MLB Power Rankings: Where All 30 Teams Stand, Mid-Spring Training Edition
Midway through the month of March and three weeks from Opening Day, there is still a lot to be sorted out before the 2015 MLB season officially begins.
We've already had some key players lost to injury this spring, most notably Yu Darvish for the year to Tommy John surgery and Marcus Stroman to a torn ACL, and unfortunately, there will likely be at least a few more significant losses before the season gets under way.
That means plenty more shifting in these power rankings before the first pitch of the season, but for now, let's take an updated look at where all 30 teams stand.
Just to clarify, spring training win-loss records have zero impact on where teams are ranked, though individual player performances this preseason are a different story.
Teams are ranked based simply on how they are expected to perform during the 2015 regular season.
30. Philadelphia Phillies
1 of 30
Spring Notes
There are not many reasons to get excited about the Philadelphia Phillies this coming season, but the early returns on Rule 5 pick Odubel Herrera have been one positive storyline this spring.
Despite having never played above the Double-A level, the 23-year-old looks to be in a great position to win a roster spot. He is 10-for-29 with five runs scored, and he's also flashed some speed on the bases with four steals.
On a less positive note, Cliff Lee's health is still a major question mark. The veteran is still dealing with a tear in his flexor tendon, the same injury that sidelined him for a good portion of last season.
He's going to try to pitch through the discomfort, but there is a good chance he winds up needing surgery, which would mean an end to his season, and perhaps his career at this point.
29. Colorado Rockies
2 of 30
Spring Notes
Pitching is once again the big question for the Colorado Rockies, and one interesting storyline emerging in camp is the performance of top prospect Jon Gray.
The No. 24 prospect in the league, according to Baseball America, Gray has thrown six scoreless innings so far this spring, allowing just four hits and one walk while striking out five.
"I've improved a lot on the mental side of the game," Gray told Benjamin Hochman of The Denver Post. "I'm preparing myself for a long season. I know what I'm going into now, so I can better prepare for it."
If the 23-year-old can break camp with the rotation, that could be the shot in the arm the team's pitching staff needs to surprise some people.
28. Arizona Diamondbacks
3 of 30
Spring Notes
The battle for the final two spots in the starting rotation is the big story for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Their rotation will go a long way in determining just how much they can bounce back from a 98-loss season last year.
Trevor Cahill (4 IP, 6 H, 1 ER) and Rubby De La Rosa (8 IP, 5 H, 3 ER) have looked like the leading candidates to follow Josh Collmenter, Jeremy Hellickson and Chase Anderson in the early going, while top prospect Archie Bradley (7.1 IP, 8 H, 3 ER) is also worth keeping an eye on.
The other big question is where prized offseason addition Yasmany Tomas will line up defensively, as he has struggled some at the hot corner and will now get some work in the outfield.
If he does wind up slotted in left field, that means the team will have Mark Trumbo, David Peralta, Ender Inciarte and Cody Ross all competing for the right field job.
Tomas is 7-for-31 with two doubles and a home run this spring, with one walk and six strikeouts.
.png?w=256)
27. Minnesota Twins
4 of 30
Spring Notes
Aside from Phil Hughes getting knocked around a bit last time out, the Minnesota Twins' projected starting pitchers have looked sharp so far this spring, and that's great news for a team that has ranked dead last in starters' ERA each of the past two seasons.
Rule 5 pick J.R. Graham (4.1 IP, 3 H, 0 ER) and top prospect Alex Meyer (3.2 IP, 3 H, 0 ER) have also thrown the ball well.
A surprisingly good offensive team last season, the Twins have a chance to surprise some people this year if they can take a step forward on the mound, and the early returns are promising.
Top prospects Byron Buxton and Jose Berrios have already been reassigned to minor league camp, and Miguel Sano is set to be optioned to Double-A, so the wait continues on a terrific wave of young talent to reach Minnesota.
26. Houston Astros
5 of 30
Spring Notes
There was some speculation heading into spring training that the Houston Astros could send first baseman Jon Singleton to the minors to open the year after he hit just .168/.285/.335 in 310 at-bats as a rookie last season. However, he has gone 8-for-21 with five doubles so far this spring, leaving the team with some tough decisions to make.
Outfielders Jake Marisnick (7-for-16, 6 RBI) and Robbie Grossman (8-for-19, 1 HR, 3 RBI) have both looked great so far, but with Singleton back at first base, those two are likely blocked by Evan Gattis in left field.
The team also needs to decide on a fifth starter, and right-hander Asher Wojciechowski looks like the early front-runner. He's allowed six hits and struck out seven in nine scoreless innings so far this spring. The 26-year-old was the No. 41 pick in the 2010 draft, and he is ranked as the No. 28 prospect in the Astros system heading into the season, according to the Baseball America Prospect Handbook.
25. Texas Rangers
6 of 30
Spring Notes
It goes without saying that losing ace Yu Darvish for the season to Tommy John surgery is a huge blow for the Texas Rangers, a team that has been no stranger to significant injuries recently.
Ross Ohlendorf (4 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 9 K) might be the early favorite to replace Darvish in the rotation, at least from a statistical standpoint, but he too left his last outing with a groin injury.
Nick Tepesch, Nick Martinez, Anthony Ranaudo and top prospect Alex Gonzalez are all in the mix as well for the final starting pitching spot.
The other battle to sort out is in left field, where non-roster invitees Nate Schierholtz, Ryan Ludwick and Kyle Blanks are looking to beat out incumbents Jake Smolinski and Ryan Rua. Smolinski has the best numbers of the bunch so far, going 7-for-19 with three extra-base hits. The 26-year-old hit .349/.391/.512 in 86 at-bats last season, albeit with a ridiculous .458 BABIP (via FanGraphs).
24. Tampa Bay Rays
7 of 30
Spring Notes
With an offense that is expected to again be among the worst in baseball, the Tampa Bay Rays will still be leaning heavily on their starting rotation this season.
Alex Cobb (4.1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER) and Chris Archer (5.1 IP, 7 H, 3 ER) have both been knocked around a bit this spring, but the real concern is the No. 5 starter slot.
Prospect Alex Colome looked to have a clear path to the job, but he is now out indefinitely with pneumonia after his arrival in camp was delayed due to visa issues. Drew Smyly could also start the season on the disabled list, according to Bill Chastain of MLB.com, as he deals with shoulder tendinitis.
Meanwhile, Evan Longoria, Nick Franklin and Desmond Jennings are the only three projected regulars hitting over .300 so far this spring.
Anything could happen in a wide-open AL East race, but the Rays look like the weakest team in the division at this point.
23. Atlanta Braves
8 of 30
Spring Notes
Already with one rotation spot to fill this spring, the Atlanta Braves will also be without Mike Minor to start the year, as the left-hander will start the season on the disabled list with inflammation in his rotator cuff.
Non-roster invitees Wandy Rodriguez and Eric Stults will compete with a trio of prospects in Mike Foltynewicz, Manny Banuelos and Cody Martin for those two rotation jobs.
Rodriguez (8 IP, 6 H, 1 ER), Stults (9 IP, 11 H, 2 ER) and Martin (5 IP, 1 H, 0 ER) have all pitched well in the early going, and that race will likely come down to the final days of camp.
Offensively, Jace Peterson (8-for-19, 2B) has been one of the early standouts, and if he keeps it up he could play his way into the starting second base job. The team acquired the 24-year-old from the San Diego Padres as part of the Justin Upton trade, and he hit .307/.402/.447 with 24 doubles and 16 stolen bases between Double-A and Triple-A last season.
If he does win the starting job, that would likely mean Alberto Callaspo fills a utility role and Phil Gosselin gets bumped to the minors.
22. Milwaukee Brewers
9 of 30
Spring Notes
Part of the reason the Milwaukee Brewers were comfortable trading Yovani Gallardo was the presence of Jimmy Nelson to replace him in the rotation, but the young right-hander was hit hard his last time out. After throwing two scoreless innings in his spring debut, the 25-year-old allowed five hits and five runs in 2.1 innings last time out.
Now, that's just one early spring outing, so it's important not to overreact, but there is no question the team is counting on him to pick it up this season at the back of the rotation.
One player who has stood out so far in camp is first baseman Matt Clark (9-for-24, 2 HR, 3 RBI) as he looks to secure a bench job. The 28-year-old hit .304/.376/.548 with 26 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A last year before making his big league debut in September.
21. New York Mets
10 of 30
Spring Notes
The big story in New York Mets camp is obviously the return of ace Matt Harvey, and all things considered, he's thrown the ball well so far, allowing six hits and two runs in 4.2 innings.
He is scheduled to pitch Monday against the Boston Red Sox, where he is targeted for four innings or 60 pitches and will work in more sliders than his previous two outings, according to Adam Rubin of ESPN.
Although Harvey is on his way back, the pitching staff was dealt a pair of big blows over the weekend when lefty reliever Josh Edgin was lost for the season to Tommy John surgery and starter Zack Wheeler was diagnosed with a torn UCL and will likely undergo the procedure as well.
Dillon Gee will likely move into the rotation now to replace Wheeler. As for replacing Edgin, Dario Alvarez, Jack Leathersich and Rule 5 pick Sean Gilmartin are the other lefty relievers on the 40-man roster, while Scott Rice is in camp on a minor league deal.
20. Cincinnati Reds
11 of 30
Spring Notes
The biggest question for the Cincinnati Reds this spring was replacing Mat Latos and Alfredo Simon in the rotation, and the early returns have been promising in that department.
Prospect Anthony DeSclafani (9 IP, 9 H, 3 ER), who was acquired in the Latos deal, was the front-runner for the No. 5 starter job heading into camp and he's pitched well so far.
Meanwhile, veteran Jason Marquis (9 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 7 K) has been a pleasant surprise on a minor league deal, and he too could break camp with a rotation spot if Homer Bailey is forced to begin the year on the disabled list.
Prospect Michael Lorenzen is also worth keeping an eye on, as he's worked six scoreless innings and could find his way onto the roster as well, whether it's as a starter or out of the bullpen.
Marquis is not the only non-roster invitee who has excelled, either, as outfielder Brennan Boesch (11-for-23, 2 HR, 5 RBI) has put himself in a good position to win a backup outfield job.
19. New York Yankees
12 of 30
Spring Notes
With Alex Rodriguez going about his business and having a surprisingly strong spring (6-for-17, 1 2B, 1 HR), there are some other storylines emerging out of New York Yankees camp worth paying attention to.
The second base battle continues to be an interesting one, as Stephen Drew (2-for-19) has struggled, while prospects Jose Pirela (8-for-19, 2 2B, 1 3B) and Rob Refsnyder (6-for-16, 1 2B) are both off to great starts. The possibility of one of those young guys breaking camp as the starting option and Drew supplanting Brendan Ryan from the utility infield job is looking more and more realistic by the day.
On the pitching side of things, offseason acquisition Nathan Eovaldi (9 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 9 K) has looked sharp, and that's certainly a big plus for what still profiles as a questionable starting rotation.
CC Sabathia will make his first start of the spring Tuesday as he looks to prove he can make an impact in 2015. The team is also tasked with finding a replacement for No. 5 starter Chris Capuano, who is expected to start the season on the DL with a quad strain.
18. Oakland Athletics
13 of 30
Spring Notes
After a busy offseason, the Oakland Athletics have plenty of new faces in camp this spring, and there is also no shortage of roster decisions to be made.
Kendall Graveman (5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER) has separated himself from the pack in the push for the No. 5 starter job, but overall, pitching depth figures to be a strength, especially once Jarrod Parker and A.J. Griffin return from Tommy John surgery.
The return of Barry Zito (8.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER) and switch-pitching reliever Pat Venditte (4 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 4 K) have both been terrific storylines to follow, but the two remain long shots for the roster at this point.
One roster-bubble player who looks to have a chance of breaking camp with the team is speedy outfielder Billy Burns (15-for-34, 2 2B, 3 3B, 3 SB), who is having a great spring.
It's unclear exactly where he fits into the team's plans, with Sam Fuld and Craig Gentry currently slated to man center field, but if he keeps hitting that will work itself out.
On the flip side, Brett Lawrie (2-for-20, 5 K) has struggled mightily, and there will be no shortage of pressure on him to replace Josh Donaldson.
17. San Francisco Giants
14 of 30
Spring Notes
Once spring training begins, a team's accomplishments from the previous season are trumped by what it is capable of in the year to come.
All due respect to the San Francisco Giants and their three titles in five years, but they could struggle to duplicate that level of success in 2015. Starting pitching has been pointed to as the big question mark all offseason, and a league-worst 9.29 ERA from their starters so far this spring has done little to quell those concerns.
Again, spring stats don't mean much, but that's alarming nonetheless.
There is also the issue of losing spark-plug outfielder Hunter Pence to a fractured forearm, an injury expected to sideline him until at least mid-April. He means so much more to the offense and the team as a whole than just the numbers he produces, and his absence will hurt.
16. Kansas City Royals
15 of 30
Spring Notes
Spring stats obviously have to be taken with a grain of salt, but a combined 7.62 ERA from their starters does not look promising for the Kansas City Royals. No one from the projected rotation has an ERA under 6.00 so far, and they will certainly need to right the ship in the weeks to come.
Offensively, there have been a handful of standouts.
Free-agent signing Alex Rios (8-for-21, 2 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI) is off to a great start as he looks to regain his power stroke after hitting a career-low four home runs last year.
The biggest surprise has been outfielder Brett Eibner (10-for-15, 3 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 5 RBI), who is making a push for the final bench spot. A second-round pick back in 2010, Eibner hit .238/.325/.378 last season while reaching Triple-A for the first time as a 25-year-old.
He's battling with Paulo Orlando (8-for-17, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR) and Jorge Bonifacio (5-for-17, 2 2B) for the last spot on the bench.
15. Chicago White Sox
16 of 30
Spring Notes
News that ace Chris Sale will not be ready for Opening Day is a huge blow for the Chicago White Sox, but this is still a talented and vastly improved team. He shouldn't miss much time beyond his first start, barring any setbacks, as he recovers from an avulsion fracture on the side of his foot, an injury that he's compared to a bad ankle sprain.
"If he feels good enough to pitch he’s going to go out and pitch,” manager Robin Ventura told reporters, via Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago. “We have to build his arm strength up and get him some arm strength too. It’s not just once the foot feels better. We have to get his arm going too."
The big position battle in camp is at second base, where the White Sox re-signed Gordon Beckham as an insurance policy, but the team has a pair of prospects in Micah Johnson (10-for-22, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR) and Carlos Sanchez (5-for-18) battling for the job.
Johnson, the team's No. 5 prospect, according to Baseball America, is in camp as a non-roster invitee, but he could force the team's hand if he keeps hitting well.
14. Toronto Blue Jays
17 of 30
Spring Notes
The Toronto Blue Jays had high hopes for second-year pitcher Marcus Stroman in 2015, but the right-hander will instead be watching from the sidelines after suffering a torn ACL.
Already with one rotation spot to fill this spring, the team will now be counting on some combination of Aaron Sanchez, Daniel Norris, Marco Estrada and Liam Hendriks to round out the staff. With Sanchez likely to be in one of those starting spots, the bullpen also takes a hit, as he was competing with Brett Cecil for the closer's job.
Left field needs to be addressed as well after Michael Saunders underwent knee surgery. Prospect Kevin Pillar (7-for-26, 2 2B, 1 HR) is the early favorite to start there, but non-roster invitee Caleb Gindl (10-for-23, 6 2B, 6 RBI) is making a strong case to at least land a roster spot.
Complicating matters, Pillar strained his oblique sneezing over the weekend, so he's sidelined for the time being.
13. Cleveland Indians
18 of 30
Spring Notes
The Cleveland Indians' big offseason addition on the pitching side of things was injury-plagued veteran Gavin Floyd, as they took a chance on him staying healthy and delivering some good value. Instead, he is again headed for the shelf after re-injuring the stress fracture in his throwing elbow that sidelined him last season.
That leaves left-hander T.J. House (9.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER) as the favorite to fill the final spot in the rotation, though out-of-options right-hander Zach McAllister is also in the mix.
On the position player side, top prospect Francisco Lindor (7-for-24, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR) is ticketed for the minors to begin the season, but it may not be long before he supplants Jose Ramirez at shortstop. The slick-fielding Lindor has progressed nicely at the plate since being taken with the No. 8 pick in the 2011 draft, and he has the tools to be a legitimate star.
12. Chicago Cubs
19 of 30
Spring Notes
The Chicago Cubs are tempering expectations this season, but they're making it awfully hard to do that with the way their young hitters have starred this spring.
Kris Bryant (9-for-20, 1 2B, 6 HR, 9 RBI) has backed up his status as the top prospect in the game and then some, but he'll still spend the first few weeks of the season in the minors to buy the team another year of team control.
Addison Russell (6-for-16, 3 2B) and Jorge Soler (7-for-19, 2 HR) have also looked great, though the same can't be said for Javier Baez (3-for-23, 6 K), and it's looking more and more like he could open the season in Triple-A.
The projected starting rotation has looked good outside of Jason Hammel (5 IP, 9 H, 6 ER), and it has the potential to be one of the best in the NL if everything breaks right.
There are decisions to make in the bullpen, where the team lacks a proven left-hander and has a number of guys out of minor league options.
All in all, though, it's been a successful spring for the North Siders to this point.
11. Baltimore Orioles
20 of 30
Spring Notes
The Baltimore Orioles have their work cut out for them as they look to repeat as AL East champs, especially after losing Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis in free agency. Any questions about how good their offense can be without those guys have only been highlighted so far this spring with the team hitting a league-worst .220/.280/.308.
Take those stats for what they are, but the Orioles will need to get the bats going at some point.
The return of catcher Matt Wieters was expected to help offset their winter losses, but the All-Star catcher is 0-for-20 with four strikeouts to this point as he continues to work his way back from Tommy John surgery.
As far as roster battles, the No. 5 starter job is up for grabs between Ubaldo Jimenez (7.1 IP, 9 H, 9 ER) and Miguel Gonzalez (5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER), with Jimenez looking like a $12.25 million mop-up reliever to this point.
The Orioles also have some decisions to make on the bench after signing Everth Cabrera, and the versatile Jimmy Paredes (7-for-18, 2 2B) is making his case for a job as well.
10. Miami Marlins
21 of 30
Spring Notes
Dan Haren's decision to pitch for the Miami Marlins as opposed to retiring could be bigger than anyone anticipated, as he's off to a nice start this spring. The veteran has allowed seven hits and two runs in nine innings, and with some legitimate questions about the team's pitching depth, he'll be key in at least helping bridge the gap to Jose Fernandez returning.
Offensively, the lineup is set after a busy offseason, but the bench spots are still up for grabs outside of Jeff Mathis and Ichiro Suzuki.
Reid Brignac (7-for-14, 1 3B, 6 RBI) and Jordany Valdespin (5-for-17, 2 3B) are making their case for the utility infield job, and if nothing else, this team looks to be deeper with position player talent than it was a year ago.
After contending into the second half last season, the Marlins look to have all the pieces to make a legitimate run at October in 2015.
9. Boston Red Sox
22 of 30
Spring Notes
Who will be the ace of the Boston Red Sox staff? That has been the big question all offseason, and Clay Buchholz is doing his best to answer it this spring. The right-hander has allowed four hits and one unearned run in six innings of work, walking two and striking out six, as he looks like the favorite to get the ball on Opening Day.
It's easy to forget how good Buchholz was in 2013 after the way he struggled last season, and a bounce-back year from him would be huge.
Meanwhile, Mookie Betts (8-for-20, 2 2B, 1 3B) has made the most of Rusney Castillo being sidelined with a strained oblique. He looks to have the center field job all but sewn up at this point.
Catcher of the future Blake Swihart (7-for-13, 1 HR, 4 RBI) has also looked good this spring, backing up the team's unwillingness to part with him in offseason trade talks.
The Red Sox have pitching questions, but look to have one of the best offenses in baseball. So far, they have looked good enough in that department to be viewed as AL East favorites early on.
8. Detroit Tigers
23 of 30
Spring Notes
The Detroit Tigers have some significant injuries to sort out before the season starts, as Ian Kinsler was scratched over the weekend with a sore shoulder, joining the all-world duo of Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez on the sidelines.
Getting their lineup at full strength will be priority No. 1 the rest of the preseason, but one player who has been playing and thriving is newcomer Anthony Gose.
A .234/.301/.332 hitter over parts of three seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, Gose is 13-for-25 with three doubles, three triples and four stolen bases so far this spring. Rajai Davis will still see the starts against left-handed pitching, but Gose is quickly playing himself into a significant role as the primary center fielder.
On the pitching side, reliever Bruce Rondon (2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER) is the one to watch as he makes his way back from Tommy John surgery. The hard-throwing righty had a 3.45 ERA and 9.4 K/9 in 30 appearances as a rookie in 2013, and he has a chance to be a real difference-maker in a bullpen that could certainly use one.
7. Pittsburgh Pirates
24 of 30
Spring Notes
With starter Charlie Morton returning ahead of schedule from the hip surgery that ended his 2014 season, the Pittsburgh Pirates have no significant injuries to deal with, outside of losing reliever Brandon Cumpton to Tommy John surgery.
The return of Morton also leaves Vance Worley (6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER) and Jeff Locke (5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER) to battle for the No. 5 starter job, with the other likely headed for the bullpen and a long-relief role.
Losing catcher Russell Martin to free agency was the big blow of the offseason, but last year's backup and former No. 4 overall pick Tony Sanchez is making his case for more playing time. Francisco Cervelli is expected to be the primary catcher, but Sanchez is 8-for-15 with two doubles and a home run so far this spring and could hit his way into a platoon role.
Another surprise performer who could make a significant impact is hard-throwing reliever Arquimedes Caminero (6 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 9 K). Designated for assignment by the Miami Marlins after entering last season as their No. 12 prospect, according to Baseball America, he has the power arm to make a real impact in the late innings.
6. San Diego Padres
25 of 30
Spring Notes
The San Diego Padres still need to prove themselves after a complete offseason overhaul, but on paper, they have a chance to be as good as any team in the league and legitimate contenders for the NL West title.
One of their less publicized additions was third baseman Will Middlebrooks, an intriguing buy-low candidate who looked like a legitimate star in the making when he debuted back in 2012. He's off to a great start in his push to win the third base job away from Yangervis Solarte, going 7-for-18 with a double and two home runs.
Should Middlebrooks win the job, there will be a battle for leadoff, with new center fielder Wil Myers perhaps the leading candidate despite his profile as a power hitter.
The pitching staff should again be a major strength, and even more so if Brandon Morrow (5 IP, 6 H, 1 ER) can thrive out of the No. 5 starter spot. Even if he struggles, the Padres have plenty of depth, but he's capable of pitching like a front-line arm when he's healthy, and he helps elevate their staff to elite status.
5. Los Angeles Angels
26 of 30
Spring Notes
The Los Angeles Angels should have no trouble piling up runs offensively once again this coming season, even with Josh Hamilton out of the lineup and Howie Kendrick traded to the Dodgers.
The battle to replace Kendrick at second base is shaping up to be an interesting one. Rule 5 pick Taylor Featherston (6-for-16, 2 2B, 5 RBI) has the best numbers so far, but Josh Rutledge (7-for-28, 1 2B) is probably still the front-runner for the job.
The starting rotation is the biggest question mark, at least until Garrett Richards returns from knee surgery. Hector Santiago (7.2 IP, 11 H, 5 ER) and Matt Shoemaker (7 IP, 10 H, 7 ER) have both been roughed up this spring, and the team is counting on them to hold down rotation jobs.
4. Los Angeles Dodgers
27 of 30
Spring Notes
The Los Angeles Dodgers roster is loaded with talent, but the Dodgers have some big decisions to make before the spring is over.
Ideally, they'll find a taker for outfielder Andre Ethier to open up a roster spot. According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the team is willing to eat around half of the $56 million he is still owed. That would allow the team to go with a second backup infielder, someone like Darwin Barney or Alex Guerrero, as opposed to carrying five outfielders—and a sixth if you count Scott Van Slyke.
Joc Pederson (9-for-21, 2 2B, 1 HR) has looked great this spring, as he enters the season with plenty to prove after the team traded Matt Kemp to open up a starting spot for him.
The Dodgers will also need to figure out who holds down the late-inning relief role until Kenley Jansen returns from foot surgery. Brandon League has the most closing experience on the roster, but he has failed in that role before, and he's been roughed up so far this spring.
3. Seattle Mariners
28 of 30
Spring Notes
With all of their key pieces healthy and some good roster battles brewing that should only strengthen the team as a whole, the Seattle Mariners look like the team to beat in the American League right now. If not for the fact that they have not seen the postseason since 2001, there would likely be a lot more people predicting big things for this team in 2015.
The biggest question mark in the lineup was also emerging as the best position battle, with Brad Miller (7-for-17, 2 2B, 2 HR) and Chris Taylor (8-for-19, 1 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR) duking it out for the starting shortstop job. However, Taylor suffered a broken wrist last Friday, giving the job to Miller.
The other roster battle worth keeping an eye on is to replace Joe Beimel as the second left-hander in the bullpen. Rule 5 pick David Rollins (5.1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 6 K) has thrown the ball well, but so has non-roster prospect invitee Tyler Olson (6 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 8 K).
The team could also opt to go with ousted starter Roenis Elias in that role or simply stick with one lefty and give that roster spot to Erasmo Ramirez, who is out of minor league options.
2. St. Louis Cardinals
29 of 30
Spring Notes
The only real roster question facing the St. Louis Cardinals this spring was the No. 5 starter spot, and that battle already looks interesting.
Front-runner Carlos Martinez (8 IP, 7 H, 6 ER) was shelled for five runs his last time out as he continues to try to harness some of the best pure stuff in all of baseball. His biggest competition, left-hander Marco Gonzales (6 IP, 2 H, 0 ER), has been terrific in his two spring starts, and he's certainly done everything he can to this point.
A healthy Jaime Garcia (5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER) is the wild card, as he is set to make $9.25 million this year, and the team would no doubt love to get something out of that investment.
"Complicated is good," manager Mike Matheny said when talking about the rotation situation, per Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and it's certainly an enviable problem to have.
Offensively, the middle infield duo of Kolten Wong (2-for-16) and Jhonny Peralta (0-for-11) have yet to get things going, but there is still plenty of time for them to shake off the rust before Opening Day.
1. Washington Nationals
30 of 30
Spring Notes
The Washington Nationals have done nothing this spring to be knocked from their perch atop these rankings, though they do have some questions to answer before the season starts. The biggest will be who mans left and center field until Denard Span and Jayson Werth return to the lineup, as both players are expected to begin the year on the disabled list.
Tyler Moore (10-for-21, 5 2B, 1 HR, 7 RBI) looks to have an early leg up on Nate McLouth (2-for-5), who is still making his way back from offseason shoulder surgery, for the left field. Meanwhile, top prospect Michael Taylor (5-for-17, 1 HR, 7 K) is competing with non-roster veteran Tony Gwynn Jr. (8-for-20, 1 2B) in center field.
A strong spring by Tanner Roark could have created some rotation controversy, but instead, the ousted right-hander has been hit hard, allowing 10 hits and nine runs in 5.2 innings. He'll still be important depth as the next in line should someone go down with an injury, so he'll need to sort things out in the weeks to come.
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference, unless otherwise noted.
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
