How the Baseball Disabled List Works

While a baseball depth chart is essential for the organization of a typical baseball team there are some instances where some significant depth chart changes have to take place. This is especially the case when a player is injured and cannot compete for a period of time. The baseball disabled list can help with the process though, as it will allow for teams to be able to have a full disabled list at the top.

When a player is injured for a certain length of time the major league team in charge can choose to put the player on the disabled list if needed. This is generally based on how long the player is expected to miss playing the game due to injury. When a player is unable to play and the person is not on the disabled list then the team involved will have to play with one man short of the typical 25-man active roster.

There are two different time periods that are used on the baseball disabled list. These are 15-day and 60-day periods. The player who is injured will not be able to join the team again until the time period involved expires. This includes instances where the player has recovered from the injury in question before the player's time of the disabled list has expired.

When a player is on the disabled list some depth chart changes can take place. If the player is on the 15-day disabled list then the player will not be counted on the active 25-man roster. This means that the team can call someone up from the minor leagues to play for the higher level team for a period of time. Some players can be called down in the event that the injury is for a minor league team of lower standing. Free agents can be used to help with filling these positions in many cases.

If the player is on the 60-day disabled list then the player will not be counted on either the active 25-man roster or the 40-man roster that is used after September 1.

If the player has recovered from injury before the disabled list period ends then the player can still get to play, but not on the team that the person is on the disabled list for. A position player can play in the minor leagues for up to twenty days, while a pitcher can do it for thirty days. For instance, if a Washington Nationals player is healthy but still on the disabled list he can still play with the Columbus Clippers, the Nats' AAA team.

The baseball disabled list is used to help with getting teams to have additional roster space in the event that a player is injured. It allows for teams to use minor league players or free agents to fill in spots left by injured places. There are even rules involving what a player can do if that person has recovered but is still on the disabled list.