Options are for the whole year. He's already used his option for this year, so it doesn't matter how often he is sent back and forth. technically, while thornburg's option has been burned for 2015, he must spend at least ten days in the minor leagues each time he is optioned before he can be eligible for recall. if the brewers place a 25-man roster player on the disabled list, then the ten day stay does not apply. if this rule wasn't in place, the brewers could option jimmy nelson today, recall a position player, and then option said position player and recall nelson when it's his turn again in the rotation.