As Opening Day approaches, teams will be making tough roster decisions involving their veteran players. Some of these decisions pertain to Article XX(B) free agents who have their opt-out date on Tuesday, though other players have opt-outs today or later this week. We’ll keep track of the players who opt out of their deals in search of new opportunities here:
- Lefty Brian Duensing told reporters (including Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star) that he will be opting out of his minor league deal with the Royals, giving the team 48 hours to either release him or add him to the 25-man roster. As per the terms of his contract, Duensing will make $2MM in base salary if he makes the team. It isn’t yet clear if K.C. will part ways with Duensing or not; while the Royals are deep in relief options, most of them are right-handed. Danny Duffy is the only southpaw slated for a bullpen job.
- Roberto Hernandez has been told he isn’t making the Blue Jays roster, and the veteran right-hander is expected to exercise his opt-out clause today, Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith reports. Hernandez signed a minor league deal in February that would’ve paid him $1.25MM in salary and another $750K in available bonuses he had made the Major League roster. The 10-year veteran posted a 4.36 ERA, 4.5 K/9 and 1.62 K/BB rate over 84 2/3 innings with the Astros last season.
brian was 4-1 last season, any bullpen pitcher who can go 3 games over 500 is a key asset to a team
Hernandez is a serviceable 5th starter. Teams could do a lot worse.
Duensing will be in demand if KC doesn’t want him too.