Headlines

  • Aaron Judge Will Not Require Elbow Surgery; Rodón, Volpe Expected To Start 2026 On IL
  • Anthony Volpe Undergoes Shoulder Surgery
  • Alex Bregman Will Opt Out Of Red Sox Contract
  • Mike Shildt Steps Down As Padres Manager
  • Tigers Extended Manager A.J. Hinch Earlier This Season
  • Munetaka Murakami To Be Posted This Offseason
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Athletics
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2026-27 MLB Free Agent List
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2026
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Players Recently Electing Free Agency

By Anthony Franco | October 14, 2021 at 4:56pm CDT

We’ve seen dozens of players elect minor league free agency over the past couple weeks, and that has continued to be the case in recent days. We’ll round up a few more players who are hitting the open market here, courtesy of the Triple-A transactions trackers.

Players can qualify for minor league free agency in a few ways. The most notable of these include: players with 3+ years of MLB service time who have been outrighted off their teams’ 40-man rosters this season, players who have been outrighted off a 40-man roster multiple times in their careers, and unsigned players not on a 40-man roster who have spent parts of at least seven seasons on a minor league roster or injured list.

Each of this group of players has hit the market within the past week and not yet been covered at MLBTR:

  • Shawn Armstrong (Rays)
  • Jorge Bonifacio (Phillies)
  • Mike Freeman (Reds)
  • Edgar García (Twins)
  • Chi Chi González (Rockies)
  • Erik González (Pirates)
  • Brody Koerner (Yankees)
  • Brady Lail (Phillies)
  • Ryan LaMarre (Yankees)
  • Alex McRae (White Sox)
  • Keury Mella (Pirates)
  • Keynan Middleton (Mariners)
  • Tommy Milone (Reds)
  • Bryan Mitchell (Marlins)
  • José Mujica (Rockies)
  • Renato Núñez (Brewers)
  • JT Riddle (Twins)
  • Burch Smith (A’s)
  • Mike Tauchman (Giants)
  • Beau Taylor (Reds)
  • Mike Wright (White Sox)
  • Jimmy Yacabonis (Mariners)
Share Repost Send via email

Transactions Alex McRae Beau Taylor Brady Lail Brody Koerner Bryan Mitchell Burch Smith Chi Chi Gonzalez Edgar Garcia Erik Gonzalez J.T. Riddle Jimmy Yacabonis Jorge Bonifacio Jose Mujica Keury Mella Keynan Middleton Mike Freeman Mike Tauchman Mike Wright Renato Nunez Ryan LaMarre Shawn Armstrong Tommy Milone

Diamondbacks Claim Zack Burdi Off Waivers From Orioles
Main
Latest On Rockies’ Offseason Strategy
View Comments (21)
Post a Comment

21 Comments

  1. DarkSide830

    4 years ago

    just to clarify, last year did count as a year towards MiLB FA, right?

    2
    Reply
    • Anthony Franco

      4 years ago

      So, I haven’t seen any formal reporting about this for this year and beyond. But it did count for last season’s group of free agents, as J.J. Cooper at BA reported at the time (baseballamerica.com/stories/2020-milb-free-agents-…).

      I don’t see any reason why that wouldn’t be the case for all classes, since it really behooves no one to just skip an entire year of first-time minor league free agents this winter.

      1
      Reply
      • DarkSide830

        4 years ago

        that’s what I was imagining was the case, but just didn’t want to assume.

        1
        Reply
      • Fire Krall

        4 years ago

        could of put positions…

        Reply
    • sportsfan_1091

      4 years ago

      Yes last season was counted as a minor league season towards minor league free agency despite no season baseballamerica.com/stories/2020-milb-free-agents-…

      1
      Reply
    • schwender

      4 years ago

      JJ confirmed with me that it also counted as a year toward Rule 5 eligibility as well.

      Reply
      • Ron Tingley

        4 years ago

        Dodgers lost a pitcher, Brett De geus to the rule 5 this year. He was hurt after they drafted him 17 and missed the his first season, rehabbed through his second and managed to pitch the second half. Spent the third season in the bullpen and lost out on his fourth season due to covid. So the Dodgers only got to see 1 1/2 season of development. That lost milb season meant a lot of players who never should of got the call, well did, and guys like De geus don’t really get the proper season to get a look. He pitched 47 innings on two teams this year, with an 7.57 Era

        Reply
  2. Peart of the game

    4 years ago

    Looks like a better set of names are available

    Reply
  3. harbinger58

    4 years ago

    There is not one player there I’d want on my team……and my team is one of the worst in baseball. All AAAA players.

    1
    Reply
    • Michael Chaney

      4 years ago

      I’d take a shot with Armstrong or Tauchmann on a minor league deal. But the point is that these guys are minor league free agents for a reason.

      1
      Reply
      • mlb1225

        4 years ago

        I’d also take a shot at Renato Nunez. Provided some pop for the Orioles in 2019-2020. I’m shocked he didn’t get a shot in 2021 by no team.

        Reply
    • kingbum

      4 years ago

      I seen Armstrong pitch, if I was Boston I’d sign him and release Austin Davis….

      Reply
  4. stevewpants

    4 years ago

    Nunez might still figure it out, if I was running a rebuilding team I’d be fine letting him get some regular DH atbats to see if he could be a late bloomer. He is young enough and his 2019-2020 numbers aren’t terrible.

    Reply
  5. I'm Tellez'in you its gonna get Rowdy

    4 years ago

    Not the Bonus Yac!

    Reply
  6. schwender

    4 years ago

    Is there a difference between the players becoming free agents in early October vs the bigger group that elects free agency in early November?

    Reply
    • Michael Chaney

      4 years ago

      The ones in November are major league free agents, and had 6-7+ years of major league service time. These players are minor league free agents, and most of them either had enough service time and didn’t end the year on a 40-man roster, or they were recently outrighted off a team’s 40-man roster.

      Reply
  7. Dumpster Divin Theo

    4 years ago

    Time to dumpster dive

    Reply
  8. GarryHarris

    4 years ago

    None of ’em!

    Reply
  9. Backup Catcher to the Backup Catcher

    4 years ago

    Chi Chi Gonzalez could be interesting. No doubt his numbers suffered from pitching at Coors. A team could do worse than having him as a #5 starter.

    Reply
  10. jim stem

    4 years ago

    If Key Middleton could ever stay health, he’s closer material.

    2
    Reply
  11. Orioles Fan

    4 years ago

    The Orioles should give Chi a shot.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Aaron Judge Will Not Require Elbow Surgery; Rodón, Volpe Expected To Start 2026 On IL

    Anthony Volpe Undergoes Shoulder Surgery

    Alex Bregman Will Opt Out Of Red Sox Contract

    Mike Shildt Steps Down As Padres Manager

    Tigers Extended Manager A.J. Hinch Earlier This Season

    Munetaka Murakami To Be Posted This Offseason

    Cody Bellinger To Opt Out Of Contract With Yankees

    Angels, Albert Pujols Discussing Managerial Deal

    Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2026

    Rangers Hire Skip Schumaker As Manager

    Albert Pujols To Interview For Angels’ Managerial Vacancy, May Be “Leading Choice”

    Bill Schmidt Will Not Return As Rockies’ GM

    Brian Snitker Will Not Return As Braves’ Manager In 2026

    Angels To Have New Manager In 2026

    Rays Sale To Patrick Zalupski’s Group Officially Completed

    Guardians Promote Chase DeLauter For Wild Card Series

    Bruce Bochy Will Not Return As Rangers Manager Amid Financial Uncertainty

    Liam Hendriks Undergoes Ulnar Nerve Transposition Surgery

    Twins Fire Rocco Baldelli

    Giants Fire Bob Melvin

    Recent

    Aaron Judge Will Not Require Elbow Surgery; Rodón, Volpe Expected To Start 2026 On IL

    Cubs Notes: Tucker, Imanaga, Horton, Coaching Staff

    The Opener: ALCS, NLCS, Waiver Wire

    A.J. Preller Discusses Padres’ Rotation

    Latest On Mike Shildt’s Resignation As Padres Manager

    Diamondbacks Hire J.R. House As Third Base Coach

    Albert Pujols Expected To Interview For Orioles’ Managerial Opening

    Rocco Baldelli Interested In Managing Again

    Devin Williams: Open To Reunion With Yankees

    Nine Players Elect Free Agency

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Every MLB Trade In July
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android App Store Google Play

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Tim Dierkes' MLB Mailbag
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2026-27 MLB Free Agent List
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2026
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version