Bold truth: spring training reveals the Brewers’ roster flexibility like never before, driven largely by option statuses that shape every decision. As camps open, the team can maneuver players between the majors and minors throughout the year, offering depth for injuries and a chance to refresh the roster during the long grind. This spring, Brewers players entering camp bring a notable level of option flexibility, with many having at least one option remaining.
Here’s a concise refresher on how options work. When a player is added to the 40-man roster, they receive three option years. If a player is on the 40-man roster but not on the active 26-man squad or the injured list, they must be sent to the minors on an option assignment. After spending 20 days in the minors, one option is consumed for the year. A player can be recalled and optioned multiple times in a season, but only one option is used per year. However, the total number of times a player can be optioned in a single season is capped at five. If a player surpasses that limit, they must be exposed to waivers to return to the minors.
If a player has exhausted all options, the only route to the minors is via designation for assignment (which removes them from the 40-man roster) followed by outright waivers before being sent to the minors. Players with more than three years of Major League service time, or those who have been outrighted previously, can reject being outrighted to the minors and become free agents. Additionally, if a player has five years of Major League service time, they must consent to being sent to the minors under any circumstance.
Below are the Brewers’ major league camp participants and their current option statuses. Players expected to make the big league roster are shown at the top of each list. Some players carry special symbols explained below. These option statuses draw from Roster Resource via FanGraphs.
- * - Non-roster invitees (in major league camp, not on the 40-man roster)
- # - Players who will exceed five years of Major League service during the season. These players can only be sent to the minors with their consent after reaching five years.
- ^ - Players with one option who might be eligible for a fourth option (details in the linked section).
Zero Options
- Position Players
- Greg Jones*
Eddys Leonard*
Pitchers
Rob Zastryzny
Peter Strzelecki*
Jacob Waguespack*
When evaluating camp battles this spring, option status will play a minimal role in most judgments. The group with zero options is small, meaning most non-roster invitees who don’t win a roster spot can be optioned to the minors. Several in this group are on minor league deals, and their contracts—especially any opt-out clauses—will influence whether they begin the season in the minors or the majors.
The sole player who must make the roster out of camp or be exposed to waivers is Rob Zastryzny. He is the only Brewers 40-man member with under five years of Major League service time who does not have an option available. He is projected to start the season on the roster but will need a strong spring to secure his place.
One Option
- Position Players
- William Contreras#
- David Hamilton
- Brice Turang
- Akil Baddoo
- Steward Berroa
- Tyler Black^
Jeferson Quero^
Pitchers
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Aaron Ashby
DL Hall
Trevor Megill
Quinn Priester
Abner Uribe
Angel Zerpa
Easton McGee
Sammy Peralta
Carlos Rodriguez^
Gerson Garabito*
This list offers limited intrigue, since most players projected for the Opening Day roster are already established in their current roles. For those who have used a minor league option, this season becomes crucial: with no option left next year, they must earn their spot from the outset. Strong performance in majors when opportunities arise will help them build a compelling track record for 2027 implications.
Among these, three players are currently on their last option year but might qualify for a fourth. MLB rules permit a fourth option under certain conditions. The official rule (linked below) explains that players with fewer than five full seasons (counting Major and Minor League time) may receive a fourth option if their three options have already been exhausted. Spending at least 90 days on any active roster in a season counts as a full season, and similarly, 30 days plus 90 days of active roster time can count as a full season.
Note: This is not automatic. Teams usually apply for the extra option year, and MLB must approve. Among the players above, Black and Rodriguez were drafted in 2021, which could make this their fifth full season. Quero’s status is more nuanced due to signing as an international free agent in 2019 and the 2020 season interruption.
Two Options
- Position Players
- Joey Ortiz
- Blake Perkins
- Andrew Vaughn#
Brandon Lockridge
Pitchers
Jared Koenig
Chad Patrick
Logan Henderson
Robert Gasser
Kyle Harrison
Craig Yoho
Drew Rom*
These players have already used one option but still retain two remaining. Lockridge is the only position player likely to begin the season in the minors but could provide useful depth during the season. Meanwhile, Koenig and Patrick stand as near-locks for Opening Day rosters. Henderson, Gasser, and Harrison will compete for spots among the starting pitchers, though they should still receive some Major League starts this season—even if they begin the year in the minors.
Three Options
- Position Players
- Jackson Chourio
- Sal Frelick
Garrett Mitchell
Pitchers
Jacob Misiorowski
Coleman Crow
Shane Drohan
Brandon Sproat
These players are on the 40-man roster but have not yet used an option. For most, their addition to the 40-man came during promotions to the majors, and they have remained there since. Crow is an exception, added to shield him from the Rule 5 Draft. Coleman, Drohan, and Sproat are expected to use their first option at the season’s outset and are likely to begin in the minors.
Non-Roster Invitees with no 40-man status
- Position Players
- Luke Adams*
- Eduardo Garcia*
- Luis Lara*
- Jesús Made*
- Darrien Miller*
- Cooper Pratt*
- Ramón Rodríguez*
- Brock Wilken*
- Jett Williams*
Matthew Wood*
Pitchers
Tate Kuehner*
NRIs listed here have not yet been on the 40-man roster, so they haven’t used an option. They can stay in the minors while remaining off the 40-man roster. If added to the 40-man roster later, they would then need to use an option to stay in the minors.
More than five years of Major League service
- Position Players
- Jake Bauers
- Luis Rengifo
- Gary Sánchez
- Christian Yelich
Reese McGuire*
Pitchers
Brandon Woodruff
This final group consists of players with at least five years of Major League service time. They cannot be optioned to the minors without their consent. An exception is McGuire, who is in camp on a minor league contract and could start in the minors depending on his arrangement; if added to the major league roster, he cannot be sent down without consent.
