The Montreal Minute(46:3) Roster Construction(Lineup)

[HerbD]

Not much has changed with the Montreal lineup since you last saw them losing to Brooklyn in the 2045 post season. Only some minor adjustments have been made to start the 2046 season. The infield will look mostly the same with one distinct difference. SS Hedde Aalbers was brought in to play against lefties while Orlando Lopez returns to face righties. This move keeps Angel Zalapa at second and Lineu Aldo at first full time. With an overload of first basemen in the system Aldo is a candidate to platoon if he begins to struggle with left handed pitching as he did last season when he hit under .200. 3B Eduardo Gonzalez returns fresh off a 4.4 WAR season, his best since his rookie year, and a six year extension that keeps him in Montreal through his age 30 season at over $16 million per year. Zalapa has a team option left for next year at over $26 million so he'll have to have a big year in order for Montreal to bring him back at that price. It doesn't help his case that his agent is asking for $30+ million per year in extension talks.

Behind the plate Joe Bradshaw gets a chance to prove himself as the everyday catcher after platooning last season. 2045 was a somewhat of a bounce back year for Bradshaw after a dismal 2044 and the Blazers are hoping for a return to his 2042 form when he posted a 5+ WAR for Twin Cities.

Peter Crocker and Manoell Whanon return to the Blazers' outfield from last season's playoff squad. Whanon is in a contract year and asking for $70 million extension so expect him to put up good numbers in an effort to secure a long term deal. Keith Schulte beat Gilberto Villanueva for the starting right field job. Schulte is a superior defender and can hit both lefties and righties. Villanueva will get his share of opportunities as the team is only carrying four legitimate out fielders.

Veteran Bartolo Ortiz was brought in to DH verses right hand pitchers. It's a one year deal for less than $4 million so it's low risk for Blazers. If he doesn't hit enough the team can slide Villanueva into that spot in the lineup. Backup catcher Ramiro Cheron gets the nod as the DH against lefties. If Bradshaw struggles against southpaws then Cheron will move back to a platoon role at catcher and the Blazers will have to find another alternative at DH. Initially top prospect Coy Skinner was pegged for DH duty but a bad spring showing had him headed back to AAA.