The race to 28 ( then 26 after a 3 1/2 week audition). Guaranteed spots SP(6): Verlander, Valdez, L.Garcia, Urquidy, Javier, Odorizzi RP(6): Pressly, Stanek, Maton, Neris, Baez, Montero C(2): Maldonado, Castro Inf(4): Altuve, Bregman, Diaz, Gurriel Of/Dh(4): Alvarez, Brantley, McCormick, Tucker. 3 position spots up for grabs: 1)Shortstop is between Pena and Goodrum 2) 4th OF is between Siri and Brinson 3) bench spot is between lovers of those and Taylor Jones. 3 bullpen spots up for grabs with 2 being sent down 5/1 Abreu, Bermudez(L), Bielak, Dubin, Ivey, James, S.Martinez, Morgan(L), Paredes, Rosscup(L), Solomon, Taylor(L) I would say at least 1 of them is smooth guaranteed to be a lefty. Serious competition for those last 3 bullpen spots.
Taylor is close to a lock. One other lefty (Bermudez,, Morgan, Rosscup) and one additional Righty (Abreu,Beilak, Dunin, Ivey, James, Martinez, Peredes, Solomon) will make it. James and Beilak probably have a slight edge over the other righties.
I would agree that Taylor is as close to a lock as there is among the bullpen options The team WILL keep a lefty and Taylor has the experience and is already on the 40 man Bermudez has no ML experience. Rosscup and Morgan would need to be added to the 40 ma rroster.- not much of an issue now with Meyers and/or McCullers being 60 day IL candidates but then a move ( waiver or trade) would need to be made to activate him in 2 months.
I missed that Abreu has no options remaining. Teams can't give up talented cheap pitching in this environment. That makes him a lock. That leaves 2 pitching spots, 1 which will certainly be a lefthander. It also means that, barring a trade or injury the pitchers that are not on the 40 man are even less likely to make the team.
With Abreu out of options and Taylor the only bullpen lefty with ML experience on the 40 man I expect both to make the opening day roster. That leaves 1 pitching spot. I rank the options in order of liveliness. In my opinion. 1) James 2) Bielak 3) Paredes 4) Bermudez- only other lefty can give length 5) Solomon 6) Dubin 7) S. Martinez 8) Ivey - probably prefer to give him more innings 200) Morgan or Rosscup
