Major League rosters can expand to 40 players beginning September 1st. Not everybody thinks it's such a great idea. Tigers manager Jim Leyland recently vented to reporters, including Jason Beck of MLB.com. "I've been really adamant about that, really a stickler on it," Leyland said. "When I have that meeting with the Commissioner [as part of the special committee for on-field matters], I talk about that all the time. Myself, if everybody went to 28, that wouldn't bother me at all. I think that's fine. That's just my feeling, but any manager who does a pretty good job of managing all year, and then at the biggest month of the year, he loses some of his ability to maneuver." Let's take a look at what the plans are for other clubs looking to maneuver over the season's final month.
- The Pirates are mulling their September call-ups with the post-season in mind, as they entered play today holding the second NL Wild Card spot and with Triple-A Indianapolis likely playoff-bound. General Manager Neal Huntington told reporters, including Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "Where we go from there … it’s a delicate balance. I’ve been with another organization where we raided the Triple-A team as it was headed to the post-season. The guys came up and didn’t play very much, and that didn’t go over very well on many fronts." At least one left-handed reliever and another catcher will be added when rosters expand, writes Biertempfel.
- Pirates manager Clint Hurdle adds another consideration when deciding upon September call-ups: cost. In Biertempfel's piece, Hurdle pointed out, "In my rookie year, if you got a call-up, you made $5,000 or $6,000 (in September). Now you’re talking about making $75,000. So if you call up 10 guys, you’re picking up $750,000 in salary and everything that goes with it.”
- Orioles manager Buck Showalter has acknowledged the team's September call-ups will be affected by the team's playoff chase. Rich Dubroff of CSNBaltimore.com lists possible players, both on the disabled list and at Triple-A, who could join the O's when the rosters expand.
- The Padres may not have the roster space to bring Jedd Gyorko up in September, according to John Maffei of the North County Times. The Padres already have 49 players on their 40-man roster (nine are on the 60-day disabled list) and may not want to start Gyorko's service clock just for a September sneak peak, writes Maffei. Since Gyorko has less than three full seasons in pro ball, the Padres don't have to add him to the 40-man roster next season.
- Lucas Duda will probably have to wait until September 1st to rejoin the Mets because the team wants to take a longer look at Mike Baxter, tweets the New York Post's Mike Puma.
- The Nationals have several candidates for September call-ups including pitcher John Lannan and 2011 first-round draft pick Anthony Rendon, writes MLB.com's Bill Ladson.
The Pirates have an average bullpen by most fangraphs metrics, I don’t see the harm in adding Cole there.
He’s not on the 40 man? Remember, he signed a minor league deal
By my count they have 39 guys on 40 man so should be an opening and either way they have guys like Matt Hague, Chase d’Arnaud they should have no issue DFA’ing
Yeah I would like it if they brought him up. I’m pretty nervous about the current bullpen, not too many reliable guys other than Grilli or Hanrahan. Others are ok but wouldn’t want them in a high leverage situation. Justin Wilson may come up soon to be an extra lefty, maybe before September.
LJ Hoes has earned a shot unlike McClouth! Arrieta and Matusz to bullpen for Col type approach especially with NYY, Bos on slate down stretch.
McClouth is a former all star and LJ Hoes is a former AA Bowie Baysox …
LJ Hoes has earned a shot unlike McClouth! Oh, who hit the go ahead bases clearing triple today against the Tigers? Answer: Nate McLouth!
Whether he earned a call up or not, he’s certainly earning his keep and to me that is very “Revalent” Mister!
McLouth is a former gold glove center fielder who has stabilized the outfield defense.
Crying poor over 750K? REALLY?
The issue is not so much that as the fact that the Indianapolis Indians will likely make the International League playoffs. I don’t think that Pirates ownership is THAT cheap, especially not with the playoffs on the line.
I think that Hurdle was talking about service time clocks as much as he was money.
Course hurdle should have also mentioned that if just *1* of those kids wins a game that happens to be the one they need/needed to make or break the 18 year playoff drought the Buccos have had… Wouldn’t 5x 750k have been worth it???
“Doh” – Jed Gyorko
Are we really touting Nate McLouth in this thread?
I don’t understand why Jim Leyland thinks expanding rosters from 25 to 40 players gives managers less ability to maneuver.
With guys like Parrino and Tekotte taking up space on the 40 man roster it seems useless to keep Gyorko from getting his feet wet this September. They need to find out what he can do at the major league level.
If the Padres are gonna trade Headley, wouldn’t make sense to see what his replacement would do? It is not as if a lot of service time is being added..
And do what with Headley? Bench him?
No one said Gyorko would have to play third..plus Headley has played OF in the past.