Dodgers Keep Lance Cormier; Final 25 Man Roster Set

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Apparently Lance Cormier is one heck of a poker player. The Dodgers asked him to accept a minor league assignment. He told them no, that he had an option that if he wasn’t on the opening day roster by the end of Sunday he could take his services elsewhere and “the ball’s in their court now.” Well I guess the Dodgers didn’t want to lose him, because according to a tweet about 2 hours ago from Fox Baseball reporter Ken Rosenthal “Cormier makes Dodgers staff.” So long Scott Elbert, and so long having a second left hander in the bullpen.

If Rosenthal is correct here is what the final 25 man roster will look like

Starting pitchers (4): Chad Billingsley, Clayton Kershaw, Hiroki Kuroda, Ted Lilly

Relief pitchers (7): Jonathan Broxton, Matt Guerrier, Blake Hawksworth, Kenley Jansen, Hong-Chih Kuo, Mike MacDougal, Lance Cormier.

Catcher (2): Rod Barajas and Hector Gimenez. (However I am still not convinced that the Dodgers wont keep AJ Ellis and send Jay Gibbons to AAA, Gimenez is a below average catcher defensively and do the Dodgers really need 6 outfielders.

Infielders (6): James Loney, Juan Uribe, Rafael Furcal, Jamey Carroll, Ivan De Jesus and Aaron Miles. (Best case scenario here is IDJ gets off to a great start is given the everyday second base job and Casey Blake becomes a super utility 1B/3B/LF which for his 38 year old body may be the best thing anyway)

Outfielders (6): Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, Tony Gwynn Jr., Marcus Thames, Xavier Paul and Jay Gibbons. (I still don’t understand why they are keeping 6 outfielders and they have not said who Marcus Thames platoon mate in LF will be.)

Casey Blake could return as soon as April 6, Jon Garland could be back the following week and Vicente Padilla is also ahead of schedule. So several players will be sent packing. Also the Dodgers will have to make room on the 40 man roster for Miles and Cormier. Cormier will get Ronald Belisario’s spot while Dodger reporters are speculating John Lindsey will be taken off the 40 man to make room for Miles, meaning he will have to go through waivers if he is to remain a Dodger. Again with 3 days left until opening day more changes could be in the mix.