: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 (circle one)(write out)
championship playing seasons.
EXECUTION OF THIS CONTRACT
By affixing their signatures below, Player and Club indicate theirunderstanding of, and agreement to, all of the provisions of this Minor
League Uniform Player Contract, including pages one through six,
Addendum A, Addendum B, Addendum C-1, and any other attachments.
CLUB DATE AND SIGN HEREAS TO CLUB:

By:

Date (Write Out Month)

Authorized Club
Representative Signature
Title:

PLAYER DATE AND SIGN HEREAS TO PLAYER:
Date (Write Out Month)209

Player’s Signature

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 3
PARENTS OR GUARDIAN CONSENT
Irrevocable consent is given to the performance and execution of thisMinor League Uniform Player Contract (including all Addenda andattachments) by the minor Player party hereto. Such consent shall beeffective as to all provisions, including (but not limited to) any assignment,
loan, lease or direction to perform under Paragraph XVIII hereof, and any
compensation and any restrictions thereon that are hereinafter negotiatedor set by the Club pursuant to Paragraph VII hereof. Consent isirrevocably given for the duration of this contract to the payment of allearnings, bonuses and other consideration personally to the minor Player
party. Player’s parents or guardian further agree to hold Club harmless forany injury suffered by Player during the term of this Minor League
Uniform Player Contract. These consents and promise to hold harmless
are expressly given as an inducement to enter into this contract.
Date

Signature of Father-Mother-Guardian(circle one)

Date

Signature of Father-Mother-Guardian(circle one)FOR
COMMISSIONER’SOFFICE USE ONLYApproved and recorded:
Date:

By:
Commissioner of Baseball210

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 3
ADDENDUM B
Special Covenants: In accordance with Paragraph XXII of this Minor
League Uniform Player Contract, all additional payments or consideration
whatsoever that Player is to receive or has received from Club or from anyother source in connection with this Minor League Uniform Player Contract
are fully described below:

211

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 3
ADDENDUM CIn accordance with Paragraph VII of the Minor League Uniform
Player Contract to which the undersigned Player is a party, Player’s monthly(Year) championship playing season shall besalary rate during the$/month (dollars per month.)
If a Player and Club have agreed on a different monthly salary rate if
Player is on the Active or Injured List of a Club in a particularclassification, that monthly salary rate, classification and any restrictions,contingencies, minimum service requirements, and other agreements
concerning salary are fully set out below:
Player’s Name (print or type)Club’s Name (print or type)

Player’s Signature

Club Representative’s Name/
Position

Street Address

Club Representative Signature

City

State

Country

Zip

Date

Telephone No.

Social Security No.

Date
FOR
Approved and recorded:
COMMISSIONER’SOFFICEUSE ONLY

Date:

By:
Commissioner of Baseball212

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 3
ADDENDUM CIn accordance with Paragraph VII of the Minor League Uniform
Player Contract to which the undersigned Player is a party, Player’s monthly(Year) championship playing season shallsalary rate during thebe:
CLASSIFICATION OR
SUBCLASSIFICATIONMONTHLYSALARY

EXAMPLEOF CLUB

If Player is on the Active or Injured Lists of Clubs in more than one
subclassification or classification during the same pay period and is entitledto different salary rates for the different subclassifications or classifications,
Player’s salary shall be prorated in accordance with the number of days ofPlayer’s employment in each subclassification or classification compared to
the number of days in that pay period. All other restrictions, contingencies,
minimum service requirements, and other agreements concerning salary are
fully set out below:

Player’s Name (print or type)Club’s Name (print or type)

Player’s Signature

Club Representative’s
Name/Position

213

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 3

Street Address
City

State

Telephone No.

Club Representative’s Signature
Country

Zip

Date

Social Security No.

Date
FOR
Approved and recorded:
COMMISSIONER’SOFFICEUSE ONLY

By:

Date:

Commissioner of
Baseball214

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 3
ADDENDUM D
In accordance with subparagraph A of Paragraph XVI andsubparagraph G of Paragraph XVIII and all other terms of the Minor
League Uniform Player Contract to which the undersigned Player is a party,(Year) championship playing
Player’s monthly salary rate during the
League shall be $/monthseason of the( dollars per month).

Team Player has agreed to perform
forTeam Representative’s Name/
Position
Player’s Name (print or type)

Major League Club’s Name (print
or type)

Player’s Signature

Major League Club
Representative’s
Name/Position (print or type)
Major League Club
Representative’s Signature

Date

Date

FOR
Approved and recorded:
COMMISSIONER’SOFFICEUSE ONLY Date:

By:
Commissioner of Baseball215

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 12
ATTACHMENT 12NOTICE TO PLAYER OF RELEASE OR TRANSFER,(Date)(Year)To Mr.
You are hereby notified as follows:1.

That you are unconditionally released.

2.

That your contract has been assigned to theClub of

League.

(a) Without right of recall.
(b) With right of recall.
(Cross out parts not applicable. In case of optional agreement, specify all
conditions affecting player.)
Corporate Name of Club
President
A copy must be delivered to the player. A copy must also be forwarded to
the Commissioner.
THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS are given for the guidance of Club
officials executing this form:(1) If the player is unconditionally released, cross out all ofparagraph 2, including subparagraphs (a) and (b).
(2) If the player is transferred outright to another Club, insert thename of that Club and of that Club’s League in paragraph 2, and crossout the following:(i) paragraph 1; and(ii) subparagraph (b) of paragraph 2.
216

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 12(3) If the player is transferred by an optional agreement to another
Club, insert the name of that Club and that Club’s League in paragraph
2, and cross out the following:(i) paragraph 1; and(ii) subparagraph (a) of paragraph 2.
Also specify all conditions affecting the player (date recall option is to
be exercised, etc.).

217

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 26
ATTACHMENT 26
MAJOR AND MINOR LEAGUE OPERATING TERRITORIESCLUB
Major Leagues
American League
Baltimore

BostonChicagoCleveland

DetroitOPERATING TERRITORYCity of Baltimore; and Baltimore, Anne
Arundel, Howard, Carroll and Harford
Counties in Maryland; provided, however,that Harford County shall be shared with
the Aberdeen Minor League Club
Suffolk,
Middlesex,
Essex,
Bristol,
Worcester and Norfolk Counties in
Massachusetts; provided, however, thatWorcester County and the area south andwest of Highway 128 in Norfolk County
shall be shared with the Worcester Minor
League Club
Cook, Lake, DuPage, Will, Kendall,
McHenry and Grundy Counties in Illinois;
and Lake and Porter Counties in Indiana;
provided, however, this territory shall beshared with the Chicago Major League
Club in the National League
Cuyahoga, Lorrain, Medina, Geauga,
Lake and Summit Counties in Ohio;
provided, however, that Summit County
shall be shared with the Akron Minor
League Club and Lake County shall beshared with the Lake County Minor
League Club
Wayne, Monroe, Washtenaw, Oakland,
Macomb and St. Clair Counties inMichigan218

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 26
Houston

City of Houston; and Harris, Brazoria,
Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Liberty,
Montgomery and Waller Counties in
Texas; provided, however, that Fort Bend
County shall be shared with the Sugar
Land Minor League Club

Kansas City

Johnson,Wyandotte,
Miami
and
Leavenworth Counties in Kansas; andClay, Jackson, Cass and Platte Counties in
Missouri
Los Angeles, Orange and VenturaCounties in California; provided, however,that this territory be shared with the Los
Angeles Major League Club in the
National League

Los Angeles

Minnesota

Ramsey and Hennepin Counties in
Minnesota; provided, however, that
Ramsey County shall be shared with the
St. Paul Minor League ClubNew York

City of New York; Nassau, Suffolk,
Rockland and Westchester Counties in
New York; Bergen, Hudson, Essex andUnion Counties in New Jersey; and that
portionof
Fairfield
CountyinConnecticut, located south of Interstate 84
and west of Route 58; provided, however,that this territory shall be shared with the
New York Major League Club in the
National League and Kings County shallbe shared with the Brooklyn Minor
League Club
Alameda and Contra Costa Counties in
California

Oakland
SeattleKing County in Washington

219

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 26
Tampa Bay

Texas

TorontoNational League
ArizonaAtlanta

ChicagoPinellas and Hillsborough Counties in
Florida; provided, however, that Pinellas
County shall be shared with the Clearwater
Minor League Club and the Dunedin
Minor League Club and HillsboroughCounty shall be shared with the Tampa
Minor League Club
Cities of Dallas, Ft. Worth and Arlington;
and Collin, Dallas, and Tarrant Counties
in Texas; provided, however, that Collin
Country shall be shared with the Frisco
Minor League Club
Cities of Scarborough, York, East York,North York, Etobicoke and Toronto,
commonly referred to as Metropolitan
Toronto
Maricopa County in Arizona
City of Atlanta; and Fulton, Cobb,
Gwinnett and DeKalb Counties inGeorgia; provided, however, that Gwinnett
County shall be shared with the Gwinnett
Minor League Club
Cook, Lake, DuPage, Will, Kendall,
McHenry and Grundy Counties in Illinois;
and Lake and Porter Counties in Indiana;
provided, however, that this territory shallbe shared with the Chicago Major League
Club in the American League

Cincinnati

Butler, Warren, Clermont and Hamilton
Counties in Ohio; Boone, Kenton andCampbell Counties in Kentucky; andDearborn and Franklin Counties inIndiana

Colorado

City of Denver; and Adams, Arapahoe,
Boulder, Broomfield, Douglas, Jefferson
and Denver Counties in Colorado

220

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 26
Los Angeles

Miami

Milwaukee
New York

Philadelphia

Pittsburgh
St. Louis

San Diego

Orange, Ventura and Los Angeles
Counties in California; provided, however,that this territory shall be shared with theLos Angeles Major League Club in theAmerican League
Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties
in Florida; provided, however, that Palm
Beach County shall be shared with theJupiter Minor League Club and the Palm
Beach Minor League Club
Milwaukee, Ozaukee and Waukesha
Counties in Wisconsin
City of New York; Nassau, Suffolk,
Rockland and Westchester Counties in
New York; Bergen, Hudson, Essex andUnion Counties in New Jersey; and that
portion of Fairfield County in Connecticut
located south of Interstate 84 and west of
Route 58; provided, however, that thisterritory shall be shared with the New
York Major League Club in the American
League and Kings County shall be sharedwith the Brooklyn Minor League Club
Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware
andPhiladelphia
Counties
in
Pennsylvania; and Gloucester, Camden
and Burlington Counties in New Jersey
City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County
in Pennsylvania
City of St. Louis; and St. Louis, Jefferson,
St. Charles and Franklin Counties in
Missouri; and St. Clair, Madison, Monroe
and Jersey Counties in Illinois
San Diego County in California

221

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 26
San Francisco

City of San Francisco; and San Francisco,
San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz,
Monterey and Marin Counties in
California; provided, however, that Santa
Clara County shall be shared with the San
Jose Minor League Club

Washington

District of Columbia; and Arlington,
Fairfax and Prince William Counties, andall independent cities bordering suchcounties, in Virginia

Minor Leagues
Triple-A
Albuquerque (NM)
Buffalo (NY)Charlotte (NC)

Bernalillo County in New Mexico
Erie County in New York
Mecklenburg County in North Carolina

Columbus (OH)
Durham (NC)Franklin County in Ohio
Durham and Wake Counties in North
Carolina; provided, however, that Wake
County shall be shared with the Carolina
Minor League ClubEl Paso (TX)
Gwinnett (GA)El Paso County in Texas
Gwinnett County in Georgia; provided,
however, that this county shall be sharedwith the Atlanta Major League Club in the
National League
Marion County in Indiana
Polk County in Iowa
Duval County in Florida
Clark County in Nevada

Indianapolis (IN)
Iowa
Jacksonville (FL)
Las Vegas (NV)
Lehigh Valley (PA)Louisville (KY)
Memphis (TN)Nashville (TN)
Norfolk (VA)

Lehigh County in Pennsylvania
Jefferson County in Kentucky
Shelby County in Tennessee
Davidson County in Tennessee
Cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth
Hampton in Virginia

222

and

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 26
Oklahoma City(OK)
Omaha (NE)Reno (NV)
Rochester (NY)Round Rock (TX)
Sacramento (CA)St. Paul (MN)

Salt Lake (UT)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (PA)Sugar Land (TX)

Syracuse (NY)
Tacoma (WA)
Toledo (OH)
Worcester (MA)

Double-A
Akron (OH)

Altoona (PA)Amarillo (TX)
Arkansas

Oklahoma County in Oklahoma
Douglas County in Nebraska
Washoe County in Nevada
Monroe County in New York
Travis and Williamson Counties in Texas
Sacramento and Yolo Counties in
California
Ramsey County in Minnesota; provided,
however, that this county shall be sharedwith the Minnesota Major League Club in
the American League
Salt Lake County in Utah
Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties in
Pennsylvania
Fort Bend County in Texas; provided,
however, that this county shall be sharedwith the Houston Major League Club in
the American League
Onondaga County in New York
Pierce County in Washington
Lucas and Wood County in Ohio
Worcester County and the area south andwest of Highway 128 in Norfolk County in
Massachusetts; provided, however, that
this operating territory shall be shared with
the Boston Major League Club in theAmerican League
Summit County in Ohio; provided,
however, that this county shall be sharedwith the Cleveland Major League Club in
the American League
Blair County in Pennsylvania
Potter County in Texas
Pulaski County in Arkansas

223

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 26
Biloxi (MS)Binghamton (NY)Birmingham (AL)
Bowie (MD)
Chattanooga (TN)Harrison County in Mississippi
Broome County in New York
Jefferson County in Alabama
Prince Georges County in Maryland
Hamilton County in Tennessee

Corpus Christi (TX)
Erie (PA)Frisco (TX)

Harrisburg (PA)Hartford (CT)Midland (TX)

Nueces County in Texas
Erie County in Pennsylvania
Collin County in Texas; provided,
however, that this county shall be sharedwith the Texas Major League Club in theAmerican League
Dauphin County in Pennsylvania
Hartford County in Connecticut
Midland County in Texas

Mississippi
Montgomery (AL)

Rankin County in Mississippi
Montgomery County in Alabama

New Hampshire
Northwest Arkansas(AR)
Pensacola (FL)
Portland (ME)

Hillsborough County in New Hampshire
Washington County in Arkansas

Reading (PA)Richmond (VA)
Rocket City (AL)San Antonio (TX)
Somerset (NJ)

Berks County in Pennsylvania
City of Richmond, and Henrico andChesterfield Counties in Virginia
Madison County in Alabama
Bexar County in Texas
Somerset County in New Jersey

Springfield (MO)Tennessee

Greene County in Missouri
Knox and Sevier County in Tennessee

Tulsa (OK)Wichita (KS)Tulsa County in Oklahoma
Sedgwick County in Kansas

Escambia County in Florida
Cumberland County in Maine

224

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 26
High-A
Aberdeen (MD)Asheville (NC)
Beloit (WI)
Bowling Green (KY)
Brooklyn (NY)

Harford County in Maryland; provided,
however, that this county shall be sharedwith the Baltimore Major League Club in
the American League
Buncombe County in North Carolina
Rock County in Wisconsin

Cedar Rapids (IA)Dayton (OH)
Eugene (OR)Everett (WA)Fort Wayne (IN)

Warren County in Kentucky
Kings County in New York; provided,
however, that this county shall be sharedwith the New York Major League Club in
the American League and the New York
Major League Club in the National
LeagueLinn County in Iowa
Montgomery County in Ohio
Lane County in Oregon
Snohomish County in Washington
Allen County in Indiana

Great Lakes (MI)Greensboro (NC)Greenville (SC)Midland County in Michigan
Guilford County in North Carolina
Greenville County in South Carolina

Hickory (NC)

Burke and Catawba Counties in North
Carolina
Washington County in Oregon
Dutchess County in New York
Ocean County in New Jersey

Hillsboro (OR)
Hudson Valley (NY)
Jersey Shore (NJ)
Lake County (OH)

Lansing (MI)Peoria (IL)
Quad Cities (IA)Lake County in Ohio; provided, however,that this county shall be shared with theCleveland Major League Club in theAmerican League
Ingham County in Michigan
Peoria and Tazewell Counties in Illinois
Scott County in Iowa and Rock Island
County in Illinois

225

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 26
Rome (GA)South Bend (IN)
Spokane (WA)
Tri-City (WA)West Michigan (MI)Floyd County in Georgia
St. Joseph County in Indiana
Spokane County in Washington
Franklin County in Washington
Kent County in Michigan

Wilmington (DE)Winston-Salem (NC)Wisconsin
Vancouver (BC)New Castle County in Delaware
Forsyth County in North Carolina
Outagamie County in Wisconsin
Greater Vancouver District in British
Columbia

Low-A
Augusta (GA)
Bradenton (FL)
Carolina (NC)Charleston (SC)
Clearwater (FL)Columbia (SC)Daytona (FL)
Delmarva (MD)
Down East (NC)
Dunedin (FL)

Fayetteville (NC)Fort Myers (FL)

Aiken County in South Carolina andRichmond County in Georgia
Manatee County in Florida
Wake County in North Carolina; provided,
however, that this county shall be sharedwith the Durham Minor League ClubCharleston County in South Carolina
Pinellas County in Florida; provided,
however, that this county shall be sharedwith the Tampa Bay Major League Club in
the American League and the Dunedin
Minor League Club
Lexington and Richland Counties inSouth Carolina
Volusia County in Florida
Wicomico County in Maryland
Lenoir County in North Carolina
Pinellas County in Florida; provided,
however, that this county shall be sharedwith the Tampa Bay Major League Club in
the American League and the Clearwater
Minor League Club
Cumberland County in North Carolina
Lee County in Florida

226

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 26
Fredericksburg (VA)
Fresno (CA)Inland Empire (CA)

Jupiter (FL)

Kannapolis (NC)
Lake Elsinore (CA)
Lakeland (FL)
Lynchburg (VA)
Modesto (CA)
Myrtle Beach (SC)Palm Beach (FL)

Rancho Cucamonga(CA)

St. Lucie (FL)
Salem (VA)
San Jose (CA)Stockton (CA)City of Fredericksburg, and Stafford
County in Virginia
Fresno County in California
San Bernardino County in California;
provided, however, that this county shallbe shared with the Rancho Cucamonga
Minor League Club
Palm Beach County in Florida; provided,
however, that this county shall be sharedwith the Miami Major League Club in the
National League and the Palm Beach
Minor League Club
Cabarrus and Rowan Counties in North
Carolina
Riverside County in California
Polk County in Florida
City of Lynchburg, and Bedford County in
Virginia
Stanislaus County in California
Horry County in South Carolina
Palm Beach County in Florida; provided,
however, that this county shall be sharedwith the Miami Major League Club in the
National League and the Jupiter Minor
League ClubSan Bernardino County in California;
provided, however, that this county shallbe shared with the Inland Empire Minor
League Club
St. Lucie County in Florida
Cities of Salem and Roanoke, andRoanoke County in Virginia
Santa Clara County in California;
provided, however, that this county shallbe shared with the San Francisco Major
League Club in the National League
San Joaquin County in California

227

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
MLR Attachment 26
Tampa (FL)

Visalia (CA)

Hillsborough County in Florida; provided,
however, that this county shall be sharedwith the Tampa Bay Major League Club in
the American League
Tulare County in California

228