Arizona Fall League Roster

 I saw the Guardians preliminary assignments to the Arizona Fall League. 

Angel Martinez

Mason Hickman

Cade Smith

Lenny Torres

David Fry

Connor Kokx

Of these guys the biggest issue I have is putting Angel Martinez on display for all MLB scouts.  

Normally guys are put on AFL rosters for 3 reasons

(1) They have lost repetitions due to injury (Torres fits in this category)

(2) They are there for need, especially catchers (Fry fits here)

(3) They need experience against stronger competition to accelerate their development (Kokx, Hickman and Smith fit here)

(4) They need more reps at a new position (actually Nolan Jones at 1B would fit here but Martinez does not)

What you do not want to do is to put guys on display in the AFL who are Rule 5 eligible and are not locks to be added to your 40 man. This is why adding Martinez to the AFL roster is problematic.  I think he is a lock to make the 40 man roster this winter but I don't know if the Guardians think the same way.  If they are not planning on rostering him this winter then putting him on display in the AFL only enhances the chances he will be drafted and lost in the Rule 5.  He isn't changing positions, he had plenty of ABs this year and experience at different positions so why put him in the AFL.

It makes no sense and is a big red flag to me.  We'll see what ends up happening but all these guys except Martinez make sense (although Torres IS rule-5 eligible this winter but has pitched so little I doubt if he gets drafted if left off the roster (as he should be, based on his lack of performance and injury history so far).

We'll see but this is a very concerning development to me.