How 2015 MLB Spring Training Has Changed the Regular-Season Landscape

After what has been several weeks (but by now feels like several months) of spring training, the 2015 Major League Baseball season is only days—nay, hours—away.

But before the stalwart St. Louis Cardinals travel to Wrigley Field to face the new-look Chicago Cubs on Sunday, let's review how some events and developments that took place in February and March could affect teams and players once the real games begin.

Roster Decisions

Sticking with the Cubs for a moment, it's a shame that baseball fans everywhere—and especially Cubs fans at Wrigley Field this weekend—will be deprived of the opportunity to watch top prospect Kris Bryant make his MLB debut. Despite smashing a spring training-best nine home runs, Bryant will open the year at Triple-A, along with a pair of other Cubs young position players.

And since we're in Chicago already, it's worth noting that White Sox pitching prospect Carlos Rodon, the No. 3 overall pick last June, also will begin 2015 back in the minors after an impressive exhibition showing that included a 19-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 12.1 innings. Speedy second baseman Micah Johnson, however, could come out of camp with the job.

Ultimately, all of the above young soon-to-be stars should spend plenty of time in the Windy City this season, which suddenly has two very promising teams.

It's not just youngsters, though. There have been a number of veterans sent packing, too, including Nate Schierholtz, Ryan Ludwick, Paul Maholm and Matt Lindstrom.

Meanwhile, the Toronto Blue Jays made plenty of prospect-related 25-man decisions, deciding to go with (count 'em) six rookies on the roster, according to Brendan Kennedy of the Toronto Star: Daniel Norris and Aaron Sanchez in the rotation, Roberto Osuna and Miguel Castro in the bullpen, Dalton Pompey in center field and Devon Travis at second base.

That's a serious youth movement for a team trying to end what is currently the longest postseason drought in MLB, dating to its championship in 1993.

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

And although Cleveland Indians pitcher Danny Salazar isn't a prospect anymore, he's still in the nascent stage of his career, which makes it rather disappointing that the electric-armed right-hander couldn't crack the rotation for a club that has playoff hopes. That spot will go to left-hander T.J. House instead.

Breakout Performances

There have been a number of knock-down-the-door showings from young players looking to solidify a role in the majors this spring.

If the Seattle Mariners weren't the favorites in the AL West, if not the whole Junior Circuit, when camp started, they sure look like it now that 22-year-old right-hander Taijuan Walker has broken through with a 0.36 ERA and 0.52 WHIP while striking out 24 in 25 innings. 

Young lefty Roenis Elias, who was solid as an out-of-nowhere rookie in 2014 (3.85 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 7.9 K/9), heads to Triple-A as some pretty good rotation insurance.

Rookie Joc Pederson began the exhibition season ready to engage in a battle with veteran Andre Ethier for the Los Angeles Dodgers' center field job, but the 22-year-old lefty-swinger has seized the gig by going 21-for-57 (.368) with six homers.

And while so much of the focus early in Arizona Diamondbacks camp was on $68.5 million Cuban sensation Yasmany Tomas and his quest to handle third base, it appears as if that spot will go to Jake Lamb, a 24-year-old prospect who came on strong in March (.356/.418/.627) and who already has some MLB experience from 2014.

Tomas' status, surprisingly, remains somewhat up in the air after a so-so spring (.782 OPS, 13 K's) has raised questions about whether or not he's ready for the majors right away.

Even taking all of the above into account, perhaps no young player has been more impressive lately than Mookie Betts.

The Boston Red Sox's 22-year-old spark plug-slash-dynamo has gone 21-for-45 (.467) with 12 extra-base knocks against just three strikeouts in 48 plate appearances. Even in that overcrowded Red Sox outfield, Betts has all but locked up center field.

Injury Issues

Not everything has been sunshine and rainbows, however, as plenty of hopeful contenders are dealing with injuries ranging from serious to somewhat significant.

Among the bigger names to go under the knife for Tommy John surgery were Yu Darvish of the Texas Rangers and the New York Mets' Zack Wheeler.

Marcus Stroman didn't need elbow surgery, but he is out likely for all of 2015 with a torn ACL. That's a very tough loss for the Jays, who needed the young right-hander at or near the top of their rotation.

Cliff Lee's flexor tendon injury also is a potential season-ender—and could mean the end of his great career.

The Boston Red Sox suddenly are very worried about catcher Christian Vazquez, who is on the 60-day disabled list with an elbow injury that could require surgery, according to Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald. Given Vazquez's defensive capabilities, this is a big blow for the Sox, who now have to count on Ryan Hanigan to be the starting backstop.

Kenley Jansen, who required surgery to remove a growth from his foot in mid-February, is aiming to get back to the Los Angeles Dodgers by early May, per Eric Stephen of True Blue LA. Teammate Hyun-Jin Ryu's left shoulder hasn't been cooperating and could keep him on the shelf early on, too.

Lenny Ignelzi/Associated Press

In the not-quite-as-serious category, there's White Sox lefty Chris Sale's avulsion fracture and ankle sprain, which is expected to cost him only a start or two at the outset of the year, according to Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune.

Meanwhile, Detroit Tigers righty Justin Verlander is dealing with triceps soreness and may have to skip his first start if it shows no improvement in the coming days.

There also are two teams in the same region who are hurting. The Baltimore Orioles will be without catcher Matt Wieters, who still can't throw as he continues to recover from last year's Tommy John surgery, and shortstop J.J. Hardy is fighting through soreness in his left shoulder, according to Eduardo A. Encina of The Baltimore Sun.

The Washington Nationals—only everybody's preseason favorite—are in even worse shape, what with Jayson Werth (shoulder), Denard Span (core surgery), Casey Janssen (shoulder), Drew Storen (hand/toe) and Anthony Rendon (knee) all ailing.

That last injury is particularly problematic, given not only Rendon's importance to the Nationals after his breakout 2014 but also the as-yet-undetermined severity of the problem.

Sidelined by his recovery from shoulder surgery, Los Angeles Angels' outfielder Josh Hamilton could face disciplinary action, too, with a suspension announcement expected before Opening Day, according to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register.

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

As for the good news on the injury front, New York Mets ace Matt Harvey looks ready to rock, and New York Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka's elbow is holding up (for now).

Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez appear to be doing pretty well as they try to be good to go for Opening Day. Jose Fernandez of the Miami Marlins will take a little longer, but he's aiming for a return around the All-Star break.

Transaction Action

And let's not forget that there still should be some more moves to come in the remaining hours before 2015's first pitch is thrown Sunday night by the Cubs' new $155 million man, ace Jon Lester.

For one, it'll be interesting to see how top Cuban hitter Hector Olivera, who signed for $62.5 million in late March, will factor into this year with the Los Angeles Dodgers once he gets acquainted with his new club—and country.

In need of a lefty reliever—or two—in the wake of Josh Edgin's season-ending Tommy John surgery, the New York Mets traded pitching prospect Cory Mazzoni and a player to be named to the San Diego Padres for Alex Torres and then followed that up by moving outfielder Matt den Dekker to the Washington Nationals for fellow southpaw Jerry Blevins.

The Texas Rangers swapped a PTBNL for reliever Sam Freeman from the St. Louis Cardinals.

And just Tuesday evening, the Tampa Bay Rays—who are dealing with injuries to Alex Cobb, Drew Smyly and Alex Colome—acquired righty Erasmo Ramirez from the Seattle Mariners for lefty reliever Mike Montgomery, according to Bill Chastain of MLB.com

"There are lots of names out there, lots of teams with an over-abundance of players at the same positions with guaranteed deals," a scout told Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. "In my opinion, there will be a historical number of trades coming in the last week of spring training."

In other words, even with spring training just about wrapped up, things still could—and will—change before all 30 clubs play their first game.

Statistics are accurate through Tuesday, March 31, and courtesy of MLB.com, Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted.

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