The Twins are still a week or more away from final roster decisions. Some of those decisions are "who" should play a position with center field, shortstop, rotation and bullpen competitions. But the final roster decisions will be made as much on "what" position the players can play.
In terms of positions,
9 position players
1 utility infielder
1 fourth outfielder
5 starting pitchers
7 relief pitchers
That leaves openings for two additional players. The options appear to be a third catcher, a second utility infielder, a fifth outfielder and a DH/1b (aka "bat off the bench").
Butera is the only candidate for third catcher. Clement is the only candidate for 1b/DH, although the fifth outfielder could also serve as "bat off the bench". That makes Boggs, Ramirez and Benson his competition based on how well they hit.
If they go with a second utility infielder,
Escobar and Olmedo
are really the only two candidates. If Dozier isn't the starting second baseman, he will likely start the year at AAA. The same is true of Florimon in the unlikely event he lost the starting shortstop spot.
Here is the current status of the competition:
Catcher
Mauer
Doumit
Butera
Infield
Morneau (1b)
Carroll (2b, ss, 3b)
Plouffe (3b)
Florimon (ss)
Dozier (2b, ss)
Escobar (2b,ss,3b)
Olmedo (2b, ss, 3b)
Clement (1b)
Romero (3b) (visa - minors)
Santana (minors)
Beresford (minors)
Colabello (1b)
(minors)
Sobolewski (3b)
(minors)
Left Field
Willingham
Center Field
Hicks
Mastroianni
Benson
Boggs
Thomas (minors)
Right Field
Parmelee
Benson
Ramirez
Boggs
Arcia (minors)
Dinkelman(minors)
Thomas (minors)
Fourth Outfielder
Mastroianni
Boggs
Benson
Thomas (minors)
Fifth Outfielder
Benson
Ramirez
Boggs
Thomas (minors)
Dinkelman(minors)
Rotation
Worley
Pelfrey
Diamond
Correia
Hendricks
DeVries
Deduno (WBC)
Walters
Hernandez
Harden
(injured)
Perez (injured)
Hermsen (minors)
May (minors)
Myer (minors)
Vasquez (minors)
Gibson (minors)
Martis (minors)
Blackburn (DL - minors)
Bullpen
Perkins
Burton
Duensing (S)
Fien
Burnett
Swarzak (DL)
Pressly
Wood
Robertson
Roenicke
Perdomo
Hernandez
Perez (injured)
Harden (injured)
Guerra (injured) (minors)
Augenstein (minors)
Thielbar (minors)
Slama (minors)
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2 comments:
One thing that could change the initial roster is that the Twins don't need a 5th starter for the first 2? weeks. That could mean an extra reliever or perhaps the bat that Gardy wants. Or perhaps both Butera and an extra utility infielder.
While I think Butera likely makes the team, they may not really need him for the first month. At some point I think Gardy would like to get down to a 11 man pitching staff. That probably won't happen to begin the year.
Jim -
They need a 5th starter on April 6th or 7th, depending on whether they want to give the opening day starter an extra day off. I don't think these starters are going to pitch deep enough into games for Gardy to go with 11 pitchers.
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