News Flash: International Players Must Have MLB Contracts

[Flash]

GMs,

I thought this subject might come up again when I saw the hullabaloo about Seiya Suzuki.  We had a ruling on International Players in 2016 in regards to Kevin Maitan.  In our Rules it states:

Item AX F-2.0
International player are not eligible to be signed until they have a page on BB Reference along with another source confirming their signing. Fantrax will not add the player unless their BB Reference page is submitted.

But in 2016, we clarified it further in saying an international player must have an MLB contract before he can be signed as an FGM free agent.  We do sign MLB players who are not currently under contract, but the distinguishing factor is that they have had an MiLB or MLB contract during their careers?an international player like Seiya Suzuki does not.  So international player seeking to join MLB, must be under contract to a given MLB team or he cannot be signed as an FGM player.

Here is a link to that 2016 ruling:

http://www.profsl.com/smf/index.php?topic=259787.0

Since we have followed it since 2016, it cannot be changed unless it goes through the referendum process and would undoubtedly be something that went into effect in 2023.