My Dodgers' 25-man roster prediction (updated)

With Opening Day just more than a week away, the Dodgers' roster is beginning to take shape. However, there are a few guys making late pushes to secure spots on the 25-man roster.

Here is my prediction for what the Dodgers' roster will look like come March 31.

(Opening Day starters in italics)

Catchers (2*)
Rod Barajas
Hector Gimenez
Dioner Navarro* - Moved to DL

Infielders (6*)
Jamey Carroll
Ivan DeJesus* - Added due to Navarro injury
Rafael Furcal
James Loney
Juan Uribe
Aaron Miles

Outfielders (6)
Andre Ethier
Jay Gibbons
Tony Gwynn
Matt Kemp
Xavier Paul
Marcus Thames

Rotation (4)
Chad Billingsley
Clayton Kershaw
Hiroki Kuroda
Ted Lilly

Bullpen (7)
Jonathan Broxton
Matt Guerrier
Blake Hawksworth
Kenley Jansen
Hong-Chih Kuo
Mike MacDougal
Ron Mahay

Disabled List
Casey Blake
Jon Garland
Navarro
Vicente Padilla

The immediate concern is with only having one true reserve infielder in Miles. However, Carroll and Uribe's ability to play all over the infield is reassuring.

Now, there are definitely some guys here who weren't expected to make the team out of camp.

• Gimenez: He has hit and showed enough versatility to warrant a roster spot. The fact that he's out of options helps his chances of making the team.
• Gwynn: A throw-away signing by most, Gwynn has a great chance to be the Dodgers' Opening Day center fielder.
• MacDougal: While I don't exactly agree with this, guys like Ramon Troncoso and Scott Elbert haven't done enough to warrant a spot over MacDougal (in management's eyes).
• Mahay: He has been terrible this spring, but Elbert has been worse (control wise). He gets a spot by default to be the second lefty out of the 'pen.
• Miles: He, like Gimenez, has hit enough and has the added bonus of being an infielder.
  

With MacDougal, Mahay and Miles making the team as non-roster invitees, that means they must be added to the 40-man roster. Gimenez is on the 40-man roster.

Here are some members of the Dodgers' current 40-man roster who could get Das Boot if these three make the roster:

• Javy Guerra
• Jamie Hoffmann
  
• John Lindsey
• Travis Schlichting

Gibbons could be on the bubble after his poor spring, too. Mike Petriello of Mike Scicoscia's Tragic Illness wonders if Gibbons is even worth a roster spot. With the Dodgers suddenly having a glut OF/1B types, Gibbons' value is lower than it was when he was re-signed in the winter.

The roster will be in flux for pretty much the entire season. The Dodgers tend to have a few non-roster invites on the Opening Day roster (due in large part to injuries) and things will become more clear when the disabled list guys are healthy enough to return.

Thanks to True Blue L.A. for the roster information.

Reliever news - Kuo, Mahay

The Dodgers avoided arbitration with left-hander Hong-Chih Kuo yesterday, agreeing to a 1-year, $2.725 million deal, plus incentives.

Tony Jackson of ESPN LA has the details on the incentives. Kuo can earn as much as $700,000 in incentives, but most are for games-finished. If Jonathan Broxton re-gains his pre-July 2010 form, Kuo won't get a chance to cash in on the games-finished incentives.

Kuo's base salary comes in just under the median mark of $2.8125 million.

Kuo is one of the nastiest relievers in the game and at this price, he's well worth it.

The Dodgers also signed veteran LHP Ron Mahay to a minor-league deal today. Jon Heyman reported Mahay could earn $900,000 with the Dodgers.

Mahay's signing spells the end of Scott Elbert's and bid for the second lefty option out of the Dodgers' bullpen.

In 34 innings with the Minnesota Twins last season, Mahay had a 3.44 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 8.7 H/9, 2.1 BB/9, 6.6 K/9 and a most impressive 3.13 K/BB ratio.

While my preference would have been to see what Elbert could really do as a full-time reliever, this isn't a bad deal -- especially on a minor-league contract. Mahay is a true LOOGY, holding left-handed hitters to a career .232 batting average and .689 OPS.

Mahay is almost a lock to make the Dodgers' 'pen, which leaves the aforementioned Elbert, Ramon Troncoso and Blake Hawksworth on the proverbial roster bubble.

Elbert and Tronocoso have options while Hawksworth is out of options. The Dodgers could try to slip Hawksworth through waivers before the start of the season, but I'm sure there's some team out there that would take a chance on him. He might not throw a pitch in Dodger Blue after being acquired for Ryan Theriot.

Some would say Belisario could be on the bubble, but in my last post, I thought he'd perform well enough to earn a spot in the 'pen.

No matter what, if the pitchers pitch to their capabilities, the Dodgers should boast one of the game's best bullpens in 2011.

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Lastings Milledge also signed a minor-league deal today with the Chicago White Sox. Milledge, who had been mentioned in the Dodgers' search for a left fielder, will get $500,000 if he makes the team with no incentives, as reported by Ken Rosenthal.

Milledge on a minor-league deal would have been a lot better than the trio affectionately known as "JaMarcus Gwybbons, Jr.," coined by Mike Petriello of Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness.