Nats Name 60-Man Player Pool
Yesterday, most MLB teams announced the initial 60-man rosters for whatever you want to call what comes next: Summer Camp… Spring Training II… SARS-CoV-2: Electric Boogaloo.
Among the 60 were multiple 2020 watchlist players:
| RHPs | LHPs | CATCHERS | INFIELDERS |
| Joan Adon | Ben Braymer | Tres Barrera | Luis Garcia |
| Wil Crowe | Tim Cate | Jakson Reetz | Carter Kieboom |
| Steven Fuentes | Matt Cronin | ||
| Jake Irvin | |||
| Jackson Rutledge |
Italics = Player on current 40-man roster
There are several other notable names — former watchlist players, fringe 40-man guys, NRIs from way back in March, Seth Romero — but the real takeaway here is that these are the guys eligible right now. There are also some interesting caveats from Rangers beat writer Levi Weaver…
• If a player is not on 40-man, he cannot be removed from “the pool” without being released
• If a player is on the 40-man, he can be removed from the 60-man, but must be exposed to waivers
• If a player tests positive for the coronavirus, he can be placed on a special IL and be replaced
• BUT a player returning from the “COVID-19 IL” the replacement is subject to the rules for 40- and 60-man listed above
• UNLESS there is an “outbreak” (3+ players testing positive) – replacement players can be added/removed without regard to the 40/60-man rules
So what does all of this mean? To me, not very much. We’re just getting an idea as to who the Nats are willing to use beyond the 38 men on the 40-man roster
* We still don’t know who the last two men on the Washington 40-man roster are or even if they have to be named before they appear on the active roster.
Presumably, the next three weeks will be spent working out at Nationals Park and the “Alternate Training Site,” which is rumored to be the new digs in Fredericksburg. They will likely be scrimmages with little-to-no public access, and most likely, limited media access (which we all know the Nats will LOVE).
Otherwise, we’ll just have to wait and see how things play out and hope nothing goes wrong.
Besides Seth Romero, a few more interesting names on the list (from the aged-out, former prospects list): Aaron Barrett, James Bourque, Kyle McGowin, Tyler Eppler (27 year old reliever signed after a mediocre performance in Japan), Austin Voth, Nick Wells, Austen Williams. As well as Jake Noll, Brandon Snyder, Yadiel Hernandez, Andrew Stevenson and Raudy Read.
None of the above are surprises, except for maybe Romero. The only that stand out to me are Jackson Rutledge and Matt Cronin. Both Rutledge and Cronin’s highest level to date is low A Hagerstown. Even the most meteoric of risers, Juan Soto, took 45 days to move from Hagerstown to the majors. For an arm to do that would be next to impossible. But I suppose it’s good they’re signalling that these two should normally rise quickly, and get reps with the big leaguers this season.
First, let me say that I’m not expecting a miracle run by any of the prospect from the taxi squad to the majors. (I’m not even sure the stars will align for the season to happen, but that’s another story.) If the Nats get down to needing to use some of these taxi-squad players, that will mean some serious crashing and burning at the MLB level. Although we’ve come to expect an annual bullpen meltdown anyway, right?
All of that duly noted, the Nats don’t have a lot in the way of LH bullpen help. Doolittle and Elias figure to be on the 26-man, but Elias has had trouble staying healthy. NRI vets are Abad and Sam Freeman, neither of whom inspire a lot of confidence. Braymer is on the 40-man. After him, it’s Cate . . . and then down to Cronin and Romero. And frankly, the most electric arms belong to the last two, even though they have very little experience. Cronin does have background relieving/closing, though, and there’s a lot to be said for that type of experience. If anyone did make a miracle run to the majors, my money would be on Cronin. But it would only be a $2 bet.
100% agree. While it’s unlikely to happen, Cronin would be the Nats’ prospect with the best shot to get the call to the MLB roster.
Rather filling out the 60 man player pool with all players who they think could help in 2020, the Nats selected the prospects that the want to work with and develop in the absence of a minor league season.
Quick note I hadn’t seen elsewhere: Byron Kerr says Adrian Sanchez suffered an Achilles tear two weeks ago, so he is on the 60-day IL (freeing a 40-man spot) and not on the 60-man list.
Field players: I’m really surprised Jacob Wilson isn’t among them. I would certainly trust him to hit better than Noll. I’m moderately surprised at the omissions of Taylor Gushue, who has a lot more experience at higher levels than Reetz, and of Nick Banks, considering that the OF pool is so thin. I’m not terribly surprised that Cole Freeman is missing, as he hasn’t really played above A+ (but then neither has Reetz).
Pitchers: I’m pleasantly surprised at the inclusion of Fuentes, who quietly had one of the best seasons in the organization last summer . . . at least until the PED bust. (He theoretically still has almost a month left on his suspension.) I’m not particularly surprised by Cate, Cronin, Rutledge, and Romero, even though as already noted, they’re awfully short on upper-level experience. Adon and Irvin are the surprises to me, as both spent all of 2019 at Hagerstown and were not nearly as effective as Cate, Rutledge, or Cronin. It does seem like a considerable organizational vote of confidence for Adon and Irvin, though.
If it were me, I would have had Mario Sanchez on the list over Espino, although Espino does have a little MLB experience. Really, though, if we’re down to the 10th starter for the MLB club, the short season is toast anyway.
Surprisingly, some teams like the Red Sox have only 37 players total named.
Agree that getting as many people as possible to work out in (maybe) Fredericksburg can only help their development.
Agree, KW, on Jacob Wilson. He’s a far more accomplished hitter than Noll.
Spike lives!
Assuming that the virus does not force a shutdown (massive assumption), I would expect that the Nats’ “taxi squad” will play a couple of games a week against the taxi squad teams of other MLB teams close-by (Baltimore, Philly, New York, Pittsburgh). Can’t imagine they will keep a 30 man non-active MLB roster occupied for 2 months+ with workouts and intra-squad games against the same players.
Not sure I would agree about the remaining 30 players playing against other teams rather than intersquad games. Wouldn’t there be more of a chance to contract and spread COVID-19? Also, do you really think the poor owners are going to pay for those players to travel?
Just wondering if it wouldn’t have been better just to skip this season.
As far as I am concerned this season does not really count and is basically a scrimmage between MLB teams. Batting averages, ERAs etc. are meaningless. All the players really want is the money.
Amen Thomas
Yes, because it was the players who dragged out the negotiations for a month and went with their go-to strategy of leaking talking points to lapdog beat writers.