The Opener New Free Agents Pending Transactions Rule 5 Pick

With Opening Day now just a few days away, here are a handful of things for MLBTR readers to keep an eye on today 1. Late additions to the free agent market: Last Friday marked the first of three uniform opt-out dates for all Article XX(B) free agents i.e., free agents with six-plus years of service who finished the prior season on a major league roster/injured list who signed minor league deals over the winter. More than a dozen veteran names triggered outs in their contracts, and while some were selected to the 40-man roster with their current teams (or promised that they would be prior to Opening Day), others were informed they havent made the club and were granted their release. There were also a handful of other recognizable names who did not meet Article XX(B) criteria but still had opt-outs negotiated into their minor league deals whove also returned to the market. Each of (Marlins), (Red Sox), (Orioles), (Rangers), (Angels), (Rockies), (Orioles), (Royals), (Cubs), (Cubs), (Braves), (White Sox), (Blue Jays), Ryan Rolison Jersey (Reds), (Nationals) and (D-backs) has been cut loose since last Friday. Veteran pitchers , and were also informed they werent making the Rangers roster and were free to explore interest around the league though each was also told hed be welcome to head to Triple-A to begin the 2024 season there. Clubs looking for veteran depth to help cover injuries or provide insurance against young/unproven players potentially underperforming have a whole new slate of names to consider. 2. Several roster moves on the horizon: On the flipside, its already become clear that a handful of minor league signees will make their teams Opening Day roster but the moves have yet to be formally announced, and thus so have the corresponding transactions. The Blue Jays, for instance, will reportedly select the contracts of and . Sox Machines James Fegan that righty is likely to make the White Sox roster. The Guardians will add righties and prior to Opening Day. The Cubs plan to select first baseman/outfielder . The Rangers need a move to select top prospect . Some of these roster additions will be accommodated by simple 60-day IL placements. Thats likely to be the case in Cleveland ( ) and in Texas ( or ). Not every team has an obvious 60-day IL candidate though, and even those that do could find themselves making multiple transactions to set their Opening Day rosters. 3. Rule 5 decisions nearing: There were only 10 players selected in the major league portion of the 2023 Rule 5 Draft, and a few of the teams that made a selection will still have a decision on the fate of their Rule 5 picks. The Guardians returned third baseman to the D-backs over the weekend, while the Rockies ( ), Red Sox ( ), Royals ( ) and Padres ( ) have already decided to carry their Rule 5 selections on the Opening Day roster. Others, such as White Sox lefty (shoulder surgery) and Rangers righty (Tommy John surgery) will open the season on the injured list. Oaklands (selected from the Yankees), Washingtons (from the Marlins) and St. Louis (from the D-backs)are all still in big league camp with the teams that selected them. Harold Castro Jersey