The Opening Day Roster:
C-Bailey, Hunt. Blake Hunt made it as the backup due to being out of options. He has a superior glove but can't hit much so we'll see how it goes.
1B-Marsh
2B-Caminero
SS-C.Williams
3B-De La Cruz
IF-Saggese, Almeyda. Saggese was out of options and will be given another chance to regain the hitting form of 2027. Almeyda is the Rule 5 guy who will serve as the backup MI.
LF-Tatis
CF-Chourio
RF-Auer
OF-Lora. Lora beat out Specht, Rosa and Quelch for the 4th (5th) OF role.
DH-Alcantara.
The only thing I don't like is that there isn't a decent LHB off the bench.
SP-McClanahan*, J.Ramirez, Teodo, Bradley, W.Santana
LR-Kim (time to see what we have in him)
MR-Cotto*, Hall*, Nardi*, Pepiot, Cronin*
SU-Juenger, Perkins
CL-Peguero
*lefties
The preseason picks:
Not sold on us to repeat as division winners. One thing I missed in the offseason posts was that Kansas City traded Juan Soto to Houston for 3 prospects. Soto is in the final year of his contract.
Opening Day:
Rays win a wild opener at Fenway with Tatis and Elly living up to their billing in the preseason predictions as two of the top hitters in the AL.