Proposal Would Shorten Free Agency Path for Some Players
A plan under discussion would allow certain players to reach free agency after five years instead of six. The change targets players who accumulate service time later in their careers.
ilounge.comCurrent rules require six full years of major league service time for free agency eligibility. One year equals 172 days on a big league roster out of the 187-day season. A new proposal would reduce that requirement to five years for players who reach the majors later.
The change aims to give later bloomers earlier access to free agency. The proposal includes a provision allowing teams to retain such a player for a sixth season. Retention would require offering the player the average of the top 125 salaries in the league.
Under the plan, teams could keep a late-blooming star by meeting the salary threshold but would otherwise lose the player after five years.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
3 events- Current
Players need six full years of service time to reach free agency.
1 source@JeffPassan - Proposed
Later bloomers would reach free agency after five years under the plan.
1 source@JeffPassan - Proposed
Teams could retain a player for a sixth year by offering the average of the top 125 salaries.
1 source@JeffPassan
Potential Impact
- 01
Players who reach the majors later could enter free agency one year earlier.
- 02
Teams may face higher salary costs to retain late-blooming players for a sixth year.
Transparency Panel
Related Stories
sbs.com.auEconomist Who Predicted Past Three World Cups Names 2026 Winner
German economist Joachim Klement, who correctly forecast the winners of the past three World Cups, stated his pick for the 2026 tournament during an interview with CBS News correspondent Ramy Inocencio.
espn.comNBA Board Approves Expanded Draft Lottery and Anti-Tanking Rules
The NBA's board of governors voted 29-1 on Thursday to expand the draft lottery from 14 to 16 teams starting in 2027 and introduce new measures aimed at reducing tanking.
bbc.co.ukForbes Ranks Real Madrid Most Valuable Football Club
Forbes placed Real Madrid at the top of its annual list of the world's most valuable football clubs. Barcelona moved ahead of Manchester United into second place.