Spring Roster Update #5

This is the second to the last roster update that I'll be posting this spring, with the last simply being a recap of the final roster next Sunday. The format for this update is the same as it has been for the past several weeks -- players who I predict will make the team will have a number listed before their name (since I'm counting out the 25 roster spots). Players who I believe are locks to make the roster will be bolded. Players who are still in camp and who have a chance to make the roster will be listed in blue, while players still in camp who have no shot (barring a miracle) of making the team will be listed in red. Players who have been cut will be listed in a separate section. Finally, my thoughts on the way the roster is shaping up follow the list of names.

POSITION - ROSTER SPOT - PLAYER

Staring Pitcher - 1 - Livan Hernandez (=)
Starting Pitcher - 2 - Scott Baker (possible DL stint needed) (=)
Starting Pitcher - 3 - Boof Bonser (=)
Starting Pitcher - 4 - Francisco Liriano (=)
Starting Pitcher - 5 - Kevin Slowey (=)
Nick Blackburn (=)
Philip Humber (=)
Closer - 6 - Joe Nathan (=)
Setup - 7 - Pat Neshek (=)
Bullpen - 8 - Matt Guerrier (=)
Bullpen - 9 - Juan Rincon (=)
Bullpen - 10 - Dennys Reyes (=)
Bullpen - 11 - Jesse Crain (=)
Bullpen - 12 - Brian Bass (+)
Casey Daigle (=)

Catcher - 13 - Joe Mauer (=)
First Base - 14 - Justin Morneau (=)
Second Base - 15 - Brendan Harris (+)
Third Base - 16 - Mike Lamb (=)
Shortstop - 17 - Adam Everett (=)
Left Field - 18 - Delmon Young (=)
Center Field - 19 - Carlos Gomez (=)
Denard Span (=)
Right Field - 20 - Michael Cuddyer (=)
Designated Hitter - 21 - Jason Kubel (=)
Backup Catcher - 22 - Mike Redmond (=)
Eli Whiteside (=)
Drew Butera (=)
Utility Infielder - 23 - Nick Punto (-)
Backup Outfielder - 24 - Craig Monroe (=)
Jon Knott (=)
Utility Infielder/Outfielder - 25 - Matt Tolbert (+)
Brian Buscher (-)
Jason Pridie (=)

Players No Longer in Camp
Zach Day - reassigned to minor league camp
Brian Duensing - reassigned to minor league camp
Deolis Guerra - reassigned to minor league camp
Oswaldo Sosa - optioned to AA
Armando Gabino - reassigned to minor league camp
Jeff Christy - reassigned to minor league camp
Allan de San Miguel - reassigned to minor league camp
Alejandro Machado - reassigned to minor league camp
Felix Molina - reassigned to minor league camp
Jose Morales - optioned to AAA
Darnell McDonald - reassigned to minor league camp
Jose Mijares - optioned to AA
Julio DePaula - optioned to AAA
Bobby Korecky - optioned to AAA
Mariano Gomez - reassigned to minor league camp
Alexi Casilla - optioned to AAA
Matt Macri - optioned to AAA
Chris Basak - reassigned to minor league camp
Howie Clark - reassigned to minor league camp
Carmen Cali - outrighted to AAA
Kevin Mulvey - reassigned to minor league camp
Randy Ruiz - reassigned to minor league camp
Tommy Watkins - reassigned to minor league camp
Randy Keisler - reassigned to minor league camp
Ricky Barrett - reassigned to minor league camp
Garrett Jones - outrighted to AAA
Glen Perkins - optioned to AAA

Analysis
Starting Pitchers: The rotation appears to be set barring last minute decisions on injury/rehab status. Livan Hernandez will start on opening day, and will probably be followed either by Scott Baker (if he's healthy and his arm strength is up to snuff). Boof Bonser will either follow in Game #3 or take Baker's spot if necessary. After that, Francisco Liriano seemed to claim his spot in the rotation with today's excellent start, and Kevin Slowey seems to have done the same yesterday. I expect the Twins to keep Nick Blackburn around camp next week in case there's a setback or new injury, but the rotation appears to be set otherwise.

Relief Pitchers: With Glen Perkins being cut this morning, Brian Bass is in an excellent position to grab the 12th spot on the pitching staff. That spot could still go to Casey Daigle, Philip Humber, or Nick Blackburn -- but that would be an upset. Bass is getting a start tomorrow, and I suppose its possible that he could be so bad that the Twins think twice about taking him north. That doesn't seem likely, however, since the Twins seem to want to keep him around, and Bass would be unlikely to clear waivers if he was cut from camp.

Infield: We're left to ponder for now over who is going to win the job of the starting second baseman, and I doubt we'll get anything resembling an official announcement thereof. Still, Nick Punto had another 0-fer today, while Brendan Harris had a good day yesterday. As a result, for the first time all spring I've moved Harris ahead of Punto on my depth chart -- I doubt even Gardy's love for Punto can keep Punto's .136 out of the conversation of who should get the start on opening day.

Outfield: Carlos Gomez seems to have played well enough to win the starting CF job, although Denard Span has admittedly had an excellent spring, making the decision at least more difficult. Ultimately, I think Gomez has done enough to break camp with the Twins, especially considering that the Twins undoubtedly desperately want to demonstrate to the fans that they got something out of the Johan Santana trade that will provide an immediate benefit to the team. With cuts expected tomorrow morning, we could find out then whether Gomez has indeed won the job.