Post-Season Roster Eligibility
1. All players on a club's MLB Active List (25-man roster) as of midnight (Eastern) on August 31st are eligible to be included on the club's post-season (LDS, LCS, or World Series) 25-man roster. Players who are on an MLB club's Disabled List, Bereavement List, Paternity List, Military List, Suspended List, or Restricted List (Prohibited Substance Suspension or extended Bereavement Leave only) as of midnight (Eastern) on August 31st are also eligible to be included on the club's post-season 25-man roster, but only after spending the minimum number of days required to be served by a player on that list. Players on the Disqualified List, Ineligible List, or Restricted List (for reasons other than extended Bereavement Leave or a Prohibited Substance Suspension) as of midnight August 31st are not eligible. Thus, as long as more than 25 players are eligible, the club's MLB Active List (25-man roster) can be "tweaked" prior to the start of each post-season series.
2. Generally, a post-season eligible player who is on an MLB Disabled List (7-day, 15-day, or 60-day) at the conclusion of the MLB regular season can be replaced on his club's LDS, LCS, or World Series Active List (25-man roster) by any player (regardless of position) who was in the club's organization as of midnight (Eastern) on August 31st, including players acquired from another organization prior to midnight on August 31st and minor leaguers who were not on the club's MLB 40-man roster at that time. Any player who is placed directly onto an MLB 60-day Disabled List after August 1st is NOT eligible to be replaced on a post-season roster (and is not eligible to be reinstated from the 60-day DL and placed onto the club's MLB Active List until 60 days have passed), but a player who is transferred from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL after August 1st is eligible to be replaced. Players on the Disqualified List, Ineligible List, or Restricted List (for reasons other than extended Bereavement Leave or a Prohibited Substance Suspension) as of midnight (Eastern) on August 31st are not eligible to be a "replacement player." A player who is on a Disabled List or who is serving a Prohibited Substance Suspension cannot be a post-season "replacement player" until the player has served the required minimum number of days (if on a DL) or games (if suspended). If the "replacement player" is on a minor league reserve list, the player must be added to his club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) before he can be made eligible for the post-season.
3. A post-season eligible player who is injured prior to the start of a post-season series can (with approval of the MLB Commissioner) be replaced on his club's MLB Active List (25-man roster) for that series by another player (regardless of position) who was in the club's organization as of midnight August 31st, including players acquired from another organizaiton prior to midnight August 31st and minor league players who were not on the club's MLB 40-man roster at that time. Players on the Disqualified List, Ineligible List, or Restricted List (for reasons other than extended Bereavement Leave or a Prohibnited Substance Suspension) as of midnight August 31st are not eligible to be a "replacement player." A player who is on a Disabled List or who is serving a Prohibited Substance Suspension cannot be a post-season "replacement player" until the player has served the required minimum number of days (if on a DL) or games (if suspended). If a replacement player is on a minor league reserve list, the player mustr be added to his club's 40-man roster before he can be made eligible for the post-season.
4. A post-season eligible player who is injured during a post-season series can (with approval of the MLB Commissiner) be replaced on his club's MLB Active List (25-man roster) prior to the conclusion of that series by another player (albeit in this case a pitcher must replace a pitcher and a position player must replace a position player) who was in the club's organization as of midnight August 31st, including players acquired from another organizaton prior to midnight August 31st and minor league players who were not on the club's MLB 40-man at that time. Players on the Disqualified List, Ineligible List, or Restricted List (for reasons other than extended Bereavement Leave or a Prohibnited Substance Suspension) as of midnight August 31st are not eligible to be a "replacement player." A player who is on a Disabled List or who is serving a Prohibited Substance Suspension cannot be a post-season "replacement player" until the player has served the required minimum number of days (if on a DL) or games (if suspended). If a replacement player is on a minor league reserve list, the player mustr be added to his club's 40-man roster before he can be made eligible for the post-season.
5. If an injured pitcher or position player is replaced during a post-season series, the injured pitcher or position player is ineligible to be reinstated to his club's Active List (25-man roster) for the balance of that series and the next series (LCS or World Series).
