The following 40-man roster players have less than five years service time and are out of minor league options. That means they must clear waivers before being sent to the minors, so the team would be at risk of losing them in attempting to do so. I've included players on multiyear deals. This list was compiled through MLBTR's sources. Next, we'll take a look at the NL East.
Braves: Cory Gearrin, David Carpenter, Ramiro Pena, Jordan Schafer, Anthony Varvaro
Carpenter is a lock for a bullpen spot. On Friday, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said of Varvaro, "Who knows? It's so early. If we had to break Spring Training today or tomorrow to start the season, I'd count on him. He'd be one of the guys in the bullpen," talking to MLB.com's Spencer Fordin. Gearrin is among a host of pitchers competing for two other spots in the pen; he told Mark Wiedmer of the Chattanooga Times Free Press in February his shoulder was 100% after being shut down for the final two months of the 2013 season.
Pena will serve as the Braves' primary utility infielder, and Schafer will be the fourth outfielder.
Marlins: Mike Dunn, Garrett Jones, Brian Bogusevic, Brad Hand, Jacob Turner
Beyond Steve Cishek, A.J. Ramos, and Dunn, the Marlins' bullpen picture is "extremely muddled," wrote Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald recently. As for the rotation, Turner looks like the team's fourth starter, with Hand, Tom Koehler, Kevin Slowey, and Brian Flynn in the mix for the last spot, according to MLB.com's Joe Frisaro. Spencer noted that Hand could land in the bullpen if he doesn't crack the rotation.
Jones was signed to be the team's primary first baseman. Bogusevic, acquired from the Cubs for Justin Ruggiano in the offseason, seems to have a leg up to become the team's fourth outfielder.
Mets: Eric Young Jr., Ruben Tejada, Carlos Torres
Young's spot on the team is secure. Tejada is the starting shortstop, though the Mets seem to be considering upgrades such as Stephen Drew or Nick Franklin. In the event they acquire someone, the Mets could entertain trading Tejada or just put him in a reserve role.
Torres is a lock for the Mets' bullpen, wrote Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com a week ago.
Nationals: Jose Lobaton, Jerry Blevins, Tyler Clippard, Ross Detwiler
Detwiler will be on the Nationals' pitching staff in some capacity, either as the fifth starter or a member of the bullpen. Lobaton, Blevins, and Clippard are secure.
Phillies: John Mayberry Jr., Kevin Frandsen, Brad Lincoln
Mayberry and Frandsen were given guaranteed arbitration contracts, noted Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer in February, giving them a leg up on bench jobs. Yesterday, Gelb wrote that Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. "continues to dangle Mayberry this spring in trade talks." Mayberry is competing with Darin Ruf for a bench spot. A week ago, Chris Branch of The News Journal took a look at the Phillies' backup infield situation. Freddy Galvis is a near lock to make the team, with Frandsen battling Ronny Cedeno, Andres Blanco, Cesar Hernandez, and Reid Brignac for the one remaining spot.
Five days ago, Ryan Lawrence of the Philadelphia Daily News termed Lincoln to be "likely a favorite" for a bullpen spot, because of his option situation as well as past big league success.
I think you’re confusing Justin Turner with Jacob Turner.
Yep, that’s my bad. I’ll fix it, thanks.
If Varvaro doesn’t make the team after the season he had, then I don’t know whats up with the Braves organization
He could get cut, but at this point I doubt it. I think Gearrin is more likely to get DFA’d.
Detwiler to the pen seems increasingly likely.
If anybody can get inside the head of Ruben Amaro, I’d love to know what you find there. So he’s dangling Mayberry who, the more he plays, shows diminished plate discipline, hits for less power, and has zero aptitude for defensive play — the same Mayberry who tripled his salary this offseason. Instead of planting Mayberry on the Phillie bench, tell me what is wrong with Darin Ruf? He’s not a starter, and that’s fine for what Philly needs. His career OPS is 100 points higher than Mayberry, he’s three years younger, and will play for one-third the salary of Mayberry. What gives?!?
The bigger issue is why Ruf isn’t being looked at as Howard’s platoon partner. Pride?
.188 BA vs LHP in 2013 in his only legit sample size in the bigs, thats why.
What are his minor league numbers? That’s ghastly.
my internet is slow, but i’d imagine he’s high .2s or in the .3’s against lefties minor league sps. He went .340ish but in like 20 AB the year before. This sample size was greater 100-200 AB.
Someone took BenFran…
could be the ownership
in the IT world it used to be you can’t get fired for buying IBM. where buying from a small start up can get you fired if it breaks or doesn’t work
same in baseball. if you have an owner who is a micro-manager you buy proven stars with numbers behind them and when they fail you have an out. taking a chance can get you fired
Since when did John Mayberry become a proven star with numbers behind him? I don’t disagree that it could very well be David Montgomery and Phillie ownership sticking in their two cents but Mayberry, for my money, is thoroughly expendable and replaceable in every sense of the words.
his lifetime OPS is pretty good and probably in the top 20% of all MLB players. maybe he is striking out too much to get on the latest power hitter fad
RAJ on Mayberry: “Will Trade for Food”