Cubs 40-Man Roster Now Set For Rule 5 Draft

After a rather lack-luster day of activity from the Cubs today, the 40 man roster falls together like this:

 MLB Service Time goes by the format of Years+Days, meaning 2+155 is equal to 2 years plus 155 days. Although an MLB regular season (“championship season”) is actually 183 days in length, 172 days equals a full MLB season for purposes of determining MLB Service Time, and a player cannot get credit for more than 172 days of MLB Service Time in any one season.

NOTE 1 – The Cubs have no Rule 5 Players on their MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) at this time.

NOTE 2 – Trey McNutt, Chris Rusin, Christian Villanueva, Logan Watkins, and Rob Whitenack have Draft Excluded Status until 20 days prior to 2013 MLB Opening Day because each of them was added to an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) after August 15th.

NOTE 3 – Rafael Dolis has used three minor league options through the 2012 season, but because he has accrued only four “full seasons” through the 2012 season, he will be eligible for a 4th minor league option in 2013. And as things stand right now, Gerardo Concepcion, Jorge Soler, and Matt Szczur will be eligible for a 4th minor league option in 2015.

NOTE 4 – Any player on a 40-man roster who has accrued at least five years of MLB Service Time (see chart above) must give his consent (in advance) before he can be sent to the minors by Optional or Outright Assignment. Also, any player who has accrued at least three years of MLB Service Time (see chart above) or who qualifies as a “Super Two” has the right to refuse an Outright Assignment and elect free-agency. In addition,Michael Bowden, Bryan LaHair, and Luis Valbuena have the right to refuse an Outright Assignment and elect free-agency because each of them has been outrighted previously in his career.

NOTE 5 – Beginning at 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day following the conclusion of the World Series, any unsigned player not eligible to elect free-agency if outrighted who has spent all or parts of at least seven different seasons on a minor league Active List and/or Disabled List cannot be sent outright to the minors until the player signs a contract for the following season. Therefore, Alberto Cabrera, Welington Castillo, Jaye Chapman, Rafael Dolis, and Travis Wood cannot be sent outright to the minors until the player signs a 2013 major league contract.

NOTE 6 – Optional Assignment Waivers must be secured before Ian Stewart can be optioned to the minors. Also, because they have accrued at least five years of MLB Service Time, David DeJesus, Matt Garza, Carlos Marmol, Dioner Navarro, and Alfonso Soriano would have to give their consent AND Optional Assignment Waivers would have to be secured before they can be optioned to the minors.

Sept. 30, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs celebrate after a win against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. The Cubs won 7 to 2. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Hilderbrand-US PRESSWIRE

Big thanks to The Cub Reporter for the 40 man roster cheat sheet. Be sure to check them out.

This has some serious implications for the Cubs with a few surprises including the DFA-ing of Bryan LaHair, the omission of Nick Struck (MiLB pitcher of the year) and the retention of Casey Coleman and Steve Clevenger.

In depth analysis of these new moves to come tomorrow. Stay tuned to Cubbies Crib or follow me on twitter for news as it breaks.