The last few days of Spring Training always come with a significant amount of program shuffling. Hopes play their way into the team. Veterans in minor league deals begin opt-out or upward phases that force teams to decide whether to pick up their contracts or opt out. Each of those unexpected promotions cost someone else an active listing spot.
For players who still have minor league options remaining, that’s unlikely to prompt a roster move. They can be sent down without waivers, so they will only be assigned if they are the last player on the 40-man roster. Teams face a tough call when deciding which winger to choose. Are they shoehorned into a bench or low-level relief role? If not, there’s a good chance they’ll lose that player on waivers or trade for a small return.
We have already seen a number of players whose non-selection status pushed them into the league. While not an offseason consideration, an out-of-options player could be DFA this winter if the team thinks they will definitely be waived at the end of spring training.
Jack Suwinski, Vidal Brujan, Ben Rortvedt, Andy Ibanez again Marco Luciano they are among the players who have changed teams at least once (often multiple times) due to their opt-out status. The Yankees were finally able to get Luciano off waivers without a claim. The other four players remain on their clubs’ 40-man roster, but with the exception of Ibáñez, they are all looking for ways to step up to avoid another DFA a month from now.
We’ll take a look at a few others who may be playing for their careers this spring. This is not our annual comprehensive list of all players outside of options on the 40-man roster. That will be republished soon and will include a number of names (eg Edward Cabrera, Jo Adell) which are obviously not cut. This exercise will sideline any players like those mentioned above who have already changed teams this offseason and many others who appear likely to clear waivers and remain with their clubs as undrafted players.
The Giants are unlikely to have a roster spot for Matos again Encarnacion. There is a good chance that both will end up off the list. Each right-handed bat has limited defensive value. Matos has played in midfield but should be more in the corners. Encarnacion is an infielder/first baseman.
Matos has the best shot of the two to win the bench job. He is four years younger and not far from being one of the organization’s best prospects. Matos has had a powerful offense built around his bat-to-ball skills, but an aggressive approach has limited his consistency. The 24-year-old has a .231/.281/.369 batting line with 15 home runs in 593 MLB plate appearances over the past three years. He is a .287/.345/.505 hitter at the Triple-A level.
Encarnacion didn’t produce much in 54 big league games over the past two seasons. His ’25 campaign was interrupted several times by injuries. Encarnacion lined up in Triple-A when healthy and has obvious upside on a 6’4″, 260 pound frame.
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