Franchise Free Agency and FA begins SOON!

Everyone just wanted to refresh you on the Franchise Free Agency (FFA) and Free Agency process.

C. FREE AGENT MINOR LEAGUERS

1. For signing purposes, a player is considered a Minor leaguer if he has 130 AB/50 IP or fewer. When bidding, include the MLB AB or IP total for the player.

2. Players who qualify as Minor leaguers may not initially be signed to Major league contracts. They must be won as a Minor leaguer first, then promoted.

3. Only Minor leaguers signed to Major or Minor league contracts with an MLB club may be signed as FA. The only caveat being that they remain eligible to be kept by a drafting GM if left unsigned by an MLB club after the MLB draft signing period ends.

4. The guidelines established for Major league bidding apply, except for bid amounts. Initial Minor league bids must be at least $50,000 with counter bids of no less than $50,000.

5. The winning bid will be considered a Signing Bonus that will apply against that season's Majors cap. Once that season ends, no amount is owed to the Minor leaguer.

6. During the season, GM's will be allowed to sign Minor leaguers from their chosen Franchises to their minor league rosters on a first-come, first-serve basis. Those will be called Franchise Free Agents.

7. At the start of offseason, after the Year-End Process, GM's will be given a 48 HR window to claim Franchise Free Agent Minors just prior to the reopening of FA/Waivers. No signing bonus is required for these claims. The transactions must still be registered in the Minors FA Auction and within that team's transaction thread.

8. A Franchise Minor released at season's end due to an expired contract may not be claimed during the 48-hour window as it would guarantee perpetual ownership while a minor. The released player may only be re-claimed as a franchise minor when the season begins. However, the owner is allowed to bid on that player if he is posted by another owner.