The actual news here is that left-hander Aaron Thompson was optioned to Triple-A earlier today, but that's incredibly boring and not at all surprising. I think we've said something similar about the 23 other relief pitchers who have been cut from the team at other points this spring.
#MNTwins option lefty reliever Aaron Thompson to AAA Rochester. Down to 29 on roster; 13 pitchers
— Brian Murphy (@murphPPress) March 31, 2015
Who do we know, absolutely know, will be in the bullpen this year? Glen Perkins, Casey Fien, Mike Pelfrey, Blaine Boyer, and apparently Tim Stauffer and Brian Duensing. I'm not sure how all of those guys are better than Michael Tonkin, but that's how things are rolling.
It looks like that final bullpen spot is down to J.R. Graham and Caleb Thielbar. If it's not Graham, considering how well he's performed and considering how the team has been talking him up this spring, I'd be very surprised. Plus, if the Twins didn't give that roster spot to Graham they'd need to either return him to the Braves or send something to Atlanta to essentially complete a trade. Thielbar would just need to be optioned.
We're getting there. Baby steps, but we're getting there. This final bullpen spot, the backup catcher spot, perhaps the 25th man roster spot, and adding Shane Robinson to the 40-man roster. These are the things we're still waiting on.
I'm just ready for actual baseball. Let's just get on with it already.