For those not in contention, it gives them an opportunity to evaluate their second-tier players against major-league competition.

Emerson Carroll was a second-tier player edging toward first-tier status.

The Mets also announced that they had made a handful of serious, although widely expected decisions regarding five second-tier players.

Then, a number of second-tier players who have been doing a lot of the work and are ready to create shows.

"We might also go with two second-tier players, too, depending on what scenario plays out," Grunfeld said.

In the past, they were only getting the second-tier players from New Jersey, but this year they got some of the very best.

Be careful when you refer to some of these guys as second-tier players.

We cannot afford to let the UN be a second-tier player; it must take centre stage.

"It's probably not a good thing for consumers for the second-tier player to be losing so much money."

"They are a second-tier player in a business with big, strong competitors."