Predict the Opening Day 25 Man Roster

[imref]

Let's do this...

Starters:
1. 1B - Zimmerman
2. 2B - Murphy
3. SS - Espinosa
4. 3B - Rendon
5. RF - Harper
6. CF - Revere
7. LF - Werth
8. C - Ramos

Reserves:
9. Drew,
10. Moore,
11. Taylor,
12. Lobaton,
13. Robinson (den Dekker vs Robinson should be an interesting ST battle)

Rotation:
14. Scherzer
15. Strasburg
16. Gio
17. Ross
18. Roark

Pen:
19. Papelbon (Closer)
20. Gott
21. Treinen
22. Kelley
23. Rivero
24. Petit
25. Perez

On paper anyway, without digging into comparative stats, this strikes me as a better balanced, better hitting, deeper lineup though without much power unless Rendon gets back to 2014 Rendon and Zimmerman stays healthy.  And with Difo, Severino, Turner, and den Dekker (or Robinson) in AAA we've got some options for the inevitable DL trips for Werth, Zimm, etc.

[Natsinpwc]

Let's do this...

Starters:
1. 1B - Zimmerman
2. 2B - Murphy
3. SS - Espinosa
4. 3B - Rendon
5. LF - Harper
6. CF - Revere
7. RF - Werth
8. C - Ramos

Reserves:
9. Drew,
10. Moore,
11. Taylor,
12. Lobaton,
13. Robinson (den Dekker vs Robinson should be an interesting ST battle)

Rotation:
14. Scherzer
15. Strasburg
16. Gio
17. Ross
18. Roark

Pen:
19. Papelbon (Closer)
20. Gatt
21. Treinen
22. Kelley
23. Rivero
24. Petit
25. Perez

On paper anyway, without digging into comparative stats, this strikes me as a better balanced, better hitting, deeper lineup though without much power unless Rendon gets back to 2014 Rendon and Zimmerman stays healthy.  And with Difo, Severino, Turner, and den Dekker (or Robinson) in AAA we've got some options for the inevitable DL trips for Werth, Zimm, etc.

Need to switch positions for Werth and Harper.
This defense is terrible. Bullpen should be a little better and probably the bench also. In the end the key guys need to stay healthy.

[imref]

doh, fixed harper/werth

[varoadking]

Gott...not Gatt...and not sure he or Treinen make the ballclub coming out of Viera...

[aBaltoNat]

This team needs a power bat, aka Morse.

[whytev]

Gott...not Gatt...and not sure he or Treinen make the ballclub coming out of Viera...

Who is challenging them? Solis? Grace? Cole? Whichever Taylor is still around?

[imref]

This team needs a power bat, aka Morse.

Off the bench?  That's Robinson and Moore.

[GburgNatsFan]

I don't think we're going to see Moore for much longer.

Off the bench?  That's Robinson and Moore.

[imref]

I don't think we're going to see Moore for much longer.

They just signed him, and he's the only RH power bat on the bench. Plus he can pitch.

[whytev]

They just signed him, and he's the only RH power bat on the bench. Plus he can pitch.

Last year they re-signed Frandsen and then cut him. Kiss of death.

[aussienatsfan]

yeah I am a big fan of the roster

[JCA-CrystalCity]

5 OFs, 6 IFs, 2 catchers, 5 starters, 7 man bullpen.

I think den Dekker makes it, although there's less need for a back up lefty OF/PH with more lefties on the bench and with Revere.  I think Moore is a bit redundant of Robinson, but is some bench righty pop.  Best bench would have Taylor playing as a defensive replacement for Werth and as a
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partner for Revere, but I could see him getting optioned out to get regular PAs and to wait for an injury.  I'll go with dD and Moore as the opening day back up OFs, Robinson and Ryan Drew as the IFs, and Lobaton behind Ramos.

[Expos]

Starters:
1. 1B - Zimmerman
2. 2B - Murphy
3. SS - Espinosa
4. 3B - Rendon
5. RF - Harper
6. CF - Revere
7. LF - Werth
8. C - Ramos

Reserves: 
9. Drew
10. Den Dekker
11. Taylor
12. Lobaton
13. Robinson

Rotation:
14. Scherzer
15. Strasburg
16. Chen
17. Gio
18. Ross

Pen:
19. Boxberger (Closer)
20. Clippard
21. Gott
22. Kelley
23. Rivero
24. Petit
25. Perez

[HalfSmokes]

I'm surprised no one is predicting Zimmerman or Werth to start the year on the DL

[raleighnat]

Starters:
1. 1B - Zimmerman
2. 2B - Murphy
3. SS - Espinosa
4. 3B - Rendon
5. RF - Harper
6. CF - Revere
7. LF - Werth
8. C - Ramos

Reserves:
9. Drew
10. Den Dekker
11. Taylor
12. Lobaton
13. Robinson

Rotation:
14. Scherzer
15. Strasburg
16. Chen
17. Gio
18. Ross

Pen:
19. Boxberger (Closer)
20. Clippard
21. Gott
22. Kelley
23. Rivero
24. Petit
25. Perez

That looks like as good as it could get with a couple more moves.  I keep thinking of Chen as buying ahead to help fill the void when Strasburg departs for free agency rather than freeing up a trade chip.  I would like to see Roark in the 5 spot and Ross in AAA at least for a while to see if Roark can regain his form (with a quick hook though).  Boxberger would probably be painful to acquire - don't know what it would take.

[whytev]

For the record, my prediction is that Rizzo isn't done.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

From spring training or Kerry Wood style hot tub accident? 

I'm surprised no one is predicting Zimmerman or Werth to start the year on the DL

[HalfSmokes]

From spring training or Kerry Wood style hot tub accident? 

morning calisthenics is my guess

[aspenbubba]

For the record, my prediction is that Rizzo isn't done.

Yep. I see an O/F righty added with MAT starting in AAA along with Ross. We will add a starter and Roark #5 and if he fails he will be given a BP role.

[BrandonK]

Roark would have to dominate in ST, and even then, I don't see him getting the #5 spot over Ross.

OF seems locked up to me, unless Werth is moved (which won't happen).

Another starter would be nice, but the market's toast now. Latos on 1/yr? Kennedy and Chen cost another pick. Cliff Lee... Gallardo ?

I really don't see Paps being traded, sadly. If he's not, I bet the BP is locked up too, with some typical ST invite guys battling for AAA time.

[HalfSmokes]

Roark would have to dominate in ST, and even then, I don't see him getting the #5 spot over Ross.

OF seems locked up to me, unless Werth is moved (which won't happen).

Another starter would be nice, but the market's toast now. Latos on 1/yr? Kennedy and Chen cost another pick. Cliff Lee... Gallardo ?

I really don't see Paps being traded, sadly. If he's not, I bet the BP is locked up too, with some typical ST invite guys battling for AAA time.

the entire roster is basically locked- random things can happen in the bullpen, but the only other battle Turner in AAA vs Espinosa in MLB for the starting job once Turner losing the year of service time.

[zimm_da_kid]

Starters:
1. 1B - Pujols
2. 2B - Murphy
3. SS - Espinosa
4. 3B - Zimmerman
5. RF - Harper
6. CF - Trout
7. LF - Revere
8. C - Hedges

Reserves:
9. Drew
10. Den Dekker
11. Taylor
12. Lobaton
13. Robinson

Rotation:
14. Scherzer
15. Ross
16. Shields
17. Roark
18. Ross

Pen:
19. Treinen
20. Clippard
21. Gott
22. Kelley
23. Rivero
24. Petit
25. Perez

[imref]

Aren't you missing the possibility of the Lerners talking Jeter out of retirement to play SS?

[BrandonK]

the entire roster is basically locked- random things can happen in the bullpen, but the only other battle Turner in AAA vs Espinosa in MLB for the starting job once Turner losing the year of service time.

Yup. A rotation of: Max, Stras, Gio, Ross, Roark sounds pretty bad though. Lacks depth too. Cole and Taylor would really be the only guys in a spot...

[HalfSmokes]

I think maybe the people saying that Max was signed a year early to replace Zimmermann were right. Maybe a random 4 or 5 gets added?