As spring training gets underway, one main factor for many players competing for major league jobs is their option status. Having a roster of players with options gives the Brewers’ flexibility on how to build their roster. They can move players between the majors and minors throughout the season, giving them depth for injury replacements as well as a way to get fresh players during the grind of the season. This spring, the Brewers will have a lot of flexibility with options, as many players have at least one available.
Here’s a quick reminder on how options work. When a player is first placed on the 40-man roster, they are given three options. If a player is on the 40-man roster, but not on the 26-man active roster or injured list, they must be sent on an optional assignment to the minors. After they have spent 20 days in the minors, one of their options is used for the year. A player can be recalled and optioned multiple times over the course of a season, but only one option is used in a year. However, they are limited to being optioned five times in a single season. Any more than that requires them to be placed on outright waivers — which allows other teams to claim them — to return to the minors.
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If a player is out of options, the only way they can be sent to the minors is by being designated for assignment — which removes them from the 40-man roster — and then placed on outright waivers before being assigned to the minors. Players with more than three years of Major League service, or players who have been outrighted before, can reject being outrighted to the minors and become free agents. This is in addition to players who have five years of Major League service, who must agree to be sent to the minors under any circumstance.
Below are lists of all the players in the Brewers’ major league camp and their current option status. I placed players who are projected to make the major league roster toward the top of each list. Some players are marked with specific symbols; here is what they mean. Option status is based on Roster Resource via FanGraphs.
* – Non-roster invitees (in major league camp, not on 40-man roster)
# – Players who will exceed five years of major league service during the season. These players can only be sent to the minors with their consent after passing five years.
^ – Players with one option who may be eligible for a fourth option. (This will be discussed further in that section.)
Zero Options
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When it comes to camp battles this spring, option status will play a minimum role in most decisions. The list of players without options is very short, meaning most players who do not make the team can simply be optioned. In the above list, four of the five players are in camp as non-roster invitees on minor league deals. Depending on their contracts (and if they include opt-outs), they can be kept in the minors to start the season.
The only player who has to make the roster out of camp or be exposed to waivers is Rob Zastryzny. He is the sole Brewer on the 40-man roster who is under five years of service time and does not have an option available. He is currently projected to be on the roster at the start of the season, but still could use a good spring to secure his spot.
One Option
There’s not much to see in this list, since most of the players who are projected to be on the opening day roster are established at their positions. For the players who have their minor league option used, this will be an important season for them. Without an option next year, they will need to earn their job at the start of the season. Performing well when they get chances in the majors will be important, so they can build a resume for themselves before next season.
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Included in this list are three players who currently on their last option year but may be eligible for a fourth. MLB rules allow players to be granted a fourth option under certain circumstances. Here is the official rule from the MLB website.
Players typically have three option years, but those who have accrued less than five full seasons (including both the Major and Minors) are eligible for a fourth if their three options have been exhausted already. For the purposes of this rule, spending at least 90 days on an active Major League or Minor League roster during a given season counts as one full season. Players also earn a full season if they spend at least 30 days on an active Major League or Minor League roster AND their active-roster and injured-list time amounts to at least 90 days in a given season.
This is not an automatic process. Teams generally have to apply for the extra option year and then MLB will make a ruling on it. Of the above players, Black and Rodriguez were originally drafted in 2021, so this would be their potential fifth full season. Quero is a little more complex since he signed as an international free agent in 2019 but was also impacted by the shortened 2020 season.
Two Options
These players have used an option already but still have good flexibility with two remaining. Lockridge is the only position player who will likely open the season in the minors but should provide good depth if needed during the season. Meanwhile, Koenig and Patrick are the two pitchers that are near locks to be on the opening day roster. Henderson, Gasser, and Harrison will all be among the starting pitchers fighting for a spot on the roster, but all should see some major league starts this season even if they begin the year in the minors.
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Three Options
These players are currently on the 40-man roster but have not used an option. For most of these players, they were added to the 40-man roster when they were brought up to the majors and have not left it. The one exception is Crow, who was added to the 40-man roster in the offseason to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. Coleman, Drohan, and Sproat will all likely use their first option at the start of the season. They are currently projected to begin the season in the minors.
Non-Roster Invitees who have not been on 40-man roster
This is an extension of the three-option list above. All these players have not been on the 40-man roster before, so they have not used an option. Since they are all NRIs, they do not have to use an option as long as they remain off the 40-man roster. Once they are added, an option would have to be used for them to remain in the minors.
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Over five years of Major League experience
The final group are players who have recorded at least five years of major league service. As a result, these players cannot be optioned to the minors without their consent. The one exception on this list is McGuire, who is in camp on a minor league contract. Depending on his contract, he could start the season in the minors, but if he is added to the major league roster, he cannot be sent down without his consent.
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