Organizational Structure
Each LDB franchise has three tiers: Majors, AAA, and AA.
Majors
The Majors level is a 25-man roster, and represents the active players on the team whose performance may affect scoring. It closely resembles an MLB franchise. All 25 players are available for active duty, and are broken down into the following positions:
| Hitters | Pitchers |
|---|---|
| Catcher | Starting Pitchers (5) |
| First Base | |
| Second Base | |
| Short Stop | |
| Third Base | Relief Pitchers (6) |
| Left Field | |
| Center Field | |
| Right Field | |
| Designated Hitters (2) | |
| Bench Spots (4) | |
| Disabled List (3) | |
Positional Eligibility
Hitters
For hitters, a player is eligible for a position if (1) that player made 20 appearances in that position during the previous season or (2) the player appeared at that position for 50% of games in April of the current season, or, after April, appeared at that position a total of 15 times during the season.[1] Until a hitter meets one of these thresholds, he may bat as a designated hitter only.
Pitchers
For pitchers, to be eligible asa a starting pitcher, a player must have appeared as a starting pitcher in five games during the previous season or three games in the current season. To be eligible as a relief pitcher, a player must have appeared as a relief pitcher in ten games during the previous season or five games in the current season.[2] Until a pitcher meets one of these thresholds, he may pitch as a relief pitcher only.
Disabled List
A player in the Majors is eligible to be on the Disabled List (DL) when he is on the MLB DL. See "Internal Transactions," below, for other rules related to the DL.
AAA
The AAA tier is a roster of any seven players, hitters or pitchers. See "Internal Transactions," below, for rules relating to service time and waivers, which affect a GM's choice to promote from, or demote to, AAA.
AA
The AA tier is a roster of unlimited rookie players signed in the AA draft. See "Internal Transactions," below, for rules relating to the consequences of promoting a player out of AA.
Internal Transactions
Sending a Player to/from the DL
Sending a player to the DL counts as being in the Majors for the purposes of calculating service time.[3]
AAA Transactions
Promote from AAA to the Majors
Players in AAA can be promoted to the Majors at any time, so long as sufficient roster space is available. Note that promoting a AAA player may add to their service time, described below.
Option to AAA
Players in the Majors who have not accumulated more than four half seasons of service time, described below, are eligible to be optioned to AAA at any time without restriction.
Designate for Assignment
Players who have accumulated more than four half seasons of service time, described below, are considered veterans. Veterans cannot be demoted to AAA without first clearing 3-day waivers. This transaction is irrevocable. Once a player clears waivers, then they move to AAA. But if the player is claimed, he is lost to the claimant.
Service Time
Each time a player is promoted from to the Majors for the first time in a particular half-season, and at the start of each half season, that player will accumulate one half-season of "service time." Having more than four half-seasons of service time qualifies a player as a veteran, and they cannot be freely optioned to AAA, as described above. Players retain their service time even if they are dropped, waived, or traded.
Transactions to/from AA
Promoting Players from AA
A GM may promote players in AA to AAA or the Majors at any time, so long as sufficient roster space is available for the promotion. Note that promoting a AA player will start the clock on their eligibility as a home-grown or super-two player (see Auctions and Keepers) and may add to their service time if promoted to the Majors, described above.