contracts

[balke]

How do minor league contracts work? For a player like Chris Carter - when drafted he owes 6 years of mlb service correct?

So does that clock start running back in Birmingham in 2005 - and he's up to negotiate or to be a free agent at the end of next season?

Or does the clock on that only start when they hit a major league roster?

[canOcorn]

Originally Posted by balke

How do minor league contracts work? For a player like Chris Carter - when drafted he owes 6 years of mlb service correct?

So does that clock start running back in Birmingham in 2005 - and he's up to negotiate or to be a free agent at the end of next season?

Or does the clock on that only start when they hit a major league roster?

You only accrue ML service time when on the 25 man roster (or DL).

[balke]

So I just read that minor leaguers are under contract for 7 minor league seasons before minor league free agency if not on the 40 man roster.

So can you in theory draft someone - keep them in the minors for 6.5 season and then put them on the 40 man roster without a callup for 6 more seasons?

[canOcorn]

Originally Posted by balke

So I just read that minor leaguers are under contract for 7 minor league seasons before minor league free agency if not on the 40 man roster.

So can you in theory draft someone - keep them in the minors for 6.5 season and then put them on the 40 man roster without a callup for 6 more seasons?

No. There's the rule 5 draft and you get three option years once on the 40 man roster.