I love this article! I have been fascinated by the 40 man roster since last fall when I knew the college pitchers from the 2018 draft would need to be added to the 40 man roster. So I did a mock 26 man roster for 2022 and worked from there. Rather than posting it, I'll make my points quick.
I believe Tapia and Payamps will be the 2022 bullpen versions of Holland and Davis. Dayton Moore is really good at pulling relievers out of the recycle bin but I think these two represent the usual minor league contract, low risk reliever he usually signs. He just got them in 2021 instead of the off season.
I would DFA O'Hearn and Fox. I don't think they will cut Junis or Alberto. I also believe McBroom will be a cut given the plethora of catchers that need AB's at the DH spot and the development of Vinnie Pasquantino.
I also think this is probably the first year all of our Rule 5 guys are more better than the field. I err on the side of caution and protect up to the 40 man limit. One less cut but one more spot filled has us both at 7 players added.
My first 4 are no brainers - Coleman, Martin, Melendez, and Pratto. I do not know the rules on a Rule 5 that is undergoing TJ surgery and how/if he can be on a MLB team's IL all season but assuming it can happen and we would lose him, Bowlan is my no brainer #5. That still leaves two spots. I would probably go with Heasley and Cox as they are the two I have read about the most and in the most promising light. I wish I could say I have seen them play and have an in depth analysis but I don't. I would love to keep Blanco too but given his age, I feel like you could find a FA outfielder with a more certain outcome than speculating on Blanco.
Only real difference is I kept Heasley instead of Blanco, cut one less player, and used the full 40 man roster instead of going to 39.
What do you think? BTW, that was a fun exercise!!!
I think you can make an argument that Heasley should be kept and Blanco shouldn't, especially with Martin being kept as well, so I could totally see that. It's nice that there are actually options rather than some years in the past when you have to squint to see more than two or three who need to be protected.
As for the 60-day guys, they have to be on the active roster for at least 90 days or else they're subject to the same restrictions next season, but if you believe in Bowlan's recovery, then you don't have a problem dealing with those restrictions in 2023 probably given the longer-term upside. You get a little less value out of him as you lose most of a whole year of pre-arb service time, but a team like the Pirates or Rangers probably wouldn't care about that too much if they think they're getting a mid-rotation starter, so I think he needs to be protected.
I also look at the glut of catchers mentioned and hope we have a trade coming. The Miami Marlins are one team I have seen mentioned as being in the market for a catcher. They have a ton of good minor league pitching. The Yankees have been really weak behind Gary Sanchez (who is injured). Do you see a catcher trade coming? I really do.
Roster construction and Dayton Moore make me nervous. There are so many players on KC's 40 man roster who don't belong - Davis, Holland, Dyson, Santana come to mind. Gallagher should not be resigned with KC catching depth on the way. Coleman, Pratto, Melendez and Witt are no brainers - Yes Witt - he'll be starting SS in 2022. Of the pitchers, I'd protect Coleman, Cox, Bowlan, and Heasley. No protection for the rest of them. While I like some of the qualities with guys like Hicklen or Martin, if a team wants to select them and keep them, so be it. Blanco is 28 and in AA. Agreed that Dayton does good job with relievers which is why keeping Holland, Santana and Davis is crazy. Omaha has several guys who could serve in their roles and I'm sure KCR will pick up scrap heap guy or three.
Those guys you listed will be free agents and maybe a couple of them might end up retiring such as Dyson or Ervin Santana. Dyson for one thing just turned 37 on Sunday. Unless you meant the other Santana we have and I can see us possibly Trading Carlos Santana in the winter and that would open up another spot for a player Or maybe a younger FA relief pitcher. Though there’s always the possibility of CARLOS Santana moving to mostly DH sort of how we had Kendrys morales as a DH but he occasionally could play a position in the field as well.
Just saying he could be a gem that we should protect. And with Bowlan having had Tommy John surgery I don’t know how many teams that would Take a gamble with him because he’ll have to be doing his rehab sometime next year but probably not until what, May or June? What is the rule for how many days they must be on your roster or they must be returned, because I don’t think anyone’s going to choose an injured pitcher, that’s just weird. The point of the rule five draft is to get someone that can actually participate in the season, isn’t it? And if I remember correctly we passed during the rule five draft last year Because of our full roster I think. I also still think we should keep Ryan McBroom if we trade Carlos Santana, for DH in KC. He has over 20 home runs in AAA. I actually think 2022 protecting from rule 5 dilemma is going to be even more interesting because there’s even more pitchers that we should protect. Btw, i think some of the guys can be non tendered, such as Alberto (Unless we don’t have more than a year of control with him I don’t remember how it works). I can see us doing that with Jake Junis much as it would pain me. So, we’ll have to see what happens after he comes back from his rehab from injury in one of those lower rookie levels. I also absolutely hate that we can only expand to 28 in September, because I know a lot of people would like to see Edward Olivares but I want to see Kyle Isbel. And of course there’s a possibility we might use it for a pitcher but I’m not sure which pitcher, other than zuber.
I would assume every team would take the risk on Bowlan given his success. He has to be on the active roster for 90 days or else subject to the same Rule 5 restrictions in 2023, but for the upside, I think he'd be VERY popular. Most teams who care about the Rule 5 aren't taking guys to help this season, but rather down the road. If they can help that season, great.
I'd assume they will call up a pitcher and a catcher as the 27th and 28th roster spot. Zuber is a possibility, but if Holland comes back by September, it could just be him with Payamps staying up. It's definitely a tight squeeze with just two extra spots, but I also understand the thought process given that pennant races are often decided in September with teams using totally different roster rules than the other five months.
Great stuff! Roster building is always fascinating to me too.
Thanks, Darin!
I love this article! I have been fascinated by the 40 man roster since last fall when I knew the college pitchers from the 2018 draft would need to be added to the 40 man roster. So I did a mock 26 man roster for 2022 and worked from there. Rather than posting it, I'll make my points quick.
I believe Tapia and Payamps will be the 2022 bullpen versions of Holland and Davis. Dayton Moore is really good at pulling relievers out of the recycle bin but I think these two represent the usual minor league contract, low risk reliever he usually signs. He just got them in 2021 instead of the off season.
I would DFA O'Hearn and Fox. I don't think they will cut Junis or Alberto. I also believe McBroom will be a cut given the plethora of catchers that need AB's at the DH spot and the development of Vinnie Pasquantino.
I also think this is probably the first year all of our Rule 5 guys are more better than the field. I err on the side of caution and protect up to the 40 man limit. One less cut but one more spot filled has us both at 7 players added.
My first 4 are no brainers - Coleman, Martin, Melendez, and Pratto. I do not know the rules on a Rule 5 that is undergoing TJ surgery and how/if he can be on a MLB team's IL all season but assuming it can happen and we would lose him, Bowlan is my no brainer #5. That still leaves two spots. I would probably go with Heasley and Cox as they are the two I have read about the most and in the most promising light. I wish I could say I have seen them play and have an in depth analysis but I don't. I would love to keep Blanco too but given his age, I feel like you could find a FA outfielder with a more certain outcome than speculating on Blanco.
Only real difference is I kept Heasley instead of Blanco, cut one less player, and used the full 40 man roster instead of going to 39.
What do you think? BTW, that was a fun exercise!!!
I think you can make an argument that Heasley should be kept and Blanco shouldn't, especially with Martin being kept as well, so I could totally see that. It's nice that there are actually options rather than some years in the past when you have to squint to see more than two or three who need to be protected.
As for the 60-day guys, they have to be on the active roster for at least 90 days or else they're subject to the same restrictions next season, but if you believe in Bowlan's recovery, then you don't have a problem dealing with those restrictions in 2023 probably given the longer-term upside. You get a little less value out of him as you lose most of a whole year of pre-arb service time, but a team like the Pirates or Rangers probably wouldn't care about that too much if they think they're getting a mid-rotation starter, so I think he needs to be protected.
I also look at the glut of catchers mentioned and hope we have a trade coming. The Miami Marlins are one team I have seen mentioned as being in the market for a catcher. They have a ton of good minor league pitching. The Yankees have been really weak behind Gary Sanchez (who is injured). Do you see a catcher trade coming? I really do.
Maybe. I thought they’d trade Gallagher at the deadline, so it wouldn’t surprise me at all.
Roster construction and Dayton Moore make me nervous. There are so many players on KC's 40 man roster who don't belong - Davis, Holland, Dyson, Santana come to mind. Gallagher should not be resigned with KC catching depth on the way. Coleman, Pratto, Melendez and Witt are no brainers - Yes Witt - he'll be starting SS in 2022. Of the pitchers, I'd protect Coleman, Cox, Bowlan, and Heasley. No protection for the rest of them. While I like some of the qualities with guys like Hicklen or Martin, if a team wants to select them and keep them, so be it. Blanco is 28 and in AA. Agreed that Dayton does good job with relievers which is why keeping Holland, Santana and Davis is crazy. Omaha has several guys who could serve in their roles and I'm sure KCR will pick up scrap heap guy or three.
Those guys you listed will be free agents and maybe a couple of them might end up retiring such as Dyson or Ervin Santana. Dyson for one thing just turned 37 on Sunday. Unless you meant the other Santana we have and I can see us possibly Trading Carlos Santana in the winter and that would open up another spot for a player Or maybe a younger FA relief pitcher. Though there’s always the possibility of CARLOS Santana moving to mostly DH sort of how we had Kendrys morales as a DH but he occasionally could play a position in the field as well.
heasley Just had a game where he went seven innings of five hit baseball and no runs
I clearly inspired him.
Just saying he could be a gem that we should protect. And with Bowlan having had Tommy John surgery I don’t know how many teams that would Take a gamble with him because he’ll have to be doing his rehab sometime next year but probably not until what, May or June? What is the rule for how many days they must be on your roster or they must be returned, because I don’t think anyone’s going to choose an injured pitcher, that’s just weird. The point of the rule five draft is to get someone that can actually participate in the season, isn’t it? And if I remember correctly we passed during the rule five draft last year Because of our full roster I think. I also still think we should keep Ryan McBroom if we trade Carlos Santana, for DH in KC. He has over 20 home runs in AAA. I actually think 2022 protecting from rule 5 dilemma is going to be even more interesting because there’s even more pitchers that we should protect. Btw, i think some of the guys can be non tendered, such as Alberto (Unless we don’t have more than a year of control with him I don’t remember how it works). I can see us doing that with Jake Junis much as it would pain me. So, we’ll have to see what happens after he comes back from his rehab from injury in one of those lower rookie levels. I also absolutely hate that we can only expand to 28 in September, because I know a lot of people would like to see Edward Olivares but I want to see Kyle Isbel. And of course there’s a possibility we might use it for a pitcher but I’m not sure which pitcher, other than zuber.
I would assume every team would take the risk on Bowlan given his success. He has to be on the active roster for 90 days or else subject to the same Rule 5 restrictions in 2023, but for the upside, I think he'd be VERY popular. Most teams who care about the Rule 5 aren't taking guys to help this season, but rather down the road. If they can help that season, great.
I'd assume they will call up a pitcher and a catcher as the 27th and 28th roster spot. Zuber is a possibility, but if Holland comes back by September, it could just be him with Payamps staying up. It's definitely a tight squeeze with just two extra spots, but I also understand the thought process given that pennant races are often decided in September with teams using totally different roster rules than the other five months.