Aight. So I see nikkas think this works like madden. Lemme simplify it.
Major League Baseball free agency is different than other sport in that a player cannot become a free agent until he has accumulated six full years of Major League service time.
Joey bats has 9 years of service so he's a true free agent.
Salary arbitration comes into play when a player and club cannot agree on a contract prior to the player accumulating the six years of service, but after racking up three years of service. Players who have filed for free agency can be offered salary arbitration from their teams. They can chose to accept rather than becoming free agents. Then they go through the arbitration process like the other eligible players.
If they don't accept the arbitration salary, then they can become a FA.
So, since he started 2015 with 1 yr contract, if
@Rekkapryde didn't sign him before free agency (Like I did with Ben Zobrist), he's fair game.
For Reyes, he had to be released, since he had a 3 year deal. To be released
@Rekkapryde had to actually MANUALLY do this.
