Brewers: 5 Players Likely To Lose 40 Man Roster Spots In Coming Days

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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – JUNE 23: A detail view of a Milwaukee Brewers cap during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Miller Park on June 23, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

The Milwaukee Brewers have had had quite the week in terms of roster transactions. As they approached the Trade Deadline and acquired more players, several players on the big league roster went on the Covid IL, temporarily taking them off the 40 man roster.

In some cases, the outside additions were brought onto the roster with the corresponding move to be putting someone else on the Covid IL.

While that alleviates the roster backload for now and delays decisions on DFAs and such, at some point relatively soon, those players will be coming back off the IL and will need their 40 man spots back.

The Brewers acquired three players in the days leading up to the deadline, and six have gone on Covid IL around the same time, with a seventh, Jace Peterson, going on and coming back off already.

So, when these players come back, as well as the returns of Travis Shaw and Daniel Vogelbach nearing, the Brewers will need to go through some serious roster shuffling and several players will be losing their 40 man spots.

Here are five Brewers players who are likely candidates to lose their 40 man roster status in the coming days.

1. LHP Kyle Lobstein

You can be forgiven for not knowing who Kyle Lobstein is or that he was in the Brewers organization, let alone on the 40 man roster.

Earlier in July, the Brewers claimed Lobstein off waivers from the Washington Nationals and sent him to Triple-A Nashville. The 31 year old lefty had a 20.25 ERA in 1.1 IP with the Nationals this year and last pitched in the big leagues in 2016 prior to his four out stint with Washington this season.

He’s logged plenty of innings in the minor leagues in recent years, but hasn’t achieved much success at the big league level.

Considering the Brewers added Daniel Norris as another lefty and haven’t given Lobstein a call despite the holes opening up in the bullpen in the last week.

Also, in six appearances for Triple-A Nashville, Lobstein has a 7.11 ERA. So he’s not exactly making a great case to stay on the 40 man roster either. When a roster spot is needed, Lobstein will probably be one of the first to go.

Jun 9, 2021; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Travis Shaw (21) throws to first base against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Tim Lopes

Tim Lopes was already down on the utilityman depth chart, having clearly fallen behind Pablo Reyes. With the addition of Willy Adames and then Eduardo Escobar, the chances of Lopes getting another shot are slim.

He didn’t impress in his limited opportunity with the big league club and although he does have options remaining, he’s a little too far down on the depth chart to still be holding a 40 man roster spot when this team is at full strength.

Luis Urias is being relegated from an everyday player to a utility option after the Escobar addition, which pushes Reyes down the depth chart another spot and in turn pushes Lopes down even further.

Lopes also isn’t exactly dominating at Triple-A either, hitting just .220 with a .685 OPS in 59 games. He was acquired last offseason off waivers from the Mariners. He missed the first part of the season and the battle for utility spots with a hip injury that put him on the 60 Day IL to start the year.

3. Travis Shaw

Travis Shaw is already off the 40 man roster on account of being on the 60 Day IL after suffering a shoulder injury back in June. He’s on a rehab assignment right now, getting ready to return soon.

But when he’s eligible to come off the IL and return to the 40 man roster, will there be a spot for him?

Since he’s been gone, Luis Urias proved he could handle third base on a regular basis and the Brewers have added two other corner infielders in Escobar and Rowdy Tellez. Escobar will take the bulk of the third base opportunities while Rowdy Tellez has performed well against righties at first base.

His primary position of third base is taken care of between Escobar and Urias while his secondary position of first base is handled well by Escobar and Tellez.

Where does Shaw fit in?

It’s not like Shaw was knocking the cover off the ball prior to his injury. He’s hitting just .191 with a .616 OPS and 69 wRC+ on the season with six home runs. He started off hot in the first few weeks, but struggled in May and June. He was already on the verge of losing his starting job to Urias right before his injury.

In four rehab games in Triple-A so far, Shaw has gone 2-for-9 with three walks and three strikeouts.

Don’t be surprised if Shaw gets activated from the IL and then designated for assignment. The team has been cruising since and he doesn’t have a job right now. He could be a big bat off the bench, but he wasn’t hitting consistently well enough before to inspire much confidence he could make an impact in that role.

Jun 14, 2021; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Eric Yardley (57) delivers a pitch against the Cincinnati Reds in the sixth inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Blaine Hardy

Just added to the 40 man roster in the wake of the Covid IL stints ravaging the Brewers bullpen, Blaine Hardy is likely to lose that status as soon as some of those arms come back.

They should be able to send him off the 40 man roster without exposing him to waivers because of the rules surrounding Covid IL placements and how they can be replaced.

Hardy is in his first season back recovering from Tommy John surgery and spent all of the season to this point in Triple-A, posting a 3.50 ERA in 17 appearances.

Right now, Hardy is more of a warm body in the bullpen that might be used if the game gets out of hand, but likely won’t get in in a close game situation. He wasn’t on the 40 man roster prior to this string of Covid-related IL stints and once those guys are back, he’ll likely be off the 40 man once again.

5. Eric Yardley

In 2020, Eric Yardley was one of Craig Counsell’s most trustworthy relievers. The soft-tossing sidewinder posted a 1.54 ERA in 23.1 IP in the shortened season. He was expected to be one of the key relievers in the Brewers bullpen once again in 2021.

Everyone knew there would be some performances in the 60 game season in 2020 that wouldn’t carry over to the 162 game season in 2021. Some would overachieve, some would underachieve. Yardley was one who overachieved.

There wasn’t much of a previous big league track record on Yardley, so it was difficult to tell if he truly was going to be an impact reliever at this level. There was optimism that Yardley’s breakout in 2020 was legitimate and he could carry it over into this year.

But that has not happened.

Yardley has a 6.75 ERA in 18.2 IP for the Brewers this season and down in Triple-A, he’s also struggling a little, with a 4.24 ERA in 17 IP with the Sounds.

With the additions of Daniel Norris and John Curtiss, the Brewers bullpen will be deep enough that they shouldn’t need Yardley the rest of the season. Once those relievers on the Covid IL start to return, don’t be surprised to see Yardley lose his 40 man roster spot.

dark. Next. The 3 Worst Trade Deadline Deals In Brewers History

The Brewers have a 40 man roster in a state of flux right now with injured players coming back, Trade Deadline acquisitions coming in, and a large number of guys on the short-term Covid IL. Soon, as they get healthier, several players will lose their 40 man spots. These five are the most likely candidates.

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