The bullpen

During our chat yesterday, Torey Lovullo mentioned the following names as candidates for the Clippers bullpen:

Matt Herges
John Meloan
Rich Rundles
Tony Sipp
Tomo Ohka
Todd Moser
Greg Jones
Greg Aquino

If you look a little closer, it’s easy to see that Herges, Meloan, Rundles and Sipp are essentially locks. Vinnie Chulk will also be added to the mix since he’s lost out of the Indians final spot to Zach Jackson.

That leaves two open spots as of April 1st. We know who won’t be in the fold. Adam Miller, Juan Salas and Jae Kuk Ryu are staying in Goodyear for extended spring training. Miller is trying to rebound from his finger problems and Salas and Ryu are simply behind in their preparation for the season.

One possibility was Edward Mujica, who didn’t have a job with the Indians and he’s out of options. Mujica could have come to Columbus, but he was traded to the Padres today. You can read more on Mujica here.

It’s likely that Aquino will win a spot because Lovullo mentioned him, along with Herges, as a possible closer. The Clippers manager does want to quickly find someone that he can use in the 9th inning on a regular basis. This will be a change from the Nationals-era in Columbus because the Nats didn’t like having an everyday closer in Triple-A. They preferred to pitch everyone in various roles through the season. Lovullo says the Clippers will have a closer this year.

So, if Aqunio’s in, here are the candidates for the final spot: Ohka, Moser, and Jones.

I’ll keep you posted!

Here is an interview I conducted with left-hander Rich Rundles:
Rich Rundles 3-31-09.mp3