Salary relief for retired/injured players

[Ben (Rays GM)]

When you sign a player to a veteran contract you are responsible for the entire salary for the duration of the contract except under the following circumstances, in which case you may apply for salary relief:

1) if the player officially retires during the contract, you can drop him after he completes the season (if he retired during the season) or after the following season (if he retired during the offseason).

2) if the player plays less than a year of service (due to injury or any other reason), you may reduce his salary (or the part of the salary that the team that currently possesses him is paying if another team is covering salary) by 25% for all subsequent years. If a player receives a second 25% discount on top of his first, the 25% will be calculated using the new salary rather than the old. In cases where the injury was already known prior to signing, this option may not apply (see below).

If you would like to apply for one of these types of salary relief, post the player's name here. Applications for salary relief will generally be granted as long as the player did in fact retire or miss enough time. In some situations the application may be denied, such as if the injury or retirement was already known about at the time of the signing and the signing team decided to go about it anyway, but these cases will be dealt with when they arise at the commissioner's discretion.

[Deleted]

Brandon Webb 8.1 million (2011-2013)

he didnt pitch an inning for 2011

[Ben (Rays GM)]

Webb's salary reduced to $6 million for 2012 and 2013.

[Ben (Rays GM)]

In certain situations, we will allow teams to opt out of contracts if it is comes out that the player fabricated his age or identity in a way that might significantly alter the value of the player (at the discretion of the commissioners, to be handled on a case-by-case basis). If you would like us to consider allowing you to opt out of the contract of such a player, you must inform us within two weeks of the breaking of the news. We will not consider any news more than two-weeks-old as grounds for opting out of a contract.
Since this is a new rule, we may allow it to be applied retroactively to news older than two weeks old (for example, in the case of the pitcher formerly known as Leo Nunez). Let us know within the next two weeks.

Other cases of players being placed on the restricted list may be treated similarly.

[Chris (Former Cubs GM)]

Cubs would like to void the 3year $5.4million deal of Roberto Heredia (Fausto Carmona). Aprove?

[Ben (Rays GM)]

Cubs cut Heredia (Carmona).

[Jon (Astros GM)]

Does that mean he can be reposted at anytime?

[Ben (Rays GM)]

Yes, but if he misses time this year due to being on the restricted list, you won't be able to get salary relief on him since it was known about prior to the signing.

[Max (Tigers GM)]

SP Justin Dushscherer 4.7 million (2011-2012)

didn't pitch an inning in 2011

[Ben (Rays GM)]

Duchscherer's salary reduced to 3.5 million

[angels]

2B Carlos Guillen 5.2 million (2011-2012) Retired.

[angels]

Can I get full salary relief for him?

[Ben (Rays GM)]

Jan 2, 2011 21:50:26 GMT -5 Ben (Rays GM) said:

if the player officially retires during the contract, you can drop him after he completes the season (if he retired during the season) or after the following season (if he retired during the offseason).

Sorry, but as Guillen announced his retirement just a few weeks ago, you wouldn't be able to get salary relief for Guillen until after the 2012 season, at which point he'll be a free agent anyway.

[Deleted]

Ryan madson injured himaself before the 2012 season started. How does this works?

[Ben (Rays GM)]

Sept 4, 2012 12:36:31 GMT -5 @jmgd15 said:

Ryan madson injured himaself before the 2012 season started. How does this works?

You can apply for a 25% discount on his 2013 and 2014 salaries by posting here after the season.

[Jon (Astros GM)]

Astros seeking relief for:

C Victor Martinez 15.9 million (2013-2014)

[Ben (Rays GM)]

Portion of Martinez's salary for which the Astros are responsible is lowered to 11.9 million (2013-2014).

[Deleted]

Asking relief for:

Ryan Madson 7.2 million (2013-2014)

[Ben (Rays GM)]

Madson's salary reduced to 5.4 million per season

[fantasycooperstown]

OF - Carl Crawford - 18.5 (2014)

[Ben (Rays GM)]

Using salary relief for the Orioles on Chris Carpenter 15.0 million (2013)
Carpenter's salary reduced to 11.25 million

[Ben (Rays GM)]

Portion of Crawford's salary for which the Pirates are responsible lowered to 13.8 million per season

[PJ (Former Brewers GM)]

Relief for P Joel Zumaya 2.9 m. Although a small amount with FA coming up every little bit helps

[Ben (Rays GM)]

Jan 2, 2011 21:50:26 GMT -5 Ben (Rays GM) said:

In some situations the application may be denied, such as if the injury or retirement was already known about at the time of the signing and the signing team decided to go about it anyway, but these cases will be dealt with when they arise at the commissioner's discretion.

Salary relief for Zumaya is denied. Zumaya missed the entire 2011 season due to elbow injury/surgery, and it was an injury to this same elbow that cost him the 2012 season. It is the opinion of the commissioners that those bidding on Zumaya in January 2012 were aware of the risk, and that the salary Zumaya signed for took this risk into account; as such, the contract is already sufficiently discounted.

Brewers are more than welcome to appeal this decision by PMing a commissioner. Regardless of the outcome of any such appeal, let this serve as a reminder to all that salary relief is never a guarantee, and will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

[PJ (Former Brewers GM)]

No appeal, just thought i would try

[Deleted]

Brandon Webb 6 million (2011-2013)
either the 25% discount or hopefully the full salary

[Ben (Rays GM)]

Webb's salary reduced to $4.5 million for 2013.

[Kevin (Guardians GM)]

Furcal (4.5 million 2013).

He will not play this year and was declared out for year for elbow today.

[Ben (Rays GM)]

Mar 7, 2013 14:44:57 GMT -5 Kevin (Guardians GM) said:

Furcal (4.5 million 2013).

He will not play this year and was declared out for year for elbow today.

Salary relief for 2013 would be for players who missed 2012. This does not apply for Furcal. If Furcal does indeed play for fewer than 130 ABs in 2013, he would be eligible for salary relief for 2014. However, his contract will have expired by then.

[Max (Tigers GM)]

SP Ted Lilly 3.4 million (2012-2014)

played less than a year of service in 2013