All articles tagged with #40 man roster
The Cincinnati Reds claimed Oswaldo Cabrera off waivers after the Yankees designated him for assignment to clear 40-man space for Clarke Schmidt. Cabrera, a versatile 27-year-old who has appeared at multiple positions for the Yankees, owns a 305-game MLB resume with a .232/.635 OPS, and hit .288 with a .790 OPS in 122 Triple-A games this season; he also has another minor-league option remaining for 2027.
The Washington Nationals selected left-hander Jared Simpson for September call-ups and added infielder Yohandy Morales to the expanded roster, while catcher Drew Millas was placed on the 60-day injured list to create a 40-man vacancy. Simpson, a 26-year-old former eighth-round pick who split this season between Double-A and Triple-A with a 2.30 ERA, 28.9% strikeouts and strong ground-ball rate but a 15% walk rate, is expected to serve as a bullpen arm in his major-league debut as rosters expand to 28.
The Chicago White Sox designated pitcher Wikelman Gonzalez for assignment to open a 40-man roster spot for promotions of Hagen Smith and Tanner McDougal. Gonzalez, part of the Garrett Crochet trade from Boston, had a solid MLB debut in 2025 but spent most of 2026 in Triple-A Charlotte with uneven results, including a rough return from the IL. His future hinges on waivers, with other clubs potentially claiming a controllable right-hander with MLB experience.
The Braves add right-hander Elieser Hernández to the 40-man roster to bolster the bullpen, optioning Owen Murphy to Triple-A Gwinnett to clear space; Hernández brings KBO and Blue Jays system experience and will be used as a bullpen arm while Martín Pérez is set to return.
The White Sox will promote top outfield prospect Braden Montgomery to the majors, adding him to both the 40-man and 26-man rosters. Lefty reliever Joe Rock is also joining the majors, while Rikuu Nishida and David Sandlin are optioned to Charlotte and Austin Hays is moved to the 60-day injured list to clear space. Montgomery has slashed .315/.417/.495 with four homers in 29 Triple-A games and has recently posted a 10-game hot stretch (.474/.580/.711), underscoring the club’s view of him as a long-term corner-outfield piece as it balances offense with pitching needs.
The Pittsburgh Pirates will promote first base/outfield prospect Esmerlyn Valdez to the majors, optioning Billy Cook; Valdez is already on the 40-man roster and has posted strong numbers in Triple-A this season (10 home runs in 194 plate appearances with a .253/.381/.506 line and 131 wRC+), following a 2025 season with 26 homers across High-A/Double-A. The move further enriches the Pirates’ right-handed bat options at first base/outfield, with potential platoon or flexible playing-time scenarios as Valdez makes his MLB debut.
The Mets plan to promote outfield prospect Nick Morabito (No. 10 prospect) from Triple-A and designate Austin Slater for assignment to clear a 40-man roster slot. Morabito could debut in his hometown of Washington, D.C., and has posted a .755 OPS with 4 home runs and 14 stolen bases in Triple-A this season, with left-handed pitching likely to be a factor in his early role.
The Mets selected Vidal Brujan to fill the shortstop role after Ronny Mauricio was placed on the 10-day IL with a fractured thumb, designating Eric Wagaman for assignment to clear a 40-man spot. Brujan, previously DFAed by the Twins and Braves, provides defensive versatility as the Mets navigate Francisco Lindor's calf strain.
The Detroit Tigers designated reliever Dylan Smith for assignment to clear a 40-man roster spot for rookie shortstop Kevin McGonigle; they also placed Sawyer Gipson-Long (left oblique strain), Bailey Horn (elbow arthroscopy) and Trey Sweeney (shoulder strain) on the injured list (Sweeney 10-day, Gipson-Long and Horn 15-day). Smith, 25, appeared in seven MLB games last season over 13 innings, with two runs allowed and 4 strikeouts against 5 walks; he showed health this spring before being optioned. He has two minor-league options remaining and is expected to be traded or claimed on waivers within five days. Smith sits 6’2” with a 94-95 mph fastball and an mid-80s slider, and has a four-season minor-league ERA under 4.00.
The Yankees selected Randal Grichuk’s contract to make the Opening Day roster, locking in a $2.5 million salary for 2026 and sidestepping an opt-out threat from his Article XX(B) deal by adding him to the 26-man roster (a 40-man roster move will still be required). Grichuk, a right-handed outfielder, provides backup/spot-start depth behind Judge, Grisham and Bellinger, with Dominguez and Spencer Jones starting in Triple-A. He’s seen as a platoon option against left-handed pitching, offering value despite uneven numbers vs righties, as the Yankees balance playing time for their younger outfield prospects.
The Orioles acquired infielder Bryan Ramos from the White Sox to add depth and designated Weston Wilson for assignment to clear a 40-man roster spot; Ramos, a former White Sox signee with limited MLB success in 2024-25, has shown minor-league versatility, while Wilson—a 100-game MLB utility man—was DFA’d and could be outrighted to Triple-A if unclaimed, continuing Baltimore's aggressive 40-man roster churn.
Seattle designated reliever Jackson Kowar for assignment to open a 40-man roster spot for catcher Jhonny Pereda, who was acquired from Minnesota for cash considerations. Kowar, a 29-year-old former Royals first-round pick, has struggled in the majors (roughly 8.21 ERA in 91 MLB innings) and is out of options after a injury‑plagued Mariners stint that included Tommy John surgery and a shoulder impingement. Pereda, a well-traveled depth catcher with strong minor-league numbers and solid defense, provides catching depth behind Cal Raleigh, with Andrew Knizner signed to back him up and a Triple-A option available. The move comes as Seattle reshuffles the roster following the trade that sent Harry Ford away and reduced other catching options on the 40-man roster.
The Mets designated right-hander Cooper Criswell for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster after tonight's two-for-two trade involving Jett Williams. Criswell, who has previously moved through waivers and carries a slightly above-minimum guaranteed contract, could be traded or waived again; he posted a 4.08 ERA in 99 1/3 MLB innings in 2024 and a 3.57 ERA in 17 2/3 MLB innings in 2025, with a 3.70 ERA and a 24.5% strikeout rate in Triple-A Worcester.