djoctagone

will it be 18 posts longer now that he's released?

as far as i can tell, lalli has two minor league options remaining. assuming gonzalez is the starter at first base, i'd go with this for the bench on opening day: logan schafer martin maldonado jeff bianchi blake lalli caleb gindl taylor green green would be optioned after just a few games, and a reliever would be called up to take his place. lalli gets optioned when hart returns, and green replaces gindl after getting some outfield reps in triple-a.

it should also be noted that lalli has had experience catching many of the pitchers whom we expect to see in 2013. from what i can tell, if added to the 40-man and 25-man roster, blake lalli would have two minor league options remaining. his contract was purchased by the cubs in 2012. i always feel better knowing that the brewers have 40-man catching depth. if a catcher goes down, it makes it easier to recall a player already on the 40-man.

interesting to note that non-roster invitee blake lalli, who emerged as the primary catcher during lucroy's and maldonado's absences during the world baseball classic, is starting at first base today. his .955 ops this spring is something to be excited about. it is possible that the brewers would want to carry three catchers early on, and split first base duties amongst lalli, maldonado and gonzalez.

they've kept khris davis in the wings because braun was absent during the world baseball classic. and he's a player whom they can send up and down for the next three seasons, so it's worth auditioning him, but not crucial. and they've kept him because he's been playing well. there is a thread devoted to khris davis and how he could fit on the brewers' 25-man roster. this thread is devoted to how the 40-man roster evolves during spring training. i think it's safe to state that the brewers would not even consider outrighting khris davis to the minor leagues right now (removing him from the 40-man roster). the only ways he'd be removed from the 40-man roster would be a trade or a major injury (and a call-up and placement on the 60-day disabled list). hopefully, neither of those scenarios come to actuality in 2013.

i'm rooting for khris davis to have a great spring, just like brad nelson did in 2009 when he made the opening day roster as a bench player, playing behind another franchise-type player in prince fielder. remember how that worked out? 0-21 before outrighting nelson to the minors. because he'd been outrighted before, he was able to decline the assignment and declare free agency, which he did. granted, davis could be sent down and recalled for the next three seasons, whereas the brewers didn't have that flexibility with nelson in 2009, but one can't forget what happens when a player hot in spring training goes from tons of playing time to hardly any--especially a rookie player (nelson had made his mlb debut in september the year before).

hiram burgos optioned to nashville. he can be recalled and sent down through 2015.

quote from this article:

scooter gennett, josh prince and jesus sanchez all optioned. it's the first option for all three, meaning they can be sent up and down through the 2015 season. also, in returning hunter morris to minor league camp, it appears that the brewers do not plan to add him to the major league roster at this point. this bodes well for older players on minor league contracts trying to earn a 40-man (and 25-man) roster spot.

could it be possible that de los santos encountered visa problems in one or more seasons and had difficulty entering and staying in this country for an extended period of time? could a team then claim that they were unable to properly evaluate his development and thus, request a fourth option year? if that were the case, wouldn't we have seen de los santos placed on the restricted list during that time?

they lost him because they intended to outright him to the minor leagues in order to clear a 40-man roster spot for alex gonzalez. he was never outrighted off a 40-man roster, because the padres claimed him.

anyone else worried about rogers and his control issues this spring?

per the opening post of this thread, bianchi is out of minor league options. green has two minor league options remaining, meaning he can be optioned down in 2013 and 2014 before having to clear waivers and be outrighted to the minors.

from todd rosiak's in-game chat on jsonline.com today: the brewers have four scheduled days off in april: the 4th, 11th, 15th and 25th.

tyler thornburg and johnny hellweg both optioned to the minor leagues today. they can be recalled and sent back down throughout the 2013 season and remain on the 40-man roster. 48 players remain in major league camp.

with reports that alex gonzalez is pegged as the brewers' starting first baseman until corey hart returns, the brewers will need a bench player who can play short. this bodes well for jeff bianchi to make the 25-man roster.

optioning of ariel pena official. brewers also optioned santo manzanillo. either of those players can be recalled and sent back down in 2013.

correct me if i'm wrong, but the brewers could still call up de los santos (not to report to the 25-man roster) and then transfer him to the 60-day disabled list? could the brewers make any of these moves if de los santos continues to have visa problems and is unable to enter this country, or would that qualify for a move to the restricted list? furthermore, would a medical exam conducted in the dominican republic be sufficient evidence for the players union to allow de los santos to be placed on the 60-day disabled list? does medical evidence have to be determined by a medical professional on the brewers' payroll, or can it come from any accredited medical professional?

adam mccalvy tweets that ariel pena's locker has been cleared, which would indicate that the brewers have optioned him to the minor leagues. no official announcement yet.

click to read a fun thread and see an alarming total number of posts: viewtopic.php?f=73&t=4268 http://brewersfandemonium.yuku.com/search/text/?q=branyon&submit=Search+All#.UTeGpVeoCO4

you might find some answers here: viewtopic.php?f=63&t=26141

axford henderson gonzalez gorzelanny badenhop rogers kintzler henderson is the first to struggle and either olmsted or hellweg gets the call to replace him.

reports today that jeff bianchi and donnie murphy might be getting some auditions in the outfield. taylor green dismissed as an outfield candidate by ron roenicke due to his lack of speed.

the call for bianchi over a player on a minor league contract such as donnie murphy or bobby crosby is this: if bianchi makes the club and stays the entire year, the brewers can control him for six more years. if murphy or crosby make the club, they're free agents at the end of the season (assuming they last longer than brooks conrad did). we're not privy to any opt-out clauses for murphy or crosby, but i'd imagine either player's opt-out clause wouldn't be until june or july (more seasoned veterans typically get earlier opt-out clauses). for example, if bianchi makes the club, the organization keeps its depth with murphy. if murphy makes the club, it's likely at the expense of bianchi, and bianchi is lost.

this thread serves to project how the brewers' 40-man roster will shake out during spring training and by opening day. the 40-man roster is currently full. barring the addition of any other players via trade or free agency, here's what we can expect: --mark rogers is out of minor league options. with his 2012 performance, he is a lock to make the 25-man roster. --jeff bianchi is out of minor league options, and was outrighted off the 40-man last year. if he's outrighted again, another team can claim him, or he can declare free agency. if bianchi does not make the 25-man roster, a 40-man spot opens. --with mat gamel out for the season, the brewers will place him on the 60-day disabled list. this will open up a 40-man spot. --miguel de los santos is out until july with a shoulder injury, but does have one minor league option remaining. if the brewers place him on the 60-day disabled list, he accrues major league service time, but he also opens up a spot on the 40-man roster. --the brewers would be foolish to place corey hart on the 60-day disabled list. he will open the season on the 15-day disabled list and will thus remain on the 40-man roster. --with the brewers auditioning many players on minor league contracts in major league camp, there is a lot of competition for one or two spots on the 40-man and/or 25-man roster. expect many of the older players to have opt-out clauses in their contracts if they're not added to the 40-man and/or 25-man roster by a certain date. sometimes it's the end of spring training, sometimes it's a couple months into the season.