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The difference between MLB’s 40-man roster and 26-man roster is simple:
The 40-man roster determines which players are under Major League roster control and eligible for promotion. The 26-man roster determines which players are active for MLB games right now.
Every player on the 26-man roster must also be on the 40-man roster.
But many players on the 40-man roster are not on the active 26-man roster. They may be in the Minor Leagues, on certain injured lists, or otherwise inactive.
Understanding this distinction makes MLB transactions such as options, recalls, DFA moves and September call-ups much easier to follow.
What Is the 40-Man Roster?
The 40-man roster includes a team’s active Major League players plus additional players under Major League roster control.
It can include:
- Players on the 26-man active roster
- Minor League players who have been added to the 40-man
- Players on the 7-day concussion IL
- Position players on the 10-day IL
- Pitchers and two-way players on the 15-day IL
- Players on certain other Major League inactive lists
Players on the 60-day injured list do not count against the 40-man roster limit while they remain on that list.
A Minor League player who is not already on the 40-man must be added before he can join the Major League active roster.
This transaction is commonly described as selecting the player’s contract.
What Is the 26-Man Roster?
The 26-man roster is MLB’s active roster.
From Opening Day through August 31, clubs normally carry 26 active players.
Those are the players available to participate in Major League games.
MLB currently limits clubs to 13 pitchers on the 26-man roster.
From September 1 through the end of the regular season, the active roster expands to 28 players, with a maximum of 14 pitchers.
So the easiest distinction is:
| 40-Man Roster | 26-Man Roster | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | MLB roster control and eligibility | Active MLB players |
| Maximum size | 40 | 26 normally |
| September | Still 40 | Expands to 28 |
| Can include Minor Leaguers? | Yes | No |
| Players can appear in MLB games? | Not automatically | Yes |
| MLB service time automatically accrues? | No | Yes |
Does a Player Have to Be on the 40-Man Before Joining the 26-Man?
Yes.
A player cannot simply be promoted from the Minor Leagues directly into an MLB game if he is not on the 40-man roster.
Suppose a top prospect is playing in Triple-A but is not on the 40-man.
To call him up, the team must:
- Add him to the 40-man roster.
- Add him to the 26-man active roster.
If the 40-man is already full, the club first needs to create a spot.
That could involve a trade, release, DFA, or transferring an injured player to the 60-day IL.
What Does It Mean When a Player Is Optioned?
A player on the 40-man roster who has Minor League options remaining can generally be sent to the Minors without first going through waivers.
When that happens:
He leaves the 26-man roster but remains on the 40-man roster.
Most players receive three option years, although some players qualify for a fourth.
Only one option year is used during a season, regardless of how many times the player moves between MLB and the Minors.
However, MLB limits a player to five optional assignments during a season. After the fifth, another assignment to the Minors requires outright assignment waivers.
How Long Must an Optioned Player Stay in the Minors?
This depends on the player’s designation.
A position player normally must remain in the Minor Leagues for at least 10 days before being recalled.
A pitcher or two-way player normally must remain there for at least 15 days.
There are exceptions.
For example, the minimum can be waived when the player is recalled to replace someone placed on the injured list or when serving as the extra player for a doubleheader.
What Happens When a Player Runs Out of Options?
An out-of-options player generally cannot simply be sent to the Minor Leagues.
To remove that player from the active roster and send him to the Minors, the club generally must designate him for assignment and expose him to outright waivers.
That creates a risk:
another MLB team can claim the player.
This is why teams sometimes keep an out-of-options player on the 26-man roster even when an optionable player might provide more flexibility.
What Does DFA Mean?
DFA stands for Designated for Assignment.
When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club’s 40-man roster.
The team then has a limited period to determine what happens next, such as:
- Trade the player
- Place him on outright waivers
- Release him
If the player clears outright waivers, the club may be able to assign him to the Minor Leagues, although players can have rights to reject an outright assignment depending on service time and previous outrights.
How Do Injured Lists Affect the Rosters?
This is one of the easiest areas to confuse.
10-Day IL
Used for position players.
The player:
- Leaves the 26-man roster
- Remains on the 40-man roster
15-Day IL
Used for pitchers and two-way players.
The player:
- Leaves the 26-man roster
- Remains on the 40-man roster
7-Day Concussion IL
Used specifically for players with concussion symptoms.
The player remains part of the 40-man roster.
60-Day IL
This one is different.
A player transferred to the 60-day IL does not count against the 40-man roster limit while on the list.
That can allow a club with a full 40-man roster to create a temporary roster spot.
However, the injured player must remain on the 60-day IL for at least 60 days.
Do Injured Players Earn MLB Service Time?
Yes.
Players on the Major League injured list continue accruing MLB service time.
This is different from simply being a Minor League player on the 40-man roster.
Being on the 40-man alone does not automatically generate Major League service time.
Players on the 26-man roster or Major League injured list generally accrue MLB service.
What Happens to MLB Rosters in September?
MLB no longer uses the old system that allowed active rosters to expand dramatically in September.
Beginning September 1, the active roster increases from:
26 → 28 players
Teams can carry a maximum of 14 pitchers during this period.
The 40-man roster itself does not become a 42-man roster or change its basic purpose.
This means modern “September call-ups” are much more limited than they were under the old 40-player active-roster system.
What Is the 27th Player Rule for Doubleheaders?
For certain doubleheaders, MLB allows clubs to temporarily add an extra active player.
This is commonly known as the 27th player.
Teams frequently use the spot for an additional pitcher because playing two games in one day can put extra pressure on the pitching staff.
The temporary roster exception does not work exactly like a normal call-up and can also affect the usual minimum Minor League assignment requirements.
What Is a Two-Way Player?
MLB has a special designation for players who legitimately perform both pitching and position-player roles.
A player can qualify for two-way status by meeting both of these thresholds in the current season or one of the previous two seasons:
- At least 20 Major League innings pitched
- At least 20 MLB games started as a position player or DH, with at least three plate appearances in each game
A qualifying two-way player does not count against the active roster’s pitcher limit.
How Does the 40-Man Roster Affect the Rule 5 Draft?
The 40-man roster is also important during the offseason.
Eligible Minor League players who are not protected on a club’s 40-man roster can be selected by another organization in the Rule 5 Draft.
Generally, players signed at age 18 or younger become Rule 5 eligible after five seasons, while players signed at age 19 or older become eligible after four seasons if they have not been added to the 40-man roster.
That creates an annual roster-management problem.
A club may want to protect several prospects but have only a few available 40-man spots.
Who Is Eligible for the MLB Postseason?
For the 2026 postseason, players who were on a club’s 40-man roster or 60-day injured list before September 1 are generally postseason eligible.
There are exceptions.
A player who was in the organization by August 31 but did not meet those roster conditions may still be approved as an injury replacement through a petition to the Commissioner’s Office.
Players who join an organization after August 31 are not postseason eligible that year.
For each postseason round, teams submit a 26-player postseason roster, which can be changed before the next round.
Common MLB Transaction Terms
Once you understand the two rosters, common transaction announcements become much easier to read.
Contract selected
A player who was not on the 40-man has been added to it, usually as part of a Major League promotion.
Recalled
A player already on the 40-man has been brought from the Minors onto the active roster.
Optioned
A player has been removed from the active roster and sent to the Minors while remaining on the 40-man.
Designated for assignment
A player has been removed from the 40-man while the team determines the next transaction.
Outrighted
A player has cleared outright waivers and been removed from the 40-man, typically with an assignment to the Minors.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players are on an MLB active roster?
Normally 26 players through August 31.
Beginning September 1, the active roster expands to 28 players through the end of the regular season.
Are all 40-man roster players in the Major Leagues?
No.
Some are Minor League players who are under Major League roster control but are not currently active in MLB.
Does a player on the 40-man roster earn MLB service time?
Not simply by being on the 40-man.
Players generally accrue Major League service while on the active MLB roster or Major League injured list.
How many times can a player be optioned in one season?
A player can normally be optionally assigned to the Minors up to five times in one season before additional assignments require outright assignment waivers.
Does the 60-day IL count against the 40-man roster?
No.
A player on the 60-day IL is temporarily removed from the 40-man roster count.
How many players are on a postseason roster?
Teams carry 26 players for each postseason series.
Final Answer
The easiest way to remember the difference is:
40-man roster = MLB eligibility and roster control
26-man roster = players currently active for Major League games
Every player on the 26-man must also belong to the 40-man, but not every player on the 40-man is active in MLB.
Options, waivers, DFA moves, injured lists, Rule 5 protection and September expansion all connect these two rosters.
Once you understand that relationship, most MLB transaction news becomes much easier to follow.