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The Restricted List is essentially an excused but unpaid absence, although in certain circumstances a club might choose to pay the player while he is on the Restricted List.
If a club requests that a player be placed on the Restricted List, the request must be approved by the MLB Commissioner.
A player who is suspended for violation of the MLB-MLBPA Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program (player tested positive for a prohibited substance) or is suspended or granted a leave of absence related to a violation or possible violation of the MLB-MLBPA Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse Policy is automatically placed on the Restricted List by the MLB Commissioner.
A player placed on Administrative Leave pending investigation of a possible violation of the MLB-MLBPA Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse policy is automatically placed on the Restricted List while he is on Administrative Leave. The player is paid and accrues MLB Service Time while on Administrative Leave. The MLB Commissioner has up to seven days to complete its investigation and determine if there was a violation, but with consent of the MLBPA, the investigation can be extended seven additional days (14 days total). After the completion of the investigation, the MLB Commissioner can find there was no violation, or find there was a violation and impose discipline in the form of an unpaid suspension (length TBD), or find there was a violation but defer disciplinary action to a later date.
Besides a suspension related to a violation of the MLB-MLBPA Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program or a suspension or leave of absence related to a violation or possible violation of the MLB-MLBPA Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse policy, other reasons why a player might be placed on the Restricted List would include an absence due to an illness or death in the family where the absence exceeds the Major League Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List seven-day maximum limit, failing to report to Spring Training, or if a player is dealing with a personal legal matter, or is serving a prison sentence, attending college, or pursuing a career in another sport or profession, or if a player from a foreign country is unable to secure a work visa.
CoViD-19 EXCEPTION: An MLB or minor league player not in a CoViD-19 "high risk group" who opts-out of playing because of the threat of possibly contracting CoViD-19 or any player who is denied entry into a state or a foreign country because he is not vaccinated will be placed on the Restricted List and will not be paid and will not accrue MLB Service Time.
A player on the Restricted List does not count against his club's Active List or Reserve List, and a player who is on the Restricted List for any reason other than a suspension related to a violation or possible violation of the Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse policy does not accrue MLB Service Time while on the Restricted List. A player who is placed on Administrative Leave pending investigation of a possible violation of the MLB-MLBPA Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse policy continues to be paid and will accrue MLB Service Time while on the Restricted List.
NOTE: Beginning in December 2016, an MLB player suspended as the result of a violation of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program will receive credit for MLB Service Time while on the Restricted List if the player was on an MLB Active List or MLB DL at the time of the suspension, it's the player's first or second positive test, and the length of the suspension is subsequently reduced by at least 20 games by an arbitrator as the result of mitigating circumstances.
A player who is on the Restricted List as the result of a suspension related to a violation of the MLB-MLBPA Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program (ban on the use of a prohibited substance) or for a suspension or leave of absence related to a violation or possible violation of the MLB-MLBPA Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse policy may consent to participate in Spring Training (MLB and/or Minor League Camp) and/or Extended Spring Training and/or in a post-season Instructional League (without pay), but a suspended player is not eligible to participate in the Arizona Fall League (AFL).
Prior to being reinstated, an MLB player who is on the Restricted List for any reason other than a suspension related to a violation of the MLB-MLBPA Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program (ban on the use of a prohibited substance) or a suspension or leave of absence related to a violation or possible violation of the MLB-MLBPA Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse policy may consent to a "conditioning" assignment (with or without pay - TBD) with a minor league affiliate of his club for up to 30 days, and an MLB player who is on the Restricted List as the result of a suspension related to a violation of the MLB-MLBPA Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program (ban on the use of a prohibited substance) or a suspension or leave of absence related to a violation or possible violation of the MLB-MLBPA Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse policy may consent to a "conditioning" assignment (without pay) with a minor league affiliate of his club for no more than six days for a suspension of 10-20 games, no more than ten days if suspended 21-30 games, no more than twelve days if suspended 31-50 games, and no more than 15 days for suspensions of more than 50 games.
NOTE: A player receives MLB meal money and other benefits associated with being an MLB player while on a minor league "conditioning" assignment.
An MLB player who is on the Restricted List for any reason other than extended Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency Leave or a suspension for violation of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program (ban on the use of a prohibited substance) or a suspension or leave of absence related to a violation or possible violation of the Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse policy cannot be reinstated from the Restricted List during the period of time extending from August 1st through October 31st without the approval of the MLB Commissioner, and a minor league player on the Restricted List for any reason other than a suspension for a violation of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program (ban on the use of a prohibited substance) cannot be reinstated from the Restricted List during the period of time extending from August 1st through the conclusion of his club's season (including post-season) without the approval of the MLB Commissioner.
A player on the Restricted List must be added back to his club's Reserve List within 30 days after being reinstated or when he is placed on the club's Active List (whichever comes first) if the player is reinstated during the period of time beginning on the mandatory Spring Training reporting date and extending through the last day of the regular season, or within 14 days after reinstatement if the player is reinstated during the off-season, but if the player is assigned to another club while on the Restricted List he must be placed on that club's Reserve List immediately after reinstatement.
PLAYERS ON CUBS MLB RESTRICTED LIST (updated 10-20-2022):
NONE