Three Down, Nine to Go.

Benson, Hernandez and Perdomo were reportedly sent the the minor league camp today, leaving 38 players still in the major league camp. Four of those, Diamond, Swarzak, Harden and Perez will start the year in extended spring training recovering from injuries. I don't think catcher Dan Rohlfing  is really in the competition for a spot on the roster, but he will likely remain in camp to handle pitchers until they pare down the competition further.

That leaves 33 players competing for 25 spots. There are 16 healthy pitchers still in camp and only 12 spots available. With six set, the remaining ten are competing for the other six spots.  There are 17 position players competing for 13 spots With eight players set, the remaining nine  players are competing for five spots. 


With Benson gone, the center field competition looks all but over with Hicks as the starter. Although Boggs is still around as the 4th outfielder in the unlikely event they decide to go with Mastroianni. Florimon looks set at shortstop. Dozier is close to certain at second.  If we add those three to the other eight already set, that would leave six players competing for the two remaining spots - Butera, Escobar, Olmedo, Clement, Boggs, and Ramirez.   I covered that competition in an earlier post, "The Last Two Roster Spots".

Deduno's performance in the WBC has heated up the competition for the last two rotation spots.  The bullpen competition remains wide open for all appearances, with nine pitchers competing in addition to the guys who lose out in the rotation competition.


Catcher
Mauer
Doumit

Butera 


Rohlfing

Infield
Morneau (1b)
Carroll (2b, ss, 3b)
Plouffe (3b)

Florimon (ss)
Dozier (2b, ss)

Escobar (2b,ss,3b)

Olmedo (2b, ss, 3b)
Clement (1b)

Outfield
Willingham
Parmelee
Mastroianni

Hicks

Boggs
Ramirez

Rotation
Worley
Pelfrey
Correia

Hendricks 
DeVries
Deduno

Walters

Bullpen

Perkins
Burton
Duensing

Fien
Burnett
Pressly
Roenicke
Robertson
Wood

Walters
DeVries
Deduno

Diamond (DL)
Swarzak (DL)
Harden  (injured)
Perez (injured)