Spring Training Job Battles: Let the Games Begin

With spring training games starting up, it's time to take a long look at what exactly is up for grabs. This list is primarily geared toward those in deeper leagues where everyone with a role matters, as most players that get taken in shallow formats are good enough that they're locked into jobs. There will be players in this article worth noting for leagues of all sizes, however, with the up-for-grabs closer jobs being particularly noteworthy.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Rotation

Madison Bumgarner and Robbie Ray are locked into the first two spots in the rotation, but the rest of the group isn't entirely clear. Based on his performance, which included a 2.81 ERA and a 28.7 percent strikeout rate in 15 starts as a rookie, Zac Gallen should have a locked-in spot as well, though he'll reportedly be forced to fight for his place. He made 29 total starts last season, so it would be a surprise to see him held back purely for workload reasons. Luke Weaver was in the middle of a breakout season before missing most of the year with a strained elbow (he did return for one late-September appearance). His 2.94 ERA, 26.5 percent strikeout rate and 5.4 percent walk rate in 12 starts suggest he should be able to hold onto a spot as long as he's healthy. 

That would leave a pair of veterans fighting for the final spot. Merrill Kelly returned from South Korea last season and performed respectably in his big-league debut, recording a 4.42 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP in 32 starts. Mike Leake's 4.29 ERA was a hair better, though it came with a low 15.2 percent strikeout rate. Leake is currently battling a fractured non-throwing wrist, which could take him out of the running for Opening Day, though he believes he'll be ready. Alex Young is a player to keep an eye on as well.

Closer

Manager Mike Hazen said that incumbent Archie Bradley is the favorite for Arizona's closer job, but didn't say that the competition was already decided. Bradley fell out of favor briefly last season but eventually claimed the ninth-inning role, finishing the year with 18 saves and a 3.52 ERA but also a 1.44 WHIP. His 27.4 percent strikeout rate was good but below the level of the league's more dominant closers. New signee Hector Rondon has 92 career saves to his name and at least nominally makes this one a competition. He managed a 3.71 ERA for the Astros last season, but his strikeout rate plummeted from 26.8 percent to 18.7 percent, far lower than what most teams want from their closer.

Atlanta Braves

Third base

The addition of Marcell Ozuna means that Austin Riley probably won't be spending much time in the outfield this season after primarily playing left field as a rookie. That pushes him into a competition with Johan Camargo for starts at third base. Riley's up-and-down rookie season saw him end with a lopsided .226/.279/.471 slash line (86 wRC+) and a 36.4 percent strikeout rate in 80 games, but he's just 22 years old and has plenty of potential, so the Braves would probably love to see him win the job and show that he can overcome his contact issues. Camargo doesn't have nearly the same upside and struggled to a .233/.279/.384 line last season, but he owns a respectable career wRC+ of 100 and could be a fine stopgap should Riley continue to struggle. A platoon between the pair doesn't make a whole lot of sense, as both players fare better against lefties.

Fifth starter

One spot in the Opening Day rotation was already up for grabs in Atlanta, but that number became two due to Cole Hamels' shoulder woes, which are expected to keep him out for at least his first turn or two in the rotation. The remaining competitors are in opposite stages of their major-league careers. Veteran Felix Hernandez has fallen far from where he was in his peak years, posting a 5.55 ERA in 2018 and a 6.40 mark last season. Still, it's tough to completely count out a pitcher with his impressive resume. At the other end of the spectrum, 22-year-old Bryse Wilson has prospect pedigree but has yet to live up to it at the big-league level, posting a 7.00 ERA and a 22:16 K:BB in 27 major-league innings. Kyle Wright is a similarly-rated prospect who has likewise struggled in a small sample, posting a 7.71 ERA in 25.2 frames. Sean Newcomb recorded a 3.16 ERA in 68.1 innings last year, primarily as a reliever, though his 22.2 percent strikeout rate and 9.9 percent walk rate were both worse than average.

Closer

The Braves' closer conundrum is a great problem to have, as their bullpen contains several arms who have had success in the role. Mark Melancon appears to be the favorite. He bounced back from a pair of injury-filled seasons to produce a 3.61 ERA and save 12 games last season. His 23.9 percent strikeout rate is low for a typical closer, but he has 194 career saves under his belt without ever posting a strikeout rate higher than 25.6 percent. Will Smith saved 34 games with a 2.76 ERA and a much more closer-like 37.4 percent strikeout rate, though the Braves may use him earlier in games against left-handed hitters. Shane Greene has 66 career saves and is coming off a season in which he posted a 2.30 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP. Luke Jackson saved 18 games with a 3.84 ERA and a 33.7 percent strikeout rate last season.

Baltimore Orioles

First base/outfield

Trey Mancini is pretty clearly the Orioles' best hitter, having hit .291/.364/.535 last season. He'll be in the lineup nearly every day, though whether he primarily plays first base or a corner outfield position will affect a number of his teammates. Veteran first baseman Chris Davis is still with the team (and is under contract through the 2022 season), but sooner or later the Orioles may tire of giving opportunities to a player who hit below .180 without much power for the second straight season.

Baltimore's outfielders could see more opportunities if Davis is benched, moving Mancini primarily to first base, though the playing-time split between them is not yet clear. Austin Hays may be the favorite for most of the starts in center field, though he's only received 138 career plate appearances at the highest level. In 75 trips to the plate last season, he hit a strong .309/.373/.574. Anthony Santander showed fairly good power with 20 homers in 93 games last season, though his lopsided .261/.297/.476 slash line was merely good for a 97 wRC+. Dwight Smith didn't show much in 101 games of his own, hitting .241/.297/.412. DJ Stewart appeared in just 44 contests and hit .238/.317/.381, though he did manage a .291/.396/.548 line for Triple-A Norfolk. Ryan Mountcastle looms to take over at first base or left field after hitting .312/.344/.527 for Norfolk last season. The rebuilding Orioles likely won't start Mountcastle's service-time clock on Opening Day.

Rotation

John Means and Alex Cobb should be locked into starting spots, but there's not a lot of clarity after that. Asher Wojciechowski's 4.92 ERA in 82.1 innings last season looks pretty good compared to the rest of the Orioles' options, but how much do the Orioles really want to give starts to a 31-year-old without much of a track record? Wade LeBlanc is even older (35) and is coming off a season in which he posted a 5.71 ERA. Kohl Stewart joined on a minor-league deal after failing to break through with the Twins. His 4.79 ERA in 62 big-league innings isn't terrible, but his 12.7 percent strikeout rate is. Brandon Bailey was selected in the Rule 5 draft from the Astros, so the Orioles have an incentive to keep him around. He's never pitched above Double-A but recorded a 3.30 ERA and a 26.7 percent strikeout rate at that level last season. David Hess threw 80 innings for Baltimore last season but wasn't remotely successful, finishing with a 7.09 ERA. 

Boston Red Sox

Fifth starter

The Red Sox have a hole at the back of the rotation after shipping David Price to the Dodgers. Hector Velazquez has started 19 games for the team over the last three seasons, though he's mostly been a reliever. His 5.73 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 19.9 percent strikeout rate in 56.1 innings last season hardly impressed. Ryan Weber is another option, albeit another unexciting one. Weber's 5.09 ERA and 16.0 percent strikeout rate in 40.2 frames last season were similarly unimpressive. Tanner Houck could get a shot, but he's probably not be quite ready. He's only thrown 25 innings at the Triple-A level, and his 4.01 ERA and 1.40 WHIP across the two highest levels of the minors last season were hardly dominant marks. Darwinzon Hernandez converted to relief last season with mixed results, as his 17.7 percent walk rate canceled out his 38.8 percent strikeout rate, leading to a 4.45 ERA. Interim manager Ron Roenicke said that the lefty would be a reliever in camp but didn't rule out the chance that he'd return to the rotation.

Chicago Cubs

Second base

Nico Hoerner should be a future starter for the Cubs. The fact that he appeared in 20 games late last season doesn't mean that the future is now. His presence in September was mostly a matter of circumstance, and while he acquitted himself well enough, hitting .282/.305/.436, he's played just 89 total minor-league games, none of which have come at the Triple-A level. If he needs more seasoning in the minors to start the year, David Bote and Jason Kipnis figure to be competing for starts. Bote has looked like a capable-but-not-particularly-exciting player through parts of two seasons in the majors, hitting .251/.346/.422 with 17 homers in 566 trips to the plate. The Chicago-area native Kipnis is a far more accomplished player over the course of his career, but his performance has slipped in recent years. He hasn't posted a wRC+ above 89 in any of the last three seasons.

Center field

Ian Happ spent much of last season at the Triple-A level but posted the best numbers of his three-year career when he returned. In 58 big-league games, he hit .264/.333/.564 and cut his strikeout rate to a respectable 25.0 percent. Albert Almora Jr. endured a rough 2019 campaign. While he hit a career-high 12 homers, that came with a very poor .236/.271/.381 slash line and below-average defense. Steven Souza could enter the conversation if he looks good in camp after missing all of 2019 and half of 2018 due to shoulder, back and knee injuries.

Fifth starter

Tyler Chatwood appears to be the favorite to move back into the rotation to fill the spot left vacant by Cole Hamels' departure. Primarily a reliever last season, Chatwood rebounded from a 2018 campaign in which he walked more batters than he struck out, finishing the year with a 3.76 ERA. Alec Mills showed some promise in 36 innings last season, posting a 2.75 ERA and a 27.6 percent strikeout rate, and appears to be Chatwood's primary competition. Adbert Alzolay will also be in the competition, having struck out 32.3 percent of opposing batters in 15 starts for Triple-A Iowa, though he struggled to a 7.30 ERA in 12.1 major-league innings.

Chicago White Sox

Fifth Starter

At least one spot appears to be open in the White Sox's rotation. A second could be opened up if Gio Gonzalez's shoulder discomfort turns out to be worse than the team currently expects. The White Sox likely want Dylan Cease to earn the spot, though his 5.79 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 10.7 percent walk rate in 14 starts as a rookie weren't particularly encouraging. Michael Kopech made a four-start debut back in 2018 but didn't throw a competitive pitch last year while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Kopech said that he expects to open the year in the minors, but if he looks great in camp, the White Sox might not want to waste his bullets. If both youngsters struggle this spring, the White Sox could turn to veteran Ross Detwiler, though his 6.59 ERA and 1.62 WHIP last season aren't great fits for a team that's trying to contend for the first time in several seasons.

Cincinnati Reds

Outfield

The Reds made a pair of outfield acquisitions this offseason, adding to an already-talented group. Nick Castellanos should play every day after signing a four-year, $64 million deal, as his .294/.346/.513 slash line over the last two seasons more than makes up for his shaky glove. Shogo Akiyama three-year, $21 million deal is less of a financial commitment and doesn't necessarily point to a locked-in starting role. The 31-year-old posted a .303/.392/.471 slash line with 20 homers and 12 steals in Japan last season and can play center field, though he may fit better as a corner outfield at this stage in his career. 

Nick Senzel should get the chance to earn an everyday role in center, but he will have to improve on his mediocre .256/.315/.427 rookie slash line in order to avoid losing at-bats, as the Reds are looking to compete this season. He arrived at camp a bit behind, as he's still recovering from a shoulder injury, though he'll reportedly be good to go on Opening Day. Another young option, Aristides Aquino, was first extremely hot and then extremely cold in his 56-game debut. Aquino's final .259/.316/.576 slash line was quite strong. Phillip Ervin, who is out of options, could earn at-bats against lefties (.313/.371/.536 career against southpaws).

Cleveland Indians

Outfield

Cleveland isn't short on outfielders who won't embarrass themselves, but the group lacks a clear hierarchy. Delino DeShields Jr. came over from Texas in the Corey Kluber trade, but his career .246/.326/.342 line through five seasons isn't really good enough even for a player who's a positive in the field and on the basepaths. Oscar Mercado was good enough to earn down-ballot Rookie of the Year support, and his 15 homers and 15 steals in 115 games were useful to fantasy owners, but his overall .269/.318/.443 line hardly looks like future star material. New signee Domingo Santana's .253/.329/.441 slash line with 21 homers in 121 games for the Mariners was decent enough, though it came with very poor defense. 

The retreads are still kicking around, as well, and could push for at least platoon roles. Jordan Luplow crushed lefties to the tune of a 1.181 OPS in 155 appearances last season but couldn't hit righties (.573 OPS in 106 trips to the plate). Bradley Zimmer has been limited by injuries to just 43 big-league games over the last two seasons after previously showing a fair amount of potential. Greg Allen has stolen 30 stolen bases in 586 career plate appearances, but that's come with a .243/.299/.345 slash line. Jake Bauers took a step back from a merely mediocre rookie season and hit just .226/.312/.371 in 117 games. Tyler Naquin will miss Opening Day while recovering from knee surgery.

Fifth starter

What looked like open spot at the back of Cleveland's rotation could temporarily be three, as Mike Clevinger may miss a few turns in the rotation after suffering a partial meniscus tear and Carlos Carrasco was seen walking with a crutch after experiencing discomfort in his right leg. Carrasco was diagnosed with just a mild hip flexor strain Friday, so Cleveland may have dodged a bullet there. Zach Plesac, Adam Plutko, Logan Allen and Jefry Rodriguez are the leading candidates for however many spots are available. Plesac's 3.81 ERA in 21 starts as a rookie was strong, but it came with a 4.94 FIP and an 18.5 percent strikeout rate. Plutko made 20 starts and one relief appearance. His 5.6 percent walk rate wasn't enough to cancel out his 16.9 percent strikeout rate and 31.2 percent groundball rate, leading to a 4.86 ERA. Allen is just 22 years old and comes with a fair amount of prospect pedigree, but his 6.18 ERA in his 27.2-inning debut was poor, as was his 5.85 ERA in 18 Triple-A starts. Rodriguez has logged 98.2 major-league innings over the last two seasons, posting a poor 72:58 K:BB and a 5.20 ERA.

Colorado Rockies

Rotation

The Rockies are short on proven starting pitching behind German Marquez and Jon Gray. Kyle Freeland's 6.73 ERA and 16.7 percent strikeout rate from last season certainly aren't good enough for most team's No. 3 spot, but his past success and the lack of alternatives may mean he gets that job. It doesn't get much prettier after that. Chi Chi Gonzalez posted a 5.29 ERA and struck out just 16.6 percent of opposing batters. Antonio Senzatela gave Freeland a run for his money with a 6.71 ERA, combining it with an even-worse 13.1 percent strikeout rate.  Jeff Hoffman was right in the same range with his 6.56 ERA but looks comparatively like a strikeout expert with his still-mediocre 21.6 percent strikeout rate. Finally, Peter Lambert was the worst of the bunch, recording a 7.25 ERA and a 13.6 percent strikeout rate.

Closer

The Rockies appear to have decided this battle before camp began, with manager Bud Black naming Wade Davis his closer. Given how awful Davis was last season, however, this spot is still worth watching. The 34-year-old recorded a terrible 8.65 ERA in 42.2 innings as his fastball lost a tick of velocity. He struck out just 20.4 percent of opposing batters while walking 14.1 percent. Scott Oberg claimed the job from him in midseason briefly before being shut down with blood clots in his arm. If he's healthy and looks likely to repeat his 2.25 ERA while Davis looks likely to repeat his aforementioned numbers, the Rockies would have little reason to stick with their previous decision.

Detroit Tigers

Third base

The Tigers' rebuild has meant that young players have had the opportunities to play through some early struggles, something the primary contestants at the hot corner, Dawel Lugo and Jeimer Candelario, should be thankful for. Lugo has shown very little in 104 career major-league games, hitting .237/.271/.381 while walking just 3.9 percent of the time. Candelario has appeared in 281 contests at the highest level and owns a similarly uninspiring .223/.318/.375 line.

Corner outfield

The Tigers brought Cameron Maybin back for his third stint in Detroit. He hit .285/.364/.494 with a career-high 11 homers in 82 games last season, though that small sample doesn't align with his career .256/.324/.376 slash line. The rebuilding squad might prefer younger options even if Maybin performs similarly, however. Victor Reyes hit .304/.336/.431 in a 69-game sample last season and reportedly has a secure roster spot, but not necessarily a secure starting gig. Christin Stewart doesn't necessarily have a safe job, either, having hit a modest .233/.305/.388 in 104 games last season.

Houston Astros

Right field

Given his impressive talent, Kyle Tucker is bound to take over in right field at some point for the Astros. He appeared in just 22 major-league games last season but looked like he belonged, hitting .269/.319/.537. His opportunity could come this season with veteran Josh Reddick in the final year of his contract. The 33-year-old Reddick has produced below-average batting lines the last two seasons.

Fifth starter

Swingman Brad Peacock looked to be a favorite to claim the rotation spot vacated by Gerrit Cole, but he's now out of the running due to nerve issues in his neck resurfacing and will build up as a reliever this spring. Josh James was a popular sleeper pick this time last season before a quadriceps injury in spring training consigned him to a relief role for the rest of the year. His excellent 37.6 percent strikeout rate failed to overcome his 13.2 percent walk rate and 34.6 percent groundball rate, leading to a 4.70 ERA. Framber Valdez has started 13 games in the majors and relieved in 21 more, but his 4.60 ERA and 1.52 WHIP aren't particularly interesting. Austin Pruitt has been similarly mediocre in 199.2 major-league innings, posting a 4.87 ERA and a 17.2 percent strikeout rate, all with the Rays.

Kansas City Royals

First base

A pair of uninspiring Ryans are set to battle for first-base duties in Kansas City. Ryan O'Hearn appeared in 105 big-league games last season, hitting a miserable .195/.281/.369. Ryan McBroom showed good contact skills but nothing else in his 23-game debut, hitting .293/.361/.360. He did manage 26 homers in 117 games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the Yankees system earlier in the year, so there could be something more there. If both options disappoint, the Royals could move Hunter Dozier in from right field, opening up more at bats for Brett Phillips or Bubba Starling. They could also move Salvador Perez out from behind the plate on a regular basis in order to give his surgically-repaired elbow some rest.

Rotation

The Royals don't have an obvious candidate who looks likely to separate themselves from a group of pitchers vying for their final rotation spot. Jorge Lopez filled a swingman role last season without any notable success, struggling to a 6.33 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. Glenn Sparkman filled a similar role with similar results, posting a 6.02 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP while striking out just 13.4 percent of opposing batters. Eric Skoglund missed half of the season due to a PED suspension and threw only 21 big-league innings, allowing 21 runs while striking out just four batters. Jesse Hahn has thrown just 4.2 innings over the last two seasons while battling elbow issues, though he owns a respectable 4.33 career ERA.

Los Angeles Angels

Right field

The team's top prospect, Jo Adell, should claim this job at some point in the season, but it does not seem like he's in legitimate contention for an Opening Day spot despite his obvious talent and the Angels' desire to finally contend for the first time in several seasons. Adell is still just 20 years old and stumbled for the first time against his first taste of Triple-A pitching last season, hitting .264/.321/.355 in 27 contests. He may need to conquer that level before being considered for a promotion. Brian Goodwin should be able to hold the fort capably in the meantime after hitting a solid .262/.326/.47 with 17 homers in 458 plate appearances last season. David Fletcher hit a respectable .290/.350/.384 as primarily an infielder last season but might be forced into the outfield more frequently with the addition of Anthony Rendon and Tommy La Stella's return to health. It's possible that Goodwin and Fletcher could platoon until Adell arrives, with Fletcher also getting starts elsewhere.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Fifth starter

Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler and David Price are locked into the top three spots of the rotation, but the Dodgers' deep group allows them to go a number of different ways for the remaining starts. Julio Urias looks like a very good bet to open the year in the rotation after posting a 2.49 ERA in 79.2 innings last season, but his 81.2 total frames in 2019 represented his highest mark since 2016, so he's going to have to be managed. Sticking with the young arms, Dustin May impressed in his first 34.2 innings in the majors last season, walking just 3.6 percent of opposing batters while posting a 3.63 ERA. He experienced some side tightness early in camp, but he's reportedly still in the mix for Opening Day. Tony Gonsolin likewise posted a strong 2.93 ERA in his 40-inning debut, though it took a .208 BABIP to get him there, and neither his 22.7 percent strikeout rate nor his 9.2 percent walk rate beat the league average.

The Dodgers also have more than their fair share of veteran options. Alex Wood is back after an injury-filled 2019 season in Cincinnati in which he slumped to a 5.80 ERA in seven starts. If he can approach his 3.40 career ERA in a healthy season, however, he'll have a good argument to spend most of the year in the rotation. Ross Stripling is still here after his reported trade to the Angels fell through. He recorded a strong 3.47 ERA in 90.2 innings in a swingman role last season, a figure backed up by a 25.1 percent strikeout rate and a 5.4 percent walk rate. Jimmy Nelson is a wild card having missed most of the last two seasons due to shoulder surgery. He struggled to a 6.95 ERA in a small, 22-inning sample last season, but his 3.49 ERA and 27.3 percent strikeout rate in his breakout 2017 campaign made him an appealing lottery ticket for the Dodgers.

Miami Marlins

Right field

Jonathan Villar is expected to be the Marlins' Opening Day center fielder, taking Lewis Brinson out of the running for the job. The Marlins may want Brinson to claim the right field job, though his career .183/.238/.293 line through 205 major-league games isn't close to good enough for a corner bat. His youth could earn him the spot anyway with the Marlins not expected to contend, but the team has plenty of options with better resumes. Matt Joyce's defense isn't great at his age (35) and he shouldn't face lefties. Fellow 35-year-old Matt Kemp played just 20 unimpressive games before going down with a rib injury last season, but he hit .290/.338/.481 over a full season with the Dodgers the year prior. Garrett Cooper hit a solid .281/.344/.446 in 107 games for the Marlins last season.

Fifth starter

Jose Urena is in camp as a starter after finishing last season as a high-leverage reliever. The Marlins' Opening Day starter in two straight seasons, Urena endured a tough 2019 campaign, posting a 5.21 ERA and a 16.8 percent strikeout rate in 84.2 innings while missing a large chunk of time due to a back injury. Elieser Hernandez appears to be his main competition for the fifth starter spot. His 5.03 ERA in 82.1 innings wasn't much better, though it at least came with a 24.1 percent strikeout rate.

Milwaukee Brewers

First base/Right field

Ryan Braun's workload will continue to be managed carefully, but he'll split time between these two positions when healthy. He hit 22 homers and stole 11 bases while posting a .285/.343/.505 line last season. How he splits his time will affect Justin Smoak and Avisail Garcia, who look to be the best alternatives at first base and right field, respectively. Smoak's numbers took a dip with the Blue Jays last season, as he slipped to a .208/.342/.406 slash line. He still showed good judgment of the strike zone, but at age 33, his ability to do damage with his bat may be fading. Garcia produced a strong .282/.332/.464 line for the Rays last season, hitting a career-best 20 homers and stealing a career-best 10 bases.

Third base

Eric Sogard and Jedd Gyorko are expected to platoon at the hot corner this season, with the left-handed Sogard in line for the majority of the starts. Sogard produced a career-best .810 OPS in his age-33 season last year, but his 13 homers (a number which more than doubled his career total) in 110 games hardly represent quintessential corner-infield power. Gyorko battled calf, wrist and back injuries last season, hitting just .174/.248/.250 in 101 plate appearances. If either player has a rough spring, Brock Holt and Ryon Healy could enter the picture. Holt has posted a wRC+ above 100 in each of the last two seasons but has never hit more than seven homers in a season. Healy, who could also compete for at-bats at first base, missed much of last season with a hip injury. He owns a respectable (albeit lopsided) .261/.298/.452 career slash line.

Rotation

Brandon Woodruff and Adrian Houser appear locked into the top two spots in the Brewers' rotation, but there isn't a lot of clarity after that. Josh Lindblom earned an MVP trophy in South Korea last season after posting a 2.50 ERA in 30 starts and looks like the possible third starter. Eric Lauer came over in a trade from the Padres in November. He's still just 24 years old and looks to be a legitimate big-league starter, though his career 4.40 ERA and 20.6 percent strikeout rate through two seasons aren't particularly exciting. 

Veteran Brett Anderson posted a 3.89 ERA in 31 starts for Oakland last season, but he's rarely healthy, only reaching the 30-start threshold in three of his 11 big-league seasons. Brent Suter returned from Tommy John surgery late last season but was limited to a relief role, allowing just a single run in 18.1 innings. Corbin Burnes was a popular sleeper pick last season but bombed completely, as his fastball got crushed en route to an 8.82 ERA in 49 innings, though his 29.8 percent strikeout rate and 3.37 xFIP give reasons not to give up on him completely. Shelby Miller is in camp as a non-roster invitee but is a long shot at best to win a spot, as he's struggled to a 6.89 ERA in 183 innings over his last four injury-filled seasons.

Minnesota Twins

Rotation

Two spots are open in the Twins' rotation, at least until Michael Pineda completes his PED suspension in mid-May and Rich Hill returns from elbow surgery in June. Homer Bailey should claim one of the spots after signing a one-year, $7 million deal in December. Jhoulys Chacin was the Brewers' Opening Day starter but wound up getting released late in the season, finishing the year with a 6.01 ERA. His ERA was below 4.00 in each of the two previous seasons, however. Randy Dobnak earned an ALDS start after posting a 1.59 ERA in his 28.1-inning debut, but he was never a particularly exciting prospect, striking out just 18.0 percent of opposing batters as he climbed the minor-league ladder. Devin Smeltzer's 3.86 ERA in 49.0 innings as a rookie was perfectly solid, though it came with a modest 18.8 percent strikeout rate. Lewis Thorpe beat that pair with a 25.0 percent strikeout rate in 27.2 innings in his first taste of the majors. A bloated .438 BABIP led to a 6.18 ERA.

New York Mets

Left field

If Yoenis Cespedes is recovered from his ankle fracture by Opening Day, this spot will be his, but health can never be counted on for a player who's played a combined 119 games over the last three seasons. He's been a limited participant in camp thus far. If Cespedes is unable to go, J.D. Davis may have the inside track after hitting .307/.369/.527. Davis has received poor grades on his defensive work in the outfield. Dominic Smith has a similar profile, hitting .282/.355/.525 while also being a poor defensive fit. Jake Marisnick, a strong defender with a fairly weak bat, could carve out a role in center field, pushing Brandon Nimmo to left on a regular basis. Non-roster invitee Matt Adams will also get a shot, but he's basically an older version of Davis and Smith and is coming off a poor season at the plate in which he hit .226/.276/.465.

Fifth starter

A pair of veterans coming off down seasons will look to claim the Mets' fifth starter job this spring. Rick Porcello posted a career-worst 5.52 ERA last season while his strikeout rate fell to 18.6 percent, his lowest mark since 2014. Since his surprising Cy Young season in 2016, he owns a 4.79 ERA. His $10 million deal puts him in the driver's seat to win the job over Michael Wacha, who received just $3 million. Wacha's ERA slipped to 4.76 in a season in which he temporarily lost his starting job for the Cardinals, while his strikeout rate slipped to a career-low 18.5 percent. Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman were mentioned earlier in the offseason as candidates to convert back into starting roles, but the additions of Porcello and Wacha seem to have ended that discussion.

New York Yankees

Third base

Gio Urshela was one of many Yankees to make a surprising leap forward last season, hitting .315/.355/.534 after entering the season with a career .225/.274/.315 line. Anything close to a repeat would mean his job is under no threat, and he enters the season with a fairly firm hold on the job, though hints of a reversion to his previous form could call that into doubt. Miguel Andujar isn't nearly as good of a defender, but he hit .297/.328/.527 in 2018 before a torn labrum cost him most of last season. He has far more history as a quality hitter than Urshela does, but he may be forced to learn first base or left field in order to earn at-bats this season if Urshela repeats last year's numbers.

Left field

If Andujar's outfield experiment goes well, he could get the Opening Day nod in left. Alternatively, he could become the regularly designated hitter, pushing Giancarlo Stanton to the outfield. Mike Tauchman won't be brushed aside too easily, having come out of nowhere to hit .277/.361/.504 with 13 homers in 87 games while playing strong defense. Clint Frazier is still just 25 years old and is certainly talented, though he's yet to establish himself in parts of three seasons in the big leagues. He hasn't been bad, as he owns a league-average 100 wRC+, but the Yankees seem reluctant to give him the chance to be the left fielder of the future.

Rotation

At least one temporary spot in the rotation was already going to be open with James Paxton set to miss a month or two while recovering from back surgery and Domingo German serving a suspension for domestic violence until early June. News arrived Thursday that Luis Severino was being shut down for a few days due to forearm soreness, possibly the precursor to an injury serious enough to keep him out for the start of the season as well. Jordan Montgomery, Jonathan Loaisiga, Michael King, Luis Cessa and Deivi Garcia have all been mentioned as potential fill-ins.

Montgomery missed most of the last two seasons due to Tommy John surgery but owns a solid 3.91 career ERA. Loaisiga has an unimpressive 4.79 ERA in 56.1 career innings. His 3.78 xFIP is considerably better, and he's struck out 28.3 percent of opposing batters. King has thrown just two major-league innings but owns a 2.30 ERA at the Triple-A level. Cessa has been mostly a reliever in his 232 career innings, posting a mediocre 4.50 ERA and a 19.3 percent strikeout rate. Garcia is an exciting prospect with a career 34.5 percent strikeout rate as a professional, though he's just 20 years old and has yet to conquer the Triple-A level, posting a 5.40 ERA in 40 innings for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last season.

Oakland Athletics

Second base

The keystone is open in Oakland after Jurickson Profar was shipped to San Diego. Tony Kemp came over in a trade from the Cubs and can play second base as well as all three outfield positions, but his career .233/.314/.367 line fits best on the bench. Chad Pinder can play all over the field and could factor in against lefties, though his .240/.290/.416 line last season wasn't particularly impressive. The Athletics could instead turn to one of three younger options. Sheldon Neuse posted a 126 wRC+ at Triple-A Las Vegas but hit just .250/.295/.304 in 61 big-league plate appearances. Franklin Barreto has failed to break through in three short tastes of the majors, hitting .189/.220/.378 with a 40.7 percent strikeout rate in 80 games. He was considered an exciting five-tool prospect and is still just 23 years old. Jorge Mateo is an interesting prospect with 80-grade speed, but he's yet to produce a league-average batting line in two trips to Triple-A. Barreto and Mateo are both out of minor-league options.

Philadelphia Phillies

Fifth starter

The Phillies need Spencer Howard to live up to his promise and emerge as at least a mid-rotation starter if they're to be serious about a playoff push this season, but he's made just 13 starts above Low-A and zero at the Triple-A level, so he's probably not in contention for an Opening Day role. For now, Vince Velasquez and Nick Pivetta appear to be battling for the final spot. Velasquez has remained not quite good enough after five seasons in the majors, as his 2.0 HR/9 last season canceled out a fairly good 25.2 percent strikeout rate, leading to a 4.91 ERA. Pivetta was an exciting sleeper thanks to his promising peripherals heading into last season, but he endured a disaster of a campaign. He spent much of the year in the bullpen or in the minors, finishing with a 5.38 ERA in 93.2 big-league innings as his strikeout rate fell by six percentage points to 21.2 percent. 

Pittsburgh Pirates

Catcher

Francisco Cervelli is gone after four and a half seasons in Pittsburgh, and the team doesn't have an obvious replacement. Jacob Stallings received meaningful playing time for the first time in his age-29 season last year but didn't do a whole lot, hitting .262/.325/.382 in 71 games. Luke Maile joined on a major-league deal but doesn't necessarily look like a major leaguer, as he owns a .198/.252/.304 line in 216 career games at the highest level. Andrew Susac spent all of last season in the minors and has played just 26 big-league games over the last four years, though his .221/.283/.373 career slash line looks quite good next to Maile's.

San Diego Padres

Catcher

The Padres would probably love to combine their two primary catchers into one player. Austin Hedges consistently earns high marks for his defense but hit a miserable .176/.252/.311 last season. Francisco Mejia grades out as a below-average defender but hit a far more respectable .265/.316/.438. The team hasn't given any early indications as to how the starts will break down between the pair this season.

Outfield

The Padres both added and subtracted from a complicated outfield situation over the offseason, but the net result was a similarly difficult-to-parse group. Tommy Pham is probably the only one with a safe job, having hit .273/.369/.450 with 21 homers and 25 steals for the Rays last season. Trent Grisham could earn the everyday center field job after coming over in a trade from Milwaukee, but he's far from an established big leaguer, having hit a modest .231/.328/.410 in his 51-game debut. Wil Myers saw his strikeout rate spike to 34.3 percent last season while he hit .239/.321/.418, but he had four straight seasons with a wRC+ of at least 107 from 2015 to 2018. Josh Naylor is theoretically a powerful corner bat, but he managed an unimpressive .249/.315/.403 line in 94 games as a rookie. Franchy Cordero is a toolsy player who can play center field, but he's missed most of the last two seasons due to injury. He owns a .240/.306/.431 slash line and a 38.8 percent strikeout rate in 79 career games in the majors.

San Francisco Giants

Second base

Wilmer Flores joined on a two-year, $3 million deal this winter. Whether he's contending for a starting job at second base or will play all over the infield remains to be seen. He missed two months with a fractured foot last season but hit a strong .317/.361/.487 in 89 games when available. Mauricio Dubon came over in a trade from the Brewers last summer. He has a reputation as a solid contact hitter and hit a respectable .274/.306/.434 in 30 games as a rookie. He could also spend some of his time at shortstop, his primary position in the minors, if veteran Brandon Crawford continues to slide. Crawford hit .228/.304/.350 last season while grading out merely average defensively.

Fifth starter

The Giants added Kevin Gausman and Drew Smyly to pitch behind Jeff Samardzija and Johnny Cueto this season, but they'll still need one more arm to round out the rotation. Tyler Beede started 22 games and relieved in two more last season, but his 5.08 ERA and 1.48 WHIP aren't particularly exciting marks. Dereck Rodriguez threw 99 innings as a swingman but was similarly ineffective, posting a 5.64 ERA and a 16.2 percent strikeout rate. Logan Webb made just eight starts and finished with a similar 5.22 ERA. Webb's age (23) and xFIP (3.89) hint at potentially better things this season.

Seattle Mariners

Rotation

There's not a whole lot of clarity in the Mariners' rotation after Marco Gonzales. Yusei Kikuchi looked bad in his first season stateside, posting a 5.46 ERA and a 16.1 percent strikeout rate, but he'll probably be given the chance to turn things around this year. Taijuan Walker was given a one-year deal after recovering from Tommy John surgery and should have a safe spot as well as long as he looks healthy in camp. Beyond that, things get murky. Justus Sheffield didn't do much in 36 major-league innings last season, posting a 5.50 ERA, though he's just 23 years old and has a fair amount of prospect pedigree. Kendall Graveman missed most of the last two seasons due to Tommy John surgery but owns a respectable 4.38 ERA. Wei-Yin Chen pitched out of the bullpen for the Marlins last season, struggling to a 6.59 ERA. Justin Dunn posted a 2.70 ERA in a tiny 6.2-inning sample but also walked nine batters.

Closer

Matt Magill finished the year as the Mariners' closer, winding up with five saves, a 4.09 ERA and a 28.0 percent strikeout rate. He was delayed by shoulder issues early in camp, but the Mariners don't appear to be particularly concerned. Yoshihisa Hirano joined as a free agent after spending two years in Arizona. He saved four games over those two seasons, but his 4.75 ERA last season is hardly closer material. Carl Edwards Jr.'s 8.47 ERA last season is considerably further from closer-worthy, though that came in just 22 appearances as he struggled through a failed delivery change. He's shown a considerably higher level of performance than anyone else in the Mariners' pen, posting a 3.06 ERA and a 33.9 percent strikeout rate over his first four big-league seasons. Sam Tuivailala cruised to a 2.35 ERA in 23 innings last year, but his 5.07 xFIP is a worrying stat. 

St. Louis Cardinals

Third base

Matt Carpenter's numbers fell off hard in his age-33 season, as he posted a .226/.334/.392 line with just 15 homers, causing him to lose his job late in the year. Tommy Edman was the latest in a long line of unheralded Cardinals prospects to break out, hitting .304/.350/.500 with 11 homers and 15 steals in his 92-game rookie campaign. With those numbers, he deserves to be an everyday player, though he could wind up starting all over the diamond, stealing at-bats from Kolten Wong at second base or the Cardinals' outfielders. Brad Miller has been a fringe starter for most of his career, posting a 101 wRC+, but he could carve out a larger role if he can repeat his .260/.329/.565 line in 170 trips to the plate last season.

Left field

Highly-rated prospect Dylan Carlson will get the chance to earn this spot at some point this season after an excellent year in the upper minors. It's doubtful he's seriously in the mix for Opening Day, as he's played just 18 games at the Triple-A level. Tyler O'Neill will likely hold down the position until he arrives. Edman could also factor into the mix, depending on how often he's needed at third base.

Rotation

At least one spot is up for grabs in the Cardinals' rotation, and possibly a second depending on how Miles Mikolas' flexor tendon responds to treatment. It looks likely that he'll miss at least a turn or two to start the year. Carlos Martinez wants to start and will reportedly be given the chance to do so. Arm troubles sent Martinez to the bullpen for part of 2018 and all of 2019. Kwang-Hyun Kim posted a 2.51 ERA in South Korea last season, though how he performs against major-league hitters remains to be seen. Daniel Ponce de Leon has made 12 starts and 12 relief appearances at the highest level, posting a strong 3.31 ERA. Injuries have limited Alex Reyes to just seven big-league innings over the last three seasons. Reyes is still just 25 years old and isn't far removed from being one of the more exciting prospects in baseball. He's preparing on a starter's schedule this spring. Ryan Helsley, John Gant and Genesis Cabrera have also been mentioned in the starter conversation, but all three look more likely to pitch in the bullpen.

Closer

Jordan Hicks won't return from Tommy John surgery until midseason, leaving this spot open, though it may not be open for long if Carlos Martinez is deemed unable to start. Giovanny Gallegos is probably the favorite to earn the job if Martinez ends up in the rotation. His 2.31 ERA and 0.81 WHIP last season were excellent marks and were well-supported by his 33.3 percent strikeout rate and 5.7 percent walk rate. Veteran lefty Andrew Miller is in the mix, and Alex Reyes could factor in as well. 

Tampa Bay Rays

Designated hitter

The two-year, $12 million contract the Rays gave Yoshi Tsutsugo in December is a fairly large outlay given how low the team keeps its payroll, so the Japanese slugger should be expected to play a significant role. The 28-year-old isn't much of a defender but posted an .899 OPS or better in six straight seasons in the NPB. Jose Martinez finally found his way to the American League after getting traded from the Cardinals. He owns a .298/.363/.458 slash line in four big-league seasons, though he slipped to a .269/.340/.410 mark last year. Nate Lowe hit a respectable .263/.325/.454 in 50 games as a rookie last year. All three players could factor in at first base as well, fighting for time with Ji-Man Choi, who hit well in his first season with a regular big-league role, posting a .261/.363/.459 slash line. Tsutsugo and Martinez could also see time in whichever outfield corner Austin Meadows isn't occupying. They'll have to beat out Hunter Renfroe if that's to happen. Renfroe hit a lopsided .216/.289/.489 with 33 homers for the Padres last season. Since this is the Rays we're talking about, platoons are quite likely. Tsutsugo, Lowe and Choi all hit left-handed, while Lowe and Renfroe are righties. 

Closer

The Rays shipped Emilio Pagan to San Diego, opening up a competition for save chances. The team has a well-earned reputation for using their pitchers creatively, so there's a very good chance they'll never name a clear closer, but a high-leverage hierarchy will inevitably emerge. Nick Anderson has a good chance to be at the top of the list. He recorded an absurd 52.6 percent strikeout rate and a 2.6 walk in 21.1 innings following a trade from the Marlins, and it's not as if his 37.1 percent strikeout rate prior to the trade was anything close to pedestrian. Despite that showing, he didn't record a save for his new team, so there's no guarantee he's used in the ninth inning this season, either. Diego Castillo saved eight games while posting a 3.41 ERA. His 27.9 percent strikeout rate and 9.0 percent walk rate can't sniff Anderson's numbers. Jose Alvarado has saved 15 games over the last two seasons, but his 2019 campaign fell off the rails due to both injuries and personal matters. He finished the year with a 4.80 ERA and an 18.5 percent walk rate.

Texas Rangers

Infield corners

Nick Solak impressed in a small sample as a rookie, hitting .293/.393/.491 in 33 games while playing second and third base, and he could also head to the outfield this season. The 34-year-old Todd Frazier rebounded from a poor 2018 season to hit a respectable .251/.329/.443 for the Mets in 2019 and could fit at either corner. Ronald Guzman has had two seasons to make his case as the everyday first baseman but has failed to do so, hitting .229/.307/.415 in 210 games. The oft-injured Greg Bird is in camp on a minor-league deal. Bird's only season with an above-average batting line was a 46-game sample back in 2015. Sam Travis will compete for the first-base job as well after coming over in a trade from the Red Sox, but his .230/.288/.371 slash line in 278 big-league plate appearances isn't close to a good resume. Matt Duffy, another non-roster invitee, owns a 101 career wRC+ and could factor into the conversation at third base if he's over the injury issues that plagued his recent seasons.

Toronto Blue Jays

First base

With Justin Smoak now a Brewer, this job could belong to Rowdy Tellez, but the 24-year-old didn't hit well enough to dissuade the Blue Jays from bringing in an alternative. Tellez owns an exactly average 100 wRC+ (.241/.299/.475) through 134 big-league games, not really good enough for such an important offensive position. To compete with him, Toronto signed Travis Shaw. He recorded a miserable .157/.281/.270 slash line last season, struggles he blamed on a failed swing change. He hit .258/.347/.497 over the two prior seasons.

Rotation

The Blue Jays' rotation is surprisingly experienced for a club which still appears to be in a rebuild. New acquisitions Hyun-Jin Ryu, Tanner Roark and Chase Anderson should all be locked in, but there are questions following them. Matt Shoemaker is expected to be in the rotation, and the Blue Jays have said he'll be ready for Opening Day, though he's begun spring cautiously as he works his way back from knee surgery. Toronto signed Shun Yamaguchi to a two-year, $6.35 million deal in December. The 32-year-old has both started and relieved in Japan, most recently posting a 2.78 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP in 181 innings last season. 

Yamaguchi may be the favorite to get the nod over a group of younger options. Trent Thornton made 29 starts and three relief appearances as a rookie, but his 4.84 ERA and 1.41 WHIP weren't particularly impressive. Jacob Waguespack made 13 starts and three relief appearances in his debut, posting a respectable 4.38 ERA but an unimpressive 18.8 percent strikeout rate. Ryan Borucki recorded a 3.87 ERA in 17 starts as a rookie back in 2018, but he battled elbow issues for most of last season. Those issues have already returned, possibly taking him out of the competition. Anthony Kay made three appearances in September and is a moderately interesting prospect, though he might need some more time in the minors. Nate Pearson is one of the more exciting prospects in the league and should push for a spot at some point this season, but it may not happen on Opening Day as he's made just three Triple-A starts.

Washington Nationals

Infield

Outside of Trea Turner at shortstop, the Nationals' infield alignment isn't entirely clear. Veteran Ryan Zimmerman is back with the team but shouldn't necessarily play a major role at first base. Injuries limited him to just 52 games last season, and he hit a modest .257/.321/.415 when available. Eric Thames joined on a one-year deal and should spend most of his time at first base, though he can also play the outfield corners. He's hit .241/.343/.504 since returning stateside in 2017. Howie Kendrick hit a surprisingly excellent .344/.395/.572 in 370 plate appearances last season. The 36-year-old can play first, second or third. Starlin Castro could see the majority of the starts at second base. He hit a respectable enough .270/.300/.436 for the Marlins last season. Prospect Carter Kieboom, a shortstop by trade but blocked there by Turner, will have a shot to win the third-base job and take over for Anthony Rendon at the hot corner, but remember Asdrubal Cabrera is back as well. Kieboom struggled in an 11-game debut in the majors last season but hit .303/.409/.493 for Triple-A Fresno.

Closer

Daniel Hudson claimed the closer job late last season while Sean Doolittle struggled, but it remains to be seen how the pair will split the ninth inning this year. Doolittle produced a career-worst 4.05 ERA as his strikeout rate plunged from 36.8 percent to 25.4 percent. Unless he can prove that those numbers were a single-season blip, he could cede the job to Hudson again. Hudson's 23.4 percent strikeout rate was only a hair better than average, but he managed a 2.47 ERA nonetheless. His 5.08 xFIP suggests that a whole lot of luck was involved in that number.