Even if you’re the most casual sports fan this side of the Golden State Warriors, you’ve probably heard that a baseball player has been optioned before. Maybe you knew what it meant, or maybe you just nodded your head and hoped no one would ask you how the Indians could option Shawn Armstrong 37 times in a single season.
Well, fret not, for options are actually a pretty straightforward process, and after this quick overview you’ll be able to impress all your friends about your knowledge of how these little buggers actually work.
The official definition from MLB is a pretty good place to start in understanding options.