Altering Baseball Contract DL Qualifications

[Quahogs]

As things currently stand in baseball contract, the only players eligible for our DL are players that are currently on the 60 day DL of their MLB teams. Usually, teams place players with significant injuries on the 60 day DL, but there is one big exception that I've noticed on my own roster this year, as well as other rosters over the past few seasons. That exception is when a team just leaves a player with a significant injury (Torn ACL, Groin Tear, TJS, etc.) on just the regular DL (Only 10 Day DL now) because the guy they call-up is already on their 40 man roster, therefore the MLB team has zero incentive to place the injured player on the 60 day DL even though they're done for the season. This exception currently leaves players in our contract league ineligible for our DL based on the rules we all play by.

A perfect example of this would be Adam Eaton of the Nationals this season. Eaton suffered a torn ACL in late April, and with such a significant and unfortunate injury he is done for the season. However, the player they called-up was already on their 40 man roster so there was no need to create a spot on the 40 man roster by putting Adam Eaton on the 60 day DL.

(In case you don't know, a player on the 10 day DL still occupies a 40 man roster spot, while a player on the 60 day DL does not).

The main reason I propose this rule is because it puts a manager at a disadvantage of having one less roster spot, especially when it involves a key piece of your roster that you can't afford to buyout or waive. It's also unfair to managers in this league that some MLB teams place their players on the 60 day DL immediately (Carlos Rodon of the White Sox this year for example) regardless of who they call-up, while others don't (Eaton). Basically, I'm just saying that all significantly injured players should be eligible for our leagues disabled list, even if they aren't on their MLB teams 60 day DL.

Anyways, here's what I propose to put into place for next season:

1. Any player ruled out for 3 months or longer, or ruled out for the remainder of the regular season by their MLB team is immediately eligible for the 60 day DL in our league, even if the MLB team hasn't placed the player on their 60 day DL.

2. All players placed on the MLB's 60 day DL would remain eligible for the DL in our league.


I guess what I'm basically proposing is an amendment to the rule, instead of a brand new rule. I'm open to other thoughts on this as well, but more than anything else I think players ruled out for the remainder of the regular season by their teams should be immediately eligible for the DL in our league, even if they're not on the 60 day DL of their MLB team.

[Hitmen]

I agree with a lot of what you said but I don't like rules that aren't back or white.

To me the better solution would be to allow teams to put players on the 10 day DL on the DL in our league.

[Dynasty Empire]

I actually agree with both of you in general. Hogs is right we will have to alter the rule to compensate for the new 10 day DL which is also reeking havoc on our standard leagues. As i agree i dont like rules that are not black and white we can work through this in contract(something i would not try in standard). As discribed by the DL listing on yahoo,if a player is stated as being out an extended period of time(i say the benchmark be set at 8 weeks [60 days]) then the player should be allowed to be placed on contract DL and could remain there until removed from yahoo DL. I have Bumgarner sitting there on 10 day DL knowing he won't be back until at least the all star break. All this does is free up a bench spot so it does not give any salary relief so i think the rule should be adjusted to reflect the original intent. Regardless of the MLB teams need to open up a slot on the 40 man we just need to look at it as the player is out for 8+ weeks and we should be able to fill that spot at least temporarily.

[Stark Direwolves]

So, here's one for ya: Nathan Eovaldi, who is having elbow surgery and will be out for at least the first HALF of the entire season, is on the 10 DAY DL. We, as a network, should be able to make common sense decisions with our DL allotments. Hopefully this comes up for vote in the future.

[Moorestown Big Dogs]

Yeah, the major league teams generally put guys on the 10 day DL until they need that spot and only then move them to the 60 day DL. One way to make an adjustment to the rule would be to require a set time for the players we put on the DL to stay there. 60 days would be an obvious choice, but some other period could be used. That way, if an owner thinks that player X's injury will keep them out long term, he can put them on, but will know that he cannot recall them for at least 60 days. This is a black and white rule, and would likely work out well.