With the regular season over, a series of players are closing in on free agency. The highest-profile will be available as major league free agents, those with six-plus years of MLB service time not under contract with a team. But there will be dozens of players in the coming weeks who qualify for minor league free agency and more quietly reach the open market as well.
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.
Many of these players won’t officially reach free agency until the start of the offseason, but some were let go by their teams a few weeks early once the regular season concluded. Each of the following players has elected minor league free agency within the past week, according to the MLB.com and Triple-A transactions trackers:
- R.J. Alaniz (Reds)
- Albert Almora Jr. (Mets)
- Travis Bergen (Blue Jays)
- Jesse Biddle (Braves)
- A.J. Cole (Blue Jays)
- Jairo Díaz (Rockies)
- Jerad Eickhoff (Mets)
- Michael Feliz (A’s)
- Trevor Gott (Giants)
- Dany Jiménez (Blue Jays)
- JaCoby Jones (Tigers)
- Ryan Lavarnway (Indians)
- Derek Law (Twins)
- Kyle Lobstein (Brewers)
- Luis Madero (Marlins)
- José Marmolejos (Mariners)
- Shawn Morimando (Marlins)
- Taylor Motter (Red Sox)
- Joe Panik (Marlins)
- Adam Plutko (Orioles)
- Austin Pruitt (Marlins)
- Nick Ramirez (Padres)
- Roel Ramírez (Mets)
- Austin Romine (Cubs)
- Adrián Sánchez (Nationals)
- Scott Schebler (Angels)
- Chance Sisco (Mets)
- Wilfredo Tovar (Mets)
- César Valdez (Orioles)
- Hyeon-jong Yang (Rangers)
So, takeaway is if you released almost the entire Arizona roster and signed these scrubs you probably add a good 10-15 wins at a cheaper overall price?
I had totally forgotten Jesse Biddle was even still in the Braves organization. Man… That guys career turned to crap really quick.
All the makings of a pretty good double-A team.
I’m surprised Luis Madero didn’t elect free agency earlier in the season when he kept on being flung from AAA, the MLB, and DFA limbo
At least then he knew the Marlins would probably bring him back up in a few days to add to his service time. Since that obviously can’t happen now, he might as well see what’s out there.
Jimenez deserves another look
Has the old rule that a team can’t re-sign a player it released after August 31 until May 1 still in effect? I know that was one of the reasons teams would run a player through outright waivers and outright players off the 40-man roster, knowing they would elect free agency and could be re-signed. Teams would also do this later in the fall to players they plan to non-tender as a way to clear the roster spot before rosters are fixed for the Rule 5 draft yet still be able to re-sign them.
Trevor gott no job. :(
Hey Anthony do you expect their to be a lot of minor league free agents this year ?
I’d expect there to be with a bunch of minor league teams contracted and players playing in alternative leagues.
And what about Japanese League free agents? Hoping the Hiroshima Carp have a big year
I’d love to catch one of those! Sounds big, and exotic.
This list makes me want to go #2.
An entire Orioles rotation is in there somewhere.
Chaim bloom will probably sign at least one or two before spring training.
That Sisco kid, he was a friend of mine!
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Biddle will be signed quickly. Hopefully, it’s the Braves. I still believe he can be a solid contributor.
Thankfully you’re not the GM
His numbers in AAA weren’t bad, so he wouldn’t be a bad player to bring back. You realize these guys are most likely going to be signed to minor league contracts, right?
As for me being the GM, I agree, I’d be a terrible
one.
I don’t know, guy like you seems to be able to handle the pressure.
Hopefully the Blue Jays re-sign Danny Jimenez. The second half of the season, he was lights out.
Not a single player in that list is anything more than AAA filler.
Pretty sad when that list of 30 people has Scott Schebler looking like an MVP among present company.
I hope the Tigers acquire Austin Romine and leave the rest alone.
A few of these guys will be in Oakland after they trade their stars.
Austin Romine would be a great backup to return to NY but this time to queens.
Would like to see the Braves swipe up Sisco on a minor league deal. Guys who have that kind of prospect pedigree at a position that doesn’t require “greatest” to be a major league starter, is always welcomed in a farm system in my books.
I was a bit restless last night with sleep not coming easy. Then I remembered to come look at this list, and sure enough, I dozed off before I reached Jairo Díaz.
T or F: Jumbo Jairo Diaz is the best name for a scrubby RP ever
Looks like it could be the roster for the 62 Mets
If these guys end up like Roger Craig, Don Zimmer, Gil Hodges, Frank Thomas without nugenix, and Richie Ashburn Managed by Casey Stingel.. then ok
Jacoby Jones elected free agency? That’s bold, given his production at AAA Toledo following his demotion.
Introspection isn’t easy sometimes…
I hope Jacoby Jones signs and has a big year. Always hoped he could turn into something big.