Baseball America | Blog | Baseball America Prospects Blog | 40-Man Roster Additions, A Complete Record

Major league trades and free agent signings dominate offseason headlines, but behind the scenes each November all 30 organizations make crucial decisions about players in their minor league systems. The choices they make help shape the big league club’s roster in the near term.

This year, clubs had two dates to keep in mind for minor league maintenance:

• Nov. 6: On this date, minor league players who have accumulated at least six years of professional service can become minor league free agents if they have no deal in place for 2011. Teams added 12 such players to 40-man rosters prior to Nov. 6 in order to prevent them from leaving via free agency—they’re marked with an asterisk (*) below. The list includes the likes of Robinson Chirinos (Cubs), Cole Garner (Rockies) and Melky Mesa (Yankees).

[Note: The uniform minor league contract runs for seven years—one year plus six renewals. As commenter Mike Andrews notes, at the conclusion of the seventh year players become free agents, so long as no other deal is in place. For 2010 draft picks, their contracts will expire following the 2016 season. Most every player will have between 6 and 6.5 years of service at that time. — ME, Nov. 26.]

• Nov. 19: Qualifying players left off 40-man rosters after this date are eligible for selection in the major league Rule 5 draft. The qualification rules are difficult to condense, but Rule 5 eligibiles can broadly be sorted into two groups: 1.) Two- and four-year college players (19 and older) who signed their first pro contracts during the 2007 minor league season (or earlier), and 2.) High school and international prospects (18 and younger) who signed their first pro deals during the 2006 minor league season (or earlier).

[Note: Players who were 18 or younger on June 5 preceding the signing of their first contract must be protected after five minor league seasons. Players 19 and older must be protected after four seasons. Thank you, commenter with the screen name darryl0 for the tip. — ME, Nov. 26.]

The bulk of the players here (125) fit into the second group. Those shielded from December's Rule 5 draft include a bevvy of intriguing prospects such as Chris Archer (Cubs), Engel Beltre (Rangers), Joe Benson (Twins), Dellin Betances (Yankees), Zach Britton (Orioles), Simon Castro (Padres), Alex Cobb (Rays), Zack Cozart (Reds), Randall Delgado (Braves), Nick Hagadone (Indians), Thomas Neal (Giants), Michael Pineda (Mariners), Wilin Rosario (Rockies) and Oscar Tejeda (Red Sox).

Arizona Diamondbacks (2)
RHP Josh Collmenter, RHP Yonata Ortega

Atlanta Braves (5)
RHP Juan Abreu*, RHP Erik Cordier*, RHP Randall Delgado, RHP Cory Gearrin, OF Matt Young

Baltimore Orioles (4)
RHP Jim Hoey*, LHP Zach Britton, 1B Joe Mahoney, OF Matt Angle

Boston Red Sox (3)
RHP Stolmy Pimentel, C Luis Exposito, 2B Oscar Tejeda

Chicago Cubs (5)
RHP Chris Archer, RHP Alberto Cabrera, RHP Kyle Smit, C Robinson Chirinos*, OF Brandon Guyer

Chicago White Sox (3)
RHP Anthony Carter, RHP Nathan Jones, SS Eduardo Escobar

Cincinnati Reds (4)
RHP Daryl Thompson, SS Zack Cozart, SS Kris Negron, OF Todd Frazier

Cleveland Indians (5)
RHP Josh Judy, RHP Corey Kluber, RHP Zach McAllister, LHP Nick Hagadone, 3B Jared Goedert

Colorado Rockies (6)
RHP Bruce Billings, RHP Cory Riordan, RHP Casey Weathers, C Jordan Pacheco, C Wilin Rosario, OF Cole Garner*

Detroit Tigers (6)
RHP Lester Oliveros, RHP Jose Ortega, RHP Brayan Villarreal, LHP Duane Below, LHP Charlie Furbush, SS Cale Iorg

Florida Marlins (2)
RHP Arquimedes Caminero, RHP Evan Reed

Houston Astros (4)
RHP David Carpenter, RHP Jorge DeLeon, RHP Arcenio Leon, 2B Jimmy Paredes

Kansas City Royals (4)
LHP Everett Teaford, 1B Clint Robinson, OF David Lough, OF Derrick Robinson

Los Angeles Angels (2)
RHP Ysmael Carmona*, OF Jeremy Moore

Los Angeles Dodgers (3)
RHP Luis Vasquez, C Hector Gimenez, OF Jamie Hoffmann*

Milwaukee Brewers (4)
RHP Wily Peralta, LHP Daniel Merklinger, C Martin Maldonado*, 2B Eric Farris

Minnesota Twins (4)
RHP David Bromberg, 1B Chris Parmelee, OF Joe Benson, OF Rene Tosoni

New York Mets (5)
RHP Manny Alvarez*, RHP Armando Rodriguez, RHP Josh Stinson, 2B Jordany Valdespin, 3B Zach Lutz

New York Yankees (4)
RHP Dellin Betances, RHP Ryan Pope, 3B Brandon Laird, OF Melky Mesa*

Oakland Athletics (5)
RHP Trystan Magnuson, 1B Sean Doolittle, 2B Adrian Cardenas, OF Corey Brown, OF Michael Taylor

Philadelphia Phillies (5)
RHP Justin De Fratus, 1B Matt Rizzotti, 2B Harold Garcia, 2B Cesar Hernandez, SS Freddy Galvis

Pittsburgh Pirates (5)
RHP Mike Crotta, RHP Kyle McPherson, LHP Jeff Locke, LHP Danny Moskos, LHP Tony Watson

St. Louis Cardinals (7)
RHP Blake King, RHP David Kopp, RHP Adam Reifer, RHP Eduardo Sanchez, C Tony Cruz, SS Pete Kozma, OF Adron Chambers

San Diego Padres (7)
RHP Simon Castro, RHP Brandon Gomes, RHP Jeremy Hefner, RHP Evan Scribner, C Luis Martinez, 2B Jeudy Valdez, OF Cedric Hunter

San Francisco Giants (5)
RHP Jose Casilla, RHP Steve Edlefsen, LHP Clayton Tanner, SS Ehire Adrianza, OF Thomas Neal

Seattle Mariners (10)
RHP Maikel Cleto, RHP Josh Lueke, RHP Yoervis Medina, RHP Michael Pineda, RHP Tom Wilhelmsen, LHP Cesar Jimenez, LHP Mauricio Robles, 3B Alex Liddi, OF Johermyn Chavez, OF Carlos Peguero

Tampa Bay Rays (6)
RHP Matt Bush*, RHP Alex Cobb, RHP Dane de la Rosa, RHP Albert Suarez, C Nevin Ashley, SS Elliot Johnson*

Texas Rangers (4)
RHP Fabio Castillo, RHP Wilmer Font, LHP Miguel de los Santos, OF Engel Beltre

Toronto Blue Jays (5)
RHP Joel Carreno, RHP Alan Farina, C Brian Jeroloman, OF Darin Mastroianni, OF Moises Sierra

Washington Nationals (3)
RHP Adam Carr, RHP Cole Kimball, 1B Chris Marrero

Hey Matt, great stuff. But I'm fairly sure that minor league free agency is based on seven years under contract and not six. Six year free agency is a total misnomer. The standard MIL contract is seven years – a MLB official told me that it's only sometimes called six-year free agency because you add a six to the year the player signed to calculate when he'd be eligible for MLFA. For example, take a look at Bubba Bell – he played six seasons from 2005-2010, but is not yet eligible for minor league free agency.

Posted by Mike Andrews | November 23, 2010 at 11:42 am | Shortcut

It's Zack Cozart–not Zach Cozart.

Posted by camisadelgolf | November 23, 2010 at 11:49 am | Shortcut

@Mike Andrews

You are correct that the standard minor league contract runs for seven years. However, free agency is based on service time, not necessarily the expiration of a player's first minor league contract.

A player like Bubba Bell, who signed as a draft pick in ’05, accrues just a fraction of a year of service during his pro debut. So in reality Bell entered the ’06 season with, let's say, 0.5 years of service. At the completion of the ’10 season, then, he had approximately 5.5 years of service. Bell will qualify for free agency following the ’11 season if he's not on a 40-man roster (and assuming he does not re-sign on a minor league deal).

Please continue your crusade to abolish the term six-year free agent. It is a misnomer.

Posted by Matt Eddy | November 23, 2010 at 12:09 pm | Shortcut

when is the rule 5 draft, can you guys list the top 3-5 or 10 players that are available to be drafted from each team?

Posted by Keith | November 23, 2010 at 12:19 pm | Shortcut

@Keith

The Rule 5 draft goes down the morning of Thursday, Dec. 9, the final day of the Winter Meetings. The world waits with bated breath.

We will have a Rule 5 preview that touches on some of the more attractive eligible players. But remember Rule 5 beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Posted by Matt Eddy | November 23, 2010 at 12:24 pm | Shortcut

I'm surprised not to see Jesus Montero on the list. He's not on the current Yankees 40 man roster at mlb.com and I know he was signed in July of 2006.
Please tell a Sox fan that the Yankees commited one of the great paperwork mistakes in baseball history and Montero is going to become an infamous rule 5 first overall pick.

Posted by Mike | November 23, 2010 at 1:24 pm | Shortcut

@Mike

Thank you for bringing up Jesus Montero. Short explanation: He is not eligible for the Rule 5 draft despite being an international signee from the year 2006.

The key here is signing date. Remember, only players who sign during the minor league season have that first year under contract count against them. But because Montero signed on Oct. 17, 2006—after the minor league season—his Rule 5 clock began ticking in ’07.

This same guideline will benefit the Twins and their Dominican shortstop Miguel Sano, who signed on Oct. 7, 2009. Because he signed after the minor league season, the conservative Twins will not have to protect Sano until after the 2014 season. Most international players signed in ’09, e.g. Gary Sanchez, Juan Urbina, will have to be protected a year earlier than Sano.

Posted by Matt Eddy | November 23, 2010 at 1:38 pm | Shortcut

Matt,
Can you please explain a little more about the minor league phase of the rule V draft? I understand that if a player is taken during this phase, can be assigned to any level, is that correct? what happen with this player the next year? can remain with the new team without protection?
confused…

Posted by Albert | November 23, 2010 at 2:33 pm | Shortcut

@Albert

To you and anyone who's interested in the machinations of the minor league Rule 5 draft, I refer you to this piece, written at the conclusion of the ’09 Winter Meetings:

http://www.baseballamerica.com.....69287.html

Posted by Matt Eddy | November 23, 2010 at 3:01 pm | Shortcut

Thanks for the info. Are teams required to keep the players they protect by adding them to the 40 man required to keep those players on the 40 man for the entire following season ?
Otherwise couldn't they cut them right after the rul 5 draft ?

Posted by Rick | November 23, 2010 at 4:16 pm | Shortcut

Rick,

Teams are not required to keep players they put on their 40 man rosters before the Rule 5 draft for any specific length of time once the draft is over. However, any time that they take the player off their 40 man roster the player must pass through waivers and can be claimed by any other team for no money and no compensation. The team that claims him does not have to put him on their 40 man roster.

Posted by darryl0 | November 23, 2010 at 5:28 pm | Shortcut

Great post.

One thing I would add regarding the rules. As you stated, the cutoff age for whether a player gets 4 seasons or 5 seasons of team control is 18. However, it’s not the age the player is at the time he signs his contract, rather it’s what his age was on the prior June 5th. If the player was 18 or younger on that June 5th then the team doesn’t have to protect him until the offseason after his 5th qualifying season. If he was 19 or older then the team doesn’t have to protect him until the offseason of his 4th qualifying season.

Also, as you correctly implied, the player doesn’t actually have to play any games or even be assigned to any minor league team for his season to be a qualifying season. All that he has to do is sign a contract before that season is officially over.

Posted by darryl0 | November 23, 2010 at 5:38 pm | Shortcut

@darryl0

Thanks for the clarification. The age cutoff is an important distinction.

Posted by Matt Eddy | November 24, 2010 at 11:52 am | Shortcut

@Matt Thanks for the response Matt. But I think you might be crossing up major league free agency and minor league free agency. You're right on service time in that the CBA allows for a major league player to become a free agent during the off-season after the season in which he accrues 6 years of major league service time (unless that player has signed a longer term deal).
But the CBA doesn't apply to minor league free agency. Major League Rule 55 outlines the rules for minor league free agency – that Rule states that a minor leaguer becomes a free agent on the fifth day after the World Series during the year in which his minor league contract expires or runs out of renewal seasons. There is no mention in the Rule about service time. Minor League Uniform Player Contracts expire afters seven seasons (or technically six "renewals"). There is no mention of service time in the Minor League Uniform Player Contract.

Posted by Mike Andrews | November 24, 2010 at 2:02 pm | Shortcut

Very useful list for tracking the Rule 5 draft, and I hesitate to suggest more work to make next year's version even more useful! But it you included (as an addendum) all players added to their first 40-man roster since the last Rule 5 draft, the list would double as a measure of farm system productivity during the last year. In my mind the Red Sox list includes Lars Anderson, Robert Coello, Ryan Kalish, Daniel Nava, and Yamaico Navarro. I'm kind of guessing the Mariners didn't have anyone who fit that description.
(Actually, you could track such roster additions throughout the MLB season pretty painlessly.)

Posted by Eric M. Van | November 25, 2010 at 12:39 pm | Shortcut

Now that you mention it, an agent told me about the minor league contract language just a few weeks ago. Apparently, I did not grasp the implications.

The standard minor league contract runs for seven years and contains six renewals. As Mike notes, the expiration of this deal signals free agency, so long as no other deal is in place. For 2010 draft picks, their contracts will expire following the 2016 season. Most every player will have between 6 and 6.5 years of service at that date, thus the confusion on my part.

Also of note . . . Beginning with the implementation of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement following the ’06 season, the lives of minor league players have changed in the following ways:

• They became free agents at a later date, a date that coincides with the major league free agents hitting the market. This date currently stands as five days after the World Series, whereas in the past minor league free agents would be declared as such in mid-October.

• They had their Rule 5 draft eligibility pushed back by one year—to four or five years depending on the age at which they signed. (See details in this post.) This change took effect for the ’06 Rule 5 draft.

• The implementation of the mid-August signing deadline for the draft, beginning in ’07, had the effect of: 1) abolishing the the draft-and-follow process, and 2) seeing to it that (most) every player now signs his first pro contract during the minor league season of his draft year.

Posted by Matt Eddy | November 26, 2010 at 4:07 pm | Shortcut

@Eric M. Van

Baseball-Reference publishes 2010 debuts (and so do we in our Almanac each year, and we include team, too):

http://www.baseball-reference......buts.shtml

This list will give you a rough idea of players who have been added to a 40-man roster for the first time. Some may have been included previously without seeing action in a game.

Posted by Matt Eddy | November 26, 2010 at 4:12 pm | Shortcut