MLB Bereavement List
When a baseball player has to deal with a personal matter such as a critical illness or death of an immediate family member, they can be placed on the MLB bereavement list. The purpose of this list is to allow players to take temporary leave from the roster without having their team suffer consequences on the field.
A roster move is typically made when a player is placed on the bereavement list. This allows the team to bring up another player from the minor league affiliate to fill the empty roster spot temporarily.
The length of time a player can be on the MLB bereavement list varies between three to seven days, depending on the specific circumstances. This compassionate list is designed to provide paid leave to players who need to deal with personal matters related to the critical illness or death of an immediate family member, which helps them take care of any personal matters.
MLB players with a certain amount of service time are eligible to take paid leave under the bereavement list. During this time, players do not receive a salary but they are still counted on the active roster.
The maximum number of days allowed under this list is seven, but a team can choose to place a player on the list for less than that if they feel it is appropriate. The implementation of the MLB bereavement list has seen notable controversies over the years.
Some players choose to take the leave even when they are not experiencing any personal matters. This was the case for Seattle Mariners first baseman Evan White, who was placed on the bereavement list with no explanation.
This led to speculation that he was being used as a ‘fall guy’ for issues with the team. When players are in need of time off the field, the MLB bereavement list provides the necessary space for them to take that time and come back ready to play.
MLB Paternity List
In addition to the MLB bereavement list, there’s also a paternity list that provides relief for baseball players who are about to become new fathers or who have recently become one. The paternity list allows players to leave for 24 to 72 hours to be present during the birth of their child.
In some cases, players can stay on the list for longer if there are complications during the delivery. Unlike the bereavement list, any baseball player is eligible to be placed on the paternity list, which was introduced for the 2011 season and is available for use by all 29 MLB teams.
Players must be placed on the list before the delivery, and cannot be added after the child is born. The paternity list is a daily listing that cannot exceed more than 47 hours, so players must get back to the team as soon as possible.
If there’s a game scheduled during the player’s time on the paternity list, they cannot be used during the game. However, if the player is needed during any game in the following two days, they can be activated before the 48 hours are up.
There are some instances in which the team may refuse the player’s request to be placed on the paternity list. This can happen if there’s a high degree of pressure due to a pennant race or if the player has been previously placed on the list multiple times.
When comparing the paternity list to the bereavement list, the main similarity is that compassion is at the forefront of both. The difference is that the paternity list is exclusively for fathers while the bereavement list can be used for any personal matter related to the critical illness or death of an immediate family member.
Final Thoughts
Baseball players are human beings first and baseball players second. They experience personal issues just like anyone else, and it’s important that they have the opportunity to step away from the game when they need to.
The MLB bereavement list and paternity list allow players to deal with personal matters while knowing their absence won’t cause any long-term harm to the team. These lists highlight the importance of empathy and compassion in a high-pressure sporting environment, understanding that everyone has their own unique life experiences that need to be prioritized on occasion.
3) MLB Waivers List
The MLB waivers list is a daily listing that shows which players are available for acquisition from other teams. It is a process that allows players to be placed on waivers, leaving the player up for grabs by the other 29 MLB teams.
The team that is making the claim on the player will then have to wait 47 hours to see if they have been approved to acquire the player. The waiver system is mainly in place for player transactions throughout the season.
During the season, teams must constantly adjust their rosters to balance their needs and stay competitive. The waiver system allows teams to claim players that may fit their needs better than what they currently have on their rosters.
This daily listing covers only the seven players on each team’s 40-man roster who are eligible for the waiver process. These players are usually the ones recently added to the team or the ones not currently playing a significant role for the team.
This leaves the more established, higher-earning players less likely to be on the waiver list. When a player is claimed off waivers, the team that had them on their roster has three options.
They can choose to keep the player, trade them, or refuse the claim. If the team refuses the claim, the player remains on the team’s roster for the remainder of the season.
However, if the player is traded, the team that claims them will need to add them to their 40-man roster immediately. If a player is claimed and the team agrees to the transaction, the player is effectively playing for another organization.
This means that the player’s former team cannot make any more changes to the player’s contract. The waiver list plays a crucial role in how MLB rosters are adjusted over the course of the season.
It can add a new, valuable player to a team’s roster, but it can also mean that a team may lose a player that they were hoping to keep.
4) MLB Options Tracker
The MLB options tracker is a system in place to keep track of players that are not currently on the active roster. These players are typically sent down to the minor leagues for extra development or to make room on the 25-man roster.
If a player is placed on the options list, they can be sent to the minors and brought back up to the majors throughout the season without the team having to worry about them being claimed off waivers. This is because the team still retains control over the player.
A player can be sent to the minors for up to five years and can be moved up and down without restrictions for three times. One of the biggest benefits of the options tracker is the ability for teams to have an extended 40-man roster.
This allows teams to carry a number of players on their roster who are not currently on the active roster but who can be brought up to play at any time. However, the options tracker also comes with risks.
There is always the possibility that a player on the option list may not develop as expected, and eventually they may need to be removed from the list. If that player is not claimed off waivers, they could be designated as a free agent.
And if another team is interested in picking up the player, they could claim the player off waivers. Overall, the options tracker is an essential tool for player development and roster management.
It ensures that teams have a limited number of players on their active roster while giving them the flexibility to move players up and down as it best suits the team’s needs. This allows teams to keep their most promising prospects developing, while managing their assets effectively.
5) MLB Restricted List
The MLB restricted list includes players who cannot perform for their team due to a variety of reasons. There are different types of restricted lists, including those related to prohibited substances, suspension, and violations such as domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual assault.
Players who are placed on the restricted list cannot participate in team activities or games. They are excluded from all team functions, practice sessions, and travel with the team.
This exclusion is designed to allow for an investigation to take place without any potential interference that could be caused by the player being present. The restricted list can last for an extended period of time and can result in a pay suspension for players.
Service time accrual can also be affected while a player is placed on the list. Each case is different, and players can be placed on the restricted list for a variety of reasons.
For instance, a player can be placed on the restricted list for prohibited substances, such as performance-enhancing drugs. Another example is if a player is found to have violated MLB policies on domestic violence, child abuse or sexual assault.
In such cases, the league can impose mandatory suspensions that results in exclusion from games and daily routines. When a crisis emerges, the MLB has to make necessary adjustments to the restricted list to accommodate new situations.
This was the case during the Covid-19 pandemic, where the league created a restricted list for players who were deemed high-risk. These players had the option to sit out the 2020 season due to the fear of contamination.
Additionally, unvaccinated players may face restrictions, including mask mandates or other protocols to protect public health. The MLB has had to adjust to the new normal of the Covid-19 pandemic and enact new policies, such as creating the restricted list for high-risk players, to protect everyone involved.
These situations can be complicated, and each league must adjust their policies carefully to ensure all players are safe and healthy. In conclusion, the MLB restricted list serves as a tool for the league to enforce policies and rules and investigate incidents.
It has different scenarios and consequences, including exclusion from team activities, pay suspensions, and impacts on service time accrual. Adjustments have been required, like during the Covid-19 pandemic, where a high-risk restricted list was implemented, to address new situations impacting players’ health and safety.
The article discusses various types of lists used in Major League Baseball, including the bereavement list, paternity list, waivers list, options tracker, and restricted list. These lists serve important roles in accommodating personal matters, managing rosters, and enforcing league policies.
Takeaways from the article include the crucial need for empathy and compassion in the sport’s high-pressure environment and efficient management of player assets. FAQs covering key topics can be found throughout the article.