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March 1, 2012

Transaction Analysis

Notable NRI: AL East

by R.J. Anderson

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IN THIS ISSUE

American League

BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Team Audit | Player Cards | Depth Chart
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Total NRIs: 16
Almost famous: Would it be disingenuous to suggest Armando Galarraga is no longer famous? Pat Neshek, Dennys Reyes, and Nick Johnson are names you know that are with Baltimore. Catcher John Hester was part of the Mark Reynolds trade.
The next big thing: There isn’t much here. Outfielders L.J. Hoes and Xavier Avery are the two invitees to make Kevin Goldstein’s top-20 list. Hoes is a converted infielder who can hit but seems like a conspicuous choice to move to the outfield. Avery is a speedster with a fun name.
Too old for this: Reyes was born on April 19, 1977. Brooks Robinson played in his final major-league game about four months later.
Sticker potential: Ronny Paulino seems like the favorite to win a roster spot. From there, any of the veteran relievers—be it Neshek, Reyes, or even Willie Eyre—could find their way to Camden Yards this summer without it being a surprise.

BOSTON RED SOX
Team Audit | Player Cards | Depth Chart
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Total NRIs: 23
Almost famous: Tony Pena was everyone’s favorite shortstop-to-pitcher convert for a while there. Chorye Spoon is a great name, formerly of the Orioles’ system. Boston cornered the market on veteran starters willing to accept minor-league deals this winter; Aaron Cook, Ross Ohlendorf, Vicente Padilla, and Carlos Silva are amongst those in camp.
The next big thing: Alex Wilson and little else. Kevin Goldstein ranked Wilson as the organization’s 15th best prospect, suggesting that Wilson is short and wide and could become a back of the rotation starter.
Too old for this: You have to admire Brandon Duckworth’s persistence. He last pitched in the majors prior to the 2008 presidential election, but that has not stopped him from trying to return.
Sticker potential: All signs point to Cook and Padilla being the pitchers most likely to break camp with the big-league squad.

NEW YORK YANKEES
Team Audit | Player Cards | Depth Chart
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Total NRIs: 28
Almost famous: If not for a plethora of finger injuries, Adam Miller would have been in the majors by now. The former top prospect with the Indians is hoping a new organization will bring good luck. Former Red Sox reliever Manny Delcarmen wouldn’t mind some good luck of his own after failing to reach the majors last season for the first time since 2004.
The next big thing: The Yankees have a number of noteworthy prospects in camp on non-roster deals. Manuel Banuelos and Gary Sanchez bring the star power, but other notables include pitchers Brett Marshall, Adam Warren, Graham Stoneburner, and Chase Whitley, as well as catcher JR Murphy.
Too old for this: Russell Branyan, Bill Hall, and Dewayne Wise were all born in the 1970s. Branyan celebrated his first birthday before Reggie Jackson played for the Yankees.
Sticker potential: The signing of Raul Ibanez throws water on the Branyan flames, and neither Hall nor Wise seem particularly likely to break camp with the big-league club. The Yankees should open the season without a non-roster invitee on their 25-man.

TAMPA BAY RAYS
Team Audit | Player Cards | Depth Chart
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Total NRIs: 19
Almost famous: The Yankees signed Juan Miranda from Cuba hoping that he could become their first baseman of the future. Matt Torra and Matt Mangini are two former first-round picks in camp. Torra has reinvented himself as a finesse pitcher after shredding his shoulder. Mangini, meanwhile, made his major-league debut with the Mariners in 2010.
The next big thing: Tim Beckham and Hak-Ju Lee are the only noteworthy prospects in camp. Otherwise, the most interesting young non-roster invitees in camp are defensive backstops Nevin Ashley and Mark Thomas and relievers Marquis Fleming and Ricky Orta.
Too old for this: Born in June 1979, Jesus Feliciano is the fourth-oldest position player in Rays’ camp, just behind Jose Molina, Luke Scott, and Carlos Pena.
Sticker potential: It seems unlikely that any of the non-roster invitees break camp with the Rays, but Will Rhymes might end up in the majors in a utility role, and Beckham should see the majors at some point this season.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Team Audit | Player Cards | Depth Chart
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Total NRIs: 23
Almost famous: Jesse Chavez is a live-armed reliever who was involved in three trades between November 2009 and July 2010, once heading to the Rays from the Pirates for Akinori Iwamura, then to the Braves for Rafael Soriano, and then to the Royals as part of the Rick Ankiel and Kyle Farnsworth trade. Chavez’s mustache-growing skills are suspect.
The next big thing: Four names to watch for from Blue Jays camp: pitchers Drew Hutchinson and Deck McGuire, catcher Carlos Perez, and outfielder Anthony Gose. Hutchinson and McGuire could become middle-of-the-rotation starters and ranked sixth and eighth, respectively, on Kevin Goldstein’s list. Gose, meanwhile, earned praise as the “best athlete in the system,” according to Goldstein.
Too old for this: Omar Vizquel debuted in April 1989, at which time 10 of the Jays’ top 11 prospects hadn’t been born yet, and Travis d’Arnaud was just a month old.
Sticker potential: Vizquel should be the Jays’ utility infielder come opening day.


R.J. Anderson is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
Click here to see R.J.'s other articles. You can contact R.J. by clicking here

Related Content:  Non-roster Invitee,  Kevin Goldstein

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