MLB Service Time
An MLB regular season (AKA "championship season") must be at least 182 days but no more than 187 days (184 days in 2022) so as to accommodate more off days during the course of the season.
CoViD-19 EXCEPTION: The MLB regular season was only 67 days in 2020, so MLB Service Time accrued in 2020 was be pro-rated (multiplied) based upon the ratio of 67 days to 186 days. (Each day accrued in 2020 is worth approximately 2.78 days of MLB Service Time).
2020 MLB SERVICE TIME CONVERTER
(ACTUAL # OF DAYS = 2020 CoViD-19 # OF DAYS):
1 = 3
2 = 6
3 = 8
4 = 11
5 = 14
6 = 17
7 = 20
8 = 22
9 = 25
10 = 28
11 = 31
12 = 33
13 = 36
14 = 39
15 = 41
16 = 44
17 = 47
18 = 50
19 = 53
20 = 56
21 = 58
22 = 61
23 = 64
24 = 67
25 = 70
26 = 72
27 = 75
28 = 78
29 = 81
30 = 83
31 = 86
32 = 89
33 = 92
34 = 95
35 = 97
36 = 100
37 = 103
38 = 106
39 = 108
40 = 111
41 = 114
42 = 117
43 = 120
44 = 122
45 = 125
46 = 128
47 = 131
48 = 133
49 = 136
50 = 139
51 = 142
52 = 145
53 = 147
54 = 150
55 = 153
56 = 156
57 = 158
58 = 161
59 = 164
60 = 167
61 = 170
62 = 172
63 = 175
64 = 178
65 = 181
66 = 183
67 = 186
1. A player cannot get credit for more than 172 days of MLB Service Time in any one MLB championship season (MLB regular season).
2. MLB Service Time is counted beginning on MLB Opening Day up through the last day of the MLB regular season (including any day a make-up game for a postponed game and/or a tie-breaker game is scheduled after the originally-scheduled conclusion of the MLB regular season).
3. MLB Service Time can only be accrued during the MLB championship season (MLB regular season). MLB Service Time cannot be accrued during the MLB post-season (Wild Card game, LDS, LCS, and World Series).
4. If an MLB regular season game or games are scheduled during Spring Training (prior to MLB Opening Day), only players on the MLB Active List, MLB Injured List, or other MLB inactive list of the clubs participating in the games(s) accrue MLB Service Time. This would apply to any MLB regular season game(s) known as "international openers" that may be scheduled in Australia, Japan, Mexico, etc, during Spring Training and prior to MLB Opening Day. Otherwise, MLB Service Time cannot be accrued during Spring Training (prior to MLB Opening Day).
5. A player on an MLB Reserve List accrues a day of MLB Service Time for each day of the MLB regular season spent on an MLB Active List or on an MLB 7-day, 10-day, 15-day, or 60-day Injured List (including days spent on a Minor League Injury Rehabilitation assignment), Paternity Leave List, Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List, Suspended List, or Military List, or on the Restricted List as the result of a suspension for violation of the MLB-MLBPA JDPTP or a suspension or leave of absence related to a violation or possible violation of the MLB-MLBPA JDV policy.
EXCEPTION: Beginning in December 2016, a player suspended as the result of a violation of the MLB-MLBPA JDPTP will - NOT - receive credit for MLB Service Time while on the Restricted List unless 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.
6. A player does not accrue MLB Service Time for days spent on the Disqualified List, Ineligible List, or Voluntary Retired List, or for days spent on the Restricted List for any reason other than a Prohibited Substance or Domestic Violence suspension.
7. A player traded during the MLB regular season continues to accrue MLB Service Time after being traded but before reporting to his new club.
8. A player who is Designated for Assignment (DFA) accrues MLB Service Time for the entire period of time he is Designated for Assignment during the MLB regular season, but if the player is Designated for Assignment prior to the start of the MLB regular season and the DFA period extends into the MLB regular season, the player does not accrue MLB Service Time while he is Designated for Assignment.
9. If a player spends at least 20 days on Optional Assignment to the minors in a given MLB regular season, the player does not accrue MLB Service Time for the days spent on Optional Assignment.
NOTE: Days spent on Optional Assignment during Spring Training (prior to MLB Opening Day) do not count toward the 20 days.
10. If a player is optioned to the minors, the player is not credited with a day of MLB Service Time for the day the player is optioned to the minors unless the player is optioned during or after the conclusion of an MLB regular season game played by his club that day. If a player is recalled from a minor league Optional Assignment, the player receives credit for a day of MLB Service Time beginning with the day the player is recalled.
11. If a player is on an MLB Active List and/or MLB inactive list(s) as of June 1st and remains on an MLB Active List and/or MLB inactive list(s) continuously up until being optioned, and then is optioned to the minors anytime during the period of time beginning on September 1st and extending through to the last day of the MLB regular season, the player accrues MLB Service Time while on Optional Assignment even if the player spends 20 or more days on Optional Assignment, if without the MLB Service Time accrued in September he would not be eligible for salary arbitration or to be an Article XX-B free-agent.
12. If a player is optioned to the minors during the period of time beginning on the Friday after Labor Day extending through the conclusion of the MLB regular season, the player accrues MLB Service Time while on Optional Assignment.
NOTE: If a player is optioned to his club's Spring Training Complex 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.
13. If a player is optioned to the minors prior to accruing MLB Service Time that season (for example, if the player is optioned to the minors prior to MLB Opening Day) and then is released or sent outright to the minors prior to spending at least 20 days on Optional Assignment and then is not added to an MLB Active List for the balance of that MLB regular season, the time spent on Optional Assignment prior to being released or outrighted does - NOT - count as MLB Service Time.
14. Beginning in 2022, a player who finishes in 1st or 2nd place in BBWAA Rookie of the Year voting will automatically receive a full year of MLB Service Time for that season.
Recent comments
crunch (view)
SF snags b.snell...2/62m
Cubster (view)
AZ Phil: THAT is an awesome report worth multiple thanks. I’m sure it will be worth reposting in an “I told you so” in about 2-3 years.
Arizona Phil (view)
The actual deadline to select a post-2023 Article XX-B MLB free agent signed to 2024 minor league contract (Cooper, Edwards, and Peralta) to the MLB 40-man roster is not MLB Opening Day, it is 12 PM (Eastern) this coming Sunday (3/24).
However, the Cubs could notify the player prior to the deadline that the player is not going to get added to the 40 on Sunday, which would allow the player to opt out early. Otherwise the player can opt out anytime after the Sunday deadline (if he was not added to the 40 by that time).
Arizona Phil (view)
Today is an off day for both the Cubs MLB players and the Cubs minor league players.
Arizona Phil (view)
For those of you keeping track, so far nine players have been called up to Mesa from the Cubs Dominican Academy for Minor League Camp and they will be playing in the ACL in 2024:
* bats or throws left
Angel Cepeda, INF
* Miguel Cruz, P
Yidel Diaz, C
* Albert Gutierrez, 1B
Fraiman Marte, P
Francis Reynoso, P (ex-1B)
Derniche Valdez, INF
Edward Vargas, OF
Jeral Vizcaino, P
And once again, despite what you might read at Baseball Reference and at milb.com, Albert Gutierrez is absolutely positively a left-handed hitter (only), NOT a right-handed hitter.
Probably not too surprisingly, D. Valdez was the Cubs #1 prospect in the DSL last season, Cepeda was the DSL Cubs best all-around SS prospect not named Derniche Valdez, Gutierrez was the DSL Cubs top power hitting prospect not named Derniche Valdez, E. Vargas was the DSL Cubs top outfield prospect (and Cepeda and E. Vargas were also the DSL Cubs top two hitting prospects), Y. Diaz was the DSL Cubs top catching prospect, and M. Cruz was the DSL Cubs top pitching prospect.
F. Marte (ex-STL) and J. Vizcaino (ex-MIL) are older pitchers (both are 22) who were signed by the Cubs after being released by other organizations and then had really good years working out of the bullpen for the Cubs in the DSL last season.
The elephant in the room is 21-year old Francis Reynoso, a big dude (6'5) who was a position player (1B) at the Cardinals Dominican Academy for a couple of years, then was released by STL in 2022, and then signed by the Cubs and converted to a RHP at the Cubs Dominican Academy (and he projects as a high-velo "high-leverage" RP in the states). He had a monster year for the DSL Cubs last season (his first year as a pitcher).
Arizona Phil (view)
DJL: The only players who definitely have opt outs are Cooper, Edwards, and Peralta (Opening Day, 5/1, and 6/1), and that's because they are post-2023 Article XX-B MLB free agents who signed 2024 minor league contracts and (by rule) they get those opt outs automatically.
Otherwise, any player signed to a 2024 minor league contract - MIGHT or - MIGHT NOT - have an opt out in their contract, but it is an individual thing, and if there are contractual opt outs the opt out(s) might not necessarily be Opening Day. It could be 5/1, or 6/1, or 7/1 (TBD).
Because of their extensive pro experience, the players who most-likely have contractual opt outs are Alfaro, Escobar, and D. Smith, but (again), not necessarily Opening Day.
Also, just because a player has the right to opt out doesn't mean he will.
Dolorous Jon Lester (view)
I love the idea that Madrigal heads to Iowa in case Morel can’t handle third.
The one point that intrigues me here is Cooper over Smith. I feel like the Cubs really like Smith and don’t want to lose him. Could be wrong. He def seems like an opt out if he misses the opening day roster
Arizona Phil (view)
Childersb3: Both Madrigal and Wisdom can be optioned without any restriction. Their consent is not required.
They both can be outrighted without restriction, too (presuming the player is not claimed off waivers), but if outrighted they can choose to elect free agency (immediately, or deferred until after the end of the MLB season).
If the player is outrighted and elects free-agency immediately he forfeits what remains of his salary.
If he accepts the assignment and defers free agency until after the conclusion of the season, he continues to get his salary, and he could be added back to the 40 anytime prior to becoming a free-agent (club option).
Childersb3 (view)
Phil,
Madrigal and Wisdom can or cannot refuse being optioned to the Minors?
If they can refuse it, wouldn't they elect to leave the Cubs org?
Arizona Phil (view)
In my opinion, the biggest "affirmative" mistake the Cubs made in the off-season (that is, doing something they should not have done), was blowing $9M in 2024 AAV on Hector Neris. What the Cubs actually need is an alternate closer to be in the pen and available to close if Alzolay pitched the day before (David Robertson would have been perfect), because with his forearm issue last September, I would be VERY wary of over-using Alzolay. I'm not even sure I would pitch him two days in a row!
And of course what the Cubs REALLY need is a second TOR SP to pair with Justin Steele. That's where the Cubs are going to need to be willing to package prospects (like the Padres did to acquire Dylan Cease, the Orioles did to acquire Corbin Burnes, and the Dodgers did to acquire Tyler Glasnow). Obviously those ships have sailed, but I would say right now the Cubs need to look very hard at trying to acquire LHSP Jesus Luzardo from the Marlins (and maybe LHP A. J. Puk as well).