ZBW Rotisserie League
Official Rules
TABLE
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
XII.
XIII.
XIV.
XV.
XVI.
XVII.
XVIII.
XIX.
XX.
XXI.
7/13/2017
OF
CONTENTS
OBJECT...............................................1
TEAMS................................................1
REGULAR SEASON ROSTER.(Salary Cap Info)..............1
POSITION ELIGIBILITY.................................2
DRAFT DAY............................................3
ACTIVE RESERVE/RESERVE ROSTER........................4
FEES.................................................6
PLAYERS SALARIES.....................................7
PENALTIES............................................8
PRIZE MONEY..........................................9
STANDINGS...........................................10
STATS...............................................10
TRADES..............................................11
FREE AGENTS.........................................13
OUTRIGHT RELEASE AND WAIVERS........................14
SEPTEMBER ROSTER EXPANSION..........................15
WINTER ROSTERS......................................16
THE OPTION YEAR AND GUARANTEED LONG-TERM CONTRACTS..16
ROSTER PROTECTION...................................18
GOVERNANCE..........................................19
PROCEDURE FOR OWNERSHIP CHANGES.....................20
APPENDIX I.
SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT EVENTS....................21
ZBW Rotisserie League
Official Rules
July 13, 2017
I. OBJECT
To assemble a lineup of 23 American League baseball players whose cumulative
statistics, complied and measured by the methods described in these rules,
exceed those of all other teams in the league.
II. TEAMS
There are 12 teams in a duty constituted Rotisserie League composed of
American League players.
Note: Do NOT mix the two leagues.
III. REGULAR SEASON ROSTER
A.
A team's active roster consists of the following:
5 outfielders, 2 catchers, 1 second baseman, 1 shortstop, 1
middle infielder (either second baseman or shortstop), 1 first
baseman, 1 third baseman, 1 first or third baseman, 1 designated
hitter, and 9 pitchers.
B.
Salary Cap (January-1997). The total salaries of players on a team’s
Active Roster cannot exceed the following:
 $350 375 (February-2014) until the 1st Monday Tuesday after the 1st
Monday (April-2004) in June
 $425 450 (February-2014) until the 2nd Monday Tuesday after the 1st
Monday (April-2004) in August
 No limit from 2nd Tuesday after the 2nd Monday (January-2001) Tuesday
after the 1st Monday (April-2004)in August until Rosters freeze
(Saturday before the draft).
A team can go over the cap during the week so long as their roster
is within the cap by the end of the current transaction period
(January-2001).
C.
A Team’s active reserve roster consists of active major league players
who are not on a team’s active roster(January-1994).
D.
A player traded to the National League remains your property, if
reserved when necessary, until rosters for the next season are due
(January-1990).
E.
A team shall, within two full reporting periods (March-1987), replace
any player on its 23-man roster who is;
• placed on a 60-day (March-1987) disabled list,
• released,
• traded to the other league, or
• sent down to the minors by his major league team.
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To replace such a player, a Rotisserie League team must release him
outright, or place him on its Reserve Roster. A team reserves a player by
notifying the League Secretary and paying the $5 transaction fee. A reserved
player is removed from a team's active roster at the end of the stat week
(i.e., on Monday) during which formal notification is given, and placed on
the team's Reserved List. Reserving a player protects a team's right to that
player.
If a team does not fill the roster spot within the two full reporting
periods, that roster spot is frozen and no changes may be made until the
original player's return, and no replacement may be made (January-1992).
• Once a specific action has been taken to remove a player from its
23-man roster (via release, waiver, or placing him on the Reserve Roster), a
team is then free to select any eligible player from the free agent pool of
players not already owned by another Rotisserie League team.
• When a player is reinstated to the active 23-man Rotisserie League
roster from the team's Reserve Roster, a player must be waived, unless he
can be shifted to another natural opening on the roster for which he
qualifies or retained on a team’s active reserve roster.
F.
If a team’s roster positions are NOT properly filled by the end of
the transaction week, the team will be fined $20 (January-2001).
IV. POSITION ELIGIBILITY
A.
A player may be assigned to any position at which he appeared in 20 or
more games in the preceding season. If a player did not appear in 20 games
at a single position, he may be drafted only at the position at which he
appeared most frequently. If a rookie does not have 20 games at a single
position in the major leagues, he will be qualified based on minor league
eligibility (January 2000). The 20 games/most games measure is only used to
determine the position(s) at which a player may be drafted. Once the season
is under way (but after Draft Day), a player becomes eligible for assignment
to any position at which he appears at least once.
B.
Rookies and players being tried at new positions will have their
position eligibility determined just prior to the Draft (April 1988).
Players who are platooning at a position are NOT eligible (Nevin-C-Ana April
1998)(January-2000).
C. B. The team drafting a player who will pitch and have offensive stats
will decide on a weekly basis (if their roster permits) to use said player
as either a pitcher or hitter. Said team will only receive his stats from
his active role (January 1990).
D. C. Players signed as Major League free agents to minor league contracts
who are projected to join the major league roster at the beginning (Swift PSEA was to start Saturday) or shortly after the beginning of the season
(Cordero 1B-CHI signed late to join end of April) will be eligible for the
major league player draft (April-1999).
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Official Rules
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V. DRAFT DAY
A.
A major league player draft in the form of an open auction is
conducted on the date set by the league president (March-1987) (as close to
the first weekend after Opening Day of the baseball season as possible).
Each team must acquire 23 players at a total cost not to exceed $260. A team
need not spend the maximum. The inverse of the previous year's finished will
be the order in which teams may nominate players for acquisition (April1988). The team bidding first opens with a minimum salary bid of $1 for any
eligible player, and the bidding proceeds at minimum increments of $1 until
only one bidder is left. That team acquires the player for that amount and
announces the roster position the player will fill. The process is repeated,
with successive team owners introducing players to be bid on, until every
team has a squad of 23 players, by requisite position.
• Players eligible at more than one position may be shifted during the
course of the draft.
• No team may make a bid for a player it cannot afford. For example, a
team with $3 left, and two openings on its roster, is limited to a maximum
bid of $2 for one player.
• No team may bid for a player who qualifies only at a position that
the team has already filled. For example, a team that has acquired two
catchers and whose designated hitter slot is occupied, may not enter the
bidding for any player who qualifies only at catcher.
• Players who commence the season on a major league team's disabled
list are eligible to be drafted. If selected, they may be replaced (see
Movement Between Active and Reserve Roster).
• During the draft a team may choose to have either a DH or 10th
pitcher (February-2009).
Note. Final rosters for all American League teams will be needed on Draft
Day.
B. RESERVE DRAFT - After the Auction, a draft of up to 6 additional players
in 6 separate rounds. A team may select more than 6 players if they have
acquired other team’s draft picks (January-2010).
• Eligibility- Any player not in the organization of a National League
team.
• Selection takes place in six rounds of a simple draft, not an
auction. The 6th 5th place team selects first, proceeding in descending
order to the 12th place team, which is in turn followed by the 4th, 3rd, 2nd
and 1st place teams (January-1998).
• The price upon activation of each Farm System player from your
Reserve Roster is $5 and subsequent salary is $10.
C. Immediately following the reserve draft, free agent bids may be submitted
to replace disabled players. Bids will be accepted until all players have
been replaced. Players stats will be calculated from the first games of the
season, just like players drafted during the auction.
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Official Rules
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VI. ACTIVE RESERVE/RESERVE ROSTER
Eligibility (January-1994)
• Prior to the Draft-No active American League player
• After the Draft and through the second full week of the season- Any
combination of players.
• At no time after the second full week of the season may a team
reserve an active player if there are already two active players on their
reserve roster (May-1997 Clarification).
• Prior to the completion of the third full week of the season
(3PM Monday) and thereafter a team can have no more than two active
American League players (January-1994). Players activated on a major league
roster for less than two full weeks shall not be counted. Any extra players
shall be waived.
• Players may be transferred between a team’s Active Roster and Active
Reserve Roster without being placed on a major league team’s disabled list,
subject to the restriction of no more than two active players one pitcher
and one position player (January-2005)on the active reserve roster (January1996). Starting September 1st the two player restriction is discontinued
(February-2007).
• A player on the Reserve Roster can only be activated if that player
is back on his Major League team's active roster, or on the 15, 21 or 30-day
Disabled List projected to be on a major league roster during the upcoming
week.(April-2015) Thus, a player on a Rotisserie team's Reserve Roster
cannot be activated if he is assigned to the Minor League (exception being a
player undergoing injury rehabilitation and is on the appropriate Major
League Disabled List projected to return to the majors during the upcoming
week (April-2015)); traded to the other League; given his release; etc.
(July-1987).
Note. Intended to prevent stockpiling of players, this rule is tricky to
monitor. The clock starts ticking when the League Secretary is made aware of
a player being reactivated. By the way, "two weeks" means two full reporting
periods and may actually be as much as two weeks plus six days.
• If a Reserve Roster player is promoted to the active roster of
a major league team at any time during the regular season prior to
September 1 (when major league rosters may expand to 40), his
Rotisserie League team has two weeks after his promotion to,
• activate a player (at any position for which he qualifies)
• assign a player to one of the two Reserve Roster spots which
have Major League eligibility or,
• waive a player.
• trade a player (The receiving team has the same time period
to make a roster move. They do not get two weeks from the time of
the trade.
Note. The player being activated, reassigned or waived does not have
to be the same player being activated by his Major League team.
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• The fee for activating a player from a team's Reserve Roster is $5.
• If a Reserve Roster player is activated, the player displaced from
the 23-man roster to make room for him must be placed on waivers or
reserved, unless the Reserve Roster player can be activated into a natural
opening, in which case no waiver is required.
• The fee for reserving a player on a team's Reserve Roster is $5.
• A Reserve Roster player may be traded during authorized trading
periods, subject to prevailing rules governing transactions, as may a team's
selection rights in the first two rounds (January-1990) in the upcoming
(November-1987) reserve draft.
• No team may exercise more than six reserve picks in any one year's
reserve draft There is no limit to the number of reserve draft picks
acquired via trades (January-2010).
• After September 1st, the two-week period for activating a
Reserve Roster member is waived. Thus, if a minor league player is called up
to the Major Leagues after September 1st, his Rotisserie team retains
exclusive rights to the player whether they add him to their roster or not.
The two-week period for activating players activated from their team's major
league disabled list remains in effect.
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Official Rules
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VII. FEES
The Rotisserie League has a schedule of fees covering all player personnel
moves. No money passes directly from team to team. No bets are made on the
outcome of any game. All fees are payable into the prize pool and are
subsequently distributed to the top teams. One person per Rotisserie League
team is responsible for paying the treasurer (January 1993).
1.
BASIC: The cumulative total of salaries paid for acquisition of a
23-man roster on Draft Day may not exceed $260.
2.
ROSTER PROTECTION: The fee for protecting players on a team's
Reserve Roster prior to draft day is the player's salary. There
is a $5 fee per player protected on a Team’s Reserve Roster and
then cut at the Draft (January-1999).
3.
TRADES: Each team pays 1/2 the difference of the total salaries
traded OR $5 per player traded, whichever is HIGHER (January1998). In a trade, which team pays the fee is subject to
negotiation.
4.
WAIVERS: $5 for each player claimed on waivers.
5.
SEPTEMBER ROSTER EXPANSION: $50. This fee includes activating
the player from a team's Reserve Roster.
6.
ACTIVATION FROM RESERVE ROSTER: Activating a player from the
Reserve Roster is subject to a $5 transaction fee.
7.
RESERVING A PLAYER: Placing a player on the Reserve Roster is
subject to a $5 transaction fee.
8.
REGULAR SEASON FREE AGENTS:
The fee for a Free Agent acquisition is the bid price regardless
of the assigned player salary. Minimum bid is $5.
9.
WINTER
• Free
• Free
• Free
FREE AGENTS:
Agent signed
Agent signed
Agent signed
A signing bonus
for one year
for two years
for three years
shall be paid as follows;
- $15
- $30
- $60 (April-2016)
109. GUARANTEED LONG-TERM CONTRACT BONUS: A signing bonus, equal to one half
the total value of the long-term contract, but no less than $5.
1110. ENTRY: Teams will pay a $300 entry fee.
$260 are covered by this fee.
The draft day salaries of
1211. LEAGUE EXPENSES: Computer expenses and room (April-2016)for the draft
shall be paid by all teams as part of the first bill after the draft. This
will remain separate from the prize money billings (November-1988).
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VIII. PLAYERS SALARIES
The salary of a player is determined by the time and means of his
acquisition and does not change unless the player becomes a free agent or is
signed to a guaranteed long-term contract.
• The salary of a player acquired in the major league draft is his
auction price.
• The salary of a player acquired in the winter free agent draft is
his auction price. (April-2016)
• The salary of a player selected during the Reserve Draft is
$10.
• The salary of a player selected from the Free Agent Pool during the
season is the winning bid or $10, whichever is higher.
• The salary of a Free Agent player after September 1st is $25 or the
winning bid, whichever is higher.
• The salary of a player claimed on waivers during the regular season
is $10 or his previous salary, whichever is higher. Contract length is not
changed.
• The salary of a player claimed on winter waivers is his previous
salary. Contract length is not changed.
NOTE. Because you can commit only $260 for salaries on Draft Day, and
because you will keep some of your players from one season to the next,
salaries are very important, particularly after the first season ends and
winter trading begins.
Maintaining accurate, centralized player personnel records (i.e.,
salary and contract status) is the most important task of the League
Secretary, who deserves hosannas of praise from the other owners for all the
work he does.
NOTE. The $260 salary limit pertains to Draft Day only. After Draft Day,
free agent signings and acquisition of high-priced players in trades may
well drive a team's payroll above $260.
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IX. PENALTIES
A.
A failure to attain a minimum of 1,000 innings pitched full
season or 400 innings pitched half season will result in the
following (January 1993);
1) Add the number of innings necessary to equal 1,000/400
2) Add one (1) earned run (ER) and two (2) hits for each
inning added
3) Calculate standings for ERA and RATIO after these additions.
Note. The position in the standings of the team not attaining
1,000/400 innings is to more accurately reflect what the actual
standings would have been.
B.
Any team not attaining 5,000 at bats (AB) full season or 2,000
at bats (AB) half season will result in the following (January 1993);
1) Add the number of AB necessary to equal 5,000/2,000
2) Calculate standings for AB after this addition.
Any team that does not meet the minimum AB or IP for the OVERALL standings
will be fined $1 per AB or IP up to a maximum of $100 for each category
(January-1997).
Note. The position in the standings of the team not attaining
5,000/2,000 AB is to more accurately reflect what the actual
standings would have been.
C.
Action must be taken prior to the end of the second full reporting
period for a player on an Active Roster who is no longer on an American
League Active Roster or his team's 15/21/30 day disabled list or the roster
spot will become FROZEN (April-1987).
• Any team finishing the year with a frozen roster spot would not
qualify for prize money (November-1988).
Exception: If no eligible player is available, as a Free Agent or
on a team's Reserve Roster, the two week period does not begin
until an eligible player become available.
D.
The team that finishes last in the overall standings (January-2002)
will buy a round of drinks at the winter meeting (January 1992).the pizza at
the draft (April-2016).
E.
When a team is given a bill after April 1, 1989, for any transaction
in the League, said team has 30 days to pay in full aforementioned bill. If
said team does not comply, that team is precluded from further transactions
until the date of full payment (November-1988).
F.
A penalty will be imposed on bills not paid by the end of the World
Series (January-1998).
G.
The team which finishes first in the overall standings shall
purchase three (3) cases of beer for the following year’s draft (1994).
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X. PRIZE MONEY
All fees shall be promptly collected and wisely invested by the League
Treasurer, who is empowered to subject owners to public humiliation and to
assess fines as needed to insure that payments are made to the League in a
timely fashion. The principle, after any league expenses, shall be
distributed as follows (JULY-1987):
A. Prior to computing the pay-out the following amounts will be subtracted.
_ Officers salaries
_ $400 to be put towards the meal at the following Winter Meeting
(January-1996)
Period
2nd Half Season
(January-1997)
Overall
(January-1997)
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%/$ of
Prize Pool
30%
1st
Place
2nd
Place
3rd
Place
4th
Place
5th
Place
6th
Place
5%
5%
5%
5%
5%
5%
30%
20%
13%
7%
---
---
70%
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XI. STANDINGS
The following criteria are used to determine team performance:
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Composite Batting Average
Total Home Runs
Total RBIs
Total Stolen Bases
Composite ERA
Total Wins
Composite Pitching Ratio of walks and hits to innings pitched
(Bases on Balls + Hits / Innings Pitched = Ratio)
* Total Saves
Teams are ranked from first to last in each of the eight categories, and
given points for each place. For example, in a twelve-team league, the
first-place team in a category receives twelve points, second-place team
receives eleven points, and so on down to 1 point for last place. The team
with the most total points wins the pennant.
• In cases of ties in an individual category, the tied teams are
assigned points by totaling points for the rankings at issue and dividing
the total by the number of teams tied.
• In cases of ties in total points, final place in the standings is
determined by comparing placement of teams in individual categories.
Respective performances are calculated and a point given to each team for
bettering the other. Should one team acquire more points than the other, the
team is declared the winner of the tie. Should the points be equal, the tie
stands.
The season shall be divided into two halves with the first half ending after
all games are completed on the Sunday before the All-Star game (Jan94).
XII. STATS
The weekly player performance summaries published in USA Today constitute
the official data base for computation of standings in Rotisserie baseball.
However, a computer data base will be used by the ZBW Rotisserie League with
the USA Today remaining the official data base in the case of discrepancies
(JULY-1988).
Note. Box scores in daily newspapers are riddled with errors, and official
scorers occasionally change rulings. USA Today is the final word.
The CBS Sportsline database will be the official stats for computation of
standings in Rotisserie baseball. (January 2005).
• The effective date of any transaction for purposes of statistical
calculation is the Monday immediately after the deadline for reporting
transactions to the League Secretary except the week of the all-star break
when that deadline is Thursday. When players are involved in games on
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Monday which begin prior to 3PM any transaction involving a player in that
game must be completed prior to the start of the game (January-1993).
• Trades and call-ups on Draft day to replace disabled players, are
effective retroactive to Opening Day. Transactions occurring after Draft Day
but before the closing date of the first cumulative summaries to appear in
USA Today are effective the Monday immediately after the first closing date.
• Performance stats of a player shall be assigned to a Rotisserie League
team only when he is on the active 23-man roster of that team.
• Standings shall be tabulated and issued in a regular and timely fashion,
as determined by the League owners.
Note. The stat people deserve the same praise you give your League
Secretary!
XIII. TRADES
A. From the completion of the draft auction until 3PM on the first Sunday in
September, Rotisserie League teams are free to make trades with any team so
long as the active rosters of both teams involved in a trade reflect the
required position distribution by the end of that week (Jan94). There is no
trading from 3PM the first Sunday in September (Jan94) until the completion
of the regular season.
Note. Teams who's roster exceeds the limits set above shall waive the
player/s of their choice in order to reduce the roster size.
B.
The following rule will be in effect from 3PM the Thursday of the
All-Star break until the September trading deadline (Jan94).
• Players who are currently on an American League Active Rosters (January
1993) and are in the last year of a guaranteed contract, or playing out
their option year, or players with a salary of $25 or more, are considered
"asterisk" players. Such players may be traded only under the following
conditions:
• One team may trade asterisk players to another team provided that
for each asterisk player traded, one is received in the same deal.
• The above notwithstanding, a team may trade one asterisk player to
another team without an asterisk player coming in return, but may only make
one such trade with each team in the course of the season.
Note. If the River Queens trade an asterisk player to the Space Cowboys
during the season without receiving an asterisk player, they could make
another trade with the Space Cowboys in which they received an asterisk
player and the Space Cowboys did not.
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C.
Trades made from the day after the season ends until rosters are
frozen at 3pm (January 1992) the Saturday prior to the start of the Regular
Season are not bound by the position distribution requirements.
D.
No trades are allowed from 3pm, the Saturday before the Season
begins until the completion of the Major League Draft (March-1988/ January1990).
• Trades do not affect the salaries or contract status of players.
• OFF SEASON TRADES. Each trade is subject to the $10 transaction fee.
• IN SEASON TRADES. Each team pays 1/2 the difference of the total
salaries traded OR $5 per player traded, whichever is HIGHER (January-1998).
Example: Deadzones Trade
Schnookers Trade
Wetteland 35A
Palmer
20C
Appier
33A
Langston 18C
68
38
Difference equals 68-38=$30
Number of players traded =4x$5=$20
Each team pays 1/2 the difference (whichever is high) or in this case $15.
• Future considerations will not be allowed in player trades(1987).
• Cash will not be allowed as part of a player trade (November-1987).
• Player trades involving draft picks shall be limited to draft picks
in the 1st and 2nd rounds only (October 1991) rounds 1 through 6 (January
2006) 5 (February 2004) in the next ZBW Rotisserie League rotation draft
(November-1987).
• Team’s may have more than six (6) total draft picks (February-2009).
E.
A trade board may be convened at the request of three (3) Rotisserie
League franchises to examine the fairness of a given trade. The board will:
• Consist of five (5) members, President, Secretary, and two (3)
owners, not involved in the trade, selected at random.
• If the President and/or Secretary are involved in the trade, he/she
shall disqualify themselves and additional owners shall be picked at random
so the board totals five (5).
• Have the power to reaffirm or invalidate the trade in question.
• A simple majority will be needed for a trade board ruling (1999).
• The decision of the board is final (November-1987).
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XIV. FREE AGENTS
A.
REGULAR SEASON FREE AGENTS - Any Active American League player (which
includes National League players traded over as long as the trade has been
announced. Traded players may be selected even if not on a active American League
roster.-January-2005) not on a Rotisserie League team. Free Agents can be signed
after the standings begin draft (1999).
• Each team has a Free Agent budget of $200 (January-1995) $300 (February2014).
• A team's Free Agent budget will be increased by the salary, double if the
salary is $25 or more (February-2009), of a player on their team who is traded to
the National League during the regular season (January 1992).
• Sealed bids must be given to the Free Agent Bid acceptor (January 1993)
before 3:00 P.M. on Sunday.
• Minimum bid = $5
• Highest bidder wins, with ties going to the team lower in the previous
day’s (April 2005) current half-season (Jan94) standings.
• Salary of the player selected is the bid price or $10, whichever is higher,
till September 1st. Starting September 1st the salary is $25 or the bid price,
whichever is higher (January 1992).
• The fee for a Free Agent acquisition is the bid price regardless of the
assigned player salary.
• For each Free Agent that it signs, a team must at the same time waive a
player who is currently on its Active roster or have a natural opening to fill
(Jan94).
• A team has until 3pm on Monday to make their roster work after picking up a
free agent (January-2001).
Note. We decided in the past if a Free Agent is sent down or disabled after being
picked up, we (the league) would be happy to collect the extra transaction fee. A
Free Agent cannot be moved off the rotisserie team's roster if nothing has changed
in his ML status (Interpretation-2011).
• Free Agents signed for a salary of $25.00 or more cannot be traded during
the current season.
B.
WINTER FREE AGENTS (January 1991)
A player is eligible for free agency if,
• He has completed a nonrenewable contract, and
• He becomes a free agent in Major League baseball.
The League Secretary shall compile a list of players qualifying for free
agency under this rule and post prior to the winter meetings.
The League President shall schedule a meeting in January, at which time
owners will bid on Free Agents in the same manner as used in the April Draft.
• Salary will be the amount bid for the player.
• Free Agents must be signed for a minimum of one year and a maximum of three
years, owners choice.
• A signing bonus shall
Free Agent signed for
Free Agent signed for
Free Agent signed for
be paid as follows;
one year
- $15
two years
- $30
three years - $60
Note. No salary is paid at the time of the signing. This will be included in the
$260 salary limit to start the season.
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• Winter Free Agents must be protected on April 1st in the year they are
signed even if they are not on an American League Roster.
• Winter Free Agents in the Minor Leagues or injured at the start of the
season may be placed on the Rotisserie Team's Reserve Roster following the April
Player Draft.
• Winter Free Agents not on an American or Minor League Roster must be released
following the April Player Draft. (April-2016)
XV. OUTRIGHT RELEASE AND WAIVERS
Under certain conditions, a Rotisserie League player may be released outright or
placed on waivers.
A.
Players are placed on waivers when they cannot be accommodated on a team's
Active roster or Reserve roster and under rules covering the winter roster. When a
team activates a player from its Reserve Roster a player is waived unless a natural
opening exists or another player is placed on said team's Reserve Roster (January1994).
B. Only a player currently on an American League roster (not on a Disabled List)
may be claimed for your Active roster.
Note. This is to prevent a team from picking up a player on waivers merely for the
purpose of releasing him and replacing him with a player of higher quality (Feb09).
B. All players waived will be placed on waivers regardless of whether they are on
an American, National, minor league roster, disabled list, are a free agent or have
been designated for assignment (February-2009).
• The waiver period begins at 3pm on Monday after the League Secretary has
been notified that a player has been waived and lasts one week.
• The player on waivers becomes the property of the lowest-ranked team in the
current half-season (Jan02) standings (Jan94)who claims the player for their Active
Rosters(January-1997) by 3pm on Sunday unless a team claims more than one player.
If their are no claims for a team’s Active roster by the end of the waiver period,
then the player becomes the property of the lowest-ranked team claiming the player
for their Active Reserve roster (January-1997). When a team claims more than one
player in the same week, said team shall indicate which player is their first
choice. Any number one choices and all teams with only one claim will be processed
first with the lowest-ranked team in the current half-season (Jan02) standings
(Jan94) given first consideration. Any teams with two claims will then be processed
in the same manner.
• After 3pm on Sunday, until 3pm on Monday, the player becomes the property
of the first team to claim him (April-1987).
• A player who is not claimed by any team as of 3pm on Sunday may be claimed
by his previous team by notifying the League Secretary (November-1987/July-1989).
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Note. Waiver claims shall be extended until 3PM Thursday the week of the All-Star
Break. From 3PM Sunday, until 3PM Thursday, priority shall be first-come, firstserve (April-1987).
• To make room on its roster, the team acquiring a player on waivers must
assign the player to a natural opening or waive a player at the same position
played by the newly acquired player.
Note. If a player on waivers is involved in a major league game on Monday which
begins prior to 3pm, then the waiver period for said player ends at game time
(January 1993).
• A player who clears waivers-i.e., is not claimed by any team as of the
transaction deadline on Monday shall return to the Free Agent Pool.
• The fee for acquiring a player on waivers is $5.
• The salary of a player acquired on waivers during the regular season shall
be $10 or his previous salary, whichever is greater, and his contract status shall
remain unchanged.
• The salary of a player acquired on winter waivers shall be the players
current salary (October 1991) and his contract status shall remain unchanged.
• Players claimed on waivers can not be used in transactions the week they
are claimed.
D.
A player may be given his outright release only if he is
(a) unconditionally released,
(b) placed on the "designated for assignment" list,
(c) sent to the minors,
(d) placed on the "disqualified" list, or
(e) traded to the "other" league.
(f) placed on the disabled list. (January-1994)
XVI. SEPTEMBER ROSTER EXPANSION
After September 1st, a team may expand its roster by promoting/acquiring an
unlimited number of players.
• A fee of $50.00 must be paid for each player who increases the Active
roster beyond 23 players.
• The salary assigned to a September call-up free agent is $25 or the
acquisition price, whichever is higher. The salary of a September call-up from a
team's Reserve Roster is salary established at the time he was previously acquired.
Note. A device for heightening the excitement for contending teams and for
sweetening the kitty at their expense.
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XVII. WINTER ROSTER
Before the winter meetings (January-2001), a A Winter roster of 23 players is
submitted to the League Secretary by December 20th (April-2016).
• All players not on their team's 23 man roster (not including players whose
contracts have ended) go on the Waiver Wire.
• The Secretary shall post the order in which teams will bid and the players
available as soon as practicable (October 1991).
• The Secretary will notify Teams electronically and (February-2014) Teams
will select a player or pass when it is their turn (October 1991).
• Players claimed retain their salary and contract status (October 1991).
• Upon claiming a player on waivers, a team must then waive one of their
protected players.
• Only one (1) player can be selected per round off of waivers.
• Players unclaimed after the first round on waivers remain eligible to be
claimed in subsequent rounds (October 1991).
• The process continues until no one is claimed (October 1991).
• After October 23rd Beginning at the winter meetings (January 2006),
December 21st (April-2016) Winter rosters may exceed 23 players.
XVIII. THE OPTION YEAR AND
GUARANTEED LONG-TERM CONTRACTS
A player who has been under contract at the same salary during two consecutive
seasons and whose service has been uninterrupted (that is, he has not been waived
or released, although he may have been traded) must, prior to the freezing of
rosters in his third or option season, be
• released,
• signed at the same salary for his option year, or
• signed to a guaranteed long-term contract.
If released, the player returns to the Free Agent Pool and becomes available to the
highest bidder at the next draft auction. If signed at the same salary for an
option year, the player must be released back into the Free Agent Pool at the end
of that season. If signed to a guaranteed long-term contract, the player's salary
in each year covered by the new contract (which commences with the option year)
shall be the sum of his current salary plus $5 for each additional year beyond the
option year. In addition, a signing bonus, equal to one half the total value of the
long-term contract, but no less than $5, shall also be paid.
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EXAMPLE: Mark McGwire, 1B-OAK signed by the Masterblasters at the 1987 Draft for
$2. Prior to the rosters freezing at 3pm on April 2, 1989 the Masterblasters will
have to issue Mark McGwire a guaranteed long-term contract if they plan on
retaining Mark beyond 1989. Let's say that the brain trust of the Masterblasters
decides to sign Mark McGwire for three (3) additional years. The salary would be
Mark's current salary $2 (1989) plus $5 for each additional year (1990-1992) of the
contract ($2 + $5*3 = $17). The contact would take effect with the 1989 season and
run through the end of 1992 with a salary of $17 each year. The signing bonus,
which does not count against your $260 Draft Day limit, would be 1/2 of 4 * $17
($34).
Note. This rule is intended to prevent blue-chippers, low-priced rookies who
blossom into superstars, and undervalued players from being tied up for the
duration of their careers by the teams who originally drafted them. It guarantees
periodic transfusions of topflight talent for Draft Day and provides rebuilding
teams something to rebuild with.
• In determining a player's status, "season" is understood to be a full
season or any fraction thereof.
• Option-year and long-term contracts are entirely transferable, both in
rights and obligations; the trade of a player in no way affects his contract
status.
• If, during the course of a long-term contract, a player is traded to the
National League, the contract is rendered null and void. The team that loses the
player's services shall be under no further financial obligations.
• In all other cases-specifically including permanent disability or sudden
loss of effectiveness-a team must honor the terms of a long-term contract, as
follows:
A player with such a contract may be released (that is, not
protected on a team's roster prior to Draft Day), but a
team that chooses to do so must pay into the prize pool,
above the $260 Draft Day limit, a sum equal to twice the
remaining value of the player's contract. The player then
reenters the Free Agent Pool.
Note. This is an escape hatch for the owner who buys a dog but can't stand fleas.
It's costly, but it's fair.
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XIX. ROSTER PROTECTION
(Prior to Draft Day)
Each team may retain any fifteen (15) players from its winter roster. Owners may
protect players on their active roster that are not on an American League 25 man
roster and the players salary is counted toward the team’s $260 salary limit.
(January-2005)
• Protected players not on an American League 25 man roster who retain rookie
status (January-2005) may be retained on the Reserve Roster, and the salaries they
carry must be paid into the league treasury on draft day.
Note. This fee does not affect a team's $260 draft day budget, but is in addition
to it.
• In addition to the 15 players that a team may protect for the Draft, a team may
also protect an additional 3 players on its Reserve Roster, provided such players
have rookie status. The salaries they carry must be paid into the league treasury
on draft day.
Note. This fee does not affect a team's $260 draft day budget, but is in addition
to it.
Note. The major-league rule reads: "A player shall be considered a rookie unless,
during a previous season or seasons, he has (a) exceeded 130 at-bats or 50 innings
pitched in the major leagues; or (b) accumulated more than 45 days on the active
roster of a major league club or clubs during the period of a 25-player limit
(excluding time in the military service)."
• All players that are protected in April, advance a year in their contract status,
including rookies.
• The names of the players being retained must be recorded with the League
Secretary by 3PM the Saturday prior to the start of the regular season (January
1990). Specific notice must also be made at that time of any guaranteed long-term
contract signings and Reserve Roster renewals.
• The cumulative salaries of players protected prior to Draft Day who are on an
American League roster or are 'Winter Free Agents' in our league are deducted from
a team's $260 expenditure limit, and the balance is available for acquisition of
the remaining players needed to complete the team's 23-man roster.
• The League Secretary should promptly notify all teams in the league of each
team's protected roster, including players salaries, contract status, and amount
available to spend on Draft Day.
• Failure to give notice of a guaranteed long-term contract for a player in his
option year will result in his being continued for one season at his prior year's
salary and then released into the Free Agent Pool. Failure to renew an eligible
rookie's contract will result in his becoming available to all other teams in the
subsequent rotation draft.
• A player designated for a team's Reserve Roster the Saturday prior to the start
of the regular season (JANUARY-1990)(DZ-Briton,Z activated on Sunday with our draft
on Wednesday. Don had to activate or release Zack prior to the draft-2011) who
subsequently makes his major league team's active roster may, at his Rotisserie
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League owner's option, may be added to the protected list of players on Draft Day
(and another player dropped, if necessary, to meet the 15-player limit), or he may
be dropped and made available in the draft auction. He may not be retained in his
Rotisserie League team's Reserve Roster.
• Teams that protect players on their Reserve Roster shall NOT lose picks in the
Reserve Draft.
• Player protected on a team's Active Roster but not on American League rosters on
Draft Day, are not counted against the $260.00 limit unless the player was selected
as a 'Winter Free Agent'. and must be dropped from the roster.(April-2016).
• Winter Free Agents must be included on the protected active roster in the year
they are signed even if they are not on an American League Roster.(April-2016)
XX. GOVERNANCE
The ZBW Rotisserie is governed by a Committee of the Whole consisting of all team
owners. The committee of the Whole has designated the following offices and
salaries for officers:
President
Secretary
Statistician
Treasurer (March-1987)
$150
$250
$150
$100
(January-2011)
(January-2011)
(January-2005)
(January-1990)
$200
$200
(January-2005)
(January-2005)
The ZBW Rotisserie League President has the authority to interpret playing rules
and to handle all necessary and routine League business (March-1987). All
decisions, rulings, and interpretations by the President (March-1987) are subject
to veto by the Committee of the Whole. Rule changes, pronouncements, and acts of
whimsy are determined by a 2/3 majority of the total membership (One vote per
team)(April-1989). The Rotisserie League has two official meetings each year: Draft
Day and Winter Meeting following the end of the season (actual dates set by the
League President).
Any motion shall be given to the President one week in advance of a meeting. Other
issues shall only be entertained as time permits (November-1988). Motions will be
discussed at the annual meeting. The Secretary will then email the final version
of any rules changes that do not receive enough votes to pass or fail to all
owners. Owners will have two (2) weeks to vote on the motion (January-2008).
The League Secretary shall provide each team with updates to the ZBW Rotisserie
League Official Rules (January 1990).
The league name on the website and rosters shall be ZBW (Shanahan – Poncet)
Rotisserie League. Bank accounts and any other document will remain the ZBW
Rotisserie League (February–2014).
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XXI. PROCEDURE FOR OWNERSHIP CHANGES
The owners of a ZBW Rotisserie League team have the right to sell their franchise
to a party of their choice. However, the new franchise owner/owners must be
approved by six (6) of the remaining franchise owners.
If a franchise changes owners during the season, the team roster remains as is.
If a new owner cannot be found, then franchise reverts back to the league and the
roster stays as is (November-1987).
The League can assume control of a team with a 2/3 majority vote after the team has
been notified in writing by the League of a problem and the problem is not
corrected by the date specified by the League (November-1988).
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APPENDIX I.
July 13, 2017
SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT EVENTS
EVENT
DATE
Saturday Prior to
the Start of the
Regular Season
•Guaranteed Long-Term Contracts Signed and League
notified.
•Active & Reserve Roster due by 3PM.
•No trades are allowed from 3pm, on date Protected
Rosters are due till the completion of the Major League
Draft (March-1988).
Prior to Draft
•$300 due.
Immediately After
the Draft
•Immediately following the Reserve draft, "free agents"
bids may be submitted to replaced disabled players.
•Trading resumes.
•Team salary cap of $375.
•$20 penalty for each time a team’s roster does not
work out at the end of the transaction period.
Completion of the Second
Full Week of the Season
•No more than two (2) active American League players on
a team's Reserve Roster.
Tuesday after the 1st
Monday of June
Thursday of the
All-Star game
Tuesday after the 1st
Monday in August
•Team salary cap is increased to $450.
•First half-season ends.
•Asterisk trading restrictions begin.
•There is no salary cap.
September 1st
•Rosters may be expanded.
•Minimum salary for Free Agents is now $25.
•The two one(January-2005) week requirement for
activating players from a team’s Active Reserve Roster
is suspended for players who retain rookie status.
First Sunday in
September
•Trading deadline at 3PM.
Completion of
Regular Season
•Trading Resumes.
End of the World Series
•Deadline for paying outstanding bills.
December 20th
•Winter rosters must be submitted to the secretary by
3PM.
•Winter Waivers and rule change proposals conducted
electronically (April-2016)
January
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