Early Predictions for Top 2016 Spring Training Position Battles
For many players already locked into roster spots, spring training is a time to shake off the rust and gear up for the upcoming grind of a 162-game season.
However, for those on the roster bubble, it's a chance to make an impression that could prove to be the difference between breaking camp on the big league roster and heading back to the minors to start the year.
Most roster decisions boil down to deciding on a final bench piece or relief arm to round out the bullpen, but there are always at least a handful of legitimate position battles at key spots.
The competition for the No. 5 starter job is the most frequent one you'll see around the league, and that is reflected in the following article, but there are a few other battles to keep any eye on at different positions on the field.
All of that said, ahead is a look at 11 top position battles to watch once spring training begins, as well as an early prediction on who will emerge as the winner.
Note: A player's name appearing in italics indicates that the player is not on the 40-man roster but will be in camp as a non-roster invitee.
Atlanta Braves: No. 5 Starter
1 of 11
Candidates
| Jhoulys Chacin | AAA | 20/20 | 7-6 | 3.22 | 1.267 | 45 | 88 | 128.2 |
| Mike Foltynewicz | MLB | 18/15 | 4-6 | 5.71 | 1.627 | 29 | 77 | 86.2 |
| John Gant | A+/AA | 24/24 | 10-5 | 3.08 | 1.226 | 50 | 134 | 140.1 |
| David Holmberg (L) | AAA | 21/19 | 7-7 | 4.34 | 1.521 | 41 | 71 | 120.1 |
| Tyrell Jenkins | AA/AAA | 25/25 | 8-9 | 3.19 | 1.359 | 61 | 88 | 138.1 |
| Casey Kelly | AA/AAA | 31/17 | 2-10 | 5.16 | 1.567 | 39 | 74 | 97.2 |
| Kyle Kendrick | MLB | 27/27 | 7-13 | 6.32 | 1.525 | 45 | 80 | 142.1 |
| Williams Perez | MLB | 23/20 | 7-6 | 4.78 | 1.551 | 51 | 73 | 116.2 |
| Ryan Weber | MLB | 5/5 | 0-3 | 4.76 | 1.094 | 6 | 19 | 28.1 |
Overview
The first four spots in the Atlanta Braves rotation appear to be locked up, as the young trio of Julio Teheran, Matt Wisler and Manny Banuelos will be joined by veteran free-agent addition Bud Norris, who was signed to a one-year, $2.5 million deal.
However, the final spot is up for grabs.
Based on 2015 performance, right-hander Williams Perez has the strongest case to claim the No. 5 starter job, as he gave the team 116.2 solid innings after starting the season well off the radar as the Braves' No. 19 prospect.
In terms of upside, though, they may prefer to give hard-throwing Mike Foltynewicz an opportunity to prove he can be a long-term piece of their rebuilding efforts.
The 24-year-old was the key piece acquired from the Houston Astros in exchange for Evan Gattis, and he began last season ranked as the No. 59 prospect in all of baseball.
Tyrell Jenkins has an even higher ceiling than Foltynewicz, but with just nine Triple-A starts under his belt, it makes sense to give him a bit more time in the minors before he makes his debut.
Then, of course, there are the non-roster veterans who could make a run at the job, most notably Kyle Kendrick and Jhoulys Chacin, who have both been serviceable starters in their careers.
Keep in mind that this is the same Braves team that broke camp with non-roster invitee Eric Stults as its No. 5 starter last season.
Predicted Winner: Williams Perez
He may not have an incredibly high ceiling, but at 24 years old, Perez has a chance to establish himself as a useful back-of-the-rotation arm while the Braves continue to rebuild.
Baltimore Orioles: No. 5 Starter
2 of 11
Candidates
| Dylan Bundy | AA | 8/8 | 0-3 | 3.68 | 1.182 | 5 | 25 | 22.0 |
| Chris Jones (L) | AAA | 30/22 | 8-8 | 2.94 | 1.247 | 29 | 105 | 150.0 |
| Todd Redmond | AAA | 23/10 | 3-7 | 4.00 | 1.411 | 25 | 57 | 78.2 |
| Tyler Wilson | MLB | 9/5 | 2-2 | 3.50 | 1.389 | 11 | 13 | 36.0 |
| Vance Worley | MLB | 23/8 | 4-6 | 4.02 | 1.423 | 21 | 49 | 71.2 |
| Mike Wright | MLB | 12/9 | 3-5 | 6.04 | 1.567 | 18 | 26 | 44.2 |
Overview
Dylan Bundy appeared to have all the tools to develop into a front-line starter for the Baltimore Orioles when they drafted him fourth overall in the 2011 draft.
He made his big league debut the following season, but injuries have derailed his career since, as he missed all of 2013 following Tommy John surgery and has thrown a grand total of 63.1 innings the past two years.
That being said, early reports from the Orioles this offseason are that the 23-year-old is in a "great place" with his health, according to Jon Meoli of the Baltimore Sun.
While the team would no doubt love to bring him along slowly, the fact that he is out of minor league options complicates things, as he'll either stick with the big league club this season or be exposed to waivers.
That almost certainly guarantees him a spot on the team, but it by no means assures him of a rotation spot.
Prospects Tyler Wilson and Mike Wright both got a taste of the majors last season and will get a look, and fellow prospect Chris Jones is knocking on the door as well.
The team also snagged Vance Worley off waivers from the Pirates in what could prove to be a great roll of the dice.
Predicted Winner: Vance Worley
The 28-year-old Worley didn't have the best 2015 season, but he's just a year removed from going 8-4 with a 2.85 ERA in 17 starts with the Pirates. If he can come even close to that level of production in 2016, he'll be one of the steals of the offseason.
Cincinnati Reds: Left Field
3 of 11
Candidates
| Jake Cave | AA/AAA | .278/.339/.359 | 147 | 25 | 2 | 39 | 72 | 17 |
| Ivan DeJesus | MLB | .244/.311/.373 | 49 | 10 | 4 | 28 | 15 | 0 |
| Adam Duvall | AAA | .264/.312/.511 | 131 | 29 | 30 | 87 | 71 | 5 |
| Tyler Holt | AAA | .302/.386/.370 | 111 | 17 | 0 | 28 | 63 | 25 |
| Yorman Rodriguez | AAA | .269/.308/.429 | 83 | 13 | 10 | 41 | 42 | 4 |
| Scott Schebler | AAA | .241/.322/.410 | 104 | 16 | 13 | 50 | 57 | 15 |
| Kyle Waldrop | AA/AAA | .235/.267/.338 | 105 | 19 | 7 | 44 | 29 | 2 |
| Jesse Winker | AA | .282/.390/.433 | 125 | 24 | 13 | 55 | 69 | 8 |
Overview
After shipping Marlon Byrd to the San Francisco Giants on Aug. 20 last season, the Cincinnati Reds used a combination of Skip Schumaker, Adam Duvall, Ivan DeJesus, Jason Bourgeois and Brennan Boesch to man left field the rest of the way.
Duvall and DeJesus are both still around, but they will have to contend with a number of newcomers and rising prospects if they hope to land the bulk of the playing time.
The power that Duvall provides should at least win him a bench job, as he topped 30 home runs twice during his time in the minors and tallied 126 total long balls in his five full minor league seasons.
Yorman Rodriguez and Kyle Waldrop both earned a spot in the Futures Game last year and are knocking on the door for a big league job.
Adding to the mix of young options, the team acquired Scott Schebler from the Dodgers in the Todd Frazier deal and selected Jake Cave from the Yankees in the Rule 5 draft. All four of those prospects have a shot at a roster spot and could play their way into a bigger role.
Speedy Tyler Holt could be an attractive fourth outfielder option, but he has hit just .216/.266/.235 in 102 big league at-bats.
Rounding out this group of candidates is Jesse Winker, who has not yet played above Double-A but is arguably the top prospect in the Reds system and is expected to be the long-term option at the position. A big spring could force the team's hand, but he'll start in Triple-A.
Predicted Winner: No clear starter
Best guess: A platoon of Schebler and Duvall begins the season slated to see the majority of the playing time.
However, DeJesus should also land a roster spot, thanks to his versatility. In addition, Cave will have to stick or be returned to the Yankees, and Rodriguez is out of minor league options, so all three of them could also break camp with the team.
.png?w=256)
Miami Marlins: No. 5 Starter
4 of 11
Candidates
| Dylan Axelrod | AAA | 22/19 | 6-8 | 4.68 | 1.438 | 28 | 69 | 105.2 |
| Adam Conley (L) | MLB | 15/11 | 4-1 | 3.76 | 1.284 | 21 | 59 | 67.0 |
| Kendry Flores | A+/AA/AAA | 21/21 | 6-5 | 2.29 | 0.949 | 29 | 85 | 118.0 |
| Brad Hand (L) | MLB | 38/12 | 4-7 | 5.30 | 1.489 | 32 | 67 | 93.1 |
| Edwin Jackson | MLB | 47/0 | 4-3 | 3.07 | 1.168 | 21 | 40 | 55.2 |
| Justin Nicolino (L) | MLB | 12/12 | 5-4 | 4.01 | 1.243 | 20 | 23 | 74.0 |
| Jose Urena | MLB | 20/9 | 1-5 | 5.25 | 1.589 | 25 | 28 | 61.2 |
Overview
The Miami Marlins used 13 different starting pitchers last season, 10 of whom made at least nine starts, so finding some stability in their starting rotation was atop the offseason to-do list.
The recent signing of Wei-Yin Chen to a five-year, $80 million deal should help, as he'll join Jose Fernandez, Tom Koehler and Jarred Cosart as established starters, but the No. 5 spot is up in the air.
It essentially boils down to whether or not Edwin Jackson shows enough this spring to convince the Marlins he can be an effective starter. He spent all of last season in the bullpen after posting a combined 5.58 ERA as a starter the previous two seasons.
He'll pocket $13 million from the Cubs this year, but the Marlins are only paying him the minimum, so there won't be any financial reason to commit to using him as a starter.
If Jackson does wind up back in the bullpen, there is no shortage of options to fill that final spot.
Justin Nicolino (No. 3), Jose Urena (No. 4), Adam Conley (No. 18) and Kendry Flores (No. 17-SF) all ranked as top-20 organizational prospects heading into last season, and all four got a taste of big league action.
Nicolino showed the most promise of that group, recording eight quality starts in 12 games. He had a 1.99 ERA in those eight quality starts, and he did that without plus strikeout totals.
Predicted Winner: Justin Nicolino
Jackson was so bad as a starter during his time with the Cubs that it's easy to ignore the fact he was actually an effective reliever last year. His power stuff plays up in a relief role, and that's where the Marlins will use him. That opens things up for Nicolino to build off a strong debut and perhaps establish himself as a long-term piece.
Milwaukee Brewers: No. 5 Starter
5 of 11
Candidates
| Hiram Burgos | A+/AA/AAA | 27/27 | 8-8 | 3.62 | 1.185 | 54 | 148 | 149.1 |
| Tyler Cravy | AAA | 17/17 | 7-7 | 3.97 | 1.290 | 31 | 75 | 95.1 |
| Zach Davies | AAA | 24/23 | 6-8 | 3.30 | 1.356 | 45 | 102 | 128.1 |
| Josh Hader (L) | AA | 24/17 | 4-7 | 3.81 | 1.173 | 35 | 119 | 104.0 |
| Jorge Lopez | AA | 24/24 | 12-5 | 2.26 | 1.095 | 52 | 137 | 143.1 |
| Ariel Pena | AAA | 43/7 | 2-2 | 4.14 | 1.319 | 32 | 83 | 82.2 |
| Tyler Wagner | AA | 25/25 | 11-5 | 2.25 | 1.149 | 45 | 120 | 152.1 |
Overview
The rebuilding efforts are underway for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Jimmy Nelson, Wily Peralta and Taylor Jungmann are all 26 years old and have a chance to be long-term rotation pieces based on the success they've already enjoyed in the big leagues.
The team is also more or less stuck with Matt Garza, who is still owed $25 million over the next two years, so it will likely use him as a starter in hopes that he can rebuild some value after posting a 5.63 ERA in 148.2 innings last year.
That leaves one open rotation spot for 2016, and while minor league numbers are highlighted above, a number of those young pitchers saw big league action last year.
Tyler Cravy (42.2 IP, 5.70 ERA), Zach Davies (34.0 IP, 3.71 ERA) and Ariel Pena (27.1 IP, 4.28 ERA) each made at least five starts, while Tyler Wagner (13.2 IP, 7.24 ERA) and Jorge Lopez (10.0 IP, 5.40 ERA) also debuted down the stretch.
Davies in particular made his mark in 2015, as he pitched in the Futures Game while he was still a part of the Orioles organization before being shipped to Milwaukee in the Gerardo Parra deal. His stuff isn't overpowering, but his changeup is plus-plus.
Left-hander Josh Hader has been quietly climbing up the prospect ranks and could get an extended look after a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League (16.0 IP, 0.56 ERA), while 28-year-old Hiram Burgos is also still around as depth.
Predicted Winner: Zach Davies
Davies and Lopez are the two pitchers from the above group who look to have the upside to make a long-term impact for the rebuilding Brewers. Davies is a little further along in his development, so he looks like the best bet to secure the No. 5 starter gig.
It's also worth noting that Pena is out of minor league options, so he'll get every chance to win a roster spot in some capacity.
Minnesota Twins: No. 4 and 5 Starter
6 of 11
Candidates
| Jose Berrios | AA/AAA | 27/27 | 14-5 | 2.87 | 1.046 | 38 | 175 | 166.1 |
| Logan Darnell (L) | AAA | 35/7 | 5-1 | 2.78 | 1.313 | 25 | 66 | 77.2 |
| Pat Dean (L) | AAA | 27/27 | 12-11 | 2.82 | 1.151 | 36 | 98 | 179.0 |
| Tyler Duffey | MLB | 10/10 | 5-1 | 3.10 | 1.310 | 20 | 53 | 58.0 |
| J.R. Graham | MLB | 39/1 | 1-1 | 4.95 | 1.476 | 21 | 53 | 63.2 |
| Tommy Milone (L) | MLB | 24/23 | 9-5 | 3.92 | 1.275 | 36 | 91 | 128.2 |
| Ricky Nolasco | MLB | 9/8 | 5-2 | 6.75 | 1.714 | 14 | 35 | 37.1 |
| Taylor Rogers (L) | AAA | 28/27 | 11-12 | 3.98 | 1.345 | 44 | 126 | 174.0 |
Overview
The starting rotation has not been a strength for the Minnesota Twins in recent years, and that was true once again in 2015, despite some significant improvement.
Here's a look at where their starters' ERA has stacked up the past five years:
- 2011: 4.64 ERA, 26th in MLB
- 2012: 5.40 ERA, 29th in MLB
- 2013: 5.26 ERA, 30th in MLB
- 2014: 5.06 ERA, 30th in MLB
- 2015: 4.14 ERA, 16th in MLB
Phil Hughes, Ervin Santana and Kyle Gibson are locked into the first three spots in the rotation, but there will be plenty of competition for the No. 4 and 5 starter jobs.
Ricky Nolasco is owed $12 million each of the next two seasons, but he's posted an abysmal 5.64 ERA over 196.1 innings in his two seasons with the Twins and could find himself relegated to long-relief duties.
Based solely on 2015 production, Tommy Milone and Tyler Duffey deserve to round out the rotation.
Duffey, in particular, proved to be a pleasant surprise. He was the team's best starter down the stretch despite opening the season as the No. 16 prospect in the organization.
The one to watch here is Jose Berrios, who ranks as one of the game's elite pitching prospects.
The decision not to include him among the September call-ups for a contending Twins team last year was a questionable one to say the least, but Minnesota won't be able to hold him back much longer. He could be the team's best starter by the end of 2016.
Predicted Winner(s): Tommy Milone and Ricky Nolasco
Milone seems like a safe bet to win one of those two spots, thanks in part to the fact that he'd provide the rotation with a left-handed starter.
Money will be the driving factor in where Nolasco winds up, and as long as he's healthy after making just eight starts last year, he'll break camp as the No. 5 starter. He'll be on a short leash, though, and could wind up as this year's version of Edwin Jackson.
Oakland Athletics: No. 4 and 5 Starter
7 of 11
Candidates
| Chris Bassitt | MLB | 18/13 | 1-8 | 3.56 | 1.256 | 30 | 64 | 86.0 |
| Aaron Brooks | MLB | 13/9 | 3-4 | 6.67 | 1.572 | 14 | 38 | 55.1 |
| Felix Doubront (L) | MLB | 16/12 | 3-3 | 5.50 | 1.500 | 26 | 56 | 75.1 |
| Kendall Graveman | MLB | 21/21 | 6-9 | 4.05 | 1.418 | 38 | 77 | 115.2 |
| Sean Manaea (L) | A+/AA | 14/14 | 7-1 | 2.66 | 1.251 | 26 | 90 | 74.1 |
| Sean Nolin (L) | AAA | 14/12 | 2-2 | 2.66 | 1.246 | 19 | 38 | 47.1 |
| Jarrod Parker | A+/AAA | 4/4 | 2-1 | 5.79 | 1.286 | 2 | 15 | 18.2 |
Overview
With an emerging superstar in Sonny Gray, another quality young arm in Jesse Hahn and veteran free-agent signing Rich Hill, the Oakland Athletics have a solid trio atop their rotation.
They also have some quality depth behind those three, and as a result, there figures to be an open competition for the final two starting jobs.
Sean Nolin and Felix Doubront are both out of minor league options, so the team will have to factor that into the decision.
Nolin, who was part of the Josh Donaldson trade, pitched well at the Triple-A level last season but struggled to a 5.28 ERA in six starts with the big league club.
Chris Bassitt and Kendall Graveman both saw extensive action at the big league level in 2015, and both pitched well enough to warrant a longer look this coming season.
During a nine-start stretch from May 23 to July 4, Graveman went 5-2 with a 1.78 ERA and 1.154 WHIP, so it will be a matter of finding consistency for him.
The X-factor here is Jarrod Parker, who last pitched in the majors in 2013, when he went 12-8 with a 3.97 ERA and 1.223 WHIP in 197 innings of work.
Tommy John surgery cost him the 2014 season, and a fractured elbow sidelined him this past year, so it's unclear at this point exactly what can be expected of him.
The same goes for free-agent signing Henderson Alvarez, who will begin the season on the disabled list as he continues to recover from July shoulder surgery. He could make a major impact once he returns.
Predicted Winner(s): Kendall Graveman and Sean Nolin
At this point, it seems like either Graveman or Bassitt will be forced to begin the season in the minors as a result of Nolin being out of options and having too much potential to expose to waivers.
If the team waives Doubront, all three could break camp with the team, and the odd man out of the rotation would step into the long-relief role. It's fair to assume there will be plenty of moving parts in the Oakland rotation this season, though.
Philadelphia Phillies: Closer
8 of 11
Candidates
| Andrew Bailey | AA/AAA | 28 | 3-0 | 6 | 1.80 | 1.057 | 2.8 | 10.8 |
| Ernesto Frieri | MLB | 22 | 1-0 | 2 | 4.63 | 1.329 | 4.2 | 7.3 |
| Luis Garcia | MLB | 72 | 4-6 | 2 | 3.51 | 1.635 | 5.0 | 8.5 |
| David Hernandez | MLB | 40 | 1-5 | 0 | 4.28 | 1.307 | 2.9 | 8.8 |
| Dalier Hinojosa | MLB | 19 | 2-0 | 0 | 0.73 | 1.054 | 4.0 | 8.4 |
| Edward Mujica | MLB | 49 | 3-5 | 1 | 4.75 | 1.246 | 1.3 | 5.7 |
Overview
The decision to trade Ken Giles brought the Philadelphia Phillies an impressive package of prospects, but it also left them without a proven closer after they shipped Jonathan Papelbon out at the trade deadline last season.
As a rebuilding club that is not in the market to make expensive additions, the team has done well to focus on low-cost arms who could potentially turn into trade chips, and that has been especially true in the bullpen.
Edward Mujica, Andrew Bailey and Ernesto Frieri were all signed to minor league contracts, and all three have previous experience closing games.
- Bailey: 89 career saves, career-high 26 in 2009
- Frieri: 73 career saves, career-high 37 in 2013
- Mujica: 50 career saves, career-high 37 in 2013
That being said, the odds-on favorite for the job right now appears to be former Diamondbacks setup man David Hernandez, who signed a one-year, $3.9 million deal as he looks to rebuild some value.
The 30-year-old was a terrific late-inning option prior to undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2014, and in his second year back healthy, he could once again emerge as a reliable bullpen anchor.
Predicted Winner: David Hernandez
The 4.28 ERA in 40 appearances last year for Hernandez may not look great on the surface, but he pitched to a 3.58 ERA after a rocky first month back, and his stuff bounced back well, as he still boasts a plus fastball/curveball combination.
It will be interesting to see which of the non-roster invitees make the roster, and the Phillies roster as a whole will be one of the more fun ones to watch take shape leading up to Opening Day.
San Diego Padres: Left Field
9 of 11
Candidates
| Jabari Blash | AA/AAA | .271/.370/.576 | 110 | 24 | 32 | 81 | 79 | 8 |
| Alex Dickerson | AAA | .307/.374/.503 | 141 | 36 | 12 | 71 | 82 | 4 |
| Travis Jankowski | AA/AAA | .335/.413/.425 | 127 | 17 | 1 | 25 | 69 | 32 |
| Jon Jay | MLB | .210/.306/.257 | 44 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 25 | 0 |
| Rymer Liriano | AAA | .292/.383/.460 | 138 | 31 | 14 | 64 | 85 | 18 |
| Hunter Renfroe | AA/AAA | .272/.321/.462 | 139 | 27 | 20 | 78 | 65 | 5 |
Overview
With the departure of Justin Upton in free agency and Wil Myers shifting to first base, the San Diego Padres have an obvious hole to fill in the outfield.
That is assuming that Melvin Upton Jr. serves as the primary center fielder and Matt Kemp is once again penciled in as the right fielder on an everyday basis.
Jon Jay is the experienced candidate of the group, as the team acquired the 30-year-old from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for infielder Jedd Gyorko.
This past season was not a pretty one for Jay, but he's just a year removed from hitting .303 with a .372 on-base percentage in 468 plate appearances.
A platoon of Upton and Jay in center field is certainly a possibility, and that would leave left field even more wide-open.
Travis Jankowski and Rymer Liriano both had strong seasons in the minors last year, and while they are different players, it's not out of the question to think they too could form a productive platoon.
Liriano is out of minor league options, so he'll likely be on the roster regardless.
The X-factor is Rule 5 selection Jabari Blash, who posted a .946 OPS with 32 home runs last season while splitting the year evenly between Double-A and Triple-A.
If he can keep his strikeouts under control, he has a chance to be this year's version of Mark Canha, and that could be enough for him to seize the bulk of the playing time.
Top prospect Hunter Renfroe could get an extended look, but he'll almost certainly start the season in the minors, and his future is in right field.
Predicted Winner: Jabari Blash
My guess is that Blash, Liriano and Jay all break camp with the team, but a strong spring will propel Blash into the starting job to open the season.
Seeing as Liriano is the one who is out of options, the team has some flexibility, so expect the position to be a fluid situation if Blash doesn't get off to a strong start.
Tampa Bay Rays: Shortstop
10 of 11
Candidates
| Tim Beckham | MLB | .222/.274/.429 | 45 | 7 | 9 | 37 | 24 | 3 |
| Nick Franklin | AAA | .266/.353/.500 | 51 | 10 | 11 | 30 | 26 | 4 |
| Brad Miller | MLB | .258/.329/.402 | 113 | 22 | 11 | 46 | 44 | 13 |
| Daniel Robertson | AA | .270/.365/.407 | 83 | 20 | 4 | 41 | 51 | 3 |
Overview
In one of the first big trades of the offseason, the Tampa Bay Rays acquired Brad Miller, Logan Morrison and Danny Farquhar from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Nate Karns, Boog Powell and C.J. Riefenhauser.
After getting good value out of Asdrubal Cabrera on a one-year deal to man the shortstop position last season, the Rays were once again left looking for an answer at that all-important position when he departed in free agency.
Miller has a chance to be the long-term answer there, but according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, the 26-year-old is by no means guaranteed the job walking into spring training.
One of the biggest issues with Miller is his inability to hit left-handed pitching. Last season, he posted a terrific .803 OPS with 35 extra-base hits against righties. Compare that to a .513 OPS and just two extra-base hits against lefties, and a platoon seems like something the team will have to consider.
Former No. 1 overall pick Tim Beckham saw his first extended big league action last season, and he had a .725 OPS against lefties and a .676 OPS against righties, so he could make sense as a platoon partner.
Another former Mariners middle infielder in Nick Franklin is also in the mix, though he spent the bulk of 2015 in the minors and appears to be in danger of slipping down the organizational depth chart.
Daniel Robertson will also be in camp, but after something of a letdown this past season, he'll look to rebuild his top prospect status with another year in the minors.
Predicted Winner(s): A platoon of Brad Miller and Tim Beckham
Beckham is out of options, so he'll be on the roster anyway as the team's utility infielder, and opening the season with a platoon at shortstop and getting him some semi-regular playing time could benefit the team down the line.
Ideally, Miller would take a step forward against southpaws and negate the need for a platoon, but expect both guys to see time early in the year.
Toronto Blue Jays: No. 5 Starter and Closer
11 of 11
No. 5 Starter Candidates
| Jesse Chavez | MLB | 30/26 | 7-15 | 4.18 | 1.350 | 48 | 136 | 157.0 |
| Drew Hutchison | MLB | 30/28 | 13-5 | 5.57 | 1.483 | 44 | 129 | 150.1 |
| Aaron Sanchez | MLB | 41/11 | 7-6 | 3.22 | 1.278 | 44 | 61 | 92.1 |
Closer Candidates
| Roberto Osuna | MLB | 68 | 1-6 | 20/23 | 2.58 | 0.919 | 2.1 | 9.7 |
| Drew Storen | MLB | 58 | 2-2 | 29/34 | 3.44 | 1.109 | 2.6 | 11.0 |
Overview
The Toronto Blue Jays have two significant spots on their pitching staff that will need to be sorted out, and their standing as one of the favorites in the American League puts those among the biggest decisions of the spring.
The No. 5 starter job will be a competition between incumbents Drew Hutchison and Aaron Sanchez and newcomer Jesse Chavez.
Hutchison struggled through a rough 2015, but he looked like a star in the making in 2014 when he went 11-13 with a 4.48 ERA, 1.262 WHIP and 184 strikeouts in 184.2 innings and still has upside as a 25-year-old.
Sanchez began last season in the rotation, but he struggled with command issues and then missed time with a shoulder injury. When he returned, he moved into a setup role, and posted a 2.39 ERA with 10 holds in 30 appearances.
The team picked up Chavez from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for reliever Liam Hendriks, and he's been one of the game's best swingmen in recent years. He's best served in a long-relief/spot starter role, but that was also the role the team envisioned for Marco Estrada last year and he wound up being a big part of the rotation.
As for the closer's job, Roberto Osuna thrived as a rookie last season, as the 20-year-old made the transition from starting in the minors to anchoring the bullpen.
Good as the young right-hander was, the team clearly needed another late-inning arm, and that led to the recent acquisition of Drew Storen from the Nationals in exchange for Ben Revere.
Storen posted a 1.73 ERA and converted 29 of 31 save chances prior to the Nationals acquiring Jonathan Papelbon at the deadline last year, at which point he was forced into a setup role.
Predicted Winner(s): Drew Hutchison and Drew Storen
With his age and upside, Hutchison will get every chance to take over the No. 5 starter job this spring, and as long as he doesn't struggle mightily, expect him to break camp in the rotation.
As for the closer job, Osuna was brilliant last season but Storen has the track record of success, and giving him the ninth inning job would be a show of good faith if nothing else after the debacle in Washington.
The power trio of Sanchez, Osuna and Storen is going to be fantastic, regardless of what order they pitch in, as the bullpen now looks like a legitimate strength for the Blue Jays.
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com, unless otherwise noted. All referenced prospect rankings come courtesy of the Baseball America Prospect Handbook.
.png?w=480)
