The last stop on our minor league organization tour is with the relievers and there are a lot of them. By my count there are at least 65 relievers in minor league camp plus a few more already assigned to extended spring training. With smaller roster sizes in some minor league stops there are probably 40 jobs available plus I assume about 10 DL spots. That's 50 places for 65+ guys. The other change we see is a very large number of imports, whether by signing or claiming, that could fill the AAA and AA bullpens. Where is the room for home grown guys like Sean Stidfole, Mike MacDonald, Zach Dials, Daryl Harang and Seth Overbey?
Here they are by level:
Major League (10): BJ Ryan; Scott Downs; Jesse Carlson; Jason Frasor; Jeremy Accardo; Brandon League; Brian Tallet; Brian Wolfe; Shawn Camp; Jason Frasor
AAA (10): Bryan Bullington; Brian Burres; Dirk Hayhurst; TJ Beam; Fabio Castro; Rick Bauer; Mike Maroth; Mike MacDonald; Ken Takahashi; Sean Stidfole
AA (9): Reid Santos; Jonah Bayliss; Chad Beck; Zach Dials; Daryl Harang; Seth Overbey; Rommie Lewis; David Shinskie; Orlando Roman;
A+ (9): Tim Collins; Cody Crowell; Edgar Estanga; Alan Farina; Edward Rodriguez; Celson Polanco; Adrian Martin; Nate Starner; Conor Falkenbach
A (11): Matt Bush; Bobby Bell; Russ Buckwalter; Danny Farquhar; Mike Barbara; Frank Gailey; Chris Holguin; Chuck Huggins; Ryan Koch; Brian Letko; Joe Wice
Extended (14): John Anderson; Dustin Antolin; Jason Armstrong; Matt Daly; Scott Gracey; Yorman Mayora; Willy Mendez; Dan Miller; Jay Monti; Hunter Moody; Ryan Page; Jared Potts; Jason Roenicke; Tyler Ybarra
Unknown: Billy Carnline; Chase Lirette
The major league bullpen is a question as there are too many candidates. Per Cito there are five jobs semi-decided out of seven spots. The four lefties, BJ Ryan; Scott Downs; Jesse Carlson; and Brian Tallet plus righty Jeremy Accardo are in. That leaves Brandon League; Jason Frasor; Brian Wolfe and Shawn Camp fighting for two spots. Frasor and League look to have the inside track in this race.
They Jays signed or claimed seven players in the off-season who will make up the bullpen in Vegas. Mike MacDonald and Sean Stidfole are probably on the bubble and could end up in AAA or AA depending on need and even if they are in AA the Jays might have too many arms. Where will Casey Janssen pitch? Is his arm ready for starting? He could be in the AAA bullpen mix too.
The Jays also have several new players who could be in the AA bullpen, by my count at least six of them. That doesn't leave room for home grown guys like Dials, Harang or Overbey. The only Jays bullpen prospect in the top half of the organization would be Zach Dials and he will be back in AA. Dials pitched in the AFL with mixed results.
Some of the other notable home grown relievers are Tim Collins, Cody Crowell, Alan Farina, Bobby Bell and Danny Farquhar. Tiny Tim Collins dominated A ball last season and has earned a promotion to Dunedin. Cody Crowell was promoted to Dunedin in the middle of last season and will likely go back there to start the season. Alan Farina was injured for much of 2008 so his starting position in 2009 could be in Dunedin or Lansing. If he is healthy the Jays would likely push him to Dunedin. Bobby Bell was a 2008 draftee and reportedly has one of the best change-ups in the organization. Bell came to Lansing last season in the last week of 2008 and will return there to start 2009. Danny Farquhar had an excellent 2008 with his unusual delivery keeping hitters off balance. Farquhar could start or relieve and will probably pitch in Lansing to start the season.
Chase Lirette and Billy Carnline are still in the organization despite having not pitched much over the last two seasons, are they finally injury free and ready to play?
Here is my prediction....
Major League (8, one on DL): BJ Ryan; Scott Downs; Jesse Carlson; Jason Frasor; Jeremy Accardo; Brandon League; Brian Tallet; Jason Frasor
AAA (8): Brian Wolfe; Shawn Camp; Bryan Bullington; Brian Burres; Dirk Hayhurst; Fabio Castro; Ken Takahashi; Sean Stidfole
AA (8): Reid Santos; Chad Beck; Zach Dials; Daryl Harang; Rommie Lewis; David Shinskie; Orlando Roman; Mike MacDonald;
A+ (8): Tim Collins; Cody Crowell; Edgar Estanga; Alan Farina; Edward Rodriguez; Celson Polanco; Nate Starner; Conor Falkenbach
A (11): Matt Bush; Bobby Bell; Russ Buckwalter; Danny Farquhar; Mike Barbara; Frank Gailey; Chris Holguin; Chuck Huggins; Ryan Koch; Brian Letko; Joe Wice
Extended (14): John Anderson; Dustin Antolin; Jason Armstrong; Matt Daly; Scott Gracey; Yorman Mayora; Willy Mendez; Dan Miller; Jay Monti; Hunter Moody; Ryan Page; Jared Potts; Jason Roenicke; Tyler Ybarra
Unknown: Billy Carnline; Chase Lirette
That completes our organization view. Check back in early April to see who goes where.
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