Mar
16
2012

Adam Rubin On Why Certain Players Are Cut Early In Camp

An article by Joe D

I wanted to share this great insight by Adam Rubin who posted the following on his blog at ESPN New York in response to a reader’s question on why so many players were cut from major league camp yesterday.

Assistant GM John Ricco explained that any player on the 40-man roster who is still in major league camp on March 20 cannot be optioned to the minors if they are injured and unable to perform — regardless of when the injury actually occurred.

If the player does not heal by Opening Day, he has to go on the major league DL. That means major league service time and major league salary are accumulated.

So, say, Jeurys Familia or Kirk Nieuwenhuis were to be injured in a Grapefruit League game the final two weeks of camp, he would have to land on the major league DL. That’s a major reason why, say, you will not see Familia or Nieuwenhuis in a Grapefruit League after March 19, but you very well could see non-40-man roster guys such as Matt Harvey or Matt den Dekker return as a borrowed player from the minor league side.

This explains a lot…

You learn something new everyday.

About the Author: Joe DeCaro

I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.

8 Comments + Add Comment

Metsie March 16, 2012 at 5:25 pm

I knew it had to do with MLB service just didn’t know that if they got hurt they coldn’t go down…

Not a real problem as Harvey is going to get some extra time who is the only guy I was interested in getting some extra MLB matchups.
t agee March 16, 2012 at 5:54 pm

He’s not on the 40 and doesn’t have to be until Dec 2013. By that time he’ll be in the Majors. Best guess is June 2013.
Des March 16, 2012 at 9:14 pm

Joe D — Thanks for passing the info along. The business of baseball does indeed run the sport of baseball.
Joey D. March 17, 2012 at 12:50 am

I have just one question regarding this rule: Why? It doesn’t seem to be either in the team’s or player’s interest to have such a rule.

If the manager and general manager are on the fence about whether or not a player is ready for the majors, wouldn’t an extra week to ten days be beneficial for the player to help sway their decision? And sending one back to the minors this early doesn’t affect the player’s salary either way since it’s before the deadline for setting the team’s 25 man roster.

I could understand there being a mandatory deadline for reducing the spring training roster to a certain level to allow those most likely to be on the 25 man roster enough time to get more in sync with each other. Could also understand a team sending some of those on the 40 man roster down at this point so they can get more focused attention and training. But I can’t see why decisions regarding those on the 40 man roster has to be mandated instead of being left to the ball club to decide who and when.
- Metsie March 17, 2012 at 12:31 pm
  
  Don’t confuse a roster move with the ability to play in the grapefruit league.
  
  Harvey was sent to the MiLs but he may still get a start in the grapefruit games…
  
  As for who benefits, well it’s the veterans fighting to make the team who benefit from this!
  Without the rule they could be denied playing time which means less opportunity to do something to make a team. If a team has no intentions on keeping a guy by forcing them to fish or cut bait you give those guys an opportunity to find another team to play for as well!
  
  And ALL the players benefit by ensuring they get paid MLB rates if they get injured in the Grapefruit games late enough to take them to regular season if they were put on the 15 day Disabled list!
  
  Not saying that this is all CBA related but the Injury part and pay grade probably is!
Tommy2cat March 17, 2012 at 10:06 am

Another reason why this is the best Met Blog site on the web. THE BEST!!!
Chris Vassar March 18, 2012 at 9:36 am

Why in the world does no one talk about Jeremy Hefner!!!???!!! He is a solid pitcher among if not above all the prospects that get mentioned anywhere!!!
sarge March 18, 2012 at 7:53 pm

Thanks for info JoeD.
Keep it simple so that us non intellectuals can even get it.

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