MLB Power Rankings at the Start of 2017 Spring Training
Spring training is finally underway, and among other things, that means it's time for an updated version of our MLB power rankings.
These rankings were last updated Jan. 18, so any transactions or injuries that have taken place between then and now factored into any changes in the rankings this time around.
Notable additions and re-signings during that time include: 2B Logan Forsythe (LAD), 2B Brandon Phillips (ATL), RF Mark Trumbo (BAL), OF Michael Saunders (PHI), OF Colby Rasmus (TB) DH Brandon Moss (KC), SP Jason Hammel (KC), SP Travis Wood (KC), SP Dan Straily (MIA), SP Brett Anderson (CHC), SP Trevor Cahill (SD), SP Tyson Ross (TEX), RP Greg Holland (COL), RP Neftali Feliz (MIL), RP Boone Logan (CLE), RP Santiago Casilla (OAK), RP J.P. Howell (TOR), RP Joe Smith (TOR), RP Fernando Salas (NYM) and RP Jerry Blevins (NYM).
As with any offseason power rankings, these are not simply meant to be predictions 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, as a lot can still change between now and Opening Day.
Note: Players listed in bold on projected rosters indicate newcomers. An (R) next to a player indicates his rookie status is intact.
30. San Diego Padres (Previous: 30)
1 of 30
Spring Outlook
Just how many rookies will break camp with the San Diego Padres?
Top prospects Manuel Margot and Hunter Renfroe are both slated for starting outfield jobs, a trio of Rule 5 picks are in camp and several other young arms will be vying for spots in the pen as the youth movement will be in full swing.
Meanwhile, the team could still add another low-cost starter before the start of the season after already inking Jhoulys Chacin, Clayton Richard and Trevor Cahill to one-year deals.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported the team remains interested in Jered Weaver, while former Padres standout Jake Peavy is a less likely candidate.
That rotation should speak for itself; it's a rebuilding year, and player development will trump win-loss record in 2017.
Projected Opening Day Roster (as of Feb. 15)
| LF Travis Jankowski | RHP Jhoulys Chacin |
| CF Manuel Margot (R) | LHP Clayton Richard |
| 1B Wil Myers | RHP Trevor Cahill |
| 3B Yangervis Solarte | LHP Christian Friedrich |
| RF Hunter Renfroe (R) | RHP Paul Clemens |
| 2B Ryan Schimpf | |
| C Austin Hedges | RHP Jarred Cosart |
| SS Luis Sardinas | RHP Miguel Diaz (R) |
| RHP Phil Maton (R) | |
| C Luis Torrens (R) | RHP Kevin Quackenbush |
| C/OF Christian Bethancourt | LHP Ryan Buchter |
| 1B/OF Alex Dickerson | LHP Brad Hand |
| IF Erick Aybar | RHP Brandon Maurer |
| IF Cory Spangenberg |
Projected DL: RP Carter Capps (Tommy John surgery), SP Colin Rea (TJ surgery), SP Robbie Erlin (TJ surgery)
29. Minnesota Twins (Previous: 29)
2 of 30
Spring Outlook
The Minnesota Twins looked like a team on the rise when Baseball America awarded them the No. 4 spot in its organizational talent rankings heading into the 2015 season.
Now it's time for the top three prospects from that group—Byron Buxton, Miguel Sano and Jose Berrios—to live up to the hype, and they could play a big role in helping the team rebound from a 103-loss campaign.
Pitch-framing whiz Jason Castro and well-traveled reliever Matt Belisle were the only notable additions, and the team is still without a traditional lockdown ninth-inning option.
Still, there's enough young talent on the roster for the Twins to take a step forward, and the starting rotation couldn't possibly be any worse than the group that posted an MLB-worst 5.39 ERA a year ago.
Projected Opening Day Roster (as of Feb. 15)
| 2B Brian Dozier | RHP Ervin Santana |
| SS Jorge Polanco | RHP Kyle Gibson |
| 1B Joe Mauer | LHP Hector Santiago |
| 3B Miguel Sano | RHP Phil Hughes |
| RF Max Kepler | RHP Jose Berrios |
| DH Kennys Vargas | |
| C Jason Castro | RHP Justin Haley (R) |
| LF Eddie Rosario | LHP Taylor Rogers |
| CF Byron Buxton | RHP Michael Tonkin |
| RHP Matt Belisle | |
| C John Ryan Murphy | RHP Ryan Pressly |
| IF Eduardo Escobar | RHP Trevor May |
| IF/OF Danny Santana | RHP Brandon Kintzler |
| OF Robbie Grossman |
Projected DL: RP Glen Perkins (shoulder)
28. Cincinnati Reds (Previous: 25)
3 of 30
Spring Outlook
Earlier this offseason I wrote how the Cincinnati Reds had a starting rotation that could surprise some people in 2017.
A late offseason trade of Dan Straily and another elbow surgery for Homer Bailey leaves it looking more like a question mark.
Top prospects Robert Stephenson and Amir Garrett will both get a long look for the final two spots in the rotation along with Tim Adleman, Cody Reed and a potentially healthy Bronson Arroyo.
"I think I learned a lot about myself, confidence-wise," Stephenson told Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. "I just need to be more relaxed and stay positive. There were times I tried to do too much and impress everyone. That's when I really struggled. I pitched tight. I wasn't relaxed and loose. I pitched a lot better when I was more free."
Meanwhile, unloading Brandon Phillips on the Atlanta Braves saved the team $1 million, but more importantly, it opened up an everyday gig for 22-year-old Jose Peraza.
Projected Opening Day Roster (as of Feb. 15)
| CF Billy Hamilton | RHP Anthony DeSclafani |
| SS Zack Cozart | LHP Brandon Finnegan |
| 1B Joey Votto | RHP Scott Feldman |
| LF Adam Duvall | RHP Tim Adleman |
| RF Scott Schebler | RHP Robert Stephenson (R) |
| C Devin Mesoraco | |
| 3B Eugenio Suarez | RHP Louis Coleman |
| 2B Jose Peraza | RHP Blake Wood |
| RHP Jumbo Diaz | |
| C Tucker Barnhart | RHP Drew Storen |
| IF/OF Arismendy Alcantara | LHP Tony Cingrani |
| IF/OF Patrick Kivlehan (R) | RHP Michael Lorenzen |
| IF/OF Tony Renda | RHP Raisel Iglesias |
| OF Desmond Jennings |
Projected DL: SP Homer Bailey (elbow surgery, bone spurs)
27. Milwaukee Brewers (Previous: 28)
4 of 30
Spring Outlook
The Milwaukee Brewers are not short on starting rotation options, that's for sure.
Wily Peralta, Junior Guerra, Zach Davies, Matt Garza, Chase Anderson, Taylor Jungmann, Tommy Milone and prospects Josh Hader, Jorge Lopez and Brandon Woodruff all appear to be potential candidates to break camp as part of the starting staff.
"We’ve kind of purposely gone into spring with some depth and that’s a really comfortable place to be for the organization," manager Craig Counsell told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "At some point, we’re going to have some decisions (to make) there."
The group will be backed by a new-look bullpen after Will Smith and Jeremy Jeffress were jettisoned at the trade deadline and Tyler Thornburg was traded this offseason. Former AL Rookie of the Year Neftali Feliz will get an opportunity to close games once again.
The Brewers are still in the early stages of rebuilding, but with one of the best farm systems in baseball, there should be a steady stream of exciting young talent arriving over the next few years.
Projected Opening Day Roster (as of Feb. 15)
| 2B Jonathan Villar | RHP Junior Guerra |
| CF Keon Broxton | RHP Jimmy Nelson |
| LF Ryan Braun | RHP Matt Garza |
| 1B Eric Thames | RHP Zach Davies |
| 3B Travis Shaw | RHP Chase Anderson |
| RF Domingo Santana | |
| SS Orlando Arcia | RHP Wily Peralta |
| C Andrew Susac | LHP Tommy Milone |
| RHP Jacob Barnes | |
| C Jett Bandy | RHP Jhan Marinez |
| 1B Jesus Aguilar | RHP Carlos Torres |
| IF Scooter Gennett | RHP Corey Knebel |
| IF/OF Hernan Perez | RHP Neftali Feliz |
| OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis |
26. Oakland Athletics (Previous: 27)
5 of 30
Spring Outlook
The $33.25 million that the Oakland Athletics spent to sign Trevor Plouffe, Rajai Davis, Matt Joyce and Santiago Casilla this offseason qualifies as a spending spree for the perennially thrifty front office.
Will it be enough to start heading back in the right direction after a 93-loss season?
Sonny Gray will be under a microscope this spring as he looks to return to ace form, and the final two spots in the rotation will be up for grabs.
"There's a lot for the starters to accomplish this year, and it's going to be one of the most important, if not the most important, aspects of the team," Gray told Jane Lee of MLB.com. "The starting rotation really needs to get deep in games, and if we can consistently hand the ball over to our bullpen tied or with the lead, then we're going to win a lot of games."
Unfortunately, the Astros, Mariners and Rangers all look like legitimate contenders this season, and the Angels are undoubtedly better, so even with an improved staff, the A's could have a tough time climbing out of the cellar.
Projected Opening Day Roster (as of Feb. 15)
| CF Rajai Davis | RHP Sonny Gray |
| C Stephen Vogt | RHP Kendall Graveman |
| DH Ryon Healy | LHP Sean Manaea |
| LF Khris Davis | RHP Jharel Cotton (R) |
| RF Matt Joyce | RHP Andrew Triggs |
| SS Marcus Semien | |
| 3B Trevor Plouffe | RHP Raul Alcantara |
| 1B Yonder Alonso | RHP Liam Hendriks |
| 2B Jed Lowrie | RHP John Axford |
| RHP Ryan Dull | |
| C Bruce Maxwell | RHP Santiago Casilla |
| 1B/OF Mark Canha | LHP Sean Doolittle |
| IF Adam Rosales | RHP Ryan Madson |
| OF Jake Smolinski |
Projected DL: SP Chris Bassitt (TJ surgery)
25. Chicago White Sox (Previous: 26)
6 of 30
Spring Outlook
There's no stopping the rebuild now.
After shipping out Chris Sale and Adam Eaton earlier this offseason, it's only a matter of time before Jose Quintana, David Robertson, Todd Frazier, Melky Cabrera and others are also headed elsewhere as well.
General manager Rick Hahn discussed the Chicago White Sox' current trade talks with Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune:
"We expect them to continue. We are going to keep an open mind and where there's conversations to be had, we will pursue them. At this point, we have had extensive conversations on various fronts and as we sit here today there's nothing that's gnawing at us or appealing enough to make us move. We are certainly going to keep an open mind, but now the focus tends to shift a little bit to getting ready for the season as opposed to any potential trades."
One of the more interesting decisions to make this spring will be who the next man up in the rotation is among a trio of top prospects—Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Carson Fulmer.
All three will be part of the first wave of prospect talent to arrive.
Projected Opening Day Roster (as of Feb. 15)
| SS Tim Anderson | LHP Jose Quintana |
| 2B Brett Lawrie | RHP Miguel Gonzalez |
| LF Melky Cabrera | LHP Carlos Rodon |
| 1B Jose Abreu | RHP James Shields |
| 3B Todd Frazier | LHP Derek Holland |
| RF Avisail Garcia | |
| DH Cody Asche | RHP Dylan Covey (R) |
| C Geovany Soto | RHP Michael Ynoa |
| RHP Jake Petricka | |
| RHP Zach Putnam | |
| C Omar Narvaez (R) | LHP Dan Jennings |
| IF Carlos Sanchez | RHP Nate Jones |
| IF/OF Tyler Saladino | RHP David Robertson |
| OF Peter Bourjos |
24. Atlanta Braves (Previous: 23)
7 of 30
Spring Outlook
The Atlanta Braves might not be ready to contend in 2017, but an improvement over last year's 68-93 record seems like money in the bank.
Adding Bartolo Colon, Jaime Garcia and R.A. Dickey to the rotation should help take some pressure off of a young bullpen and will also allow the up-and-coming young starters further time to develop.
As for the offense, full seasons of deadline-addition Matt Kemp and rookie Dansby Swanson along with the addition of Brandon Phillips will help the club improve on the 4.03 runs per game (29th in MLB) it put up a year ago.
There's no question this team is still a work in progress as the rebuilding efforts continue.
The Braves will usher in their new stadium with a considerably more competitive squad, though, and could make a run at a .500 record if everything breaks right.
Projected Opening Day Roster (as of Feb. 15)
| CF Ender Inciarte | RHP Julio Teheran |
| SS Dansby Swanson (R) | RHP Bartolo Colon |
| 1B Freddie Freeman | LHP Jaime Garcia |
| LF Matt Kemp | RHP R.A. Dickey |
| RF Nick Markakis | RHP Mike Foltynewicz |
| 2B Brandon Phillips | |
| 3B Adonis Garcia | RHP Josh Collmenter |
| C Tyler Flowers | RHP Armando Rivero (R) |
| RHP Dan Winkler (R) | |
| C Kurt Suzuki | RHP Jose Ramirez |
| IF Jace Peterson | LHP Ian Krol |
| IF/OF Chase d'Arnaud | RHP Mauricio Cabrera |
| OF Adam Brett Walker (R) | RHP Arodys Vizcaino |
| RHP Jim Johnson |
Projected DL: IF Sean Rodriguez (shoulder surgery), RP Paco Rodriguez (TJ surgery), RP Jacob Lindgren (TJ surgery)
23. Philadelphia Phillies (Previous: 22)
8 of 30
Spring Outlook
Philadelphia sports fans are well acquainted with cries of "Trust the Process" on the NBA side of things, and the same applies to the MLB squad.
It's now been five years since the last time the Phillies posted a winning record, and the departure of Ryan Howard this offseason wiped away the last remnant of the 2008 World Series-winning roster.
The future looks bright, though.
Aaron Nola, Vincent Velasquez and Jerad Eickhoff give the team a trio of starting pitchers to build around, while Rule 5 success story Odubel Herrea and slugger Maikel Franco look like keepers on the position-player side.
The youth movement will continue this season as J.P. Crawford, Jorge Alfaro, Nick Williams, Jake Thompson and others look to push their way into significant roles.
Just keep trusting the process, Philly.
Projected Opening Day Roster (as of Feb. 15)
| 2B Cesar Hernandez | RHP Jeremy Hellickson |
| LF Howie Kendrick | RHP Jerad Eickhoff |
| CF Odubel Herrera | RHP Aaron Nola |
| 3B Maikel Franco | RHP Vincent Velasquez |
| RF Michael Saunders | RHP Clay Buchholz |
| 1B Tommy Joseph | |
| C Cameron Rupp | RHP Cesar Ramos |
| SS Freddy Galvis | RHP Edubray Ramos |
| LHP Joely Rodriguez (R) | |
| C Ryan Hanigan | RHP Pat Neshek |
| 1B/OF Daniel Nava | RHP Hector Neris |
| IF Andres Blanco | RHP Jeanmar Gomez |
| IF/OF Chris Coghlan | RHP Joaquin Benoit |
| OF Aaron Altherr |
22. Los Angeles Angels (Previous: 24)
9 of 30
Spring Outlook
The Los Angeles Angels went to work this offseason shoring up an offense that was lacking any real punch beyond the trio of Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Kole Calhoun.
Luis Valbuena, Cameron Maybin, Ben Revere and Danny Espinosa are not exactly marquee additions, but they'll be welcome additions, and there are no longer black holes at second base and in left field.
That said, it's the trio of Garrett Richards, Matt Shoemaker and Tyler Skaggs atop the rotation that could ultimately determine if this team has a chance to contend.
Richards underwent stem cell treatment on a partially torn UCL last season, avoiding Tommy John surgery, at least for the time being.
"When I take the mound now, I'm going to take the mound just like I did even if I didn't get hurt," Richards told Maria Guardado of MLB.com. "Mentally and physically, I feel like I'm just ready to go. I don't have doubts in my mind or anything."
Projected Opening Day Roster (as of Feb. 15)
| 3B Yunel Escobar | RHP Garrett Richards |
| RF Kole Calhoun | RHP Matt Shoemaker |
| CF Mike Trout | LHP Tyler Skaggs |
| DH Albert Pujols | RHP Ricky Nolasco |
| 1B Luis Valbuena | RHP Jesse Chavez |
| LF Cameron Maybin | |
| 2B Danny Espinosa | RHP Yusmeiro Petit |
| SS Andrelton Simmons | RHP J.C. Ramirez |
| C Martin Maldonado | RHP Kirby Yates |
| LHP Jose Alvarez | |
| C Carlos Perez | RHP Andrew Bailey |
| 1B C.J. Cron | RHP Cam Bedrosian |
| IF Cliff Pennington | RHP Huston Street |
| OF Ben Revere |
Projected DL: SP Andrew Heaney (TJ surgery), SP Nick Tropeano (TJ surgery)
21. Tampa Bay Rays (Previous: 20)
10 of 30
Spring Outlook
The 68-94 record the Tampa Bay Rays posted last season was the franchise's worst showing since the 2007 season, and it's first last-place finish since the same year.
The AL East figures to be tough once again, but there is some reason for optimism.
When the Rays are good, it's because their starting rotation is shouldering the load, and if Chris Archer can return to ace form and Blake Snell can take another step forward, there's reason to believe the rotation can be a strength once again.
Offensively, the additions of Wilson Ramos and Colby Rasmus on the cheap will add some pop to the lineup, and a full season of Matt Duffy should help as well.
This organization has a knack for squeezing the most out of the talent it has, and a nice uptick in win total seems very possible.
Projected Opening Day Roster (as of Feb. 15)
| CF Kevin Kiermaier | RHP Chris Archer |
| SS Matt Duffy | RHP Jake Odorizzi |
| 3B Evan Longoria | RHP Alex Cobb |
| 2B Brad Miller | LHP Blake Snell |
| DH Corey Dickerson | RHP Matt Andriese |
| LF Colby Rasmus | |
| RF Steven Souza | RHP Erasmo Ramirez |
| 1B Logan Morrison | RHP Kevin Gadea (R) |
| C Curt Casali | RHP Shawn Tolleson |
| RHP Danny Farquhar | |
| C Luke Maile | LHP Xavier Cedeno |
| IF Tim Beckham | RHP Brad Boxberger |
| IF/OF Nick Franklin | RHP Alex Colome |
| OF Rickie Weeks Jr. |
Projected DL: C Wilson Ramos (knee surgery), SP Nathan Eovaldi (TJ surgery)
20. Arizona Diamondbacks (Previous: 19)
11 of 30
Spring Outlook
A top prospect who develops more slowly than expected but eventually turns into the player he was expected to become is often referred to as a "post-hype sleeper" when speaking in fantasy baseball terms.
The Arizona Diamondbacks could be the "post-hype sleeper" team of 2017.
After adding Zack Greinke and Shelby Miller last offseason, there were legitimate postseason hopes heading into 2016, but instead, the team went 69-93, which represented a 10-win decline over the previous year.
So what's the cause for optimism?
Healthy seasons from A.J. Pollock and David Peralta and a deep crop of starting pitchers that includes newcomer Taijuan Walker and breakout candidate Robbie Ray could give be enough for this team to push for a wild-card spot.
Projected Opening Day Roster (as of Feb. 15)
| CF A.J. Pollock | RHP Zack Greinke |
| SS Chris Owings | LHP Robbie Ray |
| 1B Paul Goldschmidt | RHP Taijuan Walker |
| RF David Peralta | RHP Shelby Miller |
| LF Yasmany Tomas | LHP Patrick Corbin |
| 3B Jake Lamb | |
| 2B Brandon Drury | RHP Tyler Jones (R) |
| C Chris Iannetta | RHP Kevin Jepsen |
| RHP Tom Wilhelmsen | |
| C Jeff Mathis | LHP Andrew Chafin |
| C/OF Chris Herrmann | RHP Randall Delgado |
| IF Nick Ahmed | RHP Jake Barrett |
| IF/OF Daniel Descalso | RHP Fernando Rodney |
| OF Gregor Blanco |
19. Baltimore Orioles (Previous: 18)
12 of 30
Spring Outlook
For better or worse, it looks like the Baltimore Orioles are finished making moves this offseason.
They've essentially swapped out Pedro Alvarez and Matt Wieters for Seth Smith and Welington Castillo on the offensive side of things, while swingman Logan Verrett has been the most notable addition on the pitching side.
Is that going to be enough to keep pace in the AL East and push for a return trip to the postseason?
An already weak starting rotation could be without Chris Tillman to start the season after he had a platelet-rich-plasma injection in his shoulder in December.
That will put the team's lack of starting pitching depth to the test right away as Mike Wright, Tyler Wilson, Gabriel Ynoa and Verrett are the leading candidates to step in for Tillman.
The bullpen figures to be a clear strength once again, and it will have to be if the Orioles are going to have any chance of contending.
Projected Opening Day Roster (as of Feb. 15)
| CF Adam Jones | RHP Kevin Gausman |
| RF Seth Smith | RHP Dylan Bundy |
| 3B Manny Machado | RHP Ubaldo Jimenez |
| 1B Chris Davis | LHP Wade Miley |
| DH Mark Trumbo | RHP Mike Wright |
| 2B Jonathan Schoop | |
| C Welington Castillo | LHP T.J. McFarland |
| SS J.J. Hardy | RHP Oliver Drake |
| LF Hyun Soo Kim | LHP Donnie Hart |
| RHP Mychal Givens | |
| C Caleb Joseph | RHP Darren O'Day |
| 1B/OF Christian Walker | RHP Brad Brach |
| IF/OF Ryan Flaherty | LHP Zach Britton |
| OF Joey Rickard |
Projected DL: Chris Tillman (PRP injection in shoulder)
18. Kansas City Royals (Previous: 21)
13 of 30
Spring Outlook
The Kansas City Royals have taken a cautiously optimistic approach to the offseason, shoring up roster holes with mid-level, short-term signings in an effort to make one final run at contention with the current core.
Change is coming, though.
Lorenzo Cain, Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas and Alcides Escobar are all headed for free agency next winter, and the money simply isn't there to keep that group intact.
In fact, a midseason fire sale isn't out of the question if they slip too far back in the AL Central standings by the time the deadline rolls around.
All of that said, the additions of Jason Hammel and Travis Wood shore up a starting rotation that previously looked like the most glaring weakness, and this is still a team capable of winning games with speed, defense and quality relief pitching.
Projected Opening Day Roster (as of Feb. 15)
| SS Alcides Escobar | LHP Danny Duffy |
| 3B Mike Moustakas | RHP Ian Kennedy |
| CF Lorenzo Cain | LHP Jason Vargas |
| 1B Eric Hosmer | RHP Jason Hammel |
| C Salvador Perez | LHP Travis Wood |
| LF Alex Gordon | |
| RF Jorge Soler | LHP Mike Minor |
| DH Brandon Moss | RHP Chris Young |
| 2B Raul Mondesi | LHP Scott Alexander |
| RHP Chris Withrow | |
| C Drew Butera | LHP Matt Strahm (R) |
| IF Christian Colon | RHP Joakim Soria |
| IF Cheslor Cuthbert | RHP Kelvin Herrera |
| OF Paulo Orlando |
Projected DL: RP Brian Flynn (fractured rib)
17. Pittsburgh Pirates (Previous: 17)
14 of 30
Spring Outlook
It's not often you see a team that isn't in the process of rebuilding suffer a 20-win drop-off from one year to the next.
That's what the Pittsburgh Pirates dealt with in 2016 as they went from 98-64 to 78-83 with essentially the same core group of players.
So what now?
The starting rotation will be banking on a return to form from Gerrit Cole and continued progression from young arms like Jameson Taillon, Tyler Glasnow, Chad Kuhl and others.
As for the offense, expecting Andrew McCutchen to return to MVP form might be asking too much, but he should be able to improve on what was easily the worst season of his career in what may very well be his final season in Pittsburgh.
If the young arms progress as hoped and the offensive core can stay healthy and productive, a vast improvement over last season and another trip to the Wild Card Round is not out of the question.
Projected Opening Day Roster (as of Feb. 15)
| 2B Josh Harrison | RHP Gerrit Cole |
| 1B Josh Bell (R) | RHP Ivan Nova |
| RF Andrew McCutchen | RHP Jameson Taillon |
| CF Starling Marte | RHP Chad Kuhl |
| LF Gregory Polanco | RHP Drew Hutchison |
| 3B Jung Ho Kang | |
| C Francisco Cervelli | LHP Wade LeBlanc |
| SS Jordy Mercer | RHP Juan Nicasio |
| LHP Antonio Bastardo | |
| C Chris Stewart | RHP Jared Hughes |
| 1B John Jaso | LHP Felipe Rivero |
| 1B/3B David Freese | RHP Daniel Hudson |
| IF Alen Hanson (R) | LHP Tony Watson |
| IF/OF Adam Frazier |
16. Miami Marlins (Previous: 15)
15 of 30
Spring Outlook
They may have missed out on signing Kenley Jansen, but the Miami Marlins still have the makings of a "super bullpen" after adding Brad Ziegler and Junichi Tazawa to an already stacked relief corps.
"The main thing to me is we took a strength and made it even better," manager Don Mattingly told Joe Frisaro of MLB.com. "We've given it some different looks. Brad gives us a guy who gives us some different angles, and he's also pitched late in games. He's closed. He's been a setup guy. Although he is better against righties, he's pretty good against lefties, also."
He continued: "Junichi gives us a guy who really is a different look, also, with the split. He's had a lot of success against left-handed hitters. We've got some different looks."
Those two will join A.J. Ramos, Kyle Barraclough and David Phelps—whom Mattingly called a "weapon" thanks to his multi-inning abilities.
A healthy Giancarlo Stanton and another step forward from left-hander Adam Conley appear to be the biggest X-factors for the lineup and rotation, respectively.
Projected Opening Day Roster (as of Feb. 15)
| 2B Dee Gordon | LHP Wei-Yin Chen |
| 3B Martin Prado | RHP Edinson Volquez |
| CF Christian Yelich | LHP Adam Conley |
| RF Giancarlo Stanton | RHP Dan Straily |
| LF Marcell Ozuna | RHP Tom Koehler |
| 1B Justin Bour | |
| C J.T. Realmuto | LHP Jeff Locke |
| SS Adeiny Hechavarria | RHP David Phelps |
| RHP Jose Urena | |
| C A.J. Ellis | RHP Dustin McGowan |
| IF Miguel Rojas | RHP Junichi Tazawa |
| IF/OF Derek Dietrich | RHP Brad Ziegler |
| OF Ichiro Suzuki | RHP Kyle Barraclough |
| RHP A.J. Ramos |
15. Colorado Rockies (Previous: 16)
16 of 30
Spring Outlook
Do the Colorado Rockies have enough pitching to contend?
That's the million-dollar question, and for the first time in years, the answer is not a resounding no.
Jon Gray showed flashes of emerging as a legitimate front line last season, while Chad Bettis, Tyler Anderson and Tyler Chatwood all posted an ERA+ north of 100.
With a pair of good young arms in Jeff Hoffman (No. 36 prospect, per Baseball America) and German Marquez (No. 53 prospect) knocking on the door for the first time in a long time, the rotation actually has a chance to be a strength.
Adding Mike Dunn and Greg Holland to the bullpen should also go a long way toward improving a relief corps that finished last in the majors with a 5.13 ERA a year ago.
The rest of the NL West and the baseball world in general would be wise not to underestimate the Rockies.
Projected Opening Day Roster (as of Feb. 15)
| CF Charlie Blackmon | RHP Jon Gray |
| 2B DJ LeMahieu | RHP Chad Bettis |
| 3B Nolan Arenado | LHP Tyler Anderson |
| RF Carlos Gonzalez | RHP Tyler Chatwood |
| 1B Ian Desmond | RHP Jeff Hoffman (R) |
| LF David Dahl | |
| SS Trevor Story | RHP Jordan Lyles |
| C Tony Wolters | LHP Chris Rusin |
| RHP Chad Qualls | |
| C Tom Murphy (R) | LHP Mike Dunn |
| 1B/3B Mark Reynolds | RHP Jason Motte |
| IF/OF Alexi Amarista | LHP Jake McGee |
| OF Gerardo Parra | RHP Greg Holland |
| RHP Adam Ottavino |
Projected DL: RP Jairo Diaz (TJ surgery)
14. Detroit Tigers (Previous: 14)
17 of 30
Spring Outlook
The Detroit Tigers were 40-32 with a plus-30 run differential after the All-Star break last season.
That was apparently enough to convince the front office to put off rebuilding for another year in favor of pushing for a postseason spot once again in 2017.
If J.D. Martinez stays healthy (120 G) and Justin Upton hits anything like he did in September (1.132 OPS, 13 HR, 28 RBI) the offense could be among the best in baseball.
Meanwhile, the emergence of Michael Fulmer and strong late-season performances from young lefties Daniel Norris and Matt Boyd mean the rotation will be less reliant on the high-priced duo of Jordan Zimmermann and Anibal Sanchez this season.
Still, the gap between the Tigers and Indians in the AL Central looks awfully wide, and the wild-card picture is always a crapshoot. They might regret not getting the ball rolling on that inevitable rebuild.
Projected Opening Day Roster (as of Feb. 15)
| 2B Ian Kinsler | RHP Justin Verlander |
| RF J.D. Martinez | RHP Michael Fulmer |
| 1B Miguel Cabrera | RHP Jordan Zimmermann |
| DH Victor Martinez | RHP Anibal Sanchez |
| LF Justin Upton | LHP Daniel Norris |
| 3B Nick Castellanos | |
| C James McCann | RHP Mike Pelfrey |
| CF Tyler Collins | LHP Daniel Stumpf (R) |
| SS Jose Iglesias | RHP Mark Lowe |
| RHP Bruce Rondon | |
| C Alex Avila | LHP Justin Wilson |
| IF/OF Andrew Romine | RHP Alex Wilson |
| OF Mikie Mahtook | RHP Francisco Rodriguez |
| OF Steven Moya |
13. New York Yankees (Previous: 13)
18 of 30
Spring Outlook
The New York Yankees' chances of contending in 2017 hinge on the success of the starting rotation.
Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia and Michael Pineda are locks for the first three spots on the staff, leaving a handful of inexperienced arms with varying levels of upside to round out the staff.
Luis Severino, Bryan Mitchell, Luis Cessa and Chad Green are the four leading candidates, while Triple-A standout Jordan Montgomery might be the dark horse to break camp with a rotation job if he has a strong spring.
With eight of the team's top-10 prospects—per Baseball America—invited to big league camp this spring, the future will be on full display in Tampa.
The one to watch with regards to the Opening Day roster will be slugger Aaron Judge, who is vying for the starting right field job. After striking out 42 times in 95 plate appearances last season, more time in Triple-A will do him good.
This is going to be a competitive Yankees team, but it might still be a couple of years away from making a serious push.
Projected Opening Day Roster (as of Feb. 15)
| LF Brett Gardner | RHP Masahiro Tanaka |
| CF Jacoby Ellsbury | LHP CC Sabathia |
| C Gary Sanchez | RHP Michael Pineda |
| DH Matt Holliday | RHP Luis Severino |
| 1B Greg Bird | RHP Bryan Mitchell |
| 2B Starlin Castro | |
| SS Didi Gregorius | RHP Luis Cessa |
| 3B Chase Headley | LHP Chasen Shreve |
| RF Aaron Hicks | RHP Adam Warren |
| LHP Tommy Layne | |
| C Austin Romine | RHP Tyler Clippard |
| 1B Chris Carter | RHP Dellin Betances |
| 1B/OF Tyler Austin (R) | LHP Aroldis Chapman |
| IF Ronald Torreyes |
12. Seattle Mariners (Previous: 12)
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Spring Outlook
At last tally, the Seattle Mariners had 17 newcomers on the 40-man roster, including 10 players projected for Opening Day roster spots, per Roster Resource.
Maybe GM Jerry Dipoto will sleep next offseason.
Adding Jean Segura and Jarrod Dyson ahead of a trio of 30-homer sluggers in the lineup and shoring up the back of the rotation with veterans Yovani Gallardo and Drew Smyly leaves the club without any glaring holes heading into the year.
If Felix Hernandez can return to top-tier form and James Paxton can take the next step, the pitching staff has a chance to be improved even after Taijuan Walker was shipped to Arizona.
The AL West is going to be a battle this season, but the Mariners look to have as good a chance as ever to reach the postseason for the first time since 2001.
Projected Opening Day Roster (as of Feb. 15)
| RF Jarrod Dyson | RHP Felix Hernandez |
| SS Jean Segura | RHP Hisashi Iwakuma |
| 2B Robinson Cano | LHP James Paxton |
| DH Nelson Cruz | RHP Yovani Gallardo |
| 3B Kyle Seager | LHP Drew Smyly |
| C Mike Zunino | |
| 1B Dan Vogelbach (R) | RHP Chris Heston |
| LF Mitch Haniger (R) | RHP Dan Altavilla (R) |
| CF Leonys Martin | RHP Evan Scribner |
| RHP Casey Fien | |
| C Carlos Ruiz | LHP Marc Rzepczynski |
| IF/OF Shawn O'Malley | RHP Nick Vincent |
| IF/OF Danny Valencia | RHP Edwin Diaz |
| OF Guillermo Heredia (R) |
Projected DL: RP Steve Cishek (hip surgery)
11. New York Mets (Previous: 11)
20 of 30
Spring Outlook
On paper, the New York Mets have a pitching staff that stacks up to any in baseball.
However, with Matt Harvey (thoracic outlet surgery), Jacob deGrom (ulnar nerve surgery) and Steven Matz (elbow bone spur removal) all undergoing offseason operations and Zack Wheeler already dealing with some "elbow tenderness" this spring, it's a staff lacking in stability.
That begs the question: Does this team have enough offense to pick up the slack?
After ranking 25th in the majors at 4.14 runs per game last season, the Mets re-signed Yoenis Cespedes, and Neil Walker accepted his qualifying offer, but not a single addition was made to the lineup.
Instead, the team will hope a healthy Lucas Duda and a full season of Jay Bruce can make the difference.
For a team whose window to win is open right now, it just doesn't seem like the Mets did nearly enough to seize that opportunity this winter.
Projected Opening Day Roster (as of Feb. 15)
| CF Curtis Granderson | RHP Noah Syndergaard |
| SS Asdrubal Cabrera | RHP Jacob deGrom |
| LF Yoenis Cespedes | RHP Matt Harvey |
| RF Jay Bruce | LHP Steven Matz |
| 2B Neil Walker | RHP Zack Wheeler |
| 3B David Wright | |
| 1B Lucas Duda | RHP Erik Goeddel |
| C Travis d'Arnaud | LHP Josh Edgin |
| RHP Fernando Salas | |
| C Rene Rivera | LHP Jerry Blevins |
| IF Wilmer Flores | RHP Hansel Robles |
| IF Jose Reyes | RHP Addison Reed |
| IF/OF T.J. Rivera (R) | RHP Jeurys Familia |
| OF Juan Lagares |
10. Texas Rangers (Previous: 10)
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Spring Outlook
The Texas Rangers are on the hot seat in the AL West.
After a 95-win season last year, they've had a somewhat understated offseason, while the Astros, Mariners and even Angels have all made sweeping changes to their respective rosters.
Bringing back Mike Napoli for a third tour of duty was a smart move to help replace Carlos Beltran and Mitch Moreland in the lineup, and the offense should be dangerous once again.
The big question mark is the starting rotation.
Can Martin Perez, A.J. Griffin and newcomers Andrew Cashner, Tyson Ross and Dillon Gee provide enough support to co-aces Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish for this team to hold onto its division supremacy?
Otherwise, it could be another busy trade deadline for the front office.
Projected Opening Day Roster (as of Feb. 15)
| CF Carlos Gomez | LHP Cole Hamels |
| RF Shin-Soo Choo | RHP Yu Darvish |
| 3B Adrian Beltre | RHP Andrew Cashner |
| DH Mike Napoli | LHP Martin Perez |
| 2B Rougned Odor | RHP A.J. Griffin |
| C Jonathan Lucroy | |
| LF Nomar Mazara | RHP Dillon Gee |
| SS Elvis Andrus | LHP Alex Claudio |
| 1B James Loney | RHP Keone Kela |
| RHP Tony Barnette | |
| C Robinson Chirinos | RHP Matt Bush |
| IF Jurickson Profar | RHP Jeremy Jeffress |
| IF/OF Ryan Rua | RHP Sam Dyson |
| OF Delino DeShields Jr. |
Projected DL: SP Tyson Ross (thoracic outlet surgery), RP Jake Diekman (ulcerative colitis surgery)
9. St. Louis Cardinals (Previous: 8)
22 of 30
Spring Outlook
As a baseball fan in general, the news that electric young starter Alex Reyes will be forced to undergo Tommy John surgery was a kick in the gut.
The St. Louis Cardinals still have plenty of starting pitching depth, as Reyes was expected to compete with Michael Wacha and Luke Weaver for the No. 5 starter job.
There's a reason the 22-year-old is widely regarded as the game's top pitching prospect, though.
That being said, this still looks like a dangerous Cardinals team, as the additions of Dexter Fowler and Brett Cecil addressed the two most glaring needs on the roster.
With improved defense and a bit more stability in the bullpen from the onset—remember Trevor Rosenthal struggled early last year and the coaching staff was forced to shuffle the relief corps—a return trip to the postseason looks well within reach.
Projected Opening Day Roster (as of Feb. 15)
| CF Dexter Fowler | RHP Carlos Martinez |
| SS Aledmys Diaz | RHP Adam Wainwright |
| 1B Matt Carpenter | RHP Lance Lynn |
| RF Stephen Piscotty | RHP Mike Leake |
| LF Randal Grichuk | RHP Michael Wacha |
| C Yadier Molina | |
| 3B Jedd Gyorko | RHP Matt Bowman |
| 2B Kolten Wong | RHP Miguel Socolovich |
| RHP Jonathan Broxton | |
| C Eric Fryer | LHP Brett Cecil |
| 1B Matt Adams | RHP Trevor Rosenthal |
| IF Greg Garcia | LHP Kevin Siegrist |
| IF Jhonny Peralta | RHP Seung Hwan Oh |
| OF Tommy Pham |
Projected DL: SP Alex Reyes (partially torn UCL), RP Zach Duke (TJ surgery), RP Tyler Lyons (knee surgery)
8. San Francisco Giants (Previous: 6)
23 of 30
Spring Outlook
The San Francisco Giants used up the bulk of their payroll flexibility to sign closer Mark Melancon, addressing what was easily the most glaring weakness on the roster.
However, that hasn't stopped them from continuing to hunt for bargains on the free-agent market.
Along with signing veteran catcher Nick Hundley to a one-year, $2 million deal, they've also added the likes of Tim Federowicz, Josmil Pinto, Michael Morse, Gordon Beckham, Jimmy Rollins, Justin Ruggiano, Michael Roth, David Hernandez, Bryan Morris, Neil Ramirez, Jose Dominguez and KBO standout Jae-gyun Hwan on minor league deals.
That's an awful lot of MLB experience and depth on the cheap.
The left field position battle and the health of Matt Cain are the biggest stories to follow, though the presence of Ty Blach and Tyler Beede gives the team some intriguing rotation depth.
Projected Opening Day Roster (as of Feb. 15)
| CF Denard Span | LHP Madison Bumgarner |
| 2B Joe Panik | RHP Johnny Cueto |
| C Buster Posey | RHP Jeff Samardzija |
| RF Hunter Pence | LHP Matt Moore |
| 1B Brandon Belt | RHP Matt Cain |
| SS Brandon Crawford | |
| 3B Eduardo Nunez | RHP Cory Gearrin |
| LF Jarrett Parker | RHP George Kontos |
| LHP Steven Okert (R) | |
| C Nick Hundley | RHP Hunter Strickland |
| 1B/3B Conor Gillaspie | LHP Will Smith |
| IF Jae-gyun Hwang (R) | RHP Derek Law |
| OF Gorkys Hernandez | RHP Mark Melancon |
| OF Mac Williamson |
7. Toronto Blue Jays (Previous: 7)
24 of 30
Spring Outlook
The Toronto Blue Jays finally addressed their need for more bullpen help.
Despite a late dive into the reliever market, they still walked away with a pair of quality veteran arms in Joe Smith and J.P. Howell on matching one-year, $3 million deals.
Meanwhile, it sounds like the days of treating Aaron Sanchez with kid gloves are over.
"I don't see any limitations," manager John Gibbons told Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com. "He ended up throwing a full year last year, because some good things happened, he pitched later. But, yeah, he's a big, strong kid, he worked really hard this winter ... he's good to go, no concerns."
He'll once again front a rotation that paced the AL with a 3.64 ERA last season and tied for the MLB lead with 100 quality starts.
That pitching staff should be able to offset any downturn in offensive production that might come with the departure of Edwin Encarnacion.
Projected Opening Day Roster (as of Feb. 15)
| 2B Devon Travis | RHP Aaron Sanchez |
| 3B Josh Donaldson | LHP J.A. Happ |
| RF Jose Bautista | RHP Marco Estrada |
| DH Kendrys Morales | RHP Marcus Stroman |
| SS Troy Tulowitzki | LHP Francisco Liriano |
| 1B Justin Smoak | |
| C Russell Martin | RHP Mike Bolsinger |
| CF Kevin Pillar | LHP Aaron Loup |
| LF Ezequiel Carrera | RHP Joe Smith |
| LHP J.P. Howell | |
| C Jarrod Saltalamacchia | RHP Joe Biagini |
| IF/OF Darwin Barney | RHP Jason Grilli |
| IF/OF Steve Pearce | RHP Roberto Osuna |
| OF Melvin Upton Jr. |
6. Los Angeles Dodgers (Previous: 9)
25 of 30
Spring Outlook
Since these rankings were last updated, the Los Angeles Dodgers have found their second baseman (Logan Forsythe) and made a significant addition to the bullpen (Sergio Romo).
That's enough for them to climb several spots in the rankings and once again pull into the role of favorite in the NL West—a division they've won four years running.
That's not to say there are not still questions that need answering, though.
The back of the starting rotation and both corner outfield spots are wide open heading into camp, and a return to health from guys like Scott Kazmir, Brandon McCarthy, Trayce Thompson and Andre Ethier gives the team plenty of options in both areas.
Keep an eye on top prospect Cody Bellinger this spring. He's long been viewed as the heir to Adrian Gonzalez at first base but could break in as a corner outfielder if the opportunity presents itself.
Projected Opening Day Roster (as of Feb. 15)
| 2B Logan Forsythe | LHP Clayton Kershaw |
| SS Corey Seager | LHP Rich Hill |
| 3B Justin Turner | RHP Kenta Maeda |
| 1B Adrian Gonzalez | LHP Scott Kazmir |
| C Yasmani Grandal | LHP Julio Urias |
| CF Joc Pederson | |
| RF Yasiel Puig | RHP Brandon McCarthy |
| LF Andrew Toles | LHP Alex Wood |
| LHP Luis Avilan | |
| C/IF Austin Barnes (R) | RHP Sergio Romo |
| 1B/OF Darin Ruf | LHP Grant Dayton |
| IF Chase Utley | RHP Pedro Baez |
| OF Andre Ethier | RHP Kenley Jansen |
| OF Franklin Gutierrez |
Projected DL: SP Hyun-Jin Ryu (elbow surgery), RP Yimi Garcia (TJ surgery)
5. Houston Astros (Previous: 5)
26 of 30
Spring Outlook
Some teams wait around on the free-agent market in hopes of finding a bargain. The Baltimore Orioles come to mind as a club that has enjoyed some success with that approach.
The Houston Astros represent the opposite end of the spectrum.
It's been a busy offseason for the 'Stros, but the last notable move came all the way back on Dec. 5 when Carlos Beltran joined Josh Reddick, Brian McCann, Charlie Morton and Nori Aoki as newcomers to the roster.
Just shows there's no wrong way to approach the offseason.
The big question now is whether they've done enough to be legitimate title contenders or if that move to acquire a front-line starter will still come at some point in the near future.
The continued development of young arms like Lance McCullers, Joe Musgrove, David Paulino and No. 1 prospect Francis Martes could go a long way in making that a moot point.
Projected Opening Day Roster (as of Feb. 15)
| CF George Springer | LHP Dallas Keuchel |
| 2B Jose Altuve | RHP Lance McCullers |
| SS Carlos Correa | RHP Collin McHugh |
| DH Carlos Beltran | RHP Mike Fiers |
| C Brian McCann | RHP Charlie Morton |
| 3B Alex Bregman | |
| RF Josh Reddick | RHP Chris Devenski |
| 1B Yulieski Gurriel (R) | RHP Brad Peacock |
| LF Nori Aoki | RHP Michael Feliz |
| LHP Tony Sipp | |
| C Evan Gattis | RHP Luke Gregerson |
| 1B/OF Preston Tucker | RHP Will Harris |
| OF Teoscar Hernandez (R) | RHP Ken Giles |
| OF Jake Marisnick |
4. Washington Nationals (Previous: 4)
27 of 30
Spring Outlook
Manager Dusty Baker is going to get awfully sick of answering questions about the closer spot this spring.
After failing to add an outside replacement for the departing Mark Melancon, the team will rely on its in-house talent to fill the void.
Standout setup man Shawn Kelley and ground-ball machine Blake Treinen are the leading candidates.
"Somebody is going to be pitching the ninth inning," right-hander Shawn Kelley told Jamal Collier of MLB.com. "We aren't closer-less, because somebody in here is going to close."
Both pitchers enjoyed strong 2016 seasons:
- Kelley: 67 G, 7 SV, 13 HLD, 2.64 ERA, 0.90 ERA, 12.4 K/9
- Treinen: 73 G, 1 SV, 22 HLD, 2.28 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 8.5 K/9
Kelley has a long track record of missing bats, while Treinen ranked second among qualified relievers with a 65.9 percent ground-ball rate.
With a deep starting rotation and potentially dangerous lineup if Bryce Harper can return to form, the bullpen looks like the big X-factor in the Nationals' hopes of contending for a title.
Projected Opening Day Roster (as of Feb. 15)
| SS Trea Turner | RHP Max Scherzer |
| CF Adam Eaton | RHP Stephen Strasburg |
| 2B Daniel Murphy | RHP Tanner Roark |
| RF Bryce Harper | LHP Gio Gonzalez |
| 3B Anthony Rendon | RHP Joe Ross |
| LF Jayson Werth | |
| 1B Ryan Zimmerman | LHP Enny Romero |
| C Derek Norris | RHP A.J. Cole |
| LHP Oliver Perez | |
| C Jose Lobaton | RHP Trevor Gott |
| 1B Adam Lind | LHP Sammy Solis |
| 1B/OF Clint Robinson | RHP Blake Treinen |
| IF Stephen Drew | RHP Shawn Kelley |
| OF Chris Heisey |
3. Boston Red Sox (Previous: 3)
28 of 30
Spring Outlook
The Boston Red Sox might have the two most compelling position battles in all of baseball.
The most talked about will be Drew Pomeranz, Steven Wright and Eduardo Rodriguez duking it out for the final two spots in the starting rotation.
That's two 2016 All-Stars and an exciting young starter in E-Rod, who could wind up being a front-line quality arm if he puts it all together. It's a good problem to have.
The other is deciding who will be handling those starters and the rest of the pitching staff as Sandy Leon tries to hold off Christian Vazquez and Blake Swihart for the starting catcher job.
Leon hit .310/.369/.476 in a breakout season last year, but it's impossible to ignore his .392 BABIP, which would be unsustainable even for someone with plus speed. Vazquez is a defensive standout and Swihart has the top prospect pedigree, so they'll get a long look.
At any rate, this Red Sox team looks to stack up with any in baseball in terms of overall talent.
A somewhat thin bullpen—at least relative to the two teams ranked ahead of them—and overcoming the loss of David Ortiz, both in the lineup and in the clubhouse, are what keeps them in the No. 3 spot.
Projected Opening Day Roster (as of Feb. 15)
| 2B Dustin Pedroia | LHP Chris Sale |
| LF Andrew Benintendi (R) | LHP David Price |
| SS Xander Bogaerts | RHP Rick Porcello |
| RF Mookie Betts | LHP Drew Pomeranz |
| DH Hanley Ramirez | RHP Steven Wright |
| CF Jackie Bradley Jr. | |
| 3B Pablo Sandoval | RHP Heath Hembree |
| 1B Mitch Moreland | LHP Fernando Abad |
| C Sandy Leon | RHP Matt Barnes |
| LHP Robbie Ross Jr. | |
| C Christian Vazquez | RHP Joe Kelly |
| IF Josh Rutledge | RHP Tyler Thornburg |
| IF/OF Brock Holt | RHP Craig Kimbrel |
| OF Chris Young |
Projected DL: Carson Smith (TJ surgery)
2. Cleveland Indians (Previous: 2)
29 of 30
Spring Outlook
As big as the signing of Edwin Encarnacion will be for the Cleveland Indians, a healthy Michael Brantley has a chance to make an even bigger impact on the lineup.
It's understandable then that the Indians are being cautious with the former All-Star this spring, already ruling him out of the spring opener Feb. 25.
"That's too quick," manager Terry Francona told Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. "He's worked so hard and to have him back will be so nice. It's just, we're going to do it right, so he can have his best chance to be successful."
Brantley played in just 11 games last season while battling a bum shoulder.
The Indians have also added lefty reliever Boone Logan to the relief corps since these rankings were last updated, giving them even more flexibility to deploy Andrew Miller in any situation since they'll now have a second quality left-hander in the pen.
Keep an eye on prospect Bradley Zimmer this spring. He hit .257/.421/.514 with 11 extra-base hits in the Arizona Fall League and could push Tyler Naquin for the center field job. Naquin had a bloated .411 BABIP last year and looks like a significant regression candidate.
Projected Opening Day Roster (as of Feb. 15)
| DH Carlos Santana | RHP Corey Kluber |
| 2B Jason Kipnis | RHP Carlos Carrasco |
| SS Francisco Lindor | RHP Danny Salazar |
| 1B Edwin Encarnacion | RHP Trevor Bauer |
| LF Michael Brantley | RHP Josh Tomlin |
| 3B Jose Ramirez | |
| RF Lonnie Chisenhall | RHP Hoby Milner (R) |
| C Yan Gomes | RHP Zach McAllister |
| CF Tyler Naquin | RHP Dan Otero |
| LHP Boone Logan | |
| C Roberto Perez | RHP Bryan Shaw |
| IF Michael Martinez | LHP Andrew Miller |
| OF Abraham Almonte | RHP Cody Allen |
| OF Brandon Guyer |
1. Chicago Cubs (Previous: 1)
30 of 30
Spring Outlook
The Chicago Cubs have added an interesting wrinkle to the pitching staff since we last visited these rankings, signing oft-injured Brett Anderson to compete for the No. 5 starter job.
Ideally, he'd run with the opportunity and stay healthy all season, allowing Mike Montgomery to be utilized as the primary left-hander out of the bullpen. That may be wishful thinking, though, considering Anderson has made 30 starts just twice in his eight-year career and pitched a grand total of 11.1 innings last season.
Still, it's a nice low-risk move that could really pay off.
The battles for the final bench spot between Tommy La Stella and Matt Szczur and the final bullpen spot between Brian Duensing, Rule 5 pick Caleb Smith and a handful of others look like the only major roster decisions.
Meanwhile, a Jake Arrieta extension could still be in the works.
"I owe a lot to this team and this organization," Arrieta told Carrie Muskat of MLB.com. "I don't want to see my time here come to an end. ... I think there's opportunity, and we can have conversations as far as an extension is concerned."
Projected Opening Day Roster (as of Feb. 15)
| LF Kyle Schwarber | LHP Jon Lester |
| 3B Kris Bryant | RHP Jake Arrieta |
| 1B Anthony Rizzo | RHP Kyle Hendricks |
| 2B Ben Zobrist | RHP John Lackey |
| SS Addison Russell | LHP Brett Anderson |
| C Willson Contreras | |
| RF Jason Heyward | LHP Brian Duensing |
| CF Jon Jay | RHP Justin Grimm |
| LHP Mike Montgomery | |
| C Miguel Montero | RHP Carl Edwards Jr. |
| IF Javier Baez | RHP Pedro Strop |
| OF Albert Almora Jr. | RHP Koji Uehara |
| OF Matt Szczur | RHP Hector Rondon |
| RHP Wade Davis |
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted. Contract information via Spotrac unless otherwise noted.
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