40-man roster discussion

[djoctagone]

if reports of francisco rodriguez signing a major league contract are true, another player would have to be removed from the 40-man roster, as it's currently full.

[pogokat]

They are true---it remains to be determined who gets dropped

[JohnBriggs12]

I'm guessing Fiers or Hand, maybe De la Torre.

[PrinceEatMeat]

Hand DFA'd.

[logan82]

Can the Brewers still say they have Hand.

[djoctagone]

Can the Brewers still say they have Hand.

this is a team's first attempt to outright him to the minor leagues. if no other team claims him, hand will be forced to accept the minor league assignment. if he clears waivers, doug melvin has assured hand a non-roster invite to big league camp.

[djoctagone]

the brewers' 40-man roster is full, but the brewers are fortunate this season in that many players have minor league options remaining, meaning they can be optioned to the minor leagues and still remain on the 40-man roster. as we enter spring training, these are players who will affect the make-up of the 40-man roster:

 

--infielder jeff bianchi is out of minor league options and has been outrighted off the 40-man roster once before. if bianchi does not open the season on the 25-man roster (or on the disabled list), the brewers would have to outright him and he'd be eligible to declare free agency. the other utility infielder on the 40-man roster (elian herrera) has an option remaining.

 

--scooter gennett can be optioned to the minor leagues. rickie weeks cannot. because neither can play any other position than second base, and based on ron roenicke stating that gennett has the edge, many expect weeks to be traded or released sooner than later. if weeks is traded for a player on a major league contract, that player would take weeks' spot on the 40-man roster.

 

--left-handed reliever wei-chung wang is a rule 5 draft pick from the pirates. he must remain on the 25-man roster (and therefore, the 40-man) the entire season, or the brewers would have to return him to the pirates. if the brewers deem it necessary to have another left-hander in the bullpen (assuming lhp will smith is not a starting pitcher and makes the club as a reliever), and if recovering left-handed reliever tom gorzelanny has to open the season on the disabled list, wang's chances of making the club may be good unless . . .

 

--lhp zach duke is battling for a 25-man roster spot. he is not on the 40-man roster, and room would need to be made for him.

 

--the brewers have two veteran non-roster candidates for first base in lyle overbay and mark reynolds. overbay has an opt-out clause in which he can declare 48 hours after 22 march if he's not added to the 40-man roster. an opt-out clause for reynolds has not been confirmed, but it's likely before the start of the championship season. it is unlikely that the brewers would carry both overbay and reynolds on the 25-man roster. the brewers also have a first base candidate in taylor green, but his opt-out clause to be added to the 40-man roster isn't until 15 june.

 

--the brewers have many other non-roster invitees in big league camp. any of them have a shot at making the club, provided they can first obtain that coveted 40-man spot.

[MNBrew]

I don't remember where I read it (a JSOnline story is most likely), but I recall Melvin stating that he won't keep all 3 of Reynolds, Overbay, & Juan Francisco. So if Francisco is the loser in the 1B derby, his 40-man spot would open up and presumably go to either Reynolds or Overbay.

[logan82]

Can the Brewers still say they have Hand.

this is a team's first attempt to outright him to the minor leagues. if no other team claims him, hand will be forced to accept the minor league assignment. if he clears waivers, doug melvin has assured hand a non-roster invite to big league camp.

I guess my Seinfeld reference was a little too subtle.

[djoctagone]

the brewers optioned a number of players today:

 

rhp brooks hall (two options remaining after this season)

rhp kevin shackelford (two options remaining after this season)

1b hunter morris (two options remaining after this season)

1b/of jason rogers (two options remaining after this season)

rhp jimmy nelson (two options remaining after this season)

rhp ariel pena (no options remaining after this season)

 

all of these players can be sent up and down in 2014.

 

a number of players were returned to minor league camp. the most notable for 40-man roster discussion is taylor green. green has an opt-out clause in his contract if he's not on the 40-man roster by 15 june 2014.

[Mass Haas]

After only appearing once at the AAA level (a four-inning start in 2011 in the Angels' organization), RHP Ariel Pena gets optioned to Nashville.

 

As noted, he has no options remaining, meaning he'd have to make the big league roster to stay in 2015, so with any struggles at all early, he'd be a candidate for 40-man removal when space is needed.

[djoctagone]

come 2015 spring training, the brewers may have a lot of players that are out of minor league options. assuming they're still on the 40-man roster and they spend more than 20 days in the minor leagues in 2014, these players will be out of options at the conclusion of 2015 spring training:

 

jeff bianchi (out of options for 2014)

marco estrada

mike fiers

alfredo figaro

juan francisco

caleb gindl

elian herrera

johnny hellweg

brandon kintzler

martin maldonado

ariel pena

wily peralta

will smith

tyler thornburg

 

it's probable that marco estrada, juan francisco and martin maldonado won't be sent down in 2014. pretty good chances that wily peralta and will smith won't either--preserving their options for 2015.

 

the brewers may take this into consideration as they shape the 2014 40-man roster. a player like ariel pena may be outrighted, knowing that if he remains on the 40-man, he's likely battling it out with mike fiers, johnny hellweg and tyler thornburg for one or two of the last pitching slots on the 25-man roster for opening day 2015.

[Outlander]

That could certainly be an issue with managing the 40 man this year. I hope that they don't give up on Pena as I like him more than Hellweg. Pena at the very least will be a decent reliever, I don't think Hellweg will be a good reliever if he doesn't make it as a starter. Fiers is going to be 30 next year so if he starts poorly wouldn't be shocked if he is gone from the 40 man this year. Imagine Figaro will have a short lease as well.

[djoctagone]

johnny hellweg has been optioned. assuming he's down for at least 20 days, he enters 2015 with no minor league options remaining.

[djoctagone]

--left-handed reliever wei-chung wang is a rule 5 draft pick from the pirates. he must remain on the 25-man roster (and therefore, the 40-man) the entire season, or the brewers would have to return him to the pirates. if the brewers deem it necessary to have another left-hander in the bullpen (assuming lhp will smith is not a starting pitcher and makes the club as a reliever), and if recovering left-handed reliever tom gorzelanny has to open the season on the disabled list, wang's chances of making the club may be good unless . . .

 

--lhp zach duke is battling for a 25-man roster spot. he is not on the 40-man roster, and room would need to be made for him.

reports now are that tom gorzelanny will likely open the season on the disabled list. if the brewers desire left-handers in their bullpen, this bodes well for wang and/or duke . . .

[reillymcshane]

johnny hellweg has been optioned. assuming he's down for at least 20 days, he enters 2015 with no minor league options remaining.

I hope the club moves Hellweg to relieving. The guy has to get consistent, and he can't seem to do that as a starter. Let him go to Nashville, focus on two pitches. Nothing more. Then he can come to Milwaukee next year and contribute. Perhaps the club moves him back to the rotation after that, but for now, find a way for him to succeed.

[JohnBriggs12]

--left-handed reliever wei-chung wang is a rule 5 draft pick from the pirates. he must remain on the 25-man roster (and therefore, the 40-man) the entire season, or the brewers would have to return him to the pirates. if the brewers deem it necessary to have another left-hander in the bullpen (assuming lhp will smith is not a starting pitcher and makes the club as a reliever), and if recovering left-handed reliever tom gorzelanny has to open the season on the disabled list, wang's chances of making the club may be good unless . . .

 

--lhp zach duke is battling for a 25-man roster spot. he is not on the 40-man roster, and room would need to be made for him.

reports now are that tom gorzelanny will likely open the season on the disabled list. if the brewers desire left-handers in their bullpen, this bodes well for wang and/or duke . . .

 

 

Don't forget Smith. Duke pitching well doesn't bode all that well for Wang. Duke needs a roster spot and sending Wang back to Pittsburgh creates one.

[djoctagone]

jose de la torre was outrighted to the minor leagues yesterday. the roster stands at 39. zach duke, lyle overbay, mark reynolds and wei-chung wang all got a little more excited yesterday.

[djoctagone]

Duke pitching well doesn't bode all that well for Wang. Duke needs a roster spot and sending Wang back to Pittsburgh creates one.

if the brewers opt to keep duke over wang, they likely only get one year of service out of a veteran who then becomes a free agent and could sign anywhere. if they opt to keep wang on the 25-man roster all season, they control him from 2015-2020 and can option him back and forth from 2015-2018.

[jerichoholicninja]

If Duke was a position player I could very well see him being kept over Wang due to his veteran-ness and grittiness but the organization doesn't really take the same approach with pitchers. Wolf and Suppan were kept around more because of what they were being paid than anything else so I think Wang will stick around, even if they have to send someone to Pittsburgh and put Wang in the minors.

[Mass Haas]

Regarding today's options to Nashville:

 

This is Mike Fiers' last option year.

 

If still on the 40-man roster next spring, Hiram Burgos and Sean Halton can be optioned again in 2015.

 

Just a reminder those numbers don't change for the remainder of this season no matter how many times they might be recalled and/or sent back down.

[Mass Haas]

The Brewers used RHP Michael Blazek's 2nd option (on his birthday, no less) to send him to AAA.

 

He can be optioned again in 2015 if need be.

[markedman5]

Hellweg just doesn't look like a major league prospect to me.......RRR always raves about his "stuff" but I don't see it at all......

[djoctagone]

I don't remember where I read it (a JSOnline story is most likely), but I recall Melvin stating that he won't keep all 3 of Reynolds, Overbay, & Juan Francisco. So if Francisco is the loser in the 1B derby, his 40-man spot would open up and presumably go to either Reynolds or Overbay.

confirmed by ron roenicke today.

[djoctagone]

--the brewers have two veteran non-roster candidates for first base in lyle overbay and mark reynolds. overbay has an opt-out clause in which he can declare 48 hours after 22 march if he's not added to the 40-man roster. an opt-out clause for reynolds has not been confirmed, but it's likely before the start of the championship season. it is unlikely that the brewers would carry both overbay and reynolds on the 25-man roster. the brewers also have a first base candidate in taylor green, but his opt-out clause to be added to the 40-man roster isn't until 15 june.

update from todd rosiak:

 

Overbay's contract calls for him to be added to the 40-man roster by March 22 while Reynolds would need to be added by the 24th. The Brewers have 48 hours from those dates to make those moves, otherwise the players become free agents.

 

Reynolds' deal is for $2 million and Overbay's $1.5 million.

 

The Brewers currently stand at 39 on their 40-man roster, so if both were kept a corresponding move would need to be made.

 

Francisco, meanwhile, has no minor-league options remaining. He settled prior to arbitration for $1.35 million, and the Brewers would be on the hook for one-fourth of his salary if they placed him on waivers before March 26.