Updating the Hottest Questions of 2015 MLB Spring Training, Week 2
With the start of 2015's third month, each new MLB season is officially in its infancy.
And as with a young child, spring training is often associated with good vibes and happy feelings regarding the long road ahead.
As teams begin to suit up against each other this week, spring storylines will start to emerge. Instead of listening to constant rumors from pundits and experts alike, causal fans will be able to observe their favorite teams and players and create their own assumptions about the upcoming season.
This spring training is littered with fascinating headlines that deserve our attention.
What's the deal with Andre Ethier? How are returning hurlers like Matt Harvey and Jose Hernandez progressing? How hard will the league office come down on Josh Hamilton?
And what about A-Rod?
So strap in and let the following slides keep you up to date with the most talked-about topics of baseball's exhibition period.
Andre Ethier
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I recently wrote an article claiming that Andre Ethier would be one of the "losers of spring training," and recent reports are only strengthening my feelings on the matter.
With the Los Angeles Dodgers seemingly set to roll into 2015 with Yasiel Puig, Carl Crawford, Ethier and rookie Joc Pederson on their roster, L.A.'s outfield situation remains in limbo. Puig isn't going to end up on the bench, and Pederson is the best defender of the four in center field.
That leaves Crawford and Ethier, both of whom make for interesting trade chips.
According to Eric Stephen of True Blue LA, Ethier expects to win one of the starting outfield spots. But the 32-year-old is coming off his worst season as a pro, where he slashed .249/.322/.370 and posted a wRC+ of under 100, according to FanGraphs. Ethier also continued to struggle against left-handed pitching, possibly indicating that his best role for the Dodgers would be in a platoon situation.
So why not deal him? Despite his flaws, Ethier could help a team in need of a serviceable outfielder. But his remaining three-year, $56 million contract has become an albatross in terms of a potential move.
According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, L.A. has offered to pay "about half" of Ethier's owed funds. Heyman goes on to note that the offer has done little to entice teams to pull the trigger to acquire the unhappy slugger.
Stay tuned on this one; it seems like the Ethier saga has a few more twists and turns before it's resolved.
Comebacks for Aces
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A pair of NL East aces are hoping to return from season-ending elbow injuries in 2015.
We'll start with Jose Fernandez of the Miami Marlins, who tore his ulnar collateral ligament in May of last year. After Tommy John surgery, the right-hander is trying to rejoin a much-improved Marlins squad for a potential postseason push.
Fernandez threw off a mound for the first time over the weekend, followed by a second bullpen session of 20 pitches. Tom D'Angelo of the Palm Beach Post believes that Fernandez "walked away appearing satisfied" after the session.
D'Angelo also mentions that Fernandez will complete two bullpens per week for the rest of the month.
The Marlins seem to be taking a similar approach to their NL East rivals with their own recovering ace.
The New York Mets have taken their time with Matt Harvey, who has missed the end of 2013 and all of 2014. That patience could pay off in the long run, as the 25-year-old still has plenty of seasons ahead of him.
Earlier in the spring, the Mets shed some light on their plans for Harvey this season. According to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, Harvey will likely be held to a 200-inning limit in 2015. That total would include any potential playoff innings if the Mets were to make the postseason.
Both the Mets and the Marlins figure to be in the playoff mix in 2015, but each team needs its ace to make a legitimate march toward October. But there is often a fine line when dealing with Tommy John comebacks, so expect both Harvey and Fernandez to be handled with extreme caution.
Alex Rodriguez
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One of the most controversial stars in baseball history is in the midst of his own comeback, but Alex Rodriguez's journey back to the good graces of MLB fans won't be quick and painless.
Rodriguez was required to sit out the entire 2014 season due to his past indiscretions with performance-enhancing drugs, a black eye many fans won't forget.
But so far this spring, A-Rod has said and done all the right things. While you can argue that major leaguers shouldn't be praised for doing things the right way, even the biggest A-Rod detractor has to admit that it's a step in the right direction.
It started with his handwritten apology earlier this spring and has continued with positive reviews so far. A-Rod has shown up in good shape, and according to Mark Didtler of the Associated Press, he has taken reps at first base in hopes of making himself more versatile for the Yankees.
Rodriguez returned to action for the first time in over a year earlier this week, singling in his first at-bat of the spring. A-Rod acknowledged to Billy Witz of The New York Times that he was "jittery" before the game.
There's no doubt that Rodriguez will be under immense scrutiny this season, but he's handled it well so far. It's likely too late to save his reputation among most baseball fans, but a productive and drama-free season in New York could help save some face.
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Josh Hamilton
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One of the sadder stories of the spring has been Josh Hamilton's return to battling his well-publicized demons.
Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times broke the news that Hamilton would be meeting with MLB officials about a possible disciplinary issue back in February. While most MLB fans were aware of his past transgressions, many hoped that this particular issue wouldn't be associated with Hamilton's prior substance abuse problems.
But Bill Madden and Michael O'Keefe of the New York Daily News confirmed those fears, reporting that Hamilton had indeed suffered a relapse with both cocaine and alcohol.
As far as possible punishments go, there are conflicting reports regarding the severity of MLB's disciplinary measures.
Ken Rosenthal and Jon Morosi of Fox Sports originally reported that Hamilton's suspension would likely "be at least 25 games, but less than a full season." However, DiGiovanna and Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times noted that a four-person panel was split on whether Hamilton should enter a rehabilitation program for substance abuse.
In that same report, DiGiovanna and Shaikin mention that MLB officials are debating as to whether or not to classify Hamilton as a four-time offender. He failed at least six drug tests while in the Tampa Bay Rays farm system and was suspended from baseball from 2004-2006.
A four-time offender would be banned for at least one full season under the current drug policy.
Position Battles
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Injuries may dictate a few of the bigger spring position battles.
The Boston Red Sox entered the spring with a bevy of potential outfielders. While Hanley Ramirez is a lock to tango with the Green Monster in left field, Mookie Betts, Rusney Castillo and Shane Victorino were poised to duke it out for the final two spots.
But Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston has reported that Castillo will be out indefinitely with a strained left oblique. The exciting Cuban prospect impressed at the end of 2014 but will now likely miss out on a starting spot.
The Atlanta Braves acquired a handful of fifth-starter candidates this offseason, with names like Wandy Rodriguez, Chien-Ming Wang, Eric Stults and prospect Mike Foltynewicz all in contention for that final spot in the rotation.
But with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's David O'Brien reporting that fellow starter Mike Minor was scratched from an upcoming start due to shoulder tightness, the previously mentioned competition could become even more important for the Bravos.
And with Jung Ho Kang homering in his first spring game for the Pittsburgh Pirates, the pressure will intensify to replace Jordy Mercer with the high-profile international acquisition.
But as B/R's own Andrew Gould states, Mercer is a "known commodity who issued a dozen long balls and 2.0 wins above replacement (WAR) last year." Kang will likely win the job due to his tremendous upside, but he'll need to continue to swing a hot stick for the rest of the spring to unseat the reliable Mercer.
Advanced stats courtesy of FanGraphs unless noted otherwise.
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