MLB Spring Training 2012: Most Likely Non-Roster Invitee to Make Each MLB Team

Each year, MLB teams bring in a handful of players to spring training on minor league deals, giving those players a chance to earn a spot on the big league roster with an impressive showing in camp.

Whether it is a veteran star looking for one last job, a career journeyman looking to latch on with a big league club, or a relative unknown looking for his first big league opportunity, non-roster players come from all different situations.

Here is a look at the one non-roster invitee from each MLB team who has the best chance of making the team and the odds that he finds himself on the opening day roster.

Baltimore Orioles

Player

SP Armando Galarraga

2011 Stats

8 GS, 3-4, 5.91 ERA, 28 Ks, 42.2 IP, -1.3 WAR

Best known as the man who was robbed of a perfect game on a bad call, Galarraga split the 2011 season between Triple-A and Arizona.

Depending on how Japanese imports Tsuyoshi Wada and Wei-Yin Chen perform this spring, Galarraga could have a shot at winning a rotation spot.

Odds He Makes The Team

10 percent

Boston Red Sox

Player: 

SP Aaron Cook

2011 Stats

18 G, 17 GS, 3-10, 6.03 ERA, 48 Ks, 97 IP, 0.2 WAR

A member of the Rockies for his entire 10-year big league career, Cook has put together a career line of 72-68, 4.53 ERA, 558 Ks and made the All-Star team in 2008.

He will compete with Andrew Miller, Carlos Silva and Vicente Padilla for the fifth rotation spot this spring, and the 33-year-old could be the frontrunner to break camp at the back-end of the rotation.

Odds He Makes The Team

30 percent

New York Yankees

Player

IF/OF Bill Hall

2011 Stats

.211/.261/.314, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 24 R, -1.7 WAR

Just two years removed from a .247 BA, 18 HR, 46 RBI season as a super utility player with the Red Sox, Hall managed just 185 big league at bats last season.

With New York's signings of Eric Chavez and Raul Ibanez, Hall's odds of making the team have taken a hit. Still, a chance remains they could keep the versatile 32-year-old around if he plays well this spring.

Odds He Makes The Team

20 percent

Tampa Bay Rays

Player

RP Ricky Orta

2011 Stats

4 G, 0-0, 1.12 ERA, 10 Ks, 8 IP at Rookie League

A former fourth-round pick of the Mariners back in 2006, Orta missed all of the 2010 season and most of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Now 27 years old, Orta is getting a second chance with the Rays, and with a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and a career 9.1 K/9 mark in the minors, he could have an outside shot at landing a middle relief job.

Odds He Makes The Team

10 percent

Toronto Blue Jays

Player

IF Omar Vizquel

2011 Stats

.251/.287/.305, 0 HR, 8 RBI, 18 R, -0.7 WAR

After two seasons with the White Sox, Vizquel is looking to keep his career going as he continues the chase for 3,000 hits, entering the 2012 season with 2,841 for his career.

The Blue Jays traded for Luis Valbuena and also have veteran Chris Woodward in camp on a minor league deal, but given his superior defense, Vizquel looks like the frontrunner to win the utility infielder spot.

Odds He Makes The Team

75 percent

Chicago White Sox

Player

1B Dan Johnson

2011 Stats

.119/.187/.202, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 7 R, -0.8 WAR

The 31-year-old Johnson spent most of last season in Triple-A with the Rays, where he hit .273 with 13 HR and 52 RBI. However, he managed to make the most of his time in the majors, hitting one of the biggest home runs in franchise history on the final day of the season.

The White Sox have been giving him some time at third base this spring in an effort to increase his versatility, and if he can show them some pop with the bat, he could win a bench job.

Odds He Makes The Team

30 percent

Cleveland Indians

Player

RP Dan Wheeler

2011 Stats

47 G, 2-2, 4.38 ERA, 39 Ks, 49.1 IP, 0.3 WAR

After four seasons with the Rays, Wheeler joined the Red Sox last season and bounced back after a shaky start to the season to be an important part of their bullpen.

The 34-year-old right-hander has good experience, and as long as he doesn't fall on his face this spring, he should have no problem making the team.

Odds He Makes The Team

90 percent

Detroit Tigers

Player

IF/OF Eric Patterson

2011 Stats

.180/.272/.292, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 8 R, 8 SB, -0.4 WAR

The brother of former Cubs flop Corey Patterson, the younger Patterson brother has played for three teams in the past two years and will try to stick in Detroit, where the second base position is far from resolved.

His biggest asset is his speed, and he also offers some defensive versatility. However, Patterson will need to show something with the bat, as his .217 career average won't be enough to earn him a big league job.

Chance He Makes The Team

Five percent

Kansas City Royals

Player

3B Kevin Kouzmanoff

2011 Stats

.235/.284/.372, 7 HR, 33 RBI, 24 R, -1.0 WAR

Once the third baseman of the future in San Diego, Kouzmanoff is still only 30 years old but has settled into a reserve infield role at this point in his career. 

He has decent power (seven HR in 234 at bats) and a very good glove at third base, so he could stick with the team as an insurance option for Mike Moustakas and bat off the bench.

Odds He Makes The Team

20 percent

Minnesota Twins

Player

RP Jason Bulger

2011 Stats

5 G, 0-1, 0.96 ERA, 7 Ks, 9.1 IP, 0.1 WAR

A key member of the Angels bullpen in 2009, when he appeared in 64 games and posted a 3.56 ERA and 9.3 K/9 over 65.2 innings of work, Bulger is looking to catch on in a fairly open Twins bullpen.

He spent most of last season in Triple-A, where he had a 4.03 ERA and 11.6 K/9 over 38 innings of work, but his ability to strike hitters out could distinguish him from the rest of the competition. 

Odds He Makes The Team

25 percent

Los Angeles Angels

Player

RP Jason Isringhausen

2011 Stats

53 G, 3-3, 7 Sv, 4.05 ERA, 44 Ks, 46.2 IP, 0.4 WAR

After missing all of 2010 and appearing in just nine games in 2009, Isringhausen made an unlikely comeback for the Mets last season at the age of 38.

Used sparingly at first, he pitched well enough to see some time at closer after the team traded Francisco Rodriguez, converting 7-of-11 save chances. The Angels won't need him for anything more than middle relief, but there is no reason to think he won't make the team.

Odds He Makes The Team

90 percent

Oakland Athletics

Player

RP Jordan Norberto

2011 Stats

47 G, 6-2, 2 Sv, 3.79 ERA, 64 Ks, 57 IP at Triple-A

Acquired from Diamondbacks at the deadline last season in the deal that sent Brad Ziegler, Norberto is in camp as a non-roster player despite being just 25 years old.

He got a cup-of-coffee last season, appearing in six games and posting a 8.10 ERA over 6.2 innings of work, but if his minor league numbers are any indication of what he is capable of, he could very well win a spot in the bullpen.

Odds He Makes The Team

40 percent

Seattle Mariners

Player

SP Kevin Millwood

2011 Stats

9 GS, 4-3, 3.98 ERA, 36 Ks, 54.1 IP, 1.1 WAR

Millwood spent time in the Red Sox and Yankees minor league systems last year before catching on with the Rockies and making nine late-season starts.

He will be 37 this coming season, but he has proven to be a durable innings eater throughout his career. The Mariners rotation is fairly wide-open behind Felix Hernandez and Jason Vargas, and Millwood could wind up sliding into the No. 3 rotation spot. 

Odds He Makes The Team

95 percent

Texas Rangers

Player

RP Tanner Scheppers

2011 Stats

28 G, 4-1, 3.71 ERA, 44 Ks, 43.2 IP at Double-A and Triple-A

The Rangers' first-round pick in the 2009 draft, Scheppers was a Baseball America Top 100 prospect in 2010 and 2011, and while he has not dominated minor league hitters, he has progressed as planned through the Rangers system.

He has battled injury problems, but has overpowering stuff when healthy and should see some time in the Texas bullpen at some point this season. With a good spring, it could be right off the bat.

Odds He Makes The Team

30 percent

Atlanta Braves

Player

INF Drew Sutton

2011 Stats

.315/.362/.444, 0 HR, 7 RBI, 11 R, 0.2 WAR

The 29-year-old Sutton has made brief major league appearances in each of the past three seasons, tallying a total of 159 at bats and most recently playing for the Boston Red Sox.

Atlanta has a rookie set to man the shortstop position in Tyler Pastornicky and has re-signed veteran Jack Wilson to be his backup. However, Wilson is set to miss the start of the season with a strained calf, so Sutton could fill that void while he is shelved. 

Odds He Makes The Team

70 percent

Miami Marlins

Player

OF Aaron Rowand

2011 Stats

.233/.274/.347, 4 HR, 21 RBI, 34 R, 0.9 WAR

Finally out from under the five-year, $60 million deal he signed with the Giants back in 2008, Rowand is in camp vying for a reserve outfield spot and can still bring plenty to the table defensively if nothing else.

With former manager Ozzie Guillen now at the helm in Miami, Rowand has as good a chance to make the Marlins as any team, but he will have to beat out Scott Cousins and Bryan Petersen to earn the roster spot.

Odds He Makes The Team

40 percent

New York Mets

Player

OF Adam Loewen

2011 Stats

.306/.377/.508, 17 HR, 85 RBI, 83 R at Triple-A

Taken fourth overall in the 2002 draft by the Orioles as a pitcher, Loewen twice appeared on the Baseball America Top 100 list and spent most of 2006 in the Orioles rotation, going 6-6, 5.37 ERA, 98 Ks in 19 starts.

His career as a pitcher was cut short when he suffered a stress fracture to his throwing elbow in early 2008, signaling the transition to being a position player. After an impressive season in Triple-A with the Blue Jays earned him a September call-up last year, he is now in camp with the Mets and looks to be the frontrunner for the fourth outfield spot.

Odds He Makes The Team

85 percent

Philadelphia Phillies

Player

OF Juan Pierre

2011 Stats

.279/.329/.327, 2 HR, 50 RBI, 80 R, 27 SB, 0.0 WAR

After serving as the White Sox lead-off hitter and starting right fielder last season, Pierre was unable to find a taker on a major league deal, as he offers one thing and one thing only: speed.

He likely won't see much time as a starter, but Pierre has a good shot to make the team as an extra outfielder, pinch-runner and veteran bat off the bench.

Odds He Makes The Team

80 percent

Washington Nationals

Player

OF Rick Ankiel

2011 Stats

.239/.296/.363, 9 HR, 37 RBI, 46 R, 2.1 WAR

The Nationals' starting center fielder last season, Ankiel is looking to win a reserve role for the upcoming season with the starting job likely going to Roger Bernadina.

He has veterans like Mark Teahen, Chad Tracy and Jason Michaels to compete with, but he has to be considered the frontrunner to land a job at this point. If Bernadina struggles early, don't be surprised if he winds up in a starting role once again.

Odds He Makes The Team

99 percent

Chicago Cubs

Player

RP Trever Miller

2011 Stats

48 G, 0-1, 1 Sv, 3.80 ERA, 12 Ks, 21.1 IP, 0.3 WAR

The definition of a lefty specialist, Miller has held left-handed hitters to a .225 average over his 13-year big league career. He will be looking to catch on with a Cubs team that lacks a proven lefty reliever.

Miller began last season with the Cardinals before being shipped to the Blue Jays in the Edwin Jackson-Colby Rasmus trade. The Blue Jays released him in August, and he finished out the season with the Red Sox. He'll need to prove he can bring something to the table that Scott Maine and James Russell can't in order to earn a roster spot.

Odds He Makes The Team

50 percent

Cincinnati Reds

Player

RP Clay Zavada

2011 Stats

44 G, 3-2, 2 Sv, 3.43 ERA, 46 Ks, 60.1 IP at Triple-A

A surprise contributor to the Diamondbacks bullpen in 2009 when he appeared in 49 games and had a 3.35 ERA and 9.2 K/9 mark over 51 innings, Zavada has not made a big league appearance since that season.

That said, he was very effective in Triple-A last season and could earn a fringe spot in the bullpen with a strong performance this spring.

Odds He Makes The Team

35 percent

Houston Astros

Player

SP Livan Hernandez

2011 Stats

29 GS, 8-13, 4.47 ERA, 99 Ks, 175.1 IP, -0.1 WAR

Now 37 years old, Hernandez has 16 big-league seasons under his belt, and while he is no longer the staff ace he once was, he is still a durable workhorse. 

He should earn a rotation spot with the Astros this spring, and will help take some pressure off a young bullpen if he can reach the 200-inning plateau for the 11th time in his career.

Odds He Makes The Team

99 percent

Milwaukee Brewers

Player

SS Cesar Izturis

2011 Stats

.200/.250/.200, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 4 R, 0.2 WAR

Injured much of last season, Izturis managed to tally just 30 big-league at-bats with the Orioles after serving as their everyday shortstop in 2010.

He brings little-to-nothing to the table offensively, but he is a terrific defensive shortstop and could land a spot as the Brewers utility infielder this coming season.

Odds He Makes The Team

75 percent

Pittsburgh Pirates

Player

RP Juan Cruz

2011 Stats

56 G, 5-0, 3.88 ERA, 46 Ks, 48.2 IP, 0.3 WAR

A former starter with the Chicago Cubs, Cruz has bounced around a lot in his 11-year big league career, as he has played for six teams with the Rays being the most recent.

He has good stuff and has always posted a solid strikeout rate (9.1 K/9), but control has been a consistent issue throughout his career (4.8 BB/9). Nonetheless, in an experienced bullpen, he could very well get a shot at not only a roster spot but a setup role if he performs.

Odds He Makes The Team

70 percent

St. Louis Cardinals

Player

RP Scott Linebrink

2011 Stats

64 G, 4-4, 1 Sv, 3.64 ERA, 42 Ks, 54.1 IP, 0.6 WAR

Fresh off a four-year, $19 million contract that he signed with the White Sox back in 2008, Linebrink now finds himself battling for a bullpen job with the reigning champions.

He was dealt to the Braves last offseason and enjoyed his best season in years, and while he is 35 years old, he still looks to have plenty left.

Odds He Makes The Team

55 percent

Arizona Diamondbacks

Player

OF/RP Jason Lane

2011 Stats

.291/.358/.460, 6 HR, 34 RBI, 38 R
6 G, 0-0, 4.85 ERA, 12 Ks, 13 IP 

While the Blue Jays were converting Mets roster hopeful Adam Loewen from pitcher to outfielder last season, they were doing just the opposite with Lane.

Lane is a former top prospect of the Astros who once put together a .316 BA, 38 HR, 124 RBI season as a 24-year-old in the minors and had a .267 BA, 26 HR 78 RBI line in his first full season in the majors. Five years later, Lane is trying to return to the big leagues by also establishing himself as a legitimate relief pitcher.

Odds He Makes The Team 

15 percent

Colorado Rockies

Player

SP Jamie Moyer

2011 Stats

Did Not Play - Tommy John Surgery

The 49-year-old Moyer is in camp with the Rockies looking to not only make the squad at his advanced age but also to prove that he has recovered from Tommy John surgery.

Moyer has spent 24 seasons in the majors and owns a 267-204 career record, with his last season in the majors a somewhat productive one with the Phillies, as he went 9-9 with a 4.84 ERA in 19 starts. He has a chance, not just for novelty sake, to make the Rockies roster and help them in some capacity this coming year.

Odds He Makes The Team

40 percent

Los Angeles Dodgers

Player

RP Jamey Wright

2011 Stats

60 G, 2-3, 1 Sv, 3.16 ERA, 48 Ks, 68.1 IP, 1.2 WAR

A former first-round pick of the Rockies all the way back in 1993, Wright started his career off as a middling starting pitcher but found new life with a move to the bullpen in 2008.

He is coming off the best season of his career as a 36-year-old with the Mariners, and if he can prove that he still has enough left to pitch like he did last season, it will be hard for the Dodgers to keep him off the roster.

Odds He Makes The Team

50 percent

San Diego Padres

Player

OF Jeremy Hermida

2011 Stats

.190/.288/.362, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 5 R, 0.4 WAR

Once a top prospect of the Marlins viewed as a future superstar, Hermida has never quite settled in at the big league level. The outfielder spent last season with the Reds before being claimed off waivers by the Padres at the end of August.

Still just 28 years old, Hermida is coming off a terrific minor league season in which he hit .319 BA, 17 HR, 55 RBI over 395 at bats in Triple-A. With any luck, he can turn that success into a reserve outfielder role with the Padres this coming season.

Odds He Makes The Team

35 percent

San Francisco Giants

Player

OF Gregor Blanco

2011 Stats

.201/.350/.327, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 41 R, 24 SB at Triple-A

A Venezuelan native who was originally signed by the Atlanta Braves, Blanco's greatest asset has always been his speed, as he has tallied 25 or more steals five different times in the minor leagues.

Though the Giants have a good deal of competition in the outfield, the 28-year-old has gone 12-of-23 so far this spring and is making a strong case to earn an opening day roster spot.

Odds He Makes The Team

55 percent