Hottest Questions of 2015 MLB Spring Training, Week 1

Pitchers and catchers have officially begun reporting to spring training, with the first full-squad workouts slated for the middle of next week. 

MLB spring training is finally underway.

It's been a busy offseason, as busy as any in recent memory with exciting winter meetings, some big free-agent signings and no shortage of blockbuster trades.

With Opening Day still a month-and-a-half away, there is a lot of work to be done and questions to be answered between now and the start of the 2015 MLB season.

Storylines will change on a week-to-week basis as position battles pop up and injuries open up roster needs, but let's kick things off with the five hottest questions entering 2015 MLB spring training.

Where Will They Sign? Top 5 Remaining Free Agents

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The last big domino fell when James Shields signed with the San Diego Padres on February 11, but there are still a handful of remaining free agents who are capable of making a significant impact in 2015.

Here is a quick look at the top five remaining free agents and a few others worth keeping an eye on:

1. RP Francisco Rodriguez

Francisco Rodriguez is said to be seeking a $10 million deal, according to a tweet from Bob Nightengale of USA Today. He converted 44 of 49 save chances with a 3.04 ERA and 0.985 WHIP, but he struggled at times in the second half, and his 4.50 FIP is a bit worrisome.

He didn't sign until April 17 in 2013 and February 7 last year, so he has some history of pushing his free agency to the limit.

2. RP Rafael Soriano

Rafael Soriano ranks third in the majors with 117 saves over the past three years, including 32 last season.

However, he struggled to a 6.48 ERA in the second half, eventually losing the closer's role to Drew Storen. Like K-Rod, he's a Scott Boras client, so it's not a huge surprise to see him still waiting to find a new home.

3. OF Dayan Viciedo

Still just 25 years old, Dayan Viciedo has some intriguing power with 60 home runs over the past three years. However, his .231/.281/.405 line and minus-0.9 WAR were enough for the White Sox to release him this offseason following the signing of Melky Cabrera.

The Cleveland Indians are one team with interest, according to Paul Hoynes of the Northeast Ohio Media Group.

4. RP Joba Chamberlain

A change of scenery did Joba Chamberlain some good last season, as he recorded 29 holds and posted a 3.57 ERA, 1.286 WHIP and 8.4 strikeouts per nine in 69 appearances out of the Tigers bullpen.

According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the Los Angeles Dodgers are showing interest now that Kenley Jansen is set to open the season on the disabled list.

5. SP Brandon Beachy

The Atlanta Braves nontendered Brandon Beachy after he missed all of the 2014 season recovering from a second Tommy John surgery. The 28-year-old has a 3.23 ERA and 1.132 WHIP in 46 career starts.

He's an intriguing buy-low option and was reportedly mulling over six different offers back in early January, according to Chris Cotillo of SB Nation.

Others of Note: IF Mark Ellis, OF Scott Hairston, SP Kevin Correia, SP Chris Young, RP Mike Adams, RP Joe Beimel, RP Dustin McGowan, RP Brian Wilson

How Will the New Rule Changes Impact Pace of Play?

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One of the biggest issues facing new commissioner Rob Manfred is addressing the growing concerns over pace of play. The average MLB game lasted 3.13 hours during the 2014 season, according to Dayn Perry of CBS Sports.

With that in mind, the league announced a handful of rule changes and areas of focus for the upcoming season on Friday afternoon.

David Brown of CBS Sports offered up a quick rundown of the most notable tweaks:

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•Batters must keep one foot in the batter's box "unless an established exception occurs." Exceptions include actions such as bunting, or when there's a wild pitch, for example. This might be the most "invasive" of the changes, something batters will have to get used to.

•Play must resume promptly once a broadcast returns from a commercial break. To that end, timers will be installed in each ballpark to assist umpires in keeping everyone on task.

•Managers must challenge replays from dugout. No more slow walks over to umpires on the field in order to stall while team replay mavens check their TV monitors. MLB is making other replay tweaks as well, including adding an additional manager's challenge for playoff games, regular-season tiebreakers and the All-Star game. Also: tag-up plays will be reviewable going forward. And no instant replay will be used in spring training this season.

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These changes may very well be just the first wave in an ongoing effort to speed things up, and spring training will be our first chance for players and fans alike to see them in action.

Can Masahiro Tanaka Stay Healthy in 2015?

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Expectations were sky-high for Masahiro Tanaka as a rookie after he signed a seven-year, $155 million deal to join the New York Yankees last offseason.

Through 18 starts, he lived up to the hype and then some, going 12-4 with a 2.51 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 135 strikeouts in 129.1 innings and ranking as one of the top pitchers in baseball.

However, his debut came to an abrupt halt on July 9 when he was diagnosed with a partially torn UCL in his throwing elbow.

The original fear was that he would need Tommy John surgery, but the tear was small enough that he instead opted for a rehab program.

Brendan Kuty of NJ Advance Media provided a quick rundown of his current health situation:

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The Japanese right-hander avoided Tommy John surgery -- which would reconstruct the ligament but sideline him for 12 to 18 months -- with a rehabilitation program aimed at strengthening the muscles around the joint.

Since UCLs tears can't heal on their own, there's a possibility Tanaka will need the operation in the future. But Yankees officials have said they consider him healthy after he made two starts at the end of September.

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The pair of surprise late-season starts proved, if nothing else, that he would not need offseason surgery.

Tanaka'a health might not be the most talked-about story out of Yankees camp thanks to Alex Rodriguez, but it's by far the most important. With a rotation full of question marks, the team can't afford to lose its ace for an extended period of time.

Tanaka worked his first bullpen session of the spring on Thursday, with Bryan Hoch of MLB.com sharing what few details were available: "The 26-year-old threw 21 pitches from a bullpen mound, all fastballs, during a session that lasted about seven minutes at the Yanks' minor league complex. Tanaka declined to speak to reporters after the session, waving to fans as he was driven from the facility."

It's the first step in what will be an anxious preseason for Yankees fans, as their ace looks to avoid any setbacks between now and Opening Day.

Will Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez Be Ready for Opening Day?

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There are always a handful of MLB players who enter spring training with injury questions that need answering, whether they concern recovery from offseason surgery or shaking off the rust from a season-ending injury the year before.

For the Detroit Tigers, the two biggest question marks come in the form of superstar hitters Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez.

Shortly after the Tigers dropped out of playoff contention, Cabrera underwent surgery to "remove bone spurs and to repair a stress fracture to his navicular bone," according to a press release from the team (via Hardball Talk).

The team cleared the two-time MVP for "non-impact exercises" on Wednesday, meaning hitting and throwing, and it is optimistic he will be ready to go for Opening Day, according to ESPN.com.

Meanwhile, Martinez went under the knife to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee on February 10, with a four-to-six-week recovery time before he can resume baseball activities.

Barring any setbacks, he too should be ready to go for Opening Day or at least be close to returning.

"We are very happy the surgery went well and that Victor will be ready to compete for the start of the 2015 season," Tigers general manager David Dombrowski said, via ESPN.com.

With the Tigers' starting rotation undoubtedly taking a step back this offseason with the departures of Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello, they'll be counting on their offense more than ever this year, and they'll need their superstars to lead the way once again.

Who Closes for the Dodgers with Kenley Jansen Sidelined?

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The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Tuesday that All-Star closer Kenley Jansen underwent surgery on his left foot, and as a result he's expected to be sidelined up to 12 weeks, according to Mark Saxon of ESPN.com.

That's bad news for a Dodgers team that had already taken some criticism for not doing enough to improve their relief corps, a group that played a significant part in the club's disappointing National League Division Series exit a year ago.

That timetable would have Jansen returning sometime in the middle of May, so the Dodgers will need to decide on a replacement for the ninth-inning role in the interim.

ESPN's Buster Olney noted that the team has shown little interest in remaining free agents Francisco Rodriguez, Rafael Soriano and Joba Chamberlain to this point, but that could change in the days to come.

As for in-house options, Brandon League has the most ninth-inning experience with 74 career saves, including a 37-save season for the Mariners back in 2011. He bounced back nicely last year after a rough 2013, posting a 2.57 ERA in 63 appearances.

Newcomer Joel Peralta has been a reliable eighth-inning arm throughout his career and could also get a look, while nonroster invitees David Aardsma (69 career saves) and Sergio Santos (39 career saves) both have closer's experience as well.

Hard-throwing Pedro Baez posted a 2.63 ERA in 20 appearances as a rookie last season, and he can dial his fastball up to triple digits. The converted third baseman is inexperienced, but he has the power stuff to make a late-inning impact.

He may not wind up in the closer's role, but the injury could open up a roster spot for left-hander Adam Liberatore. The Dodgers acquired the 27-year-old in a trade with the Rays, along with Peralta. Liberatore posted a 1.66 ERA and 11.9 K/9 in 54 Triple-A appearances last season.

A closer-by-committee approach from the veteran trio of League, Peralta and left-hander J.P. Howell is probably the most likely solution, but this will be a situation to watch nonetheless.

When and Where Will Yoan Moncada Sign?

Once James Shields made his decision and signed with the San Diego Padres, the market's most talked-about free agent immediately became Cuban super prospect Yoan Moncada.

Agent David Hastings has stated that the 19-year-old infielder has begun receiving offers, according to a tweet from Jon Morosi of Fox Sports. That could mean a decision will come sooner rather than later.

A pair of big-market teams in the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees remain the favorites to sign the young phenom, according to Ben Badler of Baseball America. The San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers round out his list of the most likely landing spots.

However, a player of his caliber and age rarely hits the open market, and it's no surprise that a number of others teams have expressed some level of interest.

"Here is a list of teams that are interested in Yoan Moncada: All of them," wrote Badler.

Were he a standard amateur player, many believe he would be in the running to be the No. 1 pick in the June draft. Instead, he qualifies as an international free agent and as a result is subject to the international signing bonus pool restrictions.

That means whoever winds up signing him—for what some, including Yahoo's Jeff Passan, have predicted could be in the $30-40 million range—will be paying nearly double that with tax penalties, provided they go over their spending limit.

It's a significant investment, but it's for a player with the potential to be a superstar in the not-too-distant future.

All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference unless otherwise noted.