It’s not often that a player becomes a free agent after just three professional seasons, but unique circumstances have led to that happening with left-hander Michael Roth.
Roth was the Angels’ ninth-round draft pick out of the University of South Carolina in 2012. At the time he was viewed as a low-upside, MLB-ready pitcher and sure enough he debuted in the majors less than a year after being selected: April 13, 2013.
And then he got knocked around in a few stints with the Angels, allowing 28 runs in 32 innings. He was placed on waivers and passed through unclaimed twice, the second time happening yesterday, and because of that Roth was able to become a free agent at age 24.
Based on his underwhelming raw stuff and minor-league track record Roth looks like a marginal big leaguer, but he’ll no doubt find a home at Triple-A somewhere and perhaps make it back to the majors.