The 2042 Palm Springs Codgers will have a distinctly new look from the 2041 team. The team moved on from the veteran core at the trade deadline and focused on acquiring young talent and draft picks to remake the roster in search of a core to build around.

Today we look at the position players who will battle for a roster spot. A trade is possible before the start of the season. It is very likely the Codgers will have 7 new starters on the field and in the lineup. The pool of players looking to become part of the core is a mix of young players, aging prospects, career minor leagues and a few veterans hoping to stay in the league.

GM Rob Sullivan’s plan is treat the team as if it’s a championship contender until they prove they are not. That philosophy may put some talented youngsters in AAA to start the regular season but it’s a meritocracy in Palm Springs, feelings are not part of the equation. Sullivan has six players in the final year of their deals, four of are competing for a new contract and two who could be cut if they don’t impress in Spring Training.

Catcher: The Codgers continue their search for a long-term catching solution. The team is likely going to start the best defender which favors Elias but Hernandez’s power or Batterham’s eye may force a change.

Pedro Hernández – a switch-hitting power bat with marginal defensive skills behind the plate. Pedro has 125 home runs since becoming a starter five seasons ago. He is on the last year of a $7.7 million deal. He is very much battling for his roster spot with Batterham but likely holds the edge due to his power bat.

Júlio Elías – expected to be the starting catcher with his defense a closer match to the teams overall philosophy than Hernandez or Batterham. Great defender but his bat seems to be allergic to contact.

Samuel Batterham – slightly better defender than Hernandez but unless he can figure out how to get on base at a good clip he will fulfill his projection as a career minor league. Sam may be fighting to keep his spot on the 40 man roster

First Base: The team has options at first but none that fit the teams philosophy long term. The Codgers hold four first round picks in a draft with a lot of high end talent at firstbase.

Ernesto Núñez – the bat shows a lot of power potential but he will have to develop into a middle of the order that hits well above his absolute lack of defense at the position. He is a future DH but roster makeup may give him an opportunity to see the field

Juan Márquez – a lot of things would have to go wrong for Marquez to start the season in Palm Springs. Has some power potential and plays excellent defense so a call up is not out of the question but his early season performance in AAA will be a big factor.

Second Base: one of two positions that has a returning starter that is penciled in as a core piece. It’s Fernandez job with competitors fighting for a utility position on the team.

Jorge Fernández – the returning starter who brings good power and serviceable defense to the position. There is a chance the Codgers move him to first base where he is a plus defender.

Billy Norrish – projects as a serviceable utility player at best, will likely start in AAA and needs a breakout season to keep the organizations attention.

Sung Ho-Chong – came over in a trade as salary dump. He has an equal chance to hang on as a utility player as he does a cut in the final year of his $3.2 million contract.

Shortstop: the options range from a defensive wizard, a young hopeful who management likes, another they are luke warm on and one player fighting for their career. The teams long term solution is likely not on the team.

Pu-la Au – will be given every opportunity to win this job as management hopes he can develop into an everyday shortstop. His role with the team long term could range from starting middle infielder to light hitting utility player. Either way the team looks at him as a core piece.

Rubén Gutiérrez – one of the afore mentioned players fighting for their career. Due to his age, contract and lack of ability, Ruben’s days in the organization are numbered.

Enrique Rivera – could shock and make the team out of Spring Training if he could somehow match the production of his very short audition at the end of last season.

Sang-yeon Sin – the team has Sin parked in AAA to avoid risking him to waivers as they watch the battle for middle infield unfold. Au and Rivera will be given the opportunity to win the job but if they falter Sin will be promoted to start.

Thirdbase: The Codgers have what they hope is a long-term core piece in place provided a superstar doesn’t replace him and another potential core piece who projects as a utility player with potential to play all over the field.

Javier Cervantes – the second returning starter who is penciled in as a core piece as long as the bat produces.

Carlos Ocasio – a super utility player who has flashed with the bat in the past. His positional flexibility make him a value bench piece.

Corner OF: the team has a nice group of young, talent outfields. While none of them project to be a superstar they do offer a variety of options including a couple who could move to firstbase depending how Nunes performs in Spring Training.

Reggie Raines – a serviceable defender who is an on-base machine. The team loves his ability to get on base but his overall production will determine a contract extension. He is in the final year of a $4.6 million deal. Raines is also a candidate to be traded should a couple of the young hopefuls really step up.

Ryan Cattanach – he is also an option to start at first base depending on what the team does with Takahashi and Nunes. Has hit well at every stop and is expected to be a core piece moving forward – just a question of at what position

Fernando Sánchez – will start the season in AAA and is fighting for his spot in the organization. Solid player but there is nothing special about him. Good defender with no power

Mike Soto – his bat will determine the course of his career. He could be an average defender at best so the bat has to be special. Likely heading to AAA where he will have to fight to keep the organizations interest.

Robby Rollins – who is this guy? Is he the 29hr/35SB guy from ’40 or the guy who struggled to stay in the lineup in ’41? He can play some first base, good speed off the bench. Is fighting for the fifth outfield spot.

Sidney Poitier – back for his second stint with the organization, Sidney has hit at every stop. Will be given the opportunity to make the active roster out of Spring Training but may be a late season call up.

Stephen Milk – listed as a centerfielder but will play a corner in the big leagues. He is battling for a spot on the active roster. Management is high on him, but it may not be his time yet. How management handles the centerfield position to start the season will determine his fate out of Spring Training.

Centerfield: the position team management is always looking to upgrade. Palm Springs has had some quality centerfielders in the past few years but has repeatedly traded them away for assets. This year the team will go with a high defense low to no offense approach while they hunt for the core player.

Oniji Kichikawa –  a career minor leaguer who will likely start for the Codgers. He defines the state of the position – ouch!

Juan Ramos – great leader, bad player. Ramos is likely to be a free agent by Opening Day

Carlos Ibarra –  a career minor leaguer who flashed a bit with a bat during a short audition. Not a great defender

Javier Torres – a recent addition to challenge Kichikawa, has a future as a fifth outfielder and speed option off the bench. Will probably make the team.

Designated Hitter: the team prefers not to carry a full time DH but has two, possibly three on the team. A lot hinges on the Codgers decision with their designated hitter situation, it could literally affect every position on the field if the Codgers move on from Takahashi and Nunes hits.

Tsuginori Takahashi – Takahashi came over as a salary dump but could be a very good leadoff hitter for the team. The team has him on the trading block while they sort out their lineup. He could be a starter or he could be released since he is in the last year of his deal.

The final roster is a long way from being decided. There are a lot of moving parts and all but a few players control their destiny. The Codgers are still sniffing around the trade market so expect things to change. The team has several holes on this side of the ball and this season will determine the direction of the organization for the immediate future. If the Codgers can hover around .500 while finding more core pieces the situation stays stable as they build their foundation, if it falters the organization could fall into chaos as management has show they have no patience with losing.