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Option Status


There is a contractual nuance that seems likely to come into play when the Nationals make their 25-man roster decisions coming out of spring training.

It’s called option status. The quick and dirty on options is as follows

If a player is on the 40-man roster but not on the active 25-man roster, he is said to be on optional assignment. This means that the team can freely move him between the major league club and the minor league clubs. It’s better to think of the term as option years rather than simply options.
If a player is on the 40-man roster and not the active 25 man roster for any part of more than three seasons in which he spent 20 or more total days of service in the minors, he is out of options and may not be assigned to the minors without first clearing waivers.
There exists an opportunity for a player to have a fourth option year. If he has less than 5 years of professional experience, he may be optioned to the minors in a fourth season without being subject to waivers.

Why do I bring this up?

Because option status is likely to come into play when it comes to some of the decisions the Nats are going to make.

Here is the option status of everyone currently on the Nats 40-man roster:

  • RHP Luis Atilano – Added to 40-man in November of 2008. Nats used first option year in 2009. He spent the entire 2009 season in the minor leagues. Option years remaining: Two [though Nats should be able to get a fourth given his service time]
  • RHP Collin Balester – Added to 40-man June 2008; first option used in 2009. Option years remaining: Two
  • RHP Jason Bergmann – The option poster child. Added to 40-man in August 2005; first option year was 2006 (he was up & down four times in 2006 but used only one option); spent entire season in majors in 2007 (no option used); used second option in 2008; and third option in 2009. Option years remaining: None (meaning he would have to face waivers this year if the Nats want to send him down)
  • RHP Brian Bruney: Added to Diamondbacks 40-man November 2003; first option year in 2004 (Diamondbacks); second option year in 2005 (Diamondbacks); final option year in 2006 (Diamondbacks). Option years remaining: None (meaning he would have to face waivers this year if the Nats want to send him down)
  • LHP Sean Burnett: Added to Pirates 40-man in November 2003; used first option in 2004 (Pirates); spent 2005 on DL (no option used); used second option in 2006, third option in 2007, & fourth option in 2008 (all with Pirates; 4th option granted given service time). Option years remaining: None (meaning he would have to face waivers this year if the Nats want to send him down)
  • RHP Matt Capps: Added to Pirates 40-man in September 2005; has not used any options; update: he has less than 5 years service time, so options are still in play Option years remaining: Three
  • LHP Matt Chico: Added to Nats 40-man in November 2006; Optioned down for only 15 days in 2007 so, if I am reading the rules correctly, did not use an option; first option used in 2008, second option used in 2009. Option years remaining: One
  • RHP Tyler Clippard: Added to Yankees 40-man in May 2007; first option used in 2007 (with Yankees); second & third options used in 2008 & 2009 (with Nats). Option years remaining: None (meaning he would have to face waivers this year if the Nats want to send him down)
  • LHP Ross Detwiler: Added to Nats 40-man September 2007; first option year in 2008; second option year in 2009. Option years remaining: One (though Nats should be able to get one more given his service time)
  • LHP Jesse English: Added to Giants 40-man November 2008; first option year used in 2009 (Giants). Option years remaining: Two [2010-11] (though Nats should be able to get one more given his service time)
  • RHP Juan Jaime: Added to the Nats 40-man November 2009; no options used. Option years remaining: Three (with realistic chance of a fourth)
  • LHP John Lannan: Added to the Nats 40-man July 2007; first option used in 2007; was optioned down for 9 days in early 2009 so I don’t believe he used an option year. Option years remaining: Two
  • RHP Jason Marquis: Added to Braves 40-man in 2000; from what I was able to determine, he’s never been optioned to the minors. Option years remaining: Three (though given his service time, he can refuse demotion)
  • RHP J.D. Martin: Added to Nats 40-man July 2009; no options used to date. Option years remaining: Three (with a realistic chance of fourth)
  • RHP Shairon Martis: Added to Nats 40-man September 2008; first option used in 2009. Option years remaining: Two (with a realistic chance of an additional one)
  • RHP Ryan Mattheus: Added to Rockies 40-man in November 2008; first option used in 2009. Option years remaining: Two (with an almost certain additional one)
  • RHP Garrett Mock: Added to Nats 40-man October 2007; first option used in 2008; second option used in 2009. Option years remaining: One
  • LHP Scott Olsen: Added to Marlins 40-man June 2005; first option used in 2005; Unsure if he used an option in 2006 since he was only in the minors for 14 days. Option years remaining: One, possibly two
  • LHP Atahualpa Severino: Added to the Nats 40-man November 2009; no options used. Option years remaining: Three (with realistic chance of a fourth)
  • RHP Craig Stammen: Added to Nats 40-man May 2009; no options used to date. Option years remaining: Three (with a realistic possibility of an additional one)
  • RHP Stephen Strasburg: Added to Nats 40-man August 2009; first option year used in 2009. Option years remaining: Two (with an additional one theoretically possible, but hopefully unnecessary)
  • LHP Aaron Thompson: Added to the Nats 40-man November 2009; no options used. Option years remaining: Three (with realistic chance of a fourth)
  • RHP Tyler Walker: TBD
  • RHP Chien-Ming Wang: Added to Yankees 40-man 2005; Used options in 2003, 2004 & 2005. Option years remaining: None (may have 4th but not sure)
  • (on 60-day DL) RHP Jordan Zimmermann: Added to Nats 40-man in 2009; no options used to date. Option years remaining: Three (he’ll likely spend entire 2010 season on DL which does not count as an option)
  • CA Jesus Flores: Added to Nats 40-man (and active roster) December 2006; first option used in 2008. Option years remaining: Two
  • CA Wil Nieves: Added to Padres 40-man July 2002; first option used in 2002 (Padres); second option used in 2005 (Yankees); final option used in 2006 (Yankees). Option years remaining: None
  • CA Ivan Rodriguez: Added to Rangers 40-man in 1991; I didn’t do any real digging since his service time makes the idea of optioning him irrelevant (he can refuse demotion)
  • SS Ian Desmond: Added to Nats 40-man November 2008; used first option in 2009. Option years remaining: Two (with an additional one possible)
  • 1B Adam Dunn: Added to Reds 40-man in 2003; I didn’t do any real digging since his service time makes the idea of optioning him irrelevant (he can refuse demotion)
  • SS Alberto Gonzalez: Added to Diamondbacks 40-man November 2006; first option used 2007 (Yankees); second option used 2008 (Yankees); final option used 2009 (Nats). Option years remaining: None
  • SS Cristian Guzman: Added to Twins 40-man in 1999; I didn’t do any real digging since his service time makes the idea of optioning him irrelevant (he can refuse demotion)
  • 2B Adam Kennedy: Added to Cardinals 40-man in 1999; I didn’t do any real digging since his service time makes the idea of optioning him irrelevant (he can refuse demotion)
  • 1B Mike Morse: Added to Mariners 40-man November 2004; first option used in 2005 (Mariners); second option used in 2006 (Mariners); final option used in 2007 (Mariners). Option years remaining: None
  • 3B Ryan Zimmerman: Added to Nats 40-man in September 2005; has not used any options. Option years remaining: Three (though highly unlikely to ever use them)
  • OF Roger Bernadina – Added to Nats 40-man roster in October of 2007; first option used in 2008; second option used in 2009. Option years remaining: One (could possibly earn an additional one but that would require an entire 2010 in the minors)
  • OF Elijah Dukes: Added to Rays 40-man November 2006; first option used in 2007; second option used in 2009. Option years remaining: One
  • OF Willie Harris: Added to Orioles 40-man in 2001; I didn’t do any real digging since his service time makes the idea of optioning him irrelevant (he can refuse demotion)
  • OF Justin Maxwell: Added to Nats 40-man September 2007; first option used in 2008; second option used in 2009. Option years remaining: One (could possibly earn an additional one but that would require an entire 2010 in the minors)
  • OF Nyjer Morgan: Added to Pirates 40-man November 2006; first option used in 2007; second option used in 2008. Option years remaining: One
  • OF Josh Willingham: Added to Marlins 40-man 2004; first option used in 2004 (Marlins); second option used in 2005 (Marlins). Option years remaining: One (though he may have service time to refuse demotion)

This entry was posted on Saturday, March 6th, 2010, 9:25 AM and is filed under Players. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

  1. #1 by Hendo - March 6th, 2010 at 10:57

    “RHP Matt Capps: Added to Pirates 40-man in September 2005; has not used any options, but given service time has right to refuse being optioned.”

    What is the service-time limit past which the player can exercise such a right of refusal?

  2. #2 by Brian Oliver - March 6th, 2010 at 11:01

    Hendo – Capps was the hardest one for me to figure out. I think he may be optioned in 2010. But I guess a better way of thinking about it is if the Nats have to consider optioning Capps then something really bad has happened with his performance

  3. #3 by BinM - March 6th, 2010 at 11:05

    Brian: Nice piece of work! I’ve been trying to get/keep all this info straight for what seems like forever.

    Hendo: 5 years is the number that sticks in my mind, but I’ve been wrong before.

  4. #4 by Hendo - March 6th, 2010 at 11:14

    @Brian: Good point. I didn’t mean to pick on Capps; it’s just that his was the first entry where the total-service point came up. (As for his 2009, I’m writing it off on account of his having been hit twice by batted balls in May. Chances are he’s recovered.)

    @BinM: Wikipedia says 5 years too but doesn’t cite the chapter and verse in the rule book. I’ll try to pluck it out of the rules myself if I get some bandwidth today.

  5. #5 by Hendo - March 6th, 2010 at 11:41

    Here’s the applicable total-service language from the Basic Agreement. Article XIX.A(2)(a) states “The contract of a Player with five or more years of Major League service, not including service while on the Military List (or seven or more years of Major League service, including service while on the Military List), shall not be assigned otherwise than to another Major League Club, without the Player’s written consent.”

  6. #6 by PowerBoater - March 6th, 2010 at 11:53

    Very nice reference piece. This would be great to have as a permanent link on your site with the current status of each Nat.

  7. #7 by taiwaness nats fan - March 6th, 2010 at 12:12

    •RHP Chien-Ming Wang Option years remaining:None (2003?2004?2005)

  8. #8 by catocony - March 6th, 2010 at 16:28

    Did Matt Chico definitely use an option in 2007? I thought he was up all year long, or at least, not in the minors 20 days? He started 31 games, and I don’t remember him being in the minors except maybe for 15 days or so.

  9. #9 by catocony - March 6th, 2010 at 16:38

    Ok, I just checked, he made 2 starts at Columbus in 2007. But, the question is, did he burn up 20 days in Columbus to make those 2 starts?

  10. #10 by Ann Ominous - March 6th, 2010 at 20:29

    “LHP John Lannan: Added to the Nats 40-man July 2007; first option used in 2007; was optioned down for 9 days in early 2009 so I don’t believe he used an option year. Option years remaining: Two”

    He started the opener in 2009, so it’s likely that he was actually optioned down in early 2008.

  11. #11 by Kenz aFan - March 6th, 2010 at 20:48

    If you look at those number, player options wont play that big a roll as one might think. If we look only at the players who have no options left, then take out the players with no options left that will almost certainly make the opening day roster, you are left with Matt Chico and Jason Bergmann among the pitchers, and Alberto Gonzalez, Wil Nieves and Mike Morse with no options left among position players. We can assume that Nieves and Morse make the club, leaving Gonzalez. If he doesn’t make it through waivers, he wont really be a loss, making him a non factor where options are concerned. That leaves Chico and Bergmann. If it comes down to deciding between them, it will be more a matter if they will need a left or right-handed pitcher in the bullpen.

    Unless both pitchers pitch way over their heads, and have a fantastic spring, neither will be missed. IMO, this year, unlike years past, options shouldn’t really be a factor at all and the Nats can more easily afford to ignore the number of options a player has.

    Don’t forget, many of the players that might make the team were signed to minor league contracts, leaving the Nats with extra options.

  12. #12 by Section222 - March 7th, 2010 at 10:58

    Great work Brian. Very useful reference. What’s the difference between Wang and Zimmerman? Both appear to have been added to the 40-man in 2005 and never been optioned to the minors, yet Wang has no options left and Zimmerman, theoretically three. Seems like Wang’s situation could make some minor league tim useful. Or don’t rehab stints count?

  13. #13 by Ric - March 7th, 2010 at 13:10

    Is Tyler Walker still on the 40-man? Presume he is either out of options or with significant service time to decline in any event

  14. #14 by Brian Oliver - March 7th, 2010 at 13:28

    S222 – It appears I missed that Wang was in fact optioned by the Yankees in three seasons. He was optioned out in 2003, 2004 & 2005.

    Ric – Somehow missed him. I’ll do some digging

    catocny – It appears that Chico was down for 15 days in 2007 meaning an option was not used (if I am reading the rules correctly). So, he could have one option remaining

  15. #15 by Catocony - March 7th, 2010 at 16:37

    Brian,

    I just hope that Rizzo and crew know :-) It really shouldn’t be this hard, options seem simple enough but with the 20-day rule, how DL stints count, the fairly open-ended “maybe a fourth year if less than five of service”. I think it will be a bigger issue as more and more top picks get major-league deals and have to go on the 40-man the summer they’re drafted.

  16. #16 by Nats fan in NJ - March 8th, 2010 at 09:14

    Brian – Life long baseball fan and I still scratch my head over the option rules. This is a great summary – thanks!

  17. #17 by Chris Needham - March 8th, 2010 at 10:27

    Don’t forget, many of the players that might make the team were signed to minor league contracts, leaving the Nats with extra options.

    Many minor-league deals, especially for more veteran players, have triggers in them that make the player FA if they don’t make the team out of Spring Training. With someone like Livan, for example, it’s likely that his contract contains a clause like that. I can’t see him willing to go to Syracuse for a few months; I think he’d just pack up and go home.

  18. #18 by Russ - March 8th, 2010 at 11:35

    I think the majority of the minor leaguers arrive today…welcome back!

  19. #19 by taiwaness nats fan - March 9th, 2010 at 00:14

    Wang signed with Yankees in 2000,so add to 40 man roster in 2002 later

  20. #20 by Positively Half St. - March 9th, 2010 at 16:05

    I hope Tyler Walker is not out of options. The way he is pitching so far, the Nats will really want to have one available for him.

  21. #21 by Catocony - March 9th, 2010 at 23:33

    When your ERA is 37.13, you’ll make it through waivers without a problem.

    As bad as the pitching has been in the first 5-6 games, it’s been a case of either being pretty good or really, really bad. No middle ground so far. Guys like Walker and Guardado, they may be gone by mid-March.

  22. #22 by Jeff E. - March 10th, 2010 at 13:53

    Maybe The |twins would like to add another former Giants reliever??? two farm comments: has anybody in nats brass ever considered handing Boomer Whiting an infield glove ala Skip Schumacher in STL??? with all the LH bats @ AAA/AA- does anybody smell a minor tinkering trade by April involving an outfield glove for a serviceable AA/A R/R rightfielder???

  23. #23 by JCA - March 13th, 2010 at 23:38

    “RHP Stephen Strasburg: Added to Nats 40-man August 2009; first option year used in 2009. Option years remaining: Two (with an additional one theoretically possible, but hopefully unnecessary”

    Brian – I thought you don’t burn an option the year of the draft. Maybe it is different if you sign a major league contract. I can’t find the relevant rule.

    Also – with Lannan – assignment to the minors for < 20 days does not count as an option. Rule XIX.E (page 67).

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