The Nationals made their 40-man roster moves in preparation for the 40-man roster. were RHP Juan Jaime, and LHPs Aaron Thompson & Atahualpa Severino. This puts the Nats at a full 40-man roster, so at present they would be unable to participate in the December Rule 5 draft where they would select #1 overall(though they could always make a move prior to the draft to free up a spot).
More on the three added later
#1 by cass - November 19th, 2009 at 17:27
No Wilkie? :-/
#2 by Brian Oliver - November 19th, 2009 at 17:28
cass – No. We’ll see if he gets selected in the R5
#3 by Gavin B - November 19th, 2009 at 17:41
What is the exact time the 40 man gets set by MLB? (8AM, etc.) Also, what day in December is the draft? (I may have over looked it. I’ve been called dumb by some.)
#4 by Jake - November 19th, 2009 at 18:40
Brian -
Austin Kearns and Ron Villone are on the 40-man correct? We aren’t keeping Kearns and maybe not even Villone so does that mean we would have 2 extra spots to protect someone like Wilkie
#5 by Jake - November 19th, 2009 at 18:40
Brian -
Austin Kearns and Ron Villone are on the 40-man correct? We aren’t keeping Kearns and maybe not even Villone so does that mean we would have 2 extra spots to protect someone like Wilkie
#6 by Brian Oliver - November 19th, 2009 at 18:50
Jake – The 40-man count includes removing Kearns, Villone & Young from the 40-man
See The Big Board
There were 37/40 prior to today’s move. Now they are at 40/40
#7 by Rocket Surgeon - November 19th, 2009 at 18:51
I’m of JayB’s mindset when I saw this news. How, after back-to-back 100+ loss seasons can we only have 3 spots available on the 40-man roster? One would have thought that we’d have at a minimum of 10 spots available.
#8 by Brian Oliver - November 19th, 2009 at 18:52
Gavin – Not sure of the exact time the 40-man rosters need to be set. I do know that it is tomorrow.
The Rule 5 draft is scheduled for December 10
#9 by Brian Oliver - November 19th, 2009 at 18:57
The specific item that must be accomplished tomorrow is referred to as
Reserve lists for all Major and Minor League levels filed
This is the 40-man roster for the major league portion of the R5 draft as well as minor league rosters for the Double & Triple A portions of the R5. Teams are tighter with the minor league protectables. But suffice it to say you typically will not find stars in the minor league portion (or even major leaguers often times). It’s a tool for teams to fill out their minor league rosters
#10 by Scot - November 19th, 2009 at 18:58
Brian – Thanks very much for all of the excellent reading. Very nice work. I am grateful.
#11 by JayB - November 19th, 2009 at 20:07
This does not add up right….Marco Estrada, Saul R, Matt Chico, Will Neives…..we are keeping dead weight instead of protecting prospects and adding someone with the #1 pick….has to be more moves tonight.
#12 by BinM - November 19th, 2009 at 20:23
I’m a little suprised by Severino over Wilkie on the 40-man, particularly after the team sent Wilkie to the AFL. I understand filling the roster prior to the Rule-V, but we can only hope they have protected the teams’ best 40 going forward.
#13 by BinM - November 19th, 2009 at 20:34
@JayB: The roster “is what it is” at this point, barring a trade – any DFA/Waiver move would take 72 hours to clear, and the 40-man has to be set & filed to MLB HQ by midnight tonight.
It’s a damned shame that Wilkie didn’t get protected, IMO.
#14 by Rocket Surgeon - November 19th, 2009 at 20:43
I understand the roster is perpetually changing and who you see on it today is not necessarily who will open the 2010 with the team. But I am dumbfounded that the Nats can stand virtually pat (3 open slots) with a roster that produced 103 losses. What am I missing?
#15 by John - November 19th, 2009 at 20:52
That is odd. Could Wilkie possibly not be available through some loophole? I know Brian is on top of this stuff and it’s also been reported on NJ, but It’s just too strange.
The only other thing I can think of is that Severino’s stuff is much better than Wilkie’s. They may think he’ll sneak through since he’s a changeup guy?
#16 by John - November 19th, 2009 at 20:54
JayB: They can still dump those guys. They have up until December 8th at 5PM.
#17 by Andrew Stebbins - November 19th, 2009 at 21:59
More on my Strasburg rumor…hurt his knee in BP. Will he be starting Saturday? Good question.
#18 by John - November 19th, 2009 at 22:41
SS knee=bad karma on the Wilkie decision…
Can only hope they havent exhausted their options with Josh or that he doesnt get picked up…best of luck to JW
#19 by Sue Dinem - November 20th, 2009 at 08:44
There may be something to that. Severino is left-handed, which always, always, always going to be perceived as more valuable – he can be hidden in the back end of a bullpen in a place like Seattle or Texas.
Having seen both, Severino’s the type to more likely have made an impression on a scout with his “stuff” whereas Wilkie is more workmanlike, getting the kind of saves that make people think “man, they just rolled over in the 9th” and overlooking that three routine groundouts is just as effective as two or three strikeouts and/or a popup.
It’s a fool that thinks that players that get put on the 40-man in November are necessarily the best or will still be there in April. Don’t believe me? Ask Luis Atilano and Leonard Davis.
#20 by Jane - November 20th, 2009 at 08:53
Aaron Thompson and Atahualpa Severino, congratulations on being added to Washington’s 40-Man Roster! Much continued success!!
#21 by markfd - November 20th, 2009 at 10:24
Surprised by Wilkie not being added, out of the three added I have only witnessed Juan Jaime in person, he has good stuff, very raw, hopefully he will be with the big club someday.
#22 by markfd - November 20th, 2009 at 10:24
Surprised by Wilkie not being added, oout of the three added I have only witnessed Juan Jaime in person, he has good stuff, very raw, hopefully he will be with the big club someday.
#23 by VladiHondo - November 20th, 2009 at 10:28
Think who they chose to protect may be a hint of Rizzo philosophy with all the old-school scouts they’ve hired.
Wilkie isn’t big, doesn’t have a blazing FB, isn’t “projectable”.
Juan Jaime may not be big (6′1) but does have an arm. So he’s “projectable”.
Severino is the same age, he’s a relative midget (5′9), but a lefty. Atahualpo (love saying that name! ‘At-ta-wall’-po)) pitched 2 levels lower than Josh.
I see a Moneyball team picking him in the Rule 5, his FIP in AAA was 2 runs lower than his ERA – so he gets guys out independent of fielding.
PS is Brian sporting a black armband today? ;)
#24 by Brian Oliver - November 20th, 2009 at 10:37
VH – The silver lining could be that he gets selected by another MLB team and gets his shot at the majors.
#25 by Scott - November 20th, 2009 at 10:57
At least were taking up a roster spot with Doug Slaten, a guy everyone knows can’t pitch in the majors…
I can’t imagine Wilkie getting through the draft for us to keep. Even if we’re not one of them, there are plenty of teams smart enough to recognize the value of an MLB-ready reliever with a 3-1 K/BB ratio and only 10 HR allowed in 239 minor league innings who has maintained his effectiveness as he’s progressed through the system.
#26 by Jake - November 20th, 2009 at 11:01
Keep Wilkie. It will keep Brian happy and he’s better than our relievers right now!!
#27 by Paul - November 20th, 2009 at 11:11
Thanks for the info Brian.
Does filling up our 40 man signal a perceived lack of talent out there in the Rule V draft? I mean, if there was somebody clearly better out there then some of the scrubs that we have taking up space on our 40 man, wouldn’t that decision essentially make itself?
I mean, is there anyone available that we would want?
#28 by Scott - November 20th, 2009 at 11:15
Well, he’s better than Zach Segovia, Craig Stammen and Ryan Mattheus, that’s for sure.
#29 by Jake - November 20th, 2009 at 11:21
Why won’t Rizzo outright Segovia to AAA?
#30 by Rich - November 20th, 2009 at 11:48
Didn’t we do that with Sanches and then he had an amazing year with Marlins after he declared himself a free agent? Although I don’t know if Segovia can declare himself a free agent.
#31 by Berndaddy - November 20th, 2009 at 11:59
Segovia is doing well in winter ball, though.
VH – I’m a poor man’s hispanic ( 1st generation) but I think Atahualpo is pronounced like you’ve stated with one exception the “wall” should be oo-all. At-ta – oo-all – po with the accent on “all” and that’s “all” like the girls name Alli using the short (spanish) A… that is a very cool name though.
#32 by Mark L. - November 20th, 2009 at 12:25
Thanks, Sue, for the insight. Brian, you’ve been remarkably reserved on Wilkie not being protected. If he was good enough to be sent to the AFL, and he does well there, how can he not be protected? Color me unhappy!
#33 by natsfan01 - November 20th, 2009 at 12:57
Bottom line is Wilkie should have been protected. The Nationals have made yet another stupid decision and I hope they lose Wilkie in the R5 draft. Regardless of the decisions made yesterday the kid will make the majors… He’s driven and has mastered every level, proving himself over and over again. I can only imagine he is not a happy camper this morning. Wilkie- if you read this- keep up the good work and we are rooting for you here in DC.
#34 by Gavin B - November 20th, 2009 at 12:59
Paul – If I understand it right (and millions will correct me if wrong) the 40 man right now doesn’t affect the Nats ability to take someone in the Rule V draft. Like others have said, the Nats can dump anyone from their 40 man roster between now and the Rule 5 draft.
#35 by John - November 20th, 2009 at 13:34
Time to start channeling the 1940 GOP Convention…”We want Wilkie!”
#36 by natsfan01 - November 20th, 2009 at 13:35
Is that right? I am pretty sure they are not able to pick anyone up in the R5 draft with a full 40 man. Brian?
#37 by RT - November 20th, 2009 at 13:51
Strasburg is out for the game saturday, he twisted his knee shagging fly balls during BP. Sucks, had my DVR set to record him pitch and for the second time he gets scratched because of a minor injury.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091119&content_id=7691794&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
#38 by VladiHondo - November 20th, 2009 at 14:23
Bendaddy, I only had 8th grade Spanish, thanks for the correction!
Let’s try this again, “Go, Go, At-ta-oo-all-po!!!”
#39 by Brian Oliver - November 20th, 2009 at 14:33
natsfan – The Nationals have untile December 8 to make a 40-man move opening up a spot to make a pick
#40 by Ryan - November 20th, 2009 at 15:23
natsfan01-
Really, not protecting Wilkie can be defined as “yet another stupid decision”. I understand we root for the local kid and he came across excellently in the WaPo article, but this is a 25 year old kid with a below avg. FB, little to speak of with a offspeed pitch and a nice changeup.
Those players are a dime a dozen. Do I think they should have protected him over Severino, perhaps, but I don’t think he will be drafted in the Rule 5 and if he does, I don’t think we will or should lose sleep over it.
#41 by SpringfieldFan - November 20th, 2009 at 18:19
I have to agree with Ryan except that, with inflation and whatnot, I’d guess it’s closer to $1.20/dozen now.
#42 by BinM - November 20th, 2009 at 20:19
@VH, Berndaddy: Try this pronunciation instead – at-ah-WALP-oo. It rolls off the tongue much easier.
#43 by BinM - November 20th, 2009 at 20:21
Oops: Bad typing skills – Try the phonetic at-ah-WALP-oh instead.
#44 by Mike - November 21st, 2009 at 00:48
While I really like some of your suggested pronunciations, as a Spanish speaker, I can tell you it is pronounced: ah-tah-WHAL-pah.