Rules Change Discussion: Allow unsigned players to be added to IL

[ldsjayhawk]

I want to open up a discussion before I make a formal proposal.  Please feel free to share your thoughts and opinions:

I am considering a proposal to allow players on FGM Rosters to be added to the IL, even if they have not been signed to a MLB contract.  They would have to meet the following criteria:

• Fantrax signals that they are injured with the red injury flag
• Injury report denotes missed time will be >= 60 days (if he were signed, he would qualify for the IL)

For example, KC has Nestor Cortes, whose contract expired at the end of 2025.  He has an injury that will cause him to miss significant time, so he was not signed as a FA.  If he were signed, he would be placed on the 60 day IL, therefore making him eligible for our IL.

PROS:
Obviously, this would open up a spot that would normally be opened if the player were signed.

CONS:
This would require commissioner override to make the transaction in Fantrax.
It could introduce some gray areas

I am mainly opening this up because I am trying to consider if there are any other considerations here that I am not thinking of.

Again, this is not a formal proposal.

[TheProfessor]

I prefer to keep unsigned players as ineligible from being added to the IL.

[BHows]

If a team thinks he's valuable enough to keep even though he's not signed with an MLB team, I see no reason why he shouldn't have all the privileges a signed player has. I'm OK with it.

[NippyJones]

If the player is not on a MLB roster, he should not be able to be added to IL. To me this is just a way to avoid taking a cap hit on a player who may or may not ever return to the majors.

[Brian]

I agree if a player isnt on a mlb roster he shouldnt go on the dl.