By Jason Martinez | UPDATED November 16, 2018
Teams have until November 20th to add players to their respective 40-man roster, otherwise exposing those who are eligible to the upcoming Rule 5 draft. Any player who signs their first professional contract at age 19 or older becomes eligible after their fourth professional season. If signed at age 18 or younger, they are eligible after their fifth professional season.
I’ve done the counting for you and provided a list of notable candidates here, as well as each team’s current 40-man roster count. You can also see which players are eligible or when a player will become eligible on our depth charts.
For the remainder of the offseason, I’ll be keeping track of any player who was added to a 40-man roster. Minor League free agents who are signed to Major League contracts will be included.
- Branden Kline, RP, BAL (10/30) | Depth Chart
- A 2nd Round pick in 2012, the 27-year-old Kline missed close to three seasons due to injuries before returning to health in 2018. An up-and-coming starting pitching prospect early in his career, the 6’3″ right-hander posted a 1.64 ERA, 2.5 BB/9 and 9.7 K/9 in 65.2 innings of relief between Double-A and High-A.
- Manny Bañuelos, SP, CWS (11/1) | Depth Chart
- Considered one of the top prospects in the game and on the brink of an MLB call-up as a 21-year-old with the Yankees in 2012, Bañuelos’ career was derailed by injuries. Quietly, the left-hander has finally re-established himself with a strong showing for the Dodgers’ Triple-A team in Oklahoma City last season (3.73 ERA, 108.2 IP, 109 H, 42 BB, 127 K). Slated for Minor League free agency, the White Sox acquired him and added him to their 40-man roster. He’ll compete for a rotation spot next spring.
- Tyrone Taylor, OF, MIL (10/29) | Depth Chart
- Once a top Brewers’ prospect, albeit in a very weak farm system, Taylor had fallen so far off of the radar that he was left unprotected the past two offseasons. But after a breakout season in Triple-A (.825 OPS, 20 HR, 23 2B, 9 3B, 13 SB), the Brewers moved quickly to add him to their 40-man roster. He would’ve been eligible to become a free agent.
- Dylan Moore, INF, SEA (11/9) | Depth Chart
- The 26-year-old Moore is the first Minor League free agent of the offseason to ink a Major League deal, landing with a Mariners organization that currently has minimal options for their bench. Having spent substantial time at first base, second base, third base and shortstop, the right-handed hitting Moore (.885 OPS, 14 HR, 31 2B, 23 SB between Triple-A and Double-A in 2018) could push for a job out of Spring Training.
- Braden Bishop, OF, SEA (11/16) | Depth Chart
- The former 3rd Round pick has slashed .298/.376/.421 with nine homers, 29 doubles and 11 stolen bases in 539 Double-A plate appearances over the past two seasons. He’ll play in Triple-A debut in 2019 with an outside shot of reaching the Majors at some point.
- Ruben Alaniz, RP, SEA (11/15) | Depth Chart
- A veteran of nine Minor League seasons, the 27-year-old Alaniz will serve as bullpen depth for the Mariners after agreeing to a MLB deal. He has a 3.68 ERA, 4.1 BB/9 and 10.2 K/9 in 88 Triple-A innings between 2016-18.
