Here is MLBTR's list of players who are out of options and have less than five years of service time. These players would have to clear waivers before being sent to the minors. Right now the list is missing a few names, but journalists are on the case.
Athletics
Chad Gaudin, Eric Patterson, Mike Wuertz, Jake Fox, Rajai Davis
Angels
Brandon Wood, Brian Stokes, Bobby Wilson, Reggie Willits, Terry Evans
Astros
Alberto Arias, Yorman Bazardo, Tim Byrdak, Jeff Keppinger, Humberto Quintero
Blue Jays
Brian Tallet, Shawn Camp, Dustin McGowan, Merkin Valdez, Dana Eveland
Braves
Melky Cabrera
Brewers
Todd Coffey, Corey Hart, Joe Inglett, George Kottaras, Chris Narveson, Manny Parra, Rickie Weeks
Cardinals
Skip Schumaker, Ryan Ludwick, Blake Hawksworth
Cubs
Jeff Baker, Tom Gorzelanny, Angel Guzman, Koyie Hill, Geovany Soto
Diamondbacks
Blaine Boyer, Leo Rosales, Edwin Jackson
Dodgers
Hong-Chih Kuo, Ronald Belisario, Charlie Haeger
Giants
Travis Ishikawa, Fred Lewis, Brandon Medders, Nate Schierholtz, Andres Torres, Eugenio Velez
Indians
Fausto Carmona, Shin-Soo Choo, Anderson Hernandez, Andy Marte, Rafael Perez, Mitch Talbot
Mariners
David Aardsma, Brandon League, Franklin Gutierrez, Ryan Rowland-Smith, Ian Snell, Ryan Langerhans
Marlins
Dan Meyer, Leo Nunez, Renyel Pinto, Brian Sanches, Cody Ross
Mets
Nelson Figueroa, Fernando Nieve
Nationals
Jason Bergmann, Brian Bruney, Sean Burnett, Tyler Clippard, Tyler Walker, Mike Morse, Josh Willingham, Alberto Gonzalez
Orioles
Matt Albers, Robert Andino, Jeremy Guthrie, Felix Pie
Padres
Edward Mujica, Tim Stauffer, Sean Gallagher, Tony Gwynn Jr.
Phillies
Pirates
Andy LaRoche, Delwyn Young, Ronny Cedeno, Joel Hanrahan, Hayden Penn
Rangers
Joaquin Arias, Andres Blanco, Nelson Cruz, Luis Mendoza, Dustin Nippert, Scott Feldman
Rays
Willy Aybar, Jason Bartlett, Lance Cormier, Elliot Johnson
Red Sox
Boof Bonser, Manny Delcarmen
Reds
Homer Bailey, Wladimir Balentien, Nick Masset
Rockies
Jason Hammel, Clint Barmes
Royals
Alberto Callaspo, Roman Colon, Kyle Davies, Josh Fields, Luke Hochevar, Anthony Lerew, Brayan Pena, Robinson Tejeda, Mitch Maier
Tigers
Don Kelly, Brad Thomas, Bobby Seay, Ramon Santiago
Twins
Scott Baker, Clay Condrey, Alexi Casilla, Brendan Harris, Delmon Young
White Sox
Jayson Nix, Sergio Santos, Gavin Floyd
Yankees
Sergio Mitre
Thanks to the following sources for the information: Matt Eddy, Susan Slusser, Bill Plunkett, Brian McTaggart, Jordan Bastian, Brewerfan.net, Nick Piecoro, Ken Gurnick, Chris Haft, Anthony Castrovince, Geoff Baker, Joe Capozzi, Adam Rubin, Ben Goessling, Dan Connolly, Corey Brock, Dejan Kovacevic, T.R. Sullivan, Marc Topkin, Alex Speier, Mark Sheldon, Jon Paul Morosi, La Velle E. Neal III, Scott Merkin, Bryan Hoch, Bob Dutton, Greg Schaum, Mark Wilkins
This should be helpful for the Rockies: purplerow.com/2010/2/4/1293150/the-state-of-the-ro…
Names that stand out on first look:
Brandon Wood
Tom Gorzelanny
Joaquin Arias
Mainly just looking for guys who haven’t gained solid footing in the majors, but the teams seemed to be high on at least at some point recently.
I’d add Jeremy Hermida to that list of names that stand out on first look.
I would add also Luke Hochevar from the Royals. He’s been off and on in his tenure in KC, but was drafted really high and came with a ton of hype.
Good call. I don’t think the Royals list was up when I made the first list.
On Hermida I didn’t list him because it seems like he’s been solidly in the majors since he came up. Being with the Red Sox now does change things, but even still I’m not sure that he’s out of options (see below). Looks like Tim even took him off the list at least for now.
Hochevar qualifies for a 4th option year with less than 5 years of pro ball since being drafted.
It’s awesome that we actually have this info now. This is a post that we’ve been wanting for a while. Thanks Tim!
I think that Freddy Lewis is in need of greener pastures. He really doesn’t have a spot in the Giants lineup but might prove to be valuable for another club. The Tigers perhaps.
Jeremy Hermida has one option left
It was posted by Kristina Kahrl from baseball prospectus the day of the trade if I remember correctly…
Maybe I’m wrong here, but looking at his numbers I don’t know that he’s even used his first option yet. His contract was purchased in late August 2005 and it doesn’t look like he’s been back to the minors for more than a few days at a time (most likely rehab stints) since. He’s at about 4 years MLB service, so he can’t refuse an assignment either.
This is correct. He has all three options available. Not sure where they got the idea he was out of options all together.
I will check into that one
Fontenot and Wells (and Parisi, but being a RuleV he is different anyway) should be added to the Cubs with Marmol, Marshall and Theriot all needing to clear waivers if they were to be optioned – basically putting them into the boat as well.
“Andres Blanco, Mike Fontenot, Mike Parisi, and Randy Wells have accrued less than three years of MLB service time, but all four have been outrighted previously in their career, so therefore each of them have the right to decline an Outright Assignment and become a free-agent.”
If any of the four were to be optioned, they would be able to refuse the assignment and become a FA instead.
While “Carlos Marmol, Sean Marshall, and Ryan Theriot must clear Optional Assignment Waivers before they can be optioned to the minors.”
Oh, any Cubs info (including the above) can be found here:
thecubreporter.com/cubs-40-man-roster
just looking for clarification – your second paragraph indicates they can decline an OUTRIGHT assignment.
What i get from this is that if they were outrighted again (and not claimed on outright waivers), instead of having to accept assignment to AAA, they’d have the right to decline the assignment and declare free agency (by virtue of having been outrighted previously).
I’m not sure how being optioned is relevant to their ability to decline outright assignment re Fontenot and Wells unless they are infact out of options.
i’m not saying you are wrong, i’m just looking for clarification
and yes, Tim…this is fantastic.
The whole waiver rules are so confusing and such a mess…
Sorry, this is kind of correct and yes Wells is protected here. Fontenot actually falls under both categories though, being included in the Optional Assignment waivers Marmol, Marshall and Theriot face as well. He would not be able to be optioned unless clearing waivers and be able to refuse an outright assignment instead becoming a FA.
Dustin McGowan is the interesting name to me there, so much potential but coming off a injury.
I’d say Manny Parra’s a pretty interesting one too. Same for Sean Gallagher.
I’d say that Matt Albers, Hayden Penn, Sean Gallagher, Terry Evans, Eric Patterson, and Pat Misch at the very least may be DFA’d by the end of Spring Training.
I would such a happy camper if Baker slumps for the Cubs, and puts him on waivers so the Rockies can get him back. When we were looking for a righty power bench bat that can play 3rd, 2nd, 1st, and the outfield, I couldn’t help but think that Baker would’ve fit perfectly, better than Mora and cheaper. I wish they never let him go….
Oh, and basically the entire Royals 40man roster is out of options, with players like Maier, Fields, Anderson, Tejada and Thorman strong possibilities to hit the free agent market because of it.
Good article on the subject:
royalsauthority.com/2010-articles/january/advanced…
I’d like to see the Pirates get Brandon Wood. I don’t know if he has the ability to play short anymore, but I heard that he is a pretty good first baseman.
Not sure Wood has played much first base, but I’d love to see him get a shot at being a shortstop. I think he can handle the position just fine.
He’s played a few games at first, but not many. He split time pretty evenly between short and third last year, and the majority at short in 2008. It’s tough to find a reliable defensive stat for minor leaguers, but I think the common belief is that his range is below average.
There is no way that the Angels give up on Wood. He is the their 3rd baseman this year come hell or high water.
Keep dreaming. The Angels let Figgins walk so that Wood could be their starting 3B. No way he doesn’t stay with the team.
Didn’t Mike Rivera sign a minor league deal with the Yankees? So isn’t his option situation irrelevant?
Good point…
Wow i saw M Rivera and Yankees and automatically thought Mariano. I was about to lambast you for saying Mariano Rivera was on a minor league deal. good thing i noticed it said mike rivera first
Could be mistaken, but I think Jo-Jo Reyes is out of options.
Unfourtuantly no, last year didn’t count because it was an injury rehab and he just didn’t finish his rehab in time before the season ended.
Nope
I thought George Kottaras was out of options last year, 2009. That was the main reason the Red Sox were trying him as the backup catcher in Boston before they acquired VMart.
Otherwise, why would the Sox release him in 2009 instead of sending him to the minors?
well it would make sense that he is still out of options then…
yeah, he is listed above under his new team – the Brewers
George Kottarras is listed as a player without options. I’m sure you’re looking at the Red Sox, though, and he is now with the Brewers
I’m aware he is with the Brewers.
I guess I assumed once you are out of options you become a FA the following year, no?
If that’s in incorrect assumption can someone give me a quick rundown of how it works please?
When a player has used his 3 options he most be on the major league roster. If a team wishes to send him to the minors then he must first go through the 10 day waiver process before he can me outrighted to the minors. There are exceptions to this though in some cases but that is the standard. A player cannot become a FA until he has 6 years of service time unless his team does not tender him a contract.
cool thanks. what are the 3 options and how are they exhausted?
An option just means that once a player is placed on the 40 man roster, he can only be sent to the minors in three of those years. From September to Opening Day a teams roster is 40 men. Once opening day hits, each team has to pick the 25 that will be on the active roster. The other 15 guys must be optioned to the minors or released.
I think it could be interesting if the Angels decide to look to trade Reggie Willits. I’ve always been a fan of his, and am wondering if anyone else thinks he could be a match with the Yanks for the LF job? Perhaps trade one of our out of options guys in Gaudin or preferably Mitre for him? Not sure if the Angels would be willing to do so, however, as I don’t know how highly they value him.
Willits has been on the major league roster for the majority of the past 3 years. He is the biggest reason why they traded GMJ to the Mets. Scioscia loves him for three reasons — defense, speed, and ability to bunt. He is pretty much the only SB threat that they have on the bench. He will definitely make the squad. The final roster spot will come down to Evans, Freddy Sandoval and Scioscia’s man-crush Quinlan (ugh).
FYI: Scott Downs and Dana Eveland are out of options for Toronto.
Downs: bit.ly/5iV8Fa
Eveland: bit.ly/aIzMD2
Don’t send Wuertz to the minors, Beane
I think there is some confusion on these comments about what “out of options” means. It isn’t they get “three chances” to be demoted to the Minors. It refers to their option years. Here, it means that these players have used up their three option years and if the team wants to send them back to the minors, they have to go through waivers. So “option” is refering to the team’s ability to have the option (once on the 40-man roster) to move the player on and off the 25-man roster. For the players listed, they team no longer has that option. There are some other nuances about this, but this is the gist.
What about Manny Acosta? I personally hope he’s getting close to out of options…
Pretty sure Felipe Paulino of the Astros is our of options. He’s an intriguing one because he throws so hard that some team would definitely pick him up if the Astros waived him.
Paulino is definitely not out of options.
This guy must be wrong. Just thought it was accurate since it was on the Houston Chronicle web site and I’d heard it before reading that. Thanks for the clarification.
blogs.chron.com/fanblogastros/archives/2009/11/pos…
Twins: Glen Perkins and Jose Mijares
I’m thinking Blake DeWitt should be on this list for the Dodgers. Kuo and Belisario will obviously make the major league club if they’re healthy, but it’ll be interesting to see what happens with Stults and Haeger. I can see Stults being picked up by another club for sure, though I don’t see him topping out at any higher than a #5 starter or swing man, even with a worse team. With Haeger I guess his spring training performance will determine whether he gets a starter job or gets released.
DeWitt is not out of options. He’ll probalby be the Opening Day 2B…for Albuquerque.
Gavin Floyd just signed a 3 or 4 year deal this past season. I don’t terribly know if this would apply to Floyd.
I’m suprised to see Brian Tallet on the list for the Blue Jays. He’s their middle reliever and swingman, and is a pretty steady one too.
How is his ‘stasche out of options?
I’m fairly certain Rajai Davis of the A’s is out of options.
I have a feeling that the three for the Cardinals are safe. All three have been starters last year and Ludwick is going to be a 3 year starter this upcoming season.
blogs.chron.com/fanblogastros/archives/2009/11/pos…
This says Houston’s Paulino is out of options, but I trust MLBTR much more than the Houston Chronicle.
Paulino definitely has an option left, I checked on that one.
Wow! I’ve never seen so many people that don’t truly understand that “out of options”….
Kevin Frandsen of the Giants is not out of options. Kevin spent all but one game of 2008 on the MLB DL and thus 2008 did not qualifiy as either an opiton year or as a full professional season. Because 2008 did not qualify as a full profession season Kevin qualifies for a forth option year as his only full professional seasons are 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2009. His brief stay is the NW Short Season League at Salem-Keizer also did not qualify as a full professional season. Kevin used three of these four options in 2006, 2007 and 2009 and thus still has one left.
Tim, Eugenio Velez was optioned to Triple-A Fresno today. Guess he wasn’t out of options after all. Go ahead and keep his name up there, though, since he is NOW.
Tim, Eugenio Velez was optioned to Triple-A Fresno today. Guess he wasn’t out of options after all. Go ahead and keep his name up there, though, since he is NOW.