One strategy to inform the distinction between a baseball fan who has a life and a real sicko is whether or not they have robust opinions on gamers who signal minor league contracts and attend spring coaching on a non-roster invite. The particular person in a Cubs hat who’s stoked concerning the Kyle Tucker commerce and is aware of all types of intimate biographical particulars about Shota Imanaga? That’s your pal. If they begin speaking to you about Travis Jankowski, they could be in a bit of too deep.
We sickos know that whereas championships will be gained and glory earned on the key league free agent market, NRIs are nonetheless a significant assortment of helpful roster gamers. Generally extra. I’d argue that these fringe hopefuls are the one gamers who really stand to achieve by their efficiency in camp.
Furthermore, these gamers are by definition underdogs. They embody former high prospects, guys recovering from damage, and itinerant Quad-A gamers hoping for one final spin of the wheel. For those who weren’t excited about their progress on a aggressive stage, absolutely we are able to curiosity you in an underdog story.
As of Monday morning, there are 25 gamers who’re 1) in camp on a non-roster invite and a pair of) in line for an Opening Day roster spot, in keeping with RosterResource’s depth charts. I’m not going to enter all 25 of those gamers intimately, however this strikes me as an excellent alternative to deploy the one factor I like greater than a superb underdog story: A flimsy taxonomy.
What circumstances may result in a participant on an NRI breaking camp with the large membership? Let’s study them, from least to most fascinating.
I’m going to strive to not be any meaner than essential right here, however all six of those gamers had been under alternative stage in 2024, and all of them signed with last-place groups. That characterization could be a bit of uncharitable to Stewart and Davis specifically. Davis was a median common in 2023, and Stewart confirmed flashes of on-base means final yr. However neither might command both a significant league contract or a task with a greater workforce. (“Higher” right here might discuss with both the franchise’s probability of being aggressive in 2025, or its repute for growing gamers.)
It’s a vicious cycle. Crew loses a bunch, eliminates gamers, struggles to draw high-quality free brokers, continues dropping, and so forth and so forth. However a significant league paycheck is a significant league paycheck, and if these guys exceed expectations possibly they’ll get traded.
This group consists of gamers who most likely shouldn’t have anticipated to fetch a significant league contract to start with, however are at the moment lined up for supporting roles on groups that ought to a minimum of be in and across the playoff image.
Reetz backed into the Mets’ no. 2 catcher position when Francisco Alvarez broke his hamate bone and the Mets had just one different catcher, Luis Torrens, on the 40-man roster. Throughout town, Austin Wells’ emergence left the Yankees with a extremely overqualified backup catcher in Jose Trevino, in order that they flipped him to Cincinnati for a bullpen flier and a extra appropriate backstop. Jackson can’t hit even a bit of, however he’s a superb defender and he’s low-cost.
Pillar and Miller had been each higher within the 2010s than they’re now, however the former truly hit lefties nicely final yr (.310 with first rate energy), and the latter was nice out of the Dodgers’ bullpen in 2023. If he pitches that nicely once more, nice. If he stinks, the Diamondbacks produce other low-leverage center reduction choices.
At this level, these 4 gamers are all on contracts that match their standing as fringe main leaguers. Congratulations on making the workforce, however don’t unpack all the best way simply but.
Straw and Montero each got here from humble origins, and each signed long-term contracts in 2022. Each carried out so terribly on these contracts that they had been DFA’d and outrighted off the 40-man by the top of 2024. In Straw’s case, he bought traded as nicely, sure for Toronto (a membership that loves speedy no-hit outfielders greater than I like a flimsy taxonomy) in a wage dump.
Neither is value what they’re getting paid. For Montero, that’s $11.5 million this yr; for Straw, it’s $11.8 million over two seasons after you consider choices, buyouts, and the money Cleveland added to the deal. (Which is sort of a press release; there’s unhealthy, after which there’s one of many least expensive groups within the league paying to eliminate you unhealthy.) However possibly they will nonetheless fill a small position on a significant league roster. Spring is the time of latest beginnings, in spite of everything, and I prefer to be optimistic.
Trivino and Fulmer are each recovering from Tommy John surgical procedure. Trivino final pitched within the majors in 2022; his solely skilled contribution since then consisted of 11 innings within the minor leagues on the finish of final season. It looks like Fulmer’s main league profession has lived and died 100 instances previously decade, however he rehabbed on Boston’s dime final yr. In return, the Pink Sox get first crack at him in 2025.
The “Dang, How Did He Not Get a Main League Contract?” Membership
These guys all performed within the majors final yr, to a higher or lesser extent, and went into the offseason with none main well being issues. (Poche was a bit of banged up final yr, however he nonetheless made 43 appearances with a 3.86 ERA, and he’s pitching now, in order that counts as wholesome for an ex-Rays pitcher.)
All these guys have query marks, however they’re additionally all veterans with the clout to decide on their most well-liked touchdown spot. That most likely has one thing to do with the Braves making out like bandits in getting two fairly strong relievers on a tryout deal. Or Iglesias having the ability to command a contract that may very well be value as much as $4 million if he makes the Padres’ roster and hits all his incentives — it’s a significant league deal in all however identify.
Or the Astros touchdown Rodgers. Houston spent all winter getting ready Jose Altuve for a transfer to the outfield so as to make room for both Nolan Arenado or Alex Bregman, and at this juncture Altuve nonetheless seems like he’s headed to left area regardless. That opens up second base for both utilityman Mauricio Dubón or Rodgers. You trivia buffs could be tickled by the truth that the Astros removed the no. 2 and no. 5 picks within the 2015 draft (Bregman and Tucker, respectively), however added the no. 3 choose: Rodgers. The fourth general choose that yr, Dillon Tate, stays a free agent.
Rodgers wasn’t nice final yr (an 88 wRC+ in 539 PA and 0.8 WAR), however he’s a right-handed hitter who not has to take care of the entire externalities of enjoying in Coors Subject. With no consideration-handed hitter, he may discover the Crawford Containers attractive. The previous Enron Subject is a hitter’s park at simply 20 toes above sea stage.
And whereas the Astros are not the all-conquering juggernaut they as soon as had been, they need to nonetheless be a contender. In actual fact, seven of those eight gamers landed with a workforce that made the postseason in 2024. Free brokers wish to receives a commission, they usually wish to play, however additionally they wish to win.
That is the most effective purpose to have an NRI in camp: A prospect will get so good, so shortly, he’s a projected starter earlier than the workforce is even obliged to place him on the 40-man roster.
Sasaki is clearly a particular case; he’s younger sufficient to signal as a world free agent, and since the Dodgers’ 40-man roster is made up solely of injured pitchers, they’re kicking the can down the highway so long as they will earlier than they formally put him on the large league squad.
Shaw, a 2023 first-rounder out of Maryland, hit .284/.379/.488 throughout two minor league ranges final yr. His efficiency was such that the Cubs felt snug sending not simply Isaac Paredes however 2024 first-rounder Cam Smith — each younger third basemen — to Houston within the Tucker deal. The beginning third base job is his to lose.
Baldwin would most likely not be in line to make the Braves if Sean Murphy hadn’t gotten harm; the precedence for a participant his age is to provide him reps, both within the majors or in Triple-A. However with Murphy injured, Baldwin — who lit up each Triple-A and the Arizona Fall League in 2024 — may as nicely get a crack within the majors.
All three of those guys are top-15 world prospects, and due to this fact not your typical NRI. However they do match the literal definition, if just for now. In the event that they’re not on the 40-man roster but, they are going to be very quickly.