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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)
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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

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View Comments (21)
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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

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