Ransom is a typical utility player that can field almost any position, just don’t expect much from him at the plate. To liken him to another player I would simply suggest Eric Bruntlett for Phillie fans.

Ransom’s usefulness with the glove keeps him in supply but we’re talking about a career .233/.321/.401 hitter with little pop, no ability to steal and to be nice is a liability in just about every lineup. Here’s a stat that I find funny about Ransom. He has 6 GIDP compared to 7 home runs, doubles? 21…. nice.

The Phillies likely will need to call on Ransom at some point this season. His ability with the glove is far more useful with national league teams then the New York Yankees. Plus if the Phillies could tolerate Eric Bruntlett they can tolerate Cody Ransom.

Want a sure fire way to appreciate Ransom? Don’t expect anything out of him and he’ll surprise you.

	Non-Roster Invitees
	Pitchers	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	75 Phillippe Aumont	L/R	6-7	255	01/07/89
	76 B.J. Rosenberg	R/R	6-2	215	09/17/85
	79 Joe Savery	L/L	6-3	215	11/04/85
	49 Ryan Vogelsong	R/R	6-3	215	07/22/77
	44 Ehren Wassermann	S/R	6-0	190	12/06/80
	60 Bill White	L/L	6-4	215	11/20/78
	Catchers	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	77 Tuffy Gosewisch	R/R	5-11	180	08/17/83
	24 Paul Hoover	R/R	6-1	220	04/14/76
	74 Kevin Nelson	R/R	6-3	215	04/08/81
	61 Dane Sardinha	R/R	6-0	215	04/08/79
	73 John Suomi	L/R	5-11	200	10/05/80
	Infielders	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	72 Ozzie Chavez	S/R	6-1	175	07/13/83
	71 Freddy Galvis	S/R	5-10	170	11/14/89
	12 Cody Ransom	R/R	6-2	190	02/17/76
	33 Andy Tracy	L/R	6-3	230	12/11/73
	21 Wilson Valdez	R/R	5-11	170	05/20/78
	Outfielders	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	78 Domonic Brown	L/L	6-5	200	09/03/87
	18 Chris Duffy	L/L	5-9	185	04/20/80
	70 Tyson Gillies	L/R	6-2	195	10/31/88
	31 Dewayne Wise	L/L	5-11	195	02/24/78

Only pitchers Mike Morgan and Ron Villone have been on as many as 12 different teams.

Stairs admits he thought his career was about over when he signed a two year deal with Toronto in 2007, he went on to join the Phillies and now finds himself working as hard as ever to make the Padres as a left handed bat off the bench.

While losing weight has helped, Stairs also shaved his face and says that embracing the role of a pinch hitter is what has allowed him to thrive in the role.

Stairs is a career .268 pinch-hitter with 19 home runs. He has a career .377 on-base percentage coming off the bench. He also finds himself one home run behind Cliff Johnson for the most in a career as a pinch hitter.

It’s almost hard to believe Stairs hit 38 homers in 1999 or that he drove in 100 runs back to back in 1998 and 1999. Since his time with Oakland his at-bats and productivity have slowly declined but that’s not to say he can’t still get around on a pitch. As recently as 2008 he hit 21 homers and 28 doubles in 357 at-bats with the Blue Jays.

It’s hard to read too much into pinch hitters stats from year to year as they seem to change as much as the weather from 5 am to 2 pm but Stairs really struggled last season and one has to wonder if his age has caught up with him.

Thus far Stairs has put himself in position to make the Padres with a .263 average this spring in 19 at-bats. If he does make the team look for him to be used frequently by the friars

much the same way that his 103 at-bats last season came in 99 games.

Things didn’t work out he headed to Los Angeles in a deal worth $1.35 million and a $2.2 mil option for 2010. He had shoulder troubles last year and pitched in just 21 games. The Dodgers then shed him from their roster and he came to Baltimore looking to latch on.

Ohman is nothing more then a steady left handed arm. His 2008 season with Atlanta looks simply like a blip that’s out of place as his ERA and WHIP has went up every season since 2005 with 2008 being the exception.

Ohman has done enough this spring to get another crack at it but don’t expect him to blow the doors off the place. He could provide a stable left handed arm for the Orioles but he could also be completely

useless by April.

Like in years past the NRI’s of the Washington Nationals are an eclectic mix of veterans who know this team likely serves as their only way of getting back to the majors.

Since I absolutely refuse to write about Livan Hernandez again I’ve choose Willy Taveras as the Nationals non roster invitee.

The Nationals invited three non roster outfielders to camp in Chris Duncan, Jerry Owens and Taveras. While there initally appeared to be no room for any of them in what can only be considered a crowded sardine can of no talent the Nationals went and released Elijah Dukes thus creating an opening.

Duncan has failed to hit and there’s no mistake that Taveras is far preferred over Owens which is obvious by his 13 to 4 at-bat lead.

Taveras has never been able to draw a walk and while that may not have been a huge deal when he was hitting .291, .278, .320 to start his career it’s never a good sign when you fall to .251 and .240 over the last two seasons. Despite all the speed that has seen him steal 193 bases over the last five seasons it’s important to point out that few of his hits have gone for doubles or triples with a total of just 94 going for more then one base. No matter how you spin it averaging just 18.8 extra base hits a season simply is a low number even for a speedster like Taveras.

It’s likely Taveras earns himself a good chunk of playing time this season based on a hot spring, and his ability to look cool on the base paths

. However it doesn’t mean he’s the answer to anything. It just means the Nationals lack a bunch of parts.

	Non-Roster Invitees
	Pitchers	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	43 Miguel Batista	R/R	6-1	210	02/19/71
	68 Victor Garate	L/L	6-2	210	09/25/84
	61 Livan Hernandez	R/R	6-2	245	02/20/75
	50 Logan Kensing	R/R	6-1	190	07/03/82
	52 Joel Peralta	R/R	5-11	195	03/23/76
	45 Doug Slaten	L/L	6-5	215	02/04/80
	46 Ryan Speier	R/R	6-7	210	07/24/79
	58 Drew Storen	S/R	6-2	180	08/11/87
	Catchers	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	56 Jamie Burke	R/R	6-0	225	09/24/71
	62 Derek Norris	R/R	6-0	210	02/14/89
	Infielders	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	10 Eric Bruntlett	R/R	6-2	200	03/29/78
	24 Pete Orr	L/R	6-1	195	06/08/79
	59 Josh Whitesell	L/L	6-3	220	04/14/82
	Outfielders	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	38 Chris Duncan	L/R	6-5	230	05/05/81
	3 Jerry Owens	L/L	6-3	195	02/16/81
	29 Willy Taveras	R/R	6-0	180	12/25/81

It’s not that those numbers were believed to be a fluke it’s just most teams (for unknown reasons to me) were scared off of the idea of signing Calero over concerns about the health of his arm.

Calero as a non roster invitee is a great move on the part of the Mets. Calero has proved to be a reliable arm out of the pen with only one season of an ERA abouve 4, and that same 2007 season being the lone time his WHIP topped 1.30.

In 7 big league seasons spent between St. Louis, Oakland and Florida he’s pitched 302.2 innings and has a 3.24 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Batters have combined to hit just .217 against him, again with the bulk of that being in 2007.

Calero has done nothing to prove he’s not ready for the 2010 season and all signs point to him being one of the key cogs in the Mets bullpen.

	Non-Roster Invitees
	Pitchers	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	90 Travis Blackley	L/L	6-3	205	11/04/82
	94 Kiko Calero	R/R	6-1	210	01/09/75
	64 Elmer Dessens	R/R	5-11	200	01/13/71
	36 R.A. Dickey	R/R	6-2	215	10/29/74
	93 Jack Egbert	L/R	6-3	220	05/12/83
	43 Josh Fogg	R/R	6-0	205	12/13/76
	68 Bobby Livingston	L/L	6-3	205	09/03/82
	32 Arturo Lopez	L/L	5-10	185	02/22/83
	76 Jenrry Mejia	R/R	6-0	160	10/11/89
	70 Carlos Muniz	R/R	6-1	190	03/12/81
	77 Eric Niesen	L/L	6-0	185	09/04/85
	47 Hisanori Takahashi	L/L	5-10	170	04/02/75
	Catchers	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	72 Kai Gronauer	R/R	6-1	205	11/28/86
	73 Luke Montz	R/R	6-2	225	07/07/83
	71 Mike Nickeas	R/R	6-0	210	02/13/83
	74 Francisco Pena	R/R	6-2	230	10/12/89
	73 Shawn Riggans	R/R	6-2	200	07/25/80
	Infielders	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	65 Russ Adams	L/R	6-0	200	08/30/80
	22 Jolbert Cabrera	R/R	6-2	205	12/08/72
	67 Mike Cervenak	R/R	5-11	195	08/17/76
	78 Ike Davis	L/L	6-4	215	03/22/87
	10 Andy Green	R/R	5-10	180	07/07/77
	80 Luis Hernandez	S/R	5-10	180	06/26/84
	66 Mike Hessman	R/R	6-5	215	03/05/78
	35 Mike Jacobs	L/R	6-3	215	10/30/80
	79 Ruben Tejada	R/R	5-11	160	10/27/89
	Outfielders	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	2 Frank Catalanotto	L/R	6-0	195	04/27/74
	62 Jesus Feliciano	L/L	5-10	190	06/06/79
	91 Kirk Nieuwenhuis	L/R	6-3	210	08/07/87

Stanton was expected to repeat Double-A this year but considering he’s hitting .316 with 3 homers in 19 at-bats this spring even manger Freddi Gonzalez is starting to wonder why the club isn’t looking to put him in the opening day lineup.

Had Dan Uggla been traded it’s likely Stanton would be in the lineup come opening day as Chris Coghlan probably moves back to second base leaving a whole in the outfield. Had Cody Ross been traded there would have been a hole in right field.

With both Uggla and Cody Ross remaining on the roster the Marlins simply cannot put the 20 year old talent on the team. Most expect Uggla or even Ross to be traded at some point this year which unquestionably opens up the spot for Stanton to play.

Here’s what you want/need to know about Stanton. He’s got big time power hitting 39 homers in A-ball in 2008 and then 28 between High-A and Double-A last season. He hits homers, he hits doubles, he’s even legged out a few triples and could swipe a base or two.

Of course he also manged just a .231/.311/.455 line in 299 at-bats at Double-A so maybe we are jumping the gun a bit based solely on his spring numbers. Like most young power hitters it’s tough for him to lay off pitches and he strikes out a lot.

But then again it’s not that every young power hitter has the ability of Stanton either.

I fully expect the Marlins to send Stanton down to start the season perhaps if the fish fall out of the NL East or Wild Card race they make a trade that opens up a spot for Stanton if he performs well. If not it’s likely that spot goes to someone else who is hitting well.

It may not be this season but Stanton will certainly be making a splash as a Marlin sooner then later.

For what it’s worth he’s regained much of his velocity and has been pitching well but alas this is spring training.

Mike Sweeney is in a similar position as he’s hit the cover off the ball and despite a .750 average there doesn’t appear to be any way the Mariners could sneak him no the roster for opening day.

Both players would be options later on but for Sweeney I don’t know if he sticks around with the club.

As for Cordero this is a guy who turns 28 in a few hours and picked up 128 saves in six seasons with the Washington Nationals. He has a career 2.78 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and despite not being the hardest throwing proved to be quite an asset to the Nationals at the end of games.

I figure the Mariners run him though Tacoma for a bit and personally I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in Seattle rather quickly should he pitch well and his arm hold up.

If not then I guess you can could me as wrong on this one.

	Non-Roster Invitees
	Pitchers	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	37 Jesus Colome	R/R	6-2	240	12/23/77
	33 Chad Cordero	R/R	6-0	220	03/18/82
	76 Josh Fields	R/R	6-0	185	08/19/85
	65 Nick Hill	L/L	6-0	190	01/30/85
	39 Mike Koplove	R/R	6-0	165	08/30/76
	66 David Pauley	R/R	6-2	210	06/17/83
	71 Mauricio Robles	L/L	5-10	205	03/05/89
	63 Chris Seddon	L/L	6-3	220	10/13/83
	64 Steven Shell	R/R	6-4	215	03/10/83
	30 Levale Speigner	R/R	5-11	180	09/24/80
	Catchers	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	41 Eliezer Alfonzo	R/R	5-11	220	02/07/79
	26 Josh Bard	S/R	6-3	225	03/30/78
	72 Steven Baron	R/R	6-0	200	12/07/90
	74 Luis Oliveros	R/R	6-1	225	06/18/83
	48 Guillermo Quiroz	R/R	6-1	215	11/29/81
	Infielders	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	59 Tommy Everidge	R/R	6-0	275	04/20/83
	60 Brad Nelson	L/R	6-2	260	12/23/82
	16 Josh Wilson	R/R	6-0	175	03/26/81
	6 Chris Woodward	R/R	6-0	190	06/27/76
	Outfielders	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	17 Corey Patterson	L/R	5-10	180	08/13/79
	61 Mike Wilson	R/R	6-2	245	06/29/83
	Designated Hitters	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	5 Mike Sweeney	R/R	6-3	225	07/22/73

Jamey Wright would obviously rather have been signed to a guaranteed deal but the 35 year old right hander is probably happy to be in camp. Last season he appeared in 65 contests with Kansas City amassing a 4.33 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP.

While those numbers aren’t great they aren’t that bad and considering no one would use Wright as a late inning option his durability is more of a plus then some of the other options being considered by the Indians. With a reported two openings in the tribe’s pen it’s at-least possible that the journeyman could crack this club out of spring training.

It’s hard to believe that Wright has been in the majors for 14 years and yet somehow despite not being left handed he’s been able to compile a career line of 82-115 with a 5.03 ERA and somehow still be around looking for a 15th season.

Wright is best used as a long reliever where his ability to go though a lineup a few times doesn’t wear him down. He’s not much of an option as a starter and hasn’t been dating back to 2004. His still possess a decent sinker-ball which can induce ground balls.

Plus if he makes the Indians my wife will be happy. For some reason she likes the guy. I guess he’s an alright fellow myself. Best of luck Jamey. Sorry I didn’t exactly give you the ravest review like I have the last two years. It’s just these NRI reports are well behind schedule and I haven’t been as interested

in them this year.

Two years ago Wellemeyer, 31, won 13 games for the St. Louis Cardinals with a 3.71 ERA. Wellemeyer stands to earn up to $1.5 million should he win the spot as the teams fifth starter.

Thus farn the right hander has allowed 2 runs and 10 hits over 9 innings of work. Not known for being a strike out artist he’s amassed just one K but has also allowed just one walk.

While spring numbers can be hard to read due to the sample size and the questionable talent of the opposition there’s another thing working in Wellemeyers favor this spring.

Team officials see Wellemeyer as a potential long reliever if he does not win a rotation spot, but he wants to start. He said his contract includes a clause that requires the Giants to tell him by a certain date toward the end of spring training what his role will be. If he does not like what he hears, he can opt out and sign with another team.

With that card in hand Wellemeyer almost certainly fits into the Giants plans for 2010 in some capacity. While it’s looking like it may be as the fifth starter I don’t know how much interest there would be in Wellemeyer by other clubs as an end of the rotation option should he opt out of his contract just before the season starts but it’s likely someone would pick him up should he keep up his current line.

Wellemeyer probably isn’t the be all end all solution for the Giants but we’re talking about the fifth starter here so he doesn’t have to be. He simply needs to go out every fifth day give the club five to six innings, not be a bullpen killer and hopefully he keeps them in the game.

In seven professional seasons he’s 29-29 with a 4.74 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP in 195 games including 64 starts.

	Non-Roster Invitees
	Pitchers	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	53 Denny Bautista	R/R	6-5	190	08/23/80
	46 Santiago Casilla	R/R	6-0	200	07/25/80
	63 Craig Clark	L/L	6-2	200	07/09/84
	64 Rafael Cova	R/R	6-2	175	03/05/82
	65 Steve Edlefsen	S/R	6-2	180	06/27/85
	66 Eric Hacker	S/R	6-1	210	03/26/83
	56 Osiris Matos	R/R	6-1	200	08/06/84
	59 Guillermo Mota	R/R	6-5	235	07/25/73
	51 Tony Pena	R/R	6-2	180	03/23/81
	70 Felix Romero	R/R	6-2	200	06/18/80
	71 Clayton Tanner	R/L	6-1	200	12/05/87
	71 Daniel Turpen	R/R	6-4	230	08/17/86
	37 Todd Wellemeyer	R/R	6-3	225	08/30/78
	74 Craig Whitaker	R/R	6-4	210	11/19/84
	Catchers	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	32 Steve Holm	R/R	6-0	205	10/21/79
	76 Johnny Monell	L/R	5-11	205	03/27/86
	77 Hector Sanchez	S/R	6-0	185	11/17/89
	73 Jackson Williams	R/R	5-11	200	05/14/86
	Infielders	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	78 Ehire Adrianza	S/R	6-1	165	08/21/89
	79 Brandon Crawford	L/R	6-2	200	01/21/87
	84 Jesus Guzman	R/R	6-1	215	06/14/84
	80 Nick Noonan	L/R	6-0	180	05/04/89
	Outfielders	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	81 Wendell Fairley	L/R	6-2	195	03/17/88
	82 Roger Kieschnick	L/R	6-3	215	01/21/87
	83 Thomas Neal	R/R	6-1	225	08/17/87

The Dodgers also have Doug Mientkiewicz trying to make the team again this year and it may ultimately come down to which player has the hot hand this spring for what appears to be one roster spot.

The Dodgers biggest concern is whether to keep Blake DeWitt in the majors or to send him back to Triple-A. DeWitt, 25, has yet to show he’s worthy of a big league roster space for the course of a season. Chin-lung Hu on the other hand is almost certainly headed back down and it’s unclear if the Dodgers are serious about keeping Jason Repko on the 25 man roster or not. Should all three go down it’s likely both Anderson and Mientkiewicz find themselves on the opening day roster.

Anderson’s one year in Atlanta was more of a jail sentence for both sides. Never known for drawling a walk and with knees that have already faded away Anderson’s time in Atlanta is more likely a reflection of things to come rather then a hiccup. His batting average tumbled 25 points last year down to a career low of .268 and just 8 times in his career has his OBP topped .330 (and two of those times consist of 1994 in which he had 13 at-bats and 1995 in which he had 374).

If Anderson makes the roster it’s because he makes contact this spring and his past contributions. He’s not a regular option in the outfield and his acceptance of playing first base from time to time only allows for the occasional off day for James Loney.

At 37 years of age it’s clear there’s not much left in the tank but there are certainly worse options out there for a roster spot.

	Non-Roster Invitees
	Pitchers	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	26 Luis Ayala	R/R	6-2	190	01/12/78
	88 Scott Dohmann	R/R	6-1	200	02/13/78
	79 Francisco Felix	R/R	5-11	205	07/28/83
	38 Eric Gagne	R/R	6-0	240	01/07/76
	70 Josh Lindblom	R/R	6-5	240	06/15/87
	45 Justin Miller	R/R	6-2	200	08/27/77
	35 Ramon Ortiz	R/R	6-0	175	05/23/73
	48 Russ Ortiz	R/R	6-1	220	06/05/74
	78 Juan Perez	R/L	6-0	180	09/03/78
	28 Josh Towers	R/R	6-1	185	02/26/77
	36 Jeff Weaver	R/R	6-5	200	08/22/76
	Catchers	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	77 JD Closser	S/R	5-10	180	01/15/80
	81 Gabriel Gutierrez	R/R	5-11	190	11/24/83
	82 Justin Knoedler	R/R	6-2	210	07/17/80
	Infielders	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	30 Angel Berroa	R/R	6-0	195	01/27/77
	21 Nick Green	R/R	6-0	180	09/10/78
	76 John Lindsey	R/R	6-1	245	01/30/77
	13 Doug Mientkiewicz	L/R	6-0	210	06/19/74
	72 Russ Mitchell	R/R	5-11	205	02/15/85
	63 Argenis Reyes	S/R	5-10	180	09/25/82
	Outfielders	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	– Alfredo Amezaga	S/R	5-10	180	01/16/78
	00 Garret Anderson	L/L	6-3	225	06/30/72
	66 Brian Barton	R/R	6-3	190	04/25/82
	61 Prentice Redman	R/R	6-3	185	08/23/79
	29 Michael Restovich	R/R	6-6	240	01/03/79