Veteran quick Andrew Tye has signed on to return next summer for his 10th KFC BBL season as several of the competition’s biggest names come off Contract tonight.

The two Melbourne clubs are believed to be circling BBL|12 Player of the Tournament Matt Short whose two-year extension with the Adelaide Strikers expires at the end of the season, but the star allrounder appears keen to repay the faith shown in him by Jason Gillespie.

Melbourne Renegades allrounder Will Sutherland could also attract interest after a breakout season, while the competition’s fourth highest run-scorer of all time, D’Arcy Short, could be looking for a new home after a difficult few years at the Hurricanes.

Chris Lynn, Peter Siddle, Aaron Finch, Nathan Ellis, Sean Abbott, Mitchell Swepson, Cameron Bancroft and Peter Hatzoglou are among the biggest names of the more than 50 players now off contract.

The Strikers have begun conversations to lure Lynn back for another campaign after an outstanding 11-game stint at his new club, but much will depend on the ongoing Memorandum of Understanding negotiations between Cricket Australia and the players’ union.

The BBL enacts a contracting embargo period each year that formally kicks in with the first ball of the BBL Final.

The length of the embargo each year can vary but this time it is expected to be closely aligned with the MOU discussions between CA and the Australian Cricketers’ Association that is tipped to include an increase in the salary cap for BBL clubs to help the league remain financially competitive in the ever-expanding global market of domestic T20 leagues.

Clubs can make non-binding arrangements with players during the embargo period but cannot formally sign any contracts.

Strikers opener Short has indicated his desire to remain in Adelaide following two breakthrough seasons since moving to the top of the batting order.

Having compiled 493 runs and taken eight wickets in BBL|11, Short became just the third player to hit more than 400 runs and take more than 10 wickets in a Big Bash season with his 458-run, 11-wicket effort in BBL|12.

“I’m definitely in talks to stay in Adelaide for sure, it’s a great wicket to bat on,” he said after accepting his Player of the Tournament award last Monday.

“I love breaking up the year, getting out of Melbourne a little bit and heading to Adelaide, I used to holiday there every year with the family growing up so that holds a special place in my heart.

“There’s (been) a few messages thrown out here and there, especially to get back to Melbourne, but I’m very happy in Adelaide. They’ve been good to me and given me the opportunities they have in the last five years, so I’m more than happy to stay in Adelaide.”

Also off contract at the Strikers at the end of this season is Harry Conway, Ryan Gibson and Harry Nielsen.

With Tye’s signature secure for another season, the Perth Scorchers now turn their attention to claiming an unprecedented fifth Big Bash title when they face the Brisbane Heat at home in the BBL|12 Final later today.

Following that they may find competition to retain WA stalwart Bancroft after the opener’s breakthrough tournament, smashing 342 runs striking at 141.32 after being left out of the side for the first five games of the season.

Leg-spinner Hatzoglou, who has played six of Perth’s seven away games in BBL|12 but was left out of the side for half of their home matches, is another Scorcher off contract at the end of the season.

“The focus at this stage has just been on trying to win this grand final and all those conversations will happen at the end of the season,” Hatzoglou told cricket.com.au’s Unplayable Podcast earlier this week.

“I’ve loved my time in Perth. It makes it interesting when you’re not playing the home games I guess but I’ve got a real thirst to continue developing my game not only on spin friendly wickets, but also my game on seam friendly wickets as well.”

Joining Hatzoglou and Bancroft out of contract following today’s Final is Jason Behrendorff, Cameron Green, Matthew Kelly and Lance Morris.

Daniel Hughes is another player out of contract who struggled to earn selection this season and could be looking for a move away from the Sydney Sixers for greater playing opportunities.

The 33-year-old has been prolific for NSW in the 50-over format this summer with three centuries, but found himself out of the Sixers’ side after they poached state captain Kurtis Patterson from the Scorchers during the off-season.

The BBL’s leading wicket-taker of all time Abbott, club skipper Moises Henriques, Jackson Bird and Mickey Edwards are the other Sixers players off contract at the end of the season, while Dan Christian has retired after a decorated 17-year career at the top level.

The club recently secured veteran tweaker Steve O’Keefe’s for a 13th BBL season and Jordan Silk signed a three-year deal ahead of their upset loss to the Heat in Thursday Challenger final.

BBL|12 finalists the Brisbane Heat – who have won seven of their past eight games to reach the season decider – have just seven players locked away on long-term deals: Max Bryant, Spencer Johnson, Usman Khawaja, Michael Neser, Will Prestwidge, Matthew Renshaw and Mark Steketee.

Stand-in captain Jimmy Peirson, rising star Matt Kuhnemann and Australian representatives Marnus Labuschagne and Swepson are among those seeking a new deal.

Hurricanes ace Nathan Ellis – who dominated on the global T20 circuit last year – would no doubt fetch lucrative offers if he decided to test the market, with Iain Carlisle, Joel Paris, Wil Parker, Chris Tremain and Mac Wright the remaining Hobart players without a contract for next season.

Stars general manager Blair Crouch has already flagged personnel changes in a letter to members after a second straight season without finals for the proud Melbourne club, which will start with appointing a new coach following the departure of David Hussey after 95 games as a player and coach due to his full-time role as Cricket Victoria Head of Male Cricket.

But with eight of their 15 local players locked away on long-term contracts and young guns Tom Rogers and Campbell Kellaway expected to earn deals, they could be looking to hit the trade period to freshen up their list.

Tye, who will be 37 at the end of next season, has become the competition’s second most prolific bowler behind Abbott after downing the tools as a carpenter 10 years ago to chase his dream of becoming a professional cricketer.

“I’m delighted to be signing on and getting another extension as a 36-year-old,” Tye said.

“A few years ago, when I tore my medial ligament off the bone, I thought my career was close to being done. Instead, I’ve made a few tweaks to my action and I’m going better than I ever have.”

BBL list management

*Domestic players only. Contracts expire at the end of the season specified.

Adelaide Strikers

On contract: Wes Agar (BBL14), Cameron Boyce (BBL13), Alex Carey (BBL13), Travis Head (BBL13), Henry Hunt (BBL13), Thomas Kelly (BBL13), Ben Manenti (BBL13), Henry Thornton (BBL13), Jake Weatherald (BBL14)

Off contract: Harry Conway, Ryan Gibson, Chris Lynn, Harry Nielsen, Matt Short, Peter Siddle

Brisbane Heat

On contract: Max Bryant (BBL13), Spencer Johnson (BBL13), Usman Khawaja (BBL15), Michael Neser (BBL13), Will Prestwidge (BBL13), Matthew Renshaw (BBL14), Mark Steketee (BBL13)

Off contract: Xavier Bartlett, James Bazley, Sam Heazlett, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Jimmy Peirson, Mitchell Swepson, Jack Wildermuth

Hobart Hurricanes

On contract: Tim David (BBL13), Paddy Dooley (BBL14), Caleb Jewell (BBL13), Ben McDermott (BBL13), Riley Meredith (BBL14), Mitch Owen (BBL13), Billy Stanlake (BBL13), Matthew Wade (BBL13)

Off contract: Iain Carlisle, Nathan Ellis, Joel Paris, Wil Parker, D’Arcy Short, Chris Tremain, Mac Wright

Melbourne Renegades

On contract: Sam Harper (BBL13), Mackenzie Harvey (BBL13), Nic Maddinson (BBL13), Shaun Marsh (BBL13), Kane Richardson (BBL14), Tom Rogers (BBL13), Jon Wells (BBL13)

Off contract: Zak Evans, Aaron Finch, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Jack Prestwidge, Corey Rocchiccioli, Will Sutherland

Melbourne Stars

On contract: Joe Burns (BBL13), Hilton Cartwright (BBL13), Brody Couch (BBL13), Nick Larkin (BBL13), Glenn Maxwell (BBL15), Marcus Stoinis (BBL13), Beau Webster (BBL13), Adam Zampa (BBL14)

Off contract: Nathan Coulter-Nile, Sam Elliott, Liam Hatcher, Clint Hinchliffe, Campbell Kellaway, Cameron McClure, Tom O’Connell

Perth Scorchers

On contract: Ashton Agar (BBL14), Cooper Connolly (BBL13), Aaron Hardie (BBL13), Nick Hobson (BBL13), Josh Inglis (BBL13), Mitch Marsh (BBL14), Jhye Richardson (BBL13), Ashton Turner (BBL14), Andrew Tye (BBL13)

Off contract: Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Cameron Green, Peter Hatzoglou, Matthew Kelly, Lance Morris

Sydney Sixers

On contract: Ben Dwarshuis (BBL13), Jack Edwards (BBL14), Hayden Kerr (BBL14), Todd Murphy (BBL13), Kurtis Patterson (BBL14), Josh Philippe (BBL13), Jordan Silk (BBL15)

Off contract: Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird, Dan Christian (retired), Mickey Edwards, Moises Henriques, Daniel Hughes

Sydney Thunder

On contract: Oliver Davies (BBL13), Matthew Gilkes (BBL13), Chris Green (BBL13), Nathan McAndrew (BBL13), Alex Ross (BBL13), Daniel Sams (BBL13), Gurinder Sandhu (BBL13), Jason Sangha (BBL13), Tanveer Sangha (BBL13), David Warner (BBL13)

Off contract: Ben Cutting, Brendan Doggett, Baxter Holt, Blake NIkitaras, Sam Whiteman