Zips bidding eligibility

[Marlins]

Every year we mention that the zips eligibility includes players coming back from playing overseas. However, we also allow teams to keep players who go overseas in case they do come back. At what point does a player playing overseas become ineligible to be signed until zips bidding? An example, Trevor Bauer. Can he still be picked up now if someone thinks he might come back to MLB next year? If so, until when?

[Guardians]

Every year we mention that the zips eligibility includes players coming back from playing overseas. However, we also allow teams to keep players who go overseas in case they do come back. At what point does a player playing overseas become ineligible to be signed until zips bidding? An example, Trevor Bauer. Can he still be picked up now if someone thinks he might come back to MLB next year? If so, until when?

I would say you can stash a guy who goes overseas for as long as you want to hold the spot on your roster for him. But once a guy is dropped and is signed overseas, he is off limits until he ever signs with an MLB team again and then is subject to the off-season zips bidding process

[Marlins]

What about waiver claims? Can be claimed on waivers but once waivers clears then off limits?

[Cardinals]

Every year we mention that the zips eligibility includes players coming back from playing overseas. However, we also allow teams to keep players who go overseas in case they do come back. At what point does a player playing overseas become ineligible to be signed until zips bidding? An example, Trevor Bauer. Can he still be picked up now if someone thinks he might come back to MLB next year? If so, until when?

I would say you can stash a guy who goes overseas for as long as you want to hold the spot on your roster for him. But once a guy is dropped and is signed overseas, he is off limits until he ever signs with an MLB team again and then is subject to the off-season zips bidding process

This is the correct interpretation of the rule.