Atlanta Braves 40 Man Roster Shuffle Continues
By Fred Owens
Yesterday’s official signing of A.J. Pierzynski, Jason Grilli, and surprise LOOGY Josh Outman was followed quickly by news that Tyler Pastornicky had been designated for assignment to make room on the roster. The Braves new dance is the roster shuffle and much like musical chairs, when major league level signings are announced the DFA Brothers starting singing and players start circling the 40 slots hoping to grab one when the music stops.
Doing The Roster Shuffle
The roster shuffle isn’t a new dance, all teams do it every off season. Soon after John Hart took over his roster shuffle just before the winter meetings and in advance of the rule 5 draft sent the message that things were changing. That shuffle confused some fans and upset others when J.R. Graham and Cody Martin were removed from the roster and left unprotected in the draft.
At that time Ryan asked the question that I heard echoed today; why were Jose Constanza and other low level prospects kept on the roster and players like Martin then and Pastornicky – with seemingly more upside – removed?”
More from Braves News
- Atlanta Braves 2012 Prospect Review: Joey Terdoslavich
- Braves News: Braves sign Fuentes, Andruw’s HOF candidacy, more
- The Weakest Braves Homers Since 2015
- Atlanta Braves Sign Joshua Fuentes to Minor League Deal
- Braves News: New Year’s Eve comes with several questions about the 2023 Braves
While the Martin and Graham moves were unexpected today’s DFA of Pastornicky caught the attention of those who may have missed the earlier moves simply because Rev had become a fan favorite because he’s a likable guy. He wasn’t an everyday player however; his bat which was thought to be his strong point never arrived and after injuring his knee in a collision with Jason Heyward he wasn’t a base stealing threat either. So seeing him DFA today to make room for Outman wasn’t exactly a shock.
That still doesn’t explain why a 31 year old journeyman outfielder and AAAA player like Constanza is still there. My best guess is that he’s a pretty good clubhouse guy to have around young developing players. He knows what he is and what he can do, accepts his place in the organization and is glad for any chance to help the big team. He can tutor the young players and help them through the rough patches with an arm on their shoulder and a smile on his face. All those things are needed on minor league rosters so why not keep a guy like that? Because he’s in the way that’s why.
In the near future Dian Toscano will receive his work visa and Hart may actually sign or acquire that starter he says he wants so badly. Both of those things will start the roster shuffle and result in saying goodbye someone; but who? As a start let’s look at the roster as it is right now, 8:30 PM EST 1/7/2015.
Options
| Pitchers | |
| Luis Avilan | No |
| Jason Grilli | No |
| David Hale | No |
| Juan Jaime | No |
| Jim Johnson | No |
| Craig Kimbrel | No |
| Shelby Miller | No |
| Mike Minor | No |
| Josh Outman | No |
| James Russell | No |
| Julio Teheran | No |
| Arodys Vizcaino | No |
| Alex Wood | No |
| Manny Banuelos | Yes |
| Mauricio Cabrera | Yes |
| Brandon Cunniff | Yes |
| Yean Carlos Gil | Yes |
| Tyrell Jenkins | Yes |
| Williams Perez | Yes |
| Shae Simmons | Yes |
| Ian Thomas | Yes |
| Daniel Winkler | Yes** |
| Catchers | |
| A.J. Pierzynski | No |
| Christian Bethancourt | Yes |
| Evan Gattis | Yes |
| Infielders | |
| Alberto Callaspo | No |
| Freddie Freeman | No |
| Chris Johnson | No |
| Andrelton Simmons | No |
| Philip Gosselin | Yes |
| Kyle Kubitza | Yes |
| Jose Peraza | Yes |
| Jace Peterson | Yes |
| Elmer Reyes | Yes |
| Outfielders | |
| Zoilo Almonte | No |
| Jose Constanza | No |
| B.J. Upton | No |
| Nick Markakis | No |
| Todd Cunningham | Yes |
| Joey Terdoslavich | Yes |
Waivers and DFAs
(If you understand this stuff skip this paragraph.)
I was asked today about players with options so to the right of the name I’ve indicated which players I believe have options remaining. We’ve explained options before but to review quickly, when a a player is placed on a team’s 40-man roster, a team has three option years on that player. If that player spends at least 20 days in the minor during any of those years one of those options is used.
There is a way to get a fourth option year if he has less than five full seasons as a pro and has not spent 90 days on an active roster during one of those years or has not spent 60 days active and 30 on the DL during a season. Once the options are used a player has to pass through waivers to be sent down.
Essentially then the players with options could be moved down to the minor leagues to make room for another player on that 40 man to move up. If a team removes a player from the 40 man roster – like Pastornicky today and Anthony Varvaro a couple of weeks ago – he is designated for assignment. The team has 10 days to trade the player as they did with Varvaro, release the player or try to pass the player through waivers and assign him to a minor league team.
One player on the list (Dan Winkler) has options remaining but as a rule 5 draftee must remain on the team’s 25 man (active) roster all season and may not be optioned to the minors. Winkler is however rehabbing from TJ surgery in August and won’t pitch this season. The Braves will place him on the 60 day disabled list at the start of spring training and will be able to fill his spot on the 25 and 40 man rosters. Winkler returns to the 25 man roster in 2106 and must stay there at least 90 days, after that time his options are treated like those of any other player.
What’s the next move?
That’s the $64,000 question (arcane reference of the day). I’m a lousy gambler but if I was betting I’d guess that Hart has a trade hanging out there that neither side is openly talking about. For the sake of this exercise lets say that another tight lipped guy like Billy Beane wants Evan Gattis would take a package including Luis Avilan and Phil Gosselin or Elmer Reyes for our old friend Jesse Chavez and Josh Reddick.
Such a trade would clear roster space, add a starter (don’t mock Chavez until you peek at his numbers) and a controllable outfielder with a little pop. Looking at the remaining free agent pitchers and understanding that Hart doesn’t want a long term deal or an expensive arm makes this kind of transaction realistic. Chavez is still arbitration eligible and isn’t a free agent until 2017 when Winkler and maybe others are ready. Reddick is also under control and good defensive right fielder but needs to be platooned against LHP. That trade works for us, probably not for them but you get the idea.
That’s A Wrap
Today’s signing of Outman – which has to be the best name ever for a relief pitcher – means we have a crowded bullpen. I think that means he’ll trade Avilan or Russell as part of a package to get a starter and I think Gattis is the bait.
Who he trades with or for I have no idea just things I wish for. He’s shown no inclination to grant my wishes so far however so don’t hurry to call Las Vegas. The roster will sort itself out. As Ryan wrote and others have pointed out, some of those names are just good players – before you say they aren’t understand that they have to be pretty good to hold down a regular job with a major league affiliate; they’re better than you or I – . unlikely to play in Atlanta full time. Those names – including Constanza – could be the next we hear are DFA. I doubt anyone would grab Constanza and I think he’d accept assignment so he’d probably still be in our system.
Whether that’s true or not Hart’s previous roster shuffles proved he isn’t married to any of them. Almost anyone could get the next call that thanking them for working so hard for the Braves and wishing them good luck their future endeavors. How soon we know who that will be is anyone’s guess. Hand’s up everyone who knew Outman would be signed today. . . Yea me neither.