The Last Right
In the new CBA that will cover the years 2007-11, the right of a player to demand a trade if dealt while in the midst of a multi-year contract will be eliminated. In the previous CBA, players with at least five years of MLB service time who signed a multi-year contract with one team and who got traded to a second team before the contract expired had the option to make a trade demand during the Free-Agency Filing Period (first 15 days after close of World Series) after the conclusion of their first season (and ONLY after the conclusion of the first season) with the new team.
Although there are quite a few players who have had this right over the years, it has rarely been exercised. The last time a player exercised this right was a year ago, when Diamondbacks RHP Javier Vazquez demanded a trade. Vazquez had signed a multi-year free-agent contract with the Yankees in 2003, and was traded to AZ after the 2004 season as part of the Randy Johnson deal.
The Diamondbacks could have ignored Vazquez's demand and taken a chance that Vazquez would either withdraw his trade demand or not exercise his right to be a FA on March 15th, but the Diamondbacks chose to get what they could get back for him and dealt him to the White Sox for three players (RHPs Orlando Hernandez and Luis Vizcaino, and top CF prospect Chris Young).
If the Diamondbacks had not traded Vazquez, and if Vazquez had then exercised his right to be a free-agent on March 15th, the remaining years on his contract as of March 15, 2006 (worth $24M 2006-07) would have been voided.
This year, there are 18 MLB players with at least five years of MLB service time who have the right to demand a trade, the last time this right will be available:
PITCHERS:
Kris Benson (BAL) - $8M through 2007, or $15M through 2008
Ray King (COL) - $2.85M through 2007
Damaso Marte (PIT) - $3.25M through 2007, or $6M through 2008
Odalis Perez (KC) - $9.25M through 2007, or $16.75M through 2008
CATCHERS:
Paul LoDuca (NYM) - $6.25M through 2007
FIRST-BASEMEN:
Carlos Delgado (NYM) - $34.4M through 2008 or $42.4M through 2009
Jim Thome (CHW) - $31M through 2008 or $41M through 2009
SECOND-BASEMEN:
Luis Castillo (MIN) - $5.75M through 2007
SHORTSTOP:
Cesar Izturis (CHC) - $4.45M through 2007 or $10M through 2008
Neifi Perez (DET) - $2.5M through 2007
Edgar Renteria (ATL) - $21M through 2008, or $29M through 2009
THIRD-BASEMEN:
Russell Branyan (SD) - $1M through 2007
Troy Glaus (TOR) - $34.25M through 2009
Eric Hinske (BOS) - $5.625M through 2007
Corey Koskie (MIL) - $6.25M through 2007 or $12.25M through 2008
Mike Lowell (BOS) - $9M through 2007
OUTFIELDERS:
Bobby Abreu (NYY) - $17.5M through 2007 or $31.5M through 2008
Marlon Anderson (LAD) - $925K through 2007
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