MLB guaranteed contracts

[yellowdoyle]

I live in So Cal and follow the Angels and Dodgers pretty regularly. I am sure most of you are all aware of the Gary Matthews "scandal", where his name came up on an internet sales list (or delivery list?) for purchasing HGH.

In reading the LA Times, it mentions options for Angels owner Arte Moreno, including: suspension w/ pay, suspension w/o pay, conversion of guaranteed contract to non-guaranteed contract. WTF? How come I have never heard of that? Is that type of thing at the owners discretion?

It seems like there have been many situations where teams would have wanted to convert guaranteed to non-g'd contracts. Maybe Carl Pavano and the Yanks, or even the Dodgers and Gagne after he signed that 2 year extension. How about Mike Hampton? (I know these examples all involve injuries.)

So does anyone understand this option decently? If so, please explain.