Scott Kazmir (Photo: AP)
2013 Indians Major League and Minor League free agents
By Tony Lastoria
October 4, 2013
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Here are the free agents in the entire Cleveland Indians organization from the major league roster on down through the minors.
Major League Free Agents
Pitchers:
Matt Albers (RHP), Rich Hill (LHP), Scott Kazmir (LHP), Joe Smith (RHP)
Position players:
Jason Giambi (DH), Kelly Shoppach (CA)
Note:
Right-handed pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez has an $8 million mutual option which the Indians will pick up but Jimenez will likely decline, making him a free agent. The Indians will probably also then offer Jimenez the qualifying offer (one year for approximately $14-15 million) which he will probably also decline. By offering the qualifying offer the Indians will get a first round draft pick as compensation if Jimenez signs elsewhere.
Also, outfielder Jason Kubel has a $7.5 million mutual option that the Indians will very likely decline, thus making him a free agent.
The Indians also have three non-tender candidates in catcher Lou Marson, right-handed reliever Chris Perez and outfielder Drew Stubbs. Marson and Perez look like definite non-tender guys although there is a chance that Stubbs returns. If a player is non-tendered he becomes a free agent.
Minor League Free Agents
Pitchers:
Rob Bryson (RHP), Matt Capps (RHP), Paolo Espino (RHP), Jose Flores (RHP), Jerry Gil (RHP), J.C. Romero (LHP)
Catchers:
Matthew Colantino, Omir Santos
Infielders:
Juan Diaz, Luis Hernandez, Matt LaPorta, Matt Lawson, Ryan Rohlinger, Nate Spears
Outfielders:
Ezequiel Carrera, Bo Greenwell, Jeremy Hermida, Cedric Hunter
Note:
Outfielder Tim Fedroff was designated for assignment in September along with shortstop Juan Diaz. Diaz is a free agent Fedroff is not because Diaz has six renewed contract seasons while Fedroff only has six after this year (he will be eligible for free agency after next season if he is not on a 40-man roster).
Minor League Free Agency (Rule 55)
Who is eligible:
If a player is not on the 40-man roster, a minor leaguer is eligible for free agency and becomes a minor league free agent (MLFA) six years after their first season ends with an organization. This is why they are often called “six year minor league free agents” because they become a free agent after six renewal options afforded to the major league organization have all expired.
In general, once a player has six full seasons in the minors he is eligible for minor league free agency. For example, if a player was drafted in June of 2007 and signed in July of the same year, then his renewal seasons were 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 and he would be a minor league free agent after the 2013 season.
There is an exception to this rule for a player that has been released from their first organization before they have used up all six renewal options. When this happens and the player signs with another club, that organization has the option of signing the player to as many years as they want up until the expiration of their sixth renewable contract. In most cases, however, the new club opts to sign the player to a one year deal, and even if the player has not had six full seasons he would be a MLFA after that season.
Also, a player does not become a MLFA if they agree to a successor contract prior to October 15th. A successor contract is basically just an agreement between player and organization to extend and sign for the following season in the period between the end of the season and the start of minor league free agency (this is what happened withAdam Miller three years ago).
Timeline:
On August 1st the Commissioner issues a listing of all players eligible to become MLFAs for the upcoming offseason. On October 15th a player officially becomes a minor league free agent (MLFA) if the club that originally signed him no longer has one of their six renewal options available to them. On October 16th the Commissioner issues the final MLFA list to all clubs, and a MLFA may negotiate a deal with any major league club for a major league or minor league contract.
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