One month minor league rule

[Arizona Diamondbacks]

I thought it would be worth bringing it up. The rule is very unique to this league as I've never encountered anything like it before or since. I think it's fine and am not suggesting we change or remove it. All I think we should do is make sure it's interpretation perfectly clear.

I remember at the end of the season we had some debate on how it should be used. A team was allowed to add a few prospect players to his major league roster and subsequently send them to his minor league roster after one month had passed during the offseason. That brought to light different interpretations of the same rule. Some believed it was only a regular season rule while others believed it was a year round rule. I think in the best interests of the league we should clear this up while we're discussing other things.

We'll have it be brought up for debate here to see how the league feels about it. If we get a split decision that is not heavily favored towards one side then Rik and I will simply decide on our own whether it should only apply for the regular season or not. I do want to hear everyone's opinion first, though, before Rik and I would decide to take matters into our own hands or not.

[Kansas City GM]

being new I would like this described a bit so I can give you my fully honest opinion, thanks!

[New York Mets GM]

I believe it should be one month of the season to prevent people from exploiting this rule to pick up minor leaguers after our world series and basically get free first round draft picks

[tampabaygm]

I would agree with the Mets...if your not doing it the entire season to stop guys from cherry picking after our league is over than it is kind of a useless rule imo.

[Arizona Diamondbacks]

To clarify. The rule says that any minor league players you want to add to your system after the minor league draft "must be added to a team's MLB roster and held on the MLB roster for one month before being allowed to be sent to your minor league system." It applies to all unowned minor league eligible players who are in ESPN's database.

This question is intended more towards the older members of the league. If you're a new member you're more than welcome to offer up your opinion, but if you don't really understand what we're talking about don't stress out over it.

[Atlanta Braves GM]

Just my two cents guys. I was under the understanding when this rule was instituted that it meant 30 days during the regular season.

[New York Yankees]

Irregardless of how the current rule has been viewed, I would like to see it clarified that the rule must apply to the entire season from the time we unlock FA pickups until the time we lock the roster after the end of the season.

[New York Mets GM]

Braves, I was under that impression, but some people have exploited by picking up guys after the season before rosters are locked and counting the off season as the month

[Chicago Cubs GM]

One consecutive month of the regular season and locked at the end of the season.

[pittspiratesgm]

I joined after the season was over and was told i could pick players this team has had no owner since this league started. I was not in the league to pick players up during the regular season. The one player i sent down to the minors right off was Julio Borbon to replace Nick Adenhart. I was told i could do this cause of his death. Do not believe me ask ask the Yankees. Then I sent Eric Young down when rosters opened which was more than a month I was told this was alright to do. If you read a post that another team left in the league they did the same thing last year. (think it was the Dbacks wrote it)

[New York Yankees]

Yes...I believe you were given a special dispensation. I do believe we need to make it a hard and fast rule at this point.

[Arizona Diamondbacks]

Sounds like most of the older members, and even the newer members, are in agreement here. As of this point forward we will now make this a hard rule that can only be used during the regular season. There will be no more special exceptions as their was this past season.