MLBPA GENERAL CERTIFIED AGENT EXAM 2026 | ACTUAL
REAL EXAM TESTING AND FREQUENTLY TESTING
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
AND A STUDY GUIDE | EXPERT VERIFIED FOR
GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST UPDATE
Players who have accrued 10 years of Major League service time and spent the past five
consecutive years with the same team are awarded 10-and-5 rights. Under these circumstances, a
player can veto any trade scenario that is proposed.
A. No-trade Clause
B. 10-and-5 Rights
C. Player Option
D. Outright Waivers
Correct Answer: B. 10-and-5 Rights
Rationale: This is the definition of 10-and-5 rights: 10 years of MLB service time plus 5
consecutive years with the same club gives the player the ability to veto any trade.
A club's 26-man roster is its full roster of active Major League players from Opening Day
through Aug. 31, and during the postseason. Teams are limited to carrying 13 pitchers during this
time. From Sept. 1 through the end of the regular season, all clubs must carry 28 players, with a
limit of 14 pitchers. Players on the 26-man roster (or the Major League injured list) accrue Major
League service time. All players on the 26-man roster must also be on the 40-man roster. Teams
are required to have a minimum of 25 players on their 26-man roster. MLB teams must designate
every player on the active roster either as a pitcher or a position player. Those designated as
position players are unable to pitch unless it is extra innings or their team is ahead or trailing by
more than six runs when they take the mound. Teams can also designate players as two-way
players if they meet certain criteria. Two-way players are able to pi
A. 40-man roster
B. 26-man roster
C. 27th Man
D. Rule 5 Draft
Correct Answer: B. 26-man roster
1
,Rationale: The passage defines the active roster rules (26-man most of the year, 28-man in
September, pitcher caps, service-time accrual, and 40-man linkage). That is the 26-man roster.
MLB clubs have a 26-man active Major League roster but are allowed to recall one additional
player who is on the 40-man roster to serve as the 27th member for the day of a doubleheader.
That player accrues one day of MLB service time and is returned to the Minor Leagues following
the completion of the doubleheader. This rule is in effect from Opening Day through Aug. 31.
From Sept. 1 through the end of the regular season, all clubs must carry 28 players. The active
roster reverts back to 26 players during the postseason. Upon being optioned to the Minor
Leagues, a position player typically must remain there for a minimum of 10 days before he is
eligible to be recalled to the Major League roster. For pitchers and two-way players, the
minimum is 15 days. But if a player is serving as the 27th man for a doubleheader, there is no
minimum number of days for which the optioned player must remain in the Minors. Teams also a
A. 26-man roster
B. 40-man roster
C. 27th Man
D. Minor League Options
Correct Answer: C. 27th Man
Rationale: The defining feature is the temporary extra roster spot for a doubleheader (must be on
40-man, earns one day service, returns after the game), which is the 27th Man rule.
The 40-man roster includes a combination of players on the 26-man roster, the 7-, 10-, and 15-
day injured lists, the bereavement/family medical emergency list and the paternity leave list, as
well as some Minor Leaguers. In order for a club to add a player to the 26-man roster, the player
must be on the 40-man roster. If a club with a full 40-man roster wishes to promote a Minor
League player that is not on the 40-man roster, it must first remove a player from the 40-man
roster -- either by designating a player's contract for assignment, trading a player, releasing a
player or transferring a player to the 60-day injured list. A player who is on the 40-man roster but
does not open the season on the 26-man roster must be optioned to the Minor Leagues. Players
typically have three option years, although a fourth may be granted in certain cases. Out-of-
options players must be designated for assignment -- which removes th
A. 26-man roster
B. 27th Man
C. 40-man Roster
D. Competitive Balance Tax
Correct Answer: C. 40-man Roster
2
,Rationale: This describes the composition and function of the 40-man roster and how it connects
to promotions, injured lists, options, and DFA when out of options.
A club option is an optional year at the end of the contract which may be guaranteed at the
discretion of the club. In most instances, the option comes with a buyout that represents a
fraction of the option value. If the player is injured or performs on a level that the club believes
the option value to be too expensive, the club will typically pay the buyout and decline the
option. In most cases, this results in the player being eligible for free agency. However, if a
player signed a contract that turned one of his arbitration-eligible seasons into an option season,
the option can be declined with the player then entering the arbitration process instead. Should
the club exercise the option, the player is considered signed for the following season at that
option's value. Contracts can contain multiple option years.
A. Player Option
B. Mutual Option
C. Club Option
D. Vesting Option
Correct Answer: C. Club Option
Rationale: The key words are “at the discretion of the club,” plus the common buyout feature.
That is the definition of a club option (not player-controlled, not mutual, not incentive-triggered
vesting).
Competitive Balance Draft picks were implemented in the 2012-16 Collective Bargaining
Agreement. The process to assign picks was amended in the 2017-21 Collective Bargaining
Agreement. The 10 lowest-revenue clubs and the clubs from the 10 smallest markets are eligible
to receive a Competitive Balance pick (fewer than 20 clubs are in the mix each year, as some
clubs qualify under both criteria). All eligible teams are assigned a pick, either in Competitive
Balance Round A or Round B. Round A falls between the first and second rounds of the Rule 4
draft, while Round B comes between the second and third. Clubs drafting in the Competitive
Balance Rounds also receive more international bonus pool money than the minimum of $4.75
million. Those drafting in Competitive Balance Round A will receive $5.25 million, while those
in Competitive Balance Round B will get $5.75 million. Unlike other Draft picks, Competitive
Balance D
A. Rule 4 Draft
B. Competitive Balance Draft Picks
C. Qualifying Offer
D. Rule 5 Draft
3
, Correct Answer: B. Competitive Balance Draft Picks
Rationale: This describes Competitive Balance Round A/B picks, awarded to low-revenue/small-
market clubs, and notes the unique tradability feature compared to most draft picks.
Each year, clubs that exceed a predetermined payroll threshold are subject to a Competitive
Balance Tax -- which is commonly referred to as a "luxury tax." Those who carry payrolls above
that threshold are taxed on each dollar above the threshold, with the tax rate increasing based on
the number of consecutive years a club has exceeded the threshold. A team's Competitive
Balance Tax figure is determined using the average annual value of each player's contract on the
40-man roster, plus any additional player benefits. Every team's final CBT figure is calculated at
the end of each season. (Note: If a player signs a contract extension that doesn't kick in until a
later season, his AAV for the purposes of the CBT doesn't change until the new deal begins.) The
following thresholds were put in place per the 2022-26 collective bargaining agreement: 2022:
$230 million 2023: $233 million 2024: $237 million 2025: $241 million
A. Competitive Balance Tax
B. Competitive Balance Draft Picks
C. Salary Arbitration
D. Service Time
Correct Answer: A. Competitive Balance Tax
Rationale: The passage defines the luxury tax system (CBT), how it’s calculated (AAV +
benefits), and lists threshold amounts by year.
Players who haven't signed a long-term contract extension or accrued the MLB service time
necessary to be eligible for salary arbitration can have their contracts renewed by their clubs as
one-year deals for the coming season. These pre-arbitration players can negotiate their salaries
but have little leverage, as clubs can choose to renew a contract for the Major League minimum
if they cannot come to an agreement with the player. Of course, clubs may choose to sign their
pre-arbitration players to one-year deals for more than the Major League minimum to build good
will for future negotiations, but they are under no obligation to do so. Clubs cannot reduce
players' salaries by more than 20 percent of what they earned in the previous MLB season --
including a player's base salary and additional payments such as performance bonuses, signing
bonuses and deferred compensation -- or 30 percent of what they earned two seaso
A. Contract Renewal
B. Contract Tendered
C. Non-tendered
D. Guaranteed Contract
4
REAL EXAM TESTING AND FREQUENTLY TESTING
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
AND A STUDY GUIDE | EXPERT VERIFIED FOR
GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST UPDATE
Players who have accrued 10 years of Major League service time and spent the past five
consecutive years with the same team are awarded 10-and-5 rights. Under these circumstances, a
player can veto any trade scenario that is proposed.
A. No-trade Clause
B. 10-and-5 Rights
C. Player Option
D. Outright Waivers
Correct Answer: B. 10-and-5 Rights
Rationale: This is the definition of 10-and-5 rights: 10 years of MLB service time plus 5
consecutive years with the same club gives the player the ability to veto any trade.
A club's 26-man roster is its full roster of active Major League players from Opening Day
through Aug. 31, and during the postseason. Teams are limited to carrying 13 pitchers during this
time. From Sept. 1 through the end of the regular season, all clubs must carry 28 players, with a
limit of 14 pitchers. Players on the 26-man roster (or the Major League injured list) accrue Major
League service time. All players on the 26-man roster must also be on the 40-man roster. Teams
are required to have a minimum of 25 players on their 26-man roster. MLB teams must designate
every player on the active roster either as a pitcher or a position player. Those designated as
position players are unable to pitch unless it is extra innings or their team is ahead or trailing by
more than six runs when they take the mound. Teams can also designate players as two-way
players if they meet certain criteria. Two-way players are able to pi
A. 40-man roster
B. 26-man roster
C. 27th Man
D. Rule 5 Draft
Correct Answer: B. 26-man roster
1
,Rationale: The passage defines the active roster rules (26-man most of the year, 28-man in
September, pitcher caps, service-time accrual, and 40-man linkage). That is the 26-man roster.
MLB clubs have a 26-man active Major League roster but are allowed to recall one additional
player who is on the 40-man roster to serve as the 27th member for the day of a doubleheader.
That player accrues one day of MLB service time and is returned to the Minor Leagues following
the completion of the doubleheader. This rule is in effect from Opening Day through Aug. 31.
From Sept. 1 through the end of the regular season, all clubs must carry 28 players. The active
roster reverts back to 26 players during the postseason. Upon being optioned to the Minor
Leagues, a position player typically must remain there for a minimum of 10 days before he is
eligible to be recalled to the Major League roster. For pitchers and two-way players, the
minimum is 15 days. But if a player is serving as the 27th man for a doubleheader, there is no
minimum number of days for which the optioned player must remain in the Minors. Teams also a
A. 26-man roster
B. 40-man roster
C. 27th Man
D. Minor League Options
Correct Answer: C. 27th Man
Rationale: The defining feature is the temporary extra roster spot for a doubleheader (must be on
40-man, earns one day service, returns after the game), which is the 27th Man rule.
The 40-man roster includes a combination of players on the 26-man roster, the 7-, 10-, and 15-
day injured lists, the bereavement/family medical emergency list and the paternity leave list, as
well as some Minor Leaguers. In order for a club to add a player to the 26-man roster, the player
must be on the 40-man roster. If a club with a full 40-man roster wishes to promote a Minor
League player that is not on the 40-man roster, it must first remove a player from the 40-man
roster -- either by designating a player's contract for assignment, trading a player, releasing a
player or transferring a player to the 60-day injured list. A player who is on the 40-man roster but
does not open the season on the 26-man roster must be optioned to the Minor Leagues. Players
typically have three option years, although a fourth may be granted in certain cases. Out-of-
options players must be designated for assignment -- which removes th
A. 26-man roster
B. 27th Man
C. 40-man Roster
D. Competitive Balance Tax
Correct Answer: C. 40-man Roster
2
,Rationale: This describes the composition and function of the 40-man roster and how it connects
to promotions, injured lists, options, and DFA when out of options.
A club option is an optional year at the end of the contract which may be guaranteed at the
discretion of the club. In most instances, the option comes with a buyout that represents a
fraction of the option value. If the player is injured or performs on a level that the club believes
the option value to be too expensive, the club will typically pay the buyout and decline the
option. In most cases, this results in the player being eligible for free agency. However, if a
player signed a contract that turned one of his arbitration-eligible seasons into an option season,
the option can be declined with the player then entering the arbitration process instead. Should
the club exercise the option, the player is considered signed for the following season at that
option's value. Contracts can contain multiple option years.
A. Player Option
B. Mutual Option
C. Club Option
D. Vesting Option
Correct Answer: C. Club Option
Rationale: The key words are “at the discretion of the club,” plus the common buyout feature.
That is the definition of a club option (not player-controlled, not mutual, not incentive-triggered
vesting).
Competitive Balance Draft picks were implemented in the 2012-16 Collective Bargaining
Agreement. The process to assign picks was amended in the 2017-21 Collective Bargaining
Agreement. The 10 lowest-revenue clubs and the clubs from the 10 smallest markets are eligible
to receive a Competitive Balance pick (fewer than 20 clubs are in the mix each year, as some
clubs qualify under both criteria). All eligible teams are assigned a pick, either in Competitive
Balance Round A or Round B. Round A falls between the first and second rounds of the Rule 4
draft, while Round B comes between the second and third. Clubs drafting in the Competitive
Balance Rounds also receive more international bonus pool money than the minimum of $4.75
million. Those drafting in Competitive Balance Round A will receive $5.25 million, while those
in Competitive Balance Round B will get $5.75 million. Unlike other Draft picks, Competitive
Balance D
A. Rule 4 Draft
B. Competitive Balance Draft Picks
C. Qualifying Offer
D. Rule 5 Draft
3
, Correct Answer: B. Competitive Balance Draft Picks
Rationale: This describes Competitive Balance Round A/B picks, awarded to low-revenue/small-
market clubs, and notes the unique tradability feature compared to most draft picks.
Each year, clubs that exceed a predetermined payroll threshold are subject to a Competitive
Balance Tax -- which is commonly referred to as a "luxury tax." Those who carry payrolls above
that threshold are taxed on each dollar above the threshold, with the tax rate increasing based on
the number of consecutive years a club has exceeded the threshold. A team's Competitive
Balance Tax figure is determined using the average annual value of each player's contract on the
40-man roster, plus any additional player benefits. Every team's final CBT figure is calculated at
the end of each season. (Note: If a player signs a contract extension that doesn't kick in until a
later season, his AAV for the purposes of the CBT doesn't change until the new deal begins.) The
following thresholds were put in place per the 2022-26 collective bargaining agreement: 2022:
$230 million 2023: $233 million 2024: $237 million 2025: $241 million
A. Competitive Balance Tax
B. Competitive Balance Draft Picks
C. Salary Arbitration
D. Service Time
Correct Answer: A. Competitive Balance Tax
Rationale: The passage defines the luxury tax system (CBT), how it’s calculated (AAV +
benefits), and lists threshold amounts by year.
Players who haven't signed a long-term contract extension or accrued the MLB service time
necessary to be eligible for salary arbitration can have their contracts renewed by their clubs as
one-year deals for the coming season. These pre-arbitration players can negotiate their salaries
but have little leverage, as clubs can choose to renew a contract for the Major League minimum
if they cannot come to an agreement with the player. Of course, clubs may choose to sign their
pre-arbitration players to one-year deals for more than the Major League minimum to build good
will for future negotiations, but they are under no obligation to do so. Clubs cannot reduce
players' salaries by more than 20 percent of what they earned in the previous MLB season --
including a player's base salary and additional payments such as performance bonuses, signing
bonuses and deferred compensation -- or 30 percent of what they earned two seaso
A. Contract Renewal
B. Contract Tendered
C. Non-tendered
D. Guaranteed Contract
4
