Brewers right-handed reliever Rob Wooten has been outrighted to Triple-A Colorado Springs, according to the club’s transactions page.
Wooten, 29, appeared in four games for the Brewers this season, yielding eight runs on five hits and six walks. Never a flamethrower in previous seasons, Wooten’s fastball velocity dipped to 87.9 mph in his small sample of work in 2015. This season’s unsightly results aside, Wooten has some encouraging career peripherals, including a 48.1 percent ground-ball rate, a 3.21 FIP and a 3.61 SIERA.
Wooten becomes the second reliever removed from Milwaukee’s 40-man roster in recent weeks, as the team also outrighted former closer Jim Henderson’s contract to Colorado Springs. Wooten’s outright brings the Brewers’ 40-man roster to 38.
What’s the benefit in outrighting a player in a situation like this? Meaning, when a team doesn’t need roster space on the 40 or the 25 man roster?
If he doesn’t have any options left, but the team doesn’t want him taking up a 25 man spot anymore. However, they think there is a possibility that he might be needed later for whatever reason then they can stash him until necessary.
Can’t you do that without taking him off the 40 man roster though?
You can’t send an out-of-options player to the minors without removing him from the 40-man roster, no. But as I said in reply to Ray Ray above, that wasn’t exactly the case in Wooten’s situation.
In this instance, Wooten wasn’t even on the 25-man at the time of his outright. It’s more about creating flexibility for future moves, I’d imagine. The fact that the team has yet to officially announce anything might indicate there will be accompanying moves that shed some light on why 40-man spots needed to be opened.
I’d think it would mean they’ve got two guys they want to add to the 40-man. They’re supposed to be calling up a starter to take Peralta’s spot. Tyler Cravy has been their best (or least bad) starter in AAA but he’s not on the 40-man yet, so he’d take one spot. The other spot could be for a waiver claim or the return on a trade. That’s all just speculation on my part, of course.
Thanks. I was just confused about how this stuff works.
Seems reasonable.
Now they’re talking about calling up a starter from AA, but the general theory still stands.
Opening a spot for Travis Ishikawa? Would be useful player to claim if selling off began any time now.
If they trade Lind, that wouldn’t be a bad pickup.
My thinking. Parra as well as a platoon for Davis in LF while Lind keeps 1b warm for him. If indeed there is a Parra or Lind are in a trade shortly.