Options Etc.

I've been busy for a while, but just because I was absent doesn't mean that I haven't been following the ball games, or that I have completely shirked my blog. I have done a little homework and I hope that you find it useful. Please read the notes carefully as it will describe in detail what I was trying to do with this chart. This is a chart of MLB service time, options, and current consecutive years played for the Cardinals. It was made to help give people an idea of where the 40 man roster stands with regard to options, 3 year veto rule, 5 year veto rule, 6 year free agency eligibility, and the 10 and 5 rule. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to post them. Players/numbers in bold indicate the most recent changes. (last updated 7/21/08)

40-Man Roster with years and options

Name	Years of MLB service†	Options*	Years w/ Cards**
Ankiel, Rick	3	0	2
Barton, Brian	1	3 (R-5)	1
Boggs, Mitchell	1	2[1]***	1
Carpenter, Chris	12	0	5
Clement, Matt	10	0	1
Duncan, Chris	4	0	4
Encarnacion, Juan	10	1	2
Flores, Randy	6	0	5
Franklin, Ryan	9	0	2
Garcia, Jaime	1	2	1
Glaus, Troy	11	2	1
Hawksworth, Blake	7	2	0
Haerther, Cody	0	2	0
Hoffpauir, Jarrett	0	2	0
Isringhausen, Jason	13	0	7
Izturis, Cesar	8	1	1
Jimenez, Kelvin	2	1	2
Johnson, Tyler	4	0	4
Kennedy, Adam	9	2	2
Kinney, Josh	2	2	3
LaRue, Jason	10	0	1
Lohse, Kyle	8	1	1
Looper, Braden	11	2	3
Ludwick, Ryan	6	0	2
Mather, Joe	1	2	1
McClellan, Kyle	1	3	1
Molina, Yadier	5	2	5
Motte, Jason	0	2	0
Mulder, Mark	9	0	4
Parisi, Mike	1	2	1
Perez, Chris	1	2[1]***	1
Pinerio, Joel	9	0	1
Pujols, Albert	8	3	8
Ryan, Brendan	1	1	1
Reyes, Anthony	4	0	4
Schumaker, Skip	2	0	2
Stavinoha, Nick	1	2[1]***	1
Springer, Russ	16	0	2
Thompson, Brad	4	0	4
Villone, Ron	14	0	1
Wainwright, Adam	4	2	4
Washington, Rico	1	2	1
Wellemeyer, Todd	6	0	2
Worrell, Mark	1	2	1

†All numbers reflect play time this year. However, should a player not get the necessary games to constitute a “full season” then that number will be less one at the end of the season. E.g., Stavinoha will not have enough games to be considered a full season. Since he is back in the minors he will prolly NOT earn a full season in the Bigs. A player must spend 172 days on the MLB active roster and/or 15/60 day DL in order to qualify for a full year of service time.

*Options are tricky. However, I can now say with relative certainty that the number of options listed in the chart The number of option years in the above chart is based upon when the player's contract was purchased according to Cot's Baseball Contracts (pending an update).

Keep in mind that if a player has 5 years of Big league experience that he can veto any attempts to demote him—even if he has options left.

Reminder: a player has an option used only once a year. Once that player is optioned than he may be moved up and down all season without penalty (10 day waiting period applies).

If a player is only in the minors for 20 days or less than the option is not used.

A player has an option used up ONLY by being in the minors or by being “optioned” to the minors. Getting called up does not use up an option. E.g., Rico Washington started out the year on the active roster. However, when he was sent back down, he was “optioned down.” It was only when he went down that his option was used. On the other hand, Mather started the season on the 40 man roster but in the minors—thus when the season started one of his options was used. Another example: Stavinoha started the season NOT on the 40-man roster. When he was called up his “contract was purchased” and was added to the 40-man roster AND to the active roster. At that time, his option had not been used. But when he was recently sent down they used one of his options.

You might be thinking, “Then why put minor leaguers on the 40-man roster if it just eats up their options but staying out of the majors but on the 40-man roster.” The problem comes in when you want to protect players from the Rule 5 (R-5) draft which kicks in after the 3^rd or 4^th season of a pro player’s career. If that player isn’t on the 40 man than another team can scoop him up (although with provisos; see: Brian Barton).

A player with less than 5 years pro experience is eligible for an extra option year. This will be reflected with a number in brackets.

**Like with MLB years, this column is dependant upon seeing another time to constitute a full season. This column is the number of consecutive years a player has played for the Cardinals currently. If a player has played for the Cardinals in the past, left for another team, and is now back w/ the Cardinals, then the first years with the Cardinals are not counted. The purpose of this column is for the 10 and 5 rule which allows for a player to be able to veto trades.

***Mitchell Boggs, Chris Perez, Nick Stavinoha, and Mark Worrell will be eligible for a 4th option year IF any of them has had 3 options used before his 5th year as a pro. Subject to change.

Would like to add that even though a player is moved and down several times in a season, those movements are still called "optioned". E.g., when Parisi was recently sent back down he was "optioned" to the minors--EVEN THOUGH his option for this year had already been used. Thanks to Matt Leach for the instruction on this. Would also like to thank my friend, Peter White, for pointing me in the right direction for this.

-CJ