Analyzing the roster

C.J. Beatty takes the field.

The Wild Things will begin spring training in less than a month, so it's time to start analyzing the roster and try to figure out who is going to make the team and what positions still need to be addressed by signing affiliated guys who were released this week.

Manager Bart Zeller said the Wild Things will got to camp with approximately 37 players. By my count -- and with the help of the transactions page on the Frontier League website -- Washington currently has 28 players under contract for the 2014 season. The Wild Things also hold the rights to five players who apparently have not signed or returned contracts. Washington also is required to draft at least two players from the league tryout later this month.

Washington holds the rights to 15 players who are classified as Experienced by the Frontier League. This total is two over the league limit of 13. However, five of the 15 apparently have not signed contracts. They are pitchers Mike Barsotti (acquired in the Darian Sanford trade last year), Shawn Blackwell and Jhonny Montoya along with shortstop A.J. Nunziato and infielder Shain Stoner. It appears that Nunziato, who has the best hands I've seen on a Wild Things infielder -- did he ever boot or even bobble a ground ball? -- will not be back. He has apparently called it a career.

Among the 10 remaining Experienced players are pitcher Matt Phillips, who was placed on the 60-day disabled list in January, and pitcher Zach LeBarron and catcher Jim Vahalik, each of whom ended last season on the DL.

The Wild Things definitely have roster spots open to sign Experienced players who were recently released from minor-league spring training. Most of those openings are at pitcher, where the only Experienced guys signed and not on the DL are Scott Dunn, Tim Flight and Jonathan Kountis. Dunn was the marquee pickup in the offseason after he won the league's Pitcher of the Year Award last season while with Traverse City. Flight was signed out of the New York Yankees' system and Kountis spent the end of last season with the Greys after being Lake Erie's closer in 2012.

What Washington currently has under contract is a young pitching staff and one short on starters. Chris Phelan, who was acquired in the Shawn Sanford trade with Schaumburg last year, is a Rookie-2 who will be a starter. Tyler Elrod made three starts last year, and one of those was a complete-game shutout. Zeller has mentioned Barsotti in his "From the Manager's Desk" column on the Wild Things' website, so you have to think he will eventually be signed and given a shot at earning a spot in the rotation.

"We have two needs," Zeller said recently. "One is a starting pitcher. We'd like to find a guy like Shawn Sanford. That's a guy who has been around, has experience in affiliated ball and has gone through the ropes for three or four years.

"We're also looking for a designated hitter. That's something that's hard to do because nobody wants to be just a DH and not play the field."

Looking at the position players, it seems that Vahalik will be the catcher and newcomer William Beckwith at first base. With Nunziato likely gone, Ryan Kresky, who was picked up in a trade with Evansville, will be the shortstop. Yeury Tejada, a newly signed Dominican who has experienced at shortstop in affiliated ball, could play there but is likely ticketed for third base.

C.J. Beatty, who led the team in batting average, hits, home runs and RBI last season, is back. He is the wild card in the lineup. He could return to second base or be moved to the outfield -- he was an outfielder in the St. Louis Cardinals system -- or third base. If Beatty is moved from second base, then rookie Nick Ratajczak out of Louisville would have the inside track on the job.

The outfield returns Stewart Ijames, who had fantastic rookie season. Speedy Danny Poma was acquired in an offseason trade and could be the center fielder. Rookie Jordan Keur, a rookie who was injured during his senior year at Michigan State, is an interesting outfield candidate.