Each MLB club is permitted to reserve no more than 40 players on its MLB Reserve List, which is why the MLB Reserve List is also called the "40-man roster."

Each MLB club is required to roster at least 25 players but no more than 26 players (formerly a 24 player minimum and a 25 player maximum limit) on its MLB Active List beginning on MLB Opening Day up through 11:59 PM (Eastern) on August 31st, and then 28 players (formerly a 24 player minimum and a 40 player maximum limit) beginning on September 1st and extending through the last game of the MLB regular season. A club's MLB Active List roster must revert back to 26 players again for post-season play (LDS, LCS, and World Series). 
NOTE: In the event of an unusual or unavoidable circumstance (such as a multi-player trade, multiple trades made at about the same time, and/or multiple waiver claims awarded at about the same time, where several players have been acquired but have not yet reported), a club's MLB Active List roster can temporarily go below 25 players (beginning on MLB Opening Day and extending through August 31st) or below 28 (beginning on September 1st and extending up through the conclusion of the MLB regular season), but for no more than 48 hours.   

If a player is placed on the MLB CoViD-19 Related Injured List or on the Restricted List as the result of not being vaccinated, the player can be temporarily replaced on the MLB Active List roster by any player in the organization. When the player on the CoViD-19 IL or Restricted List is reinstated, the replacement player can be reassigned back to the minor league affiliate from which he was selected without requiring an Optional Assignment or Outright Assignment.
NOTE-1: The replacement player accrues one day of MLB Service Time for each day spent on the MLB Active List, but is not charged with an optional or outright assignment when sent back to the minor league affiliate.
NOTE-2: If a pitcher starts a game and pitches at least four innings and then is subsequently placed on the CoViD-19 Related Injured List or on the Restricted List for not being vaccinated, he cannot be replaced on the Active List roster for at least four days.

If MLB regular season games are scheduled prior to MLB Opening Day (for example, if MLB games are played in Japan, Mexico, Australia, etc), the MLB Commissioner will determine the Active List maximum roster limit for those games.   

Prior to the start of each MLB regular season a club must designate all players on its Opening Day Active List roster as either a "position-player," a "pitcher," or a "two-way player" (but only if the player already qualifies as a "two-way player") and once so designated the player's position designation cannot be changed for the balance of that season unless a "position-player" or a "pitcher" subsequently qualifies as a "two-way player" and is so designated during the course of the season.  

A maximum of 13 players on an MLB Active List can be designated as "pitchers" (14 "pitchers" maximum when rosters expand from 26 to 28 beginning on 9/1). 

For players who are recalled from an Optional Assignment or who have their contract selected and are added to an MLB Active List during the MLB regular season, the club must designate the player as either a "position player," a "pitcher, or a "two-way player" (if the player already qualifies as a "two-way player") when the player is placed on the club's MLB Active List roster.
NOTE: Since there is no limit on the number of "pitchers" who can be on a minor league club's active list roster, the "position-player," "pitcher," and "two-way player" designations are not used in the minor leagues.  

A player designated as a "position-player" can pitch in a game only if his club is winning or losing by more than six runs at the time he enters the game or if the game has gone to extra innings.  

With approval of the MLB Commissioner, a "two-way player" on an MLB Active List who has undergone elbow UCL reconstruction (so called "Tommy John surgery") can be temporarily assigned as a "pitcher" to a minor league club for rehabilitation purposes while remaining eligible to play in MLB games as a "position-player."  

A "position player" or a "pitcher" can be designated as a "two-way player" (and does not count against the maximum 13 pitchers allowed) if the player has thrown at least 20 IP during the course of the current MLB season or threw at least 20 IP in either of the two previous MLB seasons - AND - has started at least 20 games as a position player (including DH) and with at least three plate appearances in at least 20 of the games started as a position-player in the current MLB season or started at least 20 games as a position player (including DH) and with at least three plate appearances in at least 20 of the games started as a position-player in either of the two previous MLB seasons.   
NOTE: A "position-player" or a "pitcher" can qualify as a "two-way player" only if he has thrown at least 20 IP during the course of the current MLB season or threw at least 20 IP in the previous MLB seasons - AND - has started at least 20 games as a position player (including DH) and with at least three plate appearances in at least 20 of the games started as a position player in the current MLB season or started at least 20 games as a position player (including DH) and with at least three plate appearances in at least 20 of the games started as a position player in the previous MLB season.   

If a player who was designated a "two-way player" prior to the start of a season because he automatically qualified as a "two-way player" by virtue of meeting the "two-way player" requirements during a previous season but then was to fall below the IP and/or G/PA threshold by the end of the current season, he would not automatically qualify as a "two-way player" again at the start of the next season (he would count as a either a "position player" or a "pitcher" until he could re-establish himself as a  "two-way player").  

No more than 15 players (formerly no more than 16 players) on a club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) may be on Optional Assignment at any one time prior to September 1st, and no more than twelve players may be on Optional Assignment at any one time beginning on September 1st and extending through the conclusion of the MLB regular season.

"Position-players" who are optioned to the minors generally must remain on Optional Assignment for at least ten days and "pitchers" and a "two-way players" who are optioned to the minors generally must remain on Optional Assignment for at least 15 days. (A "position-player" optioned to the minors during Spring Training generally must remain on Optional Assignment for the first ten days of the MLB regular season, and a "pitcher" or a "two-way player" optioned to the minors during Spring Training generally must remain on Optional Assignment for the first 15 days of the MLB regular season).
EXCEPTIONS: The only exceptions are if the player is traded or claimed off waivers, recalled as the "27th man" (prior to September 1st) or "29th man" (beginning on September 1st) for a doubleheader (second game of the doubleheader only if two games were scheduled after a postponed or suspended game from the previous day) or other special circumstances, or is recalled to replace a player on the MLB Active List who is traded, claimed off waivers, or placed on the MLB Injured List, Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List, or Paternity Leave List, or the Restricted List (but only pursuant to a suspension or administrative leave resulting from a violation or possible violation of the joint MLB-MLBPA JDV policy or a suspension resulting from a violation of the joint MLB-MLBPA JDPTP policy).

A club can recall a player ("position-player," "pitcher," or "two-way player") from a minor league Optional Assignment and place the player on its "Taxi Squad" for one day. If the player is not added to his club's MLB Active List by 3 PM (Eastern) the next day or at least three hours prior to the scheduled start of the next day's game (whichever is later), the player must be removed from the Taxi Squad and returned to his minor league assignment. A player on the Taxi Squad does not count against his club's MLB Active List or the minor league affiliate's active roster, and the player does not accrue MLB Service Time while on the Taxi Squad.
NOTE: The most common reasons to recall a player and place him on the Taxi Squad is when a club is considering whether to place a player on the Injured List (or other MLB inactive list) but has not yet decided, or if a trade is imminent but has not yet been consummated. 
CoViD-19 EXCEPTION: A club can carry up to five minor league players (one must be a catcher) on its MLB Taxi Squad who can be temporarily added to the club's MLB Active List roster to replace a player who is placed on the CoViD-19 IL.   

A club can temporarily add one additional player (can be either a "position-player," a "pitcher," or a "two-way player") to its MLB Active List on any day where two games are scheduled (not including a day where the first game is the completion of a suspended game), as long as the second game was not scheduled as the result of a game that was postponed earlier in that series. If the postponed or suspended game was from earlier in the series, the additional player can be temporarily added to a club's MLB Active List for the second game only. Also, adding an additional player to a club's MLB Active List can be authorized by the MLB Commissioner for any game(s) involving unusual travel circumstances and/or any game(s) played in a non-MLB city or country.  

1. The extra player temporarily added to the club's MLB Active List must be on the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) or has to be added to the club's 40-man roster that day.

2. The player temporarily added to the club's MLB Active List does not have to be a pitcher.

3. In the case of two games being scheduled on the same day where a player is temporarily added to a club's MLB Active List, the extra player cannot be switched between games.

4. A minor league player can be added to a club's Active List as the extra player even if he has not spent ten days (for a "position-player") or 15 days (for a "pitcher" or a "two-way player") on Optional Assignment (or Outright Assignment) prior to being added.
   
7. A player added to a club's MLB Active List as an extra player can remain on the Active List and a different player can be dropped the next day, as long as the extra player was not called up from the minors prior to spending at least ten days (for a "position-player") or 15 days (for a "pitcher" or for a "two-way player") on Optional or Outright Assignment. However, a player called up as the extra player prior to spending at least ten days (for a "position-player") or 15 days (for a "pitcher" or for a "two-way player") on Optional or Outright Assignment could remain on the club's MLB Active List roster if the player replaces a player who is placed on an injured list or other MLB inactive list the next day.    

8. If a player is temporarily recalled as an extra player and then is optioned or outrighted back to the minors the next day, the "10-day rule" clock (for "position-players") or "15-day rule clock" (for "pitchers" and for "two-way players") that prohibits a player from being recalled until he has spent at least ten days (for "position-players") or 15 days (for "pitchers" or for "two-way players") on Optional or Outright Assignment (unless he is replacing a player who is placed on an injured list or other MLB inactive list) does not start over again. However many days toward ten (for a "position-player") or 15 (for a" pitcher" or for a "two-way player") that the player spent on Optional or Outright Assignment prior to being recalled as an extra man counts toward the ten days (for a "position-player") or 15 days (for a "pitcher" or for a "two-way player").    

A player temporarily added to a club's MLB Active List for a doubleheader or other circumstances accrues one day of MLB Service Time.

Only players on an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) can be placed on an MLB Active List.

A free-agent with prior MLB and/or minor league service who signs a Major League contract must be added to his club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) when he is added to an MLB Active List or when the contract is filed with the MLB Commissioner (whichever comes first). Contracts must be filed with the MLB Commissioner within 20 days of signing.

A club must add a player to its MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) immediately if the player is acquired as the result of a waiver claim, or if a player on another club's 40-man roster is acquired in a trade, or if a player is selected in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft. 
NOTE: A player has up to 72 hours to report after being assigned from one MLB club to another. The player counts against the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) as soon as the player is claimed off waivers or as soon as a trade is filed with the MLB Commissioner, but the player does not count against the club's MLB Active List until he physically reports to the club and is in uniform. 

A player on an MLB 60-day Injured List who is eligible to be an Article XX-B MLB free-agent must be reinstated no later than 9 AM (Eastern) on the day after the final game of the World Series, and all other players on an MLB 60-day Injured List as well as any player on a minor league 60-day IL must be reinstated no later than 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series, even if the player did not spend 60 days on the IL.  

A player on an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) who is given his Outright Release during the period of time extending from September 1st through the day prior to MLB Opening Day cannot be re-signed and added back to the MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) of the club that released the player until May 15th, and a player on an MLB 40-man roster who is given his Outright Release during the period of time extending from MLB Opening Day through August 31st cannot be re-signed and added back to the MLB Active List of the club that released the player for at least 30 days.   

A player can be placed on his club's Military List within 15 days of the date he is scheduled to report for duty, but only if the player is no longer physically with the club. A player on the Military List must be reinstated within 15 days after being released from service but a player on the Military List can spend up to 15 days on a minor league "conditioning" assignment prior to being reinstated to an MLB or minor league reserve list, and a player who is reinstated from the Military List after the MLB Rule 5 Draft but prior to MLB Opening Day does not count against his club's Reserve List until MLB Opening Day, or up to 15 days after MLB Opening Day if the player is on a minor league "conditioning" assignment during that period of time.   

An MLB player who is on the Voluntary Retired List or on the Ineligible List cannot be reinstated from August 1st through October 31st, and a minor league player on the Voluntary Retired List or on the Ineligible List cannot be reinstated from August 1st through the end of his club's season (including post-season).     

An MLB player who is on the Disqualified List or on the Restricted List for any reason other than extended Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency Leave or a suspension for violation of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program (ban on the use of a prohibited substance) or a suspension or leave of absence related to a violation or possible violation of the Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse policy cannot be reinstated from August 1st through October 31st without consent of the MLB Commissioner, and a minor league player on the Disqualified List or on the Restricted List for any reason other than a suspension for a violation of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program cannot be reinstated from August 1st through the end of his club's season (including post-season) without consent of the MLB Commissioner. 

A player on the Ineligible List must be added back to his club's reserve list within 30 days after reinstatement if he is reinstated during the period of time beginning on the mandatory Spring Training reporting date and extending through July 31st or by Opening Day if he is reinstated during the off-season, and a player on the Restricted List or Disqualified List must be added back to his club's Reserve List 30 days after reinstatement or when he is placed on the club's Active List (whichever comes first) if the player is reinstated during the period of time beginning on the mandatory Spring Training reporting date and extending through the last day of the regular season or within 14 days after reinstatement if the player is reinstated during the off-season, but if the player is assigned to another club while on the Restricted List he must be placed on that club's Reserve List immediately after reinstatement.

A player on the Voluntary Retired List must spend at least 60 days of the regular season on the list before he can apply for reinstatement. If the player is placed on the Voluntary Retired List within 60 days of the conclusion of the regular season, the balance of the 60 days would carry-over into the next season.

In addition, an MLB club generally has the option to add any player who is on the reserve list of one of its minor league affiliates to its MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) at any time. 

The exceptions are:

1. A player on a minor league reserve list who is eligible for selection in the MLB Rule 5 Draft cannot have his contract selected and be added to an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) during the period of time beginning with the filing of MLB and minor league reserve lists in November through the conclusion of the Rule 5 Draft.

2. A player on a minor league reserve list cannot have his contract selected and be added to the MLB Reserve List (40-man roster)  during the period of time beginning on the first official day of MLB Spring Training through March 14th. 

3. A "position-player" who was sent outright to the minors generally cannot have his contract selected and be added back to his club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) for at least ten days and a "pitcher" or a "two-way player" who was sent outright to the minors generally cannot have his contract selected and be added back to his club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) for at least 15 days. (A "position-player" outrighted to the minors during Spring Training generally cannot have his contract selected and be added back to his club's MLB 40-man roster for the first ten days of the MLB regular season and a "pitcher" or a "two-way player" who is outrighted to the minors during Spring Training generally cannot have his contract selected and be added back to his club's MLB 40-man roster for the first 15 days of the MLB regular season).
EXCEPTIONS: A "position-player," "pitcher," or "two-way player" is temporarily called-up as the extra player for a doubleheader (second game of the doubleheader only if two games were scheduled after a postponed game from earlier in the series) or other circumstances, or is called-up to replace a player on the MLB Active List who is traded, claimed off waivers, or placed on the MLB Injured List, Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List, Paternity Leave List, or Restricted List (but only pursuant to a suspension or administrative leave resulting from a violation or possible violation of the joint MLB-MLBPA JDV policy or a suspension resulting from a violation of the joint MLB-MLBPA JDPTP policy).
NOTE: A player temporarily called up as an extra man can remain on the Active List and a different player can be dropped the next day, as long as the extra man was not called up from the minors prior to spending at least ten days ("position-player") or 15 days ("pitcher" or "two-way player") on Optional or Outright Assignment. However, a player temporarily called up as an extra man prior to spending at least ten days ("position-player") or 15 days ("pitcher" or "two-way player") on Optional or Outright Assignment could remain on the MLB Active List if the player replaces a player who is traded, claimed off waivers, or placed on the MLB Injured List, Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List, Paternity Leave List, or Restricted List (but only pursuant to a suspension or administrative leave resulting from a violation or possible violation of the joint MLB-MLBPA JDV policy or a suspension resulting from a violation of the joint MLB-MLBPA JDPTP policy).   

4. If a minor league player on Outright Assignment has his contract selected and is called-up as the temporary extra man for a doubleheader or other circumstances and then is either optioned or outrighted back to the minors the next day, the "10-day rule" clock (for "position players") or "15-day rule" clock (for "pitchers" and for "two-way players") that prohibits a player from being called-up after being outrighted until he has spent at least ten days ("position-player") or 15 days ("pitcher" or "two-way player") on Outright Assignment does not reset or start over again. However many days toward ten (for a "position-player") or 15 (for a "pitcher" or for a "two-way player") that the player spent on Outright Assignment prior to having his contract selected and being temporarily called-up as the extra man counts toward the ten days (for a "position-player") or 15 days (for a "pitcher" or for a "two-way player") the player must spend on Outright and/or Optional Assignment. 

5. An unsigned minor league player who is eligible to be an MLB Rule 9 (formerly MLB Rule 55) minor league free-agent (player was previously released in his career and/or player has spent all or part of at least seven separate seasons on a minor league active list or disabled list) cannot have his contract selected and be added to his club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) any later than 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series (or 5 PM Eastern on October 15th if the World Series is canceled). 

After the conclusion of the MLB season, the status of players on a club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) who are under contract for the following season is considered to be both "reserved" and "signed." The status of the other players on the 40-man roster are considered to be both "reserved" and "unsigned."

Unsigned players on an MLB club's Reserve List (40-man roster) would include any player who was added to an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) after the conclusion of the MLB regular season, any player who can have his contract unilaterally renewed by his club, any player who is eligible for salary arbitration, and any player eligible to be an MLB free-agent per Article XX-B of the CBA.

Technically, a baseball trade is called a Trade Assignment (similar in kind to an Optional Assignment or Outright Assignment). 

Generally, an MLB club can trade a player on its MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) and minor league reserve lists at any time.  However, there are a few restrictions:

1. A trade involving a player signed to an MLB contract (including any player on an MLB Reserve List, MLB 60-day Injured List, or MLB Restricted List, and/or any player who was outrighted to the minors after signing an MLB contract for that season) is prohibited beginning at 4 PM (Eastern) on July 31st (or 4 PM Eastern on Friday July 30th if July 31st falls on a Saturday, or 4 PM Eastern on Monday August 1st if July 31st falls on a Sunday) and extending until the day after the final game of the World Series.  
NOTE-1: Beginning with the 2022 season, the MLB Commissioner has the authority to establish the MLB Trade Deadline on any day over the seven-day period July 28 - August 3. However, the MLB Trade Deadline cannot be on the same day as the MLB Rule 4 Draft (First Year Player Draft) signing deadline. 
NOTE-2: Trade Assignment Waivers (which permitted the trading of players on MLB reserve lists after the July 31st deadline up until 12 PM Eastern on the 7th day prior to the originally-scheduled conclusion of the MLB regular season) were eliminated starting with the 2019 season. 

PLAYERS OUTRIGHTED TO MINORS AFTER SIGNING 2023 MLB CONTRACT: (updated 5-7-2023)
David Bote, INF   
Anthony Kay, LHP 
Manuel Rodriguez, RHP  
Rowan Wick, RHP 
 
2. A trade involving a player on a minor league reserve list who is not an outrighted player is prohibited beginning at 12 PM (Eastern) on the 7th day prior to the originally-scheduled conclusion of the MLB regular season through the last day of the MLB regular season (including a day on which a regular season game is played after the originally-scheduled conclusion of the MLB regular season).   

3. A player who signs after being selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft (First-Year Player Draft) cannot be traded until after the conclusion of the World Series (no earlier than 9 AM on the day after the final game of the World Series), or for 90 days if the player signs after the World Series.   

4. A minor league player eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft cannot be added to an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster), traded to another organization, or transferred from one minor league reserve list to another within the same organization, beginning with the filing of MLB & minor league reserve lists in November and extending through the completion of the Rule 5 Draft.

5. A player cannot be traded while he is on waivers.

6. A player on an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) who has a contractual "no trade" right can waive this right if he so chooses.

PLAYERS ON CUBS MLB RESERVE LIST WITH CONTRACTUAL "NO-TRADE" RIGHT: (updated 5-25-2023)
Ian Happ, OF (full)
Seiya Suzuki, OF (full) 
Dansby Swanson, INF (full) 
Jameson Taillon, RHP (partial)

7. A player on an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) who has accrued at least ten years of MLB Service Time with at least the last five years of MLB Service Time accrued with the same club (a so-called "10/5" player) has an automatic "no trade" right for as long as he remains with that club. The player can waive this right if he so chooses.

"10/5" PLAYERS ON CUBS MLB RESERVE LIST: (updated 11-14-2022)
NONE AT THIS TIME

8. An Article XX-B MLB free-agent who signs a Major League contract after 11:59 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series has an automatic "no trade" right through June 15th. The player can waive this right, but if he does he can be traded only for cash and/or player contracts with a maximum aggregate value of $50,000. N
NOTE: An Article XX-B MLB free-agent who signs a minor league contract after 11:59 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series does NOT receive an automatic "no trade" right, even if the player is later added to the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster).  

POST-2022 ARTICLE XX-B MLB PLAYERS ON CUBS MLB RESERVE LIST: (updated 2-20-2023)
Tucker Barnhart, C 
Brad Boxberger, RHP   
Michael Fulmer, RHP
Trey Mancini, OF-1B 
Drew Smyly, LHP 
Dansby Swanson, INF 
Jameson Taillon, RHP  

9. If a "Player to Be Named Later" (PTBNL) is part of a trade, the PTBNL cannot be on an MLB Active List at any time beginning when the trade is executed (filed with the MLB office) up until when the trade is completed. A PTBNL can be either a specific player or the PTBNL can be selected from a list of players or a class of players as determined by the clubs (in writing) when the trade is executed. 
NOTE: A player signed after being selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft (First-Year Player Draft) cannot be a PTBNL in any trade made prior to the conclusion of the World Series. Clubs have six months to agree on a PTBNL, but the clubs can agree (when the trade is executed) on a deadline that is less than six months. A cash payment (typically $50,000 for trades involving players on the 40-man roster) can be substituted for a PTBNL if no agreement can be reached within six months, but the alternative cash payment must be agreeable to both clubs and stated in writing when the trade is executed. 

10. A player on an MLB or minor league injured list can be traded, even if the player is not eligible to be reinstated and/or healthy enough to play.
NOTE: As far as a player having to spend a certain number of days on an IL before he is eligible to be reinstated is concerned, in the case of a trade, time already spent on an injured list is carried-over to the player's new club. 

11. If a player is acquired in a trade and is optioned to the minors by his new club within 24 hours, the player can be recalled from the Optional Assignment at any time without restriction (so that the "ten-day rule" for position players and the "15-day rule" for pitchers & two-way players as it pertains to the minimum number of days a player must spend on optional assignment before he can be recalled would not apply).

If an unsigned player on an MLB Reserve List is not tendered a contract by 8 PM (Eastern) on the Friday prior to Thanksgiving  (November 17th in 2023), the player is said to be "Non-Tendered," he is immediately removed from his club's MLB 40-man roster, and he becomes an unrestricted free-agent, free to sign a major league or minor league contract with any club, including the club that non-tendered the player.
NOTE: Prior to 2022, the MLB contract tender date was December 2nd.   

A "Non-Tendered" player receives no termination pay, and the player's former club receives no compensation if the player subsequently signs with another club.

Unlike players who receive an outright release, a player who is not tendered a contract is not placed on waivers prior to becoming a free-agent.  

Each unsigned player on an MLB 40-man roster who is tendered a contract must be offered at least the MLB minimum salary ($700,000 in 2022, $720,000 in 2023, $740,000 in 2024, $760,000 in 2025, and $780,000 in 2026) and (with a couple of exceptions) at least 80% of the player's previous season's salary, and at least 70% of the player's salary from two seasons back.

Some players have a "minor league split" salary in their contract which they are paid if they are sent to the minors. In most cases, a player's minor league "split" salary must be at least 50% of the player's salary (what the player was actually paid) from the previous season. The one exception is if a free-agent signs a major league contract with a minor league "split" salary, the "50% rule" does not apply. 

The minor league "split" minimum salary is $114,100 in 2022, $117,400 in 2023, $120,600 in 2024, $123,900 in 2025, and $127,100 in 2026, and the minor league "split" minimum salary for players who are on an MLB Reserve List for the first time is $57,200 in 2022, $58,800 in 2023, $60,300 in 2024, $62,000 in 2025, and $63,600 in 2026. 

Performance-incentive bonuses are permitted in Major League contracts, but a bonus cannot be based on batting or pitching skill, or where the club finishes in the standings.

A performance-incentive bonus can, however, be tied to days spent on an MLB Active List during the MLB regular season, and/or Games Played, Games Started, Games Finished, and/or Innings Pitched for pitchers, or Games Played, Games Started, and/or Plate Appearances for position players. Awards such as MVP, Cy Young, Silver Slugger, and/or Gold Glove, and/or being named to an All-Star team, can also be tied to an incentive bonus.

Beginning in 2022, there will be a $50M pool established by MLB clubs each season to provide bonuses for pre-arbitration (auto-renewal) players: 

$2.5M if player wins MLP or Cy Young Award;
$1.75M if player finished 2nd in MVP or Cy Young Award; 
$1.5M if player finishes 3rd in MVP or Cy Young Award voting; 
$1M if player finshes 4th or 5th in MVP or Cy Young Award voting; 
$750K if player wins Rookie of the Year  
$500K if player finished 2nd in Rookie of the Year voting. 
NOTE: A player can only receive one bonus per season. If a player is eligible for more than one bonus in a given season, he will receive the highest bonus.   

Each MLB club will contribute $1.67M to the bonus pool each season. 

Any amount of the $50M in bonus money not automatically awarded to players in a season will be distributed to the Top 100 pre-arbitration players as selected by the MLB and MLBPA (method/criteria TBD).     

An unsigned player under club control who has accrued at least three but less than six years of MLB Service Time is automatically eligible for salary arbitration.

Also, any unsigned player with at least two years but less than three years of MLB Service Time who accrued at least 86 days of MLB Service Time during the previous season can qualify for salary arbitration as a so-called "Super Two" if the player is among the top 22% in MLB Service Time of players in that group (rounded to the nearest whole number). And if  two or more players are tied with the same MLB Service Time just above the "Super Two" threshold, all of the players with that accrued MLB ST would get "Super Two" status even if that means the number of players with "Super Two" status exceeds 22%.   
NOTE: The "Super Two" threshold post-2022 is two years plus 128 days of MLB Service Time (or 2+128). Because it is based on a percentage, the "Super Two" threshold fluctuates from year-to-year (it was  2+116 post-2021, 2+125 post-2020, 2+115 post-2019, 2+134 MLB ST post-2018, 2+123 post-2017, 2+131 post-2016, 2+130 post-2015, 2+133 post-2014, 2+122 post-2013, 2+140 post-2012, 2+145 post-2011, 2+122 in 2010, and 2+139 in 2009). 

Besides gaining the right to request salary arbitration and have that right four times instead of just three times, being a "Super Two" player also means the player can elect free-agency if outrighted even though he has not yet accrued three years of MLB Service Time and even if he has not been outrighted previously in his career (however, unlike a player who has accrued at least three years of MLB Service Time and/or has been outrighted previously in his career and who therefore has the option to elect free-agency immediately or else defer the choice until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season, a "Super Two ' player who has not been outrighted previously in his career must make his choice immediately upon being outrighted). 

CUBS PLAYERS ELIGIBLE FOR SALARY ARBITRATION POST-2023: (last updated 5-19-2023)
Adbert Alzolay, RHP 
Nick Burdi, RHP
Codi Heuer, RHP 
Nico Hoerner, INF  
Mark Leiter Jr, RHP 
Nick Madrigal, INF
Julian Merryweather, RHP 
Adrian Sampson, RHP 
Justin Steele, LHP (likely "Super Two" - TBD)
Mike Tauchman, OF
Keegan Thompson, RHP (possible "Super Two" - TBD) 
Patrick Wisdom, INF-OF 

If a club and a player eligible for salary arbitration cannot agree on a contract, the player can request the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) to file for salary arbitration. The MLBPA is responsible for delivering all requests for salary arbitration to the MLB Labor Relations Department (MLB LRD) on the Tuesday immediately prior to the second Friday of January. Once salary arbitration has been requested, the player submits his desired salary to the MLBPA, the club submits its salary offer to the MLB LRD, and the MLBPA and MLB LRD exchange the two figures on the second Friday of January. The MLBPA and MLB LRD then schedule a hearing with a three-person arbitration panel. Hearings are held on various dates during the three weeks prior to the start of MLB Spring Training.
 
The club's offer must be at least the MLB minimum salary, and, in most cases, must be at least 80% of the player's previous year's salary and at least 70% of the player's salary from two seasons back. However, if the player received a raise in excess of 50% by a salary arbitration panel the previous season, a 20% maximum salary reduction from the previous season and a 30% maximum salary reduction from two seasons back does not apply, and the club only has to offer at least the MLB minimum salary.

UNSIGNED FOR 2022 - RECEIVED RAISE IN EXCESS OF 50% BY ARBITRATION PANEL IN PRIOR SEASON: (last updated 3-22-2023)
NONE

After arbitration has been requested, the player and the club can continue to negotiate back & forth, and the player can withdraw from the process any time up until the hearing. And in fact this frequently happens, as the player and the club will often agree to just "split the difference" (something the panel cannot do). 
NOTE: Beginning in 2022, if an arbitration-eligible player signs a contract prior to a hearing, the contract is fully guaranteed. 

If the matter does go to a hearing, the arbitration panel must choose either the club's offer or the player's figure, and win or lose, the player is awarded a standard one-year MLB contract with no "minor league split" salary or incentive/performance bonuses. Also, the contract is not guaranteed, so if the player is released during Spring Training, the club would only owe the player 30 days or 45 days salary as termination pay, depending on when the player is released. (A player on an MLB Reserve List signed to a non-guaranteed contract who is released more than 15 days prior to Opening Day receives 30 days salary as termination pay, a player on an MLB Reserve List signed to a non-guaranteed contract who is released 15 or fewer days prior to Opening Day receives 45 days salary as termination pay, and a player on an MLB Reserve List who is released during the MLB regular season receives 100% of his salary as termination pay). 
NOTE: The Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) is very sensitive about salary arbitration, so if a player is awarded a contract by an arbitration panel and then is subsequently released by his club prior to or during Spring Training, the MLBPA will almost always file a grievance on behalf of the player, claiming the player was released for economic reasons only (which is not permitted), and asking that the released player receive 100% of his salary as termination pay. In that situation, a club would have to show (by submitting official Spring Training game stats) that the released player was out-performed in Spring Training games by another player (or players) competing for that roster spot.

An unsigned player under club control who does not yet qualify for salary arbitration ultimately has to either accept the club's offer or just not play.

A club will negotiate with the player up to a point, but if the player has not signed a contract for the current season by March 1st, the club has the right to unilaterally dictate the player's salary and renew the player's contract from the previous season (albeit for an amount not less than the MLB minimum salary, and not less than 80% of the player's salary from the previous season and not less than 70% of the player's salary from two season's back). 

These players are the ones who have a "minor league split" salary in their contract, which the player is paid if he is sent to the minors. A player's "minor league split" salary must be at least equal to the 2023 MLB "minor league split" minimum salary and must be at least 50% of the player's salary (what the player was actually paid) from the previous season.
NOTE: If a free-agent signs a major league contract with a minor league "split" salary, the "50% rule" does not apply.

POST-2024 CUBS PRE-ARBITRATION (AUTO-RENEWAL) PLAYERS: (last updated 5-5-2023)
Kevin Alcantara, OF
Miguel Amaya, C
Javier Assad, RHP 
Ben Brown, RHP
Alexander Canario, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF
Jeremiah Estrada, RHP 
Ryan Jensen, RHP 
Caleb Kilian, RHP
Miles Mastrobuoni, INF-OF
Matt Mervis, 1B 
Christopher Morel, INF
Ethan Roberts, RHP 
Michael Rucker, RHP 
Justin Steele, LHP (likely "Super Two" - TBD)
Keegan Thompson, RHP (possible "Super Two" - TBD) 
Nelson Velazquez, OF
Hayden Wesneski, RHP 

The Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) threshold will be $230M in 2022, $233M in 2023, $237M in 2024, $241M in 2025, and $244M in 2026. 

CALCULATING A CLUB'S COMPETITIVE BALANCE TAX (CBT) LIABILITY: 

For the purpose of calculating a club's CBT liability, a club's MLB payroll consists of the Average Annual Value (AAV) of player salaries and bonuses earned by players on the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) and MLB 60-day Injured List. 
CoViD-19 EXCEPTION: A club's 2020 MLB payroll is the value of the aggregate contracts prior to salaries being pro-rated due to the truncated season.  

In addition, MLB Player Benefit Costs (PBC) and the AAV of "legacy salaries" paid to players who are no longer on the club's MLB 40-man roster (such as a player who has been released or outrighted to the minors, or who is being paid a deferred salary after becoming a free-agent) are considered to be part of the club's payroll when calculating the CBT.   

FINANCIAL PENALTIES FOR EXCEEDING COMPETITIVE BALANCE TAX: 

A club whose payroll from the just-concluded MLB season exceeded the Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) threshold by any amount up to $20M will pay a 20% tax on the portion of the payroll that exceeded the CBT threshold, or a 30% tax on the portion of the payroll from the just concluded MLB season in excess of the threshold up to $20M for any club that also exceeded the threshold the season prior to the just concluded season, or a 50% tax on the portion of the payroll from the just-concluded MLB season in excess of the threshold up to $20M for any club that also exceeded the threshold in the two seasons prior to the just completed season.
 
A club whose payroll from the just-concluded MLB season exceeded the CBT threshold by more than $20M up to $40M will pay an additional surcharge of 32% on the portion of the club's payroll from the just concluded MLB season in excess of $20M up to $40M over the threshold, or an additional surcharge of 42% on the portion of the club's payroll from the just concluded MLB season in excess of $20M up to $40M for any club that was also over the threshold in the season prior to the just concluded season, or an additional surcharge of 62% on the portion of the club's payroll from the just concluded MLB reason in excess of $20M up to $40M  for any club that was also over the threshold for two seasons prior to the just concluded season. 

A club whose payroll from the just-concluded MLB season exceeded the CBT threshold by more than $40M up to $60M will pay an additional surcharge of 62.5% on the portion of the club's payroll from the previous season in excess of $40M up to $60M, or an additional surcharge of 75% on the portion of the club's payroll from the previous season in excess of $40M up to $60M for a club that was also over the threshold in the season prior to the just concluded season, or an additional surcharge of 95% on the portion of the club's payroll from the previous season in excess of $40M up to $60M for a club that was also over the threshold for two seasons prior to the just completed season.  

A club whose payroll from the just concluded MLB season exceeded the CBT threshold by more than $60M will pay an additional surcharge of 80% for the portion of the payroll in excess of $60M over the CBT threshold, or an additional surcharge of 90% for the portion of the payroll in excess of $60M over the CBT threshold if the club that was also more than $60M over the threshold in the  season prior to the just completed season, or an additional surcharge of 110% for the portion of the payroll in excess of $60M if the club was also more than $60M over the threshold in the two seasons prior to the just completed season. 

An Article XX-B free-agent is designated a "Qualified Player" if the player spent the entire immediately-preceding MLB regular season on a club's MLB Active List (25-man roster) and/or on one or more of the club's inactive lists (7-day, 10-day, and/or 60-day Injured List, Military List, Paternity Leave List, etc) and/or on the Active List or an inactive list (7-day or 60-day Injured List, Military List, Temporarily Inactive List, etc) of one or more minor league affiliates of that club, and the club offers the player a guaranteed contract (known as a "Qualifying Offer") for the following season. 
NOTE: Beginning with the post-2017 off-season, a player cannot receive more than one Qualifying Offer in his career. 

CUBS POST-2022 ARTICLE XX-B FREE-AGENTS NOT ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE QO: (last updated 8-12-2021)
TBD  

The Qualifying Offer must include a salary at least equal to the average salary of the 125 highest-paid MLB players from the previous season. The exact amount of the average salary of the 125 highes-paid MLB players from the previous season will be communicated by the MLB Labor Relations Department (LRD) simultaneously to all MLB clubs and the Major League Baseball Player's Association (MLBPA) within ten days after the conclusion of the MLB regular season. 

2023 QUALIFYING OFFER MINIMUM SALARY: $19.65M
NOTE: The Qualifying Offer minimum salary was $18.4M in 2022

To be valid, a Qualifying Offer must be extended by a club no later than 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series (or no later than 5 PM on October 20th if the World Series is cancelled). The LRD then provides the MLBPA with a list of players receiving valid Qualifying Offers and the amount of each offer.

MLB clubs are not permitted to extend a Qualifying Offer to an Article XX-B MLB free-agent if the player has agreed in advance to decline the offer so that the club will obtain a compensatory draft pick once the player signs with another club.

CUBS ARTICLE XX-B QUALIFIED PLAYERS POST-2022 (last updated 11-10-2022):
Willson Contreras, C 

The Qualified Player has until 5 PM (Eastern) on the fifth day after receiving the offer to decide whether to accept or decline. If the Qualified Player accepts the offer, he is considered "signed" and must be immediately added back to his club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster). If he declines the offer, the player is free to sign with any MLB club, including his former club.
NOTE: Prior to the post-2022 off-season a player had ten days to decide whether to accept a QO, and prior to the post-2017 off-season a player had seven days to decide whether to accept a QO.  

If a Qualified Player subsequently signs a Major League contract with another (different) MLB club on or before the day prior to the MLB Rule 4 Draft (MLB First-Year Player Draft), the player's former club (the club that lost the Qualified Player) normally will receive a compensatory draft pick in the MLB Rule 4 Draft between the 2nd & 3rd rounds (after Competitive Balance Round "B").
EXCEPTIONS: An MLB club that receives revenue sharing funds would receive a compensatory draft pick immediately after the conclusion of the 1st round (prior to Competitive Balance Round "A") - IF - the Qualified Player signs a contract worth at least $50M (the club would receive a compensatory draft pick between the 2nd & 3rd rounds and after Competitive Balance Round "B" if the Qualified Player signs a contract worth less than $50M), and an MLB club that is a Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) payor (club's payroll from the previous season exceeded the CBT threshold) would receive a draft pick between the 4th & 5th rounds.
NOTE: If more than one club receives the same type of compensatory pick, the draft order for the comp picks is the same as it is for all other rounds in that draft (clubs select in inverse order of league standings from the previous season, and in the case of two clubs finishing with the same record the previous season, league standings from two seasons back will be used to break the tie, and if the clubs are still tied, league standings from three seasons back, four seasons back, etc, will be used to break the tie).

If a Qualified Player signs a Major League contract with another (different) club on the day of or anytime after the MLB Rule 4 Draft, or if a Qualified Player signs a minor league contract with another (different) club and either remains in the minor leagues or is later added to that club's MLB 40-man roster, the player's new club does NOT forfeit a Rule 4 Draft pick, and the player's former club does NOT receive Rule 4 Draft pick compensation. However, MLB clubs are not permitted to sign a Qualified Player to a minor league contract just to avoid losing a draft pick.

An MLB club that signs a Qualified Player (not including its own Qualified Players) to a Major League contract prior to the Rule 4 Draft deadline forfeits its 2nd highest selection in the next MLB Rule 4 Draft and $500,000 is subtracted from its assigned International Signing Bonus Pool (ISBP) in the next full International Signing Period (ISP) for each Qualified Player signed.
EXCEPTIONS: An MLB club that receives revenue sharing funds would surrender its 3rd highest selection in the draft but nothing is subtracted from the club's ISBP in the next full ISP, and an MLB club that is a CBT payer (club's payroll from the previous season exceeded the CBT threshold) would forfeit its 2nd & 5th selection in the draft and have $1,000,000 subtracted from its ISBP in the next ISP for each Qualified Player signed.
NOTE: The Competitive Balance Tax threshold will be $230M in 2022, $233M in 2023, $237M in 2024, $241M in 2025, and $244M in 2026. 

POST-2022 ARTICLE XX-B QUALIFIED PLAYERS SIGNED BY CUBS (last updated 12-21-2022): 
Dansby Swanson, INF   

The next highest Rule 4 Draft pick (or draft picks) will be forfeited if a club signs more than one Qualified Player (one draft pick forfeited for each Qualified Player signed).
NOTE: A CBT payer (club's payroll from the previous season exceeded the CBT threshold) would forfeit its 3rd & 6th highest selections if the club signs a second Qualified Player, its 4th & 7th selections if the club signs a third Qualified Player, and its 8th & 9th highest selections, 10th & 11th highest selections, etc, for additional Qualified Players signed. 

Draft picks subject to forfeiture include the club's own Rule 4 Draft picks, compensatory draft picks awarded to the club after losing an Article XX-B Qualified Player, and draft picks awarded as the result of the Rule 4 SBP Forfeited Draft Pick lottery (including draft picks that were subsequently acquired in a trade). Competitive Balance draft picks (including Competitive Balance draft picks acquired in a trade) and a compensatory draft pick awarded to a club for failing to sign a pick from a previous Rule 4 Draft are - NOT - subject to forfeiture.
NOTE: Prior to the 2018 MLB Rule 4 Draft, Competitive Balance draft picks were subject to forfeiture.

A Rule 4 Draft pick forfeited as the result of a club signing a Qualified Player is not transferred to any other club (it just disappears).

A Qualified Player who signs a Major League contract after 11:59 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series receives automatic "no trade" rights that extend through June 15th of the following season, even if the player re-signs with his former club. A Qualified Player who receives "no trade" rights this way can waive the right, but if he does, his club can trade the player only for player contracts and/or cash with a maximum aggregate value of $50,000.

MLB RULE 5 SELECTED PLAYER

A "Selected Player" is any player selected in the Major League Phase of the MLB Rule 5 Draft. 

MLB RULE 5 SELECTED PLAYERS ON CUBS MLB RESERVE LIST (updated 3-12-2020):
NONE AT THIS TIME

CUBS MINOR LEAGUERS SELECTED IN MAJOR LEAGUE PHASE OF 2022 RULE 5 DRAFT (updated 3-26-202)
Chris Clarke, RHP (selected by Seattle Mariners from AAA Iowa reserve list - reclaimed by Cubs 3-26-2023)) 
NOTE: The Major League Phase of the 2021 MLB Rule 5 Draft was cancelled 

1. A Selected Player must be placed on the drafting club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) immediately after selection and must be tendered a major league contract by 5 PM (Eastern) on the day of the draft. 

2. A Selected Player can be traded at any time, but the player cannot be Designated for Assignment, released, or sent to the minors any earlier than 20 days prior to MLB Opening Day, and then only if Outright Assignment Waivers have been secured and the player's former club declines to reclaim the player.

3. If a Selected Player spends at least 90 days on an MLB Active List during the MLB regular season following selection, the player ceases to be a "Selected Player" at the conclusion of the MLB regular season. If time spent on an MLB Active List is less than 90 days in the season following selection, the player remains a Rule 5 Selected Player into the next season, and the player continues to be a Selected Player until he has spent 90 days total on an MLB Active List.

4. If a club wishes to send a Selected Player to the minors, the player must be placed on Outright Assignment Waivers, where any of the other 29 MLB clubs can claim the player for the $50,000 Rule 5 waiver price (formerly $25,000), and if claimed off waivers, the player continues to have Rule 5 MLB Selected Player status.

5. If the Selected Player is not claimed off Outright Assignment Waivers, the player then must be offered back to the club from which he was drafted, and the player's former club can re-claim the player for $50,000 (formerly $25,000), with the player being automatically outrighted to the Reserve List of the minor league reserve list from which he was drafted. The club from which the player was drafted usually has 72 hours to decide whether to re-claim the player, but it has only 24 hours to decide if the player is eligible to be an Article XX-D or Article XIX-A minor league free-agent if outrighted to the minors (player has accrued at least three years of MLB Service Time, qualifies for salary arbitration as a "Super Two" player, and/or has been outrighted to the minors previously in his career).
NOTE: A Selected Player with Article XIX-A rights (player has accrued at least five years of MLB Service Time) cannot be re-claimed and outrighted back to the minor league club from which he was drafted unless the player consents in advance to the assignment.

6. If a Selected Player is returned (outrighted) to the minor league club from which he was drafted, and if the player has accrued at least three years of MLB Service Time, qualifies for salary arbitration as a "Super Two" player, and/or has been outrighted to the minors previously in his career, the player can elect to be an MLB Article XX-D minor league free-agent (or Article XIX-A minor league free-agent if the player has accrued at least five years of MLB Service Time) after being outrighted (he has three days to decide), or he can accept the Outright Assignment and defer the right to be a minor league free-agent until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season.   

7. If a Selected Player is returned (outrighted) to the minor league club from which he was drafted, the drafting club is responsible for any portion of the player's salary above what the player was actually paid the previous season.

8. If the club from which the Selected Player was drafted declines to re-claim the player, the player no longer has Rule 5 Selected Player status, the drafting club retains the player, and the player can be sent to the minors or released.

9. A player selected in the AAA Phase of the Rule 5 Draft must be immediately assigned to the reserve list of the AAA club that drafted the player and he must be given a 15-day trial during Spring Training with that club, but the player can be assigned to the active list of any minor league affiliate in the MLB club's organization once the minor league regular season commences. NOTE: Unlike players selected in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft, a player selected in the AAA Phase does not have to be offered back to the club from which he was drafted if the player is ultimately assigned to the active list of a minor league affiliate below AAA.

PLAYERS SELECTED BY CUBS IN AAA PHASE OF 2022 RULE 5 DRAFT:
1. Jose Aquino, LHP (selected by AAA Iowa from Seattle Mariners ACL roster) 
2. Nick Burdi, RHP (selected by AAA Iowa from San Diego Padres AA San Antonio roster) 
3. Jefferson Encarnacion, OF (selected by AAA Iowa from Philadelphia Phillies Lo-A Clearwater roster)  

CUBS MINOR LEAGUERS SELECTED IN AAA PHASE OF 2022 RULE 5 DRAFT:
1. Bryan King, LHP (selected by Houston Astros AAA Sugar Land affiliate from AA Tennessee roster)
2. Luis Angel Rodriguez, LHP (selected by Houston Astros AAA Sugar Land affiliate from Lo-A Myrtle Beach roster) 


MLB RULE 5: DRAFT - EXCLUDED PLAYER

A "Draft-Excluded Player" is any minor league player who has accrued less than three years of MLB Service Time and who is eligible for selection in the MLB Rule 5 Draft, whose contract is selected, and who is added to an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) between August 15th and the Rule 5 Draft.

1. A Draft-Excluded Player can be non-tendered, released, or traded at any time, but he cannot be sent to the minors by Optional Assignment beginning with the conclusion of the MLB regular season up until 20 days prior to MLB Opening Day.

2. A Draft-Excluded Player can be sent outright to the minors only if Outright Assignment Waivers are requested no later than 2 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day following the final game of the World Series, and if a Draft-Excluded Player is not outrighted to the minors prior to the Rule 5 Draft, the player cannot be sent outright to the minors any earlier than 20 days prior to the start of the MLB regular season.

CUBS PLAYERS WITH RULE 5 DRAFT-EXCLUDED STATUS: (last updated 11-15-2022)
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Javier Assad, RHP
Ben Brown, RHP 
Brennen Davis, OF
Jeremiah Estrada, RHP   
Ryan Jensen, RHP 
Miles Mastrobuoni, INF-OF 
Hayden Wesneski, RHP 

Before a player on Optional Assignment can be traded, he must be recalled from his minor league assignment ("Recalled - Not to Report").

Also, all players on Optional Assignment to the minors must be "Recalled - Not to Report" on the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season. 

Most players get only three minor league options, but a player who has accrued less than five "full seasons" is eligible for a 4th minor league option.

For the purpose of determining eligibility for a 4th minor league option, a player accrues a "full season" when he spends at least 90 days on the Active List of an MLB and/or minor league club or clubs in a given season, or (in seasons prior to 2012) spends at least 60 days but less than 90 days on the Active List of an MLB and/or minor league club or clubs followed by an Injured List assignment where the combined time spent on the Active List and the Injured List equals at least 90 days or (beginning with the 2012 season) spends at least 30 days but less than 90 days on the Active List of an MLB and/or minor league club or clubs followed by an Injured List assignment where the combined time spent on the Active List and the Injured List equals at least 90 days.   
NOTE: Days spent on Optional Assignment to a club's Spring Training Complex in September count as active days toward determining eligibility for a 4th minor league option. 
CoViD-19 EXCEPTION: With regard to a player's eligibility for a 4th minor league option year in 2021 (and beyond), days spent on Optional Assignment in 2020 counted for nothing, and days spent on an MLB Active List and MLB inactive lists (IL, FMLA/Bereavement, Paternity Leave, et al) counted and were calculated at the prorated 2020 MLB Service Time rate (one day equals 2.78 days of MLB Service Time).

If a player qualifies for a 4th minor league option year, the 4th option is available during Spring Training and for the entire MLB regular season. 

CUBS ELIGIBLE FOR 4TH MINOR LEAGUE OPTION: (updated 4-18-2023)
Kevin Alcantara, OF (in 2026 - see NOTE)
Miguel Amaya, C (in 2023 - see NOTE)
Ben Brown, RHP (in 2026 - see NOTE) 
Alexander Canario, OF (in 2024 - see NOTE)
Caleb Kilian, RHP (in 2025 - see NOTE) 
Christopher Morel, INF (in 2024 - see NOTE)
Seiya Suzuki, OF (in 2026 - see NOTE) 
NOTE:  Amaya is eligible for a fourth minor league option in 2023, Canario and C. Morel will be eligible for a fourth minor league option in 2024, Kilian will be eligible for a fourth minor league option in 2025 if the third option is spent in 2024, and Alcantara, B. Brown, and Suzuki will be eligible for a fourth minor league option in 2026 if the third option is spent in 2025.

GENERAL RESTRICTIONS:

1. Beginning with the 2020 season, no more than 14 players (formerly no more than 16 players) on a club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) may be on Optional Assignment at any one time prior to September 1st, and no more than twelve players may be on Optional Assignment at any one time beginning on September 1st and extending through the conclusion of the MLB regular season.

2. No player may be optioned to the minors prior to the start of Spring Training.

3. Beginning in 2022, a player can be optioned a maximum of five times in a given season. If a player has been optioned to the minors five times in as given season, Outright Assignment Waivers must be secured before he can be sent to the minors again.   
EXCEPTIONS: An optional assignment back to a minor league affiliate after a player is temporarily recalled as the extra man for a doubleheader or other circumstances after August 31st will not count toward the five option maximum limit. Also, if a player has been optioned five times previously in the season and then is claimed off waivers by another club, the claiming club can option the player to the minors one more time as long as the player was not on the claiming club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) sometime earlier that season.  
NOTE: Because of the delay of the start of the 2022 MLB regular season, an optional assignment prior to May 2nd did not count toward the five option maximum limit in 2022.

4. Generally an injured player cannot be optioned to the minors. However, an injured player who did not accrue any MLB Service Time during the previous season, has not accrued at least three years of MLB Service Time, and was not selected in the previous Rule 5 Draft, can be optioned to the minors during a period of time beginning on the first day of Spring Training until the 15th day prior to the start of the next MLB regular season. 

CAN BE OPTIONED IF INJURED UNTIL 15TH DAY PRIOR TO 2023 MLB OPENING DAY (last updated 3-15-2023):
Miguel Amaya, C (has been optioned)
Alexander Canario, OF (has been optioned)

5. A player who is optioned to the minors generally must remain on Optional Assignment for at least ten days (for a "position player") or 15 days (for a "pitcher or for a "two-way player"), and a "position-player" optioned to the minors during Spring Training generally must remain on Optional Assignment for the first ten days of the MLB regular season and a "pitcher" or a "two-way player" optioned to the minors during Spring Training generally must remain on Optional Assignment for the first 15 days of the MLB regular season.
EXCEPTIONS: The player is traded or claimed off waivers, is recalled as the extra man for a doubleheader (second game of the doubleheader only if two games were scheduled after a postponed or suspended game from the previous day) or other circumstances, is recalled to replace a player on the MLB Active List (26-man roster) who is traded, claimed off waivers, or placed on the MLB Injured List, Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List, Paternity Leave List, or Restricted List (but only pursuant to a suspension or administrative leave resulting from a violation or possible violation of the joint MLB-MLBPA JDV policy or a suspension resulting from a violation of the joint MLB-MLBPA JDPTP policy), or is recalled and then optioned back to the minors prior to a game being played where the game is postponed or cancelled. 
NOTE: If a player is acquired in a trade and is optioned to the minors by his new club within 24 hours, the player can be recalled from the Optional Assignment at any time without restriction, but if a player on Optional Assignment to the minors is claimed off waivers and is then optioned to the minors by his new club, the ten-day limit (for "position players") or 15 day limit (for "pitchers" and for "two-way players") does apply. So as far as the ten-day ot 15-day limits are concerned, there is a distinction made between acquiring a player in a trade and claiming a player off waivers. 

6. A player can be optioned to any of his club's minor league affiliates whose season (including post-season) is still in progress as long as the player has not exceeded the maximum number of professional seasons allowed for players at that level, but if the regular season (and post-season) of all four of the MLB club's full-season minor league affiliates have concluded, a player may be optioned to the club's Spring Training Complex in September.   
NOTE: If a player is optioned to his club's Spring Training Complex in September because all of his club's minor league affiliates have concluded their regular seasons and post-seasons, the player will accrue MLB Service Time while on Optional Assignment. A player will also accrue MLB Service Time while on Optional Assignment if he is optioned to any minor league affiliate during the period of time beginning on the Friday after Labor Day extending through the conclusion of the MLB regular season.  

7. A player on Optional Assignment to the minors must be recalled no later than the day after the conclusion of his club's MLB regular season.

OTHER RESTRICTIONS:

8. A Rule 5 "Selected Player" cannot be optioned to the minors until restrictions have been removed.

RULE 5 SELECTED PLAYERS WITH MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS REMAINING (updated 3-12-2021):
NONE   

9. Beginning on the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season, a Rule 5 "Draft-Excluded Player" cannot be optioned to the minors any earlier than 20 days prior to MLB Opening Day.
NOTE: An injured player with Draft Excluded Status who otherwise would be eligible to be optioned up until the 15th day prior to MLB Opening Day can be optioned only during a five-day window starting on the 20th day prior to the start of the MLB regular season up until the 15th day prior to the start of the MLB regular season.

DRAFT-EXCLUDED PLAYER WITH MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS REMAINING (last updated 3-15-2023):
NONE AT THIS TIME

10. Per Article XIX-A of the CBA, any player on an MLB 40-man roster who has accrued at least five years of MLB Service Time (as well as an international player with Article XIX-A contractual rights) has the right to refuse an Optional Assignment to the minors, or the player can elect to be a free-agent immediately upon being optioned (he has two days to decide).
NOTE: If a player with Article XIX-A rights refuses an Optional Assignment but does not elect free-agency, the club must either retain the player on the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) AND Active List, trade the player, or give the player his Outright Release.

11. A player with Article XIX-A rights can waive his right to refuse an Optional Assignment in advance, but the waiver cannot be signed more than ten days prior to MLB Opening Day, the player has the right to designate in advance which minor league team to which he can be assigned, and the waiver automatically expires if the player is not optioned to the minors within 45 days or by the 45th day of the MLB regular season (whichever is later).

CUBS ARTICLE XIX-A PLAYERS WITH MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS REMAINING (last updated 5-25-2023): 
Tucker Barnhart, C 
Cody Bellinger, OF 
Michael Fulmer, RHP 
Yan Gomes, C 
Ian Happ, OF 
Kyle Hendricks, RHP
Drew Smyly, LHP 
Marcus Stroman, RHP 
Seiya Suzuki, OF (International player with Article XIX-A rights)
Dansby Swanson, INF 
Jameson Taillon, RHP 

The three MLB waiver periods are:

1. September 1st through the 30th day of the MLB regular season;

2. 31st day of the MLB regular season up until one hour after the MLB Trade Deadline;

3. One hour after the MLB Trade Deadline through August 31st. 

PROCEDURE FOR AWARDING OF WAIVER CLAIMS (TYPE OF WAIVERS):

If a player is claimed by only one club, that club is awarded the claim. If more than one club makes a claim, the club with the lowest winning percentage (regardless of league) either from the previous season (beginning on the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season through the 30th day of the MLB regular season) or on the day the player clears waivers (beginning on the 31st day of the MLB regular season through the last day of the MLB regular season) is awarded the claim. If two clubs with the same winning percentage make a claim, the club in the player's own league is awarded the claim. If two clubs from the same league make a claim and they are tied in the standings, the club with the lowest winning percentage from the previous season is awarded the claim. If the clubs are still tied, standings from two years back (or three years back, four years back, etc) are used to break the tie.
NOTE: Beginning in 2022, the waiver claim priority for a club claiming a player it had previously acquired via waiver claim in that same waiver period will be after all other clubs. If more than one club acquired the player via waiver claim previously in that waiver period, the waiver claim priority for those clubs would be in the same order as in the normal waiver claim priority list, but after all MLB clubs that did not acquire the player via waiver claim previously in that waiver period.  

PROCEDURE FOR AWARDING OF WAIVER CLAIMS (TIME OF THE YEAR):

1. Beginning on the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season and up through the first 30 days of he MLB regular season, the previous season's MLB standings are used to determine waiver claim priority. 

2. Beginning on the 31st day of the MLB regular season through the conclusion of the MLB regular season, the MLB standings as of 9 AM (Eastern) on the day the player clears waivers are used to determine waiver claim priority, with the previous season's MLB standings only used to break ties.

3. If a player has been claimed off Outright Assignment Waivers by a club within a given waiver period and then sometime later in that same waiver period the same player is placed on Outright Assignment Waivers by another club, the club that claimed the player previously in that waiver period will have last (worst) waiver claim priority if that player is placed onto Outright Assignment Waivers again in that waiver period. 
NOTE: If more than one club claimed the player off Outright Assignment Waivers previously in a waiver period, the waiver claim priority for that club or those clubs the next time the player is placed onto Outright Assignment Waivers in that waiver period would be at the bottom of the waiver claim priority list, sorted by the previous season's standings beginning on the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season through the 30th day of the MLB regular season, and the MLB standings as of 9 AM (Eastern) on the day the player clears waivers beginning on the 31st day of the MLB regular season through the conclusion of the MLB regular season.    

RESTRICTION ON MAKING WAIVER CLAIMS:

A club is not permitted to make a waiver claim and then trade the player to another club if the purpose or effect of the claim was to prevent a third club from being awarded the waiver claim. (A waiver claim that is judged by the MLB Commissioner to have been made for this purpose will be revoked).
EXAMPLE: Team "A" claims player off waivers. Team "B" also claimed the player, but wasn't awarded the claim because it had a lower (worse) waiver claim priority than Team "A." Team "A" then trades claimed player to Team "C," which has a lower (worse) waiver claim prioruty than Team "B."   

If a club wishes to remove a player from its MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) and send the player to the minors, the club must first secure Outright Assignment Waivers.
CoViD-19 EXCEPTION: A minor league player added temporarily to an MLB Active List roster to replace a player who has been placed on the CoViD-19 IL can be removed from the club's MLB Active List roster and returned to the AAA affiliate's roster without having to be placed on waivers.  

Outright Assignment Waivers cannot be requested while a player is on an MLB Paternity Leave List, Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List, Military List, Restricted List, Suspended List, Temporarily Inactive List, Voluntary Retired List, Ineligible List, or Disqualified List.   

If a player on an MLB or minor league Injured List is placed on Outright Assignment Waivers during the MLB regular season, he must be eligible to be reinstated from the Injured List and healthy enough to play. If waivers are secured, the player must be reinstated from the Injured List within 72 hours. If a player on an MLB Injured List is placed on Outright Assignment Waivers after the conclusion of the MLB regular season and waivers are secured, the player must be reinstated from the Injured List within 72 hours.

For all players on an MLB Reserve List (40-man Roster) other than MLB Rule 5 players (both Selected and Draft-Excluded players) and injured players, Outright Assignment Waivers can generally be requested anytime in a given waiver period, and they are always irrevocable. The waiver price is $50,000 (formerly $20,000). 

Once secured, Outright Assignment Waivers remain in effect for a set period of time:

1. Seven days or until the end of the waiver period (whichever comes first) for Outright Assignment Waivers secured September 1st through the 30th day of the MLB regular season:

2. The entire waiver period for Outright Assignment Waivers secured starting on the 31st day of the MLB regular season through August 31st.

3. 72 hours if the player is on Optional Assignment to the minors or on a Disabled List.

A player who has a "no trade" right (full or partial) must waive his "no trade" right before he can be placed on Outright Assignment Waivers.

PLAYERS ON CUBS MLB RESERVE LIST WITH "NO-TRADE" RIGHTS: (updated 5-25-2023)
Tucker Barnhart, C (Article XX-B thru 6/15)
Brad Boxberger, RHP (Article XX-B thru 6/15)
Michael Fulmer, RHP (Article XX-B thru 6/15)
Ian Happ, OF (full) 
Trey Mancini, OF-1B (Article XX-B thru 6/15)
Drew Smyly, LHP (Article XX-B thru 6/15)
Seiya Suzuki, OF (full) 
Dansby Swanson, INF (full / also Article XX-B thru 6/15) 
Jameson Taillon, RHP (partial / also Article XX-B thru 6/15)

A club does not have to outright a player to the minors after Outright Assignment Waivers have been secured.

If Outright Assignment Waivers have been secured and are in effect, a player cannot be placed on Outright Assignment Waivers again until the final two days of the waiver period.

Beginning in 2019, if a player is claimed off Outright Assignment Waivers during the period of time beginning with the first day of Spring Training (the date pitchers & catchers report) through the final game of the MLB regular season, the player cannot be placed back onto Outright Assignment Waivers again for at least 48 hours or until he has spent at least one day on the claiming club's MLB Active List (whichever comes first), and if a player is claimed off Outright Assignment Waivers during the off-season (the period of time beginning with the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season up until the first day of Spring Training), the player cannot be placed back onto Outright Assignment Waivers again for at least seven days. 

Outright Release Waivers are irrevocable and cannot be withdrawn once they are requested.

While a player claimed off Outright Assignment Waivers costs $50,000 (formerly $20,000), a club can claim a player off Outright Release Waivers for the minuscule sum of $1. However, a club that claims a player off Release Waivers is responsible for paying 100% of the player's remaining salary, whereas if the same club waits until the player clears Release Waivers, the club can sign the player for the MLB minimum salary (or prorated portion of the MLB minimum salary), with the player's former club responsible for the balance.

A player who is claimed off Outright Release Waivers has the option to decline the assignment and become a free-agent (he has up to five days to decide). For most players, refusing an Outright Release waiver claim means the player's contract is terminated with no severance and his former club owes him nothing (same as an Article XX-D minor league FA who refuses an Outright Assignment), but for a player with "no trade" rights who refuses an Outright Release waiver claim, the player is owed his full salary for the balance of the contract, same as if he had not been claimed.

A player on an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) who is released during the period of time extending from MLB Opening Day through August 31st cannot be added back to the MLB Active List of the club that released the player for at least 30 days - UNLESS - the MLB Active List of the club that released the player has at least one open slot during the period of time beginning when the player is released and extending up until the released player is re-signed and added back to the club's MLB Reserve List, and a player on an MLB 40-man roster who is released anytime during the period of time extending from September 1st to MLB Opening Day cannot be added back to the MLB 40-man roster (or MLB Active List) of the club that released the player until May 15th. 
NOTE:: While an unsigned player under club control who is not tendered a contract for the next season ("non-tendered") becomes a free-agent, it is not considered the same thing as an Outright Release, so a club can re-sign a non-tendered player to a Major League contract (or minor league contract) without any restrictions anytime after the player is non-tendered. Thus, the MLB contract tender date is a sort of roster "island oasis" in the middle of the off-season where a club can drop a player from its MLB Reserve List (including injured players) without having to worry about waivers or restrictions on off-season outright assignments or Outright Release.

A player on an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) signed to a non-guaranteed contract who is released more than 15 days prior to Opening Day receives 30 days salary as termination pay (paid at the "minor league rate" if the player is signed to a "split contract"), and a player on an MLB Reserve List signed to a non-guaranteed contract who is released 15 or fewer days prior to Opening Day receives 45 days salary as termination pay (all players paid at the "Major League rate"). A player on an MLB Reserve List signed to a non-guaranteed contract who is released prior to MLB Opening Day receives 100% of his salary as termination pay if he is released while he is unable to render service due to an injury or illness suffered while under contract to the club.     
NOTE: Beginning in 2022, a player eligible for salary arbitration who signs a contract prior to an arbitration hearing now gets 100% of his salary even if he is released prior to MLB Opening Day (salary liability for former club would be partially offset by the pro-rated MLB minimum salary if the player signs an MLB contract with another club after being released).  

A player on an MLB Reserve List who is released during the MLB regular season receives 100% of his salary as termination pay (paid at the "minor league rate" for players on Optional Assignment to the minors).

An unsigned player on an MLB Reserve List released during the off-season receives no termination pay.

An MLB Rule 5 Selected Player (a player who was selected in the MLB Rule 5 Draft) cannot be released until restrictions have been removed, and if Rule 5 restrictions have been removed and the player is released, the player's termination pay is always paid at the "Major League rate" as long as he is released prior to being outrighted to the minors.

Outright Release Waivers cannot be requested on a player while he is on the Bereavement List, Military List, Suspended List, Disqualified List, or Ineligible List. 

A club cannot option a player signed to a "split contract" to the minors if the purpose of the assignment is to release the player and avoid paying termination pay at the "Major League rate."

A player is automatically & immediately removed from his club's Reserve List (40-man roster) and Active List when placed on Outright Release Waivers.

Prior to the 2019 season, the "Injured List" was known as the "Disabled List."  

There are four different types of MLB injured lists: the 7-day Injured List (for players suffering an acute concussion), the 10-day Injured List (for position-players only), the 15-day Injured List (for pitchers and for "two-way players"), and the 60-day Injured List (AKA the "Emergency Injured List").
CoViD-19 EXCEPTION: There is a special MLB "CoViD-19 Related Injured List" in 2022 for players who are diagnosed with CoViD-19 during the MLB regular season, as well as for players who exhibit symptoms and/or have been exposed to the virus, or who are in a CoViD-19 "high risk" group. A player can only be placed on the CiViD-19 Related Injured List by consent of the CoViD-19 Joint Health & Safety Committee. There is no minimum or maximum number of days a player must spend on this list, but a player may not be reinstated until he is symptom-free and tests negative for the virus twice where the tests are administered at least 24 hours apart. A player on the CoViD-19 Injured List does not count against his club's Reserve List or Active List.     
NOTE: The 15-day IL for pitchers and two-way players will be a 10-day IL through May 1, 2022. 

PLAYERS ON CUBS MLB 60-DAY IL (updated 5-15-2023) 
Codi Heuer, RHP (2/20)
Ethan Roberts, RHP (2/17)
Adrian Sampson, RHP (5/4)

There are only two types of minor league injured lists: the 7-day Injured List and the 60-day Injured List.

Only players with a verified injury or illness may be placed on an injured list.

The MLB Commissioner (or the Commissioner's designate) must approve all MLB Injured List assignments.

A "Standard Form of Diagnosis" signed by the club physician must accompany a request to place a player on an MLB or minor league injured list, and a "Standard Form of Diagnosis for Recertification" signed by the club physician must be filed with the MLB Commissioner after seven days for a player on an MLB 7-day (concussion) IL, every 15 days for a player on an MLB 15-day IL, every ten days for a player on an MLB 10-day IL, and every seven days for a player on a minor league 7-day IL. If a "Standard Form of Diagnosis for Recertification" is not submitted by the deadline, the player must be either reinstated from the IL or transferred to the 60-day IL.  
NOTE: A Standard Form of Diagnosis for Recertification is NOT required once a player has been placed on or transferred to an MLB or minor league 60-day IL. 

A "Return to Play" form signed by the club's physician must be submitted to the MLB Commissioner before a player can be reinstated from the MLB 7-day (acute concussion) Injured List.

There is no limit to the number of players who may be on a club's injured list(s) at any one time.

1. An ill or injured player who is placed on the MLB 7-day, 10-day, or 15-day IL or on the minor league 7-day IL does not count against his club's Active List, but he does count against his club's Reserve List.

2. A player cannot be placed on the MLB 7-day, 10-day, or 15-day IL after the conclusion of the MLB regular season and throughout the post-season, off-season, and Spring Training, and a minor league player can be placed on a minor league club's 7-day IL only during his minor league club's regular season.
EXCEPTION: With consent of the MLB Commissioner, a player on an MLB Active List (26-man roster) of a club that is active in the MLB post-season can be placed on the 7-day, 10-day, or 15 day Injured List during a post-season series.  

3. As long as the player did not appear in a game during the retroactive period (including "official" MLB Cactus League or Grapefruit League games or other MLB pre-season exhibition games), an MLB 10-day or 15-day Injured List assignment can be backdated up to three days (including the three days prior to MLB Opening Day), and a 7-day (acute concussion) Injured List assignment can be backdated up to four days (including the four days prior to MLB Opening Day).

4. If a position-player on an MLB 7-day (acute concussion) Injured List is not reinstated after spending nine days on the list he is automatically transferred to his club's 10-day Injured List, and if a pitcher on an MLB 7-day (acute concussion) Injured List is not reinstated after spending at least 14 days on the list he is automatically transferred to his club's 15-day Injured List. 
CoViD-19 EXCEPTION: The MLB 15 day Injured List (for pitchers and two-way players) has been suspended in 2021 (here will be a 10-day Injured List for position players, pitchers, and two-way players).    

5. During Spring Training and during the MLB regular season up through August 31st, an injured or ill player can be placed on or transferred to the MLB 60-day Injured List only if his club's reserve list is full, but if a player is placed on or transferred to the MLB 60-day Injured List after August 31st, the club's reserve list must be full - AND - the player must be replaced on his club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) by another player.

6. A player on the 60-day Injured List does not count against his club's Reserve List ir Active List roster limit. 
CoViD-19 EXCEPTION: A player on the CoViD-19 Related Injured List does not count against his club's Reserve List, Active List roster, or Club Player Pool limits.   

7. A player can be transferred from the MLB 7-day, 10-day, or 15-day Injured List to the MLB 60-day Injured List (or minor league 7-day Injured List to minor league 60-day Injured List). However, a player cannot be moved back to the MLB 7-day, 10-day, or 15-day Injured List and a minor league player cannot be moved back to the 7-day Injured List once he is placed on or transferred to the 60-day Injured List.

8. A player cannot be placed on the MLB 60-day IL after the conclusion of the MLB regular season, and during the post-season and off-season, up until the start of Spring Training (beginning on the date that pitchers & catchers are scheduled to report). A minor league player can be placed on a minor league club's 60-day Injured List only during his minor league club's regular season.

9. For a player who is transferred from the MLB 7-day, 10-day, ot 15-day Injured List to the MLB 60-day Injured List (or from a minor league club's 7-day Injured List to the minor league club's 60-day Injured List), time spent on the MLB 7-day, 10-day, or 15-day Injured List (or minor league 7-day Injured List) during the MLB regular season (or during the minor league regular season) prior to being transferred counts toward the minimum 60 days a player must spend on the 60-day Injured List. However, time spent on a minor league 7-day Injured List or minor league 60-day Injured List does NOT count toward the minimum number of days a player must spend on an MLB Injured List if a player is recalled from an optional assignment or has his contract selected and is added to an MLB 40-man roster prior to being reinstated from a minor league injured list.

10. A player who is placed on the MLB 60-day Injured List during Spring Training must spend at least the first 60 days of the MLB regular season on the Injured List (the player cannot be reinstated any earlier than the 61st day of the MLB regular season).

11. A player who was placed on the an MLB 7-day, 10-day, or 15-day Injured List during the MLB regular season must be reinstated no later than the day after the conclusion of the club's MLB season  (including the post-season for clubs that qualify for the post-season), a player on an MLB 60-day Injured List who is eligible to be an Article XX-B MLB free-agent must be reinstated from the Injured List no later than 9 AM (Eastern) on the day after the final game of the World Series (or no later than 9 AM Eastern on October 15th if the World Series is cancelled), and all other players on an MLB 60-day Injured List must be reinstated no later than 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series (or no later than 5 PM Eastern on October 15th if the World Series is cancelled), even if the player did not spend at least 60 days on the 60-day IL.
CoViD-19 EXCEPTION:  A player on the MLB CoViD-19 Related Injured List who is eligible to be an Article XX-B MLB free-agent must be reinstated no later than 9 AM (Eastern) on the day after the final game of the World Series (or no later than 9 AM Eastern on October 15th if the World Series is cancelled), and all other players on an MLB CoViD-19 Injured List must be reinstated no later than 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series (or no later than 5 PM Eastern on October 15th if the World Series is cancelled),

12. A minor league player cannot be placed onto or transferred to a minor league 60-day Injured List until the player has spent at least five days on the club's Domestic Reserve List. 

13. A player on a minor league club's 60-day IL must be reinstated no later than 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the conclusion of the World Series, even if the player did not spend 60 days on the Injured List. 

A player on an injured list can be traded, even if the player is not eligible to be reinstated and/or healthy enough to play. 

If a player on an injured list is traded, the player can be transferred directly from his former club's 7-day, 10-day, 15-day, or 60-day Injured List to the corresponding Injured List of his new club. Time spent on a 7-day, 10-day, 15-day, or 60-day Injured List prior to the trade counts toward the minimum number of days required before the player is eligible to be reinstated.

If a player on an MLB 60-day Injured List or CoViD-19 Injured List is claimed off waivers after the conclusion of the MLB regular season but prior to the deadline for reinstating players from the 60-day or CoViD-19 injured lists, the player can be transferred directly to the 60-day Injured List or CoViD-19 Injured List of his new club.

A player accrues one day of MLB Service Time for each day of the MLB regular season spent on an MLB Injured List.

An MLB player can be placed on the Major League Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List when the player leaves his club as the result of a death or medical emergency in his immediate family (spouse, child, grandchild, parent, grandparent, or sibling).

A player can be placed on the Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List any time during the MLB regular season and post-season.  

A player must remain on the Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List for at least three days, but no more than seven days.

A player cannot be placed on the Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List to attend the birth of a child (see Major League Paternity Leave List), but a player can be transferred from the Paternity Leave List to the Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List if the childbirth results in a death or medical complication. For players who are transferred from the Paternity Leave List to the Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List, time spent on the Paternity Leave List counts toward the maximum number of days permitted to be spent by the player on the Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List.

The Family Medical Emergency List functions just like the 7-day or 10-day Injured List, in that a player on the Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List does not count against his club's Active List, so he can be replaced by another player while on the Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List. He does count against his club's Reserve List (40-man roster), however,

A player on the Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List continues to accrue MLB service time.

A player can be placed on the Major League Paternity Leave List when he leaves his club to attend the birth of his child. The childbirth must be either imminent or have occurred within the previous 48 hours.

A player can be placed on the Paternity Leave List any time during the MLB regular season and post-season.

A player must remain on the Paternity Leave List for at least 24 hours, but no more than 72 hours.

A player can be transferred from the Paternity Leave List to the Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List if the childbirth results in a death or medical complication. For players who are transferred from the Paternity Leave List to the Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List, time spent on the Paternity Leave List counts toward the maximum number of days permitted to be spent by the player on the Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List.

The Paternity Leave List functions like the 7-day or 10-day Injured List, in that a player on the Paternity Leave List does not count against his club's Active List, so he can be replaced by another player while on the Paternity Leave List. He does count against his club's Reserve List (40-man roster), however.

An MLB player continues to accrue MLB service time while on the list.

The Temporarily Inactive List is for minor league players only.

It is essentially an in-season excused Leave of Absence, and it is used for Paternity Leave, Bereavement Leave, and Family Medical Emergency Leave, as well as when a player is delayed reporting to a new club, or is attending college, or is incarcerated, or has returned home for personal reasons. Only minor league players (including players on Optional Assignment to the minors) can be placed on this list.

A player on the Development List counts against the in-season minor league 180-man Domestic Reserve List or 70-man International Reserve List (or MLB 40-man roster if the player is on Optional Assignment), but he does not count against the minor league club's Active List roster. 
NOTE: If the Domestic or International Reserve List is full, a player who ordinarily would have been placed on the Temporarily Inactive List can be placed on the Restricted List instead, but placing a player on the Restricted List does require the approval of the MLB Commissioner).

A player cannot be placed on the Temporarily Inactive List any earlier than the first day of his minor league club's regular season, the player must remain on the Temporarily Inactive List for at least three days, and a player on the Temporarily Inactive List must be reinstated no later than the day after the conclusion of his club's season.

A player normally is not paid while on the Temporarily Inactive List (club option).

With approval of the MLB Commissioner, a player on a minor league Domestic Reserve List can be placed on the Development List if the player is at the parent organization's Minor League Spring Training Complex or at a club-approved training facility for the purpose(s) of development and/or conditioning.
NOTE: As part of his development and/or conditioning, a player on the Development List can remain with his minor league club and take batting practice, fielding practice, throw bullpen side sessions, and/or serve as a bullpen catcher, batting practice pitcher, or base coach.    

A player on Optional Assignment from an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) can be placed onto the Development List of the minor league affiliate to which he has been optioned, but only with consent of the player.  

A player cannot be placed on the Development List for the purpose of injury rehabilitation or disciplinary action.

A player can be placed on the Development List only during his minor league club's regular season, the player must remain on the Development List for at least seven days, and the player must be reinstated from the Developmental List no later than the day after the conclusion of his minor league club's season.

A player on the Development List counts against the in-season minor league 180-man Domestic Reserve List (or MLB 40-man roster if the player is on Optional Assignment), but he does not count against the minor league club's Active List roster.  

If a player is injured while on the Development List, the player must be transferred to a 7-day IL or 60-day IL. Days spent on the Development List prior to the injury count toward the minimum number of days the player must spend on the IL before he is eligible to be reinstated.

A player is paid by the MLB club while he is on the Development List.  

A player who submits written notice of retirement while under contract to a club or while under club control can be placed on the Voluntary Retired List.

A player on the Voluntary Retired List does not get paid while on the list, does not accrue service time, and does not count against the club's Active List or Reserve List.

A player on the Voluntary Retired List must spend at least 60 days of the regular season on the list before he can apply for reinstatement. If the player is placed on the Voluntary Retired List within 60 days of the conclusion of the regular season, the balance of the 60 days would carry-over into the next season.

If an MLB player on the Voluntary Retired List is reinstated during the MLB regular season, he may consent to a "conditioning" assignment (with or without pay - TBD) with a minor league affiliate of his club for up to 30 days prior to being reinstated. 
NOTE: A player receives MLB meal money and other benefits associated with being an MLB player while on a minor league "conditioning" assignment.  

A player on an MLB Voluntary Retired List cannot be reinstated during the period of time extending from August 1st through October 31st, and a minor league player on the Voluntary Retired List cannot be reinstated during the period of time extending from August 1st through the conclusion of the season (including post-season). 

The Restricted List is essentially an excused but unpaid absence, although in certain circumstances a club might choose to pay the player while he is on the Restricted List.

If a club requests that a player be placed on the Restricted List, the request must be approved by the MLB Commissioner. 

A player who is suspended for violation of the MLB-MLBPA Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program (player tested positive for a prohibited substance) or is suspended or granted a leave of absence related to a violation or possible violation of the MLB-MLBPA Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse Policy is automatically placed on the Restricted List by the MLB Commissioner.

A player placed on Administrative Leave pending investigation of a possible violation of the MLB-MLBPA Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse policy is automatically placed on the Restricted List while he is on Administrative Leave. The player is paid and accrues MLB Service Time while on Administrative Leave. The MLB Commissioner has up to seven days to complete its investigation and determine if there was a violation, but with consent of the MLBPA, the investigation can be extended seven additional days (14 days total). After the completion of the investigation, the MLB Commissioner can find there was no violation, or find there was a violation and impose discipline in the form of an unpaid suspension (length TBD), or find there was a violation but defer disciplinary action to a later date.  

Besides a suspension related to a violation of the MLB-MLBPA Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program or a suspension or leave of absence related to a violation or possible violation of the MLB-MLBPA Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse policy, other reasons why a player might be placed on the Restricted List would include an absence due to an illness or death in the family where the absence exceeds the Major League Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List seven-day maximum limit, failing to report to Spring Training, or if a player is dealing with a personal legal matter, or is serving a prison sentence, attending college, or pursuing a career in another sport or profession, or if a player from a foreign country is unable to secure a work visa.
CoViD-19 EXCEPTION: An MLB or minor league player not in a CoViD-19 "high risk group" who opts-out of playing because of the threat of possibly contracting CoViD-19 or any player who is denied entry into a state or a foreign country because he is not vaccinated will be placed on the Restricted List and will not be paid and will not accrue MLB Service Time.  

A player on the Restricted List does not count against his club's Active List or Reserve List, and a player who is on the Restricted List for any reason other than a suspension related to a violation or possible violation of the Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse policy does not accrue MLB Service Time while on the Restricted List. A player who is placed on Administrative Leave pending investigation of a possible violation of the MLB-MLBPA Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse policy continues to be paid and will accrue MLB Service Time while on the Restricted List.     
NOTE: Beginning in December 2016, an MLB player suspended as the result of a violation of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program will receive credit for MLB Service Time while on the Restricted List if the player was on an MLB Active List or MLB DL at the time of the suspension, it's the player's first or second positive test, and the length of the suspension is subsequently reduced by at least 20 games by an arbitrator as the result of mitigating circumstances.

A player who is on the Restricted List as the result of a suspension related to a violation of the MLB-MLBPA Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program (ban on the use of a prohibited substance) or for a suspension or leave of absence related to a violation or possible violation of the MLB-MLBPA Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse policy may consent to participate in Spring Training (MLB and/or Minor League Camp) and/or Extended Spring Training and/or in a post-season Instructional League (without pay), but a suspended player is not eligible to participate in the Arizona Fall League (AFL).

Prior to being reinstated, an MLB player who is on the Restricted List for any reason other than a suspension related to a violation of the MLB-MLBPA Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program (ban on the use of a prohibited substance) or a suspension or leave of absence related to a violation or possible violation of the MLB-MLBPA Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse policy may consent to a "conditioning" assignment (with or without pay - TBD) with a minor league affiliate of his club for up to 30 days, and an MLB player who is on the Restricted List as the result of a suspension related to a violation of the MLB-MLBPA Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program (ban on the use of a prohibited substance) or a suspension or leave of absence related to a violation or possible violation of the MLB-MLBPA Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse policy may consent to a "conditioning" assignment (without pay) with a minor league affiliate of his club for no more than six days for a suspension of 10-20 games, no more than ten days if suspended 21-30 games, no more than twelve days if suspended 31-50 games, and no more than 15 days for suspensions of more than 50 games.
NOTE: A player receives MLB meal money and other benefits associated with being an MLB player while on a  minor league "conditioning" assignment.  

An MLB player who is on the Restricted List for any reason other than extended Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency Leave or a suspension for violation of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program (ban on the use of a prohibited substance) or a suspension or leave of absence related to a violation or possible violation of the Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse policy cannot be reinstated from the Restricted List during the period of time extending from August 1st through October 31st without the approval of the MLB Commissioner, and a minor league player on the Restricted List for any reason other than a suspension for a violation of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program (ban on the use of a prohibited substance) cannot be reinstated from the Restricted List during the period of time extending from August 1st through the conclusion of his club's season (including post-season) without the approval of the MLB Commissioner. 

A player on the Restricted List must be added back to his club's Reserve List within 30 days after being reinstated or when he is placed on the club's Active List (whichever comes first) if the player is reinstated during the period of time beginning on the mandatory Spring Training reporting date and extending through the last day of the regular season, or within 14 days after reinstatement if the player is reinstated during the off-season, but if the player is assigned to another club while on the Restricted List he must be placed on that club's Reserve List immediately after reinstatement.

PLAYERS ON CUBS MLB RESTRICTED LIST (updated 10-20-2022):
NONE 

A player can be placed on the Military List after being called to active duty (this includes foreign players called to active duty with their home country's military).

1. A player on the Military List does not count against his club's Active Roster or Reserve List, but the player does accrue MLB Service Time.

2. A player can be placed on his club's Military List within 15 days of the date he is scheduled to report for duty, but only if the player is no longer physically with the club.

3. A player on the Military List must be reinstated within 15 days after being released from service.

4. A player on the Military List can spend up to 15 days on a minor league "conditioning" assignment (with pay and full MLB benefits for MLB players) prior to being reinstated to an MLB or minor league reserve list. 

5. A player who is reinstated from the Military List after the MLB Rule 5 Draft but prior to MLB Opening Day does not count against his club's Reserve List until MLB Opening Day, or up to 15 days after MLB Opening Day if the player is on a minor league "conditioning" assignment during that period of time.   

The MLB Commissioner may place a player on the MLB Suspended List and a minor league president may place a minor league player on the minor league's Suspended List.

If a club requests that a player be placed on the club's Suspended List, the request must be approved by the MLB Commissioner.

An MLB player or minor league player who is placed on his league's Suspended List counts against his club's Reserve List and Active List, but an MLB player or minor league player who is placed on his club's Suspended List does not count against his club's Active List and Reserve List.

A player on the Suspended List is not paid while on the list but does continue to accrue MLB or minor league service time.

The main instance where it is used is when a player is suspended by the league as the result of an on-field incident, but it can also be initiated by the player's own club in the case of insubordination, unacceptable behavior (such as a player getting into an altercation with his manager, a teammate, or a fan), or a violation of team rules related to chronic tardiness, possession of alcohol or reporting to work intoxicated, missing a doctor's appointment, or failure to get into playing condition within 60 days after start of MLB Spring Training or Minor League Spring Training. (The Suspended List is used more liberally in the minor leagues, mainly because minor league players don't have the protection of a union).
NOTE: When an MLB player is placed on the Suspended List, a grievance is usually filed by the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) on behalf of the suspended player because the player does not get paid while on the list.

A player can be placed on the Disqualified List if he violates the terms of his contract (for example, player signs a contract using a false name and/or DOB, or player signs a contract with another professional baseball team without permission of an MLB club while still under contract with that MLB organization, or player circumvents a drug test, or player refuses to undergo an examination by a physician as directed by the club, or player refuses to render services to the club).

A player can be placed on the Disqualified List only with the approval of the MLB Commissioner.

A player on the Disqualified List does not count against the club's Active List or Reserve List, and he does not accrue service time or get paid while on the list.

An MLB player on the Disqualified List cannot be reinstated during the period of time extending from August 1st through October 31st and a minor league player on the Disqualified List cannot be reinstated during the period of time extending from August 1st through the conclusion of his club's season (including post-season) without the approval of the MLB Commissioner.

A player reinstated from the Disqualified List must be added back to his club's Reserve List within 30 days if he is reinstated prior to the conclusion the season, or by Opening Day if the player is reinstated during the off-season.

If an MLB player on the Disqualified List is reinstated during th MLB regular season, he may consent to a "conditioning" assignment (with or without pay - TBD) with a minor league affiliate of his club for up to 30 days prior to being reinstated to the MLB Reserve List.
NOTE: A player receives MLB meal money and other benefits associated with being an MLB player while on a  minor league "conditioning" assignment.  

If a player is assigned to another club after reinstatement he must be placed on that club's Reserve List immediately.

The MLB Ineligible List is the "capital punishment" of baseball, reserved for individuals who have been indefinitely or permanently banned from baseball, usually related to "throwing" games, betting on baseball, or consorting with gamblers, but it also could involve something like embezzlement of funds, or a significant drug-related offense, or a hate crime, or some heinous activity.

Individuals are placed on the Ineligible List by the MLB Commissioner, and once placed on the Ineligible List a player must remain on the list for at least one year.

A player on the Ineligible List does not count against his club's Active List or Reserve List, and he does not accrue service time or get paid while on the list.

An MLB player on the Ineligible List cannot be reinstated during the period of time extending from August 1st through October 31st and a minor league player on the Ineligible List cannot be reinstated during the period of time extending from August 1st through the conclusion of his club's season (including post-season). 

A player reinstated from the Ineligible List must be added back to his club's Reserve List within 30 days if he is reinstated prior to August 1st, or by Opening Day if the player is reinstated during the off-season.

If an MLB player on the Ineligible List is reinstated during the MLB regular season, he may consent to a "conditioning" assignment (with or without pay - TBD) with a minor league affiliate of his club for up to 30 days prior to being reinstated to the MLB Reserve List. 
NOTE: A player receives MLB meal money and other benefits associated with being an MLB player while on a  minor league "conditioning" assignment.  

If a player is assigned to another club after reinstatement he must be placed on that club's Reserve List immediately.

Beginning with the 2022 First-Year Player Draft (or "MLB Rule 4 Draft"), the draft will be held over a three-day period between June 1st and July 20th. 
NOTE: The draft will be held July 17-19 in 2022. 

Beginning with the 2022 season and going forward, the draft will be twenty rounds.

Beginning with the 2023 draft:

1. Draft order for rounds #2 - #20 will be based upon the inverse order of winning percentages from the previous season. If the winning percentages of two or more clubs are the same, the club with the lowest winning percentage from the previous season picks first. If two or more clubs are still tied, league standings from two years back (or three years back, four years back, etc) are used to break the tie;

2. Draft order for the first six picks in the first round (only) will be determined by a weighted lottery similar to the one used the NBA. Only the 18 clubs that did not qualify for the post-season in the previous season are eligible to participate in the lottery.
NOTE: The 2023 MLB Rule 4 Draft draft lottery was held on 12/6 at the 2022 MLB Winter Meetings in San Diego. The Cubs fell back one slot and will pick 13th in the 1st round of the 2023 draft. 

3. Draft order for the twelve clubs that did qualify for the post-season in the previous season will be determined by when the club was eliminated from contention in the post-season and that club's  revenue-sharing and/or tax status, with the four Wild Card round losers selecting #19 - #22, the four LDS losers selecting #23 - #26, the two LCS losers selecting #27-#28, the World Series loser selecting #29, and the World Series winner selecting #30. Within the Wild Card losers, LDS losers, and LCS losers groups, draft order  will be determined by whether the club received revenue sharing funds (higher pick), paid a Competitive Balance Tax (lower pick), or neither received revenue sharing funds nor paid a CBT (middle pick), with the tie-breaker the same as used in rounds #2 - #20. 

Competitive Balance Rule 4 Draft picks are slotted in two groups (Competitive Balance Round "A" is slotted after the 1st Round, and Competitive Balance Round "B" is slotted between the 2nd and 3rd rounds). 
NOTE: Beginning with the 2017 Rule 4 Draft, Competitive Balance draft picks will no longer be awarded by lottery. Rather, all clubs who qualify (the ten smallest market clubs and the ten lowest revenue clubs) will receive Competitive Balance draft picks in either Competitive Balance Round "A" (between the 1st & 2nd round) or in Competitive Balance Round "B" (between the 2nd & 3rd rounds), with each club alternating between the two rounds every-other year.

If an Article XX-B Qualified Player subsequently signs a Major League contract with another (different) MLB club prior to the MLB Rule 4 Draft (MLB First-Year Player Draft), the player's former club (the club that lost the Qualified Player) normally will receive a compensatory draft pick in the MLB Rule 4 Draft between the 2nd & 3rd rounds (after Competitive Balance Round "B"). 
EXCEPTIONS: An MLB club that receives revenue sharing funds would receive a compensatory draft pick immediately after the conclusion of the 1st round (prior to Competitive Balance Round "A") - IF - the Qualified Player signs a contract worth at least $50M (the club would receive a compensatory draft pick between the 2nd & 3rd rounds and after Competitive Balance Round "B" if the Qualified Player signs a contract worth less than $50M), and an MLB club that is a Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) payor (club's payroll from the previous season exceeded the so-called "Luxury Tax") would receive a draft pick between the 4th & 5th rounds. 
NOTE: If more than one club receives the same type of compensatory pick, the draft order for the comp picks is the same as it is for all other rounds in that draft (clubs select in inverse order of league standings from the previous season, and in the case of two clubs finishing with the same record the previous season, league standings from two seasons back will be used to break the tie, and if If the clubs are still tied, league standings from three seasons back, four seasons back, etc, will be used to break the tie). 

CUBS ARTICLE XX-B QUALIFIED PLAYERS POST-2022 (last updated 12-9-2022):
Willson Contreras, C 

An MLB club that signs an Article XX-B player who was extended a Qualifying Offer from his previous club forfeits its 2nd highest selection in the next MLB Rule 4 Draft and $500,000 is subtracted from its assigned International Signing Bonus Pool (ISBP) in the next full International Signing Period (ISP). 
EXCEPTIONS: An MLB club that receives revenue sharing funds would surrender its 3rd highest selection in the draft but nothing is subtracted from the club's ISBP in the next full ISP, and an MLB club that is a CBT payer (club's payroll from the previous season exceeded the so-called "Luxury Tax") would forfeit its 2nd & 5th selection in the draft and have $1,000,000 subtracted from its ISBP in the next ISP. 
NOTE: The Competitive Balance Tax threshold will be $230M in 2022, $233M in 2023, $237M in 2024, $241M in 2025, and $244M in 2026.

POST-2022 ARTICLE XX-B QUALIFIED PLAYERS SIGNED BY CUBS (last updated 12-21-2022): 
Dansby Swanson, INF   

The next highest Rule 4 Draft pick (or draft picks) will be forfeited if a club signs more than one Article XX-B player who was extended a Qualifying Offer from his previous club (one draft pick forfeited for each Qualified Player signed). 
NOTE: A CBT payer (club's payroll from the previous season exceeded the so-called "Luxury Tax") would forfeit its 3rd & 6th highest selections if the club signs a second Qualified Player, its 4th & 7th selections if the club signs a third Qualified Player, and its 8th & 9th highest selections, 10th & 11th highest selections, etc, for additional Qualified Players signed. 

Draft picks subject to forfeiture include the club's own Rule 4 Draft picks, compensatory draft picks awarded to the club after losing an Article XX-B Qualified Player, and draft picks awarded as the result of the Rule 4 SBP Forfeited Draft Pick lottery (including draft picks that were subsequently acquired in a trade). Competitive Balance draft picks (including Competitive Balance draft picks acquired in a trade) and a compensatory draft pick awarded to a club for failing to sign a pick from a previous Rule 4 Draft are - NOT - subject to forfeiture.
NOTE: Prior to the 2018 MLB Rule 4 Draft, Competitive Balance draft picks were subject to forfeiture.

A Rule 4 Draft pick forfeited as the result of a club signing an Article XX-B player who was extended a Qualifying Offer from his previous club is not transferred to any other club (it just disappears).

Beginning with the 2018 Rule 4 Draft, any MLB club that had a payroll from the previous season that was $40M or more above the Competitive Balance Tax threshold will have its highest draft selection moved down ten slots, unless its first selection is among the top six picks in the draft, in which case it will have its second-highest draft slot moved down ten slots.
NOTE: In determining whether a club would have its highest or second-highest draft pick moved down ten slots, the six "protected" picks at the top of the 1st round would NOT include any compensation draft pick received by a club for failing to sign a 1st round draft pick from a previous draft -- these compensatory draft picks are already "protected."

If a rookie player with less than 60 days of MLB Service Time (0+060 MLB ST) coming into a season accrues a full season and wins the Rookie of the Year Award, or finishes top three in MVP or top three in Cy Young Award prior to becoming eligible for salary arbitration,  the player's club will receive a bonus pick between the 1st and 2nd rounds of the draft. 
NOTE: Only one bonus draft pick permitted for any one player. 

The "International Signing Period" extends from January 15th through December 15th. No international player can be signed during the period of time extending from December 16th through January 14th. 
NOTE: Prior to the 2021 ISP, the ISP began on July 2nd and extended through June 15th of the following year, but the 2019-20 ISP (only) was extended until 5 PM (Eastern) on October 15, 2020, and no international player could be signed during the period of time beginning at 5 PM Eastern on October 15, 2020, through January 14, 2021.     

Any individual who is age 16 or older, has not previously signed an MLB or minor league contract, resides outside the U. S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, and has not been enrolled in a high school or college in the U. S., Canada, or Puerto Rico within the previous year, can be signed during the ISP. Also, any individual age 15 who turns 16 prior to September 1st is eligible to sign beginning on the date he turns 16 up through August 31st.   

NIPPON PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL (JAPAN):

There are two Japanese "major" leagues, the Pacific League and the Central League, with each league consisting of six teams. Together the two leagues are known as "Nippon Professional Baseball" (or "NPB").

Unless the player is released or signed by an MLB club after being posted, all NPB players remain under club control (the player is "reserved") for nine seasons. After the 9th season, the player becomes an unrestricted free-gent.

1. An NPB player who is not under the control of an NPB club can sign with any MLB club.

2. With the consent of the NPB club, an NPB player who is under club control can be "posted" (made available to be signed by an MLB club) anytime during a three-month period extending from November 1st to February 1st.
NOTE: Beginning with the post-2018 off-season, an NPB player who is under club control can be "posted" (made available to be signed by an MLB club) anytime during a 35-day period extending from November 1st through December 5th.

3. The NPB club decides in advance on the amount of the release fee it will be paid if the player signs with an MLB club (it can be any amount up to $20M), and all MLB clubs are notified of the posting by the MLB Commissioner.
NOTE: Beginning with the post-2018 off-season, the release fee for NPB posted players will be:
MAJOR LEAGUE CONTRACT: If the guaranteed value of the contract is $25M or less the release fee will be 20% of the guaranteed value of the contract, if the guaranteed value of the contract is $50M or less but more than $25M the release fee will be 20% of the guaranteed value of the contract up through the first $25M and 17.5% of the guaranteed value of the contract for any amount above $25M, and if the guaranteed value of the contract is more than $50M the release fee will be 20% of the of the guaranteed value of the contract for the first $25M, 17.5% of the guaranteed value of the contract for the second $25M, and 15% of the guaranteed value of the contract above $50M. In addition, the MLB club must pay 15% of the value of any bonus earned, salary escalator, and/or option exercised over the length of the contract. 
MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACT: The release fee is 25% of the signing bonus, and the MLB club must pay a supplemental fee if the player is subsequently added to the club's MLB reserve list (40-man roster) and is tendered a Major League contract (see "MAJOR LEAGUE CONTRACT" above).

4. Any MLB club willing to pay the release fee can negotiate with the NPB player during a 45-day period starting on the day after the player is posted.
NOTE: Prior to the post-2022 off-season, the negotiation period was 30 days. 

5. If an MLB club signs a posted NPB player, the NPB club receives the designated release fee from that MLB club. The release fee can be paid in installments over an 18-month period, with the MLB club required to pay 50% of the release fee within 14 days of the submission of the posted player's contract, 17% of the release fee within six months of the submission of the posted player's contract, 17% of the release fee within 12 months of the submission of the posted player's contract, and 16% of the release fee within 18 months of the submission of the posted player's contract. (The release fee is not considered when calculating the MLB club's payroll).

6. If a posted NPB player does not sign with an MLB club within 45 days after being posted, the NPB club does not receive the release fee, and the player cannot be posted again until the next November 1st (unless he becomes an unrestricted free-agent in the meantime).



KOREA BASEBALL ORGANIZATION (SOUTH KOREA):

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) is the South Korean "major" league. With a new club beginning play in 2015, there are now ten teams in the KBO.

Unless the player is released or signed by an MLB club after being posted, all KBO players remain under club control (the player is "reserved") until the player's contract has expired.

1. A KBO player who is not under the control of a KBO club can sign with any MLB club.

2. With the consent of the KBO club, a KBO player who is under club control can be "posted" (made available to be signed by an MLB club) anytime during a three-month period extending from November 1st to February 1st.
NOTE: Beginning with the post-2018 off-season, a KBO player who is under club control can be "posted" (made available to be signed by an MLB club) anytime during a 35-day period extending from November 1st through December 5th.

3. If a KBO club decides to post a player, the KBO club advises the MLB Commissioner of the posting, and then the MLB Commissioner notifies all MLB clubs. Once the posting notification is transmitted, MLB clubs have four days to decide whether to submit a bid. The bid is what the MLB club is willing to pay to the KBO club as a "release fee" if the MLB club signs the posted KBO player.
NOTE: Beginning with the post-2018 off-season, the release fee for KBO posted players will be:
MAJOR LEAGUE CONTRACT: If the guaranteed value of the contract is $25M or less the release fee will be 20% of the guaranteed value of the contract, if the guaranteed value of the contract is $50M or less but more than $25M the release fee will be 20% of the guaranteed value of the contract up through the first $25M and 17.5% of the guaranteed value of the contract for any amount above $25M, and if the guaranteed value of the contract is more than $50M the release fee will be 20% of the of the guaranteed value of the contract for the first $25M, 17.5% of the guaranteed value of the contract for the second $25M, and 15% of the guaranteed value of the contract above $50M. In addition, the MLB club must pay 15% of the value of any bonus earned, salary escalator, and/or option exercised over the length of the contract. 
MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACT: The release fee is 25% of the signing bonus, and the MLB club must pay a supplemental fee if the player is subsequently added to the club's MLB reserve list (40-man roster) and is tendered a Major League contract (see "MAJOR LEAGUE CONTRACT" above).

4. The bidding closes at 5 PM (Eastern) on the 4th day following the posting notification. Any interested MLB club may submit a sealed (secret) bid to the MLB Commissioner prior to the deadline. There is no limit on the amount an MLB club may bid. Once the deadline has passed, the MLB Commissioner advises the KBO club if any bids were received, and if so, the amount of the winning bid, but not the identity of the club that submitted it. The KBO club then has three days to decide whether to accept the winning bid. If the KBO club accepts the bid, the MLB club that submitted the highest bid is awarded exclusive negotiation rights to the posted KBO player, but beginning with the post-2022 off-season, the club can negotiate with the player for no more than 45 days (was 30 days post-2018  off-season through post-2021 off-season).
NOTE: Prior to the post-2018 off-season, - ANY - MLB club willing to pay the release fee could negotiate with the KBO player during a 30-day period starting on the day after the player was posted. 

5. If an MLB club signs a posted KBO player within the 45-day "window," the KBO club receives the release fee from that MLB club. (The release fee is not considered when calculating the MLB club's payroll).
NOTE: Beginning with the post-2018 off-season, if an MLB club signs a posted KBO player, the KBO club receives the designated release fee from that MLB club. The release fee can be paid in installments over an 18-month period, with the MLB club required to pay 50% of the release fee within 14 days of the submission of the posted player's contract, 17% of the release fee within six months of the submission of the posted player's contract, 17% of the release fee within 12 months of the submission of the posted player's contract, and 16% of the release fee within 18 months of the submission of the posted player's contract. (The release fee is not considered when calculating the MLB club's payroll).

6. If a KBO player does not sign with an MLB club within 45 days after being posted, the KBO club does not receive the release fee, and the player cannot be posted again until the next November 1st (unless he becomes an unrestricted free-agent in the meantime).