Prospect Insider - Important dates, Rule 5 notes

Important dates, Rule 5 notes

By Jason A. Churchill

By 11-05-2011

As the offseason continues -- and it's been a fairly busy week since the World Series concluded, clubs have a ton to think about. There were deadlines for contract options, and moving forward there are due dates for all kind of things, including for teams to set their reserve list for the Rule 5 Draft, which takes place in Dallas December 8.

The Seattle Mariners' roster now sits at 35 after the recent moves -- David Aardmsa electing free agency and Jeff Gray being claimed by the Minnesota Twins, and left-hander Anthony Vasquez being outrighted to Triple-A Tacoma.

The M's do have some Rule 5 eligibles that they need to consider adding to the 40-man roster, and there could be a few more roster removals, too.

Let's focus on the potential additions first.

One thing to note is that any of the following could be included in a trade package before the roster deadlines -- or even after the deadline and before the Rule 5 Draft itself.

Carlos Triunfel, SS
Triunfel is certain to be added to the 40-man if he's not involved in a trade. His statis has lost its luster due to the lack of development and injuries, but there's still some upside there and he's close enough to being big-league ready that a club such as Pittsburgh, Houston or Baltimore could take a stab at him if he's left unprotected.

Francisco Martinez, 3B
Martinez will be added, there's no doubt. His situation is very much like that of Carlos Triunfel last year, but after some digging the reason he's eligible and Triunfel was not last season is due to when during their signing year that they actually put their names on the dotted line.

Steve Hensley, RHP
Hensley could be added, as well, though it seems the M's may be hoping his showing in the Arizona Fall League might entice a trade suitor. At his best, Hensley's fastball-slider combo are enough to pitch in the sixth or seventh inning at the major league level, in my opinion. He's not always at his best, however.

Nate Tenbrink, 3B/LF
Tenbrink has shown some ability to hit -- enough to draw some utility and platoon grades in the past -- but hit a snag in his development the past year and half. I believe Tenbrink will be left off the roster, however.

Danny Carroll, CF
Carroll can run, has gap power and can play center field, but isn't a candidate to play in the big leagues in 2012, so at best he may get taken in the minor league portion of the draft. Carroll is well-liked by some of the player development staff, including new High Desert skipper Pedro Grifol, but I'm not sure it's enough to warrant a 40-man roster spot. I think the club risks it, and he's a C- prospect, anyway.

Scott Savastano, IF
Savastano is an organizational player and will be left unprotected.

Bobby LaFromboise, LHP
LaFromboise, 25, could be an addition to the roster and may have an outside shot at the big-league roster, depending on how the M's pitching staff shapes up over the winter. If Charlie Furbush figures to be in the rotation, LaFromboise could battle Brian Moran, or a free agent acquisition, for one of the final spots in the rotation. Having said that, his stuff isn't special. He's exactly the kind of player that gets selected in the Rule 5 Draft, however, making him more likely to be added.

Luke French, LHP
French isn't likely to be added this winter after struggling in Triple-A Tacoma in 2011.

Chaz Roe, RHP
Roe isn't going to be added, as the M's have tons of right-handed relief help.

Nick Hill, LHP
Hill's health has crippled his trek to the big leagues. Two years ago it looked like he had a shot to be in the big leagues by now, either as a middle reliever or a No. 5 starter. His stuff has regressed since then, as has his control and command, but injuries are the biggest hurdle.

Kenn Kasparek, RHP
Kapsarek is a worthy arm, but like Roe isn't likely to be protected considering all the good right-handed relief arms already on the roster that also deserve to be there. Kasparek has a shot to be selected in Dallas.

Stephen Penney, RHP
Penney isn't likely to be added, either, and probably doesn't have quite the chance to be selected by another club, so chances are he will be back in 2012.

Edward Paredes, LHP
Paredes isn't likely to be re-added to the roster, but could be drafted. He's got decent stuff and knows how to pitch to left-handers.

Jake Shaffer, OF
Shaffer is a good ballplayer, but at 24 isn't a top prospect and is likely to be left unprotected.

Dennis Raben, 1B/DH
Raben, sans the injuries, would likely be a lock, but that is the same reason he's not likely to be selected in the draft next month.

Mario Martinez, 3B
Martinez's development has stagnated, and he's not 40-man material. There's a chance he's taken in Triple-A portion of the draft, however.

Philippe Valiquette, LHP
Valiquette is almost certain to be added to the 40-man, as the M's just picked him up in late August and he throws in the 94-98 mph range with his fastball.

Chih-Hsien Chiang, OF
There's no doubt Chiang will be added to the roster if he isn't included in a trade before the reserve list is due.

Others eligible include: Rudy van Heydoorn, 3B; Carlos Ramirez, 2B; Joe Dunigan, 1B; Denny Almonte, OF; James McOwen, OF; Kalian Sams, OF; Leury Bonilla, UT; Taylor Stanton, RHP; Jetsy Extrano, IF; Jose Jimenez, LHP; Tony Butler, LHP; Jonathan Arias, RHP; Anthony Fernandez, LHP; Fray Martinez, RHP; Edlando Seco, LHP; Jessie Nava, RHP.

Roster Removals
There's a good chance the roster comes down from the 35 it stands at today before the reserve list is due and it likely comes from the outfield crop.

For me, the two most likely to be removed are Michael Saunders and Mike Wilson, although Greg Halman is out of options, so something may have to be done with him before April, anyway. Left-hander Cesar Jimenez is in the same boat and could be cut loose this winter, perhaps before the Rule 5 Draft to clear more space.

The club seems to like catcher Chris Gimenez enough that they'd probably let the others go first, especially considering the lack of catching in the upper minors.

And for those that keep mentioingn Yoervis Media as a candidate to be dropped from the 40-man, just stop it. The organization likes Medina plenty and he's not going to be removed from the 40-man roster unless it's as value in a trade.

Important Dates to Remember

Nov. 14, 2011	
AL, NL Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Awards announced
Nov. 15, 2011	
AL Cy Young Award announced
Nov. 15-16, 2011	
GM meetings, Milwaukee
Nov. 16, 2011	
AL, NL Manager of the Year Awards announced
Nov. 16-17, 2011	
Owners meetings, Milwaukee
Nov. 17, 2011	
NL Cy Young Award announced
Nov. 18, 2011	
Day to file reserve lists for all Major and Minor League levels.
Nov. 21, 2011	
AL Most Valuable Player Award announced
Nov. 22, 2011	
NL Most Valuable Player Award announced
Nov. 23, 2011	
Last date for former club to offer salary arbitration to ranked XX(B) free agents in order to be eligible for compensation. Deadline is midnight.
Dec. 1, 2011
Last day to request outright waivers to assign player prior to Rule 5 Draft
Dec. 5, 2011	
5 p.m. ET is last time to outright a player prior to the Rule 5 Draft
Dec. 5-8, 2011 
Baseball Winter Meetings in Dallas
Dec. 7, 2011	
Last date for player who declared free agency to accept an arbitration offer from former club. Deadline is midnight ET
Dec. 8, 2011	
Major League Rule 5 Draft in Dallas
Dec. 12, 2011 
Last date to tender contracts is midnight ET

important-dates,-rule-5-notes

Comments
The following 6 comment(s) for this article are shown below:

1. By: jgstecker on 11-05-2011 09:48:17
The Minor League portion of the Rule 5 draft is a non-issue. To go in that phase of the draft, a player has to be left off the 38 man AAA reserve list and the 37 man AA reserve list. It's virtually impossible that anyone of interest will be left unprotected.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/minors/news/2009/269287.html

I think that lowers the list of legit 40 man candidates to: Triunfel, Chiang, Hensley, Tenbrink, Valiquette, and LaFromboise.

2. By: jgstecker on 11-05-2011 10:13:43
Also, Roe, French, Paredes, Seco, and Extrano are already free agents.

3. By: rightwingrick on 11-05-2011 13:07:50
Mostly agree (would add Triunfel or trade him; would add Chiang), but here are my few exceptions:

Dan Carroll: Only 23 with tremendous speed, Carroll has surprised with his pop and maintained good batting averages and on-base percentages. Anybody that young who can steal 40 bases, hit 15 homers, and bat .280/.390 I don't think you give away. I add him to the roster, especially with questions about Gutierrez and the stalled progress of Saunders.

Anthony Fernandez: Only 21, and 6'4" and 180 with consistently good stats at every level, and a lefty to boot, I don't think you can leave this one exposed. Too big a risk, even though he's very young. And he's the big profile pitcher Zduriencik seems to prefer. My bet is they protect him; I think he may be the next big young pitching prospect for the M's.

Dennis Raben: If he can stay healthy, HUGE potential. On the bubble, but I'd see if I could figure a way to keep him (if I knew for sure he was healthy).

I would keep Saunders (last chance) and drop Wilson, Halman, Cesar Jimanez (although his winter stats might change my mind), and Chris Gimenez (I think the M's are going to sign catcher Ryan Doumit).

4. By: Jason A. Churchill on 11-05-2011 13:11:23
The free agents can be re-signed to minor league deals, but would still have to be protected. So they are relevant here. And if there are any AAA/AA type acquisitions, it becomes tougher to fit them on the MiLB reserves. The Ms have a lot of those types right now.

5. By: maqman on 11-05-2011 14:29:14
I doubt they protect Jake Shaffer but I hope nobody picks him up. Hensley is not showing anything good in the AFL, although he has finally got his ERA into single digits. They have to make some tough choices anyone we lose could come back to haunt us.

6. By: aerichner on 11-05-2011 20:33:41
AFL All Star Game - Nick Franklin and Danny Hultzen making us M's fans proud.

Hultzen - 2ip, 0 runs, 3 Ks (Trout being one of them)

Franklin - 3-3 with 2 2B and a HR in the 1st inning off of Gerrit Cole

I hope Franklin stays in the game for another AB, it's been fun watching him hit

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