Roster Projections:
Rochester Red Wings
Step 1: Finalize 2011 Minnesota Twins
roster - Check.
Step 2: Find a way to keep Scott Diamond
in the organization - Check.
Step 3: Configure that 2011 Triple-A Rochester
Red Wings 24-man roster - In progress.
Now that the Twins have set their own roster,
what does it mean for the Triple-A team? After the Red Wings lost nearly
100 games last year, the Twins went out and acquired a lot of minor league
veterans. They did this for a few reasons, but the primary one had to be to win
more games and keep the Rochester fan base happy. Secondly, it does allow the
Twins to be more patient with actual prospects so that they can play and
develop at the proper pace. So, let's take a look at a projected Red Wings
roster. These are the guys who could be called up at any time to play for the
Twins if needed. I will include whether or not they are on the Twins 40 man
roster because if they are not, they will need to be added before being called
up.)
(the below roster is
my opinion and my guesses, and nothing official.)
Catchers: Rene Rivera (40
man - No) - Steve Holm (40 man - No)
With Wilson Ramos with the Nationals and Jose
Morales with the Rockies, the Twins went out and acquired two minor league
veterans, each with Major League service time and many years of
AAA experience. Danny Lehmann impressed in spring training and although I
believe he will start at AA New Britain, he is also an option
for a call up should Drew Butera be hurt.
Infielders: 1B - Jeff Bailey (40
man - No), 2B - Luke Hughes (40 man - Yes), 3B - Chase
Lambin (40 man - No), SS - Trevor
Plouffe (40 man - Yes), Utility - Michael
Hollimon (40 man - No), 1B/DH - Erik
Lis - (40 man - No)
Bailey and Lambin
were the first two minor league free agents that they signed. Bailey got some
playing time and displayed power with the Red Sox in parts of three season. He
and Lambin both have a lot of experience. Lambin was an International League All-Star last year. Luke
Hughes showed his power in spring training. He will just need to stay healthy
in 2011 (something he hasn't been able to do in recent years) and he will be
with the Twins at some point. So will Trevor Plouffe,
despite a tough spring. Bailey can play some right field. The other four
infielders listed should move around the infield, including 1B, because their
role with the Twins would likely be off the bench. Yes, it is possible that
Toby Gardenhire is on the roster, although my guess
is that he will be on the "Disabled List." Steve Singleton and
his organization-leading 43 doubles will likely begin the season back in New
Britain due to the veterans brought in. Matt Brown and Ray Chang, who each got
a Non-Roster Invite to spring training, are also possibilities for the Red
Wings roster. Justin Huber, who was another Non-Roster
invite, was recently released which likely means that Erik Lis could
get a lot of at bats as the Designated Hitter. It is possible Chris Parmelee will end the season with the Red Wings.
Outfielders: LF - Dustin
Martin (40 man - No), CF - Ben Revere (40 man -
Yes), RF - Brian Dinkelman (40
man - No), 4th outfielder - Brandon Roberts (40 man - No).
Martin will return for his third season with
the Red Wings. Dinkelman will be there for his second
full season. Both should have better seasons in 2011. Brandon Roberts has
missed so much time the last few years with leg injuries. When he was healthy
last year, he played really well, and in 153 at bats with the Red Wings at the
end of 2010, he hit .333. He has primarily played CF in his
career. As mentioned above, Bailey can play right field. Ben Revere will
be making his Triple-A debut in 2011, even though he made his major league
debut in 2010. Some believe he is ready for the big leagues. I believe he is close,
but getting a year at AAA can only help him. He will likely be the one promoted
to the Twins if there is a need. Joe Benson and Rene Tosoni
impressed in spring training, and Tosoni could be the
first promoted to AAA, if needed.
Starting Pitchers: RHP Eric
Hacker (40 man - Yes), LHP Scott Diamond (40 man
- No), RHP Kyle Gibson (40 man - No), Chuck James (40
man - No), Anthony Swarzak (40 man -
Yes)
Obviously Gibson is the guy that everyone is
going to be anxiously waiting for, but it will be good for him to get at least
another 12-15 starts in Rochester. Triple-A hitters frequently have some big
league time, and it is a good transition for pitchers to get to see hitters who
are usually much more patient. Swarzak lost a lot of
weight and he has regained some of the velocity he showed two years ago.
Hopefully he can regain some of the effectiveness. The Twins gave up a lot
(Billy Bullock) to retain the services of Scott Diamond. Hopefully it will
be a good move. Diamond has put up terrific numbers throughout his minor league
career, never posting an ERA above 3.52 at any level and striking out 7.3 per
nine innings. Chuck James has 24 big league wins, and went 10-1 between
AA and AAA last year with the Nationals organization in his return
from surgery. Hacker went 16-8 with a league-average 4.51 ERA last year in
the Pacific Coast League. He didn't have a strong showing in big league camp,
but he can provide Rochester with a solid season. The surprise omission here is
David Bromberg. He made nine starts with the Red Wings last year and pitched
well. He was added to the 40 man roster after the season, and he is a very good
prospect, but it could be a positive in the long run for him to get a few more
starts in AA and use what he learned in AAA late last year and in
spring training this year.
Bullpen: RHP Alex Burnett (40
man - Yes), RHP Kyle Waldrop (40 man - No), RHP Jim
Hoey (40 man - Yes), LHP Phil Dumatrait (40 man - No), RHP Chris
Province (40 man - No), Yorman
Bazardo (40 man - No), Andy Baldwin (40
man - No) RHP Anthony Slama (40 man
- Yes)
I assume based on his arm issues during
spring training that Anthony Slama could start the
season on the Disabled List. Jim Hoey was the last
guy with a chance to make the team to be sent down. He and his fastball could
be promoted soon if he shows any semblance of control. Kyle Waldrop made
another very strong impression this spring, and with the open 40 man roster
spots, he could be added if needed. Alex Burnett was on the Twins opening day
roster one year ago without any time in Rochester. He was sent back down in
July before a September call-up. He will get more opportunities with the Twins.
Phil Dumatrait is a former first-round pick who has
quite a bit of big league time. He was the #4 lefty on a roster that kept three
lefties in the bullpen. Chris Province came to the Twins last year from the
Red Sox in exchange for Boof Bonser.
He pitched mainly in New Britain last year. He did make a couple of starts for
the Red Wings late in 2010, but he is a bullpen arm. Bazardo
pitched well for the Tigres de Aragua this winter in
Venezuela and got a minor league deal with the Twins. Low strikeout numbers,
but he could be a long reliever. Baldwin is a Minnesota native who has spent
the last three seasons pitching in AAA for the Mariners
organization. You likely noticed that I did not include Carlos
Gutierrez on this roster which may be a surprise to you. It was also somewhat
of a surprise to me as well because he ended 2010 with two games for the Red
Wings. I just think that with the minor league veterans, it would be good
for him to begin the season pitching as the closer in New Britain. Remember, he
has been doing a lot of starting in his pro career. It will be good for him to
get some development time in the late innings for the Rockcats.He
will get to AAA quickly. Additionally, Ryan Mullins and Minnesota-native
Cole Devries remain possibilities for the Red Wings bullpen.
Overall: This is a very veteran team
which should mean a lot more wins in Rochester in 2011. I do believe that it is
best for most of the prospects in the system in the long run, but there are not
many prospects to watch in Rochester this year. Ben Revere and Kyle Gibson are
the two that would be deemed top prospects. Plouffe
is still just 24 and a prospect, but he is now in his fourth season with the
Red Wings. Hughes and Waldrop made great impressions in spring training again,
and we could see both of them this year.. Hoey and Burnett are exciting, but no longer
"prospects" due to their time in the big leagues.
Due to the minor league free agents,
AA New Britain should be filled with several exciting prospects such as
Joe Benson, David Bromberg, Chris Parmelee, Carlos
Gutierrez, Dakota Watts, Steve Singleton and more.
The minor league rosters should be announced
later this week as their seasons get started next week. It will be very
interesting to see where some of the team's top prospects end up. There were
more releases in the last couple of days, a couple that surprised me, and there
will likely need to be more in the coming days to bring the rosters down to the
appropriate level.
If you have any thoughts or questions, please
feel free to comment
or ask.
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