Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Blue Jays Clean Up 40 Man Roster

The Blue Jays announced that Frank Menechino and Ken Huckaby have elected to become a free agents after declining assignments to Triple-A Syracuse.

Additionally, the Jays have outrighted Jason Arnold and Raul Tablado to Syracuse.

The moves open up 4 spots on the Jays 40 man roster.

Menechino is a bit of a surprise as he performed reasonably well off the bench (.352 OBP), but given that the Jays have five players (Koskie, Hillenbrand, Hudson, Adams and Hill) likely to be on next year's roster that can play the three positions that Menechino does it's not a shocker by any means.

Huckaby, Arnold and Tablado being taken off the 40 man roster are no surprises given their performance this year.

There are currently 35 players on the Jays 40 man roster. Still remaining on the 40 man roster is Miguel Negron, although I suppose he would be the first to go if the Jays needed another roster spot opened up.

Mike Green identified the following players that will need to be protected this offseason or exposed to the Rule 5 draft:

Josh Banks
Jamie Vermilyea
Davis Romero*
Ryan Roberts
Rob Cosby
Bubbie Buzachero
Kurt Isenberg
Robinson Diaz

* Romero will be a 6 year minor league free agent and not subject to the Rule 5 draft if not added to the 40 man roster

I suspect at this point the top 5 players listed above will be the candidates to be protected, likely in that order (the position players would be less likely to stick in the Majors for a full season). Of course, trades and free agent signings could take up, or free up, 40 man roster spots and have an impact on who is protected.

Thanks to Doug C for the heads up.

Posted by Pistol on Thursday, October 13 2005 @ 01:48 PM EDT.

Blue Jays Clean Up 40 Man Roster | 26 comments | Create New Account

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John Northey - Thursday, October 13 2005 @ 02:51 PM EDT (#130080) #

I'd bet on Menechino and Huck being offered minor league deals with spring training invites. Huck as a AAA backup can be useful, and Menechino might find few that are willing to give him a major league contract and slot on the 40 man. I'd like it if Menechino was still around though.

Magpie - Thursday, October 13 2005 @ 02:55 PM EDT (#130081) #

Actually, Menechino stunk against LH pitching this past season (.191, .339, .330). It was a one-year blip, as he hadn't been a reverse platoon hitter in the past. But it sure killed his numbers this past season, because two-thirds of his at bats were against LH in 2005.

At his age, and coming off a .216 season, how likely is it that he's going to get a major league contract this winter? So I suppose the Jays could re-sign to a minor league deal, if they're still interested.

Pistol - Thursday, October 13 2005 @ 03:07 PM EDT (#130082) #

Actually, Menechino stunk against LH pitching this past season

Well that'll teach me for stating that blindly.

I don't think anyone will give Menechino a major league contract, but he's reasonable to sign to a minor league contract and have at the end of the bench.

huckamaniac - Thursday, October 13 2005 @ 03:15 PM EDT (#130084) #

A little off topic, but I hope that JP didn't really turn down an offer of Ryan Howard for Lilly back in the summer and that it was only a rumour.

Ron - Thursday, October 13 2005 @ 03:17 PM EDT (#130085) #

What in the world happened to Jason Arnold?

Wasn't he a former first round draft pick?

At one point he was one of the better prospects in the Jays system.

Gerry - Thursday, October 13 2005 @ 03:30 PM EDT (#130086) #

I doubt that Vermilyea will be added to the 40 man roster. Remember the Jays will leave room for a free agent or two.

My doubts on Vermilyea are because he is a middle reliever; he did not have a great 2005; and he has not demonstrated a skill set that would allow him to survive on a 25 man major league roster at this time.

Jordan - Thursday, October 13 2005 @ 03:59 PM EDT (#130089) #

I think Banks, Roberts and Cosby are all but guaranteed spots on the 40-man roster. Gerry's right that Vermilyea might not be that attractive to other teams, but I'd be loathe to leave him unprotected regardless -- he does have value. Diaz and Isenberg are maybes, and I think they'd happily let Buzachero walk. They'd probably hope Romero doesn't walk away from his first organization, but if they think he might, they'll protect him too.

SK in NJ - Thursday, October 13 2005 @ 04:01 PM EDT (#130090) #

Arnold was a 2nd round pick by the Yankees.

I'm equally surprised at his rapid decline. I wasn't expecting greatness, but I certainly expected him to make the majors with the Jays at some point. Hard to believe it was only 2003 (two seasons ago) that he was pegged to shoot up the system and reach the majors. Dave Bush, Brandon League, and even Dustin McGowan (with TJ surgery) beat him to it.

I'm not surprised at Menechino being let go, but I hope it doesn't mean the Jays are keeping all their infielders. Aaron Hill in particular showed too much promise to be in a utility role.

Well, at least something is going on now. Can't wait until the off-season.

Flex - Thursday, October 13 2005 @ 04:08 PM EDT (#130093) #

"I hope that JP didn't really turn down an offer of Ryan Howard for Lilly..."

Let's not get too excited about Howard. Don't forget that Eric Hinske hit 24 HR with 84 RBI in his first year. And who knew Lilly would have the year he did? The reason Howard is so exciting to the Phils isn't that he's so fabulous, it's that he's pretty good for a lot less than $15 million a year.

VBF - Thursday, October 13 2005 @ 04:17 PM EDT (#130094) #

There wasn't an offer. The only reliable source to say this was JP himself on a WWJP. He said a proposal of such was never discussed.

VBF - Thursday, October 13 2005 @ 04:30 PM EDT (#130095) #

Gone but not Forgotten?

mcpherv - Thursday, October 13 2005 @ 05:17 PM EDT (#130097) #

So far just Cosby and Houston added to the 40 man:

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20051013&content_id=1248906&vkey=pr_tor&fext=.jsp&c_id=tor

3 spots left, and as another poster said, they'll want to leave room for signings, etc. Not much room considering everyone else that needs protection from the Rule 5... I'd have to think that Banks and Roberts have earned spots (as long as Roberts production in the AFL doesn't crash).

Flex - Thursday, October 13 2005 @ 05:40 PM EDT (#130098) #

Expect a couple of trades to clear some room.

HippyGilmore - Thursday, October 13 2005 @ 07:48 PM EDT (#130100) #

Anyone else think Houston could be in line to challenge for a spot in the opening day bullpen? His numbers were staggeringly good.

Pistol - Thursday, October 13 2005 @ 08:02 PM EDT (#130102) #

Well, the Jays like something in Houston to put him on the 40 man roster.

Of course his numbers weren't all that different from Andrade, Carlson or Gronkiewicz.

I would think they're all longshots to make the Jays.

Rickster - Thursday, October 13 2005 @ 08:08 PM EDT (#130103) #

Never heard of this Houston guy, but he's a good candidate to be taken as a Rule 5, considering his K/IP ratio. I bet they are just holding on to him to help Syracuse next year.

Gerry - Thursday, October 13 2005 @ 11:38 PM EDT (#130106) #

Part of the strategy is to protect guys who could be hidden on a 25 man roster for a full year by another team. Sp who can you hide? Speedy outfielders, crafty lefty pitchers and hard throwing righties. All of these guys could provide some value in a limited role in the major leagues.

Ryan Houston fills the bill to be protected as he throws 95 with a good slider, and could be a part of the back end of a bullpen. Banks would find it tougher to survive as would Vermilyea and Romero. Neither Isenberg nor Diaz dominated A ball so they would likely not make the jump to the big leagues.

Ryan Roberts is an interesting case, he put up good numbers in AA but he has never been listed as a top prospect by BA. Roberts has a chance to be picked.

PeterG - Thursday, October 13 2005 @ 11:39 PM EDT (#130107) #

I think the reason that they are holding on to Houston is because he throws harder than the 3 guys that Pistol mentioned. Those 3 are pretty much topped out, while Houston is seen to have some upside.

Craig B - Friday, October 14 2005 @ 12:43 AM EDT (#130110) #

Sp who can you hide? Speedy outfielders, crafty lefty pitchers and hard throwing righties. All of these guys could provide some value in a limited role in the major leagues.

There's another factor to this as well. Hard throwers and fast outfielders are traditionally the types of players who have "upside" in the eyes of scouts, and therefore guys who are worth capturing for their future value. A short, dumpy infielder who gets on base will likely have considerably more future value than a tall, fast outfielder who can steal bases, even if both hit about the same amount. But the "upside" follows the athleticism and the good body, and so the outfielder is the guy teams go after.

And of course, all lefthanders have value. No team ever has enough lefthanded pitching, so they are prime Rule 5 candidates.

Mike Green - Friday, October 14 2005 @ 09:19 AM EDT (#130114) #

Here's Ryan Houston's career line. He's now 26, and has a good fastball and a slider. He pitched well in 40 innings of double A last year in a favourable environment. The evidence that he is a better pitcher than Lee Gronkiewicz consists essentially of the clocking of his fastball.

Mike Green - Friday, October 14 2005 @ 09:33 AM EDT (#130116) #

Actually, the choice of pitching prospects currently on the 40 man is a puzzle, and probably reflects that it is a work in progress.

Maldoff - Friday, October 14 2005 @ 11:45 AM EDT (#130118) #

The two guys I worry about the most are Roberts and Romero. A lefty like Romero can be stashed on a roster for a year, and people seem to really be looking for middle infielders with pop these days (and Roberts fits that bill).

Does anyone know if the Jays have anyone that would be available in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft? In addtion, does it look like there is anyone interesting to be had in the major league portion?

iains - Sunday, October 16 2005 @ 03:08 PM EDT (#130188) #

Romero is perfectly safe. As a player who was drafted over the age of 19 he's protected for 3 minor league seasons. So being a fresh draft choice he doesn't need to be on the 40 man. For that matter even Aaron Hill would be safe.

Rob - Sunday, October 16 2005 @ 07:17 PM EDT (#130193) #

Aaron Hill would not be safe from the Rule 5 draft -- his third pro season just ended.

Pistol - Sunday, October 16 2005 @ 08:54 PM EDT (#130197) #

I believe Maldoff is referring to Davis Romero (who will need to be protected or become a free agent) not Ricky Romero.

Marc Hulet - Monday, October 17 2005 @ 04:47 PM EDT (#130236) #

The Jays still have a month to finalize their 40-man roster.... More players will likely be added. Most teams don't do it until after the Arizona Fall League ends.

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