MLB’s Lists and Roster Limits

I promised to extract the Lists portion of an earlier article and put it on the site menu. Finally getting around to it. I’ll leave comments open for a couple days, but this is not in lieu of a Phillies discussion. After a couple days, I’ll delete this paragraph and scrub the comments of anything not pertinent.

Major League Baseball has many lists on which to designate its players. They differentiate between major league and minor league, domestic and international, healthy and injured, and much more.

Below is a quick and hopefully easy breakdown of the lists and their restrictions. Followed by a longer, wordier description of Major League Rule 2, Player Limits. Followed by the actual MLR.

1.) The quick breakdown of Major League Rule 2, Player Limits.

LISTS AND LIMITS

	Limits	Minimum	Can Be Reinstated After	Counts Against Active List	Counts Against Reserve List	Counts Against Domestic Reserve
RESERVE LIST LIMITS
MAJOR LEAGUE	40	n/a	n/a	—–	—–	—–
DOMESTIC (in season)	165	n/a	n/a	—–	—–	—–
DOMESTIC (off season)	175	n/a	n/a	—–	—–	—–
AAA	38	n/a	n/a	—–	—–	—–
INTERNATIONAL (per team)	35	n/a	n/a	—–	—–	—–
ACTIVE LISTS
MAJOR LEAGUE INJURED LIST
7-day IL	none	7 days	7 days	no	yes	—–
10-day IL	none	10 days	10 days	no	yes	—–
15-day IL	none	15 days	15 days	no	yes	—–
60-day IL	none	60 days	60 days	no	no	—–
MAJOR LEAGUE BEREAVEMENT LIST	none	3 days	7 days	no	yes	—–
MAJOR LEAGUE FAMILY MEDICAL EMERGENCY LIST	none	3 days	7 days	no	yes	—–
MAJOR LEAGUE PATERNITY LEAVE LIST	none	1 day	3 days	no	yes	—–
SUSPENDED LIST
by Club	none	n/a	n/a	no	no	no
by Commissioner	none	n/a	n/a	yes	yes	yes
RESTRICTED LIST	none	n/a	2-year	no	no	no
DISQUALIFIED LIST	none	n/a	2-year	no	no	no
INELIGIBLE LIST	none	n/a	Indefinite	no	no	—–
VOLUNTARILY RETIRED LIST	none	n/a	60 days	no	no	—–
MILITARY LIST	none	n/a	n/a	no	no	—–
MINOR LEAGUE INJURED LIST
7-day IL	none	7 days	n/a	no	yes	yes
60-day IL	15	60 days	n/a	no	no	no
Full-Season	none	n/a	end of season	no	no	no
DEVELOPMENT LIST	none	7 days	n/a	yes	yes	yes
TEMPORARILY INACTIVE LIST NEGOTIATION LIST	none none	3 days none	n/a n/a	—– no	—– no	—– no

2.) The wordier description of Major League Rule 2, Player Limits in what I hope is language that is easier to understand with a lot of the extraneous stuff edited out.

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES – DEFINITIONS

Major League Reserve List – a list that each Major League Club must file with the commissioner’s office and maintain. It must include all players, player-managers, and player-coaches with whom the Major League Club has entered into a Major League Uniform Player’s Contract (unless a player has been outrighted to a Minor League Club) and players whom the Club has promoted to the Major League team and also must be tendered Major League Uniform Player’s Contracts.

Minor League Reserve List – a list that each Major League Club must file with the commissioner’s office and maintain. It must include all players, player-managers and player-coaches with whom a Major or Minor League Club has entered into a Minor League Uniform Player Contracts, including players under Major League Uniform Player’s Contracts who have been assigned outright to Minor League Clubs.

Domestic Reserve List – a list filed that includes all players, player-managers and player-coaches with whom a Major League Club has entered into a Minor League Uniform Player Contracts who are assigned to domestic Minor League affiliates. From the earliest opening day of the Minor League season through 5:00 pm ET on the 5th day after the World Series, the Domestic Reserve List will include players under Major League Uniform Player’s Contracts who have been assigned on option to a Minor League Club.

Major League Active List – a list filed that includes all players, player-managers and player-coaches who are currently eligible to play in a game for that Major League Club.

Minor League Active List -a list filed that includes all players, player-managers and player-coaches who are currently eligible to play in a game for that Minor League Club.

Inactive Lists – shall refer to:

(1) a Major League Club has lists for Injured, Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency, Paternity Leave, Suspended, Voluntarily Retired, Restricted, Disqualified and Ineligible; and

(2) a Minor League Club has lists for Injured, Development, Suspended, Voluntarily Retired, Restricted, Disqualified, Ineligible and Temporarily Inactive Lists.

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES – Rule 1 – RESERVE LIMITS

RESERVE LIST.

FILING: Major League Club must file their Reserve Lists with the Commissioner’ office no later than November 20th or a date designated by the Commissioner no later than November 20th.

A Major League Club must tender Major League Uniform Player’s Contracts for the following season to players (not already under contract or under team control) on the major League Reserve List after the conclusion of the season by December 2nd. A non-tender grants the player free agent status.

A Major League Club must file a separate Minor League Reserve List for each Minor League affiliate that it owns, all or in part, in which it wants to reserve Minor League players.

MAINTENANCE AND CHANGES: The Commissioner’s office will maintain and update the Reserve Lists filed by each Major League Club. The Commissioner’s office will record every transaction or player transfer and will make them available electronically to all Major League Clubs. Major League Clubs will immediately notify the Commissioner’s office of changes to their Reserve Lists.

These Reserve List changes will not take effect until approved by the Commissioner’s office.

Minor League Reserve Lists may not be amended during the period between the latest date designated by the Commissioner for filing Minor League Reserve Lists (usually November 20th) and the conclusion of the Rule 5 Selection Meeting (the conclusion of the Rule 5 draft). (Exceptions: outright assignments from the Major League Reserve List in accordance with Rule 6 (Assignment of Player Contracts), outright assignments of players not subject to selection at the next Rule 5 Selection Meeting, the addition of players signed as Major League or Minor League free agents, or releases for the purpose of permitting players to sign a bona fide contract as a foreign professional, Minor League Reserve Lists may not be amended during the period between the latest date designated by the Commissioner for filing Minor League Reserve Lists and the conclusion of the Rule 5 Selection Meeting.

EFFECT OF PLACEMENT ON RESERVE LIST: No player on a Reserve List filed by a Major League Club shall be eligible to play or negotiate with any other Major League or Minor League Club until the player is removed from the Reserve List because the player’s contract has been terminated or assigned.

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES – Rule 2 – PLAYER LIMITS

RESERVED LIST LIMITS. A Major/Minor League Reserve List may contain more than the maximum number of players if the additional players are on a List (Restricted, Disqualified, Ineligible, Voluntary Retired, or Military) that does not count against the Reserve List limits.

A Major League Club may place a maximum number of:

40 players on its Major League Reserve List
165 players on its Domestic Reserve List
- from the earliest Opening Day of the Minor League season until 5 P.M. ET on the fifth day following last game of the World Series
175 players on its Domestic Reserve List
- from 5 P.M. ET on the fifth day following the last game of the World Series until the earliest Opening Day of the next Minor League season
38 players from the Domestic Reserve List on its AAA Reserve List through the conclusion of the Rule 5 Draft
35 players on its International Rookie Reserve List for each International Rookie classification Club that it fielded during the previous season

A player who signs a first-year Minor League contract shall be excluded from the Minor League player limits of the signing Major League Club until 15 days have elapsed from the date of the contract or when the player has appeared in a game, whichever occurs first.

A player who signs a Minor League contract following the player’s selection at the First-Year Player Draft shall be excluded from the Minor League player limits of the signing Major League Club until the day following the conclusion of the current year’s Major League season or when the player has appeared in a game, whichever occurs first.

ACTIVE LISTS.

MAJOR LEAGUE CLUB ACTIVE LIST.

From Opening Day through August 31 and during postseason games, the minimum number of players on an Active List shall be 25, and the maximum number of players shall be 26. Clubs may carry a maximum of 13 pitchers on the Active List during this period.

Prior to September 1, a Major League Club may expand its 26-man Active Roster to 27 players for any split or regular doubleheader (including double-headers in which the first game is a continuation of a suspended game) that is contained in the regular season schedule or created to reschedule games, as follows:

From September 1 through the end of the regular season, all Major League Clubs must carry 28 players on their Active List. Clubs may carry a maximum of 14 pitchers on the Active List during this period.

MINOR LEAGUE CLUB ACTIVE LISTS.

The maximum number of players on the Active List of a Class AAA Club shall be 28.
The maximum number of players on the Active List of a Class AA Club shall be 28.
The maximum number of players on the Active List of a Class High-A Club shall be 30.
The maximum number of players on the Active List of a Low-A Club shall be 30.
The maximum number of players on the Active List of an International Rookie League Club shall be 35.

There shall be no maximum number of players on the Active List of any Spring Training Complex League team. All players assigned to the Spring Training Complex may participate in game activity.

INACTIVE LISTS.

MAJOR LEAGUE INJURED LIST. The Major League Injured Lists shall consist of 7-day, 10-day, 15-day and 60-day lists, which shall be the minimum period of inactivity for a player placed on such a list:

Position players are eligible for placement on the 10-day list
Pitchers are eligible for placement on the 15-day list
Two-Way players qualify as pitchers
A player is only eligible for the 7-day list if he has suffered an acute concussion
A player may be transferred from the 7-day list to the 10-day list or 15-day list, or from the 7-day, 10-day or 15-day lists to the 60-day list
There is no limit on the number of players placed on any Major League Injured List
players on the 7-day IL count against the Reserve List, but not against the Active List
players on the 10-day IL count against the Reserve List, but not against the Active List
players on the 15-day IL count against the Reserve List, but not against the Active List
players on the 60-day IL do not count against either the Reserve List or Active List

After the conclusion of the season,

a player may not be placed on the 7-day Injured List earlier than the fourth day before the start of the next season
a player may not be placed on the 10-day or 15-day Injured List earlier than the third day before the start of the next season
a player may not be placed on the 60-day Injured List earlier than the first date that Clubs may invite injured players, pitchers and catchers to attend spring training workouts
players placed on or transferred to the 60-day Injured List prior to the start of the season may not be reinstated until 60 days of the season have elapsed
except for players on the 60-day Injured List, all players on the Injured List must be removed from the Injured List on or before the day following the conclusion of the season
Clubs must remove all players from the 60-day Injured List no later than the fifth day following the last game of the World Series

A Major League player on a rehabilitation assignment shall not count against the Active List limit of either the Major or the Minor League Club to which the player is assigned, nor the Domestic Reserve List limit, but shall continue to count against the Reserve List limit for the Major League Reserve List unless the player is on the 60-day Injured List.

MAJOR LEAGUE BEREAVEMENT/FAMILY MEDICAL EMERGENCY LIST. A player may be placed on this list if the player is unable to render services because of illness or death of a member of a player’s or spouse’s immediate family (e.g., spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, child or grandchild).

minimum time three days
maximum time seven days
does not count against the Active List
counts against the Reserve List
cannot be on the list after the conclusion of the season

MAJOR LEAGUE PATERNITY LEAVE LIST. A player may be placed on this list when he is the father of a child whose delivery/adoption is imminent or occurred within the prior 48 hours

minimum time one day
maximum time three days
does not count against the Active List
counts against the Reserve List
cannot be on the list after the conclusion of the season

SUSPENDED LIST. A player may be placed on the suspended list for –

MISCONDUCT OR INSUBORDINATION.
- A Club may suspend a player that is under a Major/Minor League Uniform Player Contract (UPC) for insubordination or other misconduct or for violation by the player of any regulation or other provision of the player’s contract. The Club may impose a fine or may suspend the player without salary, or both.
- The Commissioner may discipline a player for misconduct or violation by the player of any applicable rules and regulations. Such discipline may include a fine and/or suspension.
PLAYER NOT IN CONDITION. A player under a Major/Minor League UPC who fails to get into playing condition within 60 days after the commencement of the training season of the player’s Club may be suspended without pay until the player is in condition to play.

A player placed on the Suspended List by his Major or Minor League Club

does not count against the Active List
does not against the Reserve List
does not count against the Domestic Reserve List limit

A player placed on the Suspended List by the Commissioner

counts against the Active List
counts against the Reserve List
counts against the Domestic Reserve List limit

RESTRICTED LIST. A player may be placed on the Restricted List for –

Failure to report. Before the start of the season but not before January 1, a player who has given the Club written or electronic notification that he will not report until 30 days or more after the opening of the season.
The Commissioner may place on a Major or Minor League Reserve List a player whose Club certifies that unusual circumstances exist.
Players on the Restricted List shall not count against either the Reserve List or Active List limits. A player under a Major League Uniform Player’s Contract or Minor League Uniform Player Contract who has been reserved for two consecutive years on the Restricted List shall be omitted from further Reserve Lists and shall not be eligible to play until the player is first reinstated.

A player on the Restricted List may be reserved as such for two consecutive years. At the expiration of that two-year period, the player need not be reported on the player’s Major or Minor League Club’s annual Reserve List and will automatically be transferred to a General Restricted List.

DISQUALIFIED LIST. A player who violates a contract may be placed on this list.

does not count against the Active List
does not against the Reserve List
does not count against the Domestic Reserve List limit

A player on the Disqualified List may be reserved as such for two consecutive years. At the expiration of that two-year period, the player need not be reported on the player’s Major or Minor League Club’s annual Reserve List and will automatically be transferred to a General Disqualified List.

INELIGIBLE LIST. A player or other person found guilty of misconduct or other acts mentioned in Rule 21, or convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, may be placed on the “Ineligible List” by the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee. A player or other person on the Ineligible List shall not be eligible to play or associate with any Major or Minor League Club.

Players on the Ineligible List shall not count against either the Reserve List or Active List limits.

VOLUNTARILY RETIRED LIST. A player under a Major League Uniform Player’s Contract or a Minor League Uniform Player Contract who desires to retire from the profession shall

make written application to the player’s Major League Club, stating fully the player’s reasons for retiring.
The Major League Club shall forward the application and the Club’s recommendation to the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee.
If the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee deems it proper to do so, the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee may grant an application for voluntary retirement upon the conditions set forth in this Rule 2(c)(9) and upon such other terms and conditions as the facts and circumstances may warrant, in the judgment of the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee.
However, no player shall be reinstated within 60 calendar days of the championship season or seasons from the date that the player filed the application for voluntary retirement with the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee.

If a voluntarily retired player, during the player’s retirement, shall desire to play baseball for hire, otherwise than for the Major League Club entitled to the player’s services, the player shall first obtain written consent of the player’s Club. The player then must file an application with the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee requesting permission to play otherwise than for the Major League Club to which the player is under contract. The player’s application shall specify the teams with and against which the player desires to play, and their locations, and shall be transmitted with the player’s Club’s consent to the Commissioner for approval or denial.

Players on the Voluntarily Retired List shall not count against either the Reserve List or Active List limits.

MILITARY LIST. Players under reserve to Major or Minor League Clubs may be placed on the Military List.

A player on the Military List shall not count against any Reserve List or Active List.
A Player on the Military List must be reinstated before the player can be released unconditionally.

MINOR LEAGUE INJURED LIST. If a Minor League Player is unable to render services because of injury, the player may be placed on the Injured List for that Minor League Club. The two lists a Minor League player may be placed on during the championship season are:

Regular Injured List. Minimum period of placement on a Minor League Injured List is seven consecutive days.
Minor League 60-Day Injured List. No player may be placed on the Minor League 60-Day Injured List until the player has spent at least five days in a roster status where that player is counting against a Domestic Reserve List limit of a Club. Placement requires pre-approval from the Office of the Commissioner. The minimum period of placement on the Minor League 60-Day Injured List shall be 60 consecutive days. Days spent on the Regular Injured List prior to a transfer to the Minor League 60-Day Injured List shall count towards the required minimum period of inactivity. Players placed on the Minor League 60-Day Injured List may remain on such list until the 5th day following the conclusion of the World Series.
Minor League Full-Season Injured List.

A player on a Regular Minor League Injured List shall count against the player’s Minor League Club’s Reserve List limit but not against the Club’s Active List limit. A player assigned on rehabilitation while on the Injured List shall count towards the Reserve List limit of the assignor Club and shall not count against the player limits of the assignee Club. A player on the Minor League 60-Day Injured List shall not count against either a Minor League Club’s Active or Reserve List limit or a Club’s Domestic Reserve List limit.

DEVELOPMENT LIST. A Minor League player may be placed on the Development List for any non-disciplinary reason.

The minimum period of placement on the Development List shall be seven
A player on the Development List shall count against the player’s Minor League Club’s Reserve List and the Domestic Reserve List limit but not against the Club’s Active List.

TEMPORARILY INACTIVE LIST. If a Minor League player is not in position to render active service to the player’s Club due to any of the following:

necessary temporary absence during the playing season on account of a family member’s bona-fide illness
absence excused by the Club and approved by the Commissioner’s Office
the player not being in condition to render services as a result of an absence described in the MLR
awaiting completion of the player’s unconditional release for the purpose of allowing the player to sign with a club in a foreign league

A Player may not be placed on the Temporarily Inactive List prior to the start of the season.

The minimum period of placement on the Temporarily Inactive List shall be three days
Temporarily Inactive players shall not be counted on a Minor League Club’s Active List, but the player shall be included in the Reserve List limit.

Not a list but, CONTRACTS SIGNED FOR FUTURE SERVICES. No Major League Club may sign an eligible player if the player has no previous Major or Minor League experience and if the contract is for services to commence after the current calendar year, except for military personnel as provided for in the MLR.

Negotiation List. Another list not mentioned in this section of the MLR is the Negotiation List. It is a temporary list that comes into existence for each team during the Rule 4 Amateur Draft and stays in existence until all deadlines are met.

Essentially, the list comes into being for the placement of a club’s draft selections during the Rule 4 Draft. Draft picks stay on the list until removed for various reasons, some of which are:

the draft pick signs a minor league contract
the draft pick is removed due to ineligibility
the draft pick is removed because the club’s Negotiation Right has been revoked
the Signing Deadline for the First-Year Player Draft has passed for draft picks who have not utilized all of their college eligibility
the start of the next year’s Closed Period (12:01 a.m. ET of the seventh day prior to the start of a First-Year Player Draft and concluding with the beginning of the First-Year Player Draft) if the draft pick has used all of his college eligibility.

Players on the Negotiation List shall not count against any player limits.

A player who signs a Minor League contract following his selection at the First-Year Player Draft shall be excluded from the Minor League under control limits of the signing Major League Club until the day following the conclusion of the current year’s Major League championship season or when the player has appeared in a championship season game, whichever occurs first.

A player who does not sign a Minor League contract before being removed from the selecting Club’s Negotiation List, shall be subject to selection at the next First-Year Player Draft at which the player is eligible for selection. A selected player who does not sign may not be selected by the same Major League Club at any subsequent First-Year Player Draft unless the player has notified the Commissioner in writing that the player has no objection to such re-selection.

A player who is not selected may be signed to a Minor League contract by any Major League or Minor League Club after the conclusion of the First-Year Player Draft. Such player shall remain eligible for signing until the start of the next Closed Period, unless such player becomes ineligible to sign at an earlier date by operation of the applicable High School, College or Junior College Rule.

3.) The actual Major League Rule 2, Player Limits in its original form.

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES

Rule 2

PLAYER LIMITS

(a) RESERVED LIST LIMITS.

(1) A Major or Minor League Reserve List may contain more than the maximum number of players if the additional players are on a List (Restricted, Disqualified, Ineligible, Voluntary Retired, or Military) that does not count against the Reserve List limits or these Rules otherwise provide that such additional players in excess of the maximum number may be placed on a Major or Minor League Reserve List. See Rule 2(a)(4) (First-Year Minor Contract), 2(c)(1)(F) (Major League Injured List; Player Limits), Rule 2(c)(4)(D) (Suspended List; Player Limits), Rule 2(c)(11)(B) (Minor League Injured List; Player Limits) and Rule 2(c)(13) (Players Signed for Future Services).

(2) Major League Club Limits. A Major League Club may place a maximum number of

(A) 40 players on its Major League Reserve List;

(B) 180 players on its Domestic Reserve List from the earliest Opening Day of the Minor League season until 5 P.M. ET on the fifth day following the day that the last game of the World Series starts;

(C) 190 players on its Domestic Reserve List from 5 P.M. ET on the fifth day following the day that the last game of the World Series starts until the earliest Opening Day of the subsequent Minor League season;

(D) 38 players from the Domestic Reserve List on its AAA Reserve List pursuant to Rule 1(a) through the conclusion of the Major League Rule 5 Draft;

(E) 35 players on its International Rookie Reserve List for each International Rookie classification Club that it owned or with which it had a PDL during the previous season. In the event that a Club exceeds the Domestic Reserve List limit (190 or 180), the Club shall have 48 hours from the time of the transaction or signing that causes the Club to exceed the limit, to adhere to the Domestic Reserve List limit.

(F) If two or more Major League Clubs were affiliated with a single Minor League Club during the previous season, those Major League Clubs may place additional players on their Minor League Reserve Lists for the shared Minor League Club’s classification. The number of players so reserved by each Major League Club sharing an affiliate, however, shall not cause each Major League Club to exceed the total number of players that each Major League Club had placed on the Active and Inactive Lists of the shared Minor League Club (if an International Rookie Club) as of the last day of the most recently concluded championship season, or the total number of players that each Major League Club is permitted to reserve under the Domestic Reserve List.

(3) A player who signs a first-year Minor League contract for the current season with a Major League Club shall be excluded from the Minor League under control limits of the signing Major League Club until 15 days have elapsed from the date of the contract or when the player has appeared in a championship season game, whichever occurs first. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a player who signs a Minor League contract with a Major League Club following the player’s selection at the First-Year Player Draft shall be excluded from the Minor League under control limits of the signing Major League Club until the day following the conclusion of the current year’s Major League championship season or when the player has appeared in a championship season game, whichever occurs first (see MLR 4(g)).

(b) ACTIVE LISTS.

(1) FILING AND MAINTENANCE. Each Major League Club must file and maintain an Active List with the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee for the Major League Club itself and for all Minor League Clubs that it owns or with which it is affiliated. The Active List of a Minor League Club owned by a Major League Club or affiliated with a Major League Club pursuant to a PDL may include only players who are reserved to and under Major League Uniform Player’s Contracts or Minor League Uniform Player Contracts with such Major League Club.

An Active List must include all players who are currently eligible to play in a championship season game for the Major League or the Minor League Club for which the list was filed. All Major League Active Lists must be filed by such time or times on the opening date of the Major League championship season as the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee may set forth, provided, however, that any such filing time shall be no later than one hour before the scheduled start of the first game of the championship season on such opening date. All Minor League Active lists must be filed by the opening date of the championship season of the Minor League Club to which the list applies.

An optioned player who has been recalled shall be counted against the Major League Active List in accordance with Article XV(E)(3) of the Basic Agreement.

For purposes of applying the limits in Rule 2(b), a player-manager or player-coach shall be considered an active player.

(2) MAJOR LEAGUE CLUB ACTIVE LIST.

(A) From Opening Day through August 31 of the championship season and during postseason games, the minimum number of players who may be placed on an Active List for a Major League Club shall be 25, and the maximum number of players who may be placed on an Active List for a Major League Club shall be 26. Major League Clubs may carry a maximum of 13 pitchers on the Active List during this period.

(i) The additional roster spot is not available in the first game of a doubleheader that is scheduled as a result of a postponed game earlier in the same series if the rescheduled game takes place the day following the announcement to reschedule the postponed game, unless both Clubs agree that the additional roster spot will be available for the first game within one hour following the notice of postponement. Regardless, the additional roster spot is available in the second game of a doubleheader.

(ii) The additional roster spot shall not be available in the continuation of a suspended game.

(iii) A player added to the 26-man Active Roster for these purposes must be on the 40-man Roster (or reinstated from a Major League Inactive List in accordance with the applicable Rule), and, except as set forth in Rule 2(b)(2)(A)(i) and (ii) above, will be eligible to play in both scheduled games of the doubleheader (such player will be referred to as the “27th Player”). If a Club adds more than one player to the Active Roster, and one of the players is added pursuant to this Rule 2(b)(2)(A),it must identify the 27th Player at the time he is added to the roster.

(iv) Any Club that expands its roster for these purposes must return to a 26-man Active Roster immediately after the conclusion of the second game (i.e., a post-game roster adjustment). The recall and waiver requirements and limitations contained in these Rules shall not apply to the 27th Player if returned to his previous Minor League Club for these purposes. Moreover, a player’s addition to the 26-man Active roster for these purposes shall not affect the expiration of any 10-day or 15-day period that may be required by Rule 7(b)(1). The return of the player to his previous Minor League Club shall not be considered an assignment (i.e., to a Minor League Club, an optional assignment under these Rules, or otherwise). A Club may return to a 26-man Active Roster by removing a player other than the 27th Player only if the Club’s addition of the 27th Player complied with all applicable Rules and the Basic Agreement, and the Club’s subsequent removal of the other player from its roster complied with all applicable Rules and the Basic Agreement (and both of those transactions will not be covered by the exception created by this Rule 2(b)(2)(A)).

(v) The 27th Player shall be paid one day of Major League salary and shall receive one day of Major League service. Such day shall not be counted for purposes of counting days on option pursuant to the Articles XIX(E) and XXI(B) of the Basic Agreement or Rule 7(c).

(vi) The addition of the 27th Player must be consistent with the Prohibition on Taxi Squads contained in Article XV(E)(3) of the Basic Agreement.

(vii) A Club’s addition of the 27th Player pursuant to this Rule 2(b)(2)(A) is not intended to preclude a Club from making other player transactions that are permissible under these Rules or the Basic Agreement.

(viii) The 27th Player shall not count toward the maximum of 13 pitchers permitted on the Active List.

(B) From September 1 through the end of the championship season (including any tiebreaker games), all Major League Clubs must carry 28 players on the Active List. Major League Clubs may carry a maximum of 14 pitchers on the Active List during this period.

(C) Except for Two-Way players described in Rule 2(b)(2)(D) below, Major League Clubs must designate each player on the Active Roster as either a pitcher or a position player before each player’s first day on the Active Roster for a given season. That designation (pitcher or position player) will remain in effect for that player, and cannot change, for the remainder of that championship season and postseason.

(D) Two-Way Players.

(i) Players who qualify as Two-Way players may appear as pitchers during a game without counting toward a Club’s pitcher limitations.

(ii) A player will qualify as a “Two-Way player” only if he fully meets both of the following criteria in any one of the 2020 or 2021 championship seasons:

(aa) at least 20 Major League innings pitched; and

(bb) at least 20 Major League games started as a position player or designated hitter with at least three plate appearances in each of those games.

(iii) In order for a qualified player to appear in a championship season or postseason game as a Two-Way player, the Club must designate that player in advance of that game. Once a Club designates a qualified player as a Two-Way player, that designation will remain in effect for that player, and cannot change, for the remainder of that championship season and postseason.

(iv) No player on the Active Roster other than those designated as Two-Way players or pitchers by the Club may appear in a championship season or postseason game as a pitcher, except that any player may appear as a pitcher following the 9th inning of an extra inning game, or in any game in which his team is losing or winning by equal to or more than 6 runs when the player enters as a pitcher; provided, however, that the 27th Player shall not count toward the maximum of 13 pitchers permitted on the Active List.

(E) With the exceptions of unconditional releases, designations for assignment, and assignments of a Major League contract to another Major League Club, Clubs may not change their Active Lists once a game has commenced, unless the game is suspended (in which case Clubs may change their Active Lists prior to the resumption of the game).

(3) MINOR LEAGUE CLUB ACTIVE LISTS.

(A) The maximum number of players on the Active List of a Class AAA Club shall be 28.

(B) The maximum number of players on the Active List of a Class AA Club shall be 28.

(C) The maximum number of players on the Active List of a Class High-A Club shall be 30.

(D) The maximum number of players on the Active List of a Low-A Club shall be 30.

(E) The maximum number of players on the Active List of an International Rookie League Club shall be 35.

(F) There shall be no maximum number of players on the Active List of any Spring Training Complex League team. All players assigned to the Spring Training Complex may participate in game activity, provided players on any Inactive List may not participate in game activity without prior approval from the Commissioner’s Office.

(c) INACTIVE LISTS.

(1) MAJOR LEAGUE INJURED LIST. Upon appropriate application to the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee, a Major League Club may request that a player on its Major League Active List, who is unable to render services because of a specific injury or ailment, be placed on one of the Injured Lists set forth in this Rule 2(c)(1).

(A) Lists. The Major League Injured Lists shall consist of 7-day, 10-day, 15-day and 60-day lists, which shall be the minimum period of inactivity for a player placed on such a list, as follows:

(i) 10-day, 15-day and 60-day lists. Only position players are eligible for placement on the 10-day list, and only pitchers are eligible for placement on the 15-day list. Two-Way players (as defined in Rule 2(b)(2)(D)) shall qualify as pitchers for purposes of this Rule 2(c)(1). The application for placement on the 10-day, 15-day or 60-day list shall be accompanied by a Standard Form of Diagnosis completed by the Major League Club physician, and a copy of this completed form shall be given to the player. At the time of the request, the player’s Club must designate the specific list on which the player is to be placed. The Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee may approve such requests after having received the Standard Form of Diagnosis.

(ii) 7-day list. A player is only eligible for the 7-day list if he has suffered an acute concussion. The application for placement on the 7-day list shall be documented through an Event Form in the Electronic Medical Records System and accompanied by a concussion-specific Standard Form of Diagnosis, signed by the home or visiting Club physician and the home Club head certified athletic trainer. The completed diagnostic form and supporting information must be submitted to the Commissioner’s Office and the Players Association prior to the player’s placement on the 7-day list. A copy of the completed diagnostic form also shall be given to the player. Upon submission of the diagnostic form to the Commissioner’s Office, Major League Baseball’s Medical Director will review the form and any available supporting information, and, if appropriate, approve the placement of the player on the 7-day list.

(B) Transfers. Subject to the restrictions above, a player may be transferred from the 7-day list to the 10-day list (position player) or 15-day list (pitcher), or from the 7-day, 10-day or 15-day lists to the 60-day list. A position player on the 7-day list who is recertified after the initial 7-day list placement shall automatically be transferred to the 10-day list in the event the player is not able to return to play after an initial 9-day period of inactivity. A pitcher on the 7-day list who is recertified after the initial 7-day list placement shall automatically be transferred to the 15-day list in the event the player is not able to return to play after an initial 14-day period of inactivity. Time spent on the 7-day, 10-day or 15-day lists prior to any such transfer shall count towards the 10-day, 15-day or 60-day minimum inactivity periods, whichever is applicable.

(C) Recertifications. The Club physician must complete and submit to the Commissioner’s Office and the Players Association the appropriate Standard Form of Diagnosis for Recertification for a player on the 7-day list when the player first becomes eligible for reinstatement to active status. A position player on the 7-day list who is recertified shall automatically, without any additional recertification necessary, be transferred to the 10-day list in the event the player is not able to return to play after an initial 9-day period of inactivity. A pitcher on the 7-day list who is recertified shall automatically, without any additional recertification necessary, be transferred to the 15-day list in the event the player is not able to return to play after an initial 14-day period of inactivity. Except as provided herein, the Club physician must complete and submit the appropriate Standard Form of Diagnosis for Recertification for a player on the 10-day list (15-day list for pitchers) when the player first becomes eligible for reinstatement to active status, and then every 10 days (15-days for pitchers) following the date upon which the player first becomes eligible for reinstatement. No recertification shall be required for players on the 60-day Injured List.

(D) Return to Play. Prior to the reinstatement of a concussed player from any Injured List, and before the player may consent to and undergo an injury rehabilitation pursuant to Rule 6(g), the player’s Club must submit a Return to Play Form and supporting information to the Medical Director and the Players Association.

(E) Disposition of Injured Players. Except as set forth in Rule 6(g) and Article XIX(C) of the Basic Agreement, a Major League Club may not direct, assign or otherwise transfer a player on a Major League Injured List to a Minor League Club.

(F) Player Limits. There shall be no limit on the number of players placed on any Major League Injured List; provided, however, that:

(i) a player may not be placed on or transferred to the 60-day list unless the Major League Reserve List of the player’s Club is at the maximum limit of 40 or the player’s Club adds a player to its Major League Reserve List who otherwise would cause the 40-player Reserve List limit to be exceeded;

(ii) players on the 7-day, 10-day, and 15-day lists shall count against the Reserve List limits, but not against the Active List limits;

(iii) players on the 60-day list shall not count against either the Reserve List or Active List limits;

(iv) after the conclusion of the championship season, a player may not be placed on the 7-day Injured List earlier than the fourth day before the start of the next championship season;

(v) after the conclusion of the championship season, a player may not be placed on the 10-day or 15-day Injured List earlier than the third day before the start of the next championship season;

(vi) after the conclusion of the championship season, a player may not be placed on the 60-day Injured List earlier than the first date that Clubs may invite injured players, pitchers and catchers to attend spring training workouts in accordance with Article XIV(A)(1) of the Basic Agreement;

(vii) players placed on or transferred to the 60-day Injured List prior to the start of the championship season may not be reinstated until 60 days of the championship season have elapsed;

(viii) except for players on the 60-day Injured List, all players on the Injured List must be removed from the Injured List on or before the day following the conclusion of the championship season;

(ix) Clubs must remove all players from the 60-day Injured List no later than the fifth day following the day that the last game of the World Series starts; and

(x) Clubs may not place players on or transfer players to the 60-day Injured List after August 31 unless the Club maintains a complete 40-man Roster. For the effect of the minimum activity period on postseason rosters, see Rule 41(a)(2) (Submission of Rosters). A Major League player on a rehabilitation assignment shall not count against the Active List limit of either the Major or the Minor League Club to which the player is assigned, nor the Domestic Reserve List limit, but shall continue to count against the Reserve List limit for the Major League Reserve List unless the player is on the 60-day Injured List.

(2) MAJOR LEAGUE BEREAVEMENT/FAMILY MEDICAL EMERGENCY LIST.

(A) Placement. Upon written application to the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee, a Major League Club may request that a player be placed on the Major League Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List. No player may be placed on the Major League Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List unless such player is unable to render services because of the serious or severe illness or death of a member of such player’s immediate family (e.g., spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, child or grandchild) or a member of such player’s spouse’s immediate family. Written notice of placement upon the Major League Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List must be given to the player.

(B) Salary and Service. A player on the Major League Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List shall be paid salary while on such List. For each day that the player receives salary while on the Major League Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List, the player shall receive one day of Major League service.

(C) Duration. The minimum period of placement on the Major League Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List shall be three consecutive days and the maximum period of placement shall be seven consecutive days, during which placement the player is not permitted to be with the player’s Club. No assignment of a Major League Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List player shall be permitted until after reinstatement. However, a Major League Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List player may be unconditionally released with the prior approval of the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee, or assigned to another Major League Club within the 72-hour window leading up to the period set forth in Rule 6(d)(3). If a player’s absence from the player’s Major League Club continues past the maximum period of Major League Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List placement, the player’s Club may submit written application to the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee to place the player on the Restricted List. See Rule 2(c)(6) (Restricted List).

(D) Player Limits. A Major League Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List player shall not be counted on a Major League Club’s Active List, but the player shall be included in the Reserve List limit. A player may not be carried on the Major League Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List after the conclusion of the championship season.

(3) MAJOR LEAGUE PATERNITY LEAVE LIST.

(A) Placement. Upon written application to the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee, a Major League Club may request that a player be placed on the Major League Paternity Leave List. No player may be placed on the List unless that player is the father of a child whose delivery or adoption is imminent or has occurred within the prior 48 hours. Written notice of placement upon the Major League Paternity Leave List must be given to the player.

(B) Salary and Service. A player on the Major League Paternity Leave List shall be paid salary while on such List. For each day that the player receives salary while on the Major League Paternity Leave List, the player shall receive one day of Major League service.

(C) Duration. The minimum period of placement on the Major League Paternity Leave List shall be one day and the maximum period of placement shall be three consecutive days, during which placement the player is not to be permitted to be with the player’s Club. No assignment of a Major League Paternity List player shall be permitted until after reinstatement. However, a Major League Paternity List player may be assigned to another Major League Club within the 72-hour window leading up to the period set forth in Rule 6(d)(3). If a player’s absence from the player’s Major League Club continues past the maximum period of Major League PaternityLeave List placement, the player’s Club may submit written application to the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee to place the player on the Restricted List, see Rule 2(c)(6) (Restricted List), or, if the player’s absence is as a result of a serious illness or death arising from the delivery of the child, the player’s Club may submit written application to the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee to transfer the player to the Major League Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List, provided that any time spent on the Paternity Leave List shall count towards the minimum inactivity period. See Rule 2(c)(2).

(D) Player Lists. A Major League Paternity Leave List player shall not be counted on the Major League Club’s Active List, but the player shall be included in the Reserve List limit. A player may not be carried on the Major League Paternity Leave List after the conclusion of the championship season.

(4) SUSPENDED LIST.

(A) MISCONDUCT OR INSUBORDINATION.

(i) Suspension by Club. A Major League Club may suspend a player that it has under a Major League Uniform Player’s Contract or Minor League Uniform Player Contract for insubordination or other misconduct or for violation by the player of any regulation or other provision of the player’s contract. At its discretion, the Major League Club with which the player is under contract may impose a reasonable fine and deduct the amount of the fine from the player’s salary or may suspend the player without salary for a reasonable period, or both. Written notice of the fine, or suspension, or both, and of the reason for the fine and/or suspension shall in every case be given to the player. During the period of suspension, the player shall be ineligible to play with any other Major or Minor League Club.

(ii) Suspension by Commissioner. The Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee may discipline a player assigned to the Minor Leagues for misconduct or violation by the player of any applicable rules and regulations, including, without limitation, pursuant to any on-field behavior policy promulgated by the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee. Such discipline may include a fine and/or suspension. Written notice of the fine, or suspension, or both, and of the reason for the fine and/or suspension shall in every case be given to the player. During the period of suspension, the player shall be ineligible to play with any other Minor League Club.

(B) PLAYER NOT IN CONDITION. A player under a Major League Uniform Player’s Contract or Minor League Uniform Player Contract who fails to get into playing condition within 60 days after the commencement of the training season of the player’s Club may be suspended without pay until the player is in condition to play.

(C) APPEAL. A player suspended by a Major League Club or the Commissioner for a term longer than 10 days shall have the right to appeal to the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee. The Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee may order the player’s reinstatement and afford the player adequate redress if the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee holds that the punishment is excessive or not merited.

(D) PLAYER LIMITS.

(i) Suspension by Club. A player placed on the Suspended List by his Major or Minor League Club shall be excluded from all player limits until the player is reinstated.

(ii) Suspension by League. A player placed on the Suspended List by the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee, shall count against both Reserve List and Active List limits.

(E) TENDERS AND RENEWALS. With regard to any player who is on the Suspended List, a Club shall not be obligated to tender or renew a contract until the player is removed from such list and reinstated to active status. If a player is removed from such list during a period beginning on November 22 and extending through the next championship season, the Club shall tender a contract to the player within 10 days following such removal. Thereafter, should the Club and the player agree upon the terms of a new contract within 10 days after the player’s receipt of the tendered contract, the Club shall be obligated, within the next five days, to renew the player’s prior Major League contract, provided, however, that if the tender is made during the period beginning on November 22 and ending on the next March 1, the renewal period shall be as set forth in paragraph 10(a) of the Major League Uniform Player’s Contract. Should a Club fail to tender or renew a contract as provided in this paragraph, the player shall become a free agent without any restrictions or qualifications.

(5) DESIGNATED PLAYERS. When the Active List and/or Reserve List limits of a particular Major League Club have been reached, and the Club desires to acquire, sign, transfer, recall from an optional assignment or reinstate an additional player, notice must first be given to the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee of the Club’s intention to release or assign an equal number of players. The player(s) so designated shall be released or their contracts assigned within 7 days after such notice is given, and they shall not be eligible to participate in a championship season game after having been so designated until they are released or assigned to another Major or Minor League Club. No player obtained from a waiver claim award may be designated if such designation would violate Rule 8(g) (Player Limit).

(6) RESTRICTED LIST.

(A) If, without permission from a player’s Major League Club, a player fails, within 10 days of the opening of the player’s Club’s championship season, to report to, or contract with, the player’s Club, the player may be reported by the Club to the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee for placement on the “Restricted List.” A player on the Restricted List shall not be eligible to play for any Major or Minor League Club.

(B) Before the start of the championship season but not before January 1, a Major League Club also may report for placement on the Restricted List any player, whether or not under contract for the current season, who has given the Club written or electronic notification that the player will not report until 30 days or more after the opening of the championship season. Requests to the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee shall be accompanied by the notification which the Club received from the player.

(C) The Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee may place a Major or Minor League Reserve List player on the Restricted List if the player’s Club certifies that unusual circumstances exist.

(D) Except with regard to players with outstanding suspensions that are required to be placed on the Restricted List upon signing with a new Club, Clubs may not report a player for placement on the Restricted List if at the time the Club signed the player the Club knew or should have known that the player would be unavailable to play for or report to the Club during the initial period of such placement.

(E) Player Limits. Players on the Restricted List shall not count against either the Reserve List or Active List limits. A player under a Major League Uniform Player’s Contract or Minor League Uniform Player Contract who has been reserved for two consecutive years on the Restricted List shall be omitted from further Reserve Lists and shall not be eligible to play until the player is first reinstated in accordance with Rule 2(c)(6)(K) (Reinstatement of Players). Upon reinstatement, the Major League or Minor League Club to which the player is reserved shall restore the player to the same status that the player had at the time when the player retired or became ineligible.

(F) Salary. A player on the Restricted List (i) shall not be unconditionally released, and (ii) shall not be entitled to salary while on any such list, nor after reinstatement from any such list, until such date (not exceeding 30 days after reinstatement) as the player is in condition to participate in championship games to the satisfaction of the player’s Club, unless the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee approves.

(G) Tenders and Renewals. A Club’s obligations to tender and renew a contract, as set forth in paragraph 10(a) of the Major League Uniform Player’s Contract, shall apply with regard to any player who, at the applicable time, is on the Restricted List. Should a Club fail to so tender or renew a contract, the player shall become a free agent without any restrictions or qualifications, and the player shall be removed from the Restricted List. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Player who properly has been placed on the Restricted List for a violation of the Joint Drug Program shall be eligible to become a free agent as provided in Article XX of the Basic Agreement, if otherwise qualified as set forth therein, but shall remain on the Restricted List until he completes his suspension.

(H) Reservations. A player on the Restricted List may be reserved as such for two consecutive years. At the expiration of that two-year period, the player need not be reported on the player’s Major or Minor League Club’s annual Reserve List and will automatically be transferred to a General Restricted List.

(I) Promulgation. Whenever a player is placed on the Restricted List, such fact shall be promulgated by the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee to all Major League Clubs in the form of a transaction bulletin.

(J) Assignment. The contract of a player on the Restricted List may be assigned, but the assignee Club shall assume all responsibility for the player’s reporting.

(K) Reinstatement of Players.

(i) Application. Any player on the Restricted List may apply for reinstatement, or to have the player’s status changed, upon the conditions stated in this Rule 2(c)(6). Any Major or Minor League Club having a player on the Restricted List may apply for the player’s reinstatement. Such application shall be filed with the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee. An application for reinstatement may be granted upon such terms and conditions as the facts may warrant in the judgment of the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee. No Major League player on the Restricted List shall be reinstated during the period from August 1 to and including October 31, unless the Restricted List placement had followed a Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List placement pursuant to Rule 2(c)(2) (Major League Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List), had followed a Major League Paternity List Placement pursuant to Rule 2(c)(3) or had been made pursuant to the Major or Minor League Drug Treatment and Prevention Programs, or the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee has approved the reinstatement. No Minor League player on the Restricted List shall be reinstated during the period from August 1 until the conclusion of the Minor League championship season and playoffs, unless the Restricted List placement had been made pursuant to the Major or Minor League Drug Treatment and Prevention Programs, or the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee has approved the reinstatement.

(ii) A Restricted List player shall be reinstated immediately upon receipt of application for reinstatement, in writing or by approved electronic means, from the player’s Major League Club.

(iii) Player Limits. A player reinstated from the Restricted List between the mandatory spring training reporting date and the conclusion of the championship season shall not count against the player limits of the Major or Minor League Club to which the player is reinstated until such date (not exceeding 30 days after reinstatement) as the player is in condition to participate in championship games to the satisfaction of the player’s Club. A player reinstated from such a List between the conclusion of a championship season and the mandatory spring training reporting date shall not count against the player limits of the Major or Minor League Club to which the player is reinstated until the fourteenth calendar day following reinstatement.

(iv) Reinstatement Before Release. A Player on the Restricted List must be reinstated before the player can be released unconditionally.

(7) DISQUALIFIED LIST.

(A) Application. A player who violates a player contract or reservation may be reported to the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee for placement on the “Disqualified List.” A player on the Disqualified List shall not be eligible to play with any Major or Minor League Club.

(B) Player Limits. Players on the Disqualified List shall not count against either the Reserve List or Active List limits. A player under a Major League Uniform Player’s Contract or Minor League Uniform Player Contract who has been reserved for two consecutive years on the Disqualified List shall be omitted from further Reserve Lists and shall not be eligible to play until the player is first reinstated in accordance with Rule 2(c)(7)(H) (Reinstatement of Players). Upon reinstatement, the Major League or Minor League Club to which the player is reserved shall restore the player to the same status that the player had at the time when the player retired or became ineligible.

(C) Salary. A player on the Disqualified List

(i) shall not be unconditionally released, and

(ii) shall not be entitled to salary while on any such list, nor after reinstatement from any such list, until such date (not exceeding 30 days after reinstatement) as the player is in condition to participate in championship games to the satisfaction of the player’s Club, unless the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee approves otherwise.

(D) Tenders and Renewals.

(i) A Club’s obligations to tender and renew a contract, as set forth in paragraph 10(a) of the Major League Uniform Player’s Contract, shall apply with regard to any player who, at the applicable time, is on the Disqualified List for failure to render the player’s services to the Club. Should a Club fail to so tender or renew a contract, the player shall become a free agent without any restrictions or qualifications, and the player shall be removed from the Disqualified List.

(ii) With regard to any player who is on the Disqualified List for a reason other than stated in Rule 2(c)(7)(D)(i), a Club shall not be obligated to tender or renew a contract until the player is removed from such list and reinstated to active status. If a player is removed from such list during a period beginning on November 22 and extending through the next championship season, the Club shall tender a contract to the player within 10 days following such removal. Thereafter, should the Club and the player agree upon the terms of a new contract within 10 days after the player’s receipt of the tendered contract, the Club shall be obligated, within the next five days, to renew the player’s prior Major League contract, provided, however, that if the tender is made during the period beginning on November 22 and ending on the next March 1, the renewal period shall be as set forth in paragraph 10(a) of the Major League Uniform Player’s Contract. Should a Club fail to tender or renew a contract as provided in this paragraph, the player shall become a free agent without any restrictions or qualifications.

(E) Reservations. A player on the Disqualified List may be reserved as such for two consecutive years. At the expiration of that two-year period, the player need not be reported on the player’s Major or Minor League Club’s annual Reserve List and will automatically be transferred to a General isqualified.

(F) Promulgation. Whenever a player is placed on the Disqualified List, such fact shall be promulgated by the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee to all Major League Clubs in the form of a transaction bulletin.

(G) Assignment. The contract of a player on the Disqualified List may be assigned, but the assignee Club shall assume all responsibility for the player’s reporting.

(H) Reinstatement of Players.

(i) Application. Any player on the Disqualified List may apply for reinstatement, or to have the player’s status changed, upon the conditions stated in this Rule 2(c)(7). Such application shall be filed with the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee. An application for reinstatement may be granted upon such terms and conditions as the facts may warrant in the judgment of the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee. If a player files an application for reinstatement from the Disqualified List after February 1 of any year, the player’s Major or Minor League Club shall be entitled to 30 days’ written notice prior to the player’s reinstatement. No Major League player on the Disqualified List shall be reinstated during the period from August 1 to and including October 31, unless the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee has approved the reinstatement. No Minor League player on the Disqualified List shall be reinstated during the period from August 1 until the conclusion of the Minor League championship season and playoffs, unless the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee has approved the reinstatement.

(ii) Upon proper application, a player on the Disqualified List may be reinstated by the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee.

(iii) Player Limits. A player reinstated from the Disqualified List between the mandatory spring training reporting date and the conclusion of the championship season shall not count against the player limits of the Major or Minor League Club to which the player is reinstated until such date (not exceeding 30 days after reinstatement) as the player is in condition to participate in championship games to the satisfaction of the player’s Club. A player reinstated from such a List between the conclusion of a championship season and the mandatory spring training reporting date shall not count against the player limits of the Major or Minor League Club to which the player is reinstated until the fourteenth calendar day following reinstatement.

(iv) Reinstatement Before Release. A Player on the Disqualified List must be reinstated before the player can be released unconditionally.

(8) INELIGIBLE LIST.

(A) A player or other person found guilty of misconduct or other acts mentioned in Rule 21, or convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, may be placed on the “Ineligible List” by the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee. A player or other person on the Ineligible List shall not be eligible to play or associate with any Major or Minor League Club.

(B) No Major or Minor League player shall knowingly play with or against a team with which, during the current season, any ineligible player or person has had any connection. Should a player knowingly play with or against any such team, the player shall be placed on the Disqualified List.

(C) ACTION BY COMMISSIONER OR THE COMMISSIONER’S DESIGNEE. In all cases the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee may determine, at any time, either on his or her own motion or at the request of a Major League Club or Major or Minor League player, that the best interests of Baseball require that a player, Club or League official or employee, or other person, be placed on the Ineligible List and may also, in his or her sole discretion and upon such terms and conditions as he or she may deem proper, reinstate any such person from the Ineligible List or transfer the person from the Ineligible List to the Disqualified List.

(D) Player Limits. Players on the Ineligible List shall not count against either the Reserve List or Active List limits. A player under a Major League Uniform Player’s Contract or Minor League Uniform Player Contract who has been reserved for two consecutive years on the Ineligible List shall be omitted from further Reserve Lists and shall not be eligible to play until the player is first reinstated in accordance with Rule 2(c)(8)(J) (Reinstatement of Players). Upon reinstatement, the Major League Club to which the player is reserved shall restore the player to the same status that the player had at the time when the player retired or became ineligible.

(E) Salary. A player on the Ineligible List (i) shall not be unconditionally released, and (ii) shall not be entitled to salary while on any such list, nor after reinstatement from any such list, until such date (not exceeding 30 days after reinstatement) as the player is in condition to participate in championship games to the satisfaction of the player’s Club.

(F) Tenders and Renewals. With regard to any player who is on the Ineligible List, a Club shall not be obligated to tender or renew a contract until the player is removed from such list and reinstated to active status. If a player is removed from such list during a period beginning on November 22 and extending through the next championship season, the Club shall tender a contract to the player within 10 days following such removal. Thereafter, should the Club and the player agree upon the terms of a new contract within 10 days after the player’s receipt of the tendered contract, the Club shall be obligated, within the next five days, to renew the player’s prior Major League contract, provided, however, that if the tender is made during the period beginning on November 22 and ending on the next March 1, the renewal period shall be as set forth in paragraph 10(a) of the Major League Uniform Player’s Contract. Should a Club fail to tender or renew a contract as provided in this paragraph, the player shall become a free agent without any restrictions or qualifications.

(G) Reservations. A player on the Ineligible List may be reserved as such for two consecutive years. At the expiration of that two-year period, the player need not be reported on the player’s Major or Minor League Club’s annual Reserve List and will automatically be transferred to a General Ineligible List.

(H) Promulgation. Whenever a player is placed on the Ineligible List, such fact shall be promulgated by the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee to all Major League Clubs in the form of a transaction bulletin.

(I) Assignment. The contract of a player on the Ineligible List may not be assigned except with the permission of the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee.

(J) Reinstatement of Players.

(i) Application. Any player on the Ineligible List may apply for reinstatement, or to have the player’s status changed, upon the conditions stated in this Rule 2(c)(8). Such application shall be filed with the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee. An application for reinstatement may be granted upon such terms and conditions as the facts may warrant in the judgment of the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee.

If a player files an application for reinstatement from the Ineligible List after February 1 of any year, the player’s Major or Minor League Club shall be entitled to 30 days’ written notice prior to the player’s reinstatement. No Major League player on the Ineligible List shall be reinstated during the period from August 1 to and including October 31. No Minor League player on the Ineligible List shall be reinstated during the period from August 1 until the conclusion of the Minor League championship season and playoffs, unless the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee has approved the reinstatement.

(ii) Upon proper application, a player on the Ineligible List may be reinstated by the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee. However, no such application may be made until after the lapse of one year from date of placement on the Ineligible List.

(iii) Player Limits. A player reinstated from the Ineligible List between the mandatory spring training reporting date and the conclusion of the championship season shall not count against the player limits of the Major or Minor League Club to which the player is reinstated until such date (not exceeding 30 days after reinstatement) as the player is in condition to participate in championship games to the satisfaction of the player’s Club. A player reinstated from such a List between the conclusion of a championship season and the mandatory spring training reporting date shall not count against the player limits of the Major or Minor League Club to which the player is reinstated until the fourteenth calendar day following reinstatement.

(iv) Reinstatement Before Release. A Player on the Ineligible List must be reinstated before the player can be released unconditionally.

(9) VOLUNTARILY RETIRED LIST.

(A) APPLICATION. A player under a Major League Uniform Player’s Contract or a Minor League Uniform Player Contract who desires to retire from the profession shall make written application to the player’s Major League Club, stating fully the player’s reasons for retiring. The Major League Club shall forward the application and the Club’s recommendation to the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee. If the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee deems it proper to do so, the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee may grant an application for voluntary retirement upon the conditions set forth in this Rule 2(c)(9) and upon such other terms and conditions as the facts and circumstances may warrant, in the judgment of the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee. However, no player shall be reinstated within 60 calendar days of the championship season or seasons from the date that the player filed the application for voluntary retirement with the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee.

(B) PLAYING WHILE RETIRED. If a voluntarily retired player, during the player’s retirement, shall desire to play baseball for hire, otherwise than for the Major League Club entitled to the player’s services, the player shall first obtain written consent of the player’s Club. The player then must file an application with the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee requesting permission to play otherwise than for the Major League Club to which the player is under contract. The player’s application shall specify the teams with and against which the player desires to play, and their locations, and shall be transmitted with the player’s Club’s consent to the Commissioner for approval or denial.

(C) PLAYER LIMITS. Players on the Voluntarily Retired List shall not count against either the Reserve List or Active List limits. A player under a Major League Uniform Player’s Contract or Minor League Uniform Player Contract who has been reserved for two consecutive years on the Voluntarily Retired List shall be omitted from further Reserve Lists and shall not be eligible to play until the player is first reinstated in accordance with Rule 2(c)(9)(E) (Reinstatement of Players). Upon reinstatement, the Major League or Minor League Club to which the player is reserved shall restore the player to the same status that the player had at the time when the player retired or became ineligible.

(D) TENDERS AND RENEWALS. With regard to any player who is on the Voluntarily Retired List, a Club shall not be obligated to tender or renew a contract until the player is removed from such list and reinstated to active status. If a player is removed from such list during a period beginning on November 22 and extending through the next championship season, the Club shall tender a contract to the player within 10 days following such removal. Thereafter, should the Club and the player agree upon the terms of a new contract within 10 days after the player’s receipt of the tendered contract, the Club shall be obligated, within the next five days, to renew the player’s prior Major League contract, provided, however, that if the tender is made during the period beginning on November 22 and ending on the next March 1, the renewal period shall be as set forth in paragraph 10(a) of the Major League Uniform Player’s Contract. Should a Club fail to tender or renew a contract as provided in this paragraph, the player shall become a free agent without any restrictions or qualifications.

(E) REINSTATEMENT OF PLAYERS.

(i) APPLICATION. Any player on the Voluntarily Retired List may apply for reinstatement, or to have the player’s status changed, upon the conditions stated in this Rule 2(c)(9). Such application shall be filed with the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee. An application for reinstatement may be granted upon such terms and conditions as the facts may warrant in the judgment of the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee.

If a player files an application for reinstatement from the Voluntarily Retired List after February 1 of any year, the player’s Major League Club shall be entitled to 30 days’ written notice prior to the player’s reinstatement. No application for reinstatement shall be received from a Voluntarily Retired player within 60 playing days of the player’s retirement. No Major League player on the Voluntarily Retired List shall be reinstated during the period from August 1 to and including October 31. No Minor League player on the Voluntarily Retired List shall be reinstated during the period from August 1 until the conclusion of the Minor League championship season and playoffs, unless the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee has approved the reinstatement.

(ii) Upon proper application, a player on the Voluntarily Retired List may be reinstated by the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee.

(iii) PLAYER LIMITS. A player reinstated from the Voluntarily Retired List between the mandatory spring training reporting date and the conclusion of the championship season shall not count against the player limits of the Major or Minor League Club to which the player is reinstated until such date (not exceeding 30 days after reinstatement) as the player is in condition to participate in championship games to the satisfaction of the player’s Club. A player reinstated from such a List between the conclusion of a championship season and the mandatory spring training reporting date shall not count against the player limits of the Major or Minor League Club to which the player is reinstated until the fourteenth calendar day following reinstatement.

(iv) REINSTATEMENT BEFORE RELEASE. A player on the Voluntarily Retired List may be unconditionally released if both approval of the Commissioner and any applicable waivers are first obtained.

(10) MILITARY LIST. Players under reserve to Major or Minor League Clubs may be placed on the Military List subject to conditions and strictures set forth in this Rule 2(c)(10).

(A) If a player has received definite orders to report for military service, the player may be placed on the Military List within 15 days of the date on which the player is to report. A player may not be placed on the Military List, however, unless the player has left the player’s Major League or Minor League Club in preparation for reporting for military service.

(B) Player Limits. A player on the Military List shall not count against any Reserve List or Active List limits as of the date the player commences active military service if the player and the player’s Major League Club advises the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee in writing of the exact date that the player began active military service, the unit with which the player is serving and the player’s serial number.

(C) Upon discharge from military service a player will count against Reserve List and Active List limits after the player has completed a 15-day trial period or has participated in a championship season game, whichever comes first. This trial period shall begin when the player physically reports during either spring training or the championship season to the Major or Minor League Club for which the player has been directed to perform. A player on the Military List who is discharged from military service after the Rule 5 Selection Meeting, however, shall not count against any Reserve List or Active List limit until the opening day of the following championship season and such a player shall not count against any Reserve List limit in any event until the player has had a trial period of at least 15 days or has played in a championship season game.

(D) Upon learning that a player has been separated from military service, the Major or Minor League Club to which the player is under reserve must immediately transmit such information to the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee.

(E) A player who is required to return for additional military service, but who may be available to the player’s Major or Minor League Club while still in military service, shall be counted against the player’s Club’s Active List limit from the day the player participates in a championship season game and for the balance of the season. Any time accumulated by such player during spring training or the championship season shall be charged against the 15-day trial period that the player’s Club must give the player.

(F) Tenders and Renewals. With regard to any player who is on the Military List, a Club shall not be obligated to tender or renew a contract until the player is removed from such list and reinstated to active status. If a player is removed from such list during a period beginning on November 22 and extending through the next championship season, the Club shall tender a contract to the player within 10 days following such removal. Thereafter, should the Club and the player agree upon the terms of a new contract within 10 days after the player’s receipt of the tendered contract, the Club shall be obligated, within the next five days, to renew the player’s prior Major League contract, provided, however, that if the tender is made during the period beginning on November 22 and ending on the next March 1, the renewal period shall be as set forth in paragraph 10(a) of the Major League Uniform Player’s Contract. Should a Club fail to tender or renew a contract as provided in this paragraph, the player shall become a free agent without any restrictions or qualifications.

(G) Reinstatement Before Release. A Player on the Military List must be reinstated before the player can be released unconditionally.

(11) MINOR LEAGUE INJURED LIST

(A) Application. If a Minor League Player is unable to render services because of a specific injury, the player may be placed on the Injured List for that particular Minor League Club. The two lists a Minor League player may be placed on during the championship season are:

(i) Regular Injured List. Minimum period of placement on a Minor League Injured List shall be seven consecutive days.

(ii) Minor League 60-Day Injured List. No player may be placed on the Minor League 60-Day Injured List until the player has spent at least five days in a roster status where that player is counting against a Domestic Reserve List limit of a Club (including the assignor Club in the event of a trade). Placement on the Minor League 60-Day Injured List requires pre-approval from the Office of the Commissioner. The application for placement on the Minor League 60-Day Injured List shall be accompanied by a Standard Form of Diagnosis completed by the Major or Minor League Club physician. The Commissioner’s Office, in conjunction with the MLB Medical Director, will review and approve such applications. The minimum period of placement on the Minor League 60-Day Injured List shall be 60 consecutive days, unless otherwise approved by the Office of the Commissioner. Days spent on the Regular Injured List prior to a transfer to the Minor League 60-Day Injured List shall count towards the required minimum period of inactivity. Players appropriately placed on the Minor League 60-Day Injured List may remain on such list until the 5th day following the conclusion of the World Series.

(B) Player Limits. A player on a Regular Minor League Injured List shall count against the player’s Minor League Club’s Reserve List limit but not against the Club’s Active List limit. A player assigned on rehabilitation while on the Injured List shall count towards the Reserve List limit of the assignor Club and shall not count against the player limits of the assignee Club. A player on the Minor League 60-Day Injured List shall not count against either a Minor League Club’s Active or Reserve List limit or a Club’s Domestic Reserve List limit.

(12) Development List

(A) Placement on the Development List. A Minor League player may be placed on the Development List for any non-disciplinary reason, except that a player is not eligible to be placed on the Development List if the player is injured and otherwise qualifies for placement on the Minor League Injured List. Players on optional assignment to the Minor Leagues may not be placed on the Development List without their written consent. Upon request for placement on the Development List, the Club must include the reason for such placement. The minimum period of placement on the Development List shall be seven consecutive days, except that if a player on the Development List suffers an injury, that player is required to be transferred to the Regular Injured List and the inactive days on the Development List will count towards the minimum period of inactivity on the Regular Injured List.

(B) Player Limits. A player on the Development List shall count against the player’s Minor League Club’s Reserve List and the Domestic Reserve List limit but not against the Club’s Active List limit.

(13) TEMPORARILY INACTIVE LIST.

(A) Placement on Temporarily Inactive List. If a Minor League player is

(i) not in position to render active service to the player’s Club due to any of the following:

(aa) necessary temporary absence during the playing season on account of a family member’s bona-fide illness;

(bb) absence excused by the Club and approved by the Commissioner’s Office; or

(cc) the player not being in condition to render services as a result of an absence described in Rules 2(c)(12)(A)(i) or 2(c)(12)(A)(ii), or as a result of having reported recently for service in that season; or

(ii) awaiting completion of the player’s unconditional release for the purpose of allowing the player to sign with a club in a foreign league, provided the player’s Club submits documentation of the transaction with the foreign club satisfactory to the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee, the player may be placed on the Minor League Club’s Temporarily Inactive List. If the placement is pursuant to Rule 2(c)(12)(A)(i), the Player’s salary entitlement shall be at the Club’s discretion until such player returns to the Club in physical condition to render services. A Player may not be placed on the Temporarily Inactive List prior to the start of the championship season.

The minimum period of placement on the Temporarily Inactive List shall be three consecutive days, during which the player will not be allowed in uniform during a game.

(B) Player Limits. A Temporarily Inactive player shall not be counted on a Minor League Club’s Active List, but the player shall be included in the Reserve List limit. Written notice of placement upon the Temporarily Inactive List must be given to the player. A player cannot be carried on the Reserve List as Temporarily Inactive.

(C) Assignment. No assignment of a Temporarily Inactive List player shall be permitted until after reinstatement, following expiration of the minimum period unless the player is being assigned to another Major League Club; provided, however, that a 40-man Roster player on the Temporarily Inactive List may only be assigned to another Major League Club within the 72-hour window leading up to the period set forth in Rule 6(d)(3). However, a Temporarily Inactive List player may be unconditionally released at any time, provided the player has first been reinstated from the Temporarily Inactive List.

(14) PLAYERS SIGNED FOR FUTURE SERVICES. No Major League Club may sign an eligible player if the player has no previous Major or Minor League experience and if the contract is for services to commence after the current calendar year, except as provided for in subparagraphs (A) or (B) of this Rule 2(c)(13).

(A) A Major League Club may sign, after July 1, a player who has no previous Major or Minor League experience to a contract for the succeeding year, provided, however, that the number of players so signed shall not exceed 50 assigned in the aggregate to the Class High-A, Low-A, Spring Training Complex, or International Rookie League Clubs that the Major League Club owns or with which it is affiliated during the current season. Each such additional player signed to a Minor League Uniform Player Contract shall be placed on either the Class High-A, Low-A, Spring Training Complex or International Rookie Reserve List, but the player shall not count against Reserve List or Active List limits until the opening day of the succeeding championship season of the Club to which the player is assigned. The Club shall be obligated to take such player to its spring training camp (Major League, Minor League or a combination of both) for a minimum 15-day trial period. Each such additional player signed to a Major League Uniform Player’s Contract shall be placed on a Major League Reserve List, shall count against such Reserve List limits immediately, shall be directed not to report until Major League spring training camp and shall not count against Active List limits until the opening day of the succeeding championship season of the Club to which the player is assigned. The Club shall be obligated to take such player to its spring training camp (Major League, Minor League or a combination of both) for a minimum 15-day trial period.

(B) A player who has no previous Major or Minor League experience and who is in the Armed Services may contract, regardless of the date on which the player is scheduled to be discharged, for either the current or the next succeeding season if the player is signed between the Rule 4 draft and the Winter Meetings, or for the season following the Winter Meetings if the player is signed between the Winter Meetings and the next Rule 4 draft. A player so signed shall not be eligible for placement on the Military List and shall be counted against the signing Club’s Major or Minor League Reserve List limits. Players signed pursuant to this Rule 2(c)(13)(B) shall not be charged for player classification purposes with any time between the date of the contract and the date of reporting.

(d) LIMITATIONS ON COACHES, PLAYER-COACHES AND PLAYER-MANAGERS.

(1) Major League.

(A) A person employed as a coach shall not count against the Reserve List or Active List limits unless and until the person signs a contract as a player. Upon signing as a player the person cannot be re-employed as a coach during the same season, unless any applicable waivers are first secured and the person is unconditionally released as a player.

(B) A person signed as a player or a player-manager cannot b re-employed as a manager or coach until any applicable waivers are first secured and the person is unconditionally released as a player. If the person is then employed under a coach’s or manager’s contract, a Major League Club cannot release the person as coach or manager and subsequently re-sign the person as a player during the same championship season.

(C) No contract shall be approved unless a Major League Club indicates in the contract whether the person is to be employed as a player or as a coach.

(D)(i) From opening day through August 31 and during the post-season, a Major League Club shall be permitted no more than eight on-field uniformed coaches, instructors or bullpen coaches (including honorary coaches or instructors) during an official Major League Baseball game. Prior to substituting for a manager or coach who has left the Club on a temporary basis, the team must notify the Commissioner’s Office, as well as the opposing Club and umpire crew, of the temporary change prior to the start of the game.

(ii) From September 1 through the conclusion of the championship season, a Major League Club shall be permitted one additional on-field uniformed coach, instructor or bullpen coach during an official Major League Baseball game, so long as such additional coach is a full-time employee who has spent a significant amount of time during the championship season as a uniformed manager, coach or instructor of that Major League Club or a Minor League Club or Clubs affiliated with that Major League Club and so long as the Major League Club provides such coach’s name to the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee before such coach appears in uniform during a Major League game. A Major League Club may designate a different additional coach from game to game, so long as the Major League Club complies with all other requirements of this Rule 2(d)(1)(D).

(iii) From September 1 through the conclusion of the championship season, a Major League Club shall be permitted one additional Certified Athletic Trainer or registered strength and conditioning coach to sit on the bench during an official Major League Baseball game, so long as such additional trainer or coach is a full-time employee who has spent a significant amount of time during the championship season as a trainer or coach of that Major League Club or a Minor League Club or Clubs affiliated with that Major League Club and so long as the Major League Club provides the name of such trainer or coach to the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee before such trainer or coach appears in uniform during a Major League game. A Major League Club may designate a different coach or trainer under this rule from game to game, so long as the Major League Club complies with all other requirements of this Rule 2(d)(1)(D).

(iv) There shall be no limit on the number of coaches or instructors who may work with players during any pre-game or post-game practice; however, additional coaches and/or instructors who participate in pre-game activities must leave the dugout, field and bullpen areas during the game.

(2) Minor League.

(A) A person employed as a manager or coach shall not count against the Reserve List or Active List limits unless and until the person signs a contract as a player. Upon signing as a player, the person cannot be re-employed as a manager or coach during the same season, unless the person is unconditionally released as a player. During the same championship season, a manager or coach who has been signed and subsequently released as a player may not be re-signed as a player.

(B) A person signed as a player, player-manager or player-coach cannot be re-employed as a manager or coach until the person is unconditionally released as a player. If the person is then employed under a coach’s or manager’s contract, a Major League Club cannot release the person as coach or manager of a Minor League Club and subsequently re-sign the person as a player during the same championship season.

(C) No contract shall be approved unless a Major League Club indicates in the contract whether the person is to be employed as a player or as a manager or coach.

(3) RE-SIGNING OF COACH OR MANAGER AS PLAYER. Any Major League Reserve List player who has been unconditionally released and signed as a coach or manager after midnight on August 1 of any championship season cannot be re-signed as a player by the releasing Major League Club until May 15 of the following championship season.

Phuture Phillies

Phillies Prospects

MLB’s Lists and Roster Limits

1.) The quick breakdown of Major League Rule 2, Player Limits.

2.) The wordier description of Major League Rule 2, Player Limits in what I hope is language that is easier to understand with a lot of the extraneous stuff edited out.

3.) The actual Major League Rule 2, Player Limits in its original form.

1.) The quick breakdown of Major League Rule 2, Player Limits.

2.) The wordier description of Major League Rule 2, Player Limits in what I hope is language that is easier to understand with a lot of the extraneous stuff edited out.

3.) The actual Major League Rule 2, Player Limits in its original form.

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