13
2011
Francisco Rodriguez, The Mets, And Their 41-Man Roster
An article by Craig Lerner
It seems that the Mets are still in play for starting pitcher Chris Young and that he is very close to making a decision as posted yesterday by my colleague Brandon Butler. Chris Young would be a nice addition for the Mets and if we do get him he instantly becomes the biggest acquisition of the Mets offseason and probably the first player that fans didn’t have to look up on google to figure out who he was.
That said, it brings up an interesting question. Who do the Mets cut from the 40-man roster to make room for him? As you may remember, the Mets were forced to designate Ryota Igarashi last week after they signed reliever Taylor Buchholz. It doesn’t look like anyone claimed him yet and they probably won’t given the fact he has $1.7 million dollars coming to him after an atrocious season in 2010.
However, cutting someone else from the 40-man roster won’t be as easy this time around. And making matters even worse is something that has flown under the radar for most of the offseason:
Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez is not currently on the 40-man roster because he ended the season on the Disqualified List.
It’s a technicality that essentially allows the Mets to maintain a 41-man roster at least until the end of Spring Training when another player will have to be removed to make room for K-Rod.
Last week in an interview with Adam Rubin, Sandy Alderson said that he is still looking to add another starting pitcher, a left handed reliever, and a 4th or 5th outfielder. Most likely, they will probably be able to fill the reliever and outfielder spots by signing a couple of players to a minor league deal and inviting them to spring training. However, if the Mets do sign Chris Young, you can certainly bet it will be a major league deal and that another player will have to designated, cut or traded.
Currently, you add catcher Mike Nickeas to the safe list as he will have to start the season as Josh Thole’s backup until Ronny Paulino finishes out the rest of his suspension for PEDs.
That leaves the Mets with several interesting options, the obvious being cutting ties with either Oliver Perez or Luis Castillo, but the Mets seem adamant about having them compete in spring training before deciding on either of their fates.
Another option would be giving back one of their two Rule 5 Draft selections, Bad Emaus and Pedro Beato, but again, the Mets seem inclined to having them both compete in spring training.
The only other alternative would be to designate a player for assignment and hoping he goes unclaimed. That was easier said than done with Ryota Igarashi, but surely there will be more than a few teams willing to take a chance on pitchers Tobi Stoner or Josh Stinson, or position players Jason Pridie or Zach Lutz, especially at a cost of next to nothing.
More problems will arise if Taylor Tankersley and Boof Bonser make the team as expected, and of course any other players they sign to a minor league contract – like the left handed reliever or those 4th and 5th outfielders Sandy Alderson talked about.
For now, the Mets can enjoy the luxury of having a 41-man roster, but in a few weeks some very difficult decisions will have to be made.
About the Author: Craig Lerner
I'm a data analyst and researcher for a leading news agency who loves life and is hooked on the Mets. I love following the Amateur Draft and have a particular fondness for the Mets Minor Leagues who I follow each day. Give me a cold beer, a summer day, and a Mets game, and I'm good to go.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 42 | 30 | .583 | - |
| Phillies | 35 | 37 | .486 | 7.0 |
| Nationals | 34 | 36 | .486 | 7.0 |
| Mets | 27 | 40 | .403 | 12.5 |
| Marlins | 22 | 48 | .314 | 19.0 |
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You’re absolutely right. Tremendous job on K-Rod. Young can be added with no casualties.
No, I was wrong. The Mets are at 40 men without K-Rod. They still would have to DFA someone to bring Young in (and anyone else not signed to a minor league contract).
You designate Castillio and Perez and hope they DO get claimed
VINNIE, excellent point that certainly would place the exclaimation point behind their being told to DO IT
Who to cut will be the question of the moment if they take on another pitcher. Hey if they cut Castillo maybe someone would take him. I guess I am dreaming.
It seems to be either Castillo, Perez or Stoner honestly. Stoner has limited upside, and hasn’t really amazed anyone without his MLB performance nor minor MiLB performance.
And the 40 man roster must be declared before ST?
Does the catcher Dusty Ryan have any minor league options remaining? If so perhaps the Mets could waive Nickeas in the near term to make room for a major league signing like Young, then nearer to Opening Day waive someone else when that person(s) to waive becomes more apparent and add Ryan to the roster to serve as back up during Paulino’s suspension, then keep him as emergency catcher available in Buffalo afterward.
Otherwise I agree Nickeas would seem to have a golden ticket.
As for Pridie if the Mets are making public proclamations that they’re looking to sign “a 4th or 5th OF” that would seem to suggest Pridie’s status is tenuous at best.
There’s really little in the way of free agent outfield options – one who can also play CF – worth signing or would want to play here given limited playing time. Pridie’s out of options and I think he’s as good as any equivalent they could get on open market. Can’t see them signing Andruw Jones or Scott Posednick, so who’s left that’s better than Pridie?
In terms of 40-man roster, Misch is out of options and seems like candidate to cut. Luis Hernandez is also out of options and highly unlikely to make the team so he’s another.
If they sign anyone to major league deals right now, they need to cut as many and can’t wait to decide.
hernandez probably goes next. Hu likely makes him redundant, and they have turner that can play SS in a pinch.
besides, he probably clears waivers. And if they need another SS body later on, you can always find a stiff like him available.
hey little metsie, how about that pridie excited to see him in flsuhing…think he’ll be half as food as don hahn. hhahahahahahaha… you guys miught loise over 100 this year…good luck losers….
Thought this was weird on Metsblog.
http://www.metsblog.com/2011/01/13/email-qa-why-is-k-rod-not-on-40-man-roster/
Coincidence?
There’s nothing there it says page not found? What was it?
Nevermind he must have deleted it. It was basically the same thing about K-Rod not being on the 40-man almost word for word except it was formated like a reader emailed him a question and his response was what was written here. It struck me as odd because I remembered reading it here this afternoon and I had not read about it before. Anyhow, it’s gone now so no big deal, false alarm.
What about Ronny Paulino? Would the Mets be able to still have a 41 man roster until he returns from his suspension from last year?