projected openings on the 40-man roster by 31 march

[djoctagone]

as we all know, the 40-man roster is currently full, and if any players on minor league contracts are expected to make the 25-man roster come 31 march, they'll first need to be added to the 40-man roster.

 

it appears that the brewers will have to make some decisions this month (or shortly thereafter) that will open up some roster space . . . giving the team flexibility to promote from within, acquire immediate help at the major league level, or acquire depth that can be (or remain) optioned to the minors.

 

potentially, who are these players that could lose their spot on the 40-man roster?

 

--pat egan . . . as a rule v draft pick and his injuries, it's likely he won't make the club and would be placed on waivers. if no one claims him, he can be outrighted to the minors and kept in the organization.

 

--luis cruz . . . out of minor league options, has to make the team or be exposed to waivers. he appears to have a lock on a bench spot.

 

--brandon boggs vs. chris dickerson . . . the former is out of minor league options, the latter has one remaining. i think most fans would prefer that dickerson make the team over boggs, forcing boggs to be exposed to waivers.

 

--wil nieves vs. george kottaras . . . the decision on this may not happen until after 31 march, given jonathan lucroy's injury. it's very unlikely that the brewers will carry three catchers on the 25-man roster, so as soon as lucroy returns, one of those two will likely leave the organization.

 

--sean green . . . out of minor league options . . . his chances of making the team increase with the bullpen injuries or slow return from injuries (parra, hawkins, egan, saito, etc.)

 

--manny parra . . . could the brewers outright him and force him to accept the minor league assignment (assuming no other team claims him)? i think all of us were surprised a few years back when tony gwynn, jr. was outrighted and no team claimed him. i don't know how outrighting works for players in their arbitration eligibility years (can it be done? do they have the right to refuse?)

 

what can we take from this? i think it's very likely that the brewers will have at least two 40-man roster spots open up by 31 march . . . one for sure (likely pat egan).

 

anyone i've missed considering or evaluated incorrectly?

[patrickgpe]

i think manny makes the team as an a emergency starter / long reliever. Sean Green should get the last spot in the pen. The other ones are potentional openings on the 40 many for sure.

[djoctagone]

i only suggested manny parra because of his current injury problems . . . but i'm nearly certain you can't outright an injured player without first placing him on the disabled list and having him rehab the injury.

 

if parra were to come back healthy from an injury, he'd be certainly claimed if outrighted.

[jackalope02ca]

Middle relievers are a dime a dozen. That's what Parra is. I don't agree he would definatley be claimed. Likely but not definately. It's getting pretty close to the time to give someone else a shot with potential. Parra is past the point of prospect and potential. He is what he is. A middle reliever who can make the odd spot start.

[trwi7]

A cheap, good middle reliever with great stuff like Parra has is extremely valuable.

[sbrylski]

A cheap, good middle reliever with great stuff like Parra has is extremely valuable.

Also left-handed. And to quantify his stuff, guess how many left-handed pitchers with over 100 IP had more K/9 than Parra last year... two. He had 9.79 K/9 as a reliever last year.

[DHonks]

wasn't it fangraphs that suggested Parra needs a full year in the pen to learn to attack hitters and harness his talent (while gaining confidence), then should be moved back to the rotation in 2012? I thought that made sense because Parra was such a late bloomer that he never fully realized he was a power pitcher, always still utilizing the mentality of a control pitcher.

[dadofandrew]

Parra would be claimed by a dozen teams, as would any lefty who throws that hard, never mind has a breaking ball.

[djoctagone]

corey hart's injury troubles just may delay a roster decision on brandon boggs vs. chris dickerson. if hart opens the season on the disabled list, it's quite possible that both of those players are on the 25-man roster come 31 march.

[JohnBriggs12]

I don't see Cruz as a lock. It's not certain they won't keep both Boggs and Dickerson and go with 6 OF and 5 INF. Cruz never hit well enough to stick as utility infielder. Even Jeremy Reed could figure in with a good spring. Eric Farris is getting long looks too and given Roenicke's penchant for running could have a bench role. Plus is Cruz better than every guy that will be cut by other teams?

[PrinceEatMeat]

I think Almonte still has a shot at making the roster. I don't see both Dickerson and Boggs making the roster. It's basically those two for one spot and Cruz and Almonte for the other.

[djoctagone]

with zack greinke likely headed to the disabled list and the slow development of mark rogers and manny parra, one has to wonder who gets added to the rotation if rogers and parra are both unavailable. if it's a player currently under the brewers' control, i can't see it being anybody currently on the 40-man roster (except possibly kameron loe).

[Hate those Rodents]

Jarrod Washburn. I kid, I think. I am guessing somebody like James or some guy out of options.

[PrinceEatMeat]

It'll be Rivas or Peralta.

[YoungGeezy]

From everything I have read, Rogers is just about set to go and stands a good chance of being ready by opening day as long as there is no more set backs

[DHonks]

I just worry that Rogers might be rushing back. The good news is that he knows his arm, body, and--especially--shoulder. He seems smart enough to know not to pull something like Neugy

[JohnBriggs12]

I think Almonte still has a shot at making the roster. I don't see both Dickerson and Boggs making the roster. It's basically those two for one spot and Cruz and Almonte for the other.

Assuming Dickerson makes the team (not a lock either), I think one roster spot will go to either Boggs, Almonte, Cruz or Farris (who is having a fine spring and seeing action at SS). Right now Almonte appears to be the favorite, but that could change. Boggs plus one of those 3 could make it too if Dickerson fails. Reed is a long shot that could still dislodge Dickerson also.

 

All of these guys have plusses and minuses. Boggs big plus is that he's switch hitter. Dickerson is the best backup CF. Almonte has shown the best bat so far, but Arizona can be a fooler. Farris gives them speed off the bench and has options.

[PrinceEatMeat]

I think Almonte still has a shot at making the roster. I don't see both Dickerson and Boggs making the roster. It's basically those two for one spot and Cruz and Almonte for the other.

Assuming Dickerson makes the team (not a lock either), I think one roster spot will go to either Boggs, Almonte, Cruz or Farris (who is having a fine spring and seeing action at SS). Right now Almonte appears to be the favorite, but that could change. Boggs plus one of those 3 could make it too if Dickerson fails. Reed is a long shot that could still dislodge Dickerson also.

 

All of these guys have plusses and minuses. Boggs big plus is that he's switch hitter. Dickerson is the best backup CF. Almonte has shown the best bat so far, but Arizona can be a fooler. Farris gives them speed off the bench and has options.

Roenicke said he considers Kotsay to be in the outfield group. Seeing as we won't carry 6 outfielders, it's between Dickerson and Boggs for one spot. Roenicke also said he wants a player who can play infield spots other than Counsell, and Almonte is limited in the field. That leads me to believe that Cruz will get the nod. Almonte might be hitting well, but he can't field, and he can't play SS.

[djoctagone]

if boggs makes the team over dickerson, the brewers will be left with no other outfielders on their 40-man roster (i'm not considering cruz, gamel or kotsay outfielders). however, if dickerson makes the team over boggs, it allows the brewers to purchase the contract of another player (such as almonte).

 

i'd much prefer we have at least one outfielder on the 40-man roster (in the minors) throughout the entire season.

 

i'll add mark kotsay to the mix of projected 40-man roster openings by 31 march. his contract isn't guaranteed, and it would make sense to purchase the contract of almonte after kotsay is released. i realize this eliminates a left-handed bat, but i'll go with the younger almonte over the aging kotsay, and would feel better about making this move with the switch hitting boggs also on the roster.

[bylo tesi me]

I think I'd like to see Almonte continue to have success at the plate later in camp, when he's facing MLB pitchers who are close to regular-season form, and not "Bubble" MLB pitchers trying to earn a spot or Minor league pitchers closing out late innings. Nothing against Almonte, he has been impressive so far, but there has to be a reason a 33 yr. old player has remained in the minor leagues through out his career.

 

Does Stetter still have options? Have to believe if he doesn't make the team his time with the Brewers must be rather short.

[Jim Goulart]

Does Stetter still have options? Have to believe if he doesn't make the team his time with the Brewers must be rather short.

Stetter has one option remaining.

[CheezWizHed]

Dickerson has an option so if Boggs beats him, he'd be at AAA

[djoctagone]

right now, i am predicting that the brewers are going to have only two 40-man roster spots open up. pat egan and either george kottars or wil nieves will not make the team (as jonathan lucroy is expected to be healthy by opening day).

 

i'm 50/50 on whether or not mark kotsay is cut by opening day, which would open up a third spot on the roster (presumably filled by erick almonte). it's also possible that the brewers could keep kotsay and reward erick almonte by adding him to the 40-man roster, but keep him in the minor leagues. (joe dillon was rewarded in a similar fashion a few years back, and was eventually recalled by the brewers.)

[djoctagone]

with the injuries and slow return from previous injuries of so many pitchers, coupled with his strong early performance, i'm now thinking that pat egan makes the team (this is assuming that manny parra, latroy hawkins and zack greinke all start the season on the disabled list).

 

the brewers' brass anticipate that fewer teams will have roster flexibility to claim pat egan if he's placed on waivers in april instead of right before the end of spring training. look at the mariners, for example. their 40-man roster is full right now, and many are anticipating that up to five players in camp on minor league contracts will make the team. the mariners will have to jettison five players, allowing any other team to claim any of those players. if they're claimed, they take up a roster space that could otherwise be awarded to pat egan.

 

thus, in the interests of keeping pat egan in the organization, the brewers will decide the best time to give up on him is after the flurry of roster moves that typically occur right before the season starts.

[endaround]

But the Orioles still can just take him back.