2025 Minor League/Prospects Discussion Thread

[JN]

Yeah, I don't think the penny pinching here is a great argument even if that likely factored into their decision. I think they just gave up on him more than anything else and they don't think he will make it back to the Majors.

I dont really see it as penny pinching. The team, whatever the number, has a budget. So it saves 1.8-2.5 million that it might use elsewhere.

I just thought the risk/reward value was still there at a cost of 2.5 million with a healthy off-season.

It doesn't though. It saves them about 40k.

Keeping him on the 40 man now doesn't mean they need to tender him a contract in the offseason. That was a separate decision that they could make in the future (or agree to terms at a lower number if desired).

There are two different things to discuss. The now and arbitration decision.

I addressed the now part above. I noted (which appears to be in agreement with your take) that they should have kept him on the roster for the remainder of the year and waived Easton Lucas. Not make the move a distraction in any way and then decide later.

[JN]

That being said they are back to rotating relievers.

So it’s quite possible that if the Sunday game is meaningless they are looking at Easton Lucas as the innings eater that day. (And while it looks unlikely now that Sundays game is meaningless, at the time the decision was made it was more likely.


Though Manoah could have made that Sunday start instead of Lucas.

[bluerap23]

That being said they are back to rotating relievers.

So it’s quite possible that if the Sunday game is meaningless they are looking at Easton Lucas as the innings eater that day. (And while it looks unlikely now that Sundays game is meaningless, at the time the decision was made it was more likely.


Though Manoah could have made that Sunday start instead of Lucas.

Yes, I would have preferred Manoah to Lucas but this saves them about $1M. They really must not have liked what they saw from him. Maybe more to do with his overall physical condition.

[JN]

That being said they are back to rotating relievers.

So it’s quite possible that if the Sunday game is meaningless they are looking at Easton Lucas as the innings eater that day. (And while it looks unlikely now that Sundays game is meaningless, at the time the decision was made it was more likely.


Though Manoah could have made that Sunday start instead of Lucas.

Yes, I would have preferred Manoah to Lucas but this saves them about $1M. They really must not have liked what they saw from him. Maybe more to do with his overall physical condition.

On the finances - for 2025 it only saves us about $40K. And the only reason we save $40K was because he was claimed for the last 3 days of the season by the Braves.

The money savings for 2026 would be closer to $2.0 million by choosing not to offer him arbitration. That has always been my position, don't create any potential drama in the room even if the players know its just baseball.

[dagger]

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