Quite a few players will hit the open market this fall, and they’ll do so by way of varying mechanisms. The end of the regular season triggered a recent wave of free agents, consisting of a certain subset of players — namely, those who were outrighted from 40-man rosters during the season and accepted minor-league assignments at that time despite having the right to elect free agency. Players in that situation are entitled instead to hit the open market at season’s end, if they were not added back to the 40-man roster in the meantime.
As conveyed by Matt Eddy of Baseball America, who also covers quite a few other minor moves, these players have now elected free agency:
Athletics: RHP Raul Alcantara, LHP Danny Coulombe
Blue Jays: RHP Mike Hauschild, INF/OF Darnell Sweeney
Braves: LHP Rex Brothers, RHP Miguel Socolovich
Cardinals: LHP Tyler Lyons
Indians: RHP Evan Marshall, RHP Alexi Ogando
Mariners: RHP Christian Bergman, LHP Ross Detwiler, RHP Mike Morin, INF Zach Vincej
Marlins: OF JB Shuck
Mets: RHP Chris Beck, OF Bryce Brentz, RHP Scott Copeland, OF Matt den Dekker, INF Ty Kelly
Nationals: LHP Tommy Milone, OF Moises Sierra, RHP Carlos Torres
Orioles: RHP Jhan Marinez, INF Luis Sardinas
Padres: OF Matt Szczur
Phillies: INF Trevor Plouffe
Pirates: LHP Buddy Boshers, RHP Casey Sadler, RHP A.J. Schugel
Rangers: C Juan Centeno, LHP Anthony Gose, RHP Drew Hutchison, INF Tommy Joseph, RHP Chris Rowley
Rays: INF Brandon Snyder, RHP Ryan Weber
Reds: C Tim Federowicz, RHP Kevin Quackenbush
Tigers: INF Dixon Machado, RHP Jacob Turner
White Sox: RHP Tyler Danish
The only one on that lengthy list I’d consider if I was a GM would be Tyler Lyons. As for the rest, I’ll definitely pass. These guys were outrighted for a reason.
I think Centeno is alright as a backup.
I think you’re job as a Gm, at least with a good development system, would be to look for one depth and two whether or not a guy possesses a skill set you like. At the very least you still have to field a AAA-AA team, so on so forth, so some guys might be just that.
Most of these guys will have the same depth roles as they had this year, just with different teams.
Yeah, good luck with free agency, Alcantara.
Depends on intentions
Personally I don’t like Lyons. A lot of his success was despite either poor FIP rates or unsustainable HR/FB numbers
My top 4 here are Kontos, Schugel, Copeland and ToJo for different reasons.
1.) Kontos had been a reliable relief arm prior to 2018. He qualifies for veterans consent and can elect free agency if he doesn’t break camp. At the very least he could be a solid middle relief candidate who wont clog the pipeline
2.) Had it not been for injuries there is a strong case to be made that Schugel could have carved himself into a regular role in the Pirates bullpen. I see him as a comparable option to Xavier Cedeño from last offseason in terms of talent.
3.) Copeland was actually great in the minors last season. As a minor league innings eater who wouldn’t cost much in terms of minor league salary, you could do a lot worse. He starts games efficiently and could at least be considered for a ml emergency
4.) Tojo has obvious flaws. As a matter of fact, prior to running a few projections I would have never considered him but honestly, he could be a very inexpensive source for 20-25 home runs and comes with a minor league option. Also he made strides at first defensively with Round Rock. Range factor jumped quite a bit.
Could have saved time and print to not even bother listing these players. They aren’t.
I’m sure a lot of people thought that of Eric Kratz last year too and now he has contributed to the Brewers this season. I’m just saying
Max Muncy and Derik Rodriguez come to mind…..with the emphasis on analytics, and diminished pro (minor league) scouting departments, they’ll be some gold in dem dere hills……..
Rodriguez was never on a 40 man so he wouldn’t have come from this subset of FA’s. Odds are none of these guys will make that kind of impact but it wouldn’t be surprising if 1 or 2 of them is a useful player.
Yes, you’re technically correct. But I tend to lump MiLB free agents, Rule 5 picks, and waiver claims as all being in the same bin.
The reality is you could have come up with a pretty good roster digging around down there, not to mention giving failed veterans (Anibel Sanchez, Clay Buckholtz, etc.) a shot. If the Rays (e.g.) had found Wendle, Muncy, Sanchez and Buckholtz this year, the World Series would be going through Tampa. And yes, we’re not talking HUGE impact here. But “solid contributors” (especially those that cost 600K a year) can help out a smaller market team in a large way. The Keller guy in KC is yet another example.
Pro scouting is headed the way of the hula hoop because of technology; anybody can spend $50 a year and watch any of 5,000 minor league games. And MLB teams have access to advanced analytics. My suggestion would be to combine the two; would be a HUGE factor especially for the market-compromised teams.
The probability of one team finding 10 throw away gems is next to nothing though. No matter what there’s always going to be somebody who slips through the cracks. im not sure Brad Keller is a guy who you can blame on analytics for falling through the cracks. He had very good groundball numbers and ERA estimators liked him a good bit better than his results. I obviously didn’t watch Brad Keller in AA so I don’t know if you could tell that by watching him but it looks the dbacks just whiffed here. To be honest to me it looks like analytics found Brad Keller. Rodriguez and Muncy certainly qualify as two guys that slipped through the cracks but I’m not sure you can do much about that.
Sometimes the right opportunity right coach right mindset can change everything for a player…
I think ToJo could be a good pick up for the Brewers if Eric Thames time is up in Milwaukee and need a change scenario. This was the about the time that they picked up Aguilar a couple of years ago. I also think Rex Brothers would be a decent sign
Crew need less first baseman not more. Aguilar should get almost all the starts and Braun at this point is most adept to playing first. Shaw can certainly play there too.
We will take Jhonathan Schoop from you for Addison Russell.
I know this is off topic but MLB needs a backbone. Angel Hernandez, arguably the worst umpire in the game is likely umping the Sox-Yanks playoff game only because of his discrimination suit. Hopefully after tonight’s game, the suit gets dismissed.
EOVALDI BABY !!!
Pretty nice little Monday !!
(10-1 Sox.. sorry, wrong thread.)
Unfortunately not going to happen.
Classic case of dumpster diving for small market teams. Usually 2 or 3 of these guys make an impact on a major league roster. FAs to watch for me would be Weber, Lyons, Machado, Sierra, Coloumbe, and Socolovich.
Dear braves fix the pitching (bullpen) immediately
Wrong, get a decent manager that knows how to use his pitchers. There was nothing wrong with bringing in Teheran earlier, and furthermore, Suzuki should have started at catcher. I do not like Snitker as a manager at all.
So you really trust Venters as anything but a situational pitcher and unproven retreads rescued off the Rule 4 heap? Sure, Snit could do a better job, but don’t fault him for overuse of the pen when he’s trying to develop young arms with strict innings limits. Just imagine the overuse if Anibal didn’t step up and Teheran continuing to be consistently inconsistent.
I wonder if a team made up of these players next season could beat the Orioles record this season. I see some players with big potential, and some quality options teams would be glad to have.
I had no idea Trevor Plouffe was on the Phillies
Neither did they
Did anyone else see the total list of players released by the Mets on the full BA list? Talk about housecleaning…..
Can you post a link to that?
Baseball America’s not that hard to find.
Its the one in the article. Much more expansive version of what the article lists.
Most of these players have elected unemployment.
I would invite Plouffe, Joseph, and Brothers to White Sox camp. Could be useful fill gap players with new scenery.
Tyler Danish is a decent back of the rotation starter with upside. White Sox opted for Covey over Danish…a decision I don’t necessarily agree with going into next season
Agree but I’m guessing because Covey has more experience in the majors.