Taveras, Polanco highlight 40-man adds
It's not as big a day on the baseball calendar as, say, Opening Day or the All-Star Game, but it was a fairly important offseason day for several Minor Leaguers and their parent clubs. Wednesday -- more specifically, midnight ET -- was the deadline for players to be added to the 40-man roster before the Rule 5 Draft, which will take place Dec. 12 at the Winter Meetings.
Players who signed when they were 19 or older and have been in pro ball for four years or who signed at 18 or under and have played in pro ball for five years are eligible for the Rule 5 Draft. Teams can protect their players who fit the description from that process by adding them to their 40-man rosters. (A more in-depth primer of the Rule 5 Draft can be found here.)
That's where Wednesday's bevy of moves comes in.
Perhaps the biggest name added to a 40-man roster was top Cardinals prospect Oscar Taveras. The 21-year-old outfielder, who ranks as the No. 2 overall prospect, was expected to join the Major League club at some point during the 2013 season but was limited due to an ankle injury that eventually required surgery. He is expected to be ready for Spring Training, where he will compete for a starting job in the St. Louis outfield.
MLB.com's No. 13 overall and No. 2 Pirates prospect Gregory Polanco also earned a spot on the Pirates' 40-man roster after a breakout season across the top three levels of the Minors. The 22-year-old outfielder owned a .285/.356/.434 slash line with 12 homers, 30 doubles, 71 RBIs and 38 steals across those three levels while developing into an exciting five-tool player.
Other Top 100 prospects added to 40-man rosters were the the Yankees' Gary Sanchez (26), the Pirates' Alen Hanson (39), the Rangers' Luis Sardinas (70), and Red Sox prospects Anthony Ranaudo (79) and Garin Cecchini (82).
Here's a breakdown of prospects who are ranked in the Top 10 in their respective organizations and were added to 40-man rosters Wednesday:
NOTABLE Players Added To 40-man rosters
POS | NAME | MLB ORG | NOTES AND 2013 STATS |
---|---|---|---|
LHP | Tim Berry | BAL | No. 6 Orioles prospect; 2009 50th-round pick; 11-7, 3.85 ERA in 27 starts |
OF | Bryce Brentz | BOS | No. 9 Red Sox prospect; 2010 first-rounder (36th overall); 19 HR, 64 RBIs, .799 OPS |
3B | Garin Cecchini | BOS | No. 7 Red Sox prospect; 2010 fourth-rounder; .322/.443/.471 slash line |
RHP | Anthony Ranaudo | BOS | No. 6 Red Sox prospect; 2010 first-rounder (39th overall); 2.96 ERA in 25 appearances |
2B/SS | Arismendy Alcantara | CHC | No. 8 Cubs prospect; 2008 international signing; .271/.352/.451 slash line, 31 SB |
2B/SS | Carlos Sanchez | CWS | No. 9 White Sox prospect; 2009 international signing; .241/.293/.296 slash line |
OF | Trayce Thompson | CWS | No. 4 White Sox prospect; 2009 second-rounder; .229/.321/.383, 15 HR, 73 RBIs |
SS | Rosell Herrera | COL | No. 4 Rockies prospect; 2009 international signing; .343/.419/.515 slash line, 16 HR, 21 SB |
1B | Kyle Parker | COL | No. 9 Rockies prospect; 2010 first-rounder (26th overall); .288/.345/.492 slash line, 23 HR |
OF | Daniel Fields | DET | No. 3 Tigers prospect; 2009 sixth-rounder; .284/.356/.435, 10 HR, 58 RBIs, 24 SB |
SS | Eugenio Suarez | DET | No. 4 Tigers prospect; 2008 international signing; .264/.347/.396 slash line |
OF | Domingo Santana | HOU | No. 9 Astros prospect; 2009 international signing (Phillies); 25 HR, 64 RBIs, .842 OPS |
3B | Cheslor Cuthbert | KC | No. 9 Royals prospect; 2009 international signing; .247/.316/.387 slash line |
OF | Randal Grichuk | LAA | No. 4 Angels prospect; 2009 first-rounder (24th overall); .256 batting average, 22 HR, 27 2B |
RHP | Angel Sanchez | MIA | No. 10 Marlins prospect; 2010 international signing; 124 strikeouts, 51 BB in 131 1/3 innings |
C | J.T. Realmuto | MIA | No. 7 Marlins prospect; 2010 third-rounder; .239/.310/.353 slash line, 5 HR |
RHP | Jose Urena | MIA | No. 6 Marlins prospect; 2008 international signing; 10-7, 3.73 ERA over 27 appearances (26 starts) |
1B | Hunter Morris | MIL | No. 7 Brewers prospect; 2010 fourth-rounder; 24 HR, 73 RBIs, .766 OPS |
OF | Max Kepler | MIN | No. 8 Twins prospect; 2009 international signing; played in only 61 games (elbow) |
2B | Jorge Polanco | MIN | No. 9 Twins prospect; 2009 international signing; .308/.362/.452, 5 HR, 78 RBIs |
OF | Slade Heathcott | NYY | No. 7 Yankees prospect; 2009 first-rounder (29th overall); .261/.327/.411, 8 HR, 15 SB |
C | Gary Sanchez | NYY | No. 1 Yankees prospect; 2009 international signing; .253/.324/.412, 15 HR, 71 RBIs |
RHP | Raul Alcantara | OAK | No. 7 Athletics prospect; 2009 international signing (Red Sox); 12-6, 3.11 ERA over 27 starts |
C | Tommy Joseph | PHI | No. 5 Phillies prospect; 2009 second-rounder (Giants); played in only 36 games (concussion) |
OF | Alen Hanson | PIT | No. 3 Pirates prospect; 2009 international signing; .274/.329/.427, 30 SB |
OF | Gregory Polanco | PIT | No. 2 Pirates prospect; 2009 international signing; .285/.356/.434, 12 HR, 38 SB |
OF | Gary Brown | SF | No. 9 Giants prospect; 2010 first-rounder (24th overall); 13 HR, 29 2B, 17 SB |
OF | Stefen Romero | SEA | No. 7 Mariners prospect; 2010 12th-rounder; .277/.333/.443 slash line, 11 HR, 76 RBIs |
OF | Oscar Taveras | STL | No. 1 Cardinals prospect; 2009 international signing; played in 47 games (ankle) |
SS | Luis Sardinas | TEX | No. 2 Rangers prospect; 2009 international signing; .288/.340/.347, 32 SB |
OF | Michael Taylor | WAS | No. 4 Nationals prospect; 2009 sixth-rounder; .263/.340/.426, 10 HR, 51 SB |