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Filling out the Astros' 25 Man Roster

A lot of the team is set, but there are some worthwhile postional battles going on. Here are the guys that are as close to sure things as you'll find:

1B: Lance Berkman

2B: Kaz Matsui

SS: Miguel Tejada

3B: Geoff Blum/Aaron Boone

LF: Carlos Lee, Jason Michaels

CF: Michael Bourn, Darin Erstad

RF: Hunter Pence

SP: Roy Oswalt, Brian Moehler, Wandy Rodriguez, Mike Hampton

RP: Jose Valverde, LaTroy Hawkins, Doug Brocail, Wesley Wright, Tim Byrdak, Chris Sampson, Geoff Geary

After that, things get a little sticky. Here are the players that seem to have a legitimate chance to make the team out of spring training. I left guys like Brian Bogusevic, Edwin Maysonet , Jason Castro, Tommy Manzella and Sergio Perez out of the discussion because although they're participating in spring training activities, they don't seem to have great chances to make the big leauge team immediately.:

C: Humberto Quintero, JR Towles, Lou Palmisano, Lou Santangelo (Non Roster Invitee), Toby Hall (NRI)

SP:  Brandon Backe, Alberto Arias, Fernando Nieve, Felipe Paulino, Russ Ortiz (NRI), Chad Paronto (NRI), Clay Hensley (NRI)

RP: Jose Capellan (NRI), Danny Graves (NRI), Bud Norris (NRI)

IF: Drew Sutton, Tommy Manzella, David Newhan (NRI), Matt Kata (NRI)

OF: Reggie Abercrombie (NRI)

There are roughly 20 "sure things" in my estimation, which leaves room for five more guys to make the team out of spring training. I would assume that two catchers will take up a couple of those spots, leaving everyone else three real opportunities to help fill out a major league roster. A complete forty man roster and non roster ivitees can be found here.