in depth roster question

[chichpsalm]

I just joined a "real team" league where I get my pick of 25 Cincinnati Reds on my roster to begin the season. I figure the locks are:

C Larue
1B Casey
2B Boone
SS Larkin
SS Lopez (bench)
3B Larson
OF Grif
OF Dunn
OF Kearns
OF Taylor (bench)
SP Graves
SP Dempster
SP Haynes
SP Wilson
RP Williamson
RP Sullivan

This is standard scoring, H2H, non-keeper. What other 10 Reds do you suggest I take to round out my roster? I can also choose minor leaguers.

[EricF]

theinsidepitch.com projects the 25-man roster to include, in addition to the 16 you list:
C Kelly Stinnett
IF Juan Castro
OF Jose Guillen
OF/1B Wily Mo Pena
SP Jimmy Anderson
RP John Riedling
RP Gabe White
RP Luke Hudson
RP Chris Reitsma

Stinnett and Castro have guaranteed contracts, so they're not going anywhere.

If you're looking for players who could make a meaningful impact, major or minor, I would choose Pena, Anderson, White, Hudson, Reitsma, Ricardo Aramboles, Seth Etherton, Bruce Chen, and Russell Branyan.

I really like Corky Miller, but it's tough for him to break in with LaRue and Stinnett taking the two catching spots.

[chichpsalm]

Thanks for the info! That's good stuff.

[chaindog35]

Whatever you do, do not take Jimmy Anderson, He is the worst pitcher in the history of the majors.

[EricF]

It appears that the 25-man roster is rounding into shape. There are a few differences from the Inside Pitch projected roster at March 11.

Out: Guillen, Hudson.
In: Felix Heredia, Josias Manzanillo, Kent Mercker.

That leaves one more to go out. If Wilson is deemed healthy enough to stay off the DL, Reitsma will be sent to AAA.

[EricF]

Update to the 25-man:

As expected, Wilson stays, Reitsma goes to AAA.

In another move, the Reds put Juan Castro on the 15-day DL so they could retain Ruben Mateo, so Mateo is on the 25-man roster for now.

Watch for future developments as Castro and Russell Branyan come off the DL, or one of the Reds pitchers tanks, as is likely to happen to at least one of the 12.