Predicting Final 2016 Opening Day 25-Man Rosters for All 30 MLB Teams
We are still a few weeks from the start of spring training, and a couple of months away from Opening Day, but it's never too early to take a crack at predicting how all 30 MLB teams' Opening Day rosters will shake out.
Obviously, the inevitable injuries, surprise performances and whatever signings and trades that take place this spring will shake things up between now and the beginning of the regular season.
Truth be told, it will be a surprise if more than a handful of these predictions turn out to be accurate, but what they do provide is an overview of how each team looks heading into the preseason.
Ahead is a look at the projected 25-man rosters for all 30 MLB teams, as well as an overview of the notable roster battles to keep an eye on this spring.
However, let's kick things off with a look at the notable free agents still looking for a new home that will inevitably mess up these predictions.
Remaining Free Agents Who Wil Likely Be on 25-Man Rosters
1 of 31
Position Players
- 1B Pedro Alvarez
- OF Marlon Byrd
- SS Ian Desmond
- CF Dexter Fowler
- 3B David Freese
- CF Austin Jackson
- 1B Justin Morneau
- OF David Murphy
- OF Alex Rios
- SS Jimmy Rollins
- 3B Juan Uribe
- OF Will Venable
Pitchers
- RP Blaine Boyer
- RP Tyler Clippard
- RP Neal Cotts
- SP Yovani Gallardo
- SP Aaron Harang
- RP Tommy Hunter
- SP Mat Latos
- SP Tim Lincecum
- RP Franklin Morales
- RP Joel Peralta
- SP/RP Alfredo Simon
- RP Matt Thornton
- RP Ryan Webb
Arizona Diamondbacks
2 of 31
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF A.J. Pollock | RHP Zack Greinke |
| 3B Jake Lamb | RHP Shelby Miller |
| 1B Paul Goldschmidt | LHP Patrick Corbin |
| LF David Peralta | RHP Rubby De La Rosa |
| C Welington Castillo | LHP Robbie Ray |
| RF Yasmany Tomas | Bullpen |
| SS Jean Segura | RHP Josh Collmenter |
| 2B Chris Owings | LHP Matt Reynolds |
| Bench | RHP Silvino Bracho (R) |
| C Tuffy Gosewisch | RHP Daniel Hudson |
| C/OF Chris Herrmann | LHP Andrew Chafin |
| IF Nick Ahmed | RHP Randall Delgado |
| IF/OF Phil Gosselin | RHP Brad Ziegler |
| OF Socrates Brito (R) |
DL: None
Roster Battles to Watch
Newcomers Zack Greinke and Shelby Miller, former All-Star Patrick Corbin and Rubby De La Rosa, who had a decent 2015 season and is out of options, figure to fill four of the five rotation spots for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The No. 5 starter job will be up for grabs, though.
Robbie Ray looks to be the front-runner, but a healthy Archie Bradley will no doubt get a long look as well after he broke camp as the No. 5 starter last year.
Zack Godley and recently acquired Tyler Wagner are the other two starters on the 40-man roster, while top prospect Braden Shipley is also worth keeping an eye on as he'll be in camp as a non-roster invitee.
Atlanta Braves
3 of 31
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Ender Inciarte | RHP Julio Teheran |
| SS Erick Aybar | RHP Matt Wisler |
| RF Nick Markakis | LHP Manny Banuelos |
| 1B Freddie Freeman | RHP Bud Norris |
| 3B Hector Olivera (R) | RHP Williams Perez |
| C A.J. Pierzynski | Bullpen |
| 2B Jace Peterson | RHP Mike Foltynewicz |
| LF Michael Bourn | LHP Evan Rutckyj (R) |
| Bench | RHP Chris Withrow |
| C Tyler Flowers | RHP Jim Johnson |
| 1B/OF Nick Swisher | LHP Ian Krol |
| IF Gordon Beckham | RHP Arodys Vizcaino |
| IF/OF Emilio Bonifacio | RHP Jason Grilli |
| IF/OF Kelly Johnson |
DL: RP Paco Rodriguez
Roster Battles to Watch
If they are not able to unload one or both of Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher before the start of the season, the Atlanta Braves will be faced with an interesting decision.
Deciding what to do with Hector Olivera appears to be the big decision at this point.
Starting him in the minors as he continues to work on playing the outfield would be one option, but there's also still a chance he winds up at third base.
Adonis Garcia turned some heads as a 30-year-old rookie last year with a .790 OPS and 10 home runs over 191 at-bats, but a 2.5 percent walk rate, per FanGraphs, could keep him from being an everyday player.
Garcia still has options, so if he struggles this spring there's a good chance he could find himself back in Triple-A to start the year.
If he does earn a roster spot, the Braves may have to consider cutting loose one of the trio of Gordon Beckham, Emilio Bonifacio and Kelly Johnson who were all signed this offseason.
The other battle to watch will be the No. 5 starter job, where Williams Perez and Mike Foltynewicz are the leading candidates from a group that also includes John Gant, Tyrell Jenkins, Ryan Weber and non-roster invitees Jhoulys Chacin, Kyle Kendrick and David Holmberg.
Baltimore Orioles
4 of 31
Projected 25-Man Roster
| LF Hyun Soo Kim (R) | RHP Chris Tillman |
| 3B Manny Machado | RHP Ubaldo Jimenez |
| 1B Chris Davis | RHP Miguel Gonzalez |
| CF Adam Jones | RHP Kevin Gausman |
| C Matt Wieters | RHP Vance Worley |
| DH Mark Trumbo | Bullpen |
| 2B Jonathan Schoop | RHP Dylan Bundy (R) |
| SS J.J. Hardy | RHP Chaz Roe |
| RF Nolan Reimold | RHP Mychal Givens (R) |
| Bench | LHP Brian Matusz |
| C Caleb Joseph | RHP Brad Brach |
| IF/OF Ryan Flaherty | RHP Darren O'Day |
| IF/OF Jimmy Paredes | LHP Zach Britton |
| OF Joey Rickard (R) |
DL: None
Roster Battles to Watch
The Baltimore Orioles could certainly stand to add another corner outfielder before the offseason is over, but they do have some options with Nolan Reimold, Henry Urrutia, Dariel Alvarez and Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard.
Whoever wins out from that group will join Hyun Soo Kim and Adam Jones in the outfield.
The biggest battle to watch will be at the back of the rotation, where top prospect Dylan Bundy is out of minor league options and will find himself on the roster one way or another.
Vance Worley is his biggest competition for the No. 5 starter job, but there's a good chance both pitchers wind up on the Opening Day roster, regardless.
In the bullpen, Chaz Roe, T.J. McFarland, C.J. Riefenhauser, Jason Garcia and Oliver Drake are all in the mix to round out what should be a solid relief corps as Darren O'Day was re-signed and young right-hander Mychal Givens could be a breakout star.
Boston Red Sox
5 of 31
Projected 25-Man Roster
| RF Mookie Betts | LHP David Price |
| 2B Dustin Pedroia | RHP Rick Porcello |
| SS Xander Bogaerts | RHP Clay Buchholz |
| DH David Ortiz | LHP Eduardo Rodriguez |
| 1B Hanley Ramirez | RHP Joe Kelly |
| 3B Pablo Sandoval | Bullpen |
| LF Rusney Castillo | RHP Steven Wright |
| C Blake Swihart | LHP Tommy Layne |
| CF Jackie Bradley Jr. | RHP Junichi Tazawa |
| Bench | LHP Robbie Ross Jr. |
| C Ryan Hanigan | RHP Carson Smith |
| 1B/3B Travis Shaw | RHP Koji Uehara |
| IF/OF Brock Holt | RHP Craig Kimbrel |
| OF Chris Young |
DL: RP Brandon Workman
Roster Battles to Watch
The Boston Red Sox roster is more or less set heading into spring training, assuming Joe Kelly is locked in as the No. 5 starter and the team is comfortable opening the year with Travis Shaw on the bench as opposed to returning him to the minors for regular playing time.
The one spot that could turn into a competition is the backup catcher role.
Veteran Ryan Hanigan is under contract for $3.7 million this season with an option for next year that includes an $800,000 buyout, and the 35-year-old still does a good job handling the staff and showing some solid on-base skills.
However, he could be pushed by Christian Vazquez if the 25-year-old is healthy after undergoing Tommy John surgery last April.
"I’m going to be ready 100 percent the day of camp," Vazquez told Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald. "The first time I threw a baseball after surgery I didn’t feel pain, nothing. I feel great."
The inevitable spring injuries could make Hanigan a trade chip if someone is looking for an experienced backstop and Vazquez does, in fact, prove to be 100 percent.
Chicago Cubs
6 of 31
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Jason Heyward | RHP Jake Arrieta |
| 2B Ben Zobrist | LHP Jon Lester |
| 1B Anthony Rizzo | RHP John Lackey |
| 3B Kris Bryant | RHP Jason Hammel |
| LF Kyle Schwarber | RHP Kyle Hendricks |
| RF Jorge Soler | Bullpen |
| C Miguel Montero | RHP Adam Warren |
| SS Addison Russell | LHP Clayton Richard |
| Bench | RHP Trevor Cahill |
| C David Ross | RHP Neil Ramirez |
| IF Javier Baez | RHP Justin Grimm |
| IF Tommy La Stella | LHP Travis Wood |
| IF/OF Chris Coghlan | RHP Pedro Strop |
| RHP Hector Rondon |
DL: None
Roster Battles to Watch
Unlike most NL teams, it appears there's a good chance the Chicago Cubs will break camp with eight pitchers in their bullpen and just a four-man bench.
The versatility of guys like Javier Baez, Chris Coghlan and free-agent addition Ben Zobrist allows them some flexibility in that regard.
That seemingly leaves Tommy La Stella and Matt Szczur to battle it out for the final spot on the position player side of things, and Szczur is out of minor league options.
The bullpen also has some names worth keeping an eye on in camp, including Rex Brothers, Brandon Gomes, Jack Leathersich and Jean Machi.
Any one of those guys could force their way into the mix, pushing out one of the relievers in the projected bullpen you see above.
Chicago White Sox
7 of 31
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Adam Eaton | LHP Chris Sale |
| LF Melky Cabrera | LHP Jose Quintana |
| 1B Jose Abreu | LHP Carlos Rodon |
| 3B Todd Frazier | LHP John Danks |
| DH Adam LaRoche | RHP Erik Johnson |
| 2B Brett Lawrie | Bullpen |
| RF Avisail Garcia | RHP Jacob Turner |
| C Dioner Navarro | LHP Dan Jennings |
| SS Tyler Saladino | RHP Matt Albers |
| Bench | RHP Zach Putnam |
| C Alex Avila | LHP Zach Duke |
| IF Carlos Sanchez | RHP Nate Jones |
| IF/OF Mike Olt | RHP David Robertson |
| OF J.B. Shuck |
DL: None
Roster Battles to Watch
With catcher, second base and third base all addressed this offseason, there is not much for the Chicago White Sox to decide on from the position player side of things.
As for the pitching staff, it appears that Erik Johnson will be given every opportunity to break camp as the No. 5 starter. There are only six starting pitchers on the 40-man roster, and the other is Brandon Brennan, who has not pitched above High-A.
The decision to re-sign Matt Albers also creates a crunch in the bullpen.
Assuming David Robertson, Nate Jones, Zach Duke and Albers are all locks for the roster, that leaves three slots remaining.
Dan Jennings and Jacob Turner are out of minor league options, so if they both stick around it would come down to one spot for either Zach Putnam or Jake Petricka.
Daniel Webb and Tommy Kahnle will also be in camp.
Cincinnati Reds
8 of 31
Projected 25-Man Roster
| SS Zack Cozart | RHP Anthony DeSclafani |
| 1B Joey Votto | RHP Raisel Iglesias |
| 2B Brandon Phillips | LHP Brandon Finnegan |
| RF Jay Bruce | RHP Michael Lorenzen |
| 3B Eugenio Suarez | LHP John Lamb (R) |
| C Devin Mesoraco | Bullpen |
| LF Scott Schebler (R) | RHP Carlos Contreras |
| CF Billy Hamilton | LHP Chris O'Grady (R) |
| Bench | RHP Caleb Cotham (R) |
| C Tucker Barnhart | RHP Blake Wood |
| IF Ivan DeJesus Jr. | LHP Tony Cingrani |
| IF/OF Adam Duvall | RHP Jumbo Diaz |
| OF Jake Cave (R) | RHP J.J. Hoover |
| OF Yorman Rodriguez (R) |
DL: SP Homer Bailey
Roster Battles to Watch
The Cincinnati Reds traded Marlon Byrd in August and to this point have yet to add a veteran corner outfielder, leaving the left field position wide-open heading into camp.
Scott Schebler, Yorman Rodriguez, Adam Duvall and Rule 5 pick Jake Cave could all conceivably start the year in a position to see at least semiregular playing time at the position.
Big picture, they are all just keeping the spot warm for top prospect Jesse Winker, who hit .282/.390/.433 in a full season in Double-A last year and should arrive by midseason.
There should also be some good competition for the No. 5 starter spot, with left-hander John Lamb trying to beat out Keyvius Sampson, Jon Moscot and top prospect Robert Stephenson.
Finally, the team will need to decide on a closer after trading Aroldis Chapman to the New York Yankees.
J.J. Hoover and Jumbo Diaz are the most likely answers.
Cleveland Indians
9 of 31
Projected 25-Man Roster
| LF Rajai Davis | RHP Corey Kluber |
| SS Francisco Lindor | RHP Carlos Carrasco |
| 2B Jason Kipnis | RHP Danny Salazar |
| DH Carlos Santana | RHP Trevor Bauer |
| 1B Mike Napoli | RHP Josh Tomlin |
| C Yan Gomes | Bullpen |
| RF Lonnie Chisenhall | RHP Jeff Manship |
| 3B Jose Ramirez | LHP Joe Thatcher |
| CF Tyler Naquin (R) | RHP Dan Otero |
| Bench | LHP Kyle Crockett |
| C Roberto Perez | RHP Zach McAllister |
| IF/OF Michael Martinez | RHP Bryan Shaw |
| OF Abraham Almonte | RHP Cody Allen |
| OF Joey Butler |
DL: OF Michael Brantley
Roster Battles to Watch
The first order of business for the Cleveland Indians this spring will be deciding whether or not Giovanny Urshela is capable of stepping in as the everyday third baseman.
The 24-year-old is a solid defender, but he hit just .225/.279/.330 over 267 at-bats in his first extended big league action last year.
Sending him back to Triple-A to work on his offensive game and giving Jose Ramirez the third base job is certainly a possibility.
Once Michael Brantley returns to the lineup, Rajai Davis will likely slide over to center field, but until then the center field job is also up for grabs.
Abraham Almonte posted a .776 OPS in 178 at-bats with the team last year after being acquired from the San Diego Padres, but there's nothing in his track record to indicate he's capable of being an everyday player.
That could open the door for prospect Tyler Naquin, who doesn't have the ceiling of fellow prospects Bradley Zimmer and Clint Frazier but is further along in his development after hitting .300/.381/.446 last year between Double-A and Triple-A.
In the bullpen, there is no clear-cut option to be the team's primary left-hander, as Kyle Crockett, Giovanni Soto and non-roster invitees Joe Thatcher, Ross Detwiler and Tom Gorzelanny will all be in the running for what figures to be two roster spots.
Colorado Rockies
10 of 31
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Charlie Blackmon | LHP Jorge De La Rosa |
| SS Jose Reyes | RHP Chad Bettis |
| RF Carlos Gonzalez | RHP Jordan Lyles |
| 3B Nolan Arenado | LHP Tyler Matzek |
| 1B Ben Paulsen | RHP Jon Gray (R) |
| LF Gerardo Parra | Bullpen |
| C Nick Hundley | RHP Tyler Chatwood |
| 2B DJ LeMahieu | LHP Chris Rusin |
| Bench | RHP Jairo Diaz (R) |
| C Tom Murphy (R) | RHP Chad Qualls |
| 1B/3B Mark Reynolds | LHP Boone Logan |
| IF Daniel Descalso | RHP Justin Miller |
| OF Brandon Barnes | RHP Jason Motte |
| LHP Jake McGee |
DL: None
Roster Battles to Watch
The Colorado Rockies brought some clarity to their roster situation when they traded outfielder Corey Dickerson to the Tampa Bay Rays, allowing Gerardo Parra to move into the everyday lineup and making Jake McGee the clear choice to be the team's closer.
That being said, there are still a number of spots that need to be sorted out.
Jon Gray, Tyler Chatwood, Tyler Matzek, Chris Rusin, Eddie Butler, David Hale and Yohan Flande will all be in camp, and they appear to be battling for what will be two spots in the rotation and at least one in the bullpen.
However, the team could opt to go with eight relievers and four bench players given the way things look.
If they do go with five bench players, it will likely be Cristhian Adames who gets that final spot, as he's out of options, but with Daniel Descalso already on the roster as a utility infielder he's a largely redundant piece.
The backup catcher spot also needs to be decided, as Dustin Garneau and Tom Murphy are both on the 40-man roster.
Detroit Tigers
11 of 31
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Anthony Gose | RHP Justin Verlander |
| 2B Ian Kinsler | RHP Jordan Zimmermann |
| 1B Miguel Cabrera | RHP Anibal Sanchez |
| RF J.D. Martinez | RHP Mike Pelfrey |
| DH Victor Martinez | LHP Daniel Norris |
| LF Justin Upton | Bullpen |
| 3B Nick Castellanos | RHP Drew VerHagen |
| C James McCann | LHP Blaine Hardy |
| SS Jose Iglesias | RHP Bruce Rondon |
| Bench | RHP Alex Wilson |
| C Jarrod Saltalamacchia | LHP Justin Wilson |
| IF Mike Aviles | RHP Mark Lowe |
| IF/OF Andrew Romine | RHP Francisco Rodriguez |
| OF Cameron Maybin |
DL: None
Roster Battles to Watch
It's been a busy offseason for the Detroit Tigers, and after shoring up left field with the addition of Justin Upton there's not a whole lot to be decided this spring.
Justin Verlander, Jordan Zimmermann, Anibal Sanchez and Mike Pelfrey will fill the first four spots in the rotation, and Daniel Norris will be given every opportunity to join them as the lone left-hander on the staff.
If he struggles, they will turn to someone from the group of Shane Greene, Buck Farmer, Matt Boyd and Michael Fulmer as the fifth starter.
Outfielders Tyler Collins and Steven Moya are still looking for an opportunity to push their way onto the big league roster, but at this point it appears they'll be headed back to Triple-A.
Houston Astros
12 of 31
Projected 25-Man Roster
| RF George Springer | LHP Dallas Keuchel |
| 2B Jose Altuve | RHP Collin McHugh |
| SS Carlos Correa | RHP Mike Fiers |
| CF Carlos Gomez | RHP Scott Feldman |
| LF Colby Rasmus | RHP Doug Fister |
| DH Evan Gattis | Bullpen |
| 3B Luis Valbuena | RHP Dan Straily |
| 1B Jon Singleton | RHP Josh Fields |
| C Jason Castro | RHP Pat Neshek |
| Bench | LHP Tony Sipp |
| C Max Stassi | RHP Will Harris |
| 1B/OF Preston Tucker | RHP Luke Gregerson |
| IF Marwin Gonzalez | RHP Ken Giles |
| OF Jake Marisnick |
DL: None
Roster Battles to Watch
The decision to sign Doug Fister means that the Houston Astros will likely be sending Lance McCullers to Triple-A to begin the season.
That may seem like a head-scratcher on the surface after he pitched so well as a rookie last year, but keep in mind that most teams wind up going well beyond their first five starters over the course of a season.
Depth is never a bad thing, and this could also serve as a way to help limit the 22-year-old's innings.
The other option would be to move either McCullers or Mike Fiers to the bullpen in place of Dan Straily, who is out of minor league options and has by no means seized a roster spot with his performance to this point.
Then there is the first base position, where Jon Singleton continues to demolish Triple-A pitching but has yet to establish himself at the major league level.
He'll get the first crack this spring after Chris Carter was non-tendered, while Preston Tucker, Matt Duffy and top prospect A.J. Reed are also options at the position.
Assuming Singleton does win the job, it will likely come down to Duffy or Tucker for the final bench spot.
Kansas City Royals
13 of 31
Projected 25-Man Roster
| SS Alcides Escobar | RHP Yordano Ventura |
| 3B Mike Moustakas | RHP Edinson Volquez |
| CF Lorenzo Cain | RHP Ian Kennedy |
| 1B Eric Hosmer | LHP Danny Duffy |
| DH Kendrys Morales | RHP Chris Young |
| LF Alex Gordon | Bullpen |
| C Salvador Perez | RHP Dillon Gee |
| 2B Omar Infante | RHP Kris Medlen |
| RF Jarrod Dyson | LHP Scott Alexander (R) |
| Bench | RHP Luke Hochevar |
| C Tony Cruz | RHP Kelvin Herrera |
| IF Christian Colon | RHP Joakim Soria |
| OF Reymond Fuentes (R) | RHP Wade Davis |
| OF Paulo Orlando |
DL: SP Jason Vargas, RP Tim Collins
Roster Battles to Watch
The Kansas City Royals were quiet for much of the offseason, but they finally made some noise when they managed to re-sign Alex Gordon and then added Ian Kennedy to shore up the starting rotation.
That leaves right field as the position battle to watch, as a platoon of Jarrod Dyson and Paulo Orlando appears to be the most likely answer.
Keep an eye on Jose Martinez, as the 27-year-old hit .382/.456/.559 with 27 doubles and 10 home runs in 356 at-bats last season.
The team's decision to designate Louis Coleman to make room for Kennedy on the 40-man roster means there's a good chance Dillon Gee will turn his minor league deal into a roster spot.
There are now only six relievers on the 40-man roster, seven counting Tim Collins, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Los Angeles Angels
14 of 31
Projected 25-Man Roster
| 3B Yunel Escobar | RHP Garrett Richards |
| RF Kole Calhoun | RHP Jered Weaver |
| CF Mike Trout | LHP Andrew Heaney |
| 1B C.J. Cron | RHP Matt Shoemaker |
| DH Daniel Nava | LHP C.J. Wilson |
| SS Andrelton Simmons | Bullpen |
| C Carlos Perez | LHP Hector Santiago |
| LF Craig Gentry | RHP Deolis Guerra (R) |
| 2B Johnny Giavotella | RHP Al Albuquerque |
| Bench | LHP Jose Alvarez |
| C Geovany Soto | RHP Fernando Salas |
| 1B Ji-Man Choi (R) | RHP Joe Smith |
| IF/OF Cliff Pennington | RHP Huston Street |
| OF Todd Cunningham |
DL: 1B Albert Pujols, SP Tyler Skaggs
Roster Battles to Watch
For a Los Angeles Angels team that struggled offensively for much of last season, Yunel Escobar and Andrelton Simmons don't inspire much confidence as the biggest offseason additions to the lineup.
Left field is still a gaping hole as bargain-bin additions Daniel Nava and Craig Gentry appear to be the leading options to start there, with Todd Cunningham and Rafael Ortega also on the 40-man roster.
However, the biggest decision will be which starter moves to the bullpen if they are unable to trade either C.J. Wilson or Hector Santiago before the start of the season.
Both guys have experience pitching in relief, and both would be a welcome addition to a relief corps that only has one solid left-hander in Jose Alvarez.
Jon Heyman of MLB Network noted that a few teams have checked in on Wilson as a buy-low candidate, but the team hasn't found a deal worth making. His $20 million salary complicates things.
Los Angeles Dodgers
15 of 31
Projected 25-Man Roster
| 2B Howie Kendrick | LHP Clayton Kershaw |
| SS Corey Seager (R) | LHP Scott Kazmir |
| 3B Justin Turner | LHP Brett Anderson |
| 1B Adrian Gonzalez | RHP Kenta Maeda (R) |
| RF Yasiel Puig | LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu |
| LF Andrew Ethier | Bullpen |
| C Yasmani Grandal | LHP Alex Wood |
| CF Joc Pederson | RHP Joe Blanton |
| Bench | RHP Yimi Garcia |
| C A.J. Ellis | RHP Pedro Baez |
| 1B/OF Scott Van Slyke | LHP J.P. Howell |
| IF Chase Utley | RHP Chris Hatcher |
| IF/OF Kike Hernandez | RHP Kenley Jansen |
| OF Carl Crawford |
DL: SP Brandon McCarthy
Roster Battles to Watch
It's been an interesting offseason for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who were forced to scramble a bit after Zack Greinke split and joined the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Scott Kazmir and Kenta Maeda were added to shore up the rotation, and assuming Hyun-Jin Ryu is healthy, he will also be a welcome addition to the staff.
If Ryu is not ready to go on Opening Day, Alex Wood and Mike Bolsinger would be the leading candidates to step in as the fifth starter.
Barring an injury to one of their position players, there's a good chance we've seen the last of Alex Guerrero in a Dodgers uniform.
The 29-year-old hit .423/.429/1.077 with five home runs and 13 RBI in the first month of the season last year, but followed that up by batting .207/.238/.347 the rest of the way.
The former Cuban defector has two years and $15 million left on his contract, but more importantly he has a clause in that deal that forbids the Dodgers from sending him to the minors without his approval.
He's already said in the past that he'd exercise that clause and force the team to trade or release him, according to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times.
Miami Marlins
16 of 31
Projected 25-Man Roster
| 2B Dee Gordon | RHP Jose Fernandez |
| LF Christian Yelich | LHP Wei-Yin Chen |
| RF Giancarlo Stanton | RHP Jarred Cosart |
| 1B Justin Bour | RHP Tom Koehler |
| CF Marcell Ozuna | LHP Justin Nicolino |
| 3B Martin Prado | Bullpen |
| C J.T. Realmuto | RHP Edwin Jackson |
| SS Adeiny Hechavarria | RHP David Phelps |
| Bench | LHP Brad Hand |
| C Jeff Mathis | RHP Bryan Morris |
| 1B/3B Chris Johnson | LHP Mike Dunn |
| IF Miguel Rojas | RHP A.J. Ramos |
| IF/OF Derek Dietrich | RHP Carter Capps |
| OF Ichiro Suzuki |
DL: None
Roster Battles to Watch
The Miami Marlins made a splash when the signed Wei-Yin Chen to a five-year, $80 million deal to serve as their No. 2 starter, but it's the back of the rotation that will be worth watching this spring.
The team rolled the dice on veteran Edwin Jackson in hopes he could prove to be a low-cost option as the No. 5 starter, but he could also help out in the bullpen after pitching well in a relief role last season.
If Jackson doesn't win the No. 5 starter job, the team has plenty of other in-house options as Justin Nicolino, Adam Conley, Jose Urena and Kendry Flores all saw time in the majors last year.
Carter Capps and A.J. Ramos are both locks to make the roster, but they will be battling for the closer job this spring.
"Marlins executive Michael Hill said he expects an open competition for the closer job. Carter Capps will have a chance to compete with incumbent A.J. Ramos," wrote Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
Milwaukee Brewers
17 of 31
Projected 25-Man Roster
| 2B Scooter Gennett | RHP Jimmy Nelson |
| C Jonathan Lucroy | RHP Wily Peralta |
| RF Ryan Braun | RHP Matt Garza |
| LF Khris Davis | RHP Taylor Jungmann |
| 1B Chris Carter | RHP Zach Davies (R) |
| 3B Will Middlebrooks | Bullpen |
| CF Kirk Nieuwenhuis | RHP Ariel Pena (R) |
| SS Jonathan Villar | RHP Zach Jones (R) |
| Bench | RHP Tyler Thornburg |
| C Martin Maldonado | RHP Michael Blazek |
| IF Aaron Hill | RHP Jeremy Jeffress |
| IF/OF Colin Walsh (R) | LHP Will Smith |
| OF Rymer Liriano (R) | RHP Corey Knebel |
| OF Domingo Santana |
DL: None
Roster Battles to Watch
As they enter what will clearly be a rebuilding year for the organization, the Milwaukee Brewers have taken the low-cost approach to their offseason.
They could have as many as seven newcomers among the 13 position players who break camp with the team, and most of them appear to be relatively safe bets to win a roster spot, including Rule 5 pick Colin Walsh and non-roster invitee Will Middlebrooks.
The tough decision will come at the back of the rotation, where there are a ton of young arms vying to round out the staff behind Jimmy Nelson, Wily Peralta, Matt Garza and Taylor Jungmann.
Zach Davies, Jorge Lopez, Tyler Cravy and Adrian Houser all saw major league action last year, while veteran Chris Capuano returned to the Brewers on a minor league deal and recently acquired Chase Anderson will also be in the mix.
Corey Knebel has not been officially named the closer, but he seems like the clear favorite to replace the departed Francisco Rodriguez in that role.
Minnesota Twins
18 of 31
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Byron Buxton (R) | RHP Kyle Gibson |
| 2B Brian Dozier | RHP Ervin Santana |
| 1B Joe Mauer | RHP Phil Hughes |
| LF Miguel Sano | LHP Tommy Milone |
| 3B Trevor Plouffe | RHP Tyler Duffey |
| RF Eddie Rosario | Bullpen |
| DH Byung Ho Park (R) | RHP Ricky Nolasco |
| C John Ryan Murphy | RHP Michael Tonkin |
| SS Eduardo Escobar | RHP Casey Fien |
| Bench | LHP Fernando Abad |
| C Kurt Suzuki | RHP Trevor May |
| IF/OF Eduardo Nunez | RHP Kevin Jepsen |
| IF/OF Danny Santana | LHP Glen Perkins |
| OF Oswaldo Arcia |
DL: None
Roster Battles to Watch
It was the starting rotation that held the Minnesota Twins back a year ago, and it's that rotation that will be the biggest question mark heading into spring training.
Kyle Gibson, Phil Hughes and Ervin Santana are locks for the first three spots on the staff, but things are cloudy beyond that trio.
In terms of performance last season, Tommy Milone and Tyler Duffey deserve those final two spots.
However, the fact that Ricky Nolasco is still owed $24 million over the next two seasons could be enough to earn him a chance to start.
Top prospect Jose Berrios is also expected to make an impact at some point in 2016, and a strong start to the year in the minors could force the team's hand.
The team will also need to decide on a left-hander for the bullpen.
Ryan O'Rourke, Mason Melotakis and Mike Strong are options on the 40-man roster, while Fernando Abad, Logan Darnell, Aaron Thompson, Buddy Boshers and Dan Runzler will all be in camp as non-roster invitees.
New York Mets
19 of 31
Projected 25-Man Roster
| RF Curtis Granderson | RHP Jacob deGrom |
| 2B Neil Walker | RHP Matt Harvey |
| 3B David Wright | RHP Noah Syndergaard |
| CF Yoenis Cespedes | LHP Steven Matz |
| 1B Lucas Duda | RHP Bartolo Colon |
| C Travis d'Arnaud | Bullpen |
| LF Michael Conforto | LHP Sean Gilmartin |
| SS Asdrubal Cabrera | RHP Erik Goeddel |
| Bench | LHP Jerry Blevins |
| C Kevin Plawecki | RHP Hansel Robles |
| IF Wilmer Flores | LHP Antonio Bastardo |
| IF Ruben Tejada | RHP Addison Reed |
| OF Alejandro De Aza | RHP Jeurys Familia |
| OF Juan Lagares |
DL: SP Zack Wheeler, RP Josh Edgin
Roster Battles to Watch
Now that Yoenis Cespedes has been re-signed, the New York Mets' only decision of significance this spring will be who fills out the bullpen.
Jeurys Familia, Addison Reed, Antonio Bastardo, Hansel Robles and Jerry Blevins all appear to be locks.
That leaves Sean Gilmartin (50 G, 2.67 ERA, 1.186 WHIP) and Erik Goeddel (35 G, 2.43 ERA, 0.990 WHIP) as the clear favorites for the final two spots after Carlos Torres was designated following the Cespedes signing.
Rafael Montero, Logan Verrett and Dario Alvarez are also in the mix.
New York Yankees
20 of 31
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Jacoby Ellsbury | RHP Masahiro Tanaka |
| LF Brett Gardner | RHP Luis Severino |
| RF Carlos Beltran | RHP Michael Pineda |
| 1B Mark Teixeira | RHP Nathan Eovaldi |
| DH Alex Rodriguez | LHP CC Sabathia |
| C Brian McCann | Bullpen |
| 2B Starlin Castro | RHP Ivan Nova |
| 3B Chase Headley | RHP Nick Rumbelow (R) |
| SS Didi Gregorius | LHP Chasen Shreve |
| Bench | RHP Branden Pinder |
| C Austin Romine | LHP Andrew Miller |
| IF Pete Kozma | RHP Dellin Betances |
| IF/OF Dustin Ackley | LHP Aroldis Chapman |
| OF Aaron Hicks |
DL: None
Roster Battles to Watch
The New York Yankees are going to shorten a lot of games with the late-inning trio of Aroldis Chapman, Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller, and if Chasen Shreve pitches like he did in the first half last year, that would give the team four quality late-inning arms.
Ivan Nova will likely occupy another bullpen spot in the role of swingman that was previously filled by Adam Warren, leaving two spots in the pen to be determined.
Nick Rumbelow (17 G, 4.02 ERA, 1.340 WHIP) and Branden Pinder (25 G, 2.93 ERA, 1.518 WHIP) are the favorites heading into camp, but they'll have no shortage of competition.
James Pazos, Bryan Mitchell, Nick Goody, Jacob Lindgren, Tyler Olson and Kirby Yates are all on the 40-man roster and saw major league action last year, while Vinnie Pestano and Anthony Swarzak are also in camp as non-roster invitees.
It's also hard to imagine Pete Kozma breaking camp with a roster spot, but at this point he's the team's best option as a utility infielder. Look for them to add another veteran on a minor league deal to compete for that job.
Oakland Athletics
21 of 31
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Billy Burns | RHP Sonny Gray |
| 2B Jed Lowrie | RHP Jesse Hahn |
| RF Josh Reddick | LHP Rich Hill |
| 3B Danny Valencia | RHP Chris Bassitt |
| C Stephen Vogt | RHP Kendall Graveman |
| DH Billy Butler | Bullpen |
| 1B Yonder Alonso | LHP Sean Nolin |
| LF Coco Crisp | RHP Fernando Rodriguez |
| SS Marcus Semien | LHP Marc Rzepczynski |
| Bench | RHP John Axford |
| C Josh Phegley | RHP Liam Hendriks |
| 1B/OF Mark Canha | RHP Ryan Madson |
| IF Eric Sogard | LHP Sean Doolittle |
| OF Sam Fuld |
DL: SP Henderson Alvarez, SP Jarrod Parker
Roster Battles to Watch
The Oakland Athletics will need to figure out exactly what to expect out of outfielder Coco Crisp this spring, but in terms of roster spots, the position player side of things is more or less set heading into camp.
The same can't be said for the pitching staff.
Sonny Gray, Jesse Hahn and Rich Hill will occupy the first three spots in the rotation, but the other two will need to be determined.
Kendall Graveman, Chris Bassitt, Sean Nolin and Aaron Brooks are the leading candidates, and the fact that Nolin is out of minor league options means there's a good chance he'll on the roster one way or another.
Felix Doubront is also out of options, and he may wind up being a roster casualty if Nolin doesn't win a rotation spot and moves to the bullpen.
The rest of the relief corps seems to be set, and it should be a significantly improved group thanks to a number of offseason additions and a healthy Sean Doolittle.
Philadelphia Phillies
22 of 31
Projected 25-Man Roster
| 2B Cesar Hernandez | RHP Aaron Nola |
| CF Odubel Herrera | RHP Jeremy Hellickson |
| 3B Maikel Franco | RHP Charlie Morton |
| 1B Ryan Howard | RHP Jerad Eickhoff |
| RF Aaron Altherr | LHP Brett Oberholtzer |
| LF Cody Asche | Bullpen |
| C Carlos Ruiz | RHP Jeanmar Gomez |
| SS Freddy Galvis | LHP Daniel Stumpf (R) |
| Bench | RHP Dalier Hinojosa (R) |
| C Cameron Rupp | RHP Edward Mujica |
| 1B/OF Darin Ruf | LHP Bobby LaFromboise |
| IF Andres Blanco | RHP Luis Garcia |
| OF Peter Bourjos | RHP David Hernandez |
| OF Tyler Goeddel (R) |
DL: SP Matt Harrison, RP Mario Hollands
Roster Battles to Watch
The Philadelphia Phillies will have an interesting situation to sort out in their outfield, where some combination of Odubel Herrera, Cody Asche, Peter Bourjos and Rule 5 pick Tyler Goeddel will start alongside Aaron Altherr.
It's not yet clear who will receive the bulk of the playing time between those four guys, but all four will likely earn roster spots, so that does not qualify as a roster battle.
The big battle will come in the bullpen, where the team has a number of intriguing non-roster invitees in camp.
Edward Mujica, James Russell, Ernesto Frieri and Andrew Bailey are among the 11 pitchers in camp as non-roster guys, and they will be vying for one roster spot—or perhaps two depending on whether or not Rule 5 pick Daniel Stumpf sticks.
The other big decision will be picking a closer, and while Mujica, Bailey and Frieri all have experience in that role, former Arizona Diamondbacks setup man David Hernandez may be the front-runner at this point.
Pittsburgh Pirates
23 of 31
Projected 25-Man Roster
| RF Gregory Polanco | RHP Gerrit Cole |
| 3B Josh Harrison | LHP Francisco Liriano |
| CF Andrew McCutchen | LHP Jon Niese |
| LF Starling Marte | RHP Ryan Vogelsong |
| 1B John Jaso | LHP Jeff Locke |
| C Francisco Cervelli | Bullpen |
| 2B Alen Hanson (R) | RHP Juan Nicasio |
| SS Jordy Mercer | RHP Neftali Feliz |
| Bench | RHP Yoervis Medina |
| C Chris Stewart | RHP Arquimedes Caminero |
| 1B/OF Michael Morse | RHP Jared Hughes |
| IF Pedro Florimon | LHP Tony Watson |
| IF/OF Sean Rodriguez | RHP Mark Melancon |
| OF Jake Goebbert |
DL: SS/3B Jung Ho Kang
Roster Battles to Watch
The decision to trade Neil Walker helped the Pittsburgh Pirates round out their rotation with the addition of Jon Niese, but it also left a hole at second base that has yet to be addressed.
If that remains the case for the rest of the offseason, it appears that prospect Alen Hanson will have a clear path to a big league job after hitting .263/.313/.387 in a full season at the Triple-A level last year.
Once Jung Ho Kang returns to the lineup he can take over at third base and Josh Harrison can move to second, but to start the year the team will need someone to step up and man the keystone.
Then there is the relief corps, where the team is looking to replace Joakim Soria, Antonio Bastardo and Joe Blanton, who all departed in free agency.
Juan Nicasio and Neftali Feliz will likely fill two of those spots after being signed as intriguing buy-low options for pitching coach Ray Searage to work with.
The final bullpen slot will then go to Kyle Lobstein, John Holdzkom or someone from a handful of non-roster invitees led by Yoervis Medina.
San Diego Padres
24 of 31
Projected 25-Man Roster
| 2B Cory Spangenberg | RHP Tyson Ross |
| 3B Yangervis Solarte | RHP James Shields |
| 1B Wil Myers | RHP Andrew Cashner |
| RF Matt Kemp | LHP Robbie Erlin |
| C Derek Norris | RHP Brandon Maurer |
| SS Alexei Ramirez | Bullpen |
| LF Jabari Blash (R) | RHP Luis Perdomo (R) |
| CF Melvin Upton Jr. | RP Josh Martin (R) |
| Bench | RHP Nick Vincent |
| C Christian Bethancourt | RHP Carlos Villanueva |
| 1B Brett Wallace | RHP Kevin Quackenbush |
| IF/OF Alexi Amarista | LHP Drew Pomeranz |
| IF/OF Jose Pirela | RHP Fernando Rodney |
| OF Jon Jay |
DL: None
Roster Battles to Watch
The addition of Fernando Rodney to serve as the team's closer should allow the San Diego Padres to use Brandon Maurer in their starting rotation this coming season.
He's in the running for one of the final two spots on the staff along with Robbie Erlin, Colin Rea, Odrisamer Despaigne and Brandon Morrow, who was re-signed to a minor league deal.
Don't rule out the possibility of Drew Pomeranz returning to a starting role, either, though he appears to be the team's top setup option as things currently stand.
The left field job is also wide-open, though that situation became a bit more clear over the weekend when the team traded Rymer Liriano to the Milwaukee Brewers.
Rule 5 pick Jabari Blash—who posted a .946 OPS with 32 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A last year—now looks like the leading candidate to start, with Jon Jay seeing time in both left field and center field.
Travis Jankowski and Alex Dickerson are also options, with top prospect Hunter Renfroe expected to arrive at some point in 2016 as well.
San Francisco Giants
25 of 31
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Denard Span | LHP Madison Bumgarner |
| 2B Joe Panik | RHP Johnny Cueto |
| C Buster Posey | RHP Jeff Samardzija |
| 1B Brandon Belt | RHP Jake Peavy |
| RF Hunter Pence | RHP Matt Cain |
| 3B Matt Duffy | Bullpen |
| SS Brandon Crawford | RHP Chris Heston |
| LF Angel Pagan | LHP Josh Osich |
| Bench | RHP George Kontos |
| C Andrew Susac | LHP Javier Lopez |
| IF Ehire Adrianza | RHP Hunter Strickland |
| IF/OF Kelby Tomlinson | RHP Sergio Romo |
| OF Gregor Blanco | RHP Santiago Casilla |
| OF Jarrett Parker (R) |
DL: None
Roster Battles to Watch
No team's 25-man roster is ever set in stone before spring training begins, but the San Francisco Giants might be as close as you can get.
Kyle Blanks could conceivably push his way into the mix as a non-roster invitee if the team opts to send Jarrett Parker back to the minors to open the year.
There's also the matter of figuring out whether or not Matt Cain is healthy enough to hold down a roster spot, or if it will be Chris Heston filling the final spot on the staff.
Other than that, things look to be set, barring injury.
Seattle Mariners
26 of 31
Projected 25-Man Roster
| LF Nori Aoki | RHP Felix Hernandez |
| SS Ketel Marte | RHP Hisashi Iwakuma |
| 2B Robinson Cano | RHP Taijuan Walker |
| DH Nelson Cruz | LHP Wade Miley |
| 3B Kyle Seager | RHP Nate Karns |
| 1B Adam Lind | Bullpen |
| RF Seth Smith | LHP Mike Montgomery |
| C Chris Iannetta | RHP Evan Scribner |
| CF Leonys Martin | RHP Justin De Fratus |
| Bench | RHP Tony Zych (R) |
| C Steve Clevenger | LHP Charlie Furbush |
| 1B Jesus Montero | RHP Joaquin Benoit |
| IF/OF Shawn O'Malley (R) | RHP Steve Cishek |
| OF Franklin Gutierrez |
DL: C Jesus Sucre
Roster Battles to Watch
When the Seattle Mariners made a move to acquire Wade Miley from the Boston Red Sox, the assumption at that time was that Hisashi Iwakuma would be joining the Los Angeles Dodgers.
However, that deal with the Dodgers fell through after issues cropped up with his physical, and Iwakuma wound up back with the Mariners on a one-year contract that includes a pair of options.
That leaves the Mariners with three starters—Nate Karns, Mike Montgomery and James Paxton—battling for the final spot in the rotation.
Moving Montgomery into the swingman role could make sense, as Charlie Furbush is the only lefty in the bullpen.
Paxton has a higher ceiling than Karns, but Karns was the better pitcher in 2015 when he posted a 3.47 ERA over 147 innings of work as a rookie for the Tampa Bay Rays.
If nothing else, that tough decision means the Mariners are in a good position as far as starting pitching depth is concerned.
St. Louis Cardinals
27 of 31
Projected 25-Man Roster
| 3B Matt Carpenter | RHP Adam Wainwright |
| RF Stephen Piscotty | RHP Michael Wacha |
| LF Matt Holliday | RHP Carlos Martinez |
| 1B Matt Adams | RHP Mike Leake |
| SS Jhonny Peralta | LHP Jaime Garcia |
| CF Randal Grichuk | Bullpen |
| C Yadier Molina | LHP Tyler Lyons |
| 2B Kolten Wong | RHP Seth Maness |
| Bench | RHP Seung Hwan Oh (R) |
| C Brayan Pena | RHP Jonathan Broxton |
| 1B/OF Brandon Moss | RHP Jordan Walden |
| IF Greg Garcia | LHP Kevin Siegrist |
| IF Jedd Gyorko | RHP Trevor Rosenthal |
| OF Tommy Pham |
DL: None
Roster Battles to Watch
The St. Louis Cardinals have some legitimate offensive questions, and a lot of their success will hinge on Stephen Piscotty and Randal Grichuk emerging as key pieces of the puzzle.
However, their roster is essentially set at this point.
Sam Tuivailala, Mitch Harris and Miguel Socolovich all saw action in the big league bullpen last season, and they could conceivably push their way into the mix if someone like Seth Maness struggles this spring.
Tyler Lyons posted a 2.59 ERA, 0.862 WHIP and 8.3 K/9 in 11 appearances after returning to the big league roster in August, and he looks like the favorite to replace Carlos Villanueva in the long relief role.
Marco Gonzales and Rule 5 pick Matt Bowman appear to be his biggest competition for the job.
Tampa Bay Rays
28 of 31
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Kevin Kiermaier | RHP Chris Archer |
| RF Steven Souza | RHP Jake Odorizzi |
| 3B Evan Longoria | LHP Drew Smyly |
| DH Corey Dickerson | RHP Erasmo Ramirez |
| 2B Logan Forsythe | LHP Matt Moore |
| 1B James Loney | Bullpen |
| LF Desmond Jennings | LHP Enny Romero (R) |
| C Curt Casali | RHP Matt Andriese |
| SS Brad Miller | RHP Steve Geltz |
| Bench | RHP Danny Farquhar |
| C Hank Conger | LHP Xavier Cedeno |
| 1B/OF Logan Morrison | RHP Alex Colome |
| 1B/OF Steve Pearce | RHP Brad Boxberger |
| IF Tim Beckham |
DL: SP Alex Cobb, SP Chase Whitley
Roster Battles to Watch
The additions of Corey Dickerson and Steve Pearce throw a wrench into predicting what the Tampa Bay Rays roster is going to look like on Opening Day.
There's a good chance the Rays will trot out a different lineup on a daily basis, so don't read too much into the projected lineup above.
What it really boils down to is that Brandon Guyer winds up being the odd man out, and he'll likely be headed back to Triple-A unless he can beat out Steven Souza for a roster spot.
Rene Rivera, Nick Franklin and Mikie Mahtook also appear to be on the outside looking in, but any of those three could make their way onto the roster if injury strikes.
Texas Rangers
29 of 31
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Delino DeShields Jr. | LHP Cole Hamels |
| RF Shin-Soo Choo | LHP Derek Holland |
| DH Prince Fielder | RHP Colby Lewis |
| 3B Adrian Beltre | LHP Martin Perez |
| 1B Mitch Moreland | RHP Nick Martinez |
| LF Josh Hamilton | Bullpen |
| SS Elvis Andrus | RHP Tony Barnette (R) |
| 2B Rougned Odor | LHP Sam Freeman |
| C Robinson Chirinos | RHP Tom Wilhelmsen |
| Bench | LHP Jake Diekman |
| C Chris Gimenez | RHP Keone Kela |
| IF Hanser Alberto | RHP Sam Dyson |
| OF James Jones | RHP Shawn Tolleson |
| OF Justin Ruggiano |
DL: SP Yu Darvish
Roster Battles to Watch
Fifth outfielder and No. 5 starter are the two jobs that will be up for grabs when the Texas Rangers begin spring training.
Justin Ruggiano gives the team a solid platoon option and insurance policy for Josh Hamilton in left field, so he's a safe bet as the fourth outfielder. However, the fifth outfielder spot will be an option competition between James Jones, Ryan Rua and Patrick Kivlehan.
A big spring would also likely put Joey Gallo in the running for that spot, though more time in the minors to work on cutting down his strikeout rate seems like a must.
As for the No. 5 starter job, Nick Martinez and Chi Chi Gonzalez will battle it out to see who gets to keep that rotation spot warm until Yu Darvish returns.
Anthony Ranaudo, Phil Klein, Cesar Ramos, Nick Tepesch and A.J. Griffin are also options, but odds are it will be either Martinez or Gonzalez.
Toronto Blue Jays
30 of 31
Projected 25-Man Roster
| SS Troy Tulowitzki | RHP Marcus Stroman |
| 3B Josh Donaldson | RHP R.A. Dickey |
| RF Jose Bautista | RHP Marco Estrada |
| 1B Edwin Encarnacion | LHP J.A. Happ |
| 1B Chris Colabello | RHP Drew Hutchison |
| C Russell Martin | Bullpen |
| CF Kevin Pillar | RHP Jesse Chavez |
| LF Michael Saunders | LHP Aaron Loup |
| 2B Ryan Goins | RHP Steve Delabar |
| Bench | LHP Brett Cecil |
| C Josh Thole | RHP Aaron Sanchez |
| 1B Justin Smoak | RHP Roberto Osuna |
| IF Darwin Barney | RHP Drew Storen |
| OF Ezequiel Carrera |
DL: 2B Devin Travis
Roster Battles to Watch
The notable spring battles for the Toronto Blue Jays aren't so much about which 25 guys will break camp with the team as they are about who will fill what role.
Drew Storen and Roberto Osuna will compete for the closer's job, though Osuna makes more sense in the setup role as a former starter who is capable of going multiple innings if needed.
Meanwhile, Aaron Sanchez, Jesse Chavez and Drew Hutchison are all in the mix for the No. 5 starter job, with the two who lose out almost certain to claim a bullpen gig.
The one roster spot that seems to be up for grabs in the fourth outfielder spot, as Ezequiel Carrera will try to hold off Junior Lake and Dalton Pompey.
It's also not out of the question to think the team could send Hutchison down to Triple-A to work on some things if he struggles again this spring, and that would open up a spot in the bullpen.
Switch pitcher Pat Venditte is now on the Blue Jays 40-man roster, while Rule 5 pick Joe Biagini would also figure to get a long look for an open bullpen spot.
Washington Nationals
31 of 31
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Ben Revere | RHP Max Scherzer |
| 3B Anthony Rendon | RHP Stephen Strasburg |
| RF Bryce Harper | LHP Gio Gonzalez |
| 1B Ryan Zimmerman | RHP Joe Ross |
| LF Jayson Werth | RHP Tanner Roark |
| 2B Daniel Murphy | Bullpen |
| C Wilson Ramos | RHP Yusmeiro Petit |
| SS Danny Espinosa | LHP Felipe Rivero |
| Bench | RHP Blake Treinen |
| C Jose Lobaton | RHP Trevor Gott |
| 1B/OF Tyler Moore | LHP Oliver Perez |
| 1B/OF Clint Robinson | RHP Shawn Kelley |
| IF Stephen Drew | RHP Jonathan Papelbon |
| OF Michael Taylor |
DL: RP Aaron Barrett
Roster Battles to Watch
Tanner Roark has been pushed out of the Washington Nationals rotation more than once during his time with the team, and it's not out of the question to think it could happen again this spring.
That's because the team recently signed veteran Bronson Arroyo to a minor league deal with incentives that could be worth as much as $8 million if he wins a rotation spot and sticks for the bulk of the season.
Roark has pitched well in a long relief role when he hasn't been part of the rotation, but the team added Yusmeiro Petit to take over that job, so Arroyo winning a rotation spot would no doubt complicate things.
Again, that would be a good problem to have, because you can never have too much starting pitching depth.
A return to the minors for Michael Taylor to see regular playing time is something that could be considered, and that would open up a bench spot for someone like Matt den Dekker or Logan Schafer.
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.
.jpg?w=480)
