MLB outright assignment tracker

While it may not receive as much attention as retirement announcements, end-of-season press conferences, or the managerial carousel, one tradition that takes places across Major League Baseball every autumn is the postseason 40-man roster purge. While some spots on the 40-man open up organically as players hit the free-agent market or retire, it’s usually necessary for teams to clear up extra 40-man spots in order to activate players from the 60-day injured list, protect eligible prospects from the Rule 5 Draft, and/or create flexibility in case they sign any major-league free agents.

While this can also be achieved by non-tendering arbitration-eligible players before the December 2 deadline, most teams elect to clean up their rosters by outrighting players on the fringes of the 40-man to the minor leagues in late October or early November. At this time of year, these transactions generally free up players to become six-year minor-league free agents, though some of them will end up returning to the clubs that outrighted them on minor-league deals.

The Brewers and Marlins kicked off the annual 40-man purge on October 16 with a series of outright assignments. Check back in here for more updates as moves continue to take place:

Angels: 1B Justin Bour (October 28, refused assignment and elected free agency), IF/RHP Kaleb Cowart (October 28, refused assignment and elected free agency), LHP Miguel Del Pozo (October 28, refused assignment and elected free agency), RHP Luis García (October 28, refused assignment and elected free agency), RHP Nick Tropeano (October 28, refused assignment and elected free agency)

Blue Jays: LHP Buddy Boshers (October 30, refused assignment and elected free agency), RHP Ryan Dull (October 30), RHP Brock Stewart (October 30), RHP Ryan Tepera (November 7, refused assignment and elected free agency), 2B Devon Travis (November 4, refused assignment and elected free agency)

Brewers: 1B/OF Tyler Austin (November 1, refused assignment and elected free agency), INF/OF Hernán Pérez (October 16, refused assignment and elected free agency), IF/OF Cory Spangenberg (November 1, refused assignment and elected free agency)

Cardinals: C Joe Hudson (November 1, refused assignment and elected free agency)

Cubs: RHP Allen Webster (November 4)

Diamondbacks: OF Abraham Almonte (October 31), LHP Robby Scott (October 31)

Dodgers: IF/OF Kristopher Negrón (November 9, released)

Giants: IF Cristhian Adames (November 1), 1B/3B Zach Green (November 4), RHP Kyle Barraclough (November 1, refused assignment and elected free agency), RHP Ricardo Pinto (November 8, released)

Indians: RHP Cody Anderson (November 4, refused assignment and elected free agency), RHP A.J. Cole (November 4, refused assignment and elected free agency), LHP Tyler Olson (November 4, refused assignment and elected free agency), RHP Danny Salazar (November 4, refused assignment and elected free agency)

Mariners: RHP Chasen Bradford (October 28), OF Keon Broxton (October 29, refused assignment and elected free agency), 1B/3B Ryon Healy (October 28), RHP Conner Sadzeck (October 28)

Marlins: C Tyler Heineman (October 16), C Bryan Holaday (October 18, refused assignment and elected free agency), RHP Héctor Noesi (October 16), OF César Puello (October 24)

Mets: LHP Donnie Hart (November 1, refused assignment and elected free agency), 2B Joe Panik (November 1, refused assignment and elected free agency)

Nationals: C Spencer Kieboom (October 21, refused assignment and elected free agency)

Orioles: RHP Ryan Eades (October 30), RHP Luis Ortiz (October 30), LHP Josh Rogers (October 30), RHP Tayler Scott (October 30), OF Mason Williams (October 30, refused assignment and elected free agency), RHP Gabriel Ynoa (November 4, refused assignment and elected free agency)

Padres: RHP Carl Edwards Jr. (November 4, refused assignment and elected free agency), LHP Robbie Erlin (October 31, refused assignment and elected free agency), RHP Brett Kennedy (October 30), IF Seth Mejias-Brean (November 4), RHP Jacob Nix (November 11), RHP Eric Yardley (November 7, released)

Phillies: RHP Jerad Eickhoff (November 4, refused assignment and elected free agency), IF/OF Phil Gosselin (November 4, refused assignment and elected free agency), RHP Mike Morin (November 4, refused assignment and elected free agency), RHP Blake Parker (November 4, refused assignment and elected free agency), IF/OF Jose Pirela (November 1, released), RHP Edubray Ramos (November 4, refused assignment and elected free agency)

Pirates: C Steven Baron (October 25), IF/OF Jake Elmore (October 25), IF Corban Joseph (October 25), RHP James Marvel (November 4), RHP Alex McRae (November 4), RHP Yefry Ramírez (November 4), LHP Wei-Chung Wang (November 4)

Rangers: LHP Jesse Biddle (October 31), C Tim Federowicz (November 4, refused assignment and elected free agency), OF Zack Granite (October 31)

Rays: OF Johnny Davis (October 30), LHP Hoby Milner (October 31, refused assignment and elected free agency)

Reds: IF Christian Colón (November 4, refused assignment and elected free agency), IF/OF Derek Dietrich (November 4), C Juan Graterol (October 18), RHP Keury Mella (November 4, refused assignment and elected free agency), RHP Jackson Stephens (November 4, refused assignment and elected free agency)

Red Sox: C Juan Centeno (November 4, refused assignment and elected free agency), OF Gorkys Hernandez (October 18, refused assignment and elected free agency), IF/OF Chris Owings (October 21, refused assignment and elected free agency), RHP Josh A. Smith (October 18, refused assignment and elected free agency), RHP Steven Wright (October 18, released)

Rockies: RHP Chad Bettis (October 30, refused assignment and elected free agency), RHP DJ Johnson (October 23, released), RHP Tim Melville (October 30)

Royals: RHP Jacob Barnes (November 6, released)

Tigers: RHP Victor Alcántara (October 24), LHP Blaine Hardy (October 24, refused assignment and elected free agency), C/1B John Hicks (October 24), RHP Eduardo Jiménez (October 23), OF Dustin Peterson (October 23), RHP Zac Reininger (October 23), LHP Nick Ramirez (October 23), LHP Daniel Stumpf (October 24)

Twins: RHP Sam Dyson (November 2, refused assignment and elected free agency), OF Ryan Lamarre (October 28), OF Ian Miller (October 28), RHP Kohl Stewart (November 4, refused assignment and elected free agency), INF Ronald Torreyes (October 28)

White Sox: LHP Manny Bañuelos (October 28, refused assignment and elected free agency), OF Ryan Cordell (October 28, refused assignment and elected free agency), IF/OF Ryan Goins (October 28, refused assignment and elected free agency), 1B Matt Skole (October 28, refused assignment and elected free agency)

Yankees: RHP Jake Barrett (November 4), LHP Tyler Lyons (November 4, refused assignment and elected free agency), RHP David Hale (October 19)