The question whether Justin Williams and other 40-man roster players from other clubs would be eligible for a fourth minor league option has been swirling since the 2020 season ended. I’ve written extensively about the fourth minor league option rule, most recently in this piece, where I explained why Williams could be eligible.
At first I didn’t understand the mechanics of how this issue would ultimately be decided. The Commissioner’s Office decided that the 2020 season did count as a qualified minor league season for purposes of Rule 55 minor league free agency. Thus, although there was no minor league season in 2020, if that season was the 7th season a player spent on a minor league deal, he was declared a free agent if he wasn’t added to a 40-man roster or wasn’t re-signed to another minor league deal.