All 30 major league baseball teams have released their starting player pools for the 2020 season. As part of the effort to play during the coronavirus pandemic, and with minor league systems not working, each team will bring up to 60 players to camps in two different places in and around their home cities.
These players will be available during the planned 60 game season. Three of them will travel on each road trip, along with the active roster, like a squad of taxis. The announced group of each team can be found here.
The groups theoretically represent notable decisions, narrowing the list of players teams will have to draw on throughout the 60-game season without any other affiliated baseball being played. It’s actually a little bit more complicated than that. However, the rules on roster changes make it difficult to add or remove players from the pool without placing them on exemptions for other teams to claim or release, as detailed by Levi Weaver of The Athletic. What it means: Almost all the players who would contribute if the 2020 season is played are in these groups or will be added to them soon.
These are the conclusions of the initial options of the equipment list.
Players in his team’s group haven’t necessarily decided to play in the 2020 season. Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Mike Leake was included in the team’s announcement just hours before he retired from the season. Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman and pitcher Joe Ross also chose not to participate after being included in the group.
There may well be players who choose to skip the season due to the coronavirus and its threat to their families, even after reporting to camp or playing games.
Many players who have health issues that make them immunosuppressed or more vulnerable to COVID-19 symptoms are in groups of players and have not yet publicly stated whether they plan to play.
The most specialized position in baseball, and therefore the scariest to come up short, is the catcher. That’s why managers are reluctant to pinch their tops, and why established veterans with no-hitting bats stick around for years and years. Not everyone can competently put on the tools of ignorance in the majors.
Given that, a big question teams have to answer is how many receivers will they need to overcome 60 games with the coronavirus and the risks of potentially elevated injuries.
Receivers are difficult to replace. Even with the backing of star Gary Sanchez in place, the New York Yankees carry five additional catchers in their player pool. (AP Photo / Paul Sancya)
Of the 300 team seasons in the past decade, 202 have needed at least four receivers, and only six have passed one season using two (the most recent being that of the 2016 Giants). Around eight clubs per season have needed five or more receivers to top 162 games in recent years, and most organizations have included at least four in their groups.
The Texas Rangers list seven, and that’s before counting Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who has seen catcher time in addition to various places in the infield. The New York Yankees similarly grouped six on their allotment, including the major league pillars Erik Kratz and Chris Iannetta, who had signed minor league contracts this offseason.
The Philadelphia Phillies, who employ one of the game’s best receivers at JT Realmuto, currently only list three. However, they have seven places left in their group to fill.
Like the Phillies, most teams have some places to cover. The clubs left up to 18 seats open in their initial announcements, allowing room to address needs through free agency: Yasiel Puig and Russell Martin are among notable names still seeking housing in 2020.
They could also choose to strategically add from within the organization once they see potential casualties and injuries build up during camp.
Some teams went on to add veterans immediately after the league’s transaction freeze ended. The New York Mets have already brought reliever Hunter Strickland, outfielder Melky Cabrera, infielder Gordon Beckham and swingman Erasmo Ramirez.
Packed with depth in the minor leagues and unlikely to deliver free-agent deals, the Tampa Bay Rays continued and filled all 60 spots.
His club’s main prospect is likely heading to camp with the team. All groups have MLB rosters, established MLB depth and collections of highly-qualified prospects.
Elite Angels prospect Jo Adell was expected to make his MLB debut in 2020, and he’s included in his group of players. (AP Photo / Gregory Bull)
Many of the league’s most intriguing future stars, such as Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jo Adell, Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert and Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Nate Pearson, were destined to contribute to the big leagues in 2020 anyway, and now they’re in the groups. They could join the MLB rosters at any time, though teams could use prorated time-of-service rules to manipulate their holdings for an additional year of control.
But even some recent recruits, selected earlier this month, are in player pools. For example, Miami Marlins pitcher Max Meyer, the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, will be added to the group once his contract is signed, and others are expected to follow.
If their skills prove to be particularly advanced and fit the immediate needs of their team, one or more may accomplish the rare feat of reaching the majors before playing in the minors. Leake, the D-back starter who decided not to participate Monday, was the last player to do so.
However, for every prospect that makes it to the Major Leagues this shortened season, many more will remain in the player pool to train and continue their development under the team’s supervision.
Given that the minor league season was probably canceled and the idea of expanding the fall leagues seems overblown amid the coronavirus spikes in Arizona and Florida, bringing top young talents to player groups seems to be the best way to keep your development on the team. supervision.
That means the game’s main consensus prospect, Rays shortstop Wander Franco, is in the player pool. However, since he had never taken a turn at bat in Double A, considered the first advanced level in the minor leagues, he is extremely unlikely to see the big leagues in 2020.
