How Big Is An MLB Roster
The size of an MLB roster varies depending on the time of year and specific circumstances, but there are two main types of rosters: the 26-man roster and the 40-man roster.
Major League Baseball (MLB) rosters are a complex system of player management, designed to ensure teams have a sufficient number of players available for games while also protecting their assets. The size of an MLB roster varies depending on the time of year and specific circumstances, but there are two main types of rosters: the 26-man roster and the 40-man roster.
The 26-Man Roster
The 26-man roster is the active roster of Major League players from Opening Day through August 31, and during the postseason. This roster comprises the players who are eligible to play in regular-season games. Each team must have at least 25 players on their 26-man roster, with a limit of 13 pitchers.
From September 1 through the end of the regular season, all clubs must carry 28 players, with a limit of 14 pitchers. This expansion allows teams to have additional players available during the crucial final month of the season.
The 40-Man Roster
The 40-man roster includes not only the players on the 26-man roster but also those on various injured lists, the paternity leave list, the bereavement/family medical emergency list, and some minor league players. This roster is particularly important in the offseason, as players on the 40-man roster are protected from being selected by another organization in the annual Rule 5 Draft, held each year in December at the Winter Meetings.
Special Circumstances
There are certain situations where the roster size can temporarily change. For instance, in the case of doubleheaders, clubs are allowed to recall one additional player who is on the 40-man roster to serve as the 27th member of the active Major League roster only for the day of said doubleheader.
Roster Management
Managing these rosters is a strategic aspect of running an MLB team. When a club wants to add a player to the 26-man roster, the player must be on the 40-man roster. If a club with a full 40-man roster wishes to promote a Minor League player that is not on the 40-man roster, it must first remove a player from the 40-man roster.