Bleacher Bums Forum

I kind of guess that the team and the player have to sign off and submit to the commish, and he can sign it whenever.  That would be necessary if in fact there is last-day negotiations really going on.  So the deadline isn't for the commish signature.  But a guy can't go to camp until it's been signed off by everybody.  Since Selig has told teams he doesn't want superslots inflating, they know he won't approve major superslots until the end anyway, so there's no hurry in getting the actual formal player signature on a deal.  Whether Vogelbach signs it on July 1st or August 10, who cares if Selig has told teams he doesn't want to get the major superslot deals out for all the other players/agents to use as leverage. 

I also assume that the format of the deals is pretty standard.  The variables from standard form probably include:
1.  Dollars
2.  College tuition value
3.  Two sport guys who have extended multi-year deals.
4.  Special stuff, such as major league roster status within X years, or promised invitation to spring training.
5.  Special stuff such as travel coverage for family to come to signing, or to watch some games each summer, or whatever. 

I'd think teams could format the contracts standard enough so that a Monday signing won't give any trouble getting signed off by Selig.