The group of players under a Major League Baseball team’s control, eligible to be added to the active 26-man roster during the season, is formally designated as the specified roster size. This roster serves as a pool from which the team can draw players, providing flexibility to manage injuries, performance issues, and strategic needs throughout the long season. For instance, a promising minor league pitcher may be added to this larger roster in anticipation of a late-season call-up to the major league club.
Maintaining a balanced group offers numerous advantages. It allows teams to protect young talent from being selected by other organizations in the Rule 5 Draft. Further, it ensures teams have a readily available supply of players to address unexpected circumstances, such as injuries or sudden declines in performance. Historically, the establishment of such roster limitations aimed to foster competitive balance across all teams by restricting the hoarding of players by wealthier franchises.
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