After cuts Monday, San Francisco Giants’ battle for final roster spots heats up.
The San Francisco Giants made a round of cuts Monday, reducing their spring training roster to 45.
But as far as making the final 25-man roster with the season opener a little more than two weeks away, the real list of candidates is more like 37 – the 31 players on the Giants’ active roster, plus six key non-roster invitees.
Here is the rundown of the final 37.
*-denotes player has minor-league options left / Rule-5 players must be kept on 25-man roster, or sent back team he was selected from
PITCHERS (19 / final roster likely will have 12 or 13)
- RH Tyler Beede*
- LH Travis Bergen (rule-5 player)
- LH Ty Blach*
- RH Ray Black*
- LH Madison Bumgarner
- RH Sam Dyson
- RH Trevor Gott
- LH Derek Holland
- RH Mark Melancon
- RH Reyes Moronta*
- LH Steven Okert
- LH Drew Pomeranz
- RH Dereck Rodriguez*
- RH Jeff Samardzija
- LH Will Smith
- RH Chris Stratton
- RH Andrew Suarez*
- SH Pat Venditte*
- LH Tony Watson
Manager Bruce Bochy suggested the Dereck Rodriguez had secured a spot in the rotation, along with Madison Bumgarner, Jeff Samardzija, Derek Holland and Drew Pomeranz. That leaves 14 candidates for the remaining seven or eight spots, depending on how many pitchers the Giants opt to carry. Traditionally, the Giants have kept 13 pitchers on the roster to open the season. But with new management and a wealth of bullpen depth in the organization, that could change. Given that starting five, it would likely relegate Andrew Suarez to Triple-A. With Smith, Watson, Melancon, Moronta and Dyson virtual locks, it leaves just two or three spots left. One will be lefty, as the Giants will choose between Okert (out of options) and Bergren (rule-5).
CATCHERS (4 / final roster likely will have 2)
- Buster Posey
- Aramis Garcia*
- Rene Rivera (non-roster invitee)
- Stephen Vogt (non-roster invitee)
It’s a three-man battle to serve as Buster Posey, which seemed like a very important job when spring training started. It’s still a key job, but Posey has recovered well from his hip surgery, faster than expected. The Giants like what they’ve seen in prospect Garcia, but ultimately may choose to go the veteran route with Rivera or Vogt. Vogt is a bit more versatile, but he’s also recovering from shoulder surgery.
INFIELDERS (8 / final roster likely will have 6)
- Brandon Belt
- Brandon Crawford
- Alen Hanson
- Evan Longoria
- Joe Panik*
- Pablo Sandoval
- Donovan Solano (non-roster invitee)
- Yangervis Solarte (non-roster invitee)
This looks like four guys battling for two spots – Sandoval, Hanson, Solarte and Solano – and it seems like Sandoval’s position is pretty strong. Hanson looked like a good bet, but then the Giants added Solarte, who brings a similar skillset to Hanson with more big-league experience. He’s also shown himself to be more capable as a right-handed batter. It’s possible that the Giants go with a four-man outfield and keep three reserve infielders.
OUTFIELDERS (6 / final roster likely will have 4 or 5)
- Steven Duggar*
- Drew Ferguson (rule-5 player)
- Austin Slater*
- Mac Williamson
- Cameron Maybin (non-roster invitee)
- Gerardo Parra (non-roster invitee)
After falling short in pursuit of Bryce Harper, the Giants appear headed for a starting outfielder of Williamson in left, Duggar and Maybin in center and Parra in right. With Slater having options, they could keep Ferguson as a fifth outfielder. Or they could go with four outfielders knowing that Solarte, Hanson and even Belt could provide outfield depth.
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