We had two injuries of significance during Spring Training. Joe Koutnik, expected to be the full-time DH, came down with chronic back soreness and will be out until early May. Rookie LHB Sung-min Yang will platoon with Jose Lozada with Lozada playing LF and E.Avalos DHing against lefties. The other injury was projected 3rd starter Alec McInerney straining a hamstring and being out until mid-May. Lefty Ben Hilton, signed for the bullpen, will take his place in the rotation.
One free agent signing of note around MLB: Former Rays star Doug Johns inked a 1/7.7 pact with the Cubs.
So here's how the OD roster shakes out:
C-D.Morales, Scroggins
1B-N. de la Rosa
2B-J.Machado
SS-Chinchilla
3B-Barela
IF-de Oca, Kang-cheol Lee, Tsujimura
LF-E.Avalos
CF-J.Avalos
RF-J.Morales
DH-Yang
OF-Lozada, Whittaker
SP-Rose, T.Johnson, M.Lopez, Hilton*, Mastropietro*
LR-Giles
MR-Hetzel, Ward*, Bourassa*, Navarro
SU-Roberts*, Berumen
CL-Talbott
*lefties
We really don't need 15 position players and only 13 pitchers but with the McInerney injury we don't have too many decent options. Perhaps a waiver claim will be made or a deal.
The preseason predictions:
BNN not terribly impressed with us and only projects one our players (Dave Rose) to be among the league's top 10 hitters or pitchers.
We open the season North of the Border with 4 games against the Jays.