Reds Have Some Work to Do with the 40-man Roster
When the season ended, the Reds had a full 40-man roster plus 4 players on the 60-day DL who did not count toward the 40-man roster. In the next couple of weeks those 4 players (Mike Lincoln, Edinson Volquez, Wilkin Castillo, and Danny Richar) will lose their 60-day status and will have to be moved back to the 40-man or put through waivers. As far as I can tell, the only player on the roster who is a straight up free agent at the end of the season is Kip Wells. The only contract option the Reds have to consider this off-season is Ramon Hernandez's $8.5 million option, which one would think will be turned down. So, that opens up 2 roster spots, likely for Edinson Volquez and Mike Lincoln (since the Reds still owe him $2.5 million). Every other player appears to be under contract or under control because of Major League service time So, what do they do with the remaining two players, Castillo and Richar?
Before we figure that out, let's throw another wrench into the mess: The Rule 5 Draft. The Reds have several players in the minors who could be available for the Rule 5 Draft in December if they are not protected on the 40-man roster before the end of November. According to Wikipedia, here are the rules for eligibility:
Players are eligible for selection in the Rule 5 draft who are not on their major league organization's forty man roster and:
- were signed at age 19 or older and have been in the organization for four years; or
- were signed at age 18 or younger and have been in the organization for five years.
Basically, this means that any players that were drafted or signed at the age of 19 or older in 2006 are eligible for the draft, and anyone younger than that must have been signed in 2005 or earlier. Who does that give us?
Well, the list of eligible players in the organization is actually quite long, but not every player is at risk of being drafted because of their skill or performance (remember, rule 5 draftees have to stay on the MLB roster for the entire season). Some of the names though are obvious keepers. Chris Heisey, Chris Valaika, and Travis Wood will likely be protected because of their prospect status. There are a couple of other names that could potentially get drafted if the Reds don't protect them as well. Someone like Daniel Dorn may have enough pop in his bat to sit on a team's bench all year as a left-handed pinch hitter. Enerio Del Rosario moved up 3 levels last year and posted a 1.68 ERA for the season. He's not really a power pitcher, which is typically the type of pitcher that gets drafted in the rule 5, but his control was outstanding last year and that may draw some eyes his way.
The Reds can't protect everyone, so they are going to have to make some choices. There is little doubt for me that they will find spots for Heisey, Valaika, and Wood. The question is, do they hold on to Castillo and Richar? Will they feel it necessary to protect any other minor leaguers such as Dorn or Del Rosario? And who do they drop? I'll put the 40-man roster after the jump. Let's hear who you think should stay and who should clear out some space.
| Bronson Arroyo Homer Bailey Bill Bray Jared Burton Francisco Cordero Johnny Cueto Carlos Fisher Aaron Harang Daniel Ray Herrera Sam LeCure Justin Lehr |
Mike Lincoln** Matt Maloney Nick Masset Micah Owings Ramon Ramirez Arthur Rhodes Daryl Thompson Pedro Viola Edinson Volquez ** Kip Wells# Wilkin Castillo ** |
Ryan Hanigan Ramon Hernandez # Corky Miller Craig Tatum Yonder Alonso Kevin Barker Juan Francisco Paul Janish Brandon Phillips Danny Richar ** Scott Rolen |
Adam Rosales Drew Sutton Joey Votto Wladimir Balentien Jay Bruce Chris Dickerson Jonny Gomes Darnell McDonald Laynce Nix Drew Stubbs Willy Taveras |
#-Free Agent; **-60-day DL
0 recs |
59 comments
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Comments
First, a question
Does a player have to be in the organization 4 full seasons? Valaika, for one, hasn’t – his first year was split between college and rookie ball.
"You never know how you look through other people's eyes"
by sidnancy on Oct 23, 2009 8:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
the same is true of Heisey
Both were drafted in 2006. Both names were mentioned in an article by Sheldon.
Definitely a good argument.
by Slyde on Oct 23, 2009 8:58 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
And Dorn
Not that I doubt you or Sheldon, but it seems odd that “4 years” doesn’t really mean 4 years.
"You never know how you look through other people's eyes"
by sidnancy on Oct 23, 2009 8:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It doesn't
Basically, it’s the number of Rule 5 drafts that have happened since a player was signed.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
by BubbaFan on Oct 23, 2009 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Second, a question
How do you know that players on the 60-day DL have to be put on the 40 man roster after the season? I don’t find that anywhere.
"You never know how you look through other people's eyes"
by sidnancy on Oct 23, 2009 8:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I ask that because of Albert Belle
He was on the 60-day DL for like 5 years before he retired, because insurance was paying his salary.
"You never know how you look through other people's eyes"
by sidnancy on Oct 23, 2009 8:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think I've seen it somewhere
I look when I’m not on my phone. Belle could’ve just been put on the 40-man in the off-season.
Definitely a good argument.
by Slyde on Oct 23, 2009 9:01 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
I emailed Nick Krall from the Reds
and he verified that players on the 60-day DL have to be “activated” by November 20th, when 40-man rosters are set. I’m not sure when they can be put back on the 60-day, but it is some time during Spring Training.
Definitely a good argument.
by Slyde on Oct 23, 2009 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That sounds a hell of a lot like fraud
Yeah, those guys and the Cincinnati Reds. They're a terrible football team. / Because they're a baseball team? / Exactly. You know who's the worst football team? The Philadelphia Flyers. - Best Show
by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Oct 23, 2009 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nope
Perfectly legal – once in a great while the insurance company actually loses. It had a large part in the decision by insurance companies to severely limit policies (no more than $3M/yr, no more than 3 years now).
"You never know how you look through other people's eyes"
by sidnancy on Oct 23, 2009 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Unfortunate that when the insurance company loses
a egotistical, millionaire athlete wins. Maybe that’s facile, but I wish it weren’t Albert Belle beating the system. I was hoping to option Erin Brokavich II: Insurance Bugaloo.
Yeah, those guys and the Cincinnati Reds. They're a terrible football team. / Because they're a baseball team? / Exactly. You know who's the worst football team? The Philadelphia Flyers. - Best Show
by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Oct 23, 2009 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And...
It’s insurance. The company is taking a calculated risk that the athlete isn’t going to get hurt, and they usually win the bet – when was the last time you heard of an insurance company going out of business?
"You never know how you look through other people's eyes"
by sidnancy on Oct 23, 2009 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not at all pro-insurance
I just thought it was funny that the “little guy” in this case was Albert Belle, though, as you say, it was the ownership that lined their pockets. I guess, Insurance companies are employing the same math as casino owners, except when someone hits paydirt, they’re also injured or dead or something.
Yeah, those guys and the Cincinnati Reds. They're a terrible football team. / Because they're a baseball team? / Exactly. You know who's the worst football team? The Philadelphia Flyers. - Best Show
by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Oct 23, 2009 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Haha
I hope that was a joke, AIG would have gone out of business if it weren’t for the government. Plenty of insurance companies go insolvent every year.
by RampantRedsFan on Oct 23, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
plenty of them swim in great gobs of money
I hope you never find out what “insurance company doctor” or “insurance company lawyer” means, because they’re abominations of humanity.
by ol Pete on Oct 23, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
AIG
Their problems had nothing to do with losses in the insurance business. Fraud so bad it resulted in $1.8 billion in fines; their liquidity problems started after their debt was downgraded because of CDS and CDO shenanigans. It had nothing to do with the actual insurance business.
And you’re right, insurance companies do go out of business, but it’s usually small companies after massive natural disasters.
"You never know how you look through other people's eyes"
by sidnancy on Oct 23, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm starting to think that you're one of those casual mad geniouses
who knows a little bit about everything and lives on the internet
"And then there was the USAID guy in Kandahar who drove a giant pink Cadillac, which the locals set on fire one day. If you wanted to destroy something symbolic during a riot, you just could not do better than that. Good stuff." - Ghosts of Alexander
by Cy Schourek on Oct 23, 2009 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
ive met him
and i can attest, if there is any place he should live it’s on the internet.
by Charlie Scrabbles on Oct 23, 2009 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Adios
Darnell McDonald
Danny Richar
Corky Miller
Daryl Thompson (Think he is now out of options, so he would be gone after ST anyway)
Kevin Barker
Justin Lehr
Laynce Nix
Kip Wells (FA)
That’s 8 names, allowing the 60-Day guys back, and room to protect up to 5 guys.
To me Nix is the only one to maybe think about on the list, but with Balentin, Stubbs, Dickerson, and Bruce all cheaper, and Gomes and Taveras more expensive, with still no clear cut every-day LF, there isnt room for Nix. Plus Nix could get 1-2.5 Milli in arbitration. No Thanks.
I know people may not agree on Lehr….but think about it this way….would you rather keep Lehr or Travis Wood?
Also, I wouldn’t be surprised to see these guys on the bubble go either: Taveras, Lincoln, Bray,and maybe Rosales. I think Sutton will jump past Rosales as the utility INF in 2010.
Find me on MySpace- http://www.myspace.com/mixfmkyle
by MixFMKyle on Oct 23, 2009 8:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I guess too we should add
Ramon Hernandez, but I’m pretty confident they will pay him a 1 Million buyout, and try and re-sign him to a 3-4 million dollar deal. If they don’t, they will have an extra spot to sign a Rob Barajas type.
Find me on MySpace- http://www.myspace.com/mixfmkyle
by MixFMKyle on Oct 23, 2009 8:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What's the deal with Bray?
Isn’t he slated to be back sometime next year from Tommy John? It seems like if he’s going to be healthy you keep him around. Post-op Bray still might be a worthy of a bullpen spot.
Yeah, those guys and the Cincinnati Reds. They're a terrible football team. / Because they're a baseball team? / Exactly. You know who's the worst football team? The Philadelphia Flyers. - Best Show
by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Oct 23, 2009 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Some thoughts
I largely agree with Kyle – there should be no place on the team for McDonald, Miller, Barker, Lehr, or Wells (minus 5)
Sutton, Richar, and Rosales all seem like the same, replacement-level player to me. I don’t see any reason to have more than one of them in the organization (minus at least 2)
If Castillo isn’t the #2 or #3 catcher, he shouldn’t be in the organization.
Given the lack of pitching depth, I’d keep Thompson around – he’ll still only be 24 next year.
I see no good reason not to protect Bray.
I don’t see a compelling reason to keep Tatum (minus 1)
If you assume Bruce, Stubbs, Dickerson, Balentien, and Heisey are keepers, that leaves you with no more than 3 more OF spots. Gomes or another everyday LF is going to take one, leaving 2. If you think El Nino is a LF, that leaves 1, which I think goes to Taveras simply because of the money. Goodbye Nyx (minus 1)
Checking the math – 40 man roster, plus the 5 minor leaguers you mention, minus 9, leaves 4 open spots. So if you’re an idiot, you can keep some of the deadweight and still have a spot or 2 open in case you see someone on the Rule 5 list you like.
The other thing is I think you can only lose 1 player, so all 3 crappy IFs could be exposed because not all 3 can be selected.
"You never know how you look through other people's eyes"
by sidnancy on Oct 23, 2009 9:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
you can lose more than one player, I'm pretty sure
Only thing about Thompson is, according to my math, he is out of options. So unless you think he is going to make the club out of ST (very unlikely), you would be better off keeping Bray and letting Thompson go. 2009 was an injury-filled disaster for him, but his 29 innings he did pitch were pretty bad.
Bray on the other hand, can start on the DL, and if he is healthy, could do well in the bullpen.
Find me on MySpace- http://www.myspace.com/mixfmkyle
by MixFMKyle on Oct 23, 2009 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
you can definitely lose more than one player
Remember when the Pirates lost five players in the first six picks?
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
by BubbaFan on Oct 23, 2009 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Completely forgot about that
"You never know how you look through other people's eyes"
by sidnancy on Oct 23, 2009 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
"Is it surreal? No, it's very real."
Oh Dave Littlefield, how we will miss you
"And then there was the USAID guy in Kandahar who drove a giant pink Cadillac, which the locals set on fire one day. If you wanted to destroy something symbolic during a riot, you just could not do better than that. Good stuff." - Ghosts of Alexander
by Cy Schourek on Oct 23, 2009 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wish I had some assurance that mgmt is capable of evaluating the roster in this way
It’s nutso to keep Taveras for any other reason than pride. His absolute ceiling is 4th on the CF depth chart, behind Dickerson, Stubbs and Heisey and he can’t play any other position. If he could hang out at AAA that would be one thing, but he’s going to be eating up a 25-man spot. Same with Lincoln. His
Castillo seems marginally more useful at the major league level than everyone in the system right now besides Hanigan ( assuming Hernandez is gone). I think he stays.
I think Dorn and Sutton should stick around after the purge. They’ve both got upside and the Reds bench, which became its starters during prolonged injuries last year, has been entirely too thin. I’d take Sutton as UTL, since there’s at least a chance he’ll be serviceable in the majors. I just can’t look at Rosales performance last year and see someone I’d want filling in all over the infield and picking up 300+ PAs in the process.
Looking over the 40 man reveals the utter lack of depth in the IF and starting pitching. That could change if Wood and Maloney are good next year and are able to cover a year’s worth of development and draft picks.
Yeah, those guys and the Cincinnati Reds. They're a terrible football team. / Because they're a baseball team? / Exactly. You know who's the worst football team? The Philadelphia Flyers. - Best Show
by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Oct 23, 2009 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pitchers
Maybe our favorite soul-sucker, Ben Jukich? Logan Ondrusek got no love last year, but he’s made a huge jump this year.
I don’t see any reason to keep Wilkin Castillo or Danny Richar on the roster. I doubt anyone would take them, and if they did, they’re pretty easily replaceable.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
by BubbaFan on Oct 23, 2009 10:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Jukich has only been with the Reds organization since 2007
so he’s not eligible to be drafted
Definitely a good argument.
by Slyde on Oct 23, 2009 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Eligibility isn't a concern
Once he fixes you with his soulless gaze, you are powerless to refuse his bidding.
by Brendanukkah on Oct 23, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is it really with the same organization?
Or just since the player signed a pro contract?
The article about the Pirates I linked above says this:
Outfielder Rich Thompson, acquired last summer in a minor-league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, was taken by the San Diego Padres with the second pick and then traded to the Kansas City Royals.
He had only been with the Pirates for part of one season when he was taken in the 2003 Rule 5 draft.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
by BubbaFan on Oct 23, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
wikipedia says with the organization
if that’s not the case, which your example would imply, then there are a couple of other players that are at risk too. I’ll have to dig up my list again.
Definitely a good argument.
by Slyde on Oct 23, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I found this list the other day
supposedly it was provided by Doug Gray
by sharks on Oct 23, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Interesting
That list includes Jukich.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
by BubbaFan on Oct 23, 2009 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
After looking around some
It does look like Wikipedia overstated the rule a bit. Most other places have it listed a “4th year after the player signed” rather than 4th year with the organization. That would make Jukich available, obviously. Honestly, though, he’s probably the only other player that I would consider protecting. There is risk in losing some of the others, but I’m not sure there is much chance of them sticking.
Now if only there was a way to fix the issue on Wikipedia…
Definitely a good argument.
by Slyde on Oct 23, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
oh, and tried to get the actual list of players who needed to be protected from the Reds
but was told that that list was confidential at this point. I guess they might be hoping to sneak a player or two through.
Definitely a good argument.
by Slyde on Oct 23, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Protect Heisey, Valaika and Wood.
Add Volquez and Lincoln. Buy out Hernandez and offer him a significantly lower salary to return.
Say so long to Castillo, Richar, Miller, Barker, McDonald, Wells, Nix and Thompson. Hope that no one grabs Thompson and he sticks around in Louisville.
We Are ... Marshall!
by Thundering Turtle on Oct 23, 2009 12:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I guess there's no sense in cutting Lincoln
but it really seems like there are superior in house solutions
Yeah, those guys and the Cincinnati Reds. They're a terrible football team. / Because they're a baseball team? / Exactly. You know who's the worst football team? The Philadelphia Flyers. - Best Show
by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Oct 23, 2009 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
There probably are better options.
It’s just a matter of the Reds not likely eating the salary.
We Are ... Marshall!
by Thundering Turtle on Oct 23, 2009 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
how injured is Thompson?
If he’s not going to get in a lot of innings anyways next year, I can’t imagine he’ll be drafted. There’s some rule, somewhere, that any rule 5 guy can’t be on the 15-day until September
"And then there was the USAID guy in Kandahar who drove a giant pink Cadillac, which the locals set on fire one day. If you wanted to destroy something symbolic during a riot, you just could not do better than that. Good stuff." - Ghosts of Alexander
by Cy Schourek on Oct 23, 2009 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
not true
Burton spent some time on the DL his first year with the Reds. As did Hamilton.
Definitely a good argument.
by Slyde on Oct 23, 2009 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This might be what you are thinking about
From Wikipedia:
To prevent the abuse of the Rule 5 draft, the rule also states that the draftee must be active for at least 90 days. This keeps teams from drafting players, then placing them on the disabled list for the majority of the season. For example, if a Rule 5 draftee was only active for 67 days in his first season with his new club, he must be active for an additional 23 games in his second season to satisfy the Rule 5 requirements.
Definitely a good argument.
by Slyde on Oct 23, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
of course, none of this matters
because Thompson isn’t being risked in the Rule 5. He’s on the 40-man roster right now. If they take him off the 40-man roster, he would just go through waivers, which he wouldn’t likely make it through, I would guess since he’s still got options (I assume) and could be stashed on the MiLB DL.
Definitely a good argument.
by Slyde on Oct 23, 2009 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I knew "some time" but I meant "not all the time"
which is, apparently, a rule. And yeah, I guess it’s moot.
"And then there was the USAID guy in Kandahar who drove a giant pink Cadillac, which the locals set on fire one day. If you wanted to destroy something symbolic during a riot, you just could not do better than that. Good stuff." - Ghosts of Alexander
by Cy Schourek on Oct 23, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
40 man
Arroyo, Harang, Volquez, Cueto, Bailey, Owings, Lehr, Maloney, Wood, Burton, Cordero, Rhodes, Herrera, Lincoln, Masset, Viola, Fisher, Bray, Ramon Ramirez – 19 pitchers
Hanigan, Miller – 2 catchers
Votto, Phillips, Janish, Rolen, Dickerson, Stubbs, Bruce, Heisey, Gomes, Balentien, Francisco, Alonso, Valaika – 13 position players
Total of 34 players so far. 6 to go.
by Dude Rock on Oct 23, 2009 1:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
who to leave unprotected
Harang and Cordero. They make too much money for anothr team to take.
by dragon43078 on Oct 24, 2009 6:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
take it easy champ
why don’t you sit this one out, stop talking for a while
"We, as for me all seasons you are affected peculiarly in the edge of my seat and are happy concerning the fact that the Adam Dunn fan has been mixed up exactly." - Reynard-san
by BK on Oct 24, 2009 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
im on the fence re: protecting Jay Bruce
just not sold on his productivity ever increasing
"I have found me a home"
by obc2 on Oct 24, 2009 9:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Me too...is Juan castro still playing
Jay Bruce will become a major league baseball STAR, starting in April, 2010.....
by Madville on Oct 25, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
We gotta keep Wes Bankston
He’s too decorative to lose!

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
by BubbaFan on Oct 24, 2009 10:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Easy Choices
Tavares, McDonald, Barker, and one of the catchers are the first three obvious choices. I don’t care about Tavares’ contract, he’s a complete waste. The team is better off paying him to stay away than paying him to stay around. McDonald is completely replaceable and unnecessary if they keep Nix and Gomes, both of whom are better players. The only reason to keep Barker around is if they aren’t willing to bring up Alonso if Votto gets hurt and nobody else can play 1st. Otherwise, he’s an easy choice to drop. If Hernandez is not brought back, there’s a spot. If he is, then you let Corky Miller go. Then, it gets a little trickier.
by Fanpuck33 on Oct 25, 2009 2:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think everyone will agree with you on Taveras
except the people that are actually paying him. It’s much easier psychologically to eat the money when it’s not yours.
Definitely a good argument.
by Slyde on Oct 25, 2009 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
based on his numbers i'd rather pay him not to pay.
i mean sometimes Walt is like a prison shower, you know it is gonna happen, but it isn’t a good thing.
by justin007000 on Oct 25, 2009 9:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If only Dusty agreed.
I agree with Slyde…Big Bob is loathe to lose money.
To understand Israel and the Middle East, you must understand Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. -Glenn Beck (former cocaine addict and pedophile.)
by Madville on Oct 27, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Purge the older guys
This one is easy. Let go the guys born in the 70’s. Wells (77) Hernandez (76) Lehr (77) Corky Miller (76) Barker (75) McDonald (78) and Lincoln (75). The only older guys you keep are Rolen, Cordero, Harang, Arroyo and Rhodes. The remaining 35 players are born in the 80’s:
Here’s your best 40 man roster:
IF (10) Votto, Phillips, Rolen, Janish, Alonso, Sutton, Francisco, Rosales, Valaika, Richar;
C (3) Hanigan, Castillo, Tatum;
OF (8) Bruce, Gomes, Stubbs, Nix, Dickerson, Taveras, Balentien, Heisey
Pitchers (19) Harang, Arroyo, Cueto, Bailey, Volquez, Owings, Masset, Cordero, Herrera, Burton, Fisher, Ramirez, Viola, Bray, Maloney, LeCure, Wood, Thompson, Rhodes.
As for Dorn and Del Rosario. You could possibly replace Nix (born in 80) with Dorn. And replace Rhodes (born in 69) with Del Rosario.
All in all, do everything to protect the younger players.
by dmcgee77 on Oct 28, 2009 12:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

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