More than 600 non-roster players were invited to MLB Spring Training with a chance to win an Opening Day roster spot. Nearly half of them have MLB experience and are hoping for a return to the Majors, following the path of close to 40 former big leaguers who made their team’s respective Opening Day roster last April after signing a Minor League deal during the offseason.
Here’s this year’s list of non-roster invitees with MLB experience, including reported salary in the Majors and opt-out dates. This post will be updated as necessary through the end of Spring Training.
Last updated: 3/27/18
*Players currently projected by Roster Resource to make an Opening Day Roster are in bold/italics.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
- ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS | Depth Chart
- Anthony Recker, C REASSIGNED
- Josh Thole, C RELEASED
- Kristopher Negron, INF/OF REASSIGNED
- Ramon Flores, OF REASSIGNED
- Rey Fuentes, OF REASSIGNED
- Cesar Puello, OF REASSIGNED
- Jake Buchanan, SP/RP REASSIGNED
- Kris Medlen, SP/RP $1.1MM salary in Majors; opt-out 3/27
- Antonio Bastardo, RP RELEASED
- Michael Blazek, RP/SP REASSIGNED
- Jorge De La Rosa, RP $2.25MM salary in Majors
- Neftali Feliz, RP REASSIGNED
- Fernando Salas, RP $1.5MM salary in Majors
- ATLANTA BRAVES | Depth Chart
- Rob Brantly, C REASSIGNED
- Christian Colon, INF REASSIGNED
- Sean Kazmar, INF REASSIGNED
- Danny Santana, INF/OF
- Ezequiel Carrera, OF $650K salary in Majors
- Jaff Decker, OF REASSIGNED
- Anibal Sanchez, SP/RP $1MM salary in Majors
- Luke Jackson, RP REASSIGNED
- Miguel Socolovich, RP REASSIGNED
- CHICAGO CUBS | Depth Chart
- Chris Gimenez, C REASSIGNED
- Taylor Davis, C
- Efren Navarro, 1B/OF
- Mike Freeman, INF/OF
- Peter Bourjos, OF RELEASED/Signed MLB contract with ATL
- Anthony Bass, SP/RP
- Kyle Ryan, RP
- CINCINNATI REDS | Depth Chart
- Tony Cruz, C REASSIGNED
- Cliff Pennington, INF $1.5MM salary in Majors
- Phil Gosselin, INF/OF
- Patrick Kivlehan, INF/OF REASSIGNED
- Darnell Sweeney, INF/OF REASSIGNED
- Ben Revere, OF REASSIGNED
- Mason Williams, OF REASSIGNED
- Vance Worley, SP/RP $1.5MM salary in Majors; opt-out at end of camp
- Barrett Astin, RP REASSIGNED
- Kyle Crockett, RP REASSIGNED
- Dylan Floro, RP REASSIGNED
- Joe Mantiply, RP (Injured) REASSIGNED
- Kevin Quackenbush, RP
- Oliver Perez, RP RELEASED
- Ben Rowen, RP REASSIGNED
- COLORADO ROCKIES | Depth Chart
- Daniel Castro, INF REASSIGNED
- Shawn O’Malley, INF/OF (Injured)
- Brooks Pounders, RP/SP REASSIGNED
- LOS ANGELES DODGERS | Depth Chart
- Rocky Gale, C REASSIGNED
- Max Muncy, INF/OF REASSIGNED
- Travis Taijeron, OF REASSIGNED
- Daniel Corcino, RP REASSIGNED
- C.C. Lee, RP REASSIGNED
- Mark Lowe, RP RELEASED
- Pat Venditte, RP REASSIGNED
- Zach Neal, SP/RP REASSIGNED
- MIAMI MARLINS | Depth Chart
- Bryan Holaday, C
- Scott Van Slyke, 1B/OF
- Cristhian Adames, INF
- Johnny Giavotella, INF REASSIGNED
- Yadiel Rivera, INF
- Eric Campbell, INF/OF
- J.B. Shuck, OF
- Tyler Cloyd, SP/RP REASSIGNED
- Jacob Turner, SP/RP
- Jumbo Diaz, RP
- Javy Guerra, RP
- Drew Rucinski, RP REASSIGNED
- Alex Wimmers, RP REASSIGNED
- MILWAUKEE BREWERS | Depth Chart
- Christian Bethancourt, C
- Ji-Man Choi, 1B
- Nick Franklin, INF/OF
- Wade Miley, SP $2.5MM salary in Majors (Injured)
- Michael Brady, RP REASSIGNED
- Erik Davis, RP REASSIGNED
- Ernesto Frieri, RP RELEASED
- J.J. Hoover, RP $1.1MM salary in Majors
- Radhames Liz, RP/SP
- NEW YORK METS | Depth Chart
- Jose Lobaton, C REASSIGNED
- Phillip Evans, INF
- Ty Kelly, INF/OF REASSIGNED
- Matt den Dekker, OF REASSIGNED
- A.J. Griffin, SP REASSIGNED
- Matt Purke, RP REASSIGNED
- PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES | Depth Chart
- Matt McBride, C/1B/OF REASSIGNED
- Will Middlebrooks, 3B/1B $1.2MM salary in Majors (Injured)
- Adam Rosales, INF RELEASED
- Ryan Flaherty, INF/OF RELEASED/Signed MLB deal with ATL
- Pedro Florimon Jr., INF/OF $600K salary in Majors
- Collin Cowgill, OF REASSIGNED
- Danny Ortiz, OF REASSIGNED
- Drew Hutchison, SP
- Fernando Abad, RP RELEASED
- Pedro Beato, RP REASSIGNED
- Francisco Rodriguez, RP RELEASED
- PITTSBURGH PIRATES | Depth Chart
- Ryan Lavarnway, C REASSIGNED
- Jackson Williams, C REASSIGNED
- Todd Cunningham, OF REASSIGNED
- Daniel Nava, OF/1B RELEASED/RE-SIGNED
- Casey Sadler, SP/RP REASSIGNED
- Damien Magnifico, RP REASSIGNED
- Richard Rodriguez, RP REASSIGNED
- Bo Schultz, RP REASSIGNED
- Kevin Siegrist, RP REASSIGNED
- SAN DIEGO PADRES | Depth Chart
- A.J. Ellis, C $1.25MM salary in Majors
- Raffy Lopez, C
- Allen Craig, 1B REASSIGNED
- Dusty Coleman, INF
- Shane Peterson, OF REASSIGNED
- Kyle Lloyd, SP REASSIGNED
- Tyson Ross, SP $1.75MM salary in Majors; opt-0ut 5/15, 6/15
- Chris Young, SP/RP RELEASED
- Jonathan Aro, RP
- Michael Mariot, RP REASSIGNED
- Tom Wilhelmsen, RP RELEASED
- SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS | Depth Chart
- Trevor Brown, C REASSIGNED
- Hector Sanchez, C REASSIGNED
- Kyle Jensen, 1B/OF REASSIGNED
- Andres Blanco, INF RELEASED
- Chase d’Arnaud, INF REASSIGNED
- Josh Rutledge, INF
- Orlando Calixte, INF/OF REASSIGNED
- Alen Hanson, INF/OF REASSIGNED
- Gregor Blanco, OF $1MM salary in Majors
- Derek Holland, SP $1.75MM salary in Majors
- Manny Parra, RP
- Madison Younginer, RP REASSIGNED
- Jose Valdez, RP REASSIGNED
- ST. LOUIS CARDINALS | Depth Chart
- Francisco Peña, C
- Alex Mejia, INF REASSIGNED
- Wilfredo Tovar, INF REASSIGNED
- Jordan Schafer, OF/RP RELEASED
- Sean Gilmartin, SP/RP REASSIGNED
- Jason Motte, RP RELEASED
- Preston Guilmet, RP REASSIGNED
- WASHINGTON NATIONALS | Depth Chart
- Miguel Montero, C $1.3MM salary in Majors
- Jhonatan Solano, C REASSIGNED
- Reid Brignac, INF RELEASED
- Chris Dominguez, INF/OF REASSIGNED
- Ryan Raburn, OF RELEASED
- Moises Sierra, OF REASSIGNED
- Jeremy Hellickson, SP RELEASED/RE-SIGNED
- Edwin Jackson, SP REASSIGNED
- Tommy Milone, SP REASSIGNED
- Cesar Vargas, SP REASSIGNED
- Tim Collins, RP REASSIGNED
- David Goforth, RP REASSIGNED
- Roman Mendez, RP REASSIGNED
- Chris Smith, RP REASSIGNED
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AMERICAN LEAGUE
- BALTIMORE ORIOLES | Depth Chart
- Pedro Alvarez, DH $1MM salary in Majors
- Luis Sardiñas, INF REASSIGNED
- Ruben Tejada, INF REASSIGNED
- Danny Valencia, INF/OF $1.2MM salary in Majors
- Jaycob Brugman, OF REASSIGNED
- Craig Gentry, OF $900K salary in Majors
- Alex Presley, OF REASSIGNED
- Colby Rasmus, OF $3MM salary in Majors
- Jayson Aquino, SP/RP REASSIGNED
- Eddie Gamboa, SP/RP REASSIGNED
- Tim Melville, SP REASSIGNED
- Asher Wojciechowski, SP/RP REASSIGNED
- Josh Edgin, RP REASSIGNED
- Andrew Faulkner, RP REASSIGNED
- Jeff Ferrell, RP REASSIGNED
- Perci Garner, RP REASSIGNED
- Jason Gurka, RP REASSIGNED
- Jhan Mariñez, RP REASSIGNED
- Joely Rodriguez, RP REASSIGNED
- BOSTON RED SOX | Depth Chart
- Dan Butler, C REASSIGNED
- Oscar Hernandez, C SUSPENDED
- Ivan De Jesus Jr., INF REASSIGNED
- Rusney Castillo, OF REASSIGNED
- Steve Selsky, OF REASSIGNED
- Justin Haley, SP/RP REASSIGNED
- Kyle Martin, RP REASSIGNED
- Fernando Rodriguez, RP REASSIGNED
- CHICAGO WHITE SOX | Depth Chart
- Jake Elmore, OF/INF REASSIGNED
- Jacob May, OF REASSIGNED
- Hector Santiago, SP/RP $2MM salary in Majors
- Xavier Cedeño, RP REASSIGNED
- Jeanmar Gomez, RP REASSIGNED
- TJ House, RP/SP REASSIGNED
- Bruce Rondon, RP REASSIGNED
- Robbie Ross Jr., RP REASSIGNED
- Rob Scahill, RP REASSIGNED
- Chris Volstad, RP/SP REASSIGNED
- Michael Ynoa, RP RELEASED
- CLEVELAND INDIANS | Depth Chart
- Ryan Hanigan, C RELEASED
- Mike Napoli, 1B RELEASED/RE-SIGNED
- Michael Martinez, INF/OF (Injured)
- Richie Shaffer, INF/OF REASSIGNED
- Brandon Barnes, OF REASSIGNED
- Rajai Davis, OF $1.75MM salary in Majors; opt-out 3/22
- Melvin Upton Jr., OF RELEASED
- Stephen Fife, SP REASSIGNED
- Adam Wilk, SP/RP REASSIGNED
- Matt Belisle, RP $1.5MM salary in Majors
- Jeff Beliveau, RP REASSIGNED
- Preston Claiborne, RP REASSIGNED
- Evan Marshall, RP REASSIGNED
- Alexi Ogando, RP/SP REASSIGNED
- Neil Ramirez, RP REASSIGNED
- Carlos Torres, RP RELEASED
- DETROIT TIGERS | Depth Chart
- Derek Norris, C REASSIGNED
- Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C REASSIGNED
- Brayan Peña, C REASSIGNED
- Alexi Amarista, INF/OF RELEASED
- Pete Kozma, INF REASSIGNED
- Jim Adduci, OF/1B REASSIGNED
- Niko Goodrum, OF/INF
- Chad Huffman, OF/1B REASSIGNED
- Victor Alcantara, RP REASSIGNED
- Enrique Burgos, RP REASSIGNED
- Travis Wood, RP/SP RELEASED
- HOUSTON ASTROS | Depth Chart
- Tim Federowicz, C REASSIGNED
- Mike Hauschild, SP/RP REASSIGNED
- KANSAS CITY ROYALS | Depth Chart
- Ryan Goins, INF $1MM salary in Majors
- Cody Asche, OF/3B REASSIGNED
- Tyler Collins, OF REASSIGNED
- Terrance Gore, OF REASSIGNED
- Michael Saunders, OF RELEASED
- Clay Buchholz, SP REASSIGNED
- Ricky Nolasco, SP RELEASED
- Blaine Boyer, RP
- Mike Broadway, RP REASSIGNED
- Seth Maness, RP REASSIGNED
- LOS ANGELES ANGELS | Depth Chart
- Chris Carter, 1B $1.75MM salary in Majors
- Colin Walsh, INF/OF REASSIGNED
- Rymer Liriano, OF REASSIGNED
- Eric Young Jr., OF REASSIGNED
- Vicente Campos, SP REASSIGNED
- John Lamb, SP REASSIGNED
- Ian Krol, RP REASSIGNED
- Branden Pinder, RP REASSIGNED
- MINNESOTA TWINS | Depth Chart
- Bobby Wilson, C REASSIGNED
- Jordan Pacheco, C/INF REASSIGNED
- Brock Stassi, 1B REASSIGNED
- Erick Aybar, INF RELEASED
- Taylor Featherston, INF
- Gregorio Petit, INF
- Nick Buss, OF REASSIGNED
- Chris Heisey, OF RELEASED
- Ryan LaMarre, OF
- Myles Jaye, SP/RP REASSIGNED
- Michael Kohn, RP (Injured)
- NEW YORK YANKEES | Depth Chart
- Erik Kratz, C
- Adam Lind, 1B/OF RELEASED
- Jace Peterson, INF/OF $900K salary in Majors
- Shane Robinson, OF $950K salary in Majors
- David Hale, SP/RP
- Wade LeBlanc, SP/RP RELEASED/Signed MLB contract with SEA
- OAKLAND ATHLETICS | Depth Chart
- Steve Lombardozzi, INF REASSIGNED
- Nick Noonan, INF REASSIGNED
- Slade Heathcott, OF REASSIGNED
- Eric Jokisch, SP/RP REASSIGNED
- Simon Castro, RP
- Bobby Wahl, RP REASSIGNED
- SEATTLE MARINERS | Depth Chart
- Tuffy Gosewisch, C REASSIGNED
- Matt Hague, 1B/3B REASSIGNED
- Gordon Beckham, INF RELEASED/RE-SIGNED
- Rey Navarro, INF REASSIGNED
- Zach Vincej, INF REASSIGNED
- Junior Lake, OF REASSIGNED
- Kirk Nieuwenhuis, OF
- Christian Bergman, SP/RP REASSIGNED
- Hisashi Iwakuma, SP $2.5MM salary in Majors (Injured)
- Casey Lawrence, SP/RP
- Ryan Cook, RP REASSIGNED
- Ryan Garton, RP REASSIGNED
- TAMPA BAY RAYS | Depth Chart
- Curt Casali, C REASSIGNED
- Johnny Monell, C REASSIGNED
- Adam Moore, C REASSIGNED
- Micah Johnson, 2B/OF REASSIGNED
- Brandon Snyder, INF/OF
- Jason Coats, OF REASSIGNED
- Ryan Weber, SP/RP REASSIGNED
- Cody Hall, RP REASSIGNED
- Adam Kolarek, RP REASSIGNED
- Vidal Nuño, RP REASSIGNED
- Dustin McGowan, RP RELEASED
- Colton Murray, RP REASSIGNED
- Dan Runzler, RP RELEASED
- Evan Scribner, RP RELEASED
- Jonny Venters, RP REASSIGNED
- TEXAS RANGERS | Depth Chart
- Curt Casali, C RELEASED/SIGNED with TB
- Mike Ohlman, C REASSIGNED/TRADED to BOS
- Trevor Plouffe, 3B/1B RELEASED/RE-SIGNED
- Hanser Alberto, INF REASSIGNED
- Darwin Barney, INF RELEASED
- Destin Hood, OF REASSIGNED
- Bartolo Colon, SP RELEASED/RE-SIGNED
- Paolo Espino, SP/RP REASSIGNED
- Jon Niese, SP/RP RELEASED
- Adrian Sampson, SP REASSIGNED
- Edinson Volquez, SP 2-yr contract; $2MM salary in Majors in ’19 (Injured)
- Austin Bibens-Dirkx, RP/SP REASSIGNED
- Steve Delabar, RP REASSIGNED
- Erik Goeddel, RP RELEASED/Signed with SEA
- Deolis Guerra, RP REASSIGNED
- Kevin Jepsen, RP
- Shawn Tolleson, RP (Injured)
- TORONTO BLUE JAYS | Depth Chart
- Danny Espinosa, INF
- Deck McGuire, SP/RP REASSIGNED
- Chris Rowley, SP/RP REASSIGNED
- Luis Santos, SP/RP REASSIGNED
- Al Alburquerque, RP REASSIGNED
- John Axford, RP
- Craig Breslow, RP REASSIGNED/RE-SIGNED
- Tyler Clippard, RP
- Rhiner Cruz, RP REASSIGNED
- Chad Girodo, RP REASSIGNED
- Jake Petricka, RP $1.3MM salary in Majors (Injured)
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Is there some kind of program or plugin that you guys use to automatically link players to their bbref pages or do you have to do it all by hand?
Most of it can be found here-
rosterresource.com/mlb-detroit-tigers
Same page for each team at rosterresource.
Yes, I believe they have a script that automatically links to any players in bbref’s database. That’s why sometimes it links to, for example, the wrong Chris Young.
As someone who briefly wrote for a site, I can tell you bbref’s player linker was my best friend.
baseball-reference.com/linker/
This is a terrific article. Great information. Thank you.
Agree. Great analysis. I think Hector Santiago has a chance to start for the Sox this year. Their rotation needs a lefty and Hector is an effective starter when healthy. Dr. Cooper will help him rebuild his effectiveness.
Hector Santiago earned the #5 slot and Chris Volstad earned a bullpen role with his 0.00 ERA in spring training. How does a guy with that ERA not make the team? I thought spring training meant something?
Can we get an article with a similar layout of the remaining free agents on the market.
Love this one, a free agent one would be cool
go find bobandy ya drunk
I know he didn’t have any previous big league experience, But Who will be the next Yangervis Solarte? (Made last spot on NYY roster, batting .429 (18-for-42) two homers, 9 RBI’s in Spring Training.)
Great info. Thanks Jason! Interesting to see Miley projected for the OD roster in Milwaukee. I’d be pretty surprised if that happened. Actually I think Hoover has the better shot.
Brewers need a 5th starter more than the 7th reliever.
Craig Counsell has already confirmed they will be using an 8 man bullpen. I wouldn’t be surprised to see 2 of those guys as swingmen. Suter and Guerra probably would be the options. They essentially share the 5th starter role. Rotation looks like Anderson, Davies, Chacin, and Woodruff top 4. With 2 swingmen in the pen that may be all you need. Still would put Aaron Wilkerson or Gallardo ahead of Miley.
I currently have them projected with an 8-man bullpen, including Drake and Guerra (both out of options), and 4-man bench. Since they don’t need a 5th starter until 4/6, they could go with 9 relievers or a 5-man bench. Gives them a chance to keep Aguilar on the roster for a few more days, but he doesn’t really have a role if they’re serious about Braun playing 1B. Still a long way to go, but I like showing the projected “5th starter” until a team confirms later in spring that they’ll be starting with a 4-man rotation.
Derik Norris is actually expected to make the Tigers opening day roster. His name should be in bold also. Everything else looks good, great job whoever took the time to put this together.
They have another catcher on the 40-man (John Hicks) and he’s out of options. As long as that’s the case, he has the edge over Norris.
I do have Norris projected to have a more at-bats … rosterresource.com/mlb-depth-chart-grid-position-p… … but I think he needs to have a good spring to win the job on Opening Day.
As long as they are rebuilding, I expect the younger player, Hicks, to make the team, and Norris to be AAA depth.
40 made it last year. I wonder how many made it over the last decade?
It was just under 40. I’m guessing that’s pretty normal. There are usually 1-2 on every team fighting for the last bench or bullpen spot and also several NRIs with no MLB experience.
Amarista (Detroit) is a hazard like a sand trap on a golf course on defense. After parts of 7 seasons, he has -9 DRS and is not reliable enough for pitchers to have any confidence in him behind them.
He is Latino, though, as is the rest of the infield, so he has that going for him.
Amarista isn’t so bad, give the little guy some credit.
No need to bring race into it. That said, I am hoping he is not the best option. I would prefer to see Lugo win 2B, and see Machado take on the Romine, Jack of all trades, role.
Lugo has never played above AA ball.
Emmanuel Burriss did not get a spring training invite
Not sure why anyone would sign him anyways…
Thanks. The original tweet by Nightengale had him getting an invite—most veterans with MLB experience do—but looks like you’re right.
Insert vulgar Major League grounds crew comment here.
Just want to see magnifico make the roster. the name is perfect. the crowd will eat it up.
Best name in the majors. In 2017, he had:
0.00 ERA!!! … 0.1 Innings pitched … 2BB, 1K, 6.00 WHIP
Work your magnifico magic, Pirates.
I’m too lazy to do it, but I might be able to put together a 25 man roster with these guys and compete with the Marlins.
Yay! Expansion teams!
Oh man, this list is great… Pat Venditte, Radhames Liz, Junior Lake, Tuffy Gosewich, Brandon Snyder, Brayan Pena, Jordan Schafer, Brandon Barnes, Nick Noonan?? Those are some blasts from the past…Was half expecting Bryan LaHair to pop up on one of these teams.
Side note: David Goforth and Joe Mantiply need to be signed by some independent league team and immediately become their setup man and closer….
Editing my rosters in MVP 2005 (modded) and this post is amazing!! I love you