MLB Power Rankings: Where All 30 Teams Stand as 2016 Spring Training Kicks off
Spring training is finally underway, and among others things, that means it's time for another updated version of our MLB power rankings.
We last updated these rankings Jan. 18, so any transactions or injuries that have taken place between then and now were factored into the changes you'll see in the following rankings.
Notable additions during that span include: OF Yoenis Cespedes (NYM), SP Yovani Gallardo (BAL), OF Khris Davis (OAK), RP Tyler Clippard (ARI), RP Jake McGee (COL), SP Doug Fister (HOU), 2B Howie Kendrick (LAD), OF Corey Dickerson (TB), SS Jean Segura (ARI), 3B Juan Uribe (CLE), SP Mat Latos (CWS), RP Fernando Rodney (SD), RP Antonio Bastardo (NYM), RP Tommy Hunter (CLE).
As with any offseason power rankings, these are not simply meant to be a prediction for the year ahead, but instead a look at how teams would stack up with the rosters they currently have if the season were to start today.
Keep that in mind when considering where your favorite team falls in the following rankings, as a lot can still change between now and Opening Day.
Note: This time around, we've included a projected 25-man Opening Day roster for each club. The roster projections from Roster Resource served as an invaluable starting point in this exercise, though I made changes based on my own opinions.
In the following projected rosters, (R) indicates a player with rookie eligibility remaining, while a bold player is a newcomer to the team.
30. Atlanta Braves
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Spring Outlook
The Atlanta Braves may be in for a long season in 2016, but their bright future will be on full display during spring training.
Prospects Dansby Swanson, Ozzie Albies, Mallex Smith, Sean Newcomb, Aaron Blair and Lucas Sims will all be in big league camp, and while none are expected to make the 25-man roster, they'll gain some valuable experience and give the fans a reason to tune in.
The No. 5 starter job will be the biggest position battle to watch, with Williams Perez, Tyrell Jenkins, Ryan Weber and non-roster invitees Jhoulys Chacin, Kyle Kendrick and David Holmberg all in the mix.
The progression of Hector Olivera as he transitions to the outfield and tries to win a starting job will also be closely watched.
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 |
| LF Hector Olivera (R) | RHP Williams Perez |
| 3B Adonis Garcia | |
| C A.J. Pierzynski | LHP Evan Rutckyj (R) |
| 2B Jace Peterson | RHP Chris Withrow |
| RHP Jim Johnson | |
| C Tyler Flowers | LHP Ian Krol |
| 1B/OF Nick Swisher | RHP Arodys Vizcaino |
| IF Gordon Beckham | RHP Jason Grilli |
| IF/OF Emilio Bonifacio | |
| IF/OF Kelly Johnson | |
| OF Michael Bourn |
29. Colorado Rockies
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Spring Outlook
The Colorado Rockies enter spring training with a new-look bullpen after the additions of veterans Jake McGee, Jason Motte and Chad Qualls as they look to improve what was the worst relief corps in baseball last season.
Meanwhile, Tyler Chatwood will look to return strong from Tommy John surgery to seize the No. 5 starter job, while Chris Rusin, David Hale, Tyler Matzek and non-roster invitee Yohan Flande appear to be his biggest competition.
Oddly enough, the backup catcher job is also one of the more interesting position battles to watch. Prospect Tom Murphy appears to be the likely replacement for Nick Hundley in 2017, and he posted an .876 OPS with three home runs in 39 plate appearances in September and October.
He'll look to beat out Dustin Garneau and Tony Wolters.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Charlie Blackmon | LHP Jorge De La Rosa |
| SS Jose Reyes | RHP Chad Bettis |
| RF Carlos Gonzalez | RHP Jon Gray (R) |
| 3B Nolan Arenado | RHP Jordan Lyles |
| LF Gerardo Parra | RHP Tyler Chatwood |
| 2B DJ LeMahieu | |
| 1B Ben Paulsen | LHP Chris Rusin |
| C Nick Hundley | RHP Jairo Diaz (R) |
| LHP Boone Logan | |
| C Tom Murphy (R) | RHP Chad Qualls |
| 1B/3B Mark Reynolds | RHP Justin Miller |
| IF Cristhian Adames | RHP Jason Motte |
| IF Daniel Descalso | LHP Jake McGee |
| OF Brandon Barnes |
28. Cincinnati Reds
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Spring Outlook
Trade rumors continue to swirl around veteran outfielder Jay Bruce, and while he's happy to still be a part of the Cincinnati Reds organization, he also seems to understand the business end of things.
"This is what I know, this organization has been much more to me than just a baseball team," Bruce told C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer. "I’ve been here since I was 18 years old, and this is all I know. I look forward to still being here and if something does happen, I completely understand. It’s part of the business."
As for position battles, the left field job is wide open, and there is no shortage of options to emerge as the starter.
Manager Bryan Price currently views it as a three-man race between Scott Schebler, Adam Duvall and Yorman Rodriguez, though he's not ruling out the idea that top prospect Jesse Winker could seize the job with a big spring, according to Rosecrans.
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 | RHP Jon Moscot |
| C Devin Mesoraco | |
| LF Scott Schebler (R) | RHP Carlos Contreras |
| CF Billy Hamilton | LHP Chris O'Grady (R) |
| RHP Caleb Cotham (R) | |
| C Tucker Barnhart | RHP Blake Wood |
| IF/OF 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) |
27. Milwaukee Brewers
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Spring Outlook
The Milwaukee Brewers have pulled the trigger on a pair of trades since the last time these rankings were updated, sending Jean Segura to the Arizona Diamondbacks and Khris Davis to the Oakland Athletics.
Those trades brought some big league talent in No. 5 starter candidate Chase Anderson and infielder Aaron Hill, who will be in the running for the third base job along with intriguing non-roster invitee Will Middlebrooks.
That trio will not be the only new faces in camp, as the Brewers also added Chris Carter, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Jonathan Villar, Ramon Flores and Rymer Liriano for next to nothing and took both Colin Walsh and Zack Jones in the Rule 5 draft.
That said, all eyes will be on highly touted shortstop prospect Orlando Arcia, who is expected to take over as the everyday starter in the near future following the trade of Segura.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| 2B Scooter Gennett | RHP Jimmy Nelson |
| C Jonathan Lucroy | RHP Wily Peralta |
| LF Ryan Braun | RHP Matt Garza |
| 1B Chris Carter | RHP Taylor Jungmann |
| RF Domingo Santana | RHP Chase Anderson |
| 3B Will Middlebrooks | |
| CF Kirk Nieuwenhuis | RHP Ariel Pena (R) |
| SS Jonathan Villar | RHP Zack Jones (R) |
| RHP Tyler Thornburg | |
| C Martin Maldonado | RHP Michael Blazek |
| IF Aaron Hill | RHP Jeremy Jeffress |
| IF/OF Colin Walsh (R) | LHP Will Smith |
| OF Ramon Flores (R) | RHP Corey Knebel |
| OF Rymer Liriano (R) |
26. Philadelphia Phillies
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Spring Outlook
The Philadelphia Phillies will begin the 2016 season with a number of place-holders at the MLB level, but a wave of prospect talent is expected to arrive over the course of the year.
Catcher Jorge Alfaro, shortstop J.P. Crawford, outfielders Nick Williams and Roman Quinn and pitchers Mark Appel and Jake Thompson will all be in big league camp. While they are all expected to start the year in the minors, they should finish 2016 in the majors.
In the meantime, veteran additions like Peter Bourjos, Jeremy Hellickson and Charlie Morton will look to prove they still have some value ahead of the July trade deadline.
The battle for the final spot in the bullpen will be an interesting one, with Edward Mujica, James Russell, Ernesto Frieri and Andrew Bailey all in the running as non-roster invites.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| 2B Cesar Hernandez | RHP Aaron Nola |
| LF Odubel Herrera | RHP Jeremy Hellickson |
| 3B Maikel Franco | RHP Charlie Morton |
| 1B Ryan Howard | RHP Jerad Eickhoff |
| RF Aaron Altherr | RHP Vincent Velasquez |
| C Carlos Ruiz | |
| SS Freddy Galvis | LHP Brett Oberholtzer |
| CF Peter Bourjos | LHP Daniel Stumpf (R) |
| RHP Jeanmar Gomez | |
| C Cameron Rupp (R) | RHP Dalier Hinojosa (R) |
| 1B/OF Darin Ruf | RHP Edward Mujica |
| IF Andres Blanco | RHP Luis Garcia |
| 3B/OF Cody Asche | RHP David Hernandez |
| OF Tyler Goeddel (R) |
25. San Diego Padres
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Spring Outlook
The San Diego Padres took a step back this winter after their aggressive approach last offseason, trading away Craig Kimbrel, Joaquin Benoit and Jedd Gyorko and watching Justin Upton and Ian Kennedy depart in free agency.
Those moves have helped them start restocking what was a severely depleted farm system, but it also leaves them with a far less sunny outlook than they were facing a year ago when hopes were high.
They will give Rule 5 pick Jabari Blash every chance to win the starting left field job, and fellow Rule 5 picks Luis Perdomo and Josh Martin both appear to have a realistic chance of winning bullpen spots, so that will make for an interesting storyline this spring.
The No. 5 starter role will also be worth keeping an eye on, as Robbie Erlin is out of minor league options and will need to hold off prospect Colin Rea and non-roster invitee Brandon Morrow, among others.
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 | RHP Brandon Maurer |
| C Derek Norris | LHP Robbie Erlin |
| SS Alexei Ramirez | |
| LF Jabari Blash (R) | RHP Luis Perdomo (R) |
| CF Melvin Upton Jr. | RP Josh Martin (R) |
| RHP Nick Vincent | |
| C Christian Bethancourt | RHP Carlos Villanueva |
| 1B Brett Wallace | RHP Kevin Quackenbush |
| IF/OF Alexi Amarista | LHP Drew Pomeranz |
| IF/OF Skip Schumaker | RHP Fernando Rodney |
| OF Jon Jay |
24. Los Angeles Angels
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Spring Outlook
So why didn't the Los Angeles Angels make the offensive splash they so clearly needed this offseason?
According to owner Arte Moreno, "it has never been about" the luxury-tax threshold and the team's proximity to that $189 million barrier.
"Does one of these guys give us a better chance to win? Sure they do," Moreno told Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com of the big bats available in free agency this winter. "But the reality is, are they a guarantee? And what we end up with is we end up with debt, we end up paying tax, and then it restricts what our flexibility is going forward."
So it kind of sounds like it was very much about the luxury-tax threshold, no?
At any rate, the pitching staff will need to do a lot of the heavy lifting this year, and that makes the battle for the No. 5 starter job that much more significant.
Garrett Richards, Jered Weaver, C.J. Wilson and Andrew Heaney look like good bets to fill the first four spots on the staff, while Matt Shoemaker, Hector Santiago and Nick Tropeano will duke it out for the No. 5 starter job and likely one spot in the bullpen.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| 3B Yunel Escobar | RHP Garrett Richards |
| RF Kole Calhoun | RHP Jered Weaver |
| CF Mike Trout | LHP C.J. Wilson |
| 1B C.J. Cron | LHP Andrew Heaney |
| LF Daniel Nava | RHP Matt Shoemaker |
| SS Andrelton Simmons | |
| C Carlos Perez | LHP Hector Santiago |
| DH Craig Gentry | RHP Deolis Guerra (R) |
| 2B Johnny Giavotella | RHP Al Alburquerque |
| 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 |
23. Tampa Bay Rays
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Spring Outlook
The Tampa Bay Rays have added some much-needed offensive punch since we last updated these rankings. They shipped reliever Jake McGee to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for outfielder Corey Dickerson.
He'll help the offense, but adding him to the outfield mix also creates a potential roster crunch for the likes of Steven Souza and Brandon Guyer.
An early intercostal muscle injury to Souza puts him behind the eight ball from the start, and after posting a 33.8 percent strikeout rate last year, he could actually benefit from some extra seasoning in Triple-A.
Someone will need to step up in the bullpen to replace McGee as the primary setup man, with newcomer Danny Farquhar and former starter Alex Colome looking like the early favorites.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Kevin Kiermaier | RHP Chris Archer |
| 2B Logan Forsythe | RHP Jake Odorizzi |
| 3B Evan Longoria | LHP Drew Smyly |
| RF Corey Dickerson | RHP Erasmo Ramirez |
| 1B James Loney | LHP Matt Moore |
| LF Desmond Jennings | |
| DH Logan Morrison | LHP Enny Romero (R) |
| C Curt Casali | RHP Steve Geltz |
| SS Brad Miller | RHP Ryan Webb |
| LHP Xavier Cedeno | |
| C Hank Conger | RHP Danny Farquhar |
| 1B/OF Steve Pearce | RHP Alex Colome |
| IF Tim Beckham | RHP Brad Boxberger |
| OF Brandon Guyer |
22. Miami Marlins
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Spring Outlook
The Miami Marlins are a team with serious upside heading into the 2016 season, but whether or not they are able to contend will hinge on their starting rotation.
Jose Fernandez is a bona fide ace, and Wei-Yin Chen gives them a quality No. 2 option behind him, but the rest of the staff is a major question mark.
Edwin Jackson will look to nail down the No. 5 starter gig this spring, but there will be plenty of others in the mix for that job, as young starters like Justin Nicolino, Jose Urena, Adam Conley and Kendry Flores all saw time with the big club last year.
New hitting coach Barry Bonds and the team's recent decision to ban facial hair have been the big headlines of the first days of spring training.
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 | RHP Edwin Jackson |
| 3B Martin Prado | |
| C J.T. Realmuto | RHP David Phelps |
| SS Adeiny Hechavarria | LHP Brad Hand |
| RHP Kyle Barraclough (R) | |
| C Jeff Mathis | RHP Bryan Morris |
| 1B/3B Chris Johnson | LHP Mike Dunn |
| IF Miguel Rojas | RHP Carter Capps |
| IF/OF Derek Dietrich | RHP A.J. Ramos |
| OF Ichiro Suzuki |
21. Oakland Athletics
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Spring Outlook
The Oakland Athletics had the worst bullpen in the American League last year, posting a 4.63 ERA and converting 28 of 53 save chances.
That has resulted in plenty of new faces in the relief corps, as the A's added Ryan Madson, Liam Hendriks, John Axford and Marc Rzepczynski in the offseason. An improved bullpen could make a world of difference for an A's team that finished 19-35 in one-run games.
The team also recently added Khris Davis in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, and he could prove to be a huge pickup after posting an .862 OPS with 21 home runs in the second half last year.
The No. 5 starter job gained some clarity earlier this month when Sean Nolin was designated for assignment, leaving Kendall Graveman as the favorite to fill out the rotation while Jarrod Parker and Henderson Alvarez continue to rehab.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Billy Burns | RHP Sonny Gray |
| 2B Jed Lowrie | RHP Jesse Hahn |
| RF Josh Reddick | LHP Rich Hill |
| LF Khris Davis | RHP Chris Bassitt |
| C Stephen Vogt | RHP Kendall Graveman |
| 3B Danny Valencia | |
| DH Billy Butler | LHP Felix Doubront |
| 1B Yonder Alonso | RHP Fernando Rodriguez |
| SS Marcus Semien | LHP Marc Rzepczynski |
| RHP John Axford | |
| C Josh Phegley | RHP Liam Hendriks |
| 1B/OF Mark Canha | RHP Ryan Madson |
| IF Eric Sogard | LHP Sean Doolittle |
| OF Coco Crisp |
20. Chicago White Sox
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Spring Outlook
It no longer looks like the Chicago White Sox are serious contenders to sign either Dexter Fowler or Ian Desmond, but they have still improved significantly this winter.
Adding second baseman Brett Lawrie and third baseman Todd Frazier will not only provide a major offensive upgrade at both of those positions, but it should also go a long way toward improving what was one of the worst defensive infields in baseball last year.
Chicago added Mat Latos since our last rankings update, and he has a relatively clear path to a rotation spot with Erik Johnson looking like the only real competition.
One big thing to watch this spring will be how new catchers Alex Avila and Dioner Navarro work with the pitching staff. Both guys are seasoned veterans and quality receivers, but that's a big transition nonetheless.
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 Mat Latos |
| 2B Brett Lawrie | |
| RF Avisail Garcia | RHP Jacob Turner |
| C Dioner Navarro | LHP Dan Jennings |
| SS Tyler Saladino | RHP Zach Putnam |
| LHP Zach Duke | |
| C Alex Avila | RHP Matt Albers |
| IF Jimmy Rollins | RHP Nate Jones |
| IF/OF Mike Olt | RHP David Robertson |
| OF J.B. Shuck |
19. Baltimore Orioles
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Spring Outlook
The Baltimore Orioles made one big addition last week with the signing of Yovani Gallardo to a three-year, $35 million deal, and another may be coming this week.
They are the overwhelming favorites to add outfielder Dexter Fowler, with the two sides currently discussing a two-year, $24 million deal, per Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com.
Gallardo is a welcome addition to what was one of the worst rotations in baseball, while Fowler would allow the team to move Mark Trumbo to DH and Jimmy Paredes to a part-time role where he's better suited.
Meanwhile, the player to watch this spring is still right-hander Dylan Bundy, who is finally healthy and also out of minor league options. He'll be part of the 25-man roster, but will it be as a starter or reliever?
Projected 25-Man Roster
| LF Hyun Soo Kim (R) | RHP Chris Tillman |
| 3B Manny Machado | RHP Yovani Gallardo |
| 1B Chris Davis | RHP Ubaldo Jimenez |
| CF Adam Jones | RHP Miguel Gonzalez |
| C Matt Wieters | RHP Kevin Gausman |
| RF Mark Trumbo | |
| 2B Jonathan Schoop | RHP Dylan Bundy (R) |
| DH Jimmy Paredes | RHP Vance Worley |
| SS J.J. Hardy | RHP Mychal Givens (R) |
| LHP Brian Matusz | |
| C Caleb Joseph | RHP Brad Brach |
| IF/OF Ryan Flaherty | RHP Darren O'Day |
| OF Nolan Reimold | LHP Zach Britton |
| OF Joey Rickard (R) |
18. Minnesota Twins
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Spring Outlook
The Minnesota Twins' biggest weakness last season was the inconsistency of their starting rotation, and deciding who rounds out the staff will be the biggest decision of the spring.
Phil Hughes, Ervin Santana and Kyle Gibson are locked into the first three spots, while Tommy Milone, Tyler Duffey, Ricky Nolasco and top prospect Jose Berrios will battle for the final two spots and perhaps one bullpen job.
One way or another, Berrios figures to push his way into the picture at some point in 2016 after going 14-5 with a 2.87 ERA, 1.046 WHIP and 175 strikeouts in 166.1 innings between Double-A and Triple-A last year.
The team will also need to decide on a left-hander for the bullpen, with non-roster invitee Fernando Abad looking like the early favorite in a group that also includes Aaron Thompson, Mason Melotakis, Ryan O'Rourke and Buddy Boshers.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Byron Buxton (R) | RHP Phil Hughes |
| 2B Brian Dozier | RHP Ervin Santana |
| 1B Joe Mauer | RHP Kyle Gibson |
| RF Miguel Sano | LHP Tommy Milone |
| 3B Trevor Plouffe | RHP Tyler Duffey |
| LF Eddie Rosario | |
| DH Byung Ho Park (R) | RHP Ricky Nolasco |
| C Kurt Suzuki | RHP Michael Tonkin |
| SS Eduardo Escobar | RHP Casey Fien |
| LHP Fernando Abad | |
| C John Ryan Murphy | RHP Trevor May |
| IF/OF Eduardo Nunez | RHP Kevin Jepsen |
| IF/OF Danny Santana | LHP Glen Perkins |
| OF Oswaldo Arcia |
17. Seattle Mariners
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Spring Outlook
According to Roster Resource, there are a total of 58 players expected to be in big league camp this spring for the Seattle Mariners.
A whopping 28 of those players have been added to the organization this winter, and that includes 11 guys who are projected below to make the Opening Day roster.
Will all of that roster shuffling mean the Seattle Mariners finally make the playoffs for the first time since 2001? Who knows, but there is no question new general manager Jerry Dipoto is earning his paycheck this offseason.
The decision to trade for Wade Miley and then re-sign Hisashi Iwakuma leaves the team with an abundance of starting pitching options, and it will likely come down to one of Nate Karns and James Paxton starting the season in Triple-A.
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 | |
| RF Seth Smith | LHP Mike Montgomery |
| C Chris Iannetta | RHP Evan Scribner |
| CF Leonys Martin | RHP Justin De Fratus |
| 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 |
16. Cleveland Indians
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Spring Outlook
The Cleveland Indians rarely make a splash in free agency, but they did well this offseason to add Rajai Davis, Mike Napoli and Juan Uribe on one-year deals that total $16.25 million.
Those were the only major additions to the roster, as they will be counting on bounce-back seasons from guys like Yan Gomes and Carlos Santana, as well as a healthy season from Michael Brantley to help push the team over the top.
They do have a decision to make in the bullpen, where they went largely without a solid left-handed reliever last season and failed to make a significant addition to rectify that situation this winter.
Veterans Joe Thatcher, Ross Detwiler and Tom Gorzelanny are all in camp on minor league deals, and they'll look to beat out 40-man roster guys Kyle Crockett and Giovanni Soto to fill that role.
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 | |
| RF Lonnie Chisenhall | RHP Jeff Manship |
| 3B Juan Uribe | LHP Joe Thatcher |
| CF Tyler Naquin (R) | RHP Dan Otero |
| RHP Shawn Armstrong (R) | |
| C Roberto Perez | RHP Zach McAllister |
| IF Jose Ramirez | RHP Bryan Shaw |
| OF Abraham Almonte | RHP Cody Allen |
| OF Joey Butler |
15. Arizona Diamondbacks
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Spring Outlook
All eyes will be on Zack Greinke and Shelby Miller this spring as the two marquee offseason additions aim to push the Arizona Diamondbacks over the top as contenders for an NL playoff spot.
The team has also added All-Star setup man Tyler Clippard to the mix since the last time we updated these rankings, and he gives the team the proven bullpen arm it needed to pair with closer Brad Ziegler in the late innings.
Sorting out how to best utilize the infield trio of Chris Owings, Nick Ahmed and recently acquired Jean Segura will also be on the spring to-do list, as all three players are expected to see at least semi-regular playing time.
The X-factor here could be outfielder Yasmany Tomas, who was one of the most talked-about players in the league last spring after signing a six-year, $68.5 million deal. His rookie season was somewhat disappointing, but he'll be stepping into an everyday role after the team traded Ender Inciarte this winter.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF A.J. Pollock | RHP Zack Greinke |
| SS Jean Segura | RHP Shelby Miller |
| 1B Paul Goldschmidt | LHP Patrick Corbin |
| RF David Peralta | RHP Rubby De La Rosa |
| C Welington Castillo | LHP Robbie Ray |
| LF Yasmany Tomas | |
| 3B Jake Lamb | RHP Josh Collmenter |
| 2B Chris Owings | RHP Daniel Hudson |
| RHP Silvino Bracho (R) | |
| C Tuffy Gosewisch | LHP Andrew Chafin |
| C/OF Chris Herrmann | RHP Randall Delgado |
| IF Nick Ahmed | RHP Tyler Clippard |
| IF/OF Phil Gosselin | RHP Brad Ziegler |
| OF Socrates Brito (R) |
14. Los Angeles Dodgers
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Spring Outlook
Starting pitching will be an area of interest for the Los Angeles Dodgers this spring as they look to replace the production of Zack Greinke with the likes of Scott Kazmir, Kenta Maeda and a healthy Hyun-Jin Ryu.
There is little doubt the team has more starting pitching depth than a year ago. Brett Anderson is also back after accepting his qualifying offer, Brandon McCarthy will be back healthy at some point, and Alex Wood is also an option for the rotation.
However, there's not a clear-cut No. 2 starter in that group, and the team is relying heavily on Kazmir and Maeda to exceed expectations if the rotation is to once again be a strength.
The bullpen is also a question mark after Joe Blanton and Louis Coleman were the big additions to a relief corps that struggled at times getting the ball to closer Kenley Jansen last year.
One more thing to keep an eye on is the status of Alex Guerrero. He has no clear spot on the roster, and the Dodgers can't option him to the minors per his contract, so he looks like a clear trade or outright release candidate.
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 Andre Ethier | |
| C Yasmani Grandal | LHP Alex Wood |
| CF Joc Pederson | RHP Joe Blanton |
| RHP Louis Coleman | |
| C A.J. Ellis | RHP Pedro Baez |
| 1B/OF Scott Van Slyke | LHP J.P. Howell |
| IF Chase Utley | RHP Chris Hatcher |
| IF/OF Enrique Hernandez | RHP Kenley Jansen |
| OF Carl Crawford |
13. New York Yankees
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Spring Outlook
The New York Yankees acquired Aroldis Chapman, Starlin Castro and Aaron Hicks via trade this winter, but they didn't sign a single free agent to a major league deal.
These are not the free-spending Yankees of the 1990s, but with the contracts of CC Sabathia, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and Carlos Beltran coming off the books soon, they will have some rare payroll flexibility to work with.
At any rate, Chapman will be the one to watch this spring. That is, if he is allowed to participate, as a report over the weekend from Joel Sherman of the New York Post suggested he could be facing a spring training ban as discipline for a domestic-violence incident back in October.
Sabathia will also be under a microscope this spring after dealing with knee issues last season and then entering rehab for alcohol abuse. He's set to make $25 million in 2016, so the Yankees will be looking for a return on that investment.
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 | |
| 2B Starlin Castro | RHP Ivan Nova |
| 3B Chase Headley | RHP Nick Rumbelow (R) |
| SS Didi Gregorius | LHP Chasen Shreve |
| 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 |
12. Houston Astros
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Spring Outlook
The Houston Astros have some significant position battles to sort out before they break camp and attempt to make a return trip to the postseason after securing an AL wild-card berth last season.
The first is in the starting rotation, where the addition of Doug Fister on a one-year deal has created a three-player logjam with Scott Feldman and Mike Fiers for the final two spots on the staff. All three pitchers will likely see significant time in the rotation when the inevitable injury pops up, but someone will be the odd man out to start the year.
The other is at first base, where Jon Singleton has failed to seize the job as expected, and now prospects A.J. Reed, Matt Duffy and Tyler White are knocking on the door. A strong spring could mean Reed breaks camp as the starter, after he posted a 1.044 OPS with 34 home runs and 127 RBI in the minors last year.
The health of Evan Gattis will also be an ongoing story after he underwent hernia surgery earlier this month and may not be ready for Opening Day.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| RF George Springer | LHP Dallas Keuchel |
| 2B Jose Altuve | RHP Collin McHugh |
| SS Carlos Correa | RHP Lance McCullers |
| CF Carlos Gomez | RHP Mike Fiers |
| LF Colby Rasmus | RHP Doug Fister |
| DH Preston Tucker | |
| 3B Luis Valbuena | RHP Scott Feldman |
| 1B Jon Singleton | RHP Josh Fields |
| C Jason Castro | RHP Pat Neshek |
| LHP Tony Sipp | |
| C Max Stassi (R) | RHP Will Harris |
| 1B/3B Matt Duffy (R) | RHP Luke Gregerson |
| IF Marwin Gonzalez | RHP Ken Giles |
| OF Jake Marisnick |
11. Pittsburgh Pirates
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Spring Outlook
The Pittsburgh Pirates have a number of new faces in key spots on the roster, and this spring will be a good preview of what's to come for a team that is looking to make the postseason for the fourth consecutive year.
Gone are first baseman Pedro Alvarez, second baseman Neil Walker, starting pitchers A.J. Burnett and J.A. Happ and relievers Joakim Soria, Antonio Bastardo and Joe Blanton.
In their place, the team has acquired John Jaso, Jon Niese, Ryan Vogelsong, Neftali Feliz and Juan Nicasio, while prospect Alen Hanson looks like the favorite to break camp as the starting second baseman if Jung Ho Kang begins the year on the disabled list as expected.
There are also a handful of non-roster invitees worth keeping an eye on, as outfielder Matt Joyce appears to be a good bet to win a bench job, and lefty reliever Eric O'Flaherty could earn a spot as the second southpaw in the pen with a strong spring.
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 | |
| 2B Alen Hanson (R) | RHP Juan Nicasio |
| SS Jordy Mercer | RHP Neftali Feliz |
| LHP Eric O'Flaherty | |
| 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 Matt Joyce |
10. Washington Nationals
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Spring Outlook
Along with free-agent signings Daniel Murphy, Shawn Kelley, Oliver Perez, Yusmeiro Petit and Stephen Drew and trade acquisition Ben Revere, the Washington Nationals also have some of the most intriguing non-roster invitees of any team this spring.
The team signed veteran starter Bronson Arroyo to a minor league deal that's worth a base of $2 million if he wins a roster spot, and it includes another $6 million in incentives based on games started, according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com.
He'll compete with Tanner Roark to be the No. 5 starter, and a reunion with manager Dusty Baker along with a healthy arm makes the 38-year-old Arroyo a legitimate candidate to win that job.
Relievers Burke Badenhop and Matt Belisle are also both in camp on minor league pacts, and both have the strong track records of success to have a real crack at winning a 25-man roster spot.
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 | |
| C Wilson Ramos | RHP Yusmeiro Petit |
| SS Danny Espinosa | LHP Felipe Rivero |
| 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 |
9. Boston Red Sox
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Spring Outlook
In David Price, the Boston Red Sox finally have the staff ace they were lacking all of last season, and he has already taken an eager-to-learn Eduardo Rodriguez under his wing this spring.
Price told Rick Weber of ESPN.com:
"That’s not always the case with young guys. A lot of young guys -- especially with an arm like this -- they feel they can kind of figure stuff out on their own. They like what they’re doing because it’s worked for them thus far. He’s come up to me every day, two or three times a day, and picked my brain about certain pitches or how to use certain pitches. That’s good to see.
"
The other big story of camp is the duo of Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval looking to rebound from their incredibly disappointing debuts with the team last year.
Sandoval reported to camp in shape—assuming that round belly is the shape he was aiming for—and he already finds himself under scrutiny as a result.
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 | |
| LF Rusney Castillo | RHP Steven Wright |
| C Blake Swihart | LHP Tommy Layne |
| CF Jackie Bradley Jr. | RHP Junichi Tazawa |
| 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 |
8. Detroit Tigers
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Spring Outlook
I'm admittedly higher on the Detroit Tigers than most MLB power rankings scribes around the Interweb, but there is no question they are a significantly improved team, and not just because of the additions they've made this offseason.
Jordan Zimmermann and Mike Pelfrey will provide stability to the rotation, but the biggest difference-maker there might be a healthy Justin Verlander, who closed out the 2015 season with a 2.12 ERA in his final 11 starts.
Justin Upton will be a big addition to the middle of the lineup, but healthy seasons from Miguel Cabrera and specifically Victor Martinez could give the offense a huge boost as well.
The biggest reason they figure to be improved, though, is they finally addressed that glaring need for bullpen help with Justin Wilson, Mark Lowe and Francisco Rodriguez all added to the relief corps.
Top to bottom, this is simply a better Tigers team than the one we saw slide to last place in the AL Central in 2015, and they again look ready to contend.
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 | |
| 3B Nick Castellanos | RHP Drew VerHagen |
| C James McCann | LHP Blaine Hardy |
| SS Jose Iglesias | RHP Bruce Rondon |
| 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 |
7. New York Mets
24 of 30
Spring Outlook
Much to the chagrin of New York Mets fans, the reigning NL pennant-winners have hovered around the middle of the pack in these rankings for most of the offseason.
However, since we last updated the rankings, the team added a big piece to the puzzle.
Antonio Bastardo.
Just kidding, Bastardo will definitely help in the bullpen, but the team bringing back Yoenis Cespedes on a three-year, $75 million deal to once again anchor the middle of the lineup gives them the big bat they needed to avoid sliding into offensive ineptitude once again.
The signings of Asdrubal Cabrera and Alejandro De Aza still don't make any sense, and there are the unavoidable questions about the health of oft-injured David Wright and Travis d'Arnaud, but this team once again looks like the favorite in the NL East.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| RF Curtis Granderson | RHP Jacob deGrom |
| 3B David Wright | RHP Matt Harvey |
| 1B Lucas Duda | RHP Noah Syndergaard |
| CF Yoenis Cespedes | LHP Steven Matz |
| 2B Neil Walker | RHP Bartolo Colon |
| C Travis d'Arnaud | |
| LF Michael Conforto | LHP Sean Gilmartin |
| SS Asdrubal Cabrera | RHP Erik Goeddel |
| 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 |
6. Kansas City Royals
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Spring Outlook
The Kansas City Royals have their work cut out for them if they hope to become the first team since the 2000 New York Yankees to repeat as World Series champions.
That being said, the areas that have been the driving force behind their recent run of success—defense, speed and a dominant bullpen—appear to be strengths once again heading into 2016.
Kris Medlen, Chris Young and Danny Duffy should make for a good battle for the final two spots in the rotation, and Medlen could be an X-factor this season another year removed from his second Tommy John surgery.
"I think he’s going to have a fantastic year," Royals manager Ned Yost told Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star. "He’s going to be a very solid guy in our rotation."
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 | RHP Chris Young |
| DH Kendrys Morales | RHP Kris Medlen |
| LF Alex Gordon | |
| C Salvador Perez | RHP Dillon Gee |
| 2B Omar Infante | LHP Scott Alexander (R) |
| RF Jarrod Dyson | RHP Luke Hochevar |
| LHP Danny Duffy | |
| C Tony Cruz | RHP Kelvin Herrera |
| IF Christian Colon | RHP Joakim Soria |
| OF Reymond Fuentes (R) | RHP Wade Davis |
| OF Paulo Orlando |
5. St. Louis Cardinals
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Spring Outlook
The St. Louis Cardinals enter spring training hoping for big things from the young outfield duo of Randal Grichuk and Stephen Piscotty after failing to make an impact addition on the offensive side of things and losing Jason Heyward to the rival Chicago Cubs in free agency.
Those two young bats are capable of providing a spark at the plate, but the strength of this team will once again be the pitching staff, and a healthy Adam Wainwright looks like the early favorite for NL Comeback Player of the Year honors.
Mike Leake replaces Lance Lynn in the rotation, as Lynn is set to miss the entire season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, while Seung Hwan Oh looks to make his mark stateside after racking up 357 saves in Korea and Japan.
All of that said, the health of catcher Yadier Molina will be the big storyline of the spring after he underwent a pair of operations on his left thumb this offseason. His status for Opening Day is currently up in the air.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| 3B Matt Carpenter | RHP Adam Wainwright |
| RF Stephen Piscotty | RHP Michael Wacha |
| LF Matt Holliday | RHP Carlos Martinez |
| CF Randal Grichuk | RHP Mike Leake |
| 1B Matt Adams | LHP Jaime Garcia |
| SS Jhonny Peralta | |
| C Yadier Molina | LHP Tyler Lyons |
| 2B Kolten Wong | RHP Seth Maness |
| 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 |
4. Texas Rangers
27 of 30
Spring Outlook
The Texas Rangers began the offseason with arguably the most complete roster of any team, so it's not overly surprising that they failed to make any significant additions.
They re-signed Colby Lewis to provide some depth in the rotation, and they added relievers Tom Wilhelmsen and Tony Barnette to an already-solid bullpen. They signed outfielder Justin Ruggiano as a platoon partner and insurance policy for Josh Hamilton.
The roster is essentially set outside of the final bench spot and whoever will serve as the No. 5 starter while Yu Darvish continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery.
Nick Martinez and Chi Chi Gonzalez are the leading candidates for that job, while the team also recently signed veteran Jeremy Guthrie to a minor league deal.
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 | |
| SS Elvis Andrus | RHP Tony Barnette (R) |
| 2B Rougned Odor | LHP Sam Freeman |
| C Robinson Chirinos | RHP Tom Wilhelmsen |
| LHP Jake Diekman | |
| C Chris Gimenez | RHP Keone Kela |
| IF Hanser Alberto | RHP Sam Dyson |
| OF James Jones | RHP Shawn Tolleson |
| OF Justin Ruggiano |
3. San Francisco Giants
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Spring Outlook
The San Francisco Giants shelled out a combined $251 million to sign Johnny Cueto, Jeff Samardzija and Denard Span, and in the process, they've assembled one of the most complete rosters in all of baseball.
It's still unclear exactly what they can expect out of Matt Cain, but the team is prepared from a depth standpoint with Chris Heston slated to open the year as the team's long reliever and prospect Clayton Blackburn also ready to make an impact.
The addition of Span gives the team a reliable leadoff hitter after Angel Pagan has struggled to stay on the field in recent years, and he could be the steal of the offseason on a three-year, $31 million deal, provided he's over the hip issues that plagued him last year.
Keep an eye on Jarrett Parker as a potential X-factor, as he posted a 1.163 OPS with six home runs in 54 plate appearances down the stretch last year. He could win the left-field job with a strong spring.
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 | |
| SS Brandon Crawford | RHP Chris Heston |
| LF Angel Pagan | LHP Josh Osich |
| 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) |
2. Toronto Blue Jays
29 of 30
Spring Outlook
The Toronto Blue Jays have perhaps the two most compelling position battles in all of baseball to sort out this spring.
The first is the closer role, where Roberto Osuna was terrific as a 20-year-old rookie but will be pushed by veteran Drew Storen, whom Toronto acquired from the Washington Nationals. Given his background as a starter, Osuna may actually be more valuable in a setup role where he can go multiple innings if needed.
The other battle will be for the No. 5 starter job, as Drew Hutchison looks to rebound from a rough 2015 campaign to hold off swingman Jesse Chavez and young flamethrower Aaron Sanchez, who spent most of 2015 pitching in the eighth inning.
All five of those pitchers figure to be on the Opening Day roster in some capacity, but how the Blue Jays sort out those roles will be fun to watch this spring.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| SS Troy Tulowitzki | RHP Marcus Stroman |
| 3B Josh Donaldson | RHP R.A. Dickey |
| RF Jose Bautista | RHP Marco Estrada |
| DH Edwin Encarnacion | LHP J.A. Happ |
| 1B Chris Colabello | RHP Drew Hutchison |
| C Russell Martin | |
| LF Michael Saunders | RHP Jesse Chavez |
| CF Kevin Pillar | LHP Aaron Loup |
| 2B Ryan Goins | RHP Steve Delabar |
| LHP Brett Cecil | |
| C Josh Thole | RHP Aaron Sanchez |
| 1B Justin Smoak | RHP Roberto Osuna |
| IF Darwin Barney | RHP Drew Storen |
| OF Ezequiel Carrera |
1. Chicago Cubs
30 of 30
Spring Outlook
The Chicago Cubs have sat atop these rankings for most of the offseason, and there's no reason to change that at this point, as they remain the most talented team in baseball on paper.
"They don't play the game on paper."
True, but after adding Jason Heyward, Ben Zobrist and John Lackey to a team that won 97 games last year and should only get better as the young core continues to progress, the Cubs' "paper strength" is impossible to ignore.
At this point, they appear likely to go with a four-man bench and eight-man bullpen—an option made possible by the versatility of guys like Zobrist, Javier Baez and Chris Coghlan.
That means Tommy La Stella and Matt Szczur are on the roster bubble, so the team does have a significant decision to make there. Don't count out former Cub and Japanese league star Matt Murton for that spot, either, as he's in camp as a non-roster invitee.
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 | |
| C Miguel Montero | RHP Adam Warren |
| SS Addison Russell | LHP Clayton Richard |
| RHP Trevor Cahill | |
| C David Ross | RHP Neil Ramirez |
| IF Javier Baez | RHP Justin Grimm |
| IF Tommy La Stella | LHP Travis Wood |
| OF Chris Coghlan | RHP Pedro Strop |
| RHP Hector Rondon |
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.
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