In Major League Baseball (MLB), a minor league option refers to a team's ability to send a player on its 40-man roster to the minor leagues without exposing him to waivers. Here's how it works:
Key Points About Minor League Options:
Option Years:
A player has three option years. During each of those years, the player can be sent to the minors an unlimited number of times without being exposed to waivers.
How It’s Used:
When a team "options" a player, they are temporarily assigning him to a minor league affiliate. The player remains on the 40-man roster, but not the 26-man active roster.
Service Time:
Optioned players typically don't accumulate MLB service time while in the minors, which can affect arbitration and free agency timelines.
Out of Options:
Once all three option years are used, the player is considered "out of options." If the team wants to send him to the minors again, they must first place him on waivers, giving other teams a chance to claim him.
Exceptions:
A fourth option year may be granted in rare cases, usually when a player has missed a lot of time due to injury or other circumstances.
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