Excel Rosters Updated

I've posted a new version of the Excel rosters file which uses the new contract indicators (years and symbols rather than letters). To ease the transition, the file contains a second tab with the old contract letters. The tabs in the file are:

• Rosters - Uses the new contract indicators ... more detail on this below
• Old School - Lists the old letter-based contracts we used in the past

I will update both copies in tandem for a short while, but eventually the Old School tab will go away. There's always the possibility that I screw up and the two sheets get out of synch (in terms of players listed, positions, etc). If this happens, it is probably more likely that the the Rosters tab is more accurate. Let me know if you notice any problems, though.

Here's a basic key for deciphering the new contracts - once we work out any kinks I'll update the Constitution with this information:

M - minor league contract. This works the same as it always did, and will remain M until the player is activated by his CFCL team or loses MLB rookie status (in terms of career AB or IP).

X - player is currently signed to an Xtra Year contract

S - September/October contract. Used for free agents signed on Sept. 1 and after. These players will be released at the end of the current season and are not eligible for Hometown Discount rights. Obviously, there's no one with this status on the current rosters - they were all released last September

All other contracts are year-based. As Bob suggested, I've changed to double-digit years (08. 09, 10, etc).

If a year is listed without any symbol following it, the contract expires at the end of the season indicated by the year and the player cannot be resigned. This is essentially what had previously been a B contract. Teams owning these players at the end of the season will retain their Hometown Discount rights.

If a year is listed with a symbol following it, the current contract expires at the end of the season indicated by the year, but the player can be resigned depending on the symbol:

^ - Player cannot be activated or traded until July 1. No one's got this symbol yet - it's for M contract guys who are kept on reserve going into the Draft but evenutally make their NL team's Opening Day roster

* - Free agent signed for .25 or more. Must be kept the following season or a buyout penalty must be paid. Mark Teixeira had this prior to Roster Freeze day. Now that he's been kept, it's gone away.

! - Player is currently on a long-term contract that expires in the year indicated. Player cannot be released during the season, and if he's released on Roster Freeze Day a buyout penalty must be paid.

+ - Player enters his option year in the year indicated. His current contract expires prior to that season, but the '+' indicates he can be resigned -- either for just the option year at the same salary, or to a long-term contract with a raise. Guys who are acquired in the auction this year will get 10+ contracts.

x - Player is eligible to be signed to an Xtra Year contract prior to the year indicated. These guys are basically the same as '+' contract players, with the additional option of signing for an X contract.

This will clearly take some getting used to, especially for us old-timers. I've included a key to the symbols at the bottom of the roster form, so hopefully that will help.

I think I've got everyone's contract set correctly, but please check your roster and let me know if anything seems wrong. It will be a lot easier for you to verify now, before the rosters are cluttered up with all your new acquisitions following the Draft.