Contract Extensions - 1 Per Offseason (on hold, will go to league vote)

[Guardians GM (Nate)]

After some reconsideration, we will allow 1 contract extension per offseason on an expiring contract.   Previously it was set as 1 extension on your roster at a time but after rethinking this, I feel it best to change this to 1 per offseason.

I wanted to announce this now in the event this change will alert plans for any teams roster decisions.

Let me know if you have any questions.

[AstrosGM (Scott)]

Owners have already made significant trades based on the old rule. For example, I traded Bregman and Tucker both I could have kept under this new rule. I traded them with the idea of only being able to keep Yordan when his contract is up. This significantly changes how the league operates.

[Guardians GM (Nate)]

I'm discussing Houston's roster situation privately with him.

Just for clarification.  As I looked at the extension rule initially put in place, I thought it would be a nice addition to all team moving forward to be able to extend one player per offseason vs the current rule of one extension per roster at a time.   I reviewed trades from 2024 and I didn't see many trades that were signs of decisions made to unload a player to keep another player in a future extension.

If this extension rule is going to be changed, It's likely best to change it now before moves are made that will impact a significant amount of teams (this offseason and beyond).  If we don't make this change now, I believe it'll be more difficult to make it in future years.

If any team feels this rule change will impact their team negatively based on previous moves you've made, let me know.

Thanks.

[Guardians GM (Nate)]

After discussing this with the Baseball Operations teams and other members, we will hold on this rule change.  For the 2025 roster decisions we will operate using the existing rule of 1 extension on a teams roster at a time. 

We will however, put this change to a league vote to see if the league wishes to approve this change.  If passed, the new rule will go in effect in 2026. 

I miscalculated there would be no negative impact making this change now. That's my mistake and I apologize for any confusion this has caused the past week or so for everyone's rosters decisions.   

Moving forward any change like this will be put a league vote.