Major league free agents hit the open market at midnight on Nov. 6, five days after the conclusion of the World Series. Baseball America readers know that this date also ushers in the minor league free agency period. The number of MiLB free agents has declined steadily in the past four years, falling from 602 in 2007 to 561 in ’08 to 536 in ’09 to 533 this season.

Any player who was not on a 40-man roster on Nov. 6 qualified for free agency if he had accumulated at least six years of service time (minors and majors inclusive) while still bound by his first uniform minor league player contract. That contract is broken if the player is released or granted free agency by other means before he logs six years. [Update: Teams also can re-sign players to minor league deals prior to Nov. 6 to prevent them from joining the free agent ranks. This is what we've seen in the past few installments of Minor League Transactions. ME.]

Nine free agents spent the entire season (equal to 152 days) on the disabled list. They’re denoted with a double plus sign (++). Players with a single plus sign (+) spent at least half the season (76 games) on the DL. Alfredo Amezaga (four plate appearances) and Clay Zavada (three innings) effectively missed the entire year.

Notes and explanations follow the team-by-team listings.

Arizona Diamondbacks (11)
RHP: T.J. Beam (AAA), Jose Marte (AAA), Kasey Olenberger (AAA), Leo Rosales (AAA)
LHP: Clay Zavada+ (AAA)
C: Carlos Corporan (AAA)
1B: Jeff Bailey (AAA)
SS: Ed Rogers (AAA)
OF: Doug Deeds (AAA), Drew Macias (AAA), Byron Wiley (Hi A)

Atlanta Braves (10)
RHP: James Parr+ (AAA)
LHP: Mariano Gomez (AAA)
C: Orlando Mercado (AAA), Clint Sammons (AAA)
2B: Joe Thurston (AAA)
3B: Christian Colonel (AA), Eric Duncan (AA), Wes Timmons (AAA)
SS: Luis Bolivar (AAA)
OF: Mike Daniel (AA)

Baltimore Orioles (22)
RHP: Jose Diaz (AA), Jose Duran (Hi A), Frank Mata (AAA), Bob McCrory (AA), Jim Miller (AAA), Andy Mitchell (AAA), Josh Perrault+ (AA), Bruno Sanchez (SS), Dennis Sarfate (AAA)
LHP: Chris George (AAA), Mike Hinckley (AAA), Wilfrido Perez+ (AA)
C: Zach Booker (AA), Phillip Britton (AAA), Michel Hernandez (AAA), Steve Lerud (AA), Rolando Petit (R)
1B: Joel Guzman (AA)
OF: Lou Montanez (AAA), Zach Moore (SS), Jeff Salazar (AAA), Jonathan Tucker (AA)

Boston Red Sox (13)
RHP: Zach Hammes (Hi A), Mark Holliman (Hi A), Tyler Lavigne (SS), Chad Paronto (AAA), Ramon A. Ramirez (AAA), Patrick Ryan (Hi A)
LHP: Tommy Hottovy (AAA), Armando Zerpa (Lo A)
C: Dusty Brown (AAA)
1B: Carlos Delgado (AAA)
2B: Ray Chang (AA), Luis Segovia (Hi A)
SS: Gil Velazquez (AAA)

Chicago Cubs (8)
RHP: Mitch Atkins (AAA), Jeff Gray (AAA)
C: Mario Mercedes (AA), Mark Reed (Hi A)
3B: Russ Canzler (AA), Scott McClain++ (AA)
OF: Jason Dubois (AAA), Bryan LaHair (AAA)

Chicago White Sox (17)
RHP: Greg Aquino (AAA), Ryan Braun (AAA), Charlis Burdie (Hi A), Mariano Chevalier (DSL), Clevelan Santeliz (AAA), Matt Zaleski (AAA)
LHP: Randy Williams (AAA)
C: Cole Armstrong (AA), Adam Ricks (AAA)
1B: Ian Gac (Lo A)
2B: Fernando Cortez (AAA)
SS: Luis Rodriguez (AAA)
OF: Buck Coats (AAA), Josh Kroeger (AAA), Miguel Negron (AA), Jeremy Reed (AAA), Salvador Sanchez (AA)

Cincinnati Reds (11)
RHP: Federico Baez (AA), Jesus Delgado (AAA), Jason Isringhausen (AAA), Chad Reineke (AAA), Abe Woody (AA)
LHP: Gilbert de la Vara (AA)
C: Wilkin Castillo (AAA), Brandon Yarbrough (AA)
OF: Wladimir Balentien (AAA), Sean Henry (AAA), Luis Terrero (AAA)

Cleveland Indians (14)
RHP: Jason Grilli++ (AAA), Shane Lindsay (AA)
C: Armando Camacaro (Lo A), Alex Castillo (Hi A), Damaso Espino (AAA), Richard Martinez (SS), Miguel Perez (AA), Wyatt Toregas (AAA)
2B: Cristo Arnal (AA), Argenis Reyes (AAA), Drew Sutton (AAA)
3B: Andy Marte (AAA)
OF: Jose Constanza (AAA), Lucas Montero (AA)

Colorado Rockies (21)
RHP: Al Alburquerque (AA), Jonnathan Aristil (AAA), Luis Ayala (AAA), Ryan Harvey (AA), Ching-Lung Lo (AAA), Chris Malone (AA), Stuart Pomeranz (AA), Matt Wilhite (AAA)
LHP: Nick Bierbrodt (AAA), Kurt Birkins (AAA), Josh Muecke (AAA), Scott Rice (AAA)
1B: Brad Eldred (AAA)
2B: Kazuo Matsui (AAA), Jason Van Kooten (AA)
3B: Travis Metcalf (AAA)
SS: Daniel Mayora (AA), Omar Quintanilla (SS), Eider Torres (AAA)
OF: Matt Miller (AAA), Bronson Sardinha (AA)

Detroit Tigers (10)
RHP: Scot Drucker (AAA), Henry Mejia (DSL), Josh Rainwater (AAA), Jay Sborz (AAA)
LHP: Ryan Ketchner (AAA)
C: Robinzon Diaz (AAA), Arturo Santana (DSL)
OF: Brandon Jones (AA), Jesus Petit (VSL), Jeff Frazier (AAA)

Florida Marlins (31)
RHP: Natividad Dilone (Hi A), Jon Fulton+ (AA), Brian Lawrence (AAA), Tom Mastny (AAA), Matt Peterson (AAA), Nic Ungs+ (AAA), Tim Wood (AAA)
LHP: Jeff Gogal (AA), James Houser (AAA), Wes Whisler (AAA)
C: John Otness (AA), Neil Wilson (AAA)
1B: Mark Saccomanno (AAA)
2B: Wes Long (Lo A), Danny Richar (AAA), Rigoberto Silverio+ (Hi A)
3B: Lee Mitchell (AA)
SS: Gookie Dawkins (AAA), Javier Guzman (AAA), Ryan Klosterman+ (Hi A), Emilio Ontiveros (Hi A), Tim Torres (AA)
OF: Chris Aguila (AAA), Brett Carroll (AAA), Jason Delaney (AAA), Jose Duarte (Lo A), Vinny Rottino (AA), Lorenzo Scott (AA), Brandon Tripp (AA), Greg Burns (AAA), Jeff Corsaletti (AA)

Houston Astros (20)
RHP: Erick Abreu (AA), Jonah Bayliss (AAA), Roy Corcoran (AAA), Evan Englebrook (AA), Jeremy Johnson (AA), Shane Loux (AAA), Jailen Peguero (AA)
LHP: Dieudone Paul (R), Polin Trinidad (AA), Andy Van Hekken (AAA), Edwin Walker (Hi A)
C: Buck Afenir (SS), Edwin Bellorin (AAA), Lou Santangelo (AA)
1B: Chris Shelton (AAA)
2B: Matt Kata (AAA)
3B: Jhon Florentino (AA)
SS: Marcos Cabral (AA), Edwin Maysonet (AAA)
OF: David Cook (AA)

Kansas City Royals (11)
RHP: Jairo Cuevas (Hi A), Blake Johnson (AA), Devon Lowery+ (AAA)
1B: Ernesto Mejia (Hi A), Scott Thorman (AAA)
3B: Eddie Prasch+ (Hi A)
SS: Ed Lucas (AAA), Chris McConnell (AA), Juan Rivera (Hi A)
OF: Shane Costa+ (AA), Jai Miller (AAA)

Los Angeles Angels (19)
RHP: Ryan Aldridge+ (AAA), Daniel Cabrera (AA), Gabe DeHoyos (AAA), Amalio Diaz (AAA), Ryan Houston (AAA), Eric Junge (AAA), Fernando Rodriguez (AAA), Vladimir Veras++ (Lo A), Ryan Vogelsong (AA)
LHP: Daniel Davidson (AAA)
2B: Drew Meyer (AAA), Nate Sutton (AAA)
3B: Carlos Colmenares (AA)
SS: Luis Figueroa (AAA), Gary Patchett (AAA), Hainley Statia+ (AAA)
OF: Terry Evans (AAA), Nick Gorneault (AAA), Charlton Jimerson (AA)

Los Angeles Dodgers (24)
RHP: Mario Alvarez (AA), Jesus Castillo (AA), Scott Dohmann (AAA), Seth Etherton (AAA), Geoff Geary (AAA), Edgar Gonzalez (AAA), Charlie Haeger (AAA), Jon Huber (AA), Grabiel Oviedo (DSL), Claudio Vargas (AAA), Cory Wade (AAA)
LHP: Juan Perez (AAA), Miguel Sanfler (Hi A), Cody White (Hi A)
C: Keyter Collado (AA), Gabriel Gutierrez (Hi A)
1B: Eduardo Perez (AA), Dustin Yount (Hi A)
2B: Ramon Nivar (AA)
SS: Alfredo Amezaga+ (AA), Chris Gutierrez (Hi A)
OF: Prentice Redman (AAA), Michael Restovich (AAA), Andres Perez+ (Hi A)

Milwaukee Brewers (17)
RHP: Jeff Bennett (AAA), Ruben Flores (Hi A), Nick Green (AA), Jim Henderson (AA), David Johnson (AAA), Marty McLeary (AAA), Eddie Morlan (AA)
LHP: Chuck Lofgren (AAA), Sam Narron (AAA), Chris Waters (AAA)
C: Ben Johnson (AAA), Angel Salome (Hi A)
1B: Joe Koshansky (AAA)
2B: Johnny Raburn (AAA)
SS: Ray Olmedo (AAA)
OF: Drew T. Anderson (AA), Norris Hopper (AAA)

Minnesota Twins (10)
RHP: Tim Lahey (AAA), Matt Williams (AA), Charlie Zink+ (AAA)
LHP: Jose Lugo (AAA), Mike Maroth+ (AAA)
1B: Brock Peterson (AAA)
3B: D'Angelo Jimenez (AAA), Matt Macri (AAA)
SS: Yancarlos Ortiz (AA)
OF: Jacque Jones (AAA)

New York Mets (24)
RHP: Yhency Brazoban (AAA), Brian Bruney (AAA), Chad Cordero (AAA), Jack Egbert++ (AAA), Johan Figuereo (SS), Carlos Muniz+ (AA)
LHP: Derrick Ellison (AA), Arturo Lopez+ (AAA), Mike O'Connor (AAA), Adam Pettyjohn (AAA), Raul Valdes (AAA)
C: Michael Barrett (AAA), J.R. House (AAA), Salomon Manriquez (AA), Luke Montz+ (AA)
1B: Marshall Hubbard (AA)
2B: Russ Adams (AAA), Alex Cintron+ (AAA), Jonathan Malo (AAA)
3B: Mike Cervenak (AAA)
SS: Jose Coronado (AA)
OF: Brahiam Maldonado (AA), Jorge Padilla (AAA), Jesus Feliciano (AAA)

New York Yankees (20)
RHP: Jason Hirsh (AAA), Ronny Marte (Hi A), Jonathan Ortiz (Hi A), Zack Segovia (AAA), John Van Benschoten (AAA)
LHP: Wilkin de la Rosa (AA), Jose Quintana (Lo A)
C: Ronny Calderon (R), Jose Gil (Hi A), Robby Hammock+ (AAA), P.J. Pilittere+ (AAA), Rene Rivera (AA)
1B: Brian Baisley++ (AA), Myron Leslie (Hi A)
3B: Marcos Vechionacci (AA)
SS: Eric Bruntlett (AAA)
OF: Justin Christian (AAA), Edwar Gonzalez (AAA), Reid Gorecki (AAA), Rudy Guillen+ (Hi A)

Oakland Athletics (24)
RHP: Kristian Bell++ (Hi A), Fernando Hernandez (AAA), Jason Jennings+ (AAA), Marcus McBeth+ (AAA), Kyle Middleton (AAA), Jose Pina (Hi A), Edwar Ramirez (AAA), Josue Selenes++ (Lo A), Brett Tomko+ (AAA), Matt Wright (AA)
LHP: Lenny DiNardo+ (AAA), Ryan Edell (AA)
C: Gabriel Ortiz (AA), Jared Price (AAA)
1B: Tommy Everidge (AAA)
2B: J.C. Holt (AA)
3B: Adam Heether (AAA), Marcos Luis (SS), Dallas McPherson (AAA), Brandon Pinckney (Hi A), Alex Valdez (AA)
OF: Val Majewski (AA), Matt Watson (AAA), Archie Gilbert (AA)

Philadelphia Phillies (26)
RHP: Jason Anderson (AA), Alexander Concepcion (AAA), Brandon Duckworth (AAA), Brian Gordon (AAA), Juan Sandoval (Hi A), Jay Stephens+ (AA), Ty Taubenheim (AAA), Oscar Villarreal (AAA), Ehren Wassermann+ (AAA)
LHP: Kyle Carr (Lo A), Brian Mazone (AAA)
C: Joel Naughton (Hi A), Kevin Nelson (AA), John Suomi (AA)
1B: Andy Tracy (AAA)
2B: Keoni DeRenne (AA), Melvin Dorta (AAA)
3B: Cody Ransom (AAA), Neil Sellers (AAA)
SS: Ozzie Chavez (AAA), Gabe Suarez (AA)
OF: Kevin Mahar (AA), Timo Perez (AA), Ryne White (SS), Mike Spidale (AA), Rich Thompson (AAA)

Pittsburgh Pirates (19)
RHP: Derek Hankins (AA), Jean Machi (AAA), Dustin Molleken (AA), Jeremy Powell (AAA), Tyler Yates++ (AAA)
LHP: Dana Eveland (AAA), Corey Hamman (AAA)
C: Hector Gimenez (AA), Erik Kratz (AAA), Milver Reyes+ (Hi A), James Skelton (Hi A)
1B: Brian Myrow (AAA)
2B: Rodolfo Cardona+ (Hi A), Yung Chi Chen (AA), Jose de los Santos (AA)
SS: Doug Bernier (AAA)
OF: Mitch Jones (AAA), Kevin Melillo (AAA), Jonathan Van Every (AAA)

St. Louis Cardinals (6)
RHP: Josh Kinney (AAA), Oneli Perez (AAA), Matt Scherer (AAA)
LHP: Rich Rundles (AAA)
C: Matt Pagnozzi (AAA)
3B: Ruben Gotay (AAA)

San Diego Padres (14)
RHP: Greg Burke (AAA), Mike Koplove (AAA), Scott Munter (AAA), Jackson Quezada+ (Lo A)
LHP: Tyler Lumsden (AA)
C: Mike Collins (AA), Kyle Phillips (AAA), Dusty Ryan (AAA)
2B: Josh Barfield (AAA), Anthony Contreras (AA)
3B: Craig Stansberry (AAA)
SS: Nick Green (AAA), Sean Kazmar (AAA)
OF: Wily Mo Pena (AAA)

San Francisco Giants (22)
RHP: Rafael Cova (AA), Eric Hacker (AAA), Matt Kinney (AAA), Mike MacDonald (AA), Osiris Matos (AAA), Scott Nestor (Lo A), Tony Pena Jr. (AAA), Ronnie Ray (AA)
LHP: Geno Espineli (AAA), Horacio Ramirez (AAA), Andy Sisco (AA), Jake Stevens (AA), Dontrelle Willis (AAA)
C: Steve Holm (AAA), Guillermo Rodriguez+ (AAA)
1B: Michael Sandoval+ (Hi A)
2B: Derin McMains+ (AAA)
3B: Jesus Guzman (AAA)
SS: Juan Ciriaco (AA), Sharlon Schoop (AA)
OF: Joe Borchard (AAA), Clay Timpner (AA)

Seattle Mariners (26)
RHP: Andy Baldwin (AAA), Steve Bray (AA), Domingo Brazoban (DSL), Yunior DeJesus (DSL), Aaron Jensen (AA), Wes Littleton (AA), Luis Munoz (AA), Scott Patterson (AAA), Yusmeiro Petit (AAA), Steven Shell (AAA), Levale Speigner (AAA), Marwin Vega (Hi A), Sean White (AAA)
LHP: Ryan Feierabend (AAA), Chris Seddon (AAA)
C: Juan Fuentes (R), C: Blake Ochoa (Lo A)
1B: Brad Nelson (AAA)
2B: Jeff Dominguez (AAA), Tug Hulett (AAA)
SS: Terry Serrano (SS)
OF: Dwight Britton (SS), Eddy Martinez-Esteve (AA), Maximo Mendez (AA), David Winfree (AAA), Mike Wilson (AAA)

Tampa Bay Rays (21)
RHP: Winston Abreu (AAA), Joe Bateman (AAA), Richard de los Santos (AAA), Dale Thayer (AAA), Virgil Vasquez+ (AAA)
LHP: Jason Cromer+ (AAA), Darin Downs (AAA), Carlos Hernandez (AAA), Bobby Livingston (AAA), Heath Phillips (AAA), Brian Shouse (AAA), R.J. Swindle (AAA)
C: Alvin Colina (AAA), Matt Spring (AA)
1B: Chris Richard (AAA)
2B: Drew M. Anderson (AA), Joe Dillon (AAA)
3B: Angel Chavez (AAA)
SS: Chris de la Cruz (AA)
OF: Rashad Eldridge (AAA), Ryan Royster+ (Hi A)

Texas Rangers (18)
RHP: Travis Chick (AA), Jesus Colome (AAA), Warner Madrigal (AAA), Doug Mathis (AAA), Mark Prior (AAA), Elizardo Ramirez (AA), Michael Schlact (AA)
C: Emerson Frostad (AAA), Kevin Richardson (AAA), Elio Sarmiento (AA)
2B: Hernan Iribarren (AAA)
3B: Matt Brown (AAA), Esteban German (AAA)
SS: Gregorio Petit (AAA)
OF: Endy Chavez+ (AAA), Willy Taveras (AAA), James Tomlin (AAA), Brandon Boggs (AAA)

Toronto Blue Jays (17)
RHP: Lance Broadway (AAA), Clint Everts (AA), Dirk Hayhurst (AAA), Steven Register (AAA), Merkin Valdez (AAA)
LHP: Willie Collazo (AAA), Zach Jackson (AAA)
C: Raul Chavez (AAA), Jonathan Jaspe (AA)
3B: Shawn Bowman (AA)
SS: Manny Mayorson (AAA), Jesus Merchan (AAA)
OF: Jason Lane (AAA), Chris Lubanski (AAA), Ricardo Nanita (AA), Welinton Ramirez (Hi A), Aaron Mathews (AAA)

Washington Nationals (27)
RHP: Jimmy Barthmaier+ (Hi A), Zach Dials (Hi A), Luis Garcia (Lo A), Jason Jones (AA), Andrew Kown (AAA), Dan Leatherman (AA), Carlos Martinez+ (Hi A)
LHP: Jesse English+ (AAA), Victor Garate (AA), Glenn Gibson (SS), Chuck James (AA), Yunior Novoa (AA)
C: Nolan Brannon (R), Devin Ivany (AA)
2B: Chase Lambin (AAA)
3B: Ofilio Castro (AA), Pete Orr (AAA), Wilberto Ortiz (Hi A)
SS: Pedro Lopez (AAA)
OF: Jason Botts (AAA), Leonard Davis (AAA), Chris Duncan (AAA), Marvin Lowrance (AA), Edgardo Baez (AA), Brad Coon (AA), Jerry Owens++ (AAA), Jamar Walton (Hi A)

Notes And Explanations

Classifications. Triple-A players (AAA) make up 57.4 percent of the free agent pool; Double-A (AA) makes up 26.6 percent; High Class A (Hi A) checks in at 9 percent; Low Class A (Lo A) represents 2.4 percent; and 24 players (4.5 percent) finished the year in short-season leagues.

Position Played. Most veteran minor league position players move all over the diamond during the course of the season, so here we try to capture the essence of his experience during the past season or two. They tend to move because they may slide down the defensive spectrum as they age and slow down. Or their organization may consider them a lower priority than a hot new prospect. Or they may be called upon to play out of position to fill gaps in the system. In rare cases, veterans may be taking on additional defensive responsibilities in an effort to shed the 4-A label.

Marlins 31, Cardinals 6. It's not a football score—it's the two organizations at the extremes. A total of 31 players who finished the season in the Marlins organization were granted free agency. The list includes righthanded reliever Tim Wood, an ’02 draft-and-follow, and corner outfielder Brett Carroll, a 10th-rounder in ’04, both of whom have received extended trials in Florida, the only organization they've ever known. Among the Cardinals' six free agents, only catcher Matt Pagnozzi and righty Matt Scherer signed their first pro contracts with St. Louis.