40-man roster discussion

[djoctagone]

to open a spot on the full 40-man roster, the brewers designated nevin ashley for assignment. ashley has the right to declare free agency if no other team claims him.

ashley did indeed declare free agency after being outrighted. because he spent time on a major league roster this season, he immediately becomes a free agent and does not have to wait until the conclusion of the world series to do so.

[Jim Goulart]

Kind of a neat tidbit --

 

Tigers twice added former Brewers IF Josh Wilson to their 40-man in '15. Each time, Crew claimed the player Detroit DFA'd to make room (IF Hernan Perez, OF Daniel Fields)

 

Josh Wilson -- the gift that keeps on giving...

[Outlander]

With the World Series now over when do the Brewers have to get down to 40 players? Kyle Lohse is a free agent but Nelson and Blazek have to be added back bringing it to 41. They will also have to dump a bunch of guys if they want to protect Arcia and other players in the minors.

[And That]

I believe they have to activate 60-day DL players before free agency starts, which is Saturday. Players don't have to be protected for the Rule 5 draft for a few more weeks after that.

[djoctagone]

kyle lohse elected free agency today.

 

johnny hellweg, cesar jimenez, juan centeno, matt clark and logan schafer were outrighted to the minor leagues today. the roster is at 34, with two players still on the 60-day disabled list.

[Jim Goulart]

Via the Brewers:

 

Outrighted to Triple-A @skysox today: RHP Johnny Hellweg, LHP Cesar Jimenez, C Juan Centeno, 1B Matt Clark and OF Logan Schafer.

 

Because they all have enough time in pro ball, each will become a minor league free agent as of Friday, adding to the names on this list.

[djoctagone]

hellweg, jimenez and schafer are out of minor league options.

[MNBrew]

The Brewers' website's transactions show the Brewers activating Michael Blazek off the 60-day DL.

 

There's no similar transaction listed for Jimmy Nelson, although both Nelson & Blazek appear on the active & 40-man rosters with no asterisks or DL significations.

 

My math says that puts the 40-man roster currently at 36 players.

[brewmann04]

have a feeling this is going to be a fun offseason with Stearns.

[MNBrew]

If nothing else, compared to the past dozen/whatever winters, no one can say for sure they know what to expect the Brewers will do.

[JohnBriggs12]

Stearns has a lot more options than Melvin had in past years. He can deal in any number of ways. He can deal a veteran or two either for prospects or controllable major league talent. He can also deal a prospect from an area of system depth (OF, middle IF, starting pitching) for one in an area where they are light (corner IF, C, bullpen). He also should have some room to add FA to fill a hole though it's not likely they'll look at anything other than bargain guys or guys on minor league deals.

 

Good thing he's young because he's going to need to work a lot of late nights.

 

Not surprised by any of the names removed from the 40. Thought Schafer's decent month of September might save his spot, but now it's clear why they added Fields though if I could, I'd try and see if Schafer would sign a minor league deal now because frankly, Fields does nothing for me. Assume they'll ad a vet on a minor league deal if not Schafer.

 

One guy who's spot I thought might be in jeopardy, Strong, survived for now. Only the Strong survive apparently. He can be outrighted so if they need his spot later I'm guessing that's the move.

[Outlander]

Yeah, I don't think guys like Fields and Strong are out of the woods yet, a decent chance that they protect more than 4 additional players from the rule 5 draft.

[And That]

Nelson is now listed on the official transactions page as being reinstated from the 60-day DL and the Brewers' 40-man roster is indeed at 36.

 

In terms of guys whose spots may be in peril, I agree about Fields but I think Shane Peterson stands a greater risk of getting cut than does Strong. Peterson doesn't bring any single outstanding skill to the table, and posted a sub 700 OPS in his 27 year old season, which is usually right around the time a player is as good as he's going to get. By Fangraphs WAR, he was literally at replacement level. By my eye, he might show a little more pop if he played every day, but his defense is nothing to get excited about and I doubt he has the ability to hit for a much higher average. There are a dozen Shane Petersons out there for the taking on a minor league deal.

 

Elian Herrera could also go, but the Brewers seem to be enamored with him due to his versatility and ability to switch hit. Which I can understand - he's a good 25th guy.

[thumperden]

I'd roll the dice and remove Fields, Peterson, and Herrera to protect more from the Rule V draft. I just think there's more upside that needs to be protected from the eligible list of possible Rule V guys than Fields, Peterson, and Herrera.

 

And That is right regarding being able to find similar value in other players at another time down the road. I also don't think Fields will fully realize his talents and appears to be the biggest risk of losing. No big loss if he goes elsewhere. Especially since there are a couple/few up and coming OF'ers in the middle to high minors.

[brewmann04]

I would protect higher potential guys than Fringe players.

[1992casey]

The Hernán Pérez outright leaves the roster at 35. Discussion of this move is in a separate topic:

 

Hernán Pérez outrighted; declares free agency

[Outlander]

Should be an interesting week for additions to and removals from the 40 man roster as rule 5 eligible players have to be added by this Friday.

[CheeseheadInQC]

I've got feeling if more spots open up it might be on the pitching side rather than the hitting side. Right now, they only 15 position players, and if you assume 13 on the opening day roster that only leaves two in the minors. If they want Reed and Rivera to get more Triple-A time, that puts you right at 13.

 

If they DFA Herrera, Peterson or Fields for a guy who isn't going to be in the majors next season, they'd just have to open a roster spot come opening day. And I'd much rather leave a fringe guy available for the Rule 5 draft where they have to be on the 25-man roster than protect them only to have to waive them later when all a team needs is a 40-man roster spot. They might be able to get away with DFAing one of hitters if they are assuming that Pena and Guerra are going to be fighting it out for one job and that their vacated 40-man spot could be filled with an NRI to open the season, but any more than that and they might be asking for trouble.

[djoctagone]

with the trade of francisco rodriguez to detroit for a minor league player and a player to be named later, the roster is at 34.

[djoctagone]

with the acquisition of jonathan villar, the roster is at 35. villar is out of minor league options. he becomes the 16th position player on the roster.

[djoctagone]

the roster remains at 35 with the departure of luis sardinas (has one option remaining) and the arrival of ramon flores. flores is out of minor league options, and the brewers still have only 16 position players on the roster.

[djoctagone]

flores is recovering from august surgery from a compound fracture and dislocated ankle. depending on how he progresses, flores may be a candidate to open the season on the 60-day disabled list--which would open up a roster spot.

[djoctagone]

the roster is now at 38 with three players having their contracts selected: ss orlando arcia, rhp jacob barnes and rhp damien magnifico to the 40-man roster. arcia becomes the 17th position player on the roster.

 

the brewers still can select more players before midnight eastern to protect them from the rule 5 draft.

[Harold Hutchison]

the roster is now at 38 with three players having their contracts selected: ss orlando arcia, rhp jacob barnes and rhp damien magnifico to the 40-man roster. arcia becomes the 17th position player on the roster.

 

the brewers still can select more players before midnight eastern to protect them from the rule 5 draft.

 

Suter and Ortega make sense to me for those last two slots...

[Outlander]

Something to keep in mind is that even though today is the last day to add minor league players that are rule 5 eligible and even if they add a couple more to get to 40 they still have potential flexibility. If Stearns sees somebody available in the rule 5 draft he can still remove a player from the 40 man. Also, trading a guy like Lind for somebody not on the 40 man would help in that regard as well.