Closer J.J. Putz is the one certain lock of the group, with left-hander Eric O’Flaherty right behind him. It’s also very likely that right-hander Sean Green and lefty Ryan Rowland-Smith have place in the big-league ‘pen as well.
After that, however, it’s anybody’s guess.
If the M’s don’t wise up, though, right-hander Brandon Morrow is the fifth sure thing, despite the fact that he has far more value to the club long term by starting games in Triple-A Tacoma for the majority of the ‘08 season.
There are as many as nine legit aspirants remaining, including knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, who, as a Rule 5 selection, might be another lock barring a spring injury. Also in the running are right-handers Mark Lowe, Chris Retisma, Cha Seung Baek, Jon Huber and Sean White, and left-handers Cesar Jimenez, Arthur Rhodes and Horacio Ramirez.
Baek is out of options and will likely be lost if the club tries to pass him through waivers and re-assign the 27-year-old to the minors, lea.ding some to believe that he has an inside track on one of the remaining two slots, even if he’s out-pitched this spring.
Ex-Rattlers in the passage above have been highlighted by me. Plenty more analysis at the post.
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