Angels DFA Michael Roth, Protect Jett Bandy, Leave Kaleb Cowart Unprotected

Today is the day for MLB teams to get their 40-Man Rosters set ahead of the Winter Meetings and Rule 5 Draft. All teams must have their 40-Man Rosters set in order to determine players that are eligible for the Rule 5 Draft. Any minor leaguer drafted by 2010 who is not on the 40-Man Roster is available in the three-round free-for-all that takes place at the end of the WInter Meetings.

The Angels added Catcher Jett Bandy and Pitcher Danny Reynolds to their 40-Man roster. They designated to players for assignment to make room - Catcher JAckson Williams - a recent waiver claim from the Rockies - and lefthander Michael Roth, a AA prospect who got time in the majors with the Halos more because of a pitching crunch than from any notable merit.

Both players who were DFA's will have to pass thru waivers and might be claimed by any team - but since every other team in baseball is going through the same rigorous clearinghouse and considering that both Roth and Williams have both passed through waivers recently, this was not a ricky move with an eye of keeping either player.

The first round pick form 2010, Kaleb Cowart, was not added to the 40-Man roster and is available to any team that will carry him on a major league roster next season. Cowart has been a bust who has not batted as much as .230 at the minor league level in the past two seasons. The silver lining with Cowart is that he was a dominating pitcher in high school and could be moved back to the mound if his time in the batter's box stays at the sub-mediocre level.