met. A player has not spent at least 90 days on an active professional roster in a season. Minor leagues that play below Class A Advanced have seasons that are shorter than 90 days, and as such, any player who spends a full season in a rookie or Class A (short-season) league will receive a fourth option year. A player has not spent at least 60 days on an active professional roster AND then at least 30 days on an injured list in a season. Only after 60 days have been spent on an active professional roster does time spent on the injured list count towards the 90-day threshold. As with the prior example, this cannot occur with players who spend a full season in a rookie or Class A (short season) league. Per the current collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the Players Association, effective as of the 2022 season, a player may be optioned to the minor leagues no more than five times in a given season. Once a player is optioned to the minors (except if recalled to serve as the "27th man" for a doubleheader), a player cannot be recalled to the majors for 10 days (if a position player) or 15 days (if a pitcher or two-way player) unless another player is placed on the injured list and a recall is to replace that player. Once all of the options have been used up on a player, a player is considered "out of options" and a player must be placed on and clear waivers prior to being sent down to the minor leagues (there is also the "veterans' consent" rule). The option system was designed to prevent players from being buried in the minor leagues forever, by forcing teams to make a decision within a limited number of years on whether or not they can use a player in the Major Leagues. Once placed on the protected 40-man reserve list the player knows his team will have to bring him up to the majors, or expose him to being claimed on waivers so that another team can bring him to the majors, all within three years. Options do not "reset" if a player is traded - he still has only the original three option years that began when he was first placed on a team's 40-man reserve list. Designated for assignment A player who is