You can always count on the Twins to have some interesting roster decisions up their sleeve. Who in their non-roster invitee group is notable?
1B Jeff Bailey—A longtime Triple-A slugger, Bailey is a career .227/.340/.434 big league hitter and career .276/.380/.478 Triple-A hitter. He turned in a typical year in Triple-A in 2010, hitting .289/.367/.462. A sound all-around hitter, he’s a plus defensive first baseman and capable corner outfielder. Now 32, his time has probably passed, although one has to wonder what Bailey could do with extended playing time.
RHP Yorman Bazardo—It’s tough to believe that Bazardo is still 26 years old, because he’s been on the radar for an awfully long time. It’s tough to see much more potential in the righty, though, as he couldn’t even get Triple-A batters to swing and miss with any regularity in 2010, and while his career 6.86 MLB ERA overstates his ineptitude, his career 37/34 K/BB does not. The Twins have a renowned pitching coach in Rick Anderson, but Bazardo might be a bit too difficult a project.
2B/OF Brian Dinkelman—A solid multipositional guy, Dinkelman brings moderate punch with his bat and is ready for a big league utility role. The 27-year-old hit .265/.336/.379 in his first year in Triple-A in 2010. He has middle infield and corner outfield experience. At his age, Dinkelman can’t afford missteps if he wants to become a big league mainstay, so he’s got a lot riding on his spring performance.
LHP Phil Dumatrait—The journeyman lefty walked more than he struck out in Triple-A last year. While teams like to keep giving him chances, he keeps giving them back, as his 7.06 career ERA illustrates. Again, this is a tall order for Rick Anderson.
RHP Kyle Gibson—Gibson shot through three levels in 2010, ending in Triple-A on the doorstep of the majors. One of the better pitching prospects in baseball, he could show just how close to ready he is. He’s the top prospect invited to Minnesota’s camp, and with three Triple-A starts already under his belt, if he throws well in March, he could be back in Minnesota in June.
1B Justin Huber—He’s back! The former minor league slugger is back with the Twins, for whom he hit 22 homers in Triple-A in 2009. A former top slugging prospect, he never figured out the majors, with a career .224/.276/.304 line in 72 games with the Mets, Royals, and Twins. Originally a catcher, Huber’s attempted to learn third base and the corner outfield slots in addition to his main position of first base, with mixed results. He’s still 28 after all this bouncing around, but Huber would have to tear camp apart or hope for major injuries to get noticed. It’s a shame–I wonder if this guy could’ve had a nice career in different circumstances.
LHP Chuck James—Formerly a solid starter for the Braves, James fell off the map in 2008, but experienced something of a renaissance with the Nationals’ Double-A affiliate, of all places. Working as a swingman there in 2010, he put up a 50/7 K/BB in 45 1/3 frames, earning a promotion to Triple-A, where results were solid in a small sample. James is 29–weirdly, older than Huber and Bazardo–but that’s young enough to work his way back if 2010 was for real. The extreme flyballer will need to prove he can keep the ball in the park, although Target Field isn’t the worst of venues for him. An intriguing comeback story.
INF Chase Lambin—This guy needs to be in the majors. Period. Middle infielders with plus power don’t grow on trees, and while Lambin struggled in the second half of 2010, his Triple-A record is otherwise spotless. He’s capable of playing anywhere but pitcher, catcher, and center field, and the 31-year-old’s chance to serve as a utilityman is half a decade overdue. Hopefully the Twins give him the shot he more than deserves.