After a week of polling we are now settled on four distinct rule changes, mixed with some minor clarifications to clear some things up. With that let us get right to it.
1) Free Agent Keepers –
Current: Acquired free agents currently are not keepable.
Proposed: Acquired major league free agents would start with a salary of $3, which to keep the following season would be subject to the $2 raise and greed rule. Minor league free agents would be keepable without incurring a salary.
With a 12 to 4 vote, the league has decided to change the rule to the proposed rule. With that being said, all free agents will be now be keepable.
2) Position eligibility –
Current: To qualify at a position a hitter must play 5 games at position this season or 10 games last season.
Proposed: To qualify at a position a hitter must play 5 games at position this season or 15 games last season.
With a 10 to 6 vote, the league has decided to keep the rule as it is currently written. This makes a difference for a few players, but ultimately the league has decided!
The next two votes were closer, but were decided by the league as well.
3) Initial waiver wire order – It wasn’t set per the rules.
Option 1: Reverse order of minor league draft.
Option 2: Random draw.
With a vote of 9 to 7, the league has voted to reverse draw the waiver order from the minor league draft as stated in option 1.
4) Change top 30 protection to top 2 per team.
Current: Currently players with the top 30 salaries in the league are protected from greed voting.
Proposed: Remove protections from players with top 30 salaries. Cost controlled (arbitration) players remain protected.
Finally with a vote of 9 to 7, the league has voted to keep the current rules as it comes to spending greed money on players. Players who are in the top 30 of salaries, will remain protected as well as players who are in the arbitration (cost-controlled) status.
With that we’re one step closer to the league getting going. These changes will be reflected in the league rules and setup next week, and will be highlighted to show that they’ve changed.