2020 4th Option Watch

 Major league players usually have three option years, but some players, who have already used three options within four "full seasons", are given fourth option year.

At the beginning of the 2020 season,  14 players on 40-man roster were eligible for fourth option. 

Among them, only 4 players were actually used their fourth option.

They are now "out of options", so they will be no more optioned in 2021 season. 

Travis Jankowski (CF) (Cincinnati)

Raudy Read (C) (Washington)

Edmundo Sosa (2B) (St.Louis)

Taylor Williams (RHP) (Seattle/San Diego)

6 players below were eligible, but not used their option because they stayed on major league active list or injured list throughout 2020 season.

If 67-day 2020 season is not meet the 90-day "full season" requirement, they may be eligible again for 2021 season.

Jimmy Cordero (RHP) (Chicago White Sox)

Erick Fedde (RHP)                  (Washington)

Chi Chi Gonzalez (RHP) (Colorado)

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (SS)         (Toronto)

Burch Smith (RHP)         (Oakland)

Kyle Zimmer (RHP)         (Kansas City)

4 players below were eligible, but not used their option because they were placed on restricted list or outrighted to minors. They may be eligible again for 2021 season.

 

Domingo German (RHP) (New York Yankees, on restricted list)

Domingo Leyba (SS) (Arizona, on restricted list)

Yohander Mendez (LHP) (Texas, outrighted on July 23)

Fernando Romero (RHP) (Minnesota, on restricted list)

4 players who signed to minor league contracts were also eligible, but they were never called up to majors in 2020. Among them, only Ramirez was added to 60-man player pool. 

If they will sign major league contracts for 2021, they may be eligible again for 2021 season.

Sandy Baez (RHP)         (Detroit)

Yefry Ramirez (RHP) (New York Mets)

Jesus Liranzo (RHP) (San Francisco)

Andrew Moore (RHP) (Cincinnati)

2 players who played with Japanese League teams in 2020 were also eligible, but they will likely no more comeback to US majors. Igarashi announced his retirement after 2020 season, while Wada signed a two-year contract extension through 2022 season with Fukuoka.

Ryota Igarashi (RHP) (Yakult)

Tsuyoshi Wada (LHP) (Fukuoka Softbank)