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Out Of Options 2021

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The following 40-man roster players have less than five years service time and are out of minor league options. That means they must clear waivers before being sent to the minors. I’ve included players on multiyear deals. This list was compiled through MLBTR’s helpful and much-appreciated sources.

This year, option status for several players remains unresolved at present due to the nature of the 2020 season, as reported by Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.  We’ll keep this list updated as new information comes in.

Angels

Astros

Athletics

Blue Jays

Braves

Brewers

Cardinals

Cubs

Diamondbacks

Dodgers

Giants

Indians

Mariners

Marlins

Mets

Nationals

Orioles

Padres

Phillies

Pirates

Rangers

Rays

Red Sox

Reds

Rockies

Royals

Tigers

Twins

White Sox

Yankees

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Comments

    • Might be able to lock down one of the Yankees’ final bullpen spots. Doubt they’ll just risk losing a guy with his talent to waviers.

      1

      • @mlb1225- your absolutely correct look’s like Nick Nelson will be sent down because he has options. Loasigna, Cessa, and Abreu no longer have options, so they are all likely to make the team.

        3

      • Just because you throw hard like Albert Abreu doesn’t equate too a long MLB career. Mauricio Cabrera comes to mind as well as Joel Zumaya who pitched his last MLB as a 25 year old after a brief run of dominance. Guys are throwing harder than they have in the past.

        4

        • @FredMcGriff for the HOF- Al Abreu has so much talent. There is no reason why he can’t be a middle reliever or a set-up man in the major leagues. If it doesn’t work out with the Yankees, it doesn’t mean that he can’t go elsewhere and perform for another team.

    • He’s going to have to pitch better than he did against the Tigers yesterday! Ugh!

      1

      • Yes. Let’s put a lot of faith in a guys first appearance of the spring.

        11

        • @Dan Rogers- well said. Apparently every spring training game is do or die now? Lol

          1

      • @For Love of the Game- Your putting emphasis on Abreu’s lst outing in Spring Training? Smh. He should be fine. In other words he will not be released or be let go for nothing. No worries.

      • @Balboni- what’s wrong with Cessa? He pitched really well last year, and a multi-innings guys

        1

        • Yup.
          Don’t look now, but Luis Cessa has been an above average reliever for the last two seasons.

          Right now the bridge from starter to end game is: Greene, Wilson, O’Day, & Cessa.
          That’ll play.

    • For a long time they played “Wild Thing” when he came out of the bullpen. But I think it hit a little too close to home for him.

      • I have an 8×10 he signed for me with a “with thing” inscription. He’s a cool guy

      • good ol chuck will pitch for the rockies if his contract is in tiger blood.

  4. OUT OF OPTIONS – A thriller about a fringe MLB player whose son is kidnapped by an international drug cartel. With no help from the cops and time against him, Steve Stonecastle has no choice but to take matters into his own hands, because he’s . . . Out of Options.

    32

    • I can’t wait for the sequel, ‘Out of Options 2: Designated for Assignment’ (OoO2:DfA).

      27

    • Starring Dennis Franz as Steve Stonecastle, and John C. Reilly as Dr. Steve Brule

      6

    • lol great take dude 2 thumbs up.

      @unicorndog you forgot about part 3 the best part like the godfather 3 now playing for (insert asian team here) or the independent league.

  5. I’m not sure how they misses Barria is out of options. Not being able to send him down has caused major ramifications. The Angels have one less bullpen spot open because of it. Barria and signing Claudio are the two biggest reasons they couldn’t go after a much better bullpen arm.

    • So…Barria shows up as having another option in MLB’s system, but multiple credible sources say he is indeed out of options.

      I don’t know if Barria is part of this discussion, but check out Derrick Goold’s article:

      stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/birdland…

      There are a bunch of players in limbo right now with regard to whether they’re getting a fourth option. Steve Adams is doing a separate post on that now. We’ll be updating our list with new info once MLB reaches decisions on players.

      8

      • Thank you. You’d think they’d figure it out. As mentioned, Barria having to make the Angels is a big deal. If the Angels could have used that spot to add a high quality set up pitcher, the outlook for the Angels pen would be much brighter.

        • What back pedal? Another attribute you lack, reading skills. By the way, they added him to the list. So who did the back pedal?

      • I’ve been under the assumption Barria is out of options al winter. Thanks for looking into it.

        Trading for Cobb made no sense with Barria out of options. Although we will need quite a few multiple inning appearances out of the bullpen and some swing starts, I wonder how successful Barria can be coming in and throwing slower than the starter he relieves. I like him better starting off the game than in that scenario.

        • Teams such as the Rays believe different velocities, angles, and styles make it more difficult on hitters. They like to give different views, making it more difficult for hitters to lock in on speed and release points. That can work to Barria’s advantage, if I understand what you’re asking.

          2

  6. Yankee omission? Albert Abreu is out of options (sources fangraphs roster resource and cots baseball contracts)

    3

    • Albert Abreu may be eligible for 4th option (one option remaining) if the 2020 season is not counted as “full season”.
      Please see this article…
      baseballtransactionology.blogspot.com/2021/02/play…

  7. Is this a confirmed list? I know there was some uncertainty regarding Aquino and De Leon for the Reds.

    1

    • It is a confirmed list, but we may be able to check into a few guys. I’d assume the players mentioned in the comments here do have an option.

      • is there set criteria for who gets a 4th year option? I know it relates to injury, but how can you tell who has one without them actually having been sent down in a 4th year.

      • Reading up on Aquino, the Reds are still trying for a fourth option year and basing it off of last year, when there was no MiLB season.

        • i also heard something on 101espn (the local sports station in stl) that the cards could “buy” an option year for justin willams. i didn’t catch the whole thing i was getting out of my car when it was “getting good”. from what i caught on the radio is since justin only played 1 game for the rays then traded stl can pay the rays for his time up and get the option and justin still keeps his service time. also i could of misheard what i was listening to i got out of me car mid segment

  8. Tim – Does this mean that Mets fans can conclude that Franklyn Kilome was granted the discretionary “extra” option year due to his injury history? It’s been speculated upon but could never find confirmation from a reputable source prior to this article. Thanks.

  9. @ Tim Dierkes, not sure but shouldn’t Albert Abreu be on the Yankees list?

    2

  11. “Out Of Options 2021” is the working title for the Pirates’ marketing campaign.

    10

    • Do they just cross out the last digit or two every year and write in the new year, just to save on paper and ink?

      3

      • naw they just put up ???? marks saves on paper, ink, and more importantly manpower to rewrite the sign unless you get interns to do it. (btw feel for pit fans it has to be a drag having the senators owner wear a mask and be pit’s owner)

  12. Is it sad that I looked through this list looking for relief pitching or a shortstop for the Reds?

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      • Someone please inform Nick Krall that he is also now out of options.

        2

    • Not really. I always check this list looking for guys that could fit needs for the Braves and was hoping to come across some possible bullpen help. I think the bullpen help we can look forward to is the rangers claiming Luke Jackson.

    • Prediction: Robert Stephenson will hit waivers and get claimed by the Reds

    • May I interest you in a slightly used Jorge Mateo? Runs really fast, probably can’t hit but you never know…

      In all honesty though SD does have relievers they won’t be able to carry on the 26 man so i think they could be a solid trading partner. It would make sense for them to offload some excess out of option relievers for lotto ticket prospects.

      2

      • This will probably happen, unless you think you can sneak a Taylor Williams-type through Waivers. Also: wrong Javy Guerra linked in the Pads. No big deal, just FYI to anyone paying that close attention.

  13. For the pirates, all but maybe Fulmer will likely make the opening day roster.. Alford’s health might still be an issue then and be on the DL(?)

    of course who knows what happens between now and then lol

    • Fulmer will probably let wear more uniforms than Mike Morgan before he’s out of the league. Maybe will set a record for fastest to do it too.

  14. Simple solution. Carry these types of players as your “taxi squad” and if used – not subject to normal “waiver rules”…

    Done

  15. I can’t remember how the waiver wire works.
    I’m assuming pittsburgh has the first option but I don’t know if pittsburgh has the first option on every player that gets optioned.
    If so pittsburgh could redo their entire roster.
    If anyone could refresh me on the waiver wire process I would appreciate it.

  16. Luke Jackson won’t be a Brave by the beginning… Mark my words…

    1

    • I think Luke has gotten a bad wrap at times with the fans and really has not been as bad as we like to project, but I’m hoping you’re right. Too many young guys with better up side that could use that spot.

      1

      • I agree, especially with 2019 Luke. But he was truly bad in 2020 and his time is up. It would be much better if we could luck out and trade him for cash to say, the Orioles. He’s young enough for a rebuilding team to take a chance on him, but a vet enough to help out.

        1

    • IMO it doesn’t really matter who pitches in garbage innings. They need probably two guys down there that can take a beating. Tomlin is best at this skill but maybe Jackson will show some things in Spring. You don’t want to have to spend your top relievers when you’re down by 3-4+ runs

  17. Cubs are keeping Alec Mills on the 40 man roster. Same with Duane Underwood Jr.

      • Well neveemind. If it was me. I would’ve DFA’d Davies or Kinbrel.

        • You want to pay Davies and Kimbrel to do well with other teams? And keep a career minor leaguer? Underwood was drafted in 2012. Both of the players you want to cut have a total of around 22 million owed to them this season that the Cubs would have to pay while watching them play elsewhere. Underwood is underwhelming. Mills on the other hand is a decent number 5. A man that threw a no hitter in 2020. He’s a lock for the rotation. A rotation that for most teams will have a sixth starter or swing man making starts to save pitchers coming off a short season. Davies was sent to Chicago as a salary off set for San Diego taking the Darvish contract. He’s another decent back of the rotation man. Being a Cubs fan you should know it doesn’t take a 98 mph heater to be a quality starter. I’d say Davies should be a decent rotation filler.
          Cubs have the very best soft tosser in baseball at the top of the rotation. Why hate on Davies? Kimbrel I understand however like Heyward, it’s an unmovable contract until July or August and only if he’s pitching well.

  18. What about White Sox Reynaldo Lopez? I would think he should be on the list.

    • He has started 2020 season with one option remained, and he has been optioned for total of 8 days, less than 20 days in 2020 season.
      His option was not used in 2020 and he has still one option remaining.

  19. This article gives me very few options to slam Al Avila. The writer should consider his readers before making final copy. Disappointing.

    2

      • I’m referring to all the messages that have been deleted and the closed comments sections on many posts. Seriously, pay attention.

        1

        • You seem to have a very odd and incorrect understanding of the term freedom of speech

        • It was easier to say ‘freedom of speech’ rather than ‘I am disappointed in the bias shown by this website/app which I enjoy yet I can’t share all my opinions or find my opinions removed, while other opinions are allowed.’ Happy?

      • How am I a troll? I was making a lame joke referring to the topic at hand. Did I say anything negative to anyone? Did I say something hateful to one the users just to get a reaction? Did I harass anyone? If I’m a troll then anyone that has ever said a stupid joke on this site is too. You may want to check your definition of a troll buddy.

    • Depends on his vitamin dosage this year. If his injections increase, definitely thinner.

  23. Abraham Almonte continues to convince teams to keep him on their 40-man roster.

    He seems to possess a very rare skill: He can move, catch, and hit a baseball.

    1

    • “He can move, catch, and hit a baseball”

      Can he really though?

      I understand it’s alleged, but can’t say I’ve ever really seen it myself

      • I watched him very closely for about a year; it’s still “alleged.”

        1

  25. Maybe one day Barreto will get an opportunity and do something with it. Too good for AAA and no room for every day at bats.

  26. Meibrys Viloria is out of options for the Royals. Cam Gallagher has been reported as out of options by beat writers Jeffrey Flanagan and Anne Rogers, but I count him being optioned down just once, and Roster Resource has him with an option remaining, so idk.

  27. The Yankees are in a good spot with this list. If Tauchman or Cessa don’t make the team, they can at least trade them for lottery ticket prospects.

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