When Major League Baseball temporarily suspended operations in March due to concerns over the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, many players were left in a state of uncertainty.
That includes Minor Leaguers, who were the first to be sent home from camps. While a season doesn’t appear likely for them, most teams have guaranteed they will be compensated through the end of August.
Players on non-guaranteed contracts were also notably affected. However, those that are ultimately left off 40-man rosters will receive a period of termination pay, as part of the March 26 agreement between MLB and the Players Association.
Another group of players that struggled during the pandemic were remaining free agents from the offseason. Because MLB implemented a transactions freeze on March 26, those without a club faced even more instability.
According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive, the aforementioned transactions freeze will be lifted on Friday at 9 a.m. PT, giving teams the green light to once again make roster changes:
The transaction freeze that has been in place since March 26 would be lifted at noon on the fifth day prior to spring training, allowing teams to start tweaking their rosters.
Considering there will be more of an emphasis on depth this season, it wouldn’t be surprising to see a flurry of players find new homes over the weekend.
Teams are permitted to field 30-man rosters on Opening Day, although that figure will decline as the regular season progresses. But players can still fill a role on teams’ taxi squads, who must be on standby in the event of an injury or illness.
Notable free agents that could come off the board include former Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig, who reportedly is drawing interest from the rival San Francisco Giants.
Russell Martin, who appeared in 83 games for the Dodgers last season, is also free to sign with a club. Having recently turned 37, the 14-year MLB veteran revealed last November that he was planning on extending his career.
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