Every spring at MLBTR, we publish a list of players who are out of minor league options and cannot be sent to the minor leagues without first clearing outright waivers. Option status is particularly relevant as teams set their rosters prior to Opening Day. A lack of minor league options is often a key reason a certain player will make the roster over another who had a superior spring performance, and it’s a frequent factor in March trades.
The following is a list of all 40-man players throughout the league with fewer than five years of service time — players with more than five years of service can refuse an optional assignment — and no minor league options remaining. We’ve included players who have signed extensions or multi-year deals, even though they’re often less likely to be optioned.
Angels
- Jaime Barria, RHP
- Tucker Davidson, LHP
- Brett Phillips, OF
- Jose Quijada, LHP
- Luis Rengifo, INF
- Jose Suarez, LHP
- Matt Thaiss, C/1B
Astros
- Mauricio Dubon, INF/OF
Athletics
- Domingo Acevedo, RHP
- Paul Blackburn, RHP
- Cristian Pache, OF
- Drew Rucinski, RHP
Blue Jays
- Trevor Richards, RHP
- Mitch White, RHP
Braves
- Sam Hilliard, OF
- Lucas Luetge, LHP
- Tyler Matzek, LHP
- Jackson Stephens, RHP
- Michael Tonkin, RHP
Brewers
- Matt Bush, RHP
- Javy Guerra, RHP
- Keston Hiura, 1B/2B
- Adrian Houser, RHP
- Joel Payamps, RHP
- Tyrone Taylor, OF
- Rowdy Tellez, 1B
- Bryse Wilson, RHP
Cardinals
- Drew VerHagen, RHP
Cubs
- Adbert Alzolay, RHP
- Zach McKinstry, INF/OF
- Julian Merryweather, RHP
- Justin Steele, LHP
Diamondbacks
- Lourdes Gurriel Jr., OF
- Christian Walker, 1B
Dodgers
- Yency Almonte, RHP
- Phil Bickford, RHP
- Evan Phillips, RHP
- Trayce Thompson, OF
Giants
- Thairo Estrada, 2B/SS/OF
- LaMonte Wade Jr., 1B/OF
Guardians
- Enyel De Los Santos, RHP
- Sam Hentges, LHP
Mariners
- Chris Flexen, RHP
- Trevor Gott, RHP
- Paul Sewald, RHP
Marlins
- JT Chargois, RHP
- Steven Okert, LHP
- Jesus Sanchez, OF
- Jacob Stallings, C
Mets
- Tomas Nido, C
- Stephen Nogosek, RHP
- Brooks Raley, LHP
- Daniel Vogelbach, 1B
Nationals
- Tanner Rainey, RHP
- Keibert Ruiz, C
- Ildemaro Vargas, INF/OF
Orioles
- Jorge Mateo, SS
- Cionel Perez, LHP
- Ramon Urias, INF
- Austin Voth, RHP
Padres
- Nabil Crismatt, RHP
- Brent Honeywell Jr., RHP
- Nick Martinez, RHP
Phillies
- Edmundo Sosa, INF
- Ranger Suarez, LHP
- Andrew Vasquez, LHP
Pirates
- Chase De Jong, RHP
- Duane Underwood Jr., RHP
Rangers
- Josh Sborz, RHP
- Leody Taveras, OF
Rays
- Shawn Armstrong, RHP
- Christian Bethancourt, C/1B
- Garrett Cleavinger, LHP
- Isaac Paredes, INF
- Harold Ramirez, 1B/OF
- Luke Raley, 1B/OF
- Jose Siri, OF
Red Sox
- Christian Arroyo, 2B
- Yu Chang, INF
- Reese McGuire, C
- Nick Pivetta, RHP
- Rob Refsnyder, INF/OF
- Joely Rodriguez, LHP
Reds
- Ian Gibaut, RHP
- Lucas Sims, RHP
Rockies
- Yonathan Daza, OF
- Pierce Johnson, RHP
- Justin Lawrence, RHP
Royals
- None
Tigers
- Eric Haase, C/OF
Twins
- Nick Gordon, INF/OF
- Jorge Lopez, RHP
- Dennis Santana, RHP
White Sox
- Jose Ruiz, RHP
- Seby Zavala, C
Yankees
- Albert Abreu, RHP
- Jimmy Cordero, RHP
- Estevan Florial, OF
- Domingo German, RHP
- Clay Holmes, RHP
- Kyle Higashioka, C
Bush and Luetge seem too good to be out of options.
Huh? What does being out of options have to do with being good? It’s irrelevant if they’ve made their teams.
In general, good players w/ less than 5 years of service time would still have options because they “stick” once they get to the majors and haven’t been shuttled up and down from AAA.
Specifically to this case though, I think Ranger isn’t factoring in that both Bush and Luetge are mid to late 30’s “winding path” types that used their options up a long time ago. The “being good” part for them came way, way after the “no more options” part.
Not really at all. Most very good players were very good prospects, and were promoted to the roster to avoid Rule 5 draft a year or two before they hit the bigs. That also eats up options. Especially Latin guys who turned pro very young.
Yes. The guy below sums it up better than I could. However, Bush was never really that bad (expect 2018 and the few games in 2019 he pitched once he made the big leagues) in my opinion. He was good and then bad and good again, so it wasn’t quite a matter of time as much as timing, I guess.
Thaiss is making a good case to open the year as the backup, but O’Hoppe is the future.
Davidson was horrible last year. So far looks ok in the Spring. I wouldn’t be surprised if the team kept him or if they tried to pass him through waivers.
Fangraphs says Jimmy Cordero has one more option.
Chaim Bloom will be dumpster diving all over this list.
Not if they don’t have the roster space.
I’m not sure what that means, other than an ill-thought-out insult. We have 6 guys out of options, and we are keeping at least five of them.
Anyone on the list that is any good is getting kept by their teams.
Agreed Joe. Assuming no injuries and 4 or 5 are locks. Refsnyder was a great find last year but there are other options in the OF. His lack of options likely will start on the MLB roster but a bad start could end him with him being replaced. Chang is simply injury depth.
What I meant is Bloom will be looking to pick up guys on other teams. Not an insult at all.
There will be surprises but per that list, the Sox seem to already have better options (unless Blake Sweihart is making a late comeback…).
The majority of guys listed that teams would b most interested in will b making their teams rosters.
Time for my yearly “out of options 2023” story of my life post! 3 years in a row!
DFA them all. They can go play abroad.
DFA Richards give Pop his spot I don’t care if he has options
Richards isn’t awful. The results were last year. But he could easily be an okay pen arm in the way he was in ‘21 or like Phelps was last year. The reason they maybe should have non tendered him or explored a trade is that he is out of options and the pen seems so rigid. They have a better version of him in Swanson and an optionable version of him if needed in Adrian Hernandez. The fact that Pop is squeezed out of the opening day roster is a pretty good thing. The relief depth looks really good to me.
Even though my O’s gave up on him, its good to see Christian Walker have some big time success.
I don’t see a lot of “on the bubble” players this year but to me the list looks like:
Matt Thaiss
Cristian Pache
Keston Hiura
Brent Honeywell
Luke Raley
Josh Sborz
Dennis Santana
Jimmy Cordero
Angels may carry Thaiss because they have a rookie penciled in as the starter.
Right now the position players on the roster looks like
O’Hoppe
Stassi
Walsh
Rengifo
Fletcher
Rendon
Drury
Urshela
Trout
Renfroe
Ward
Phillips
I guess that leaves one position spot available for Thaiss, Adell, Lamb, and Velasquez to battle for
From comments after todays game it looks like Phillips is the odd man out and the Angels will open the season with 3 catchers.
He isn’t hitting at all but they did sign him to a guaranteed deal. The Angels would be on the hook for just under $1 million if they release him and he signs elsewhere
I don’t really see the A’s DFAing Pache just yet. He hasn’t been good, but the Athletics have nothing to lose by giving him another shot this year.
I would maybe add Merryweather..I know he throws fire but the cubs pen is deep.
Looks like all the Angels out-of-options players will make the opening day roster.
A lot changes in 5 hours. Looks like the odd man out will be Phillips whose bat is just not coming around.
That Mitch White trade was ass.
From which team’s perspective?
The team that got Mitch White.
Meh. Had they played better the first part of the season and their farm system had produced more fruit, you could have argued for a more impactful move. Frasso is interesting, but the Jays got DeJesus in that deal as well. Mitch White was a decent backend starter with control. Being out of options and having an injury setback makes it hard to see him making many starts for them. Thompson more likely has the upper hand there as someone who can stay on starter routines in the minors. Unless they go ahead and IL White and then send him on rehab assignment. Build him into starter shape while seeing if Kikuchi can hold it down or if injuries arise.
Matt Bush is a piece of human garbage. All articles mentioning his name should have the comments closed if this site wishes to show consistency over virtue signaling since that is the approach for other pieces of human garbage.
You’re the only giving his name more air time.
A roster full of those guys is better than the Pirates and cheaper too.