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
- Jo Adell, OF
- Vaughn Grissom, IF
- Oswald Peraza, IF
- Chase Silseth, SP/RP
Astros
- Nick Allen, IF
- Roddery Muñoz, RP
- Isaac Paredes, IF
- Nate Pearson, SP/RP
- César Salazar, C
Athletics
- Andy Ibáñez, IF
- Luis Medina, SP/RP
Blue Jays
- Ernie Clement, IF
- Tyler Heineman, C
- Leo Jiménez, IF
- Tommy Nance, RP
- Jesús Sánchez, OF
Braves
- Bryce Elder, SP
- Ian Hamilton, RP
- Grant Holmes, SP
- Joel Payamps, RP
- José Suarez, SP/RP
- Joey Wentz, SP/RP
- Eli White, OF
- Brett Wisely, IF/OF
- Danny Young, RP
Brewers
- Rob Zastryzny, RP
Cardinals
- Justin Bruihl, RP
- José Fermín, IF/OF
- Iván Herrera, C
- Riley O’Brien, RP
- George Soriano, RP
Cubs
- Miguel Amaya, C
- Tyler Austin, 1B
- Edward Cabrera, SP
- Justin Steele, SP
Diamondbacks
- Jorge Barrosa, OF
- Pavin Smith, 1B/OF
Dodgers
- Brock Stewart, RP
Giants
- José Buttó, RP
- Jerar Encarnación, 1B/OF
- Matt Gage, RP
- Sam Hentges, RP
- Luis Matos, OF
- Heliot Ramos, OF
- Randy Rodríguez, RP
Guardians
- Gabriel Arias, IF
- Connor Brogdon, RP
- Joey Cantillo, SP/RP
- Matt Festa, RP
- Nolan Jones, OF
- Brayan Rocchio, IF
Mariners
- Eduard Bazardo, RP
- Cooper Criswell, RP
- Casey Legumina, RP
- Miles Mastrobuoni, IF/OF
- Luke Raley, 1B/OF
- Gabe Speier, RP
- Carlos Vargas, RP
Marlins
- Ronny Henriquez, RP
- Janson Junk, SP/RP
- Otto López, IF
- Christopher Morel, IF
- Tyler Phillips, RP
Mets
- Vidal Bruján, IF/OF
- Bryan Hudson, RP
- Ben Rortvedt, C
- Mark Vientos, IF
Nationals
- Luis García Jr., IF
- Richard Lovelady, RP
- Keibert Ruiz, C
- José Tena, IF
Orioles
- Blaze Alexander, IF
- Dietrich Enns, RP
- Rico Garcia, RP
- Jackson Kowar, RP
- Bryan Ramos, IF
- Colin Selby, RP
- Leody Taveras, OF
Padres
- Luis Campusano, C
- Bryce Johnson, OF
- Ron Marinaccio, RP
- Randy Vásquez, SP
- Matt Waldron, SP
Phillies
- Jonathan Bowlan, RP
- Rafael Marchán, C
- Zach Pop, RP
- Cristopher Sánchez, SP
- Garrett Stubbs, C
Pirates
- Joey Bart, C
- Oneil Cruz, OF
- Justin Lawrence, RP
- Yohan Ramírez, RP
Rangers
- Cole Winn, RP
Rays
- Jonathan Aranda, 1B
- Bryan Baker, RP
- Garrett Cleavinger, RP
- Yoendrys Gómez, SP/RP
- Manuel Rodríguez, RP
- Cole Sulser, RP
- Edwin Uceta, RP
- Ryan Vilade, IF/OF
Red Sox
- Jovani Morán, RP
Reds
- Sam Moll, RP
- Tony Santillan, RP
Rockies
- Jimmy Herget, SP/RP
- Edouard Julien, IF
- Jake McCarthy, OF
- Mickey Moniak, OF
- Keegan Thompson, SP/RP
Royals
- Bailey Falter, SP/RP
- Alex Lange, RP
- Nick Mears, RP
- Drew Waters, OF
Tigers
- Drew Anderson, SP/RP
- Jahmai Jones, IF/OF
- Zach McKinstry, IF/OF
Twins
- Anthony Banda, RP
- Kody Clemens, IF/OF
- Alex Jackson, C
- James Outman, OF
- Simeon Woods Richardson, SP
White Sox
- Luisangel Acuña, IF/OF
- Derek Hill, OF
- Anthony Kay, SP
- Korey Lee, C
- Curtis Mead, IF
- Everson Pereira, OF
- Lenyn Sosa, IF
- Miguel Vargas, IF
Yankees
- Osvaldo Bido, SP/RP
- Jorbit Vivas, IF
Photo courtesy of Brad Mills, Imagn Images
Profar sounds like he is out of options too.
@zac. Braves probably dont care they only have to pay him next year, and he will probably have a good year all juiced up.
There won’t be baseball next year my friend.
There will be a full season of baseball.
@Zac. Alright nostradamus.
Can you please say that again.
Obviously I hope I’m wrong. I’m pretty sure I’m not though. All signs pointing that way unless there is some major give from both sides. Maybe something will change without T.Clark being involved but I doubt it given his replacement.
@zac. The owners will fold they won’t lose out on revenue. Will it probably go towards the last week of spring training probably. It’s just going to affect free agency and teams might not fire coaches and gm’s.
The owners will absolutely not open the books which is a requirement for a cap and floor setup. Everything else is just posturing.
I think you meant imposturing
Bold of you to assume either side wants that.
There will be baseball next year.
How dare you use this as a platform for “logic”? 🙂
It wouldn’t be so much required. They would need to report the active rosters, probably 40man. they need the salaries and contracts of those players. Much of which is mostly known.
MLB and MLBPA also already has a lot of that information to monitor revenue sharing, luxury tax and such. Caps/Floor would “just” make the Tax and Revenue sharing hard rather than soft penalties if they want to do it with out other considerations like individual salaries.
Would love for Pirates to get Vientos if available
This would be ideal. Sounds, though, like the Mets are looking to him as their DH. Would love to trade them a reliever for him.
Vientos is a very poor 3B. I suppose they could use him as their primary DH but he’s only about league average hitter, apart from that one great year in 2024.
Kinda hard to gauge him when he’s got 2.5 seasons and a cup of coffee. Could he be the 2024 version or could he be the 2025 version? His minor league stats suggest the power is real, but the majors are a different beast than the minors.
As a Mets fan, I’d be comfortable trading him for a decent arm with potential, possibly a young seventh-inning reliever.
Seems like steady pop 25 HR poor 3B can play 1B.
I think they keep trying with Vientos, though this year is sink-or-swim. He’s still young and hitters often take a couple years before it all really clicks for them. He has the raw talent.
Very small sample size, but he needs work at 1B. The one time I saw him play it last season Pete Alonso was brought in as a defensive replacement if you can imagine that. In fairness to Pete, his defense is overly maligned. Yes, his range isn’t good but he can scoop bad throws out of the dirt as well as anyone.
Jack Suwinski is also out of options
I believe he passed through waivers and was already outrighted.
You believe wrong!! The Dodgers claimed him.
Yes they did claim him, then they outrighted him. He’s in camp as a Non-Roster Invitee now. His lack of options no longer matters.
Vaughn Grissom? *snicker*
Grissom is the epitome of “looks like Tarzan, hits like Jane”.
Tall. Athletic. Handsome.
Can’t hit a lick.
@johnnyangel. What’s the comparison for peraza. Grissom will probably make the team. I think they keep Frazier and DFA peraza.
I agree 100%.
Frazier can actually hit RHP and play the OF.
It’ll come down to who Suzuki likes as a backup IF – Grissom or Peraza. Neither is inspiring, but if they can field well, they can be useful.
And despite Grissom’s struggles, he actually HAS hit as some point as a big leaguer. Which, as you say, means he makes the team.
@Johnnyangel. I think they keep siri, grissom, Frazier, canderlario. Sending moore to the minors. Hopefully everyone has a quick hook even soler. If you’re going 1 for 40 goodbye. All of those guys have hit at some point.
Don’t you have Profar to worry about? Maybe Sale will have another back spasm, also.
Acuna would be a great get if the White Sox DFA him. Teams can always use a switch hitter.
They just got him!
What makes you think Acuna is a switcher?
SandlotBenchWarmer:
1 false claim that Suwinski passed waivers unclaimed and was outrighted = maybe an honest mistake but..
2. Concurrent False claim that Luisangel Acuna is a switch-hitter = you’re deliberately spreading false information
My question is: BUT WHY SIR?
The Dodgers did have Suwinski pass through waivers unclaimed and he has been outrighted to their AAA affiliate, as can be seen on his MLB page.
And if Luisangel Acuna isn’t a switch hitter, the White Sox are in for a big surprise since their GM seems to think he is.
You got a few to bite and you didn’t even try that hard lol.
My team (Twins) will be watching this closely. There’s a lot of RP’s that aren’t any worse than the back half of their BP right now
You could have a chance to get Roddery Munoz.
*Miguel* Amaya on the Cubs is out of options; Jacob Amaya plays for the other Chicago team now.
Jacob Webb is out of options and has not yet qualified for Article XX-B free agency; I presume he’s not listed because he has 5 years of major league service and could refuse optional assignment anyway.
I like Jorbit Vivas. He seemed like he would be a big on base guy when he was with LA. Change of scenery?
I don’t mind the Yanks letting him go. I just don’t see a place on the team for him.
I thought Alexander was out of options?
Interesting bit of trivia, take from it what you will.
At least 19 of these players were ex Dodgers
I also got 19 without looking anything up
I don’t know if that’s a lot or not.
Someone else should check other teams
And only one on the Dodgers themselves. Dodgers have enough veterans that they can’t clog up the lineup with out-of-options prospects. Up or Out.
Raley, Speier, and Bazardo are safe from the roster crunch in Seattle. When they’re healthy/on they’ve been real good. Playoff shenanigans aside Speier and Bazardo have established themselves as solid high leverage arms next to Munoz and Brash. Raley is usually a good power hitter, he’s also 1B/CF capable in case Julio and Naylor get a little too banged up.
Vargas and Criswell are on thin ice but will likely stay because they’re functional pitching depth sometimes. Criswell is at least a new-to-them arm so maybe he sticks for a little bit so they can see what they have in him. Worst case is they’re mop-up arms.
I think Legumina and Mastrobuoni are not making the final cut. Mastrobuoni is buried by a ton of left handed hitting infielders plus the switch hitting Rivas, though I’ll be lowkey bummed when he goes because he’s a pesky hitter who can play all over the field. Legumina has been well below replacement level for a while, I wouldn’t trust him to have it even in garbage time situations.
Overall the Mariners are in a good position, even most of their fringe players are decent enough to gut through some games for them in the long season.
Leo Rivas has an option whereas MM does not. MM also covers a gap at 3B in a way Rivas does not. I think MM makes more sense for the active roster on opening day.
Too many lefties. Rivas can bat right handed.
Campusano has turned into a huge disappointment
For better or for worse he’s gonna get a long look until midseason. Padres catching depth is pretty bad.
I’m surprised Justin Steele and Miguel Amaya are on this list. I didn’t know other than a rehab assignment that they were ever send back to the minors
I love that Rob Zastryzny was on the 2016 Cubs, but still doesn’t have 5 years of service 10 years later.