Free Agency

Definition

Upon reaching six years of Major League service time, players become eligible to test free agency at the end of that season -- assuming they haven't already signed a long-term contract extension covering one or more of their free-agent years. (Players accrue Major League service time for each day spent on the 26-man roster or the Major League injured list. Each regular season consists of 187 days, and a player is credited with one year of service upon reaching 172 days in a given season.)

A free agent may sign with any club for any terms to which the two sides agree. Players with six or more years of service time who sign a contract become free agents again once that deal expires. If a player with fewer than six years of service time signs with a club, he remains under that club’s control until reaching the requisite service time for free agency -- even if the contract itself doesn’t extend that far.

Players also become free agents if they are released by their organization at any point, regardless of service time, and are free to sign with any club immediately.