Braves September Call-Ups: Part 3

I may be going a bit overboard on the analysis of the Braves September call-ups, but for a team that needs to develop some more talent, I believe this September is an important time to do that. Part-1 focused on the hitters who could be called up, and part-2 focused on the pitchers. In part-3 I'll focus on how we can make these players fit on the roster, and who might be (or should be) cut to make room for the kids.

To clarify the rules of the September 1st roster expansion; any player on the 40-man roster who is not on the disabled list can be added to the major league roster. The qualification being that a player must be on or added to the 40-man roster.

The first two guys who have no real business being on our 40-man roster at the expense of the up-and-comers are Ruben Gotay and Jason Perry. Gotay is a journeyman utility infielder who we alredy have two better versions of in Omar Infante and Martin Prado. Perry is a poor-man's Jeff Francoeur, and one of dozens of four-A sluggers available in the minors. There can also be a case made to cut Greg Norton. If all he is doing is servering as a backup in left and first, then we can find a prospect (Canizares) to do that.

There are several pitchers who don't really need to be on the active roster -- Matt DeSalvo, Julian Tavarez, and Vladimir Nunez. Any combination of these three could be cut to make room for prospects. I don't think anyone has any illusions that they'll be on the roster this winter, so why not cut them now and put Tommy Hanson, Kris Medlen, and James Parr on the roster in their place.

Another pitcher who has overstayed his welcome on the 40-man roster is Jairo Cuevas. He's been injured or absent most of this year, and he is no longer viewed by most people as a prospect. If he is injured, he could be put on the 60-day DL to make room on the 40-man. Tom Glavine could also be put on the 60-day DL to open up a roster spot.

Add all those spots up and we get eight possible 40-man roster spots. That's more than enough for all the kids we need to call up and add to the 40-man -- Hanson, Medlen, Parr, Schafer, Canizares, and Diory Hernandez. Not to mention guys like Steven Marek, Todd Redmond, Van Pope, Eric Campbell, or anyone else that may have to be protected or risk being exposed in the Rule 5 draft.

It can't be said enough, but we need to play these kids this September so they can get some experience under their belt.