The Mariners announced Thursday that they’ve selected the contract of top outfield prospect Julio Rodriguez, thus adding him to the 40-man roster and protecting him from the 2021 Rule 5 Draft. Also added to the 40-man roster were fellow outfielder Alberto Rodriguez and lefty Ray Kerr. Seattle’s 40-man roster is now up to a total of 39 players.
Rodriguez was about the most obvious 40-man addition any team would make in advance of tomorrow afternoon’s deadline to protect players from the Rule 5 Draft. The 20-year-old is heralded as a potential superstar, ranking as the sport’s No. 2 overall prospect at Baseball America and MLB.com and landing No. 6 over at FanGraphs.
Despite his youth, Rodriguez is expected to make his big league debut at some point in 2022 — if not on Opening Day then perhaps early in the year. (The looming collective bargaining talks could impact the timing.) Rodriguez, 21 in late December, split the 2021 season between Class-A Advanced and Double-A, turning in a dominant .347/.441/.560 against much older and more experienced pitching (particularly in Double-A). The Mariners are expected to be aggressive in free agency and in trades this winter as they look to launch themselves back into the postseason, but president of baseball operations has already stated there’s “no scenario” where Rodriguez or the other very best prospects in his system are traded (link via The Athletic’s Corey Brock).
As for Alberto Rodriguez, the Mariners picked up from the Blue Jays in the 2020 trade that sent Taijuan Walker to Toronto. About nine months older than Julio, Alberto split the 2021 season between Class-A and Class-A Advanced, hitting at a .289/.379/.470 clip with 10 home runs, 31 doubles, five triples and 15 steals. The 21-year-old’s best skill is his considerable raw power, per scouting reports at BA, MLB.com and FanGraphs, though there are concerns about his hit tool and defense in the outfield corners. The elder Rodriguez generally ranks in the No. 20-25 range on Mariners prospects lists, although Seattle has arguably the best farm system in baseball, so he’d place higher with most other teams.
Kerr, 27, joined the Mariners as an undrafted free agent in 2017 and has steadily risen through the system. After working as a starter early in his pro career, the 6’3″ lefty moved to the bullpen in 2021 and notched a combined 3.18 ERA with a huge 36.8% strikeout rate, a slightly high but manageable 9.8% walk rate, and a strong 53% ground-ball rate. A hard-throwing southpaw who can touch the upper 90s, miss bats and keep the ball on the ground at that rate in Double-A/Triple-A would surely have piqued the interest of other clubs. The Mariners’ selection of Kerr immediately thrusts him into the mix for a bullpen spot next season — particularly given the lack of proven southpaws in the relief mix at present.
Pretty much routine and widely expected, at least as far as Julio.
To tell the truth, I don’t know much about Kerr..
Maybe the Mariners are about to make a splash and take it to the next level while they still have Haniger. I heard trading Kendall Graveman at the deadline last year went over like a turd in a punch bowl (at least they got Toro in that deal). Julio’s minor league numbers look amazing. I hope that translates to success in MLB. It’s been along time since the Mariners have been really good. They had a nice season in 2021, but I still remember when they had Edgar Martinez and Ichiro on some outstanding teams nearly 20 years ago.
Kerr throws up to 100mph with a wipeout slider. He’s right on the cusp of the majors. Very well could be our power lefty reliever sooner than later.
Thanks.
We’ll surely be watching this guy!
Absolutely shocking.
Ray Kerr is a lefty who throws 100 mph and Alberto is looking like another young stud outfielder for the org. We got him in the Taijuan trade back in 2020.
And we all know who Julio is…. Makes me wonder if he could open the year with the team. Wouldn’t mind if he got 2 more months of minor league ball but hey maybe he can force the M’s hand especially if the new CBA changes the rules on service time
They’re just protecting him from Rule 5 status. I’m willing to bet he spends two months in Tacoma still. They should have learned by now with Kelenic that public pressure shouldn’t change a prospects timeline.
You got that right.
Yeah I agree with that. No need to rush the guy especially when he’s just 20 years old (21 this December)
If he’s blowing it up in spring training I doubt they send him down to AAA, if he struggles then send him down. M’s need to field the best team possible, they missed the playoffs by 1 game last year and he could be the difference during that 2 months in 2022.
Possibility he makes the team now. I didn’t think he had enough years since being signed to worry about rule 5 draft status yet.
If they bring in another outfielder, Julio probably starts the season in the minors. I would imagine they’d like to get him more experience in center and perhaps have him debut in June or July. But if the rules regarding service time change and he absolutely rakes through good process in spring…
The surprise here of course is Alberto. He barely played for High-A Everett, yet they felt he needed to be protected. He was overshadowed last year by Julio and his buddy Noelvi, but he absolutely tore it up. Fielders with so little experience rarely get selected, but Seattle must be high on him because they weren’t taking any chances.
Damn, was hoping my team could nab Julio on Rule 5.
Right, and you were hoping you could sleep with . . . whatsername.
Not to worry. The Orioles would have passed on him in Rule 5, citing a “glut of talent on their 40-man”.
Kelenic, Rodríguez and Lewis should be fascinating to watch next year !
If Lewis shows up.
Kelenic, Rodriguez, Suzuki/Conforto. Now there’s an OF I’d like to watch.
The Mariners have no need to add another outfielder. Haniger, Julio, Kelenic, Lewis, Trammell, Fraley, Zach DeLoach, Cade Marlowe, Gabriel Gonzalez, Rodriguez… The M’s should be set on OF for the better part of the next decade. They need infielders (Semien, Story, Bryant).
They need a CF. Haniger in RF and Kelenic and LF but need a CF. Trammell\Fraley are both 4th OF that can move around the OF but not a solid option to be an everyday starter. Lewis has no chance starting the season playing out in the field and at best will be DH to start the season if he can get healthy enough. The rest you mentioned are not playing in MLB next season and some years away.
Sorry, Julio will be playing next year but probably not to start the season. I meant the others (DeLoach, Marlowe, Gonzalez, and Alberto Rodriguez) will not be playing anytime some in MLB.
You don’t think Kelenic can stick in CF? I admit I’m not very well researched on his defensive skills. If not, then I suppose you’re right!
Way to name four players that aren’t even sniffing the majors yet
Thus why I said “better part of the next decade” !
OF is a need. Lewis can’t stay healthy and will be DHing quite a bit, and Kelenic, Haniger, and Julio are the only legit starters we have, and Julio hasn’t played a game above AA yet.
If you think Ray Kerr has potential….
Wait until you see JOE KERR !!
Be nice to get closer to world series than when got robbed by the refs in Cleveland. With Julio maybe Marte, Bryant and Scherzer we could go all way to first world series win.
Knowing the M’s sit at 39 seated roster spots on the 40 Man… realistically speaking, how many FAs do they sign? Do they have multiple guys they would just DFA for Semien, Conforto, whomever, etc. etc.?? Or are they mildly content with their 39 men with room for “1” more?
“With the addtions of Ray Kerr, Alberto Rodriguez, Julio Rodriguez and the activations of Evan White, Kyle Lewis, Ken Giles, Nick Margevicius, and Justin Dunn, the #Mariners 40(39) man payroll now sits at $25,832,750.***”
t.co/1M99ZBWv9c
M’s payroll is basically 1-year of Justin Verlander.
With the roster sitting at 39 currently, and a few FAs needed and yet to be signed, could this signal the M’s are confident in trade scenario where multiple players leave for one returning?
There’s not a lot on the 40-man I would be okay with losing for nothing.
Jerry mentioned today that he has made significant progress on some trades.
If they signed Taylor, I would think Moore would be gone.
You would think so however if they could somehow get Moore to hit he would be then quite the player.
We have 3 guys we could DFA if need be off the current 40-man:
Kevin Padlo
Donovan Walton
Aaron Fletcher
Padlo and Fletcher are candidates, but Walton is their reserve middle-infielder. He’s probably safe. Godoy might be a DFA candidate. If Raleigh starts the season in AAA, they won’t need a fourth catching option on the 40.
Even Gerber might be a candidate if he isn’t a full-go by spring.
Just curious – do all prospects have to be added to the 40 or else risk being taken in the draft or do some have built-in protection based on when they were signed or some other factor?
The MLB rule is like this…its all about when he was signed, for draftees from high school (2017 must be added this year) years protection without being adden to the 40 man roster. College draftees (2018 being added Now) get 4 year protection. International prospects signed in 2017 or before must be added for protection, only the Best and most promesing prospects get added, like My Padres added rhp Adrián Martinez and LhP Mackenzie Gore
Age is the key. 19 or older and with 4 years of service time; 18 or younger and 5 years of service time.
What makes it a little tricky is what they consider service time.
A player can be in a minor league system for either 4 or 5 years, depending on the age of signing, before he either must be protected on a 40-man roster or exposed to the Rule 5 draft. Any player drafted in Rule 5 must spend the season on the MLB roster or they are returned to the original team.
Thanks 2021; Stevil & cheese.
Wow Two Others is an insane prospect. Might be better than J Rod
Damn! There goes the hope that the Mariners accidentally forgot to protect Rodriguez from the Rule 5 draft.
Dayeisen Arias should have been added as well. He had a very good year last season is only 22 and will almost certainly get selected by another team. The rule 5 is almost built for relievers. I doubt Alberto would have been selected, and if he was, he’d probably be returned. Arias is 100% getting picked up.