Minor League Roster Machinations

[VirtualBob]

Something I noticed last year has again become common in the Astros organization.  They are essentially carrying an extra pitcher (or two) at both Lancaster and Quad Cities ... moving someone to the "inactive list" right after they pitch several innings and "activating" someone who is ready to pitch.  What are the rules on this sort of thing?  Are there any limits at all, or do they just have to stick with the roster limit on a game-by-game basis?

[Nate Colbert]

Something I noticed last year has again become common in the Astros organization.  They are essentially carrying an extra pitcher (or two) at both Lancaster and Quad Cities ... moving someone to the "inactive list" right after they pitch several innings and "activating" someone who is ready to pitch.  What are the rules on this sort of thing?  Are there any limits at all, or do they just have to stick with the roster limit on a game-by-game basis?

35 man reserve roster, 25 man active roster at those two levels.  Three days is the minimum period for placing a player on the inactive list. So theoretically you could have 10 players on the inactive list at any given time (teams obviously are never gonna do that).

[VirtualBob]

35 man reserve roster, 25 man active roster at those two levels.  Three days is the minimum period for placing a player on the inactive list. So theoretically you could have 10 players on the inactive list at any given time (teams obviously are never gonna do that).

Thanks -- I did not know about the reserve roster limit, and I thought there must be some sort of minimum period for "inactive" status.

[Duman]

Once in Gville, the manager called for a pitcher to enter the game and during warm ups he realized that he had not put that player on the active roster for the day's game.  He had to go pull him before he ever threw a pitch.