Today is when the 40-man roster must be set. It is also the deadline for Free Agents to accept or reject the qualifying offers. Players with the requisite service time will be exposed to the Rule 5 Draft if not protected. There are five open roster spots:
I would protect:
- Hunter Feduccia (but they may have too much other talent to protect a backup catcher)
- Nick Frasso
- Landon Knack
- Gus Varland (drafted and returned last year)
- Yenier Fernandez (someone like Milwaukee could take this guy – he is a very valuable & versatile player)
Ryan Yarbrough is not a roster lock, and if the Dodgers have any inkling of keeping Feduccia, they would likely DFA Austin Barnes.