Saltzman Says...Breaking Down 25 Man on Last Day

San Francisco Giants 25 Man Roster Predictions:

Catcher:
1. Buster Posey
2. Eli Whiteside

1st Base:
3. Aubrey Huff
4. Travis Ishikawa

2nd Base:
5. Freddy Sanchez
6. Mike Fontenot

Shortstop:
7. Miguel Tejada
8. Mark DeRosa

Third Baseman
9. Pablo Sandoval

Outfield
10. Pat Burrell
11. Andres Torres
12. Nate Schierholtz
13. Aaron Rowand

Starting Pitching
14. Tim Lincecum
15. Jonathan Sanchez
16. Matt Cain
17. Barry Zito
18. Madison Bumgarner

Relief Pitching
19. Guillermo Mota (must be added to 40 man)
20. Dan Runzler
21. Jeremy Affeldt
22. Javier Lopez
23. Ramon Ramirez 
24. Sergio Romo
25. Santiago Casilla

DL - Cody Ross
DL - Brian Wilson
---------------------------
Brandon Belt starting in AAA does three positive things, despite his great Spring and deserved callup.

1. It allows the Giants to avoid the three headed monster of who is being cut between Aaron Rowand, Nate Schierholtz, and Travis Ishikawa.

2. It allows the Giants to have an open spot on their 40 man roster.  If Guillermo Mota makes the team, he must be added to the 40 man roster.  The Giants may have already decided to keep the only man in the competition that was on the postseason roster last year.  That decision was made easier when the Giants decided to part ways with Jeff Suppan.  The Giants currently have 38 players on the roster.  If the Giants decide to keep a pitcher like Ryan Vogelsong as well over Dan Runzler, they won't have an open spot for Belt.  Runzler has options left, so sending him down wouldn't clear a 40 man spot.

3. Financially, the Giants don't have to "start the clock" on Belt's career, and in the long run, it means that Belt's free agency wouldn't come up for an additional year.  Tim Lincecum is making $13 million this year, and made $10 million last year after being declared a "Super 2" for being called up May 9th his rookie year.  That year counted as a full season, which sped his arbitration years up a season.  With Posey being a Super 2 after this season, the Giants can help themselves in the long run not bringing up Belt quite yet.

Could Belt unseat Ishikawa on the 25 man roster?