When does a plyer become arbitration eligible? If the answer to that question contains phrases like "# of seasons" expalin that. Does a season mean a player must have been on the active roster all 182 games? If a player is a late season call-up, how does that service time enter the calculation?

Thanks, looking forward to the education!!

It's based off days

 

172 days = 1 "service" year.

 

And a full baseball season is 172 days. September call up time counts towards that

 

So if you're called up exactly half way through the season, you have 86 days of service time, or 0.5 years of service.

 

3+ service years are needed to become arbitration eligible (So if you only have 2.9 service time, you are not arbitration eligible. This also means that September call ups won't hurt an orgnization when it comes to service time)

 

6+ service years are needed to become free agent eligible (Well, if you're non-tendered [not offered arbitration] or released, you are also a free agent)

 

You can find service time at http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com, however they only update at the end of the season (the service time shown on the site was for after the 2006 season).

You forgot 'super 2' status.

 

You can become arby eligible with less than 3 years of service time if you are in the top 5% of you class with 2 years service time, but not a full 3 years. For reference, Dontrelle Willis was a super-2. However, super-2 status does not affect your free agency, that still requires 6 full years of service time.

Thanks for the informatioin adn clarification. If I understand your explaination, Treanor (2.093) and Mitre (2.056) become eligible before this season is over. Do they wait to 'argue' until the off-seaon? Or is immediately upon reaching 3 years of service time?

Thanks for having the knowledge and the willingness to share it.

Yes you are correct that they become eligible, however it's during the offseason.

 

Talks first start in January. If they cannot agree on a 1 year contract (Which you'll often see, an "Avoided Arbitration" contract), then sometime between Feb 1-20, they must meet with arbitrators, and after each side has presented each case aswell as rebuttled, the arbitrators will decide which side is "correct" and that is the contract given to the player.

Thanks for the informatioin adn clarification. If I understand your explaination, Treanor (2.093) and Mitre (2.056) become eligible before this season is over. Do they wait to 'argue' until the off-seaon? Or is immediately upon reaching 3 years of service time?

Thanks for having the knowledge and the willingness to share it.

Amezaga will also be a new arbitration eligible player along with the two you mention. But I wouldn't expect any sort of notable raise for any of the 3 new ones.

Yes you are correct that they become eligible, however it's during the offseason.

 

Talks first start in January. If they cannot agree on a 1 year contract (Which you'll often see, an "Avoided Arbitration" contract), then sometime between Feb 1-20, they must meet with arbitrators, and after each side has presented each case aswell as rebuttled, the arbitrators will decide which side is "correct" and that is the contract given to the player.

 

Isn't that January thing a bit off? I believe a player can sign a contract anytime. With the Marlins it would be a 1 year contract, but I think it can be signed anytime after the season is over, as long as both sides agree to the terms. It may be unwise for some players to do that and not at least leave the threat open of going to an arbitration hearing, but it can be done. The hearing itself is the actual arbitration and any contract signed before that hearing would be known as avoiding arbitration.

Well, it was more of just a general comment. I'm actually pretty sure they can make a contract anytime in the year. But that's generally only done with 'star' players. Average Joe hitting arbitration is generally pretty low in a FO's offseason list of things to do.

Well, it was more of just a general comment. I'm actually pretty sure they can make a contract anytime in the year. But that's generally only done with 'star' players. Average Joe hitting arbitration is generally pretty low in a FO's offseason list of things to do.

 

Watch how it turns out. Willing to bet the "average Joes" get signed to one year deals by Christmas and the star players are closer to the dead line or go to arbitration. Willis may be the exception, especially with the year he is having. But Miggy is turning up the D again at this time of the year.