Handicapping Chicago Cubs' Hotly Contested Spring Training Position Battles

The Chicago Cubs enter the 2015 season with high hopes. They have more stability than they've had in several years, and some of their bright young stars are finally starting to fall into place. For all that stability, the Cubs still have a few question marks heading into the year.

It's not a bad thing to have competition in spring training, and the Cubs will have exactly that at a few positions as the spring wears on.

Here are three key position battles entering spring training and who's most likely to win the job.

Third Base

David Goldman/Associated Press

Tommy La Stella: 70 percent

The Cubs actually gave up a decent amount to acquire Tommy La Stella from the Atlanta Braves (flamethrower Arodys Vizcaino), so they may give him the first crack at the third base job out of spring training.

Until late last season, he hit for a high average and put forth solid at-bats. If he gets back to doing that in spring training, he could be at the hot corner to start the year.

Mike Olt: 25 percent

By now, the Cubs think they know what they have in Mike Olt. He's a guy who will hit for tremendous power but strike out all the time. That makes him well-suited for a bench role, where he can provide a spark as a pinch hitter every now and then.

Still, if he shows an improved ability to make contact, he could win the job out of spring training.

Kris Bryant: 5 percent

If Kris Bryant were to absolutely blow away the Cubs front office during spring training, there's a slight chance he could make the team out of spring training. Since the Cubs would lose a year of team control on him if they did that, it's still highly unlikely.

Regardless of whether or not he makes the team out of spring training, from late April on, he should be the starter at third base anyway.

Closer

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Hector Rondon: 65 percent

Hector Rondon was exceptional last year in his first season as closer, and there's no reason to change that up now. Of course, if he struggles mightily in spring training, manager Joe Maddon won't hesitate to make a change. Still, Rondon seems like he has the killer instinct needed at the position.

Can he show that killer instinct when the Cubs are playing in games that matter down the stretch? That remains to be seen.

Jason Motte: 25 percent

Jason Motte was one of the more underrated signings of this MLB offseason because if he can stay healthy, he could potentially make the Cubs bullpen elite. He led the NL in saves in 2012, but he has been injured for most of the time since.

Maddon may go with the hot hand for the closer role and go by committee. That would give Motte a chance to prove himself as a legitimate ninth-inning guy again.

Pedro Strop: 10 percent

Pedro Strop actually has the stuff to be a closer, but since the Cubs have so much depth on the back end of their bullpen, he's better suited as a setup man. With Strop, Motte and Rondon in the seventh, eighth and ninth, the Cubs appear to be in very good shape.

If the other two struggle and Strop looks good in spring training, though, Maddon could decide Strop is the man for the job.

No. 5 Starter

Morry Gash/Associated Press

Jacob Turner: 55 percent

Not a lot of people consider Jacob Turner the favorite to win the Cubs' most hotly contested position battle of spring training, but they should.

He has the size and stuff to be a great back-end starter in the major leagues. He also perfectly fits the mold of past reclamation projects the Cubs have taken on, like Jake Arrieta.

Sabermetricians are fans of Turner, too, because his ERA always seems to be higher than it should be based on the number of balls opposing hitters put in play against him.

Tsuyoshi Wada: 30 percent

Since Tsuyoshi Wada was signed to a big league contract this offseason, most expect him to become the fifth starter by default. However, things are earned and not given in baseball, and he will really have to earn the spot in spring training. 

It helps that he's a lefty, but Wada just may not have the stuff that Turner has in terms of overall repertoire. If he plays decently in spring training, he could be a lefty bullpen arm. If he plays poorly, he could be released.

Felix Doubront: 15 percent

Once upon a time, Felix Doubront had it figured out as a starter for the Boston Red Sox. However, a couple of years ago, things went downhill, and they haven't come back up for Doubront. He has some options left, so he could start the year in the minor leagues. 

Doubront has shown the ability to be an excellent big league hurler in the past, though, so never count him out of this position battle unless he shows he still doesn't have his stuff back.

Note: The reason Travis Wood is left off this position battle is because it is my personal belief that he will be traded before spring training.