1 Burning Question For Every MLB Team in 2024 Spring Training
From World Series front-runners to rebuilding clubs coming off a 100-loss season, every MLB team has at least one major question that it needs to answer during spring training.
Whether it's a position battle, a player trying to rebound from a poor season, a prospect looking to win a spot on the Opening Day roster, an extension candidate hammering out a long-term deal or something else entirely, questions abound as spring training begins.
Some of these questions could be answered once the remaining free agents decide to sign, with Blake Snell, Cody Bellinger, Jordan Montgomery and Matt Chapman headlining a list of notable players still looking for their next team.
Let this serve as a preview of sorts for what to watch for with all 30 MLB teams this spring.
Arizona Diamondbacks
1 of 30
Burning Question: Which Geraldo Perdomo will show up in 2024?
The 2023 campaign was a tale of two seasons for Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo. He earned his first All-Star selection with a terrific first half of the season, but his production dipped drastically after the All-Star break.
- 1st Half: 274 PA, .271/.378/.409, 20 XBH, 16.4 K%
- 2nd Half: 221 PA, .214/.322/.297, 10 XBH, 18.6 K%
With top prospect Jordan Lawlar waiting in the wings after making his MLB debut last year as a September call-up, Perdomo will need to prove his first half last season was not a fluke. Otherwise, he could quickly find himself relegated to a utility role.
Atlanta Braves
2 of 30
Burning Question: Will Max Fried extension talks be revisited?
The Atlanta Braves have done an excellent job locking up their core pieces over the last few seasons with extensions. But they also proved they are willing to let a big name walk, most notably cutting ties with Freddie Freeman and Dansby Swanson.
Which category will Max Fried fall into?
The two sides discussed an extension prior to last season to no avail, and he's now set to enter a contract year in 2024. The 30-year-old dealt with some injury issues in 2023, but he was still a top-tier starter when healthy, going 8-1 with a 2.55 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 80 strikeouts in 77.2 innings over 14 starts.
"It's out of my control right now," Fried told reporters. "But the Braves do things a certain way and I know that privacy and doing things behind closed doors is the way things are done. I respect that. I know I love being here and I'm really excited to get started with this group."
If he does decide to test the market next winter, he'll join a stacked list of starting pitchers that could also include Corbin Burnes, Zack Wheeler, Max Scherzer, Walker Buehler and Shane Bieber.
Baltimore Orioles
3 of 30
Burning Question: Will Jackson Holliday make the Opening Day roster?
For the third year in a row, the Baltimore Orioles will open the season with the No. 1 prospect in baseball, according to Baseball America.
In 2022, they sent catcher Adley Rutschman to Triple-A to open the year. He ultimately made his MLB debut on May 21, racking up 5.2 WAR in 113 games and completely changing the complexion of the franchise once he arrived.
Last year, infielder Gunnar Henderson broke camp with a starting job, but he had gotten his feet wet with a 34-game audition the previous year. His inclusion on the Opening Day roster was largely a foregone conclusion.
Jackson Holliday will now look to make his case this spring after hitting .323/.442/.499 with 30 doubles, nine triples, 12 home runs, 75 RBI, 113 runs scored and 24 steals in 125 games over four minor league levels in his first full professional season last year.
The 20-year-old has played only 54 total games at the Double-A and Triple-A levels, and the Orioles still have Jorge Mateo and Ramón Urías as options to join Henderson on the left side of the infield, so Holliday will have to leave no doubt that he is ready.
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Boston Red Sox
4 of 30
Burning Question: Who starts in right field?
With Alex Verdugo traded to the New York Yankees, Adam Duvall gone in free agency and Masataka Yoshida expected to be the primary designated hitter after posting poor defensive metrics (-4 DRS, -4.2 UZR/150) as a rookie, the Boston Red Sox need to sort out their outfield situation this spring.
Jarren Duran is locked into one starting spot following a breakout 2023 season, while trade pickup Tyler O'Neill will also start the season in an everyday role as he looks to rebound to the 6.1-WAR form he showed in 2021.
That leaves rookies Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela as the front-runners to land the other starting spot after both guys made their MLB debuts last year. Utility man Rob Refsnyder will again serve as a platoon option after hitting .308 with a .428 on-base percentage in 145 plate appearances against lefties in 2023.
Chicago Cubs
5 of 30
Burning Question: How will playing time be divided at the corner infield spots?
Assuming there is no late offseason addition of Cody Bellinger or Matt Chapman, the Chicago Cubs have a long list of guys vying for playing time at both corner infield spots.
Trade pickup Michael Busch enters camp as the favorite to win the starting first base job, while fellow prospect Matt Mervis and non-roster invitee Dominic Smith are also in the mix for playing time.
Slugger Patrick Wisdom saw time at third base (54 starts) and first base (11 starts) last season, while light-hitting utility man Miles Mastrobuoni made 24 starts at third base while playing all over the field. He will likely claim a bench spot as the backup middle infielder.
Former top prospect Nick Madrigal had been the Cubs' primary third baseman during the second half last year before they acquired Jeimer Candelario at the trade deadline. While he doesnt fit the offensive profile at the hot corner, his strong defensive metrics (8 DRS, 5.1 UZR/150) could make him the favorite.
The X-factor is Christopher Morel, who is a standout offensive player without a clear defensive home. He is still young enough and athletic enough to prove he can be more than just an everyday DH.
Chicago White Sox
6 of 30
Burning Question: Who will be the closer?
With Aaron Bummer (61 games), Gregory Santos (60 games), Kendall Graveman (45 games), Reynaldo López (43 games) and Keynan Middleton (39 games) all gone, the Chicago White Sox will have to replace their five most frequently used relievers in last year's bullpen.
They added veterans John Brebbia and Tim Hill in free agency, while they signed Jesse Chavez to a minor league deal and brought back Bryan Shaw on a minor league pact of his own. But someone will need to step forward as the team's closer.
Hard-throwing Garrett Crochet is finally healthy and could be the guy if he puts together a strong spring. Former top prospects Deivi García and Touki Toussaint also have the stuff to potentially make an impact in the late innings.
Cincinnati Reds
7 of 30
Burning Question: How will they sort out their infield logjam?
The following players are all vying for playing time on the Cincinnati Reds infield:
- Jeimer Candelario: 1B, 3B
- Elly De La Cruz: SS, 3B
- Christian Encarnacion-Strand: 1B
- Jonathan India: 1B, 2B, 3B
- Noelvi Marte: 3B
- Matt McLain: 2B, SS
India is expected to slide into more of a super-utility role this season, and Marte starting the season at Triple-A appears to be the most likely approach to unclogging the infield logjam.
Former top prospect Jose Barrero is also out of minor league options and could be lost on waivers if he doesn't earn a spot on the Opening Day roster.
Cleveland Guardians
8 of 30
Burning Question: Do Kyle Manzardo, Brayan Rocchio make the Opening Day roster?
The Cleveland Guardians have a handful of young players who could fill major roles in 2024, and first baseman Kyle Manzardo and shortstop Brayan Rocchio both have a potential path to a starting job with a strong spring.
Manzardo could win the starting first base job after a strong performance in the Arizona Fall League, which would mean Josh Naylor becomes the team's primary designated hitter.
The biggest position battle is at shortstop, where Gabriel Arias is the front-runner. But top prospect Brayan Rocchio is also a candidate for the starting gig after hitting .280/.367/.421 with 46 extra-base hits and 25 steals in 116 games at Triple-A.
Former top prospect Estevan Florial is also one to watch this spring after the Guardians acquired him from the New York Yankees during the offseason. While he figures to land on the Opening Day roster one way or another, he could push Myles Straw for the center field job.
Colorado Rockies
9 of 30
Burning Question: Who will start in right field?
With 2023 rookie standouts Nolan Jones and Brenton Doyle penciled in as the starting left fielder and center fielder for the upcoming season, the Colorado Rockies will need to sort out the final starting spot in the outfield.
Sean Bouchard and Hunter Goodman are the leading candidates on the 40-man roster, and both players flashed some potential last season.
Bouchard hit .316/.372/.684 with four home runs in 43 plate appearances last season, and he has a 161 OPS+ in 48 games over the past two seasons. But he is already 27 years old and could end up being a Quad-A guy.
Goodman, 24, hit .200 with a 60 OPS+ and one home run in 77 plate appearances in his MLB debut last season. However, he has absolutely raked in the minors in 2022 (.926 OPS, 36 HR, 106 RBI) and 2023 (.919 OPS, 34 HR, 111 RBI) and could be the long-term answer.
Non-roster invitee Bradley Zimmer is also a dark horse in the position battle.
Detroit Tigers
10 of 30
Burning Question: What role will Casey Mize fill in 2024?
The Detroit Tigers signed Kenta Maeda and Jack Flaherty in free agency to join Tarik Skubal and Matt Manning in the projected starting rotation, while Reese Olson and Sawyer Gipson-Long enter camp as the favorites for the No. 5 starter job.
How will Casey Mize factor into the rotation picture?
The 26-year-old had a 3.71 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 118 strikeouts in 150.1 innings over 30 starts in 2021, but he was limited to just two starts in 2022 and missed the entire 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft is still only 26 years old. While Mize still has three minor league options remaining and could shake off the rust at Triple-A to open the year, it will be difficult for Detroit to leave him off the roster if he is throwing well this spring.
Houston Astros
11 of 30
Burning Question: Will Alex Bregman, Kyle Tucker extension talks lead to anything?
The Houston Astros already answered one burning question this spring when they signed Jose Altuve to a five-year, $125 million extension ahead of the final year of his current contract.
However, another key member of the infield is also heading into the last season of his contract as third baseman Alex Bregman enters the final year of a five-year, $100 million extension. The Scott Boras client is open to extension talks this spring, but nailing down a long-term deal for him will be trickier than it was for Altuve given his prime age.
Meanwhile, outfielder Kyle Tucker is now only two years removed from free agency, and he's coming off a 29-homer, 112-RBI, 30-steal, 5.4-WAR season where he finished fifth in AL MVP voting.
Extension talks have begun this offseason, though no offer has been made to this point.
Kansas City Royals
12 of 30
Burning Question: Who will be the starter at second base?
Michael Massey posted a .705 OPS with 11 home runs and 33 RBI in 64 games after the All-Star break last season, and he will be given every opportunity to win the Kansas City Royals' starting second base job this spring.
The Royals also signed Adam Frazier to a one-year, $2 million deal that includes an $8.5 million mutual option and $2.5 million buyout for 2025. While he has played primarily second base in his career, he could also see action at the corner outfield spots.
The X-factor in the battle could be Nick Loftin, who hit .323/.368/.435 for a 121 OPS+ in 68 plate appearances as a September call-up last year. He hit .270/.344/.444 with 13 doubles, 14 home runs and 56 RBI in 82 games at Triple-A.
Massey is the front-runner, but he will need to win the job this spring.
Los Angeles Angels
13 of 30
Burning Question: Is Anthony Rendon going to contribute in 2024?
Outside of veteran Aaron Hicks, who is expected to fill the fourth outfielder role, the Los Angeles Angels have done nothing to upgrade an offense that lost Shohei Ohtani this offseason.
Continued development from Zach Neto, Nolan Schanuel, Logan O'Hoppe and Mickey Moniak could help replace some of the lost production from Ohtani, but the biggest in-house improvements could come from a healthy Anthony Rendon.
The oft-injured third baseman has played only 148 games over the last three seasons, and he made headlines this offseason when he told reporters that baseball has "never been a top priority for me."
Still, Rendon was one of baseball's elite offensive performers during his time with the Washington Nationals. Entering the fifth season of a seven-year, $245 million deal, he can still make an impact.
Los Angeles Dodgers
14 of 30
Burning Question: Who will be the No. 5 starter?
With Clayton Kershaw sidelined until after the All-Star break and Walker Buehler also expected to open the year on the injured list while he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery, the Los Angeles Dodgers have some decisions to make on the starting rotation.
Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Bobby Miller and James Paxton are locks for the starting rotation, assuming they are all healthy. That leaves several candidates vying for the No. 5 starter job:
- RHP Michael Grove
- RHP Kyle Hurt
- RHP Emmet Sheehan
- RHP Gavin Stone
- LHP Ryan Yarbrough
Sheehan, 24, had a 4.92 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 64 strikeouts in 60.1 innings as a rookie. He also earned a spot on the postseason roster.
Miami Marlins
15 of 30
Burning Question: Is Sixto Sánchez going to win a roster spot?
Sixto Sánchez was one of baseball's top pitching prospects during his time in the minors, drawing comparisons to a young Pedro Martínez. He was the centerpiece of the blockbuster deal that sent J.T. Realmuto to the Philadelphia Phillies prior to the 2019 season.
He made his MLB debut as a 21-year-old during the shortened 2020 season, posting a 3.46 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 33 strikeouts in 39 innings over seven starts, and he tossed five shutout innings against the Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card Round in October.
However, he missed the entire 2021 and 2022 seasons recovering from a pair of shoulder surgeries, and he made a single appearance at Double-A last year with two strikeouts in a scoreless inning.
The 25-year-old is now out of minor league options and will either win a spot on the Opening Day roster this spring or be exposed to waivers.
Milwaukee Brewers
16 of 30
Burning Question: Will Joey Ortiz, Tyler Black make a case for the Opening Day roster?
Brice Turang and Andruw Monasterio are the Milwaukee Brewers' incumbent starters at second base and third base heading into the 2024 season, but it remains to be seen if they did enough last year to hold onto those roles.
Top prospects Tyler Black and Joey Ortiz are both candidates for the Opening Day roster. They could fit at either spot on the infield following terrific seasons in the upper levels of the minors.
- Black (AA/AAA): 123 G, .284/.417/.513, 55 XBH (18 HR), 73 RBI, 55 SB
- Ortiz (AAA): 88 G, .321/.378/.507, 43 XBH (9 HR), 58 RBI, 11 SB
The Brewers showed a willingness to include prospects on the Opening Day roster last year when Turang and outfielder Garrett Mitchell both broke camp with the team.
Minnesota Twins
17 of 30
Burning Question: Is Byron Buxton ready to be the everyday CF again?
After a full season serving exclusively as a designated hitter in 2023, Byron Buxton is finally expected to return to center field.
"The pain's gone, so I'm a lot more happy, 100 percent," Buxton told reporters. "The last couple of years were definitely painful, just waking up, feeling like a knife is in your knee every morning."
The 30-year-old has an impressive 68 Defensive Runs Saved in center field during his time in the big leagues, and he won Gold Glove honors in 2017.
However, he has played more than 100 games in a season just once since making his MLB debut in 2015, so keeping him healthy still needs to be the Minnesota Twins' top priority.
New York Mets
18 of 30
Burning Question: Who will be the designated hitter?
There is still a chance that the New York Mets will make an outside addition to address the hole at designated hitter, though their current luxury-tax situation means they will pay a 110 percent tax on every dollar they spend.
J.D. Martinez, Brandon Belt and familiar face Tommy Pham are among the top available free agents, while 2022 All-Star C.J. Cron could represent a bargain option.
If they don't add anyone else to the mix, DJ Stewart could get the first crack at the job after posting a 128 OPS+ with 11 home runs in 58 games last season. However, he also struck out at a 30 percent clip and hit .189 with a .597 OPS over the final month of the season.
If he struggles this spring, it could open the door for former top prospect Mark Vientos. He quietly posted terrific batted-ball metrics last season with an average exit velocity (92.5 mph) and hard-hit rate (51.0 percent) that would have ranked among the MLB leaders if he had enough plate appearances to qualify.
New York Yankees
19 of 30
Burning Question: Is Austin Wells ready defensively?
There is little doubt Austin Wells has the offensive game to be an MLB player.
The 24-year-old tallied six doubles, four home runs and 13 RBI in 19 games as a September call-up, and his mix of power production and on-base ability has made him one of the New York Yankees' top prospects since he was selected No. 28 overall in the 2020 draft.
The question is his defensive game.
"While he'll never win a Gold Glove, he has worked diligently to improve his receiving and throwing. He has made himself into at least a fringy receiver but base stealers have run wild on him in 2023," per his MLB.com prospect profile.
He allowed 101 stolen bases in 116 attempts in the minors last year, and then another 17 steals in 20 tries in the majors, so he will need to prove he's not a liability behind the plate.
Veteran Jose Trevino is back and looking to return to his 2022 form, while Ben Rortvedt is also an option on the 40-man roster, so Wells will need to earn his roster spot this spring.
Oakland Athletics
20 of 30
Burning Question: Who will be the starting shortstop?
The Oakland Athletics have not made a move to address the starting shortstop role this offseason, which means it should be an open competition between three candidates.
- Nick Allen
- Aledmys Díaz
- Darell Hernaiz
Allen (329 PA, 58 OPS+, 0.3 WAR) and Díaz (344 PA, 76 OPS+, -0.9 WAR) combined to start 123 of 162 games at the position last season, but their limited offensive production fits better in a bench role, and Allen still has minor league options remaining.
Hernaiz hit .321/.386/.456 with 45 extra-base hits in 131 games between Double-A and Triple-A last season after coming over in the offseason deal that sent Cole Irvin to the Baltimore Orioles. At 22 years old, he offers far more upside than the alternatives.
Philadelphia Phillies
21 of 30
Burning Question: Will Zack Wheeler get an extension before his walk year?
The Philadelphia Phillies moved quickly to sign Aaron Nola to a seven-year, $172 million extension in November just a few weeks after he was granted free agency. They're now working toward doing the same with co-ace Zack Wheeler.
Wheeler confirmed last week that the club has opened extension talks with his agent, and it sounds like both sides would love to get a deal done.
"I love it here," Wheeler told reporters earlier this month. "We're happy here. It's a good organization. We're winning, and all things are looking great and right. So, I'd love to be here."
The front office doesn't want to tip its hand, but it has identified an extension as a top priority.
"I don't see any advantage in talking about contract negotiations, other than to say we know we'd like to sign him," Phillies team president Dave Dombrowski told reporters. "It's a priority for us. We would love to have that happen. But I've seen a lot of curves, so I have no public disclosure of my optimism or non-optimism."
Pittsburgh Pirates
22 of 30
Burning Question: How does Henry Davis fit the 2024 plans?
The Pittsburgh Pirates don't seem to have a clear present and future plan for Henry Davis.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 draft hit .306/.454/.561 with 12 home runs and 32 RBI in 55 games in the upper levels of the minors last season before making his MLB debut in June. He played in 62 games as a rookie, but the Pirates used him almost exclusively as an outfielder, which raises questions about his future behind the plate.
"The Pirates saw fit to use Davis for just two major league innings at catcher last season. It's a move that, in hindsight, feels like a mistake or missed opportunity to gain valuable experience," Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote.
The club signed veteran Yasmani Grandal to a one-year, $2.5 million contract this offseason, further muddying the waters behind the plate.
If the plan is to develop Davis as a catcher, sending him back to Triple-A to continue working on his defensive game could be the preferred approach. But then why waste last season using him almost exclusively as an outfielder?
San Diego Padres
23 of 30
Burning Question: Who else will be added to the outfield mix?
The San Diego Padres currently only have three outfielders on their 40-man roster after trading Juan Soto and Trent Grisham to the New York Yankees, and only right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. is a lock for a starting role.
They brought back Jurickson Profar on a one-year, $1 million deal as a candidate for the left field job, while light-hitting José Azocar is currently the best in-house option in center field after he hit .231/.278/.363 for a 78 OPS+ in 102 plate appearances last season.
Oscar Mercado and Cal Mitchell are in camp on minor league deals with a shot at winning a bench job, while Arizona Fall League MVP Jakob Marsee could get a long look this spring as well.
Michael A. Taylor looks like an obvious target in free agency to fill the void in center field, but the Padres have a lackluster group of outfield options for now.
San Francisco Giants
24 of 30
Burning Question: Is Marco Luciano ready for the starting shortstop job?
For the first time since the 2011 season, someone other than Brandon Crawford will be the Opening Day starter at shortstop for the San Francisco Giants.
Top prospect Marco Luciano has been viewed as the Giants' shortstop of the future since he signed for $2.6 million as one of the top prospects in the 2018 international class. He made his MLB debut last season, going 9-for-39 with three doubles and 17 strikeouts.
The 22-year-old has a 55-hit, 65-power offensive profile and a chance to be an impact hitter, but his glove has long been a question mark at shortstop. His average speed and range could fit better at third base or a corner outfield spot.
If Luciano doesn't look the part of an MLB-ready shortstop this spring, Casey Schmitt made 31 starts there last season and is the leading alternative. Tyler Fitzgerald and Otto Lopez are also options on the 40-man roster.
Seattle Mariners
25 of 30
Burning Question: Is Taylor Trammell going to win a roster spot?
Outfielder Taylor Trammell was a top-100 prospect prior to the 2018 (No. 46), 2019 (No. 33) and 2020 (No. 73) seasons, but he has yet to find consistent success in the big leagues.
The 26-year-old has seen scattered MLB action in each of the past three seasons, hitting a combined .168/.270/.368 for an 80 OPS+ with a 37 percent strikeout rate in 351 plate appearances.
He is out of minor league options and will need to hold off Cade Marlowe and Dominic Canzone for the Seattle Mariners' fourth outfielder job.
With Seby Zavala penciled in as the backup catcher, whoever is not starting at third base between Josh Rojas and Luis Urias occupying another bench spot and versatile Dylan Moore a safe bet to win a roster spot as well, that will also be a battle for the final spot on the Mariners bench.
St. Louis Cardinals
26 of 30
Burning Question: Is Masyn Winn ready for the starting shortstop job?
With a huge 80-grade throwing arm and the quick-twitch athleticism and soft hands to make plays, Masyn Winn has a chance to be a Gold Glove defender at shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals.
The 21-year-old hit .288/.359/.474 with 18 home runs, 61 RBI and 17 steals in 105 games at Triple-A last season, but he failed to find that same level of success in the majors after making his MLB debut on Aug. 18.
He hit .172/.230/.238 for a 29 OPS+ with only four extra-base hits in 137 plate appearances, and his batted-ball data painted a less-than-promising outlook of his potential at the plate going forward.
If the Cardinals decide he could use more seasoning in the minors, Tommy Edman can shift back to the infield from center field, leaving a starting outfield of Lars Nootbaar, Jordan Walker and Dylan Carlson.
Tampa Bay Rays
27 of 30
Burning Question: Will Junior Caminero, Curtis Mead be on Opening Day roster?
Top prospects Curtis Mead and Junior Caminero both have little left to prove in the minors, but they don't have a clear path to playing time in the big leagues with Brandon Lowe penciled in at second base and Isaac Paredes manning the hot corner for the Tampa Bay Rays.
However, after the way they hit last season in the upper levels of the minors, it's not hard to envision one or both of them playing their way onto the Opening Day roster with a big spring.
- Mead (AAA): 61 G, 278 PA, .294/.385/.515, 32 XBH (9 HR), 49 RBI
- Caminero (A+/AA): 117 G, 510 PA, .324/.384/.591, 55 XBH (31 HR), 94 RBI
With Lowe and Paredes both getting more expensive in the coming years, they could be flipped by the tight-fisted Rays organization. But for now, there is no clear role for Caminero and Mead on the 2024 roster.
Texas Rangers
28 of 30
Burning Question: Will Wyatt Langford win an Opening Day roster spot?
Outfielder Wyatt Langford might leave the Texas Rangers with no choice but to include him on the Opening Day roster.
The 22-year-old hit .373/.498/.784 with 28 doubles, 21 home runs and 57 RBI in 64 games during his junior season at the University of Florida, and he ended up going No. 4 overall in the 2023 draft.
He went on to hit .360/.480/.677 with 17 doubles, 10 home runs and 30 RBI in 44 games over four minor league levels, closing out his pro debut with five games at Triple-A Round Rock.
The Rangers did not make an outside addition to replace Mitch Garver in the designated hitter role this offseason. Langford could play his way into that spot this spring.
Toronto Blue Jays
29 of 30
Burning Question: Is Alek Manoah back?
Alek Manoah looked like a rising star on the mound during the 2022 season, going 16-7 with a 2.24 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 180 strikeouts in 196.2 innings to finish third in AL Cy Young voting in his second season in the big leagues.
The 26-year-old was Toronto's Opening Day starter last year, but he coughed up nine hits and five earned runs in 3.1 innings to kick off what proved to be a trying season. He had a 5.87 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and a 79-to-59 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 87.1 innings over 19 starts, and he was demoted all the way back to rookie ball to reset.
"Sometimes you start to get punched in the mouth, you start to second-guess yourself, things like that. And I feel like that steamrolled a little bit for me last year," Manoah told Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic. "Super grateful for the year that I had, obviously would want to change a few things — but, for the year that I had, feel like it was a really big growing year for me and needed it to be where I'm at right now."
With Kevin Gausman, José Berríos, Chris Bassitt and Yusei Kikuchi penciled into the top four spots in the Toronto Blue Jays' starting rotation, Manoah is the front-runner to round out the staff heading into spring training, but he will need to win the job.
Washington Nationals
30 of 30
Burning Question: Will Jesse Winker make the roster?
The Washington Nationals did a nice job buying low on Jeimer Candelario last offseason, and he emerged as a sought-after trade chip at the trade deadline, bringing back a pair of quality prospects from the Chicago Cubs.
Slugger Joey Gallo, former top prospect Nick Senzel and late-inning reliever Dylan Floro all signed team-friendly, one-year MLB deals, and all three are locks to be part of the club's Opening Day roster. However, Jesse Winker inked a minor league deal, so he will need to earn his way onto the active roster.
The 30-year-old hit .199/.320/.247 for a 60 OPS+ in 197 plate appearances with the Milwaukee Brewers last season, but he is not far removed from posting a 143 OPS+ and earning an All-Star selection in 2021.
He could serve as the Nationals' primary designated hitter if he plays his way onto the team this spring.
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