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Late last evening I was having another one of those conversations with a guy on the next barstool. The discussion turned to why Motter was reportedly added to the 40 man and Walker will have to wait for a spot to be cleared. Why not vice versa, Walker being Walker. The answer arrived at was Motter’s contract must have given him the ability to opt out if not added to the 40 man by a specified date. Any other thoughts?
I don’t know, but my guess is that there is nothing to it. After all, Motter is a classic 4A player with a .191 MLB career batting average and a 56 OPS+ (44% below MLB average). It isn’t like he was a sure fire big leaguer who was told when signing a minor league deal that all he had to do in camp to make the team was play good. DeJong’s back is the sole reason he is on the team.
As far as the opt out, where would he go at this point with camp over? He’d just have to report to Triple-A elsewhere – if his agent could even find him a spot. Finding a new home better than the one he already has would not be easy right now as every team is trying to cut players, not add them. And which org would push aside an incumbent, thinking Motter would be a batter option, especially if he asks for another opt out (all speculation)?
If it were my call, I’d probably try to pass Romero through waivers at this point and take him off the 40-man. I think he’s the worst of our lefty relievers, but it’s very close between all of them (other than Thompson who has been excellent lately). But, we could see a trade or one of the injured guys going to the 60-day – although none of their injuries seems that severe from the reports.
Ben Fred with a Tweet that the last roster cut was between Yepez and Carlson. Understand that we have only so many spots but this put Carlson under a microscope and with Walker on the roster and with now a new twist with Carlson role being in more of utility role to start the season. I think we can assume this is sink or swim time for him.
All we had to do is look back to the start of the spring when Marmol said O’Neill would be playing in center. It was pretty clear where Carlson stood. But he can hit from both sides and has defensive value that Yepez does not. I wouldn’t have thought the two were that competitive.
Well, if they were competing for a spot, Carlson clearly won.
Carlson – .295/.340/.489/.829
Yepez – .224/.281/.328/.609Yepez is so bad defensively, his bat must carry him. It clearly did not carry him this spring.
I had thought the competition was between Burly and Yepez, with Burly having the advantage of being a lefty and Yepez the advantage of proving last year he can hit MLB pitching. We should remember that Yepez was TCN #6 prospect one year ago, and did nothing last year to change that except graduate. He did have an unimpressive spring, so I’m not surprised Burly won out.
Carlson has had a spectacular fall from grace. Going from the guy the org was sold on enough to trade Bader to a utility outfielder/DH who will scuffle for playing time with several others. But I did not think he would be in danger of not making the team. In fact, I wonder about the accuracy of the report.
Burleson slashed .263/.323/.421/.744, which is still .135 pts better than Yepez.
Yepez would have had to beaten either Carlson or Burleson by at least that much to justify being on the roster.
There is another player that could be DFA’d to open a spot for Walker. Jose Fermin might pass through waivers since he is hurt, and wasn’t having a good ST anyway. Not sure how his contract was constructed if he can opt out if he gets DFA. Cards may want to keep him for depth as well.
Carlson has had a spectacular fall from grace. Going from the guy the org was sold on enough to trade Bader to a utility outfielder/DH who will scuffle for playing time with several others
Not only that but he was given a very public vote of confidence after the flirtation with Soto. Now he is on the short end of a DH platoon with Gorman.
Brian, you currently have Guillermo Zuniga in the Springfield section of the Roster Matrix, but the websites for the Redbirds and Springbirds show him at Memphis. Do you really thing he’ll start the season at AA?
-JoeGood question. That gives me a chance to provide a detailed explanation.
The Matrix has never been a projection tool. Instead it reports what we know. Until official season opening rosters are released, players reside at the same level at which they finished the prior season. Zuniga ended 2022 at Double-A so he remains there for now. That will change this week if he makes the Memphis Opening Day roster. Having not seen him in camp, I have no insight on anything he did after opening eyes in the WBC.
With Rule 5 and other things changing rosters sometimes in a non-realistic manner, this is how I chose to handle the offseason rosters way back when, and I have remained consistent. I don’t assume anyone is being promoted until he actually earns it.
P.S. Right now, even without Zuniga, the Matrix has 34 players at Memphis. That includes a whopping 14 relievers. He would be #15/35. We know Barrera and Fermin are injured, but that only gets it down to 32/33 active. Obviously, there are going to be some changes very soon, before games are played.
That all makes sense — thanks for this explanation. I agree that the numbers at Memphis are overloaded right now.
Yes, but it was just a five round draft, otherwise some of the late teens guys may have been released by now.
Prater pitched the other day and it was hard to watch. He just can’t throw strikes.
I wrote about it here.
The five-round 2020 draft may be one of the #STLCards' best ever, but their third-rounder, taken 93rd overall, has been released from minor league camp, along with two others. ($) https://t.co/lgUVkmDd1N pic.twitter.com/kH0JhGpQLj
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) March 29, 2023
I read a tweet yesterday from Chase Cunningham (@FranchFrys25) on March 27,2023 promoting the free agent Gianluca Dalatri. When did this happen and why wasn’t it announced? I tried to embed the tweet, but I can’t figure it out.
Here it is:
FA Gianluca Dalatri
Blew some doors up this past Live ABs
FB 94-95 T95.2 (in door PR) release H averaging around 5ft w/ 18in IVB 10in HB
CT 88 12 IVB 0 HB
SL 80 -2 IVB -10 HB
High A pitcher of the year in 2022🤯Get this man signed/HE CAN PITCH🙌🏼@TreadAthletics @TreadHQ @MLB pic.twitter.com/Px83dqG486
— Chase Cunningham ⚾️ (@FranchFrys25) March 27, 2023
I expected Jonah Davis and Levi Prater to be released soon but was a little surprised about John Beller. He had some moments where he was very effective. But we ultimately have too many pitchers so we’ll probably see a few more get the axe before the minor league season opens.
Michael YaSenka and Tommy Jew have been released. With the Dalatri thing I hate how MiLB doesn’t keep their websites up to date.
BlackHillsCard- that’s crazy. I was actually considering posing a question to see who we thought would be released and Tommy Jew and YaSenka were both on my short list. Beller still is the only surprise for me. Kealey and Roycroft were the other 2 I had my eyes on for pitchers who were above the Complex level. Jew and Jonah Davis were the only outfielders on my list. Mendoza seems like a likely choice on the infield list. And I feel like one of the catchers needs to go to but I have no idea who it would be out of Antoni, Strauss, or Mckeithan. I feel like all 3 are solid contributors who just are never likely to make the majors. But none is really weaker than the others.
I’m also very surprised by Dalatri too if that is indeed official. At the time, he was my favorite post-draft signing in 2020. He seemed to improve a lot last year too once he was converted to full-time reliever. Even though we’re stacked with relievers, I still liked him well enough to keep him over probably 10-15 other guys. Very interesting indeed.
To break a tie, look at which one of the three catchers received fewer looks with the MLB club this spring.
On Dalatri, the release is recent. He was in spring camp.
On reporting timing, it is impossible to know who to blame. Is MiLB not reporting it or are the Cardinals lax in informing them? Either way, information flow is not good, but sometimes I think that is the way they like it.
For example, do a few releases each day instead of 10 at once to draw less attention. Though the bottom line is what it is.
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