Updated 40 man roster; options, service time, contract status

Since we last updated the player charts with the most recent information, the Tigers have made a few player acquisitions, some roster cuts, and pared the 40 man roster down to the 25 major league players, resulting in several more players being optioned to the minor leagues.

Major league baseball teams do not provide information about how many options a player has remaining, but I've gone through the transaction records and tallied up the options here. Salary data is provided by Cot's Contracts.

The changes:

Andrew Romine, Alex Gonzalez, and Mike Belfiore have been acquired in trades.

Steve Lombardozzi and Jose Alvarez have been traded away.

Miguel Cabrera has been extended with a new megadeal.

Danny Worth has cleared waivers and been outrighted to the minor leagues.

Luis Marte has been released

Tyler Collins has been called up and added to the roster

Casey Crosby, Hernan Perez, Jose Ortega, and Francisco Martinez have used their last options, provided that they will be in the minor leagues for at least 20 days this season.

Jose Iglesias and Bruce Rondon are on the 60 day disabled list, so they may be replaced on the 25 and 40 man rosters. Andy Dirks is on the 15 day disabled list (although he is expected to be out two months) and he can be replaced on the 25 man roster.

Players with five years' service time or out of options

Note: Service time is read thus- 8.002 is eight years plus two days service time.

Service time listed as of opening day, 2014.

Players with Options Remaining starting the 2014 season

General Rules

Options: Once a player is placed on the team's 40 man roster, he may be sent on optional assignment (optioned) to the minor leagues in three separate seasons. That includes being optioned before the start of the season. A player who has less than five years experience as a pro, excluding short season leagues, but has been optioned three times, has a fourth option. This applies to Bryan Holaday and Jose Ortega.

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). Players on the major league disabled list also accrue major league service time.

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 sent outright 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, Phil Coke now has more than five years' service time, so he can not be optioned without his consent. Rick Porcello, Alex Avila, and Austin Jackson will reach five years this season.

Arbitration eligibility: 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 needs about two years and 121 days service time. (Read 2.121). Andy Dirks and Al Alburquerque were super two arbitration players this winter. They will have four years of arbitration eligibility before free agency.

These charts are updated periodically. You may want to bookmark this article for reference purposes. For a complete list of every player in the Tiger organization and where they are assigned, Eddie Bajek has keeps a complete database with this and lots of other valuable information.