Tracy – He’s close enough to the bigs that some team may try to stash him on the end of their bench as a pinch hitter. How much does the club value him, enough to protect him or are they comfortable letting him go?

Castillo – He’s shown flashes and has skills but hasn’t put it together enough on a consistent basis. Thus, he’s a guy whose results make it difficult to protect, but talent makes it difficult to leave unprotected.

Paisano – I still have hope that this guy could be a #9 hitting, uber-defensive stud of a CF who at least has value as a future trade chip. Surely he’s too far away for a team to try to hide him on their bench, right?

Whittleman – I still haven’t written him off (not counting on him to make it either), but I can’t see protecting him. No way he goes to another team and sticks on the ML roster all year.

Santana – the hitting version of Castillo, lots of tools and little performance? Can’t protect him but wish he would have made this decision a lot tougher on us.

Jones – I saw him as a likely protection during the season and thought he might make the 2010 bullpen. Then he struggled to throw strikes. He does some like a potential LOOGY stash by some drafting team, I think I’m undecided on whether to protect or no.