Okay - all the talk about rule 5, roster room, trades, free agents made me go to 40 man roster at mlb.com.  I wondered why we had so few spaces to fill and who we were keeping on the roster.  You might tell me this is the wrong way to look at it, but I am just sharing tonight's response. 

Here are my questions - 

• Charlie Barnes - do we really think he will be a valuable asset?  Why?
• Randy Dobnak - nice contract, great story, but really?  Is he a MLB asset?
• Smeltzer and Thorpe - aren't they from another era?  Are they really still around?  Why?
• Astudillo - I actually like him, but the majority of what I read on TD does not.  So are they keeping him as a favor to me?
• Jake Cave - wait a minute - he is still around? What are we waiting for?
• Garlick - I like his name, is he just another good story? 
• Stashak - does he really have potential?

That is eight I wonder about, but does not include Garza, Jr, Coloumbe, and Minaya and how did Strotman get on the 40 man?  

How many of these players are destined for our championship seasons to come?  

Who else gets bumped when the FA, trades, and waiver pickups come?

 

Guys I'd DFA without a second thought:

OF Cave, OF Garlick, UTL Astudillo, RP Coulombe, RP Thorpe, SP Barnes

Guys on the fringe:

1B/DH Rooker, SP Smeltzer, RP Minaya, RP Jax, RP Garza Jr., RP Cotton, RP Stashak

 

There will be better guys available on minor league deals than the likes of Cave/Garlick/Astudillo, Thorpe hasn't pitched well nor has durability, Coulombe could be easily brought back on a MILB deal, and Barnes is a AAAA guy at best. There is plenty of room here to protect the Rule 5 prospects and then start signing FAs.