It's Getting Crowded In Here! The 25 Man Roster

by John916 on Dec 12, 2007 3:51 PM CST

I know, I know - there's a lot of time and probably a number of moves left to be made - but just for fun I was thinking about a 25 man roster based on who's on the team at the moment. There really doesn't seem to be room for everybody without making some moves.
Here's the way it looks to me:
Starters (8) - Soriano, Fukudome, Pie, Ramirez, Theriot, DeRosa, Lee, Soto
Bench (5) - Blanco, Cedeno, Ward, Murton, Pagan/Fuld
SPs (5) - Zambrano, Lilly, Hill, Marquis, Marshall/Dempster
Bullpen (7) - Wood, Eyre, Howry, Wuertz, Marmol, Ascaino/Hart/Lahey

So it appears that as it stands now the choices would have to be made between Marshall and Dempster for the 5th spot in the rotation, between Pagan and Fuld for the last bench spot, and 2 of the 3 from Ascaino, Hart and Lahey for the bullpen.

Tough choices. I'd prefer Marshall to Dempster, Fuld to Pagan, and not quite sure about the bullpen options since Lahey has to be kept on the 25 man roster or offered back.

This is what I'd love to see Hendry do in the remainder of the offseason
Get Roberts - Putting DeRosa on the bench and making Murton, Pagan and Cedeno expendable (though not sure what to do to back up Theriot)
Get a #3 or #4 pitcher and make Dempster & Marquis expendable, with Marshall or Gallagher in the #5 spot.
Get a backup catcher and lose Blanco

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One problem

under your scenario, DeRosa would back up 3 infield slots. That's why I don't understand the 12 man pitching staff. It gives you 5 bench players. Right now Cedeno has to make the team as a second infielder on the bench. That's one of the reasons I thought Infante would stay, he can play both infield and outfield.

Right now, I think Murton is odd man out with Fuld as reserve outfielder since he can play CF. Of course if Lou feels Fukudome could handle CF on occasion, Murton could stay over Fuld/Pagan.

by rlpete on Dec 12, 2007 3:48 PM CST 0 recs

Cedeno

Well, we would still have an extra slot on the bench available if we add DeRosa and dump Murton and Pagan so I suppose Cedeno could stay.

A 5 man bench then of Ward, DeRosa, Fuld, Cedeno, backup catcher.

by John916 on Dec 12, 2007 4:00 PM CST up 0 recs

Re: Cedeno

Cedeno has also been making a few starts at CF in the Venezuelan Winter League in an attempt to make him more versatile.

by John Q Freejazz on Dec 12, 2007 4:17 PM CST up 0 recs

It helps to put up the entire 40 man roster

Ascanio could use sometime at Iowa. His major league numbers last year were not that great, he skipped Triple-A and he's only 21 years old. He was called up by the Braves because the Braves pen is not good. With the guys we already have, there's no reason to rush him. Add on the draft 5 rules for Lahey and the fact that Hart dominated during his brief time with the Cubs, there's no way Ascanio is on the 25 man roster opening day.

by IllinoisCubs on Dec 12, 2007 5:13 PM CST 0 recs