Obviously the roster isn't completely set yet, but game action is less than two weeks away. I thought it would be interesting to talk about the non starters and NRI's who could potentially have a shot due to injuries or trades.
1b - Sam Travis - 24. If he has a great spring and there are some lefties they face early in the season, then that's a scenario where he could make the team. Moreland could use a platoon partner, but Nunez' flexibility and Hanley still being on the roster probably squeezes him out otherwise.
2b - Now that Nunez is likely back, Marco Hernandez - 25 can be brought along slowly. He really struggled defensively at 3b, but should be at least passable at 2b and bats lefty so could take some at bats from Nunez before Pedey returns.
Lin - 24 is a long shot now and Holt -29 could be out the door. He kind of fell apart in the second half after showing so much early but looks potenially like a more well rounded utility guy than Marerro if he can hit above AA. I'd like to see him play some more center since it's a bit thin in the system.
Ivan De Jesus Jr. - 30 and Chad De La Guerra - 25 are also in camp. De Jesus tore it up in AAA last year, so has that going for him. De La Guerra is just a body we'll get tired of seeing in 5th innings. He can hit a bit, but is old for AA.
Last is Esteban Quiroz - 25 who has been in the Mexican League since 2011 and has handled that level of competition very well. I've read that it's more like high A/AA level competition so doubt we'll see much of that translate, but he's a new youngish player to watch. 2b is very well stocked.
SS - Marrero - 27 and Lin are on the fringes here, but I would assume Marrero has the edge of making the team as the best fielder in their minor league system. The less we see of Nunez at short the better.
3b - Guess I'll stick Michael Chavis -22 here. I don't see a scenario where he breaks camp but hope he soaks in as much fielding instruction as possible. Luckily the middle guys can also play some 3rd if needed, so there is some vanilla depth at least.
Catcher - For advocates of Leon losing his job to Swihart -26, I'm going to have to disagree. There is zero depth here. Daniel Butler -31 is the break glass in case of emergency guy. I think there is room for Swihart and Leon to co-exist and hope they do that. Pitchers love throwing to Sandy and he is really great defensively. Since most of the staff is back I think it's good to have continuity. Oscar Hernandez - 24 was signed from the D-Backs and has had a few cups of coffee but appears to be more of an emergency guy to this point, though he is still young. He also made it from A to the majors in 2015 and hasn't had many minor league at bats. Jake Romanoski -27 just got busted for PED's again so is out for 100 games. Austin Rei -24 is the only pseudo prospect of the crew but will probably start in Portland.
Outfield - Brentz - 29 comes up a lot, but my binky is Jeremy Barfield - 29 who obliterated AA pitching .288/.359/.584 with 27 home runs in 384 at bats. The odds are against him, but I think he's just as good as Brentz and both bat right handed. Rusney - 30 has been talked to death in the minor league thread but there just isn't room for him. I think he'd be perfectly fine because of his defense alone but he really made some strides with the bat. It's a shame. Last is Aneury Tavarez - 25 who has reached Pawtucket in 3 straight seasons. He handled AA very well in parts of 2016 and 2017 but couldn't stay healthy last year. I think he'll be up for DL stints at some point once if/when he's added to the 40 man.
My best bench guess is Leon, Swihart, Marrero and Brentz. I would prefer Barfield or Tavarez if they show anything though if JDM signs he's probably the 4th outfielder unless they DFA Hanley. If Hernandez plays well they can still stash him in AAA while trying to decide what to do with Swihart.
1b - Sam Travis - 24. If he has a great spring and there are some lefties they face early in the season, then that's a scenario where he could make the team. Moreland could use a platoon partner, but Nunez' flexibility and Hanley still being on the roster probably squeezes him out otherwise.
2b - Now that Nunez is likely back, Marco Hernandez - 25 can be brought along slowly. He really struggled defensively at 3b, but should be at least passable at 2b and bats lefty so could take some at bats from Nunez before Pedey returns.
Lin - 24 is a long shot now and Holt -29 could be out the door. He kind of fell apart in the second half after showing so much early but looks potenially like a more well rounded utility guy than Marerro if he can hit above AA. I'd like to see him play some more center since it's a bit thin in the system.
Ivan De Jesus Jr. - 30 and Chad De La Guerra - 25 are also in camp. De Jesus tore it up in AAA last year, so has that going for him. De La Guerra is just a body we'll get tired of seeing in 5th innings. He can hit a bit, but is old for AA.
Last is Esteban Quiroz - 25 who has been in the Mexican League since 2011 and has handled that level of competition very well. I've read that it's more like high A/AA level competition so doubt we'll see much of that translate, but he's a new youngish player to watch. 2b is very well stocked.
SS - Marrero - 27 and Lin are on the fringes here, but I would assume Marrero has the edge of making the team as the best fielder in their minor league system. The less we see of Nunez at short the better.
3b - Guess I'll stick Michael Chavis -22 here. I don't see a scenario where he breaks camp but hope he soaks in as much fielding instruction as possible. Luckily the middle guys can also play some 3rd if needed, so there is some vanilla depth at least.
Catcher - For advocates of Leon losing his job to Swihart -26, I'm going to have to disagree. There is zero depth here. Daniel Butler -31 is the break glass in case of emergency guy. I think there is room for Swihart and Leon to co-exist and hope they do that. Pitchers love throwing to Sandy and he is really great defensively. Since most of the staff is back I think it's good to have continuity. Oscar Hernandez - 24 was signed from the D-Backs and has had a few cups of coffee but appears to be more of an emergency guy to this point, though he is still young. He also made it from A to the majors in 2015 and hasn't had many minor league at bats. Jake Romanoski -27 just got busted for PED's again so is out for 100 games. Austin Rei -24 is the only pseudo prospect of the crew but will probably start in Portland.
Outfield - Brentz - 29 comes up a lot, but my binky is Jeremy Barfield - 29 who obliterated AA pitching .288/.359/.584 with 27 home runs in 384 at bats. The odds are against him, but I think he's just as good as Brentz and both bat right handed. Rusney - 30 has been talked to death in the minor league thread but there just isn't room for him. I think he'd be perfectly fine because of his defense alone but he really made some strides with the bat. It's a shame. Last is Aneury Tavarez - 25 who has reached Pawtucket in 3 straight seasons. He handled AA very well in parts of 2016 and 2017 but couldn't stay healthy last year. I think he'll be up for DL stints at some point once if/when he's added to the 40 man.
My best bench guess is Leon, Swihart, Marrero and Brentz. I would prefer Barfield or Tavarez if they show anything though if JDM signs he's probably the 4th outfielder unless they DFA Hanley. If Hernandez plays well they can still stash him in AAA while trying to decide what to do with Swihart.
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