60 Man Roster Pool

I think a lot of folks are reading way too much into guys who aren't there. And it was reported they just have to rework Lucroy's contract. He'll be added.

There are 12 spots left (once Lucroy gets added). It seems fairly obvious that Houck and Duran will get added, but it seems the plan is to get the 48 guys in they want to look at for the roster (plus have enough catchers), then they might evaluate what other areas they need to bolster. In order to remove a player from the 60-man roster, you basically need to waive him, so being deliberate with what guys they add is important. Frankly, I'm surprised some teams already named their 60 today.

I think not being on this initial roster matters much more for guys like De La Guerra, Longhi, and Kickham than it does for guys like Houck, Mata, and Duran.

I wonder if they'd burn a spot on Feltman to maybe get him in with some different coaching and only work outs, or if they think he'd be better served by a season off?

Hard to see how a guy like Gonzalez, who's been trending down with a bullet, gets to play DH somewhere. I mean the position is all about hitting, right? But with a 60 man roster he might find a gig, and he is someone who could be jettisoned when no longer needed I suppose.

Mariners also released Wei-Yin Chen

Was just discussing the draft pick thing with Ian. I don't think they'll do it - the draft picks to be added so far were all Top 10 guys. I'd put Yorke and Jordan behind Casas, Downs, Mata, Groome, Duran, Houck, Ward, and Jimenez at least. That's 8 of the remaining 12 spots right there. So the question becomes how many more MLB guys do you need in those 4 spots, and who are the next priority guys? Would they take Lugo before Yorke and Jordan? What about the Lowell rotation guys (Zeferjahn, Ramirez, Murphy)?

FWIW, Hassell got added in San Diego. But I don't disagree with your point.

Also, I forgot about Aybar and Wilson, who are presumably getting added. So there go two more spots.

I believe that Longhi, De La Guerra, and Kickham were the NRIs who were still in camp but are not on this list. Everyone else had been sent down. I could have missed someone. I think that CDLG probably got bumped out by Munoz, who hadn't reported yet I don't think when things got shut down. Adding Puello and Pillar is probably what changed Longhi's situation. Not sure of the deal with Kickham - McHugh being close to healthy?

I think Wilson and Aybar do have to be added. Although the initial report was that teams didn't need to include 40-man guys (although they'd still be paid), the language on MLB's website now essentially says "the 40-man roster plus 20 other guys." This would square with the fact Ian uncovered that to remove a guy from the 60 you need to basically DFA him.

Figuring that means there are 10 spots left and that 7 are going to the guys you list, I could see why they want to see what they need to buttress on the MLB roster still, as that could determine whether they bring in Longhi, CDLG, or Kickham, or perhaps go with other prospects like Jimenez, Lugo, any of the other various Lowell guys in our top 20 (Zeferjahn, Ramirez, Murphy, Decker, Cannon). The more I look at it, the more I think they may not bring in those guys, but it'll depend on things like health as well.

Taking 2 first, why is that a bad thing? It's not like they're going to be forced to trade someone if they don't want to, right? And if anything, wouldn't you want the players you might trade to be eligible to be traded?

As for 1, the thinking would be that in a 60-game season, you don't necessarily need 60 guys, or at least that of you do you can remove players from the roster, and this is an opportunity to bring in priority prospects for instruction when otherwise the team isn't working with them directly. It's not clear when they're going to hold anything for minor leaguers specifically, so you bring these guys in to work with them.

I guess i can see this both ways
1- do you want your top prospects going a year without playing? i think this could be solved at the spring training facility
2- if this is about prospect development first, it is not about potentially making the play offs (which is what i think we should major on).
3-If this is about making the playoffs those younger prospects should not be considered. Guys who can help them win now should.

We have no idea what teams are going to do for the vast majority of their minor leaguers. If teams do have something at the facilities at some point (which, keep in mind, are in Florida and Arizona, which are both worse in terms of Covid-19 now than they've been at any other point in time), we're not sure when it is or what form it will take. There might be some kind of expanded instructional league at some point, but in the meantime, it makes sense to get priority guys in now and use them.

I think you might be overestimating the number of players they are going to need. Last year, over 162 games, the Red Sox used 21 position players and 26 pitchers. Yes, there will probably be more injuries and more roster churn this year, but it's also 37% the size of last year.

I don't think it's "use the 60 spots for guys to help the MLB team" or "prioritize prospect development first." You can work towards both goals. I don't think they're going to use 60 major league players this year.

He wouldn't count toward the CBT unless he was added to the 40-man roster. That they didn't add him to the 60-man roster really says it all. He's going to hit free agency this offseason and he's gone.

Those are distinct cases. Pedroia is due his money and it will count against the cap. Castillo was DFAd and there were no takers. He came back off the books. His salary isn't part of the cap calculations. The caveat is that I have not read through the agreement for this shortened season. There may be some contingencies in there I'm unaware of.