All 30 MLB Teams' Biggest Storylines of 2015 Spring Training
That's true for rising stars looking to land their first big league gig. It's also true for former Cy Young and MVP award winners like Barry Zito and Alex Rodriguez, who are aiming to return after extended layoffs.
In camps all across Arizona and Florida, spring training is about battling for jobs. Then again, not every big league club's biggest storyline relates to jobs.
Injuries are also a leading producer of headlines and concerns in an array of spring training complexes. Sometimes, those health problems simply signal that reinforcements are required. At other times, they have the power to derail a squad's entire campaign.
Houston Astros
1 of 30
The Biggest Storyline: Solving the impending "roster crunch"
Somebody's getting left out at Minute Maid Park.
With Colby Rasmus and George Springer occupying two outfield spots and Chris Carter and Evan Gattis in the mix in left field (as well as first base and designated hitter), either Jake Marisnick or Jonathan Singleton will be starting 2015 in Triple-A.
As Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports points out, the "roster crunch" is actually a good thing for the Astros, because healthy competition is just the kind of scenario that any club should have when it's aspiring to contend. For Marisnick and Singleton, though, the crunch makes for an uncertain spring.
Los Angeles Angels
2 of 30
The Biggest Storyline: Determining who will start at second base
With Howie Kendrick now playing across town, the second base job is up for grabs at the Los Angeles Angels' spring training camp.
Josh Rutledge, who has played parts of three seasons with the Colorado Rockies, is the early front-runner for the starting position. According to Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com, Rutledge and Johnny Giavotella have been getting reps with the starters. Grant Green and Taylor Featherston are involved in the competition as well.
As manager Mike Scioscia explained, via Gonzalez, it's possible that a platoon will be utilized at the keystone: "That's one of the options. There are guys that have the ability to go out there and do what we need to do on the defensive end and the offensive end, and we'll see who emerges and who gives us the best look."
Whether it's a single player or a combination of guys, it will be awfully difficult to match the production of Kendrick, who posted a .292 average in nine seasons.
Oakland Athletics
3 of 30The Biggest Storyline: The triumphant return of Barry Zito
Pat Venditte, the Oakland Athletics' ambidextrous middle reliever, is generating an avalanche of much-deserved buzz. However, the story of the spring for the Athletics is the return of prodigal son Barry Zito.
Inked to a minor league deal, the lefty is angling to make the rotation after sitting out the 2014 season. After Zito made his first start March 5, manager Bob Melvin told Joe Stiglich of CSN Bay Area that the veteran was "pretty impressive."
The most encouraging aspect of Zito's comeback attempt is that over the offseason, he worked out with the same coach who salvaged Scott Kazmir's career, as Mychael Urban explained to Damon Bruce on 95.7 The Game.
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Seattle Mariners
4 of 30
The Biggest Storyline: Deciding who will be at shortstop on Opening Day
It's all on the line for Brad Miller and Chris Taylor.
The infielders are battling for the role as the Seattle Mariners' starting shortstop, and as manager Lloyd McClendon explained, via Bob Dutton of The News Tribune, the loser is all but set to begin the season in the minors: “If we don’t have injuries, I doubt if we can take them both.”
Miller has the edge over Taylor in terms of big league experience, but he also checked in with just a .221 average in 2014.
Texas Rangers
5 of 30
The Biggest Storyline: Determining how to approach the 2015 season
It's awfully early to punt, but then again, things are looking ominous for the Texas Rangers.
Per Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News, staff ace Yu Darvish has a sprained pitching elbow, which could require Tommy John surgery. The dreaded procedure would put an end to the 28-year-old's 2015 season before the real games even start.
The Rangers have seen this movie before. Last year, a slew of injuries wrecked the club's campaign. In the highly competitive American League West, the Darvish news looks like the first domino in what could lead to a fire sale for the Rangers this summer.
Chicago White Sox
6 of 30
The Biggest Storyline: The rise of Carlos Rodon
It's officially time to fire up the Carlos Rodon hype machine.
The No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 MLB draft was dealing in his first start of the spring for the Chicago White Sox. On March 6, the lefty reeled of four punchouts in two scoreless innings of work.
With Chris Sale sidelined with a broken foot, there's been an extra level of attention on Rodon early in the Cactus League season. Still, a decision on where he'll be pitching when the regular season rolls around isn't imminent. According to JJ Stankevitz of CSN Chicago, the team's brass will wait until later in the spring to figure out where Rodon will be pitching at the start of 2015.
Cleveland Indians
7 of 30
The Biggest Storyline: The healthy return of Jason Kipnis
Even in the crowded AL Central, the Cleveland Indians have the pieces to make an October run.
Terry Francona is a top-flight skipper, Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco have the potential to be a formidable one-two punch and the lineup has the pop to supply plenty of runs.
The linchpin for the Tribe in 2015 will be a healthy and productive Jason Kipnis. Last year, an oblique injury sent the second baseman to the disabled list, and he hit just .240 in 129 games. Step one in getting Kipnis back to his All-Star level is an injury-free spring training.
Detroit Tigers
8 of 30
The Biggest Storyline: The health of Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez
For the Detroit Tigers, spring training is all about the health of Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez. As Opening Day approaches, both veterans are working their way back from injuries.
Martinez, who underwent ankle surgery last fall, is already taking grounders at first, according to Jason Beck of MLB.com. Martinez, who is rebounding from knee surgery, has been taking cuts from both sides of the plate, per Anthony French of the Detroit Free Press.
In a perfect world, both franchise cornerstones would be lined up in the middle of the batting order when Game 1 of the season arrives. Still, the Tigers will need to exercise patience, as Cabrera is 31 and Martinez is 36.
Kansas City Royals
9 of 30
The Biggest Storyline: Determining who will be the new ace
With James Shields having departed, the title of staff ace is currently "to be determined" for the Kansas City Royals. The leading contenders to fill that void are Yordano Ventura and Danny Duffy. The 23-year-old Ventura is the early favorite, as he has an electric fastball, a nasty curve and the inside track to the Opening Day start, per Andy McCullough of The Kansas City Star.
Minnesota Twins
10 of 30
The Biggest Storyline: Tracking the rise of the super prospects
There's no way around it—the Minnesota Twins' playoff chances are bleak in 2015. However, the future beyond that is a different story.
In center fielder Byron Buxton and third baseman Miguel Sano, the Twins have the No. 1 and No. 11 prospects in baseball, respectively, per MLB.com. Neither Buxton nor Sano has advanced beyond Double-A just yet, but this spring, there will be lots of opportunities to get a glimpse of both players' tremendous upside.
Baltimore Orioles
11 of 30
The Biggest Storyline: Determining who gets left out of the rotation
The Baltimore Orioles have a good problem.
As the roster is currently constructed, the AL East squad has six starters for five spots. Based on 2014 numbers, Ubaldo Jimenez is the pitcher who will be left without a chair when the music stops. Last year, the veteran right-hander dished out the second-most free passes in the AL, pitching his way out of the rotation.
With a $12.25 million price tag in 2015, Jimenez would be an absurdly expensive reliever if the bullpen is where he ends up.
Boston Red Sox
12 of 30
The Biggest Storyline: Deciding what to do with the crowd of outfielders
With Hanley Ramirez stationed in left field and Shane Victorino slated to patrol right, center field is the only undecided spot in the outfield for the Boston Red Sox.
According to Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston, Mookie Betts is on his way to locking up that job. As Edes explains, that decision has been made easier for the Red Sox's brain trust after an oblique strain put Rusney Castillo on the shelf.
Even with the Cuban temporarily out of the picture, there are still lots of quality outfielders with some major job security issues. At the top of that list are Allen Craig, Brock Holt, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Daniel Nava. As the Grapefruit League campaign ramps up, it should become more clear as to just who's in and who's out.
New York Yankees
13 of 30
The Biggest Storyline: The return of Alex Rodriguez
Billed as baseball's biggest villain, Alex Rodriguez is already starting to wreck a lot of narratives.
In his first week of games since 2013, the 39-year-old went 2-for-6 at the plate, made a cameo at third base and even cracked a few jokes.
"It is not going to be an Ozzie Smith year," Rodriguez said when asked about his glove work at the hot corner by Andrew Marchand of ESPN New York.
No grand conclusions can be drawn from three games, but so far, A-Rod is showing that he has the potential to be a productive bat for the New York Yankees in 2015.
Tampa Bay Rays
14 of 30
The Biggest Storyline: Watching how Kevin Cash adapts to his new job
Kevin Cash, the new manager of the Tampa Bay Rays, has some really big shoes to fill.
His predecessor, Joe Maddon, is about as close as any big league skipper gets to being a rock star. Adding to the challenge is the fact that Cash is a rookie in every sense of the word. When the 37-year-old sat in the dugout for the spring opener March 5, it was the first time that he had managed a game at any level.
Toronto Blue Jays
15 of 30
The Biggest Storyline: Finding a temporary replacement for Michael Saunders
Michael Saunders still has a shot at being ready for Opening Day as he recovers from knee surgery, per Greg Chisholm of MLB.com. However, as Chisholm notes, there's still lots of work to be done, as the outfielder has yet to begin running.
If Saunders misses out, a temporary replacement will be needed. Kevin Pillar is in the mix, and the recently signed Dayan Viciedo is a dark-horse option. In 2014, the Cuban underwhelmed with a .686 OPS, but he did manage to connect on 21 home runs.
Arizona Diamondbacks
16 of 30
The Biggest Storyline: The production of Yasmany Tomas both in the field and at the plate
Yasmany Tomas is going to have busy spring.
The Cuban not only has to adjust to major league pitching, but he is also trying to prove that he can pick it at third base. So far, the reviews on the 24-year-old's glove work have been mixed. According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN, Tomas demonstrated a strong range in his first Cactus League contest March 5 but also exhibited a suspect arm.
For the $68.5 million offseason addition, the primary goal should be to provide the D-backs with light-tower pop. If he can do that while sticking at third base, that power will be even more valuable to his new employer.
Colorado Rockies
17 of 30
The Biggest Storyline: The health of Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez
Colorado Rockies manager Walt Weiss told Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post that both Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez are way ahead of schedule as they recover from hip and knee surgeries, respectively.
That's great news for the NL West squad not just because the shortstop and the left fielder are the Rockies' most dynamic players, but also because they are the team's most valuable potential trade chips this summer. If Colorado's 2015 season mirrors the club's campaign from a season ago, Tulowitzki and Gonzalez will draw lots of interest leading up to the trade deadline.
Los Angeles Dodgers
18 of 30
The Biggest Storyline: The health of Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu
The Cactus League season has only just begun, but already, the Los Angeles Dodgers' No. 2 and No. 3 starters have been dealing with some minor health issues.
Per Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles, Zack Greinke has been dogged by soreness in his right elbow, but he's been feeling better since receiving an injection. Meanwhile, Hyun-Jin Ryu has been hampered by a slight back issue, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.
When Opening Day arrives, the Dodgers absolutely need Greinke and Ryu to be as close to 100 percent as possible because the club's final two starters—Brandon McCarthy and Brett Anderson—both have extensive injury track records.
San Diego Padres
19 of 30
The Biggest Storyline: Determining who starts at third base
It remains to be seen just who will be starting at third base for the San Diego Padres when the regular season begins. The race for the job is down to Yangervis Solarte and Will Middlebrooks.
Recent history suggests that the 27-year-old Solarte will earn the nod. In 2014, the Venezuelan checked in with a .260 average in his rookie season, while Middelbrooks struggled through an injury-riddled year and posted a .191 average.
San Francisco Giants
20 of 30
The Biggest Storyline: Seeing who will step up in the absence of Hunter Pence
It's not possible to replace Hunter Pence. The 31-year-old right fielder not only plays with an incomparable intensity, but he is also one of the San Francisco Giants' most consistent offensive forces.
As the veteran recuperates from a broken forearm, the task to step in for Pence will likely fall to backup outfielder Gregor Blanco. There should also be significantly more opportunities for the likes of Juan Perez, Justin Maxwell and Travis Ishikawa.
Chicago Cubs
21 of 30
The Biggest Storyline: The rise of the farm system
Kris Bryant generates a ton of buzz, but the third baseman is far from the only rising star who will make a major impact on whether the Chicago Cubs climb into the playoff race in the first year of the Joe Maddon era.
Javier Baez, Arismendy Alcantara and Jorge Soler are three players whom the Cubs appear to be counting on from day one of the 2015 season. All three have impressive minor league resumes, but none of them has played more than 70 games in the majors.
Cincinnati Reds
22 of 30
The Biggest Storyline: Tracking the Johnny Cueto contract situation
The clock is ticking on the Cincinnati Reds.
Johnny Cueto is set to become a free agent at the end of 2015, and way back in December, the National League Cy Young Award runner-up told Mark Sheldon of MLB.com that he wouldn't discuss a contract extension past Opening Day.
As April 6 approaches, the Reds have a major dilemma to ponder in regard to Cueto's contract situation. After ripping off 20-9 record and a 2.25 ERA in 2014, the right-hander has set himself up to earn a mint next winter.
Milwaukee Brewers
23 of 30
The Biggest Storyline: Trying to figure out if the team did enough in the offseason to compete in 2015
The Milwaukee Brewers are in a strange spot.
The squad endured an epic collapse to tumble out of the playoff race in 2014 and then followed that up with a remarkably quiet offseason.
The Brewers once again will be trotting out a team that includes game-changers like Carlos Gomez and Jonathan Lucroy, but the club will also be trotting out a nearly identical roster to the one that just couldn't get it done.
Pittsburgh Pirates
24 of 30The Biggest Storyline: Tracking the play of Jung-Ho Kang
Jung-Ho Kang did a little yard work in his first game with the Pittsburgh Pirates. On March 3, the 27-year-old Korean tagged a home run to right-center field in just his second at-bat of the spring. In his first week of Grapefruit League action, Kang is 2-for-6. So far, it's been an encouraging start for the infielder, who's sure to face plenty of scrutiny as he attempts to transition to the big leagues.
St. Louis Cardinals
25 of 30
The Biggest Storyline: The battle for the No. 5 spot in the rotation
According to Bernie Miklasz of the St Louis Post-Dispatch, Carlos Martinez entered spring training as the front-runner for the final spot in the starting rotation. The 23-year-old didn't hurt his cause in his first outing, as he threw two perfect frames and struck out three.
If Martinez falters between now and the start of the season, Marco Gonzales and Jaime Garcia are the club's two most viable replacement options.
Atlanta Braves
26 of 30
The Biggest Storyline: Figuring out what the rotation will look like
It's anyone's guess who will be pitching for the Atlanta Braves in the fourth game of the 2015 season.
Julio Teheran, Alex Wood and Shelby Miller are lined up atop the rotation, but after that, there are two "TBDs" written in Sharpie.
Entering camp, Eric Stults, Wandy Rodriguez, Mike Foltynewicz and Manny Banuelos headlined the list of fifth-starter candidates. According to Mark Bowman of MLB.com, now that Mike Minor has been sidelined with a shoulder injury, Cody Martin is in the mix too.
Miami Marlins
27 of 30
The Biggest Storyline: The rise of Henderson Alvarez
The Miami Marlins will be without one of the most electric starters in baseball to begin the season as Jose Fernandez works his way back from Tommy John surgery. Fortunately for the Fish, the club has another emerging star in Henderson Alvarez to take his place.
According to Joe Frisaro of MLB.com, the 24-year-old appears to be a lock to get the nod as the Marlins' Opening Day starter. Until Fernandez returns, Alvarez will have the opportunity to set the tone for a club that has the pieces in place to compete for a wild-card spot.
New York Mets
28 of 30
The Biggest Storyline: The return of Matt Harvey
The New York Mets have so much pitching that it's only a matter of time before the NL East club edges into the wild-card conversation.
This spring, no Mets pitcher has drummed up more hype than Matt Harvey, who is returning to the mound after Tommy John surgery wiped out his 2014. On March 6, in his first game back, the 25-year-old worked two perfect innings and uncorked a of 99 mph fastball, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.
Harvey even impressed fellow big leaguer Brett Anderson. The Dodgers lefty tweeted, "Matt Harvey doesn't seem to know he had Tommy John...filthy."
Philadelphia Phillies
29 of 30
The Biggest Storyline: Waiting to see which veteran gets traded first
With the Philadelphia Phillies staring at the reality that the club is one of the worst in baseball, it appears inevitable that valuable parts will start to get spun off.
The list of trade candidates is extensive. Jonathan Papelbon, Cole Hamels, Carlos Ruiz, Cliff Lee and Ryan Howard are just some of the names that could be headed out the door. According to Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe, Papelbon has come the "closest" to being shipped out.
For his part, the veteran closer doesn't think any moves will happen: "As far as I know I’m a Phillie and everyone else is, too. Nobody’s getting traded, as far as I know. This is actually a good group of guys. Best I’ve been around since I’ve been here.”
There's nothing wrong with Papelbon offering a positive spin on the situation, but it would be absolutely shocking if all the names listed above were still with the Phillies after the July trade deadline.
Washington Nationals
30 of 30
The Biggest Storyline: Attempting to live up to the hype
The expectations are absurdly high for the Washington Nationals in 2015 after the club acquired Max Scherzer in the offseason.
Just ask Bryce Harper.
“To be able to have a guy like [Max] Scherzer come in?” said Harper, via Dan Steinberg of The Washington Post. “I just started laughing. I was like, ‘Where’s my ring?’ You know what I mean? It’s stupid. It’s absolutely stupid how good our staff is.”
Harper's extreme confidence isn't going to make him any friends around the league. Of course, it's not like these expectations were created by the comments of a 22-year-old. Per Odds Shark, the Nats are the World Series favorites at 13-2.
The 2015 season has been set up as Fall Classic or bust for Washington, and that's a lot of pressure for any team to handle.
Note: All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and MLB.com. All videos courtesy of MLB.com. All salary information courtesy of Cot's Baseball Contracts on BaseballProspectus.com.
If you want to talk baseball, find me on Twitter @KarlBuscheck.
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