Tigers options remaining, service time, and contract status

I took some time during the All Star break to update the handy options chart that I’ve been posting here from time to time. The options remaining now include those that have been used for this season. The service time listed is as of opening day this season, and the contract status should be up to date. Add 109 service days through the All Star break this season for players who have spent the full season on the 25 man roster. So much wonderful minutiae, all in one chart!

Players with Five Years' Service- can not be sent to minors without consent

Note: Service time is read thus- 7.002 is seven years plus two days service time.

Service time listed as of opening day, 2013.

Players with Options Remaining starting the 2013 season

* Denotes player has been optioned this season, can be optioned again without affecting status

(a) Scherzer was optioned in April 2010, but not for long enough to use an option. Scherzer now has over five years' service time and can not be optioned without consent.

(b) Alburquerque was optioned on 3/19/11 and on 8/23/12, but not for long enough to use an option

(c) Worth was optioned on 5/28/10 for 11 days but not long enough to lose an option

(d) Don Kelly was outrighted on 9/8/2006

2014 Arbitration status assumes players will accrue one season of service time in the major leagues in 2013 for players currently on the 25 man roster.

At least 20 days in the minors for Dirks would result in loss of super two status.

Worth was optioned four times in 2011 and five times in 2012. Villarreal was optioned twice in 2011, and three times in 2012, Perez was optioned twice in 2012. Ortega was optioned three times in 2012 and twice in 2013. Tuiasosopo was optioned twice in 2010.

General Rules

Once a player is placed on the team's 40 man roster, he may be optioned to the minor leagues in three separate seasons. A player who has less than five years since his first pro contract was signed has a fourth option. This is rare.

A player may be optioned multiple times in one season, and only one option per season is used. A player who is optioned can not be recalled for at least ten days, unless another player is placed on the disabled list. A player who is optioned for a total of less than 20 days in a season is not charged with an option (and he receives major league pay for that period).

Once a player has used up his options, he can not be sent to the minor leagues without first clearing waivers. If he clears waivers, he may then be taken off the 40 man roster and outrighted to the minors. A player may only be outrighted once in their career without their consent. A player who is outrighted more than once may declare free agency immediately or at the end of the season.

A player may not be optioned without his consent after he has accrued five years' service time in the major leagues. For example, Max Scherzer now has more than five years' service time. Phil Coke is scheduled to have five year as of August 22, 2013.

For purposes of free agency and arbitration, 172 days on the major league roster counts as one season. To be eligible for super two arbitration status, a player need about two years and 140 days service time. (Read 2.140). Andy Dirks and Al Alburquerque are possible super two arbitration candidates this year. If eligible, they would have four years of arbitration eligibility before free agency.

Kudos:

Eddie Bajek maintains a comprehensive data base that is always up to date, showing the exact amount of service time to the day. This data base is, without a doubt, the most comprehensive source of information about the status of players Tigers' organization. It's worth checking out.