1. Alignment

The league will follow the format of the major leagues, with two leagues of three divisions each.

In order to foster division rivalries between friends, in the off-season owners may choose to move their franchises to the McCarthy League from the McGraw League and vice versa as long as the league alignment can permit it. However, alignments and divisions must be set prior to December 1st.

Owners may choose their own team name, but said name must reflect good taste.

The McCarthy League will use the designated hitter rule, while the McGraw League will have the pitcher batting.

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2. Format

All games are to be played with the latest Strat-O-Matic computer version, with instructions and results exchanged by e-mail, unless other arrangements are made with the opposing manager. All super advanced and optional rules will be used except those which are explicitly excluded by this constitution.

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3. Schedule

The league will play a 162-game schedule, with an unbalanced format in which more games will be played within the division. There will be interleague play. The schedule will be broken up into six playing blocks which will be played during the six months from April through September.

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4. Ballparks

Owners may select any unclaimed modern-day ballpark contained in the Strat software that they wish to play in. No changes will be made to the park effects of any park. If a major league team changes ballparks, the owner may elect to remain in his previous park with the park factors set to the average of the previous three league seasons. Owners may change a park only once in any three-year period. A new owner will be allowed to change parks when he comes into the league. This can only be done in the off-season.

5. Compensation For League Activities

The CBL will compensate owners who take on the following league positions and activities with a supplemental 1st round draft pick:

League Positions

Amatuer Draft Coordinator
Arbitration Sensation
Ballot Master
Commissioner
Player Usage Officer
Team Usage Officer

League Activities
Amatuer Draft list creation (5 list min and max)
Fostering an open team

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1. The 40-Man Roster

Each team has a 40-man roster. Only players who are on the 40-man roster may play in the major leagues. Each 40-man roster will have a 25-man active roster, and only those 25 players are eligible to participate in a major league game. The remaining 15 players are either playing in the minor leagues or on the disabled list. On September 1 of the regular season, all players on the 40-man roster are eligible to play in major league games.

Teams can have less than 40 players at any time. If a team’s 40-man roster is full and it adds a player, then a player must consequently be waived or released to make room.

Teams must add carded rookies to their 40-man roster. Carded amatuer draft picks are exempted from this rule in the season following their draft. Their team would need to add them to its 40 if the player plays in the season following their draft.

The salary cap for each team’s 40-man roster is $75 million.

Team at bats shall be limited to 6000 per NL team and to 6400 per AL team. This limit applies before the 5% overage allowed and innocuous designations.

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2. Contracts

When a player is placed on the 40-man roster for the first time, he begins to accrue options. A team may keep a player on an option (O) contract for three seasons. Players on option contracts are the sole possession of their team and may be sent to and called up from the minor leagues freely. Option contracts are designated as O1, O2, and O3 on the roster file, with the “O” representing the option contract and the ensuing number the option year. Thus, a player who is added to the 40-man roster for the first time begins playing on an O1 contract, and a player in his third option year is designated as an O3 contract.

Once a player is out of options (i.e. his fourth season on a 40-man roster), he becomes arbitration-eligible. For our purposes each player will remain arbitration-eligible for three seasons. Players on arbitration contracts are designated with an A on the roster file, with the year of the contract following. Thus, a first-year arbitration player is an A1, while a third-year arbitration player is designated an A3. Players who are arbitration-eligible may no longer be optioned to the minors. If the player is not injured, the only option that a team has to remove him from the major league roster is to place him on waivers.

Once a player has completed his three arbitration seasons, he becomes eligible for free agency. These players are designated as playing under an “FA” contract. As free agents may be signed to multiyear contracts, the corresponding number on the contract indicates the years remaining on that contract. Thus, a player designated a “FA3” has three years remaining on a free-agent contract. A player designated simply as an “FA” is a free agent after the season. Players with free agent contracts may not be optioned to the minors. If the player is not injured, the only option that a team has to remove him from the major league roster is to place him on waivers.

All minor leaguers play on minor league contracts. However, they will receive designations according to their Rule V eligibility. Players who are drafted out of college will be listed as “MC,” while players who are either drafted out of high school or signed as amateur free agents are listed as “MH.” Players receive a corresponding number that indicates how many years of minor league service time they have. For example, an “MC0” would indicate a newly drafted college player, while an “MH3” would indicate a high school draftee or amateur free agent that has completed three years of minor league service. A player with an MLC will earn a $300,000 minimum-salary major league contract upon his promotion to the major league active roster.

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3. Minor League Rosters

Each team shall have six minor league affiliates, consisting of an AAA, AA, Hi A, Lo A, Short Season, and Rookie League team. Each team may have a maximum of 25 players. Each minor league team must have ten pitchers (starters or relievers) and twelve batters (any combination of positions). The other three roster spots may be filled at the owner’s discretion.

The exception to this is the AAA roster. Due to the high fluctuation on this roster due to major league roster moves, owners may keep players from whatever position they want.

There must be space left on minor league rosters for players who are on the 40-man roster but not on the 25-man major league roster who are playing in the minor leagues.

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1. Playing Blocks

The regular season is broken up into six playing blocks which correspond to each month of the season (April through September). At the beginning of each playing block is a transaction period in which teams may make roster moves. Active rosters set during the transaction period remain in effect until the end of the playing block, and may not be changed.

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2. Transactions

At the beginning of each playing block, there will be a brief transaction period. It is during this time that teams will submit both their transactions and their CM(s) to the commissioner. Upon approval, the transactions will be processed and the computer manager(s) will be submitted to the league members by the commissioner. If not approved, the owner must submit new transactions and a new CM to the commissioner that is compliant with league rules.

When submitting CMs, they should be saved with the following title: “TeamMonthCM,” i.e. “AberdeenJuneCM.”

Players who are in an option year of their contract may be moved freely between the major and minor leagues. Players who are out of options cannot be moved to the minor leagues unless they clear waivers. Players may only be waived during the transaction period prior to the next scheduled block, and if unclaimed may only be recalled at the conclusion of each block. Players who are out of options may also be placed on the disabled list, if eligible.

A player who has reached the maximum participation limit set by the league may be moved to the team’s disabled list and will not count against the major league roster limit of the team. Position players on each roster with the most at-bats at their position who have less than 500 at-bats may be placed on the disabled list during any playing block, but once returned to the active roster cannot be disabled again until they have exhausted their participation limits. These players and any player with over 350 at-bats may also not be disabled for longer than their usage status allows, with each 100 at-bats (rounding down) less than 600 counting as one month that can be spent on the disabled list. Thus, players with 500+ at-bats cannot be disabled, and players with 400 at-bats can be disabled for one month maximum.

Starting pitchers among the top five on the roster in games started with less than 28 starts may be placed on the disabled list during any playing block, but once returned to the active roster cannot be disabled again. Starting pitchers may not be disabled for longer than their usage status allows, with each five starts less than 32 counting as one month that can be spent on the disabled list. Thus, pitchers with:

Starts	# Months on DL
28+	Cannot be disabled
23-27	1
18-22	2
13-17	3
8-12	<4/td>
<12	For the season

Starter/relievers will be considered in similar fashion except by innings, with 150 innings pitched as the allowed disabled limit, with each 30 innings pitched less than 150 allowing for a player to be disabled for one month.

During the season teams may trade players freely, with trades becoming effective at the end of each playing block. Teams may not:

• Trade players to be named later
• Exceed their payroll constraints at any point
• Trade for players that will increase the payroll above the set limit
• Trade cash
• Trade draft picks (Rule V and amateur)

Trades will not be consummated unless reported to the commissioner by both parties. For a trade to be registered for the next playing block, it must be reported prior to the transaction period. The trading deadline is prior to the transaction period for Block 5.

There are two deadlines as follows:

Deadline #1: 7/31
Deadline #2: 8/31

• Player must clear waivers after 7/31
• Players traded after 8/31 are not eligible for post-season play
• No trading during post-season (Oct)
• During arbitration period, FA must be signed and kept, then traded*

*Teams cannot trade FAs without protecting them. If a team trades a FA, they must include him on their arbitration list for purposes of staying under the cap and within usage restrictions. Teams can trade any non-FA player during the arbitration period. His new team must place him on their arbitration list.

Trades involving non-free agents can be agreed to and announced at the conclusion of the World Series.

The organization is free to move minor league players up and down the minor league chain. A maximum of 25 players is allowed on each minor league roster.

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3. Player Usage

Players who receive a combined card in the current set will have that card used in league competition.

Players may only play the positions listed on their card with two exceptions:

• A team may petition the commissioner and the Wise Men to rate a player for a position that he has played in the past. The commissioner must approve and the Wise Men must approve a rating by a 2/3 vote.
• If a player played a position during the previous MLB season, he is allowed to do so in the CBL. There is no need to petition the league. Simply submit your request to the Commissioner.
• We use the Outfielder Out of Position rule.

All position players are limited to 105% of their plate appearances. All pitchers are limited to their games started or 105% of their innings pitched. Pitchers that both start and relieve for a league team will be limited to 105% of their innings pitched. These limits will be enforced except in cases outlined below. All exceptions used must be filed with the commissioner’s office at the end of the season.

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4. 600 AB/1,450 IP Exception

If a team has at least 600 at bats at a position, and has used all of the available at-bats for that position, then the player with the most at-bats at that position may have unlimited at-bats for the remainder of the season. For example, if you have two first basemen that have 603 AB, and a third player that still has 25 AB remaining and is rated to play the position, you must use the remaining 25 AB from the third player before employing this rule. If a team has a total of 1450 innings and has exhausted the eligibility of all of their pitchers, then all members of the pitching staff shall have unlimited participation (within the rest requirements) for the remainder of the season.

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5. The Innocuous Player Exception

A manager may petition the league for the increased participation limits of no more than four players on the roster, with only two position players and two pitchers eligible. Innocuous position players are defined as position players who meet the following criteria:

• OPS += 85-115
• OBP <= AL Average (plus 10 pts)
• SLG <= AL Average (plus 20 pts)
• AB/HR >= 30

Also, players with at least 100 at-bats who fit all other criteria above but do not have an OPS+ that is greater than 85 are eligible for this exception. Position players other than players whose primary position is catcher designated as innocuous players will receive unlimited playing time. Players whose primary position is catcher will receive a maximum of 500 plate appearances, regardless of other positions they play.

Innocuous pitchers are defined as those who meet the following criteria:

ERA+= 85-115
AHW (Hits Plus Walks/IP) >= League Average
K/9 <= League Average

Also, pitchers with at least 40 innings pitched who fit all of the criteria above except they have an ERA+ less than 85 are eligible for this exception. Pitchers who played in both leagues must meet AL standards when considering the league average. Pitchers designated as innocuous players will receive either 32 starts as a starting pitcher only, 150 innings as a starter/reliever, or 100 innings as a relief pitcher only. The OPS+ and ERA+ information can be found on the player page at www.baseballreference.com.

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6. Carded Minor Leaguer

A manager can also petition the league for the creation of a non-carded player. Only one non-carded player shall be granted per team, and can only be granted in the case where the player will fill the team’s at bats or innings pitched on the roster or for a player selected in the Rule V draft. A non-carded player must have performed in a AAA, AA, or A league during the season in play. The player will be considered a AAA, AA, or A player by the greatest number of games played at one level. Owners must submit this petition to the league office prior to the transaction period for the playing block in which the player is needed. This player will be carded by the league office and will be carded by the following criteria:

• For position players, the player’s at-bats shall be set at one less than the fourteenth player (sorted by at-bats) on the team’s 40-man roster, or he will be given enough at-bats to fill 600 at one position. His minor league totals shall be adjusted accordingly as a percentage of the player’s at-bats. Then the singles, doubles, triples, homeruns, walks, and steals will be multiplied by 0.8 for a AAA player, 0.64 for a AA player, and 0.51 for an A player. The strikeouts and caught stealing totals shall be divided by the same factors. If these adjustments leave a player above the performance of an innocuous player, the player must be adjusted down further by taking away hits starting from home runs and moving down to singles, then removing walks if necessary, until the player is at the production level of an innocuous player. Running ratings will be set according to the player’s minor league totals for stolen bases, at the following rate:
  • Under 5 Steals: 10
  • 5-9 Steals: 12
  • 10-24 Steals: 14
  • 25+ Steals: 15
• The leadoff ratings for the player shall be determined by adding his singles and walks (adjusted for major league play), dividing that number by three, then dividing the combined steals and caught stealing (adjusted for major league play) by that total. This percentage is then used to determine the leadoff ratings. His safe rating with a good lead shall be closest to his adjusted steal percentage. His safe rating with a poor lead shall be either five or zero depending on which number is below his safe rating with a good lead.
• The player’s fielding rating will be set to “4”, with the following error ratings: C-16 (+2), 1B- 25, 2B- 41, 3B- 37, SS- 48, OF- 16 (+2), P- 51. Players listed as outfielders can only be rated at the outfield positions they played in the minors.
• For pitchers, the player’s participation shall be limited to either one start less than the #4 starter on the roster (sorted by games started) or one inning less than the #10 pitcher on the roster (sorted by innings), or the number of starts/innings required to fill the team’s need, with a max of 32 starts or 99 innings in relief. A pitcher cannot be listed as both a starter and reliever. The pitcher’s ERA, hits, walks, and home runs shall be divided by 0.8 for a AAA pitcher, 0.64 for a AA pitcher, and 0.51 for an A pitcher. His strikeouts will be multiplied by 0.8 for a AAA pitcher, 0.64 for a AA pitcher, and 0.51 for an A pitcher. If the pitcher is above the level of an innocuous player, then he must be adjusted upward to meet the requirements for an innocuous pitcher.

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7. Game Play

The Cooperstown League will only use the latest Strat-O-Matic computer version. All league games will be played using the super advanced rules and all optional rules, except those which are specifically excluded. Advanced and optional rules which shall be excluded included super advanced injuries (regular injuries only—injuries are only effective until the end of the series), and force daily injuries. All game files must be exported and sent to the commissioner’s office in a timely manner, and box scores must also be sent to the opposing manager.

Starting pitchers must pitch in rotation according to the rest requirements set forth by Strat-O-Matic. Consider games to be played according to the schedule.

As injuries are only extended through the end of each series, prior to beginning a new series the home team manager must reset rest for both teams prior to the first game.

Any home team (or visiting team pitcher if face-to-face or net play) pitcher who has surrendered more than ten runs and has reached fatigue must be removed from the game. Road managers may not select “Do Not Let HAL Remove” when playing by CM.

Pitchers may not bat in the McCarthy League. Position players may not pitch in league games.




8. Playing Instructions/Computer Managers

Teams are required to send full instructions for all road series in the entire upcoming playing block to the commissioner by the required date. Teams may either send the computer manager afforded by the game or send very clear written instructions on how players are to be used.

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9. Reporting

All game files and boxscores must be sent to the opposing manager at the conclusion of each series.

Here are the instructions for sending stats to the statistician:

1. On your desktop, right click
2. Choose New > Compressed Zipped Folder
3. Name the zip folder "3 letter team abbreviation"_Block5
4. Drag the game files and box scores into the zip folder
5. Attach the zip folder to an e-mail
6. Send the e-mail to cblstats@yahoo.com

Please follow the naming convention in Step 3 or come close to it. Send all of your block stats in one zip folder.

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10. Violations and Penalties

Owners are expected to follow all league rules, send road playing instructions, play all home games, and report all game results by the deadlines set forth by the league, and use due diligence in ensuring the accuracy of all reports filed with the league.

When there has been a potential rule violation, the commissioner will review the infraction and discuss it with the offender. The commissioner will then assess the penalty or issue an official warning. If the offender feels that the commissioner has unfairly ruled against him, he may appeal to the commissioner to ask the Three Wise Men for a new ruling. The Three Wise Men will review the case and issue a new ruling that may either overturn the commissioner's ruling, uphold the commissioner's ruling, or assess a new penalty which could be more or less severe according to their discretion. At least two of the three Wise Men must agree on the decision in full. Once this ruling has been made, it is final.

For minor offenses, the following penalty scale shall be used at the commissioner's discretion:

• First offense: Official warning (for selecting wrong visiting lineup, see below)
• Second offense: Loss of either $2.5 million from the team's salary cap or 5% of the team's remaining salary cap space, whichever is greater, during both the current and upcoming season, plus a 2nd round draft pick in the amateur draft.
• Third offense: Loss of either $5.0 million from the team's salary cap for next season or 10% of the team's remaining cap space, whichever is greater, during both the current and upcoming season, plus a 1st round draft pick in the amateur draft.
• Possible expulsion from the league

All penalties are subject to the commissioner's discretion, including both major and minor offenses.

Matters of collusion with other owners to gain an unfair advantage or the intentional winning or losing of league games are grounds for immediate expulsion from the league.

How This Effects Lineup Selection

It is each owners responsibility to play the games using the CM provided and selecting the appropriate lineup based on who is pitching. This is fundamental to league play. It is inherent to league play that you do your best for your opponents team when they visit you because you want them to do the best for you when you visit them.

Some owners go to great lengths to plan their substitutions, platooning, and to send road playing instructions. This planning and work is wasted when the home team is careless by choosing the wrong lineup.

In the event a visiting team claims the home team used the wrong lineup, the visiting team will be allowed to decide if they want the game played over. If this cannot be done because of the game engine, then the home team will forfeit an amateur draft pick to the visiting team.

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11. Pitcher’s Actual Hitting (PAH) Cards

Owners are allowed to use pitcher's actual hitting cards, if available. They are available free online at Gary's Strat-O-Shack: http://my.opera.­com/GarLen/­blog/. All gamers have to do to use these free files is download them into their SOMBB/CDROMBB/ROSTERS folder, and then restart the game.

You ought to see a new league with the year name followed by 99. That league will have a free-agent pool of all the pitcher-hitting cards. That pool will work with all seasons you have with the same year name. So if you have, say, a 2006-season draft league, a replay league and something else, you download just once and have the use of the pitcher-hitting cards for all leagues.

To activate the feature for any league, just check the “Use Actual Pitcher Batting Cards” item on the “Lineups and Usage Options” dialog. That way, you can use the feature with one league, but not another, if that’s your pleasure.

If a pitcher doesn’t have his own hitting card, the game will default to the regular, generic 1-8 pitcher hitting cards.

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1. Playoff Qualifying and Format

The three division winners in each league will enter the playoffs along with one wild card entry represented by the team with the best record that did not win the division. In the case of a tie for the division lead, a one-game playoff will determine the division winner. If the loser of the one-game playoff has a lesser winning percentage than the other wild card contenders, the top winning percentage among the wild card contenders will win the wild card birth. In the case of a tie for the wild card berth, a one-game playoff will determine the wild card entrant. In the instance of a three-way tie, if two or more teams are in the same division the playoff participant will be the team with the better divisional record. If this does not resolve the tie, a one-game playoff will be conducted between the divisional contenders, followed by a one-game playoff against the other wild card contender. If all three wild-card entrants are from different divisions, the team with the smallest run differential will be eliminated and the other two teams will engage in a one-game playoff. Any other situations with playoff implications resulting from ties will be solved at the discretion of the league commissioner.

The wild card team in each league will play the division winner with the best record unless both teams are from the same division, in which case the wild card team will play the division winner with the second-best record. The division winner with the best record will enjoy home field advantage in each playoff series. The wild card entrant will never have home field advantage regardless of record.

The divisional playoffs will consist of a best-of-five series in a 2-2-1 format. The League Championship Series will consist of a best-of-seven series in a 2-3-2 format.

The World Series will pit the two league winners in a best-of-seven series in a 2-3-2 format. The McGraw League champion will have home field advantage in the World Series in odd years; the McCarthy League champion will have it in even years.

In the case of a one-game playoff, the game will be considered to be played on the next day and will reflect the pitcher rest requirements of each team. For other playoff series, an off day shall be assigned in between series and whenever home field changes during a series.

All playoff games must be netplayed unless other arrangements are made with the commissioner.

Each series should start by the following dates:

Series	Start Date
Division Series	2nd Wednesday in October
League Champion Series	3rd Wednesday in October
World Series	4th Wednesday in October

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2. Playoff Rosters

Each playoff team must submit a 25-man playoff roster for each series. Playoff teams are allowed to change their rosters between series.

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3. Player Usage

Player usage is limited to the following:

5 Game Series: 4% of PA, 8% of IP (4% of IP for starter/relievers)
7 Game Series: 5% of PA, 10% of IP (5% of IP for starter/relievers)

Position players with 350+ AB or starting pitchers with 100+ IP= no limit (must fulfill rest requirements)

All totals rounded up.

The playoffs are considered to be played in “real time,” as they are scheduled subsequently, and all Strat rest requirements are in effect. Teams will be given scheduled days off.

Injuries shall be turned off during the playoffs.

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4. Reporting

For playoff games, the home team must submit to the commissioner the box score, scoresheet, and play account for each game.

Each playoff series will be allotted 10 days for completion. Warnings/fines will ensue in cases of delay.

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1. The Arbitration Chart

By November 1 the league office will issue the Arbitration Chart, which sets salaries for the upcoming season. The Arbitration Chart is constructed as follows:

Players at each position are ranked in order according to their win shares earned in real life during the season which will be played by the CBL the following year. The positions will be broken up into catchers, first basemen, second basemen, third basemen, shortstops, outfielders, and designated hitters (if required), starting pitchers, and relief pitchers. The salary for all players at that position during the previous CBL season will then be listed in descending order. The chart will only extend until there are no more players who registered a win share or the minimum $300,000 value is reached.

The average salary for a player of that quality at that position will then be calculated as the average of the two salaries above the player, the corresponding salary of the player, and the two salaries below the player. The top two players, because they do not have two corresponding salaries above theirs, will have the top salary counted one or two extra times. This calculation will determine the player’s market value.

Each player on the Arbitration Chart will then have their cost to re-sign, according to the contract stipulations outlined below, posted on the chart.

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2. Contracts

As of November 1, the contract status of each player advances one year in the following sequence: O1, O2, O3, A1, A2, A3, FA.

Option Contracts

Players on option contracts have maximum salaries according to their value on the arbitration chart. An O3 player may make a maximum of $320,000. An O2 player may make a maximum of $310,000. An O1 player may make a maximum of $300,000. If a player on an option contract is not listed on the arbitration chart, they will automatically sign a minor league contract (MLC).

Arbitration Contracts

Players who are arbitration-eligible will receive contracts according to the following procedure:

A1= 40% of their market value as established by the arbitration chart
A2= 60% of their market value as established by the arbitration chart
A3= 80% of their market value as established by the arbitration chart

The minimum salary for an arbitration-eligible player is $300,000.

Free Agent Contracts

If a team has an impending free agent, the team has a perpetual one-year team option on the player. To pick up this option, the team must sign the free agent to a contract equal to either his market value or 120% of his previous salary, whichever is greater. The minimum salary for a free agent is $300,000. A free agent will not re-sign with his team during the Arbitration Period if the team is over the roster limits outlined in the “Free Agency” section (i.e. 800 AB Per Position/1,100 Starter Innings/600 Relief Innings).

Teams have the option to terminate multiyear free agent contracts by buying out the player’s contract for 50% of its value. This buyout cost will remain part of the team’s payroll expense for the life of the contract. Players who have their contract bought out immediately become free agents. New owners in good standing who did not participate in the previous Arbitration Period may eliminate multiyear contracts with no penalty.

Hometown Discounts

Each team can have one position player and one pitcher on their roster who is signed to a hometown discount (HD) contract.

Eligible players:

• All players drafted in any CBL Amateur Draft
• All players from the CBL Origin Draft who went into the minors and were not immediately put on 40-man rosters that year (currently O3 contracts and below)
• All players who were on option type contracts when the league started and didn't play in the minors

Owners pay such players the A3 rate at the beginning of the A3 year (Required Pay to Retain in the Arbitration Chart). This makes it a hometown discount. The player is taking the security of signing a long term contract now as opposed to going through the year and testing the free agent market later.

This type of contract can only be offered to players when they come into their A3 year. It can be a total of up to 5 years, including the A3 year.

Once an owner signs a position player and/or a pitcher to an HD contract, they are the only players on a roster who will have that type of contract until that contract is completed. Owners cannot trade plaers on an HD contract. Owners can buy out the contract to get out of it. For example, if a stud prospect comes around one day and his owner can't sign him to an HD contract because he signed another player to an HD contract 2 years ago and he has 3 years left on it, the owner is out of luck. Plan for the future.

The reason for not allowing an HD contract to be traded is to avoid one owner from asking another to sign a player to such a contract for the sole purpose of acquiring that player cheaply. The sole purpose of these HD contracts is for you to retain an exceptionally gifted player long term at a reduced rate.

Once a player completes his A3 year and becomes a free agent, he loses his ability to get a hometown discount.

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3. Minor Leaguers

During the arbitration period teams must also purchase the contracts of minor leaguers that they wish to add to the 40-man roster for the upcoming season. In order to protect minor leaguers from the Rule V Draft, teams must add them to the 40-man roster during the Arbitration Period.

Players in a team’s minor league system who were drafted out of college and have played for 4 years in the minor leagues (labeled as MC4 or higher on the roster file), or players who were either drafted out of high school or signed as an amateur free agent and have played for 5 years in the minor leagues (labeled MH5 or higher on the roster file), must be added to the 40-man roster or else become eligible for selection in the Rule V Draft. Players in a team’s minor league system who played in the major leagues must also be protected on the 40-man roster, regardless of minor league status, or they also become eligible for selection in the Rule V Draft.

In addition, there are possibly players in a team’s minor league system that they wish to keep who have played for six years or more in the minor leagues, and thus are minor league free agents. If a team wishes to add these players to the 40-man roster during the Arbitration Period, they must pay them either their Arbitration Chart value or a minimum salary according to the major-league roster contract structure.

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4. The Arbitration Period Reporting Sheet

At the beginning of the Arbitration Period each season the commissioner will issue the Arbitration Period Reporting Sheet. The sheet will have a space for each player currently on the 40-man roster, with a corresponding box to label the player either “Re-Signed” or “Released.” At the bottom, there is a space to enter players who will be added to the 40-man roster from the minor leagues, which has a corresponding space to designate what level the player can be found at. Each team must fill this sheet out and send it to the commissioner prior to the close of the Arbitration Period on November 15.

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5. The Arbitration Period Process Made Simple

Here are some simple steps to completing the Arbitration Period process:

1. Find all of your players on the arbitration chart. Each player is notated with his team affiliation. Note their “Agreement” cost at the far right. This is what it will cost to sign that player for one year.
2. For all players not on the arbitration chart, assume the following costs:
• Option (O) Contracts: MLC
• Arbitration (A) Contracts: $300,000
• Free Agent (FA) Contracts: Either $300,000 or 120% of their current salary, whichever is greater
3. For all 40 players on your 40-man roster, you need to decide whether or not you will re-sign them to a one-year contract, or if you are going to buy out a multiyear free agent contract.
4. Now look at your minor league rosters. Players who played in the major leagues and players with an MC4 or higher or an MH5 or higher are eligible for the Rule V Draft, if you do not add them to your 40-man roster. Remember that the league roster file is typically not updated until after the Arbitration Period, so these players will show as MC3 or MH4 on the rosters from the previous season. Be sure that you consider all contracts to advance one year on November 1st. You must add these players to the 40-man roster if you wish to protect them.
5. Players in your minor leagues who are labeled FA are minor league free agents. To ensure that you retain them, you must add them to your 40-man roster.
6. Fill out your Arbitration Reporting Sheet and send it to the commissioner.
7. All contracts are guaranteed after the close of the arbitration period.

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1. Period

From December 2 to January 15, the free agent period will be held. During this time teams may bid for all players who have become free agents.

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2. Bidding

Free agent bids are blind bids sent to the commissioner’s office for processing. Free agent bids will be for both the annual salary and the length of the contract. Five years is the maximum length of any long term free agent contract. To ensure fairness, the commissioner must post all of his offers to the league so as to eliminate his advantage in seeing all of the blind bids.

During the first week of free agency, teams must bid at least the arbitration chart market value of the player (Free Agent Salary). If a player has not received a bid after the first week of the free agent period, a team may offer any amount to the player. DELETED: This offer will not be considered by the player for a period equal to the difference between the player’s asking price and the offer figured as (1 – offer/asking price = % of days remaining before January 15 deadline).

Major League free agents must receive at least the league minimum. The only 40-man roster players who can have an MLC contract are those with option years remaining.

All bids are binding. There will be no retracting of bids.

Teams must submit all of their bids to the commissioner at once, in a single e-mail which simply identifies the player, the annual salary, and the length of the contract offered. For example, “Joe Schmo-- $10.5 million, 5 years”.

During the free agent signing period, teams may also sign minor league free agents who did not appear in the major leagues during the previous season from other team’s systems. The original team has the right of first refusal on such a player. But, to exercise this, the team must add the player to the 40-man roster. If the original team does not do so, then the minor league free agent may be signed and placed in the new team’s minor league system. Teams may only sign one minor league free agent per day during free agent signing period. If two teams claim a minor league free agent on the same day, the team with the weaker record the preceding season shall be awarded the player.

If a minor league free agent on a CBL roster played in the major leagues in the previous season, his CBL team must add him to its 40-man roster or release him.

Minor leaguers not owned by a CBL team cannot be picked up by a CBL team until they become carded.

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3. Awarding Free Agents

Every day the commissioner will release a chart listing all available free agents and their top bidder.

The best offer is determined as either the offer that includes the most annual salary, or the longest-term contract offer that is at least 85% per year of the highest-paying annual salary contract offer. Thus, a bid of $8.5 million for three years is a superior bid than one for $10 million for two years. As long as a player is receiving bids that are within 80% of the top bid (known as a qualified bid), he will not accept an offer until January 20 (was 15) at the earliest. If a player continues to receive competitive bids up until the deadline and his original team is still bidding on his services, a final blind bid must be made by all of his suitors, with the best bid winning the contract of the player.

For purposes of realism, free agents will be “tiered” by the commissioner according to their value, and the top player in each tier will often be the first player in that tier to sign. This allows teams who lose out on better players to then enter bidding on lesser players and probably drive the price up. Tier details are confidential.

Free agents in each tier will be awarded when the top player stops receiving bids for two days. The commissioner will issue a “last call” one day after a player has stopped receiving qualified bids. If no qualified bids are made by the next, day the player will be awarded to the highest bidder.

During the free agent signing period, a free agent will not sign with a team if the signing will put the team over the following limits:

• 800 AB at his position
• 1,100 SP innings
• 600 RP innings

For starter-relievers, no more than 100 innings will be considered as relief innings.

This rule includes free agents re-signing with their own team.

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4. Signing Free Agents After The Free Agent Signing Period

After January 20 (was 15), free agents may be signed on a first-come, first-served basis. Any contract may be offered. Teams may only sign one free agent per day. If two or more teams make equal offers to the free agents, the team with the weakest record is awarded the player.

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1. Eligibility

All players who made their American professional debut the previous season at the Rookie League or higher level are eligible for the draft. This includes players who went directly to the major leagues. The following leagues do not count when considering a player’s professional debut:

• Arizona Fall League
• Dominican Summer League
• Dominican Winter League
• Hawaiian Baseball League
• Mexican Pacific League
• Puerto Rican League
• Venezuelan Summer League
• Venezuelan Winter League
• All Asian League

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2. Draft Lists

The following process describes the steps needed to create the draft list for each Major League team (example included for reference):

1. Go to www.thebaseballcube.com
2. Click Teams
3. Scroll down to Major League Baseball Teams and click Arizona Diamondbacks
4. Scroll down to Historical Yearly Records and click 2007
5. Locate Minor League Affiliates and click Missoula Osprey (Rk)*
6. Scroll down and click on each player name (batters and pitchers)
7. Ask, "Did this player make his pro debut in 2007?"
1. If Yes, add him to the list (on the spreadsheet).
2. If No, ignore him.

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3. Draft Format

The draft order will be set according to reverse order of finish. In the case of a tie, the better selection goes to the team that had the better pick the year before. No tiebreakers are used.

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1. In-Season Roster Moves

During the season, each team must maintain a full 40-man roster, which includes the 25-man active roster. A team may have no more and no less than these totals.

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Options

Players who are on option (O) contracts may be moved freely between the major and minor leagues. To add a player from your 15-man taxi squad to the 25-man active roster, simply “Recall” that player from the minors (i.e. “Recall 1B Joe Schmo from the minor leagues”). To send a player to the minors from your 25-man active roster, simply “Option” that player to the minors (i.e. “Option 1B Joe Schmo to the minor leagues”). When a player is optioned to the minors, another player may be either activated from the disabled list or recalled from the minors to take his place on the active roster. When a player is recalled from the minors, another player must be either placed on the disabled list, optioned to the minors, or placed on irrevocable waivers.

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Disabled List

Players that are arbitration-eligible (A) or eligible for free agency (FA) may not be sent to the minors. The only option to deactivate these players is to use the Disabled List. Please review the Disabled List rules in Section III-B. When a player is placed on the disabled list, another player may be either activated from the disabled list or recalled from the minors to take his place on the active roster. When a player is activated from the disabled list, another player must be either placed on the disabled list, optioned to the minors, or placed on irrevocable waivers. To use the disabled list, simply place a player on the DL (i.e. “Placed 1B Joe Schmo on the disabled list”) or activate a player from the DL (i.e. “Activated 1B Joe Schmo from the disabled list”).

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Waivers

To make room on the 25-man active roster or the 40-man roster, sometimes it is necessary to waive players. Waived players go into an e-mail that's sent to every CBL owner. Teams decide whether or not to claim players. If more than one team claims a player, he’s awarded to the one with the worst record (though if the waivers are revocable, the original team can keep him).

There are two types of waivers: irrevocable waivers and revocable waivers. An irrevocable waiver is the releasing of a player who may be claimed by any team. The team with the worst record making the claim must add the player to its 40-man roster. During the season, players will remain on waivers until the end of the playing block. Once the waiver period has expired, the team who waived the player can release the player or send him outright to the minor leagues. If a player is not claimed on waivers, his former team is still responsible for paying the remainder of his contract. However, this player will no longer have a place on the 40-man roster.

Revocable waivers is the releasing of a player with the option of pulling him back off the waiver wire if he is claimed by another team. If the player is claimed by another team, and the original team does not revoke waivers, then the claiming team assumes the player’s full salary. However, if the player goes unclaimed he then reverts to his original team at his original salary, and cannot be placed on revocable waivers again.

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Designating A Player For Assignment

Teams have the option of designating a player for assignment. If a team designates a player for assignment, the team may remove the player from the 40-man roster for a period of one block. By the end of the playing block, if the player has not been traded to another team, he must be placed on irrevocable waivers. If the player clears waivers, he may be sent to the minor leagues, but the team remains responsible for his contract salary.

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Purchasing A Contract

To add a player to the 40-man roster from the minor leagues, the team must purchase that player’s contract (i.e. “Purchased the contract of 1B Joe Schmo”). When a player is added to the 40-man roster, naturally a spot must be cleared for him if the roster is already full. Players added in this fashion will be awarded contracts based on their major league service time.

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2. Off-Season Roster Moves

As there is no active roster after September 1, options and the disabled list are no longer required until the first block of play begins on April 1. However, from December 1 to March 15, the time frame for waivers and designating players for assignment changes is as follows:

Waivers

When a player is placed on waivers, there is a three-day waiver period rather than a one-block waiver period.

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Designating A Player For Assignment

When a player is designated for assignment, there is a ten-day waiting period rather than a one-block waiting period before the player is placed on waivers.

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