Full breakdown of players out of options
Opening Day is just around the corner, which means Major League clubs have some crucial decisions to make in the coming weeks with regards to their final roster construction. A number of players are on the bubble, including those without option years remaining, meaning they will be subject to waivers if they're sent to the Minors (read a full explanation of MLB's options rules here). Below is a look at where things stand for each club:
:: Spring Training coverage presented by Camping World ::
Angels
Out of options:Cam Bedrosian, Richard Parker, Jose Alvarez, JC Ramirez, Alex Meyer, Carlos Perez, Jefry Marte, Noe Ramirez
Notable players with options remaining:Shohei Ohtani (3), Kaleb Cowart (1), Parker Bridwell (1), Luke Bard (3)
Bedrosian, Parker, Alvarez and JC Ramirez are likely locks for the pitching staff. Noe Ramirez is in the mix for a bullpen spot, and Marte has an outside shot at the final bench job. Meyer will open the season on the 60-day DL. Barring injury, Perez is unlikely to make the team. More >
Astros
Out of options:Max Stassi, Brad Peacock
Notable players with options remaining:Tyler White (1), J.D. Davis (3), A.J. Reed (2), Jake Marisnick (2)
The Astros are expected to carry three catchers on the Opening Day roster, meaning Stassi is a near-lock to make the team. He and Evan Gattis will back up Brian McCann. Peacock is also a lock coming off a breakout season in 2017.
Athletics
Out of options:Chris Hatcher, Liam Hendriks, Raul Alcantara, Renato Nunez
Notable players with options remaining:Bruce Maxwell (2), Jake Smolinski (1), Danny Coulombe (1), Franklin Barreto (2), Josh Phegley (1), Boog Powell (1), Mark Canha (2)
Hatcher and Hendriks are locks in the bullpen. Nunez (hamstring) is likely to begin the season on the disabled list. Alcantara is facing long odds to make the team. More >
Blue Jays
Out of options: none
Notable players with options remaining:Luke Maile (1), Teoscar Hernandez (2), Seunghwan Oh (3), Luis Santos (3), Joe Biagini (2), Christopher Guerrieri (1), Dalton Pompey (1)
The Blue Jays are in the fortunate position of not having any out-of-option players on the 40-man roster. Among those with one option remaining, Maile, Danny Barnes, Dennis Tepera, Aledmys Diaz and possibly Mpho' Ngoepe will be on the big league team while Guerrieri and Pompey will start in Triple-A Buffalo. More >
Braves
Out of options:Charlie Culberson, Jose Ramirez, Sam Freeman, Chase Whitley, Lane Adams
Notable players with options remaining:Ryan Schimpf (2), Sean Newcomb (3), Matt Wisler (1), Lucas Sims (2)
Culberson, Freeman and Ramirez are all safely projected to be on the Opening Day roster. Adams' strikeout rate this spring has put his spot on the 40-man roster in danger. Whitley's bid for a bullpen spot has been delayed by a staph infection. There's a chance he could begin the season on the disabled list. More >
Brewers
Out of options:Jonathan Villar, Stephen Vogt, Eric Thames, Manny Pina, Hernan Perez, Jeremy Jeffress, Oliver Drake, Jett Bandy, Jesus Aguilar
Notable players with options remaining:Junior Guerra (1), Keon Broxton (1), Brett Phillips (2), Brent Suter (2), Brandon Woodruff (2), Taylor Williams (2)
Jeffress, Pina, Perez, Thames and Villar all reported to camp as locks to make the team, and Bandy is close with Vogt sidelined by a right shoulder injury. Drake is fighting for one of two open bullpen spots. Aguilar was solid last season, but his future is clouded by the plan to occasionally play Ryan Braun at first base. More >
Cardinals
Out of options:Tommy Pham, Greg Garcia, Miles Mikolas, Tyler Lyons, Sam Tuivailala
Notable players with options remaining:John Gant (1), Jack Flaherty (3), Matt Bowman (3), Mike Mayers (1), John Brebbia (3), Ryan Sherriff (3), Josh Lucas (2)
Garcia's experience, and the fact that he's out of options, gives him a leg up over the Cardinals' other utility option, Yairo Munoz. All of the out-of-option players figure to be major parts of the big league club. The Cardinals will likely use the remaining options on Gant, Mayers, Bowman, Brebbia, Sherriff and Lucas aggressively, yo-yoing them back and forth from Triple-A Memphis to provide bullpen depth. More >
Cubs
Out of options:Mike Montgomery, Eddie Butler
Notable players with options remaining:Victor Caratini (2), Thomas La Stella (1), Randy Rosario (1), Duane Underwood Jr. (2)
Montgomery is a lock. The Cubs want to carry eight relievers and Butler appears to be the eighth man in the 'pen after they released Justin Grimm on Thursday. They're trying to decide if Caratini is a better fit as the backup on the big league team or playing every day at Triple-A. More >
D-backs
Out of options:Chris Herrmann, Zack Godley, Brad Boxberger, Albert Suarez, John Ryan Murphy, T.J. McFarland
Notable players with options remaining:Socrates Brito (1), Braden Shipley (2), Ketel Marte (1)
Godley, Boxberger and McFarland have earned roster spots. Herrmann will make it because manager Torey Lovullo likes having three catchers. Suarez is battling for a long relief spot in the bullpen. More >
Dodgers
Out of options:Tony Cingrani, Tom Koehler, Trayce Thompson, Wilmer Font
Notable players with options remaining:Yasiel Puig (1), Josh Fields (1), Pedro Baez (2), Walker Buehler (3), Adam Liberatore (1), Joc Pederson (3)
Cingrani is a lock for one of the lefty roles in the bullpen. Koehler opens the season on the disabled list and is out indefinitely with a right shoulder injury. Thompson is unlikely to make a club with an outfielder surplus. Font has a decent shot at the last bullpen spot. More >
Giants
Out of options:Sam Dyson, Hunter Strickland, Gorkys Hernandez, Jarrett Parker, Cory Gearrin
Notable players with options remaining:Trevor Brown (2), Mac Williamson (1), Ty Blach (2)
The Giants typically are reluctant to risk losing out-of-options players by designating them for assignment, but this year Hernandez and Parker may leave them with no choice. They could be odd men out due to the considerable depth in San Francisco's outfield. Options ceased to be a concern long ago for established relievers Dyson, Gearrin and Strickland. More >
Indians
Out of options:Trevor Bauer, Erik Gonzalez, Ryan Merritt, Rob Refsnyder, Danny Salazar, Giovanny Urshela, Dan Otero
Notable players with options remaining:Roberto Perez (3), Yandy Diaz (2), Francisco Mejia (2), Abraham Almonte (1)
The Indians are facing a few big decisions in regards to a handful of players who no longer have any Minor League options. Lefty Merritt doesn't have a place in the rotation right now, so he will need to be stashed in the bullpen if Cleveland doesn't want to expose him to waivers. The Tribe is also weighing whether Gonzalez or Urshela will break camp as the team's utility man off the bench. More >
Mariners
Out of options:Andrew Romine, Erasmo Ramirez, Marco Gonzales, Nick Vincent, Mike Morin
Notable players with options remaining:Mike Marjama (3), Cameron Perkins (3), Ariel Miranda (2), Chasen Bradford (3), Tony Zych (2)
Gonzales appears to have locked up a rotation spot. Ramirez would be a rotation lock, but is recovering from a strained right quad and likely to open on the 10-day disabled list and be ready by mid-April. Vincent is a lock in the bullpen. Romine is the favorite to win a utility job. Morin is a long shot to make the bullpen. More >
Marlins
Out of options:Derek Dietrich, Tomas Telis, Dan Straily, Jose Urena, Justin Nicolino
Notable players with options remaining:Brian Anderson (3), Odrisamer Despaigne (1), Garrett Cooper (2)
Urena has already been named the Opening Day starter, and Straily will pitch the second game. Dietrich is the starting left fielder. Roster spots are not guaranteed for Nicolino, in the mix for a rotation or long relief role. Telis is the frontrunner to be the backup catcher. More >
Mets
Out of options:Rafael Montero, Kevin Plawecki, Wilmer Flores
Notable players with options remaining:Steven Matz (1), Zack Wheeler (2), Brandon Nimmo (1), Juan Lagares (1), Dominic Smith (3)
Of the Mets' players without Minor League options, Flores and Plawecki are locks to make the team. That leaves just Montero, who entered camp with a strong chance at a bullpen job. He has since walked five batters in six innings, posting a 10.50 ERA. More >
Nationals
Out of options:Brian Goodwin, A.J. Cole, Enny Romero, Matt Grace
Notable players with options remaining:Pedro Severino (1), Matt Reynolds (1), Erick Fedde (2), Wilmer Difo (1)
Whether he is the fifth starter or not, the Nationals seem certain to keep Cole on their roster in some way. Goodwin profiles as the fourth outfielder. And the Nats could have a decision to make between Romero and Grace or find a way to keep both players. More >
Orioles
Out of options:Timothy Beckham, Gabriel Ynoa, Mike Wright Jr.
Notable players with options remaining:Austin Wynns (3), Joey Rickard (3), Trey Mancini (3), Anthony Santander (3), Miguel Castro (1)
Complicating matters for the O's is that they currently have four Rule 5 Draft picks in camp who essentially do not have a Minor League option either. Beckham is a lock to make the team and it's looking like Ynoa will start the season on the disabled list. Castro and Nestor Cortes Jr. could both make the team in long relief and it would be a surprise if Wright -- who could be the fifth starter or a bullpen guy -- wasn't in the mix somewhere, too. The O's will lose some players this spring, most notably their Rule 5'ers, but expect last year's pick Santander to also make the team. More >
Padres
Out of options:Christian Villanueva, Matthew Szczur, Bryan Mitchell, Kirby Yates, Carter Capps
Notable players with options remaining:Cory Spangenberg (2), Carlos Asuaje (2), Jose Pirela (1), Travis Jankowski (2), Franchy Cordero (2), Robbie Erlin (1)
Yates and Mitchell already locked up their spots, and Villanueva, who has been red-hot all spring, is close to doing the same. Capps and Szczur, meanwhile, are on the outside looking in. Capps is coming off Thoracic Outlet surgery, so he could open the year on the DL. But in a crowded outfield Szczur has work to do to avoid a DFA. More >
Phillies
Out of options:Jorge Alfaro, Luis Garcia, Adam Morgan
Notable players with options remaining:Cameron Rupp (2), Andrew Knapp (3), Roman Quinn (1), Jesmuel Valentin (2), Ben Lively (2), Mark Leiter (2)
Alfaro has looked much better behind the plate this spring, but even if he struggled defensively he would be making the Opening Day roster because he is out of options. Garcia and Morgan are locks to make the bullpen, regardless. More >
Pirates
Out of options:Elias Diaz, George Kontos, Bryce Brentz, A.J. Schugel
Notable players with options remaining:Max Moroff (2), Austin Meadows (3), Tyler Glasnow (1), Josh Smoker (2)
Kontos (setup man) and Diaz (backup catcher) are locks to make the club. Brentz is competing for a bench spot, so his status could give him an advantage over Jordan Luplow, Jose Osuna and others. Schugel (right shoulder discomfort) may open the season on the disabled list. More >
Rangers
Out of options:Juan Centeno, Jurickson Profar
Notable players with options remaining:Brett Nicholas (1), Delino DeShields (2), Alex Claudio (1)
The fact that Profar and Centeno are out of options gives them an advantage in the competition for two spots on the bench. Profar is almost a lock for a job as the utility infielder. Centeno has the edge over non-roster invitees Curt Casali and Mike Ohlman for the backup catcher's job. More >
Rays
Out of options:C.J. Cron, Jesus Sucre, Dan Jennings, Chaz Roe
Notable players with options remaining:Joey Wendle (1), Mallex Smith (2), Matt Andriese (1)
Cron, Sucre and Jennings are all locks to be on the team. Roe looks like a sure thing in the Rays' newly configured bullpen. More >
Reds
Out of options:Homer Bailey
Notable players with options remaining:Amir Garrett (1), Wandy Peralta (3), Patrick Kivlehan (2), Michael Lorenzen (3)
All of the Reds' options drama was wiped out Tuesday when bench contender Dilson Herrera was sent outright to Triple-A Louisville. Only Bailey is considered out of options. Garrett, Sal Romano, Robert Stephenson, Tyler Mahle and Lorenzen are all in the fight to make the rotation. More >
Red Sox
Out of options:Christian Vazquez, Blake Swihart, Steven Wright, Deven Marrero, Christopher Johnson, Tyler Thornburg, Richard Hembree, Sandy Leon
Notable players with options remaining:Brock Holt (1), Hector Velazquez (2), Tzu-Wei Lin (2)
Marrero, a former first-round pick, could be in danger of being designated for assignment. Holt, Swihart and Lin could all be ahead of Marrero at the utility position. Lefty Johnson is a near lock to be in the early-season rotation given the injuries at the bottom of the rotation. In a bullpen deep with righties, Hembree could have a battle on his hands to make the team. More >
Rockies
Out of options:Chris Rusin, Zachary Rosscup
Notable players with options remaining:Mike Tauchman (2), David Dahl (2), Antonio Senzatela (2), Jeff Hoffman (2), Carlos Estevez (1), Jairo Diaz (1)
Lefty reliever Rosscup, who arrived in a trade with the Cubs last season, hopes to make it as one of four bullpen lefties. After holding lefty hitters to 0-for-15 last season, Rosscup has held them to 1-for-5. Righties are 7-for-17 off him. He profiles as a lefty specialist who would be tough to pass through waivers. Righties Estevez, who is working back from a left oblique injury, and Diaz, who has yielded just one hit and has five strikeouts in five spring innings, are trying to supplant him. However, both have options. More >
Royals
Out of options:Jorge Soler, Cheslor Cuthbert, Wily Peralta, Brian Flynn, Jesse Hahn
Notable players with options remaining:Ramon Torres (1), Tim Hill (3), Jakob Junis (2)
Soler, Cuthbert and Peralta are locks. Flynn is 50-50 -- they may feel he could slip through waivers. Hahn is on the 60-day disabled list. More >
Tigers
Out of options:Leonys Martin, Dixon Machado, John Hicks, Mike Fiers, Drew VerHagen
Notable players with options remaining:Blaine Hardy (1), Victor Reyes (3), Daniel Norris (1), Niko Goodrum (3), Buck Farmer (1)
The Tigers have some tough decisions to make as they sort out their pitching staff for the start of the season. Their players with Minor League options, including Matthew Boyd and Norris, could play a big role in the decisions they make, while giving them flexibility to mix and match as the season goes along. More >
Twins
Out of options:Jorge Polanco, Robbie Grossman, Thomas Pressly, Ehire Adrianza
Notable players with options remaining:Zack Granite (2), Tyler Duffey (2), Alan Busenitz (2), Max Kepler (1)
Shortstop Polanco, utility man Adrianza, outfielder Grossman and reliever Pressly are all expected to make the club. Grossman is the favorite for the fourth outfield competition over Granite. More >
White Sox
Out of options:Yolmer Sanchez, Matt Davidson, Leury Garcia, Luis Avilan, Danny Farquhar
Notable players with options remaining:Eloy Jimenez (3), Omar Narvaez (3), Kevan Smith (1), Ryan Cordell (2), Carson Fulmer (1), Yoan Moncada (2), Reynaldo Lopez (1)
Sanchez and Davidson will split time at third base, while Garcia is targeted as the super utility player to be used around the diamond. Avilan and Farquhar both figure to be integral parts of the White Sox bullpen along with Juan Minaya. Lucas Giolito and Lopez will be part of the White Sox rotation, a spot also seemingly set for Fulmer, but he has struggled mightily during Spring Training. Smith is battling with Narvaez for the backup catching job behind Welington Castillo. Cordell, who has two options, is competing for the center field spot with Adam Engel and for the last spot on the roster. More >
Yankees
Out of options:Aaron Hicks, Austin Romine, Chasen Shreve
Notable players with options remaining:Christopher Austin (1), Tyler Wade (3), Greg Bird (3), Chad Green (1), Tommy Kahnle (1), Jordan Montgomery (2), Ronald Torreyes (2), Domingo German (1)
Hicks and Romine are locks to make the team, and Shreve is probable to be in the bullpen. Bird, Green, Kahnle, Montgomery, Torreyes and Wade are likely to head north. Austin has an outside chance of making the roster if Jacoby Ellsbury begins the year on the disabled list. German has had a great spring and is in position to be one of the first pitchers called up. More >