Now to be fair, Alex might have a few morsels to add onto the crew that will take flight in late February, but we should look at what we have as pretty close to the 40 man roster to start 2012 with.
Our rotation, give or take has 3 definite, In Romero, Morrow and Cecil. Add to that hopefuls Henderson Alvarez, Dusty McGowan and Kyle Drabek, with Luis Perez a long shot. That is 7, so perhaps they give Carlos Villanueva another look see in Dunedin.
The bullpen has built rebuilt with certainties being the new closer Sergio Santos, holdovers Jesse Litsch, and Casey Janssen. Add these 4 names in as 75 % sure locks, Joel Carreno, Jim Hoey, Carlos Villaneuava and one of Chad Beck / Danny Farquhar. Other possibles are Luis Perez, Tristan Magnuson, Alan Farina and Jessie Chavez, with extreme outsiders Deck McGuire just there for exposure to a big camp. Don't rule out McGuire asserting himself into the mix. He is big, has quality stuff and is cocky.
There is a chance Alex signs a lefty, and there are a few out there, Darren Oliver, Arthur Rhodes, George Sherrill, guys who will be sought after to be a situational lefty.
I think we should expect a move or two as players begin to get a little desperate for employment, so the new year might alter the current pitching. Yu Darvish, you wish !, not with the bidding to negotiate with him perhaps at $ 40 to $ 50 million, then salary. Perhaps a Kerry Wood, or Joel Zumaya, but both have warts, but need homes.
Rotation wise, I think we shall see a 4 man competition for 4rth and 5th spots. McGowan is the sentimental fave, and Alvarez has a leg up as well. Drabek, and Luis Perez have options. And there is Jesse Litsch as an emergency starter, same as Villanueva.
Offensively we are cornering the market in utility / platoon outfielders. Fransisco, Thames, Kelly Johnson, Rajah Davis, and forgotten slugger wanna be Travis Snider. Johnson if the team accepts the arbitration decision can slide back to 2nd base, but heavens, we do not need 4 outfielders, and there's hopeful Edwin Encarnacion stealing at bats at DH. Davis has another year, so if they cut him, they have to buy him out.
The odd man out would seem to be Travis Snider yet again, but a hot spring training either helps him get dealt or kept as regular. The Eric Thames is the odd man out. Hard to know what happens.
Anyhow, the year is coming to a close, and just based on what we have, I would be hard pressed to predict 81 wins.
But let's check in with the team in late January/ early February as pitchers and catchers are ready to report. We might have a clearer image of what the team has to choose from.
Right now, not that much, but 2 months from now, things may have changed.
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