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

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.

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.