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Open Thread: Opening Day Roster, 2010

There's a lot of freedom in this discussion, particularly with all the action that will (or at least very realistically will) happen.  The rules are simple--what will the 25-man roster look like when the Twins open up their new stadium in two and a half years?  If someone who would be under contract is gone, or if someone who should be arbitration eligible isn't there, give a reason why.  Enjoy.

In this first grouping, this is what I imagine the roster could look like if the Twins dealt Johan to Boston.  Ellsbury and Lowrie grace the lineup, with Masterson appearing in the starting rotation.  Both Kubel and Cuddyer are gone, each shipped off in classic cost-reduction tradition.  I also decided to keep Scott Baker and Kevin Slowey in this scenario, while other pitchers are blocked and/or otherwise not with the organization.  Andy LaRoche, my new favorite third-base prospect of choice, arrives mid-2008 when Nathan is shipped to the Dodgers when their 38-year old closer Takashi Saito turns inconsistent.

Starting Lineup
Pos  Name               Age
CF   Jacoby Ellsbury     26
2B   Jed Lowrie          26
C    Joe Mauer           27
LF   Delmon Young        24
1B   Justin Morneau      29
DH   Erik Lis            26
3B   Andy LaRoche        26
RF   Chris Parmelee      22
SS   Trevor Plouffe      24

Bench
Pos  Name               Age
OF   Ben Revere          22
IF   Alexi Casilla       25
OF   Ozzie Lewis         24
IF   Brock Peterson      26
C    Jose Morales        27

Rotation
Pos  Name               Age
SP1  Francisco Liriano   26
SP2  Scott Baker         28
SP3  Justin Masterson    25
SP4  Anthony Swarzak     24
SP5  Kyle Waldrop        24

Bullpen
Pos  Name               Age
LR   Kevin Slowey        26
MR1  Yohan Pino          26
MR2  Brian Duensing      27
SU   Jose Mijares        25
SU   Jesse Crain         28
CL   Pat Neshek          29

In this version, the Dodgers come through for the Twins, meaning Kemp and Billingsley replace Ellsbury and Masterson...and of course LaRoche is still there.  Lowrie is gone in lieu of Casilla moving into the starting lineup.  Glen Perkins and Nick Blackburn appear in this scenario, but largely the bigger pieces remain the same.  Cuddyer and Kubel are still notably absent, mostly because I'm taking a step off the deep end and going with Lis and Parmelee.

Starting Lineup
Pos  Name               Age
CF   Matt Kemp           25
C    Joe Mauer           27
LF   Delmon Young        24
1B   Justin Morneau      29
DH   Erik Lis            26
3B   Andy LaRoche        26
RF   Chris Parmelee      22
SS   Trevor Plouffe      24
2B   Alexi Casilla       25

Bench
Pos  Name               Age
OF   Ben Revere          22
IF   Matt Tolbert        28
OF   Ozzie Lewis         24
IF   Brock Peterson      26
C    Jose Morales        27

Rotation
Pos  Name               Age
SP1  Francisco Liriano   26
SP2  Chad Billingsley    25
SP3  Scott Baker         28
SP4  Anthony Swarzak     24
SP5  Glen Perkins        27

Bullpen
Pos  Name               Age
LR   Nick Blackburn      28
MR1  Yohan Pino          26
MR2  Brian Duensing      27
SU   Jose Mijares        25
SU   Jesse Crain         28
CL   Pat Neshek          29

Enjoy your Monday.  Bring on the Winter Meetings.