With the signing of Takashi Saito, Dec. 27, the Milwaukee Brewers seem to have set the team they will take to Maryvale, Arizona for Spring Training.
The 40 year-old Saito will likely be the final piece to the puzzle and will be one of two or three players to set up closer John Axford.
The move ended what was a busy winter for the Brewers, who have six weeks before pitchers and catchers report to spring training, with a team that appears to be one that is set to contend in 2011.
Of course the pitching moves for Sean Marcum and Zack Greinke are the big ones that have put the Brewers into the discussion and made them the biggest "winner" of the offseason accoring to Sports Illustrated's John Heyman.
But it is moves like the signing of Saito, who will be 41 on Opening Day, that will shore things up where there were question marks last year. The way he pitched last year for the Braves he promises to be a key part to get the Brewers from starters to Axford. He had a 2.83 ERA in 51 games last season.
The one holdover piece from the bullpen that started last season is LaTroy Hawkins, who was a disappointment after injuries and ineffectiveness. The rest of the key parts from last year are back in Kameron Loe, Zach Braddock and Manny Parra. Parra will start the season in the bullpen and be the long-man in relief should someone get in trouble.
If the Brewers are go carry 12 pitchers into the season, that leaves one spot on the roster for 6-foot-5 right hander Mike McClendon, who had a strong showing as a call-up last season, lefty Mitch Stetter and free-agent signee Sean Green among others.
In the field, the Brewers only change appears to be Yuniesky Betancourt starting at shortstop. There seem to be many fans that are concerned about former Royals shortstop, but general manager Doug Melvin seems to be confident he can play every day and hit in the bottom third of the lineup, as MLB.com's Adam McCalvy said Monday.
Of course the other player of concern is Carlos Gomez in center field. It is not the defense that is a question, but rather his offense, which Melvin seems content to give one more year to figure out. The defense was a strength of Gomez's last year with the Brewers and years before with the Twins. If he could up his on-base percentage, the doubters would not have as much to say. As an insurance policy, the Brewers will bring left hander Chris Dickerson along. There seems to be plans of a somewhat soft platoon with Dickerson getting the shot against tougher right handers.
As for who fills out the 25-man roster, there are only a couple of quetions remaining. The first is, who wins the backup catcher job? George Kottaras is the incumbant, but the signing of Wil Nieves should give him a run for a his money with whoever has the strongest Spring Training showing getting the job.
The other for the position players, is if Mat Gamel earns a spot on the Major Leauge roster as a bench player and if Brandon Boggs will earn a spot as the fifth outfielder. Both could realisitically make the team and give the Brewers 13 position players and 12 pitchers on the 25-man roster heading into Opening Day.
Things will certainly take shape more heading into and through Spring Training, but it is always good to disucss with the season approaching.
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