Restart roster - 60/40, 30, 28, 26, sometimes 27, plus 3 ...

[JCA-CrystalCity]

MLB.com article on the roster rules for the restart:

https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-roster-transaction-rules-for-2020-season

60 man player pool. 
All players on the 40 man expected to play this year are in the 60 man pool.
30 report to MLB home park, 30 go to the alternate roster site, which is likely a nearby minor league park.  F-burg would be the closest / newest, but Hagersburg could also work for Nats.

Active roster would start at 30, then drop to 28 in 2 weeks, then drop to 26 in two more weeks.  After the rosters are down to 26, can add a 27th for doubleheaders.

Teams can take a 3 player taxi squad on road trips for quick replacements.  One must be a catcher.  Catcher can serve as a bullpen catcher.  Ready to get Raudy?

Here's the link to the prior Nats roster thread started by Cory:
https://www.wnff.net/index.php?topic=38454.0

Chief doesn't like constantly playing with names of threads, so b/c this is so different, I figured I'd start a new thread.  Could also merge if we want.

First thing, I think this is good for Garcia allowing him some time to develop.   Curious how the Nats will handle guys like Lara who are bug prospects but a long way from the majors.  Are the DR camps active?

[Natsinpwc]

MLB.com article on the roster rules for the restart:

https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-roster-transaction-rules-for-2020-season

60 man player pool. 
All players on the 40 man expected to play this year are in the 60 man pool.
30 report to MLB home park, 30 go to the alternate roster site, which is likely a nearby minor league park.  F-burg would be the closest / newest, but Hagersburg could also work for Nats.

Active roster would start at 30, then drop to 28 in 2 weeks, then drop to 26 in two more weeks.  After the rosters are down to 26, can add a 27th for doubleheaders.

Teams can take a 3 player taxi squad on road trips for quick replacements.  One must be a catcher.  Catcher can serve as a bullpen catcher.  Ready to get Raudy?

Here's the link to the prior Nats roster thread started by Cory:
https://www.wnff.net/index.php?topic=38454.0

Chief doesn't like constantly playing with names of threads, so b/c this is so different, I figured I'd start a new thread.  Could also merge if we want.

First thing, I think this is good for Garcia allowing him some time to develop.   Curious how the Nats will handle guys like Lara who are bug prospects but a long way from the majors.  Are the DR camps active?

Not clear why the roster needs to decline from 30 to 26?  Why do teams need bigger rosters at the start but not later?

[HalfSmokes]

Not clear why the roster needs to decline from 30 to 26?  Why do teams need bigger rosters at the start but not later?

presumably the other 34 players will be treated (and paid) like minor leaguers in a normal season 

[Natsinpwc]

presumably the other 34 players will be treated (and paid) like minor leaguers in a normal season

So money. 

[HalfSmokes]

So money. 

it's baseball, usually that ends up being the answer to most questions. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'd assume that teams would rather not be paying an extra 4 guys as if they were on the active roster- there is a big difference between 25 man and 40 man minimum salary.I wonder whether or not the taxi squad will be entitled to major league or minor league pay

[Natsinpwc]

it's baseball, usually that ends up being the answer to most questions. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'd assume that teams would rather not be paying an extra 4 guys as if they were on the active roster- there is a big difference between 25 man and 40 man minimum salary.I wonder whether or not the taxi squad will be entitled to major league or minor league pay

Not clear why they need 30 at the start then. With three weeks of spring training I would think pitchers would be ready. Onward we move.  I wonder how deep into the 60 man roster teams will have to go? Might be just like watching the KBO.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I'll guess that the declining roster has to do with pitchers only having 3 weeks in camp before the start of the season.  I think teams will need extra middle relief early.  The declining roster size is to get back closer to normal roster size for September and the end of August.

[imref]

One of the Athletic writers last night tweeted that Joan Adon will be on the taxi squad, he's a 21 year-old pitcher who put up ok numbers at Hagerstown last year.

http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=672851

[imref]

There's an interesting article on Fangraphs speculating that clubs will keep a Billy Hamilton speedster on their rosters for as long as possible to have available for extra inning situations.  The idea being that you bat him last at the end of the ninth so worst case, he would start the 10th on 2nd.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/billy-hamilton-on-second-with-no-outs/

Also, Zimmerman says he hasn't decided whether or not to play given potential risk to his 3-week old and his mom if he tests positive.
https://apnews.com/d8380b425708c6caf39a8afd9aa9ed6a

[bluestreak]

There's an interesting article on Fangraphs speculating that clubs will keep a Billy Hamilton speedster on their rosters for as long as possible to have available for extra inning situations.  The idea being that you bat him last at the end of the ninth so worst case, he would start the 10th on 2nd.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/billy-hamilton-on-second-with-no-outs/

Also, Zimmerman says he hasn't decided whether or not to play given potential risk to his 3-week old and his mom if he tests positive.
https://apnews.com/d8380b425708c6caf39a8afd9aa9ed6a

Can’t you just use him as a pinch runner?

[Natsinpwc]

There's an interesting article on Fangraphs speculating that clubs will keep a Billy Hamilton speedster on their rosters for as long as possible to have available for extra inning situations.  The idea being that you bat him last at the end of the ninth so worst case, he would start the 10th on 2nd.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/billy-hamilton-on-second-with-no-outs/

Also, Zimmerman says he hasn't decided whether or not to play given potential risk to his 3-week old and his mom if he tests positive.
https://apnews.com/d8380b425708c6caf39a8afd9aa9ed6a

Watch these guys blow it by getting a hit and then getting stranded.  And the Wilson Ramos or someone like that starts the next inning on 2B.

[Natsinpwc]

Can’t you just use him as a pinch runner?

I think it will be hard for teams to time using a pinch hitter in bottom of the ninth.  They will probably want one on the expanded roster as he will be useful in other innings also. 

[imref]

Can’t you just use him as a pinch runner?

Zimmerman as a pinch runner?

(I know you were talking about Hamilton, just couldn't resist . )

[Five Banners]

There's an interesting article on Fangraphs speculating that clubs will keep a Billy Hamilton speedster on their rosters for as long as possible to have available for extra inning situations.  The idea being that you bat him last at the end of the ninth so worst case, he would start the 10th on 2nd.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/billy-hamilton-on-second-with-no-outs/

Had the identical thought about Billy Hamilton when this came out. So LOOGYs bad, hitless speedsters and runner checks good

[bluestreak]

60 man released. Zimm and Doolittle on it. So are Romero, Garcia and Rutledge.

https://twitter.com/nationals/status/1277335530183766016?s=21

[imref]

Zuck notes Adrian Sanchez is on the 60 day DL with an Achilles injury.

[Elvir Ovcina]

I think it will be hard for teams to time using a pinch hitter in bottom of the ninth.  They will probably want one on the expanded roster as he will be useful in other innings also.

That's kinda the point.  If he's still on the bench with two outs and nobody on in the ninth, why would you send him up to hit then (almost certainly replacing a better hitter, now that pitchers won't be batting) as opposed to just waiting and putting him on second to start the tenth - assuming you get there - in which situation he is almost certainly wayfaster than whoever he's going in for?  You get the benefit you want without the guesswork of him singling and getting stranded, for example.

[bluestreak]

Joe Ross set to opt out of 2020 season.

https://twitter.com/Britt_Ghiroli/status/1277679247583260672

Edit: Zimmerman out too.

https://twitter.com/markzuckerman/status/1277682166437216256?s=21

[imref]

Wow

[UMDNats]

Zimm apparently is not retiring, but hard to see him being good after a year off. This opens up a spot for someone on the roster, so that's interesting.

[varoadking]

Joe Ross set to opt out of 2020 season.

https://twitter.com/Britt_Ghiroli/status/1277679247583260672

Edit: Zimmerman out too.

https://twitter.com/markzuckerman/status/1277682166437216256?s=21

Can the Nats replace them on the 60 man roster, or has that ship sailed?

[imref]

Can the Nats replace them on the 60 man roster, or has that ship sailed?

Yes. They just can’t be added back to the same team

Ross is a big surprise. He gives up a year toward FA

[nfotiu]

Yes. They just can’t be added back to the same team

Ross is a big surprise. He gives up a year toward FA

For a guy always on the bubble for being in the rotation, this is a tough choice for him.  I see his Dad is a Dr and Mom is a nurse.  I wonder if they had some influence.

[nfotiu]

Zimm apparently is not retiring, but hard to see him being good after a year off. This opens up a spot for someone on the roster, so that's interesting.

Zimm may be better with a year to rest his body.   Or if the thought was he just had one year left, then why not go out on a high note, instead of this weird, anti-climatic season.

[imref]

Zimm may be better with a year to rest his body.   Or if the thought was he just had one year left, then why not go out on a high note, instead of this weird, anti-climatic season.

Hard to think of a better high note than last year.