Alliance Professional Baseball League Rules

Last updated: January 16, 2026 at 2:41 PM

1. OVERVIEW

The Alliance Professional Baseball League (APBL) is a redraft fantasy baseball league consisting of 16 teams competing across two leagues and four divisions. Each General Manager represents an actual Major League Baseball franchise, creating an authentic baseball experience that mirrors the structure of professional baseball.

1.1 LEAGUE STRUCTURE

The APBL is organized into two leagues of eight teams each, with each league divided into two divisions of four teams:

American League (8 teams)

AL West:

Los Angeles Angels
Oakland Athletics
Texas Rangers
Chicago White Sox

AL East:

New York Yankees
Cleveland Guardians
Boston Red Sox
Baltimore Orioles

National League (8 teams)

NL West:

Arizona Diamondbacks
St. Louis Cardinals
San Francisco Giants
Chicago Cubs

NL East:

Cincinnati Reds
Miami Marlins
Atlanta Braves
Philadelphia Phillies

Each General Manager represents their chosen MLB franchise throughout the season, building rosters from the complete pool of MLB players regardless of real-world team affiliation.

1.2 SEASON FORMAT

The APBL season begins on Monday, March 30, 2026 (MLB Week 2) and consists of 25 weeks of competition, including a 22-week regular season and a 3-week playoff:

APBL Weeks 1-22 (MLB Weeks 2-23): Regular season competition APBL Week 23 (MLB Week 24): League Semifinals (4 AL teams, 4 NL teams) APBL Week 24 (MLB Week 25): League Championships (AL Champion, NL Champion) APBL Week 25 (MLB Week 26): World Series (AL Champion vs NL Champion)

The regular season features a balanced schedule that includes divisional games, intra-league competition, and interleague play. The top four teams from each league—two division winners and two wild card teams—advance to the playoffs for a chance to compete for the APBL World Series championship.

1.3 ENTRY FEE

The entry fee for the 2026 APBL is $50 per team, collected via LeagueSafe. Complete prize pool breakdown and payout structure are detailed in Section 9.

1.4 LEAGUE COMMUNICATION

All league communication, announcements, and updates will be conducted exclusively through Discord. Every General Manager must have an active Discord account and remain accessible in the FSA Discord server throughout the season. Failure to maintain Discord access or respond to league communications will result in forfeiture of league participation. The FSA Discord server contains dedicated channels for league announcements, trade negotiations, waiver wire discussion, and general league interaction.

2. DRAFT

The draft will take place online at Yahoo Fantasy Baseball on [DATE TBD - early March, Saturday]. The exact draft date will be confirmed once Yahoo releases the 2026 MLB schedule and league settings become available. All 16 teams will draft from the complete pool of MLB players. The draft will last 26 rounds [see Section 3], with teams selecting players in a serpentine (snake) fashion. Teams may draft players at any position at any time during the draft. However, each team must have at least one player for each designated starting position by the end of the draft.

2.1 DRAFT ORDER DETERMINATION

Draft order is determined through a Draft Order Show, a live broadcast event conducted prior to the draft. General Managers are not required to attend the live broadcast. The process is as follows:

2.1.1 INITIAL PLACEMENT

All 16 team logos (representing each GM's chosen MLB franchise) are printed, cut, folded, and placed in a hat. The Commissioner randomly draws one team logo from the hat and spins a digital wheel containing the numbers 1-16. The number that appears determines the team's initial position on the draft order board (positions 1-16, with positions 1-8 displayed in the top row and positions 9-16 displayed in the bottom row).

2.1.2 THE GAUNTLET - ACTION ROLLS

After initial placement, the Commissioner rolls two 6-sided dice (2d6). The total determines an action from the Action List that affects the draft order board. This process continues—drawing a team from the hat, spinning the wheel for placement, then rolling 2d6 for board actions—until all 16 teams have been placed on the board.

2.1.3 FINAL ROLL

Once all 16 teams are positioned, the Commissioner rolls two 4-sided dice (2d4) for one final board modification. The total determines the final action that sets the official draft order.

2.1.4 RESULT

The final board configuration establishes the draft order. Position 1 drafts first, position 2 drafts second, and so on through position 16 in Round 1. The draft then reverses (serpentine) with position 16 selecting first in Round 2.

3. ROSTER REQUIREMENTS

Each team may maintain up to 26 active roster spots plus 2 Injured List (IL) spots, for a maximum total of 28 roster positions. Teams are not required to fill all roster spots, though maintaining a full roster provides strategic advantages throughout the season.

3.1 ACTIVE ROSTER

The active roster consists of up to 26 players who are available for selection in daily starting lineups or may be held on the bench. Teams may carry fewer than 26 active players if desired, though this limits roster flexibility for daily lineup decisions and player availability during the season.

3.2 INJURED LIST

Each team has 2 Injured List (IL) spots available for players who are on the official MLB Injured List. Players must be designated as IL-eligible by their real MLB team to occupy an IL spot in APBL rosters. Players listed as Day-to-Day, Questionable, or Probable by MLB do not qualify for IL spots and must occupy active roster positions.

IL spots allow teams to add replacement players without dropping injured players from their rosters. Teams may move players to and from IL spots at any time, provided the player meets MLB IL eligibility requirements.

4. STARTING LINEUP REQUIREMENTS

Each team must submit a starting lineup each day of the season. Starting lineups consist of specific position requirements for batters and pitchers.

Batters:

1 Catcher (C)
1 First Base (1B)
1 Second Base (2B)
1 Third Base (3B)
1 Shortstop (SS)
3 Outfield (OF)
1 Utility (Util)

Pitchers:

3 Starters (SP)
2 Pitcher (P) - may be either a Starting Pitcher (SP) or Relief Pitcher (RP)
2 Relievers (RP)

Bench/Injured List:

2 Injured List (IL)
10 Bench (BN)

4.1 DAILY LINEUP CHANGES

Starting lineups may be adjusted daily throughout the season. General Managers may make lineup changes at any time up until an individual player's MLB game begins. Once a player's game starts, that player is locked in their current position (starting lineup or bench) for that day and cannot be moved until the following day.

Teams should monitor game times carefully, as MLB schedules vary daily and players may have games starting at different times throughout each day.

5. SCORING

The APBL utilizes a points-based scoring system. Points are awarded for batting, pitching, and baserunning performance.

5.1 BATTING

1 point per Walk
1 point per Hit By Pitch
1 point per Stolen Base
1 point per Run
1 point per RBI
1 point per Single
2 points per Double
3 points per Triple
4 points per Home Run
-1 point per Strikeout

5.2 PITCHING

3 points per Inning Pitched
2 points per Win
2 points per Save
1 point per Strikeout
-1 point per Walk
-1 point per Hit
-1 point per Hit Batter
-2 points per Earned Run
-2 points per Loss

6. WAIVER WIRE

The APBL utilizes a rolling waiver wire system with daily processing and first-come, first-served pickups.

6.1 WAIVER WIRE ORDER

The initial waiver wire order is the reverse order of the first round of the draft. The team that drafted 16th receives Priority #1, the team that drafted 15th receives Priority #2, and so on, with the team that drafted 1st receiving Priority #16.

When a team successfully claims a player through waivers, that team immediately moves to the bottom of the waiver priority list (Priority #16). All other teams move up one position in priority. This creates a rolling priority system where waiver order continuously adjusts throughout the season based on successful claims.

6.2 WAIVER PROCESSING

Waiver claims are processed daily. Players who are dropped from rosters are placed on waivers and become available after a waiting period determined by Yahoo's default settings. During this waiting period, teams may submit waiver claims for these players. When the waiver period expires, all claims are processed in priority order, with the highest-priority team receiving their claimed player.

6.3 FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED (FCFS)

Once a player clears waivers and is not claimed by any team, that player becomes a free agent available on a first-come, first-served basis. Any team may add a free agent immediately without waiting for waiver processing. Free agent additions do not affect waiver priority order.

6.4 SEASON-LONG TRANSACTION LIMIT

Each team is limited to a maximum of 150 roster transactions for the entire season. This limit includes all player adds and drops, and may include trades depending on Yahoo Fantasy Baseball platform settings. Teams should manage their transaction budget strategically throughout the season, as exceeding this limit will prevent further roster moves.

7. TRADES

Trading is allowed between all teams throughout the season. Draft picks may not be traded in the APBL. There are no restrictions on the number of players involved in a trade, and players on the Injured List (IL) may be traded.

7.1 TRADE DEADLINE

The trade deadline is determined by Yahoo Fantasy Baseball platform settings. The last date to trade players is August 6, 2026. All trades must be submitted and processed before the deadline. No trades will be accepted after the deadline.

7.2 TRADE REVIEW PROCESS

All trades are subject to a league review period of two days. During this time, any General Manager may vote to veto the trade. A trade is vetoed if eight or more teams (50% of the league) vote against it. If fewer than eight teams vote to veto, the trade processes automatically after the two-day review period expires.

The Commissioner reserves the right to approve trades immediately if both parties request expedited processing and the trade appears fair and competitive. The Commissioner may also veto trades that are clearly detrimental to league integrity, regardless of league vote totals.

7.3 COMPETITIVE INTEGRITY

All trades must be made in good faith with competitive intent. Trades that appear to be collusion, dumping players to a playoff contender, or otherwise undermining league integrity may be vetoed by the Commissioner regardless of league vote. General Managers are encouraged to discuss concerns about trades openly in the league Discord channel during the review period.

8. SCHEDULE & PLAYOFFS

8.1 REGULAR SEASON

The APBL regular season consists of 22 weeks of competition, beginning on Monday, March 30, 2026 (MLB Week 2). Each team plays 22 games following a balanced schedule designed to emphasize divisional competition while providing opportunities for intra-league and interleague matchups.

Schedule Breakdown:

Divisional Games (9 games): Each team plays the three other teams in their division three times each, for a total of 9 divisional games.

Intra-League Games (8 games): Each team plays the four teams from the opposite division within their league two times each, for a total of 8 intra-league games.

Interleague Games (4 games): Each team plays four teams from the opposite league one time each, for a total of 4 interleague games. Interleague matchups rotate annually to ensure variety:

American League West plays National League East
American League East plays National League West

Rivalry Week (1 game): APBL Week 16 (MLB Week 17: All-Star Week) features special rivalry matchups. All 16 teams compete simultaneously in the following predetermined rivalry pairings:

Guardians vs Reds - Battle of Ohio
White Sox vs Cubs - Crosstown Classic
Athletics vs Giants - Bay Bridge Series
Orioles vs Phillies – Battle of the Beltway
Red Sox vs Braves – Hub City Classic
Yankees vs Marlins - The Eastern Edge Classic
Rangers vs Cardinals - The Red vs Blue Classic
Angels vs Diamondbacks - The Desert Highway Classic

These rivalry pairings remain consistent annually regardless of interleague rotation.

Total Regular Season Games: 22

The complete 2026 APBL week-by-week schedule has been finalized and is available on your team's franchise page. To access it, log in to your FSA account and navigate to: My Dashboard → APBL (Manage Team) → Schedule. The schedule displays all 22 weeks of regular season matchups with color-coded game type indicators (green = divisional, blue = intra-conference, orange = interleague, red = rivalry week).

8.2 TIEBREAKERS

Playoff seeding and division winners are determined by regular season record. In the event teams finish with identical records, the following tiebreakers apply in order:

Head-to-head record
Total points scored

8.3 PLAYOFF QUALIFICATION

The top four teams from each league advance to the playoffs:

Two division winners (AL West winner, AL East winner, NL West winner, NL East winner)
Two wild card teams per league (next two best records regardless of division)

Seeding: Division winners receive the #1 and #2 seeds in their league based on regular season record. Wild card teams receive the #3 and #4 seeds based on regular season record.

8.4 PLAYOFF BRACKET

The APBL playoffs consist of three weeks of single-elimination competition.

APBL Week 23 (MLB Week 24) - League Semifinals:

American League: #1 seed vs #4 seed, #2 seed vs #3 seed
National League: #1 seed vs #4 seed, #2 seed vs #3 seed
Four games total (two per league)
Winners advance to League Championships

APBL Week 24 (MLB Week 25) - League Championships:

American League Championship: AL semifinal winners compete
National League Championship: NL semifinal winners compete
Two games total (one per league)
Winners advance to World Series

APBL Week 25 (MLB Week 26) - World Series:

American League Champion vs National League Champion
One game determines the APBL World Series Champion

All playoff matchups are single-week competitions. The team with the highest point total for that week advances.

8.5 PLAYOFF ROSTER MANAGEMENT

Trading is prohibited during the playoffs. However, teams may continue to make waiver claims and free agent acquisitions throughout the playoff period. The 150-transaction season limit (Section 6.4) remains in effect during playoffs.

9. PAYOUT STRUCTURE

The entry fee for the 2026 APBL is $50 per team, collected via LeagueSafe. Total prize pool is based on 16 teams at $50 per team ($800 total). Prize distribution is based on playoff finish.

9.1 PLAYOFF PAYOUTS

Payouts are awarded to the top four teams based on their final playoff standings:

1st Place (World Series Champion): $400 (50% of prize pool)
2nd Place (World Series Runner-up): $240 (30% of prize pool)
3rd Place (AL Championship Runner-up): $80 (10% of prize pool)
4th Place (NL Championship Runner-up): $80 (10% of prize pool)

The two teams that lose in Week 24 (League Championships) each receive $80, regardless of which league they competed in. No third-place game is played to determine final standings between these teams.

9.2 PAYOUT DISTRIBUTION

All payouts will be distributed via LeagueSafe within one week following the conclusion of Week 25 (World Series).

10. LEAGUE CONDUCT & MEMBER EXPECTATIONS

The Fantasy Sports Alliance is built on a foundation of competitive integrity, mutual respect, and active engagement. All APBL General Managers are expected to maintain high standards of conduct and participation throughout the season.

10.1 DISCORD PARTICIPATION

All league communication, announcements, and updates are conducted exclusively through Discord. Every General Manager must maintain an active Discord account and remain accessible in the FSA Discord server throughout the season. General Managers are expected to monitor Discord regularly and respond to Commissioner inquiries and league announcements in a timely manner.

10.2 RESPECTFUL COMMUNICATION

General Managers are expected to engage with league members, opponents, and FSA staff with respect and professionalism. Trash talk, competitive banter, and spirited debate are part of fantasy sports culture and are welcomed. However, personal attacks, harassment, discrimination, or hostile behavior of any kind will not be tolerated.

10.3 COMPETITIVE INTEGRITY

All General Managers are expected to compete honestly and field competitive rosters throughout the entire season. This includes:

Setting daily lineups with the intent to maximize scoring and win matchups
Making strategic roster decisions in good faith
Competing with full effort regardless of playoff standing
Avoiding collusion, roster sharing, or coordination with other teams

Tanking, intentionally losing games, or abandoning competitive roster management are violations of league integrity and may result in removal from the league.

10.4 ACTIVE ROSTER MANAGEMENT

General Managers are expected to maintain active rosters and make lineup decisions throughout the season. Teams that consistently fail to set competitive lineups, make necessary roster moves, or respond to trade offers and league communications may be subject to removal at the Commissioner's discretion.

10.5 REMOVAL FROM LEAGUE

General Managers who violate league conduct standards, fail to maintain active participation, or engage in behavior detrimental to league integrity may be removed from the APBL. The Commissioner will make removal decisions on a case-by-case basis, with consideration for the severity and pattern of violations.

Removed General Managers will be replaced by alternate managers selected by the Commissioner. Entry fee refunds for removed managers will be determined based on the timing of removal and the level of participation prior to removal.

10.6 ZERO TOLERANCE POLICIES

The following violations result in immediate removal from the league without warning or refund:

Harassment, discrimination, or hate speech of any kind
Threats or intimidation toward league members or FSA staff
Confirmed collusion or roster sharing with other GMs
Intentional violation of Yahoo Fantasy Baseball platform terms of service

11. COMMISSIONER AUTHORITY & BEST INTEREST CLAUSE

11.1 COMMISSIONER POWERS

The Commissioner holds final authority over all league operations, rule interpretations, and decisions affecting the Alliance Professional Baseball League. This authority exists to ensure fair competition, maintain league integrity, and resolve disputes in a timely and equitable manner.

The Commissioner's powers include, but are not limited to:

Interpreting and enforcing all league rules
Resolving disputes between General Managers
Correcting platform errors or scoring discrepancies
Removing General Managers for violations of conduct or competitive integrity standards
Making emergency roster adjustments in cases of platform error or extraordinary circumstances
Modifying league operations when unforeseen situations arise
Determining payout distributions in exceptional circumstances

11.2 BEST INTEREST OF THE LEAGUE CLAUSE

Should any circumstance, issue, or problem arise for which a remedy is not explicitly stated in these rules, the Commissioner reserves the right to take whatever actions deemed necessary in the best interest of the league. The Commissioner may consult with General Managers, FSA staff, or other parties before making decisions, but is not required to do so.

All decisions made under the Best Interest of the League Clause will be announced via Discord with explanation provided to the league membership.

11.3 DISPUTE RESOLUTION

General Managers who disagree with a Commissioner decision or rule interpretation may request clarification via Discord. The Commissioner will provide explanation and rationale for all decisions when requested.

In cases where multiple General Managers dispute a decision, the Commissioner may open the matter for league discussion or vote. However, the Commissioner retains final authority and is not bound by league vote results. The Commissioner's final decision is binding and not subject to further appeal.

11.4 PLATFORM ERRORS & EMERGENCY ADJUSTMENTS

In the event of Yahoo Fantasy Baseball platform errors, scoring corrections, technical issues affecting league competition, or other platform-related problems, the Commissioner will investigate and make corrections as needed to maintain fair competition. General Managers must report suspected errors or issues to the Commissioner via Discord as soon as they are discovered.

11.5 RULE AMENDMENTS

These rules may be amended during the season only in cases of emergency or to address unforeseen circumstances. Any amendments will be announced via Discord with explanation and effective date clearly stated. The Commissioner will seek league input when time permits, but reserves the right to implement emergency amendments immediately when necessary to preserve league integrity.

11.6 FINAL AUTHORITY

The Commissioner's decisions are final. Participation in the Alliance Professional Baseball League constitutes acceptance of the Commissioner's authority and agreement to abide by all decisions made in the best interest of the league.

12. THE FSA EXPERIENCE

The Fantasy Sports Alliance is committed to providing the highest quality fantasy sports experience possible. To deliver professional-level content, timely communications, and comprehensive league operations, the Commissioner utilizes artificial intelligence tools to enhance efficiency and maintain consistency across all FSA functions.

AI is used to assist with specific league operations, including but not limited to: content creation for weekly storylines and analysis, formatting and editing league documentation, generating graphics and visual materials, and organizing league communications. However, all strategic decisions, rule interpretations, content direction, and league management remain under direct human oversight and control.

The use of AI does not reduce the Commissioner's workload—it enhances the quality and consistency of what FSA delivers to its members. Every piece of AI-assisted content is reviewed, edited, and approved by the Commissioner before publication. Every league decision is made by the Commissioner, not automated systems. AI serves as a productivity tool, similar to how fantasy platforms automate scoring calculations or how graphic design software aids in creating visual content.

The FSA has operated for 32 years on a foundation of dedication, creativity, and attention to detail. The integration of AI tools allows the Commissioner to maintain that standard while expanding the scope and quality of the fantasy experience. Members can expect the same level of care and commitment that has defined FSA since 1993, now amplified by modern technology.