MLB Power Rankings: Where Teams Stand at Start of 2016 Spring Training Games
Spring training is finally underway, and games are set to begin this week in the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues, so let's kick things off with another updated version of our MLB power rankings.
We last updated these rankings Feb. 22, so any transactions or injuries that have taken place between then and now were factored into the changes you'll see in the following rankings.
Notable additions during that span include: OF Ian Desmond (TEX), OF Dexter Fowler (CHC), IF/OF Chris Coghlan (OAK), OF Will Venable (CLE), OF Shane Victorino (CHC), OF Drew Stubbs (TEX), OF Domonic Brown (TOR), 1B/3B Casey McGehee (DET) and RP Rafael Soriano (TOR).
We also saw Abraham Almonte (CLE) suspended, Jose Reyes (COL) put on administrative leave and Hyun-Jin Ryu (LAD) ticketed for the disabled list.
There were also a few simple shifts in opinion on how some teams stack up to others.
There's obviously no game action to justify shuffling these rankings at this point, but here in the offseason, the more you think about teams, the more your opinion is likely to change.
Call it analysis or call it overanalysis, it's just a part of these preseason rankings—and 400-plus comments on the last version of these rankings gave me plenty to think about.
As with any offseason power rankings, these are not simply meant to be a prediction for the year ahead. Instead, they are a look at how teams would stack up with the rosters they currently have if the season were to start today.
Keep that in mind when considering where your favorite team falls in the following rankings, as a lot can still change between now and Opening Day.
Note: This time around, we've included a projected 25-man Opening Day roster for each club. The roster projections from Roster Resource served as an invaluable starting point in this exercise, though I made changes based on my own opinions.
In the following projected rosters, (R) indicates a player with rookie eligibility remaining, while a bold player is a newcomer to the team.
30. Atlanta Braves
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Spring Focus
The Atlanta Braves have a number of roster decisions to make this spring, but tops on that list may be deciding what to do if they're unable to unload either Nick Swisher or Michael Bourn, which is looking more and more likely at this point.
Unless someone such as Hector Olivera or Adonis Garcia begins the season in Triple-A or someone from the recently signed trio of Emilio Bonifacio, Gordon Beckham and Kelly Johnson is released, there's a fairly obvious roster crunch on the position player side of things.
As for the pitchers, the No. 5 starter job and a few bullpen spots will be available.
Non-roster invitees Kyle Kendrick, Jhoulys Chacin, Alexi Ogando, Carlos Torres, David Carpenter and Alex Torres are all in the mix there if one or more of them can turn in a strong spring.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Ender Inciarte | RHP Julio Teheran |
| SS Erick Aybar | RHP Matt Wisler |
| RF Nick Markakis | LHP Manny Banuelos |
| 1B Freddie Freeman | RHP Bud Norris |
| LF Hector Olivera (R) | RHP Williams Perez |
| 3B Adonis Garcia | |
| C A.J. Pierzynski | LHP Evan Rutckyj (R) |
| 2B Jace Peterson | RHP Chris Withrow |
| RHP Jim Johnson | |
| C Tyler Flowers | LHP Ian Krol |
| 1B/OF Nick Swisher | RHP Arodys Vizcaino |
| IF Gordon Beckham | RHP Jason Grilli |
| IF/OF Emilio Bonifacio | |
| IF/OF Kelly Johnson | |
| OF Michael Bourn |
29. Colorado Rockies
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Spring Focus
The Colorado Rockies have placed shortstop Jose Reyes on paid administrative leave pending the resolution of his ongoing domestic violence case.
Once the case is finally resolved, he could still face further discipline from the league, so at this point, it's clear the Rockies will need to explore alternatives at the position.
Daniel Descalso, Cristhian Adames and Rafael Ynoa are all options with previous MLB experience, but prospect Trevor Story is capable of emerging as the winner after posting an .863 OPS with 40 doubles, 10 triples, 20 home runs, 80 RBI and 22 steals between Double-A and Triple-A last year.
"I think I had a good year last year, and I think I'm ready to compete up here," Story told Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post.
Sorting out the back of the rotation and final few bullpen spots will also be on the docket, but the Reyes story is the major headline at this point.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Charlie Blackmon | LHP Jorge De La Rosa |
| 2B DJ LeMahieu | RHP Chad Bettis |
| RF Carlos Gonzalez | RHP Jon Gray (R) |
| 3B Nolan Arenado | RHP Jordan Lyles |
| LF Gerardo Parra | RHP Tyler Chatwood |
| C Nick Hundley | |
| 1B Ben Paulsen | LHP Chris Rusin |
| SS Trevor Story (R) | RHP Jairo Diaz (R) |
| LHP Boone Logan | |
| C Tom Murphy (R) | RHP Chad Qualls |
| 1B/3B Mark Reynolds | RHP Justin Miller |
| IF Cristhian Adames | RHP Jason Motte |
| IF Daniel Descalso | LHP Jake McGee |
| OF Brandon Barnes |
28. Cincinnati Reds
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Spring Focus
The projected starting rotation shown below for the Cincinnati Reds features five pitchers with a combined 493.0 MLB innings under their belts.
While there is no clear-cut future ace in that group, one player to keep an eye on this spring is Raisel Iglesias. The former Cuban defector posted a 3.13 ERA, 0.896 WHIP and 10.2 K/9 over the final two months last season, and he could emerge as the leader in that staff ace role.
Settling upon a starting left fielder looks like Cincinnati's biggest yet-to-be-made decision, with Scott Schebler, Adam Duvall and Yorman Rodriguez identified as the leading candidates but top prospect Jesse Winker also in the running, per C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Finally, not since Josh Hamilton and Jared Burton in 2007 has a Rule 5 selection earned a spot on the Reds' roster, according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. They could break camp with a pair of them this season in outfielder Jake Cave and reliever Chris O'Grady, so that will be worth watching as well.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| SS Zack Cozart | RHP Anthony DeSclafani |
| 1B Joey Votto | RHP Raisel Iglesias |
| 2B Brandon Phillips | LHP Brandon Finnegan |
| RF Jay Bruce | RHP Michael Lorenzen |
| 3B Eugenio Suarez | RHP Jon Moscot |
| C Devin Mesoraco | |
| LF Scott Schebler (R) | RHP Carlos Contreras |
| CF Billy Hamilton | LHP Chris O'Grady (R) |
| RHP Caleb Cotham (R) | |
| C Tucker Barnhart | RHP Blake Wood |
| IF/OF Ivan DeJesus Jr. | LHP Tony Cingrani |
| IF/OF Adam Duvall | RHP Jumbo Diaz |
| OF Jake Cave (R) | RHP J.J. Hoover |
| OF Yorman Rodriguez (R) |
27. Milwaukee Brewers
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Spring Focus
Just because spring training is underway, it doesn't mean the trade market is closed. One name to keep an eye on is Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy.
"There’s still buzz in the scouting community that Lucroy could be moved in spring training," wrote Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. "There are plenty of teams looking for a catcher, and Lucroy is the best available at the moment. The Brewers are exploring moving Lucroy for prospects."
That would just be the latest in a string of moves by the rebuilding Brewers, as they will enter camp with a number of low-cost additions vying for significant spots on the roster. The projected 25-man group below features 11 newcomers.
Among other holes that will need to be filled is the closer's job, as the Brewers dealt All-Star Francisco Rodriguez to the Detroit Tigers this winter. Incumbents Jeremy Jeffress (72 G, 2.65 ERA, 1.265 WHIP, 8.9 K/9) and Will Smith (76 G, 2.70 ERA, 1.200 WHIP, 12.9 K/9) will battle for the job, according to Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| 2B Scooter Gennett | RHP Jimmy Nelson |
| C Jonathan Lucroy | RHP Wily Peralta |
| LF Ryan Braun | RHP Matt Garza |
| 1B Chris Carter | RHP Taylor Jungmann |
| RF Domingo Santana | RHP Chase Anderson |
| 3B Will Middlebrooks | |
| CF Kirk Nieuwenhuis | LHP Sean Nolin (R) |
| SS Jonathan Villar | RHP Zack Jones (R) |
| RHP Tyler Thornburg | |
| C Martin Maldonado | RHP Michael Blazek |
| IF Aaron Hill | RHP Corey Knebel |
| IF/OF Colin Walsh (R) | LHP Will Smith |
| OF Ramon Flores (R) | RHP Jeremy Jeffress |
| OF Rymer Liriano (R) |
26. Philadelphia Phillies
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Spring Focus
The Philadelphia Phillies will begin the season with a number of place-holders occupying spots on the 25-man roster while they continue to wait on a wave of prospect talent to arrive at the MLB level.
Among the veteran names worth keeping an eye on are starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson, reliever David Hernandez and outfielder Peter Bourjos, as all three players are free agents at the end of the season. The team would presumably love nothing more than for them to turn into viable trade chips by July.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, top prospects J.P. Crawford, Nick Williams, Jake Thompson, Mark Appel, Jorge Alfaro, Andrew Knapp and Roman Quinn are all in big league camp and expected to debut at some point in 2016.
There are also a number of non-roster relievers vying for what appears to be one spot in the bullpen, with Edward Mujica, James Russell, Bobby LaFromboise, Ernesto Frieri, Yoervis Medina and Andrew Bailey the most notable names among the 10 non-roster bullpen arms.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| 2B Cesar Hernandez | RHP Aaron Nola |
| CF Odubel Herrera | RHP Jeremy Hellickson |
| 3B Maikel Franco | RHP Charlie Morton |
| 1B Ryan Howard | RHP Jerad Eickhoff |
| LF Aaron Altherr | RHP Vincent Velasquez |
| C Carlos Ruiz | |
| SS Freddy Galvis | LHP Brett Oberholtzer |
| RF Peter Bourjos | LHP Daniel Stumpf (R) |
| RHP Jeanmar Gomez | |
| C Cameron Rupp (R) | RHP Dalier Hinojosa (R) |
| 1B/OF Darin Ruf | RHP Edward Mujica |
| IF Andres Blanco | RHP Luis Garcia |
| 3B/OF Cody Asche | RHP David Hernandez |
| OF Tyler Goeddel (R) |
25. San Diego Padres
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Spring Focus
The expectations surrounding the San Diego Padres will be significantly different this spring after a much more low-key offseason where the focus was on rebuilding the farm system and plugging holes with low-cost additions.
The bullpen will have a significantly different look and will rely heavily on Fernando Rodney still having enough in the tank to hold down the closer's role. To his credit, the 38-year-old posted a 0.75 ERA in 14 appearances after joining the Chicago Cubs last August.
Rule 5 picks Jabari Blash, Luis Perdomo and Josh Martin all have a chance at winning a job, and Blash could actually work his way into significant playing time as the primary left fielder with a strong spring.
"From a starting position, (Blash) probably comes in behind the veterans we have in the outfield," manager Andy Green told Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union Tribune, "but if he shows the bat we think he has, anything is possible."
Projected 25-Man Roster
| 2B Cory Spangenberg | RHP Tyson Ross |
| 3B Yangervis Solarte | RHP James Shields |
| 1B Wil Myers | RHP Andrew Cashner |
| RF Matt Kemp | RHP Brandon Maurer |
| C Derek Norris | LHP Robbie Erlin |
| SS Alexei Ramirez | |
| LF Jabari Blash (R) | RHP Luis Perdomo (R) |
| CF Melvin Upton Jr. | RHP Josh Martin (R) |
| RHP Nick Vincent | |
| C Christian Bethancourt | RHP Carlos Villanueva |
| 1B Brett Wallace | RHP Kevin Quackenbush |
| IF/OF Alexi Amarista | LHP Drew Pomeranz |
| IF/OF Skip Schumaker | RHP Fernando Rodney |
| OF Jon Jay |
24. Los Angeles Angels
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Spring Focus
Some people were displeased with how low the Los Angeles Angels were in these rankings the last time around, but it's hard to justify putting them any higher with their current offensive outlook.
After all, this is a team that ranked 20th in the majors and 12th in the AL last year at 4.08 runs per game, and they'll now likely be without slugger Albert Pujols to begin the season following offseason foot surgery.
Keep in mind these rankings are based on where teams stand right now.
And right now, a starting lineup that features Daniel Nava, Craig Gentry, Carlos Perez, Andrelton Simmons and Johnny Giavotella might be the worst in the American League.
That means the pitching staff will need to do a lot of the heavy lifting, and deciding on who fills two rotation spots between the trio of Andrew Heaney, Matt Shoemaker and Hector Santiago becomes that much bigger of a decision as a result.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| 3B Yunel Escobar | RHP Garrett Richards |
| RF Kole Calhoun | RHP Jered Weaver |
| CF Mike Trout | LHP C.J. Wilson |
| 1B C.J. Cron | LHP Andrew Heaney |
| LF Daniel Nava | RHP Matt Shoemaker |
| SS Andrelton Simmons | |
| C Carlos Perez | LHP Hector Santiago |
| DH Craig Gentry | RHP Deolis Guerra (R) |
| 2B Johnny Giavotella | RHP Al Alburquerque |
| LHP Jose Alvarez | |
| C Geovany Soto | RHP Fernando Salas |
| 1B Ji-Man Choi (R) | RHP Joe Smith |
| IF/OF Cliff Pennington | RHP Huston Street |
| OF Todd Cunningham |
23. Miami Marlins
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Spring Focus
Even after signing Wei-Yin Chen to provide some support for Jose Fernandez at the top of the rotation, there is still a serious question as to whether the Miami Marlins have enough starting pitching to contend.
They do have plenty of depth in that department, though, as young arms like Justin Nicolino, Adam Conley, Kendry Flores and Jose Urena all saw time in the majors last season and will push free-agent addition Edwin Jackson for the No. 5 starter job.
On the other side of the ball, the offense has a chance to be a real strength.
Healthy seasons from Giancarlo Stanton and Martin Prado, a bounce-back performance by Marcell Ozuna and a potential breakout by catcher J.T. Realmuto all contribute to the offense's potential upside.
For now, though, this team still looks to be closer to the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves at the bottom in the NL East than it is to the Washington Nationals and New York Mets at the top.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| 2B Dee Gordon | RHP Jose Fernandez |
| LF Christian Yelich | LHP Wei-Yin Chen |
| RF Giancarlo Stanton | RHP Jarred Cosart |
| 1B Justin Bour | RHP Tom Koehler |
| CF Marcell Ozuna | RHP Edwin Jackson |
| 3B Martin Prado | |
| C J.T. Realmuto | RHP David Phelps |
| SS Adeiny Hechavarria | LHP Brad Hand |
| RHP Kyle Barraclough (R) | |
| C Jeff Mathis | RHP Bryan Morris |
| 1B/3B Chris Johnson | LHP Mike Dunn |
| IF Miguel Rojas | RHP Carter Capps |
| IF/OF Derek Dietrich | RHP A.J. Ramos |
| OF Ichiro Suzuki |
22. Oakland Athletics
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Spring Focus
The Oakland Athletics went from 88 wins and a wild-card berth in 2014 to 68 wins and a last-place finish in the AL West last season. As a result, they once again find themselves in a position to sneak up on some people this year.
Adding slugger Khris Davis to the middle of the lineup should help provide some much-needed run production support for Josh Reddick, while the versatile Chris Coghlan also looks like a good fit on a team that likes to shuffle lineups.
That said, his arrival could mean fan-favorite Eric Sogard is ticketed for Triple-A.
An improved bullpen figures to be the most significant difference after last year's relief corps ranked 28th in the league with a 4.63 ERA and converted just 28 of 53 save chances.
That led to the offseason additions of Marc Rzepczynski, John Axford, Liam Hendriks and Ryan Madson, but the biggest addition could be a healthy Sean Doolittle after he was slowed by arm issues last season.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Billy Burns | RHP Sonny Gray |
| 2B Jed Lowrie | RHP Jesse Hahn |
| RF Josh Reddick | LHP Rich Hill |
| LF Khris Davis | RHP Chris Bassitt |
| C Stephen Vogt | RHP Kendall Graveman |
| 3B Danny Valencia | |
| DH Billy Butler | LHP Felix Doubront |
| 1B Yonder Alonso | RHP Fernando Rodriguez |
| SS Marcus Semien | LHP Marc Rzepczynski |
| RHP John Axford | |
| C Josh Phegley | RHP Liam Hendriks |
| 1B/OF Mark Canha | RHP Ryan Madson |
| IF/OF Chris Coghlan | LHP Sean Doolittle |
| OF Coco Crisp |
21. Baltimore Orioles
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Spring Focus
Although it appeared the Baltimore Orioles were set to sign Dexter Fowler, the veteran outfielder changed course last week and signed with the Chicago Cubs, once again leaving the outfield with a hole to fill.
Mark Trumbo is an option to serve as the team's primary right fielder, but with minus-12 DRS and a minus-8.5 UZR/150 in his career as an outfielder, the slugger is best served as the team's primary designated hitter.
Big picture: The offense isn't the issue here. It's the starting rotation, which still looks to be a middle-of-the-road group at best even after the addition of Yovani Gallardo.
A step forward by Kevin Gausman and some semblance of consistency from Ubaldo Jimenez would go a long way, but right now, a last-place finish in the AL East seems more likely than a run at contention.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| LF Hyun Soo Kim (R) | RHP Chris Tillman |
| 3B Manny Machado | RHP Yovani Gallardo |
| 1B Chris Davis | RHP Ubaldo Jimenez |
| CF Adam Jones | RHP Miguel Gonzalez |
| C Matt Wieters | RHP Kevin Gausman |
| DH Mark Trumbo | |
| 2B Jonathan Schoop | RHP Dylan Bundy (R) |
| SS J.J. Hardy | RHP Vance Worley |
| RF Nolan Reimold | RHP Mychal Givens (R) |
| LHP Brian Matusz | |
| C Caleb Joseph | RHP Brad Brach |
| IF/OF Ryan Flaherty | RHP Darren O'Day |
| OF Jimmy Paredes | LHP Zach Britton |
| OF Joey Rickard (R) |
20. Chicago White Sox
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Spring Focus
Some view the Chicago White Sox as serious contenders for the AL Central crown this season, but an uphill battle awaits them if they're going to make that leap after a 76-win season a year ago.
Adding Brett Lawrie and Todd Frazier shores up the infield both offensively and defensively, and the new catching tandem of Alex Avila and Dioner Navarro should do a solid job handling the pitching staff.
That staff—led by the lefty trio of Chris Sale, Jose Quintana and Carlos Rodon—has a chance to be a strength, but the organization has a troubling lack of starting pitching depth should the injury bug strike.
That's by no means the only area of concern, either.
Can the White Sox count on anything out of Melky Cabrera, Adam LaRoche, Avisail Garcia, John Danks and Mat Latos after how bad they were last season? The optimist would say they can't be worse, but the realist might say there's no reason to think they'll be better.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Adam Eaton | LHP Chris Sale |
| LF Melky Cabrera | LHP Jose Quintana |
| 1B Jose Abreu | LHP Carlos Rodon |
| 3B Todd Frazier | LHP John Danks |
| DH Adam LaRoche | RHP Mat Latos |
| 2B Brett Lawrie | |
| RF Avisail Garcia | RHP Jacob Turner |
| C Dioner Navarro | LHP Dan Jennings |
| SS Jimmy Rollins | RHP Zach Putnam |
| LHP Zach Duke | |
| C Alex Avila | RHP Matt Albers |
| IF Tyler Saladino | RHP Nate Jones |
| IF/OF Mike Olt | RHP David Robertson |
| OF J.B. Shuck |
19. Minnesota Twins
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Spring Focus
The Minnesota Twins were significantly better than expected last season when they went 83-79 to post their first winning record since 2010. It's incredibly difficult to nail down just how good they can be heading into 2016, though.
A 30-19 start last season made their final record a bit deceiving, as they went 53-60 the rest of the way.
The starting rotation was the big weakness, and with no significant additions made to the staff this winter, it's a question mark once again.
However, if Tyler Duffey can pitch like he did down the stretch, Ervin Santana can pitch up to his potential and top prospect Jose Berrios can make an immediate impact, it could be a significantly improved group.
Offensively, Byron Buxton and Byung Ho Park could both provide a significant spark, while a full season of Miguel Sano should also make a difference.
There are a lot of ifs with this Twins team, enough to rank them in the No. 19 spot for now. But if things fall into place, they could climb quickly.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Byron Buxton (R) | RHP Phil Hughes |
| 2B Brian Dozier | RHP Ervin Santana |
| 1B Joe Mauer | RHP Kyle Gibson |
| RF Miguel Sano | LHP Tommy Milone |
| 3B Trevor Plouffe | RHP Tyler Duffey |
| LF Eddie Rosario | |
| DH Byung Ho Park (R) | RHP Ricky Nolasco |
| C Kurt Suzuki | RHP Michael Tonkin |
| SS Eduardo Escobar | RHP Casey Fien |
| LHP Fernando Abad | |
| C John Ryan Murphy | RHP Trevor May |
| IF/OF Eduardo Nunez | RHP Kevin Jepsen |
| IF/OF Danny Santana | LHP Glen Perkins |
| OF Oswaldo Arcia |
18. Tampa Bay Rays
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Spring Focus
Scoring runs could once again be an issue for a Tampa Bay Rays team that ranked 25th in the league at 3.98 runs per game last year, but the starting rotation is capable of making up for those shortcomings.
Chris Archer, Jake Odorizzi and Drew Smyly give them a rock-solid trio at the top, while Matt Moore and Alex Cobb are both major rebound candidates after being slowed by injuries last season.
The bullpen has a different look after the team dealt Jake McGee, and someone will need to emerge as the primary setup man for All-Star closer Brad Boxberger, but no franchise has been better at cobbling together a relief corps in recent years.
Still, how big of an impact offseason pickups Corey Dickerson, Logan Morrison and Brad Miller can make offensively could ultimately determine whether the Rays make a serious push in the AL East.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Kevin Kiermaier | RHP Chris Archer |
| 2B Logan Forsythe | RHP Jake Odorizzi |
| 3B Evan Longoria | LHP Drew Smyly |
| RF Corey Dickerson | RHP Erasmo Ramirez |
| 1B James Loney | LHP Matt Moore |
| LF Desmond Jennings | |
| DH Logan Morrison | LHP Enny Romero (R) |
| C Curt Casali | RHP Steve Geltz |
| SS Brad Miller | RHP Ryan Webb |
| LHP Xavier Cedeno | |
| C Hank Conger | RHP Danny Farquhar |
| 1B/OF Steve Pearce | RHP Alex Colome |
| IF Tim Beckham | RHP Brad Boxberger |
| OF Brandon Guyer |
17. Cleveland Indians
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Spring Focus
Just how good can the Cleveland Indians' starting rotation be? That question will ultimately determine whether they're playing in October, because the offense is not going to be the driving force.
That's not to knock the additions of Rajai Davis, Mike Napoli and Juan Uribe, as the Indians are never one to make a splash in free agency, and they did well to add those three on reasonable one-year deals.
The big question is who will be the third starting outfielder alongside Davis and Lonnie Chisenhall, as Michael Brantley will begin the year on the disabled list and projected center fielder Abraham Almonte received an 80-game suspension for a failed performance-enhancing drug test.
Collin Cowgill and Joey Butler are options on the 40-man roster, and veteran Will Venable was recently added on a minor league deal, but keep an eye on former first-round pick Tyler Naquin.
Injuries have slowed his development since going No. 15 overall in 2012, but he hit .300/.381/.446 while reaching Triple-A last year and is a solid defender with a cannon arm.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| LF Rajai Davis | RHP Corey Kluber |
| SS Francisco Lindor | RHP Carlos Carrasco |
| 2B Jason Kipnis | RHP Danny Salazar |
| DH Carlos Santana | RHP Trevor Bauer |
| 1B Mike Napoli | RHP Josh Tomlin |
| C Yan Gomes | |
| RF Lonnie Chisenhall | RHP Jeff Manship |
| 3B Juan Uribe | LHP Joe Thatcher |
| CF Tyler Naquin (R) | RHP Dan Otero |
| RHP Shawn Armstrong (R) | |
| C Roberto Perez | RHP Zach McAllister |
| IF Jose Ramirez | RHP Bryan Shaw |
| OF Joey Butler | RHP Cody Allen |
| OF Will Venable |
16. Seattle Mariners
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Spring Focus
New general manager Jerry DiPoto was not shy about putting his mark on the Seattle Mariners' roster this offseason.
Of the 59 players currently in big league camp, 30 joined the team this offseason, according to Roster Resource.
That's an outrageous amount of turnover, but it could be exactly what the franchise needed after a disappointing 2015 season where it saw its win total shrink by 11 games despite adding Nelson Cruz to the lineup.
The battle for the No. 5 starter job between Nate Karns and James Paxton will be one of the more compelling position battles of the spring, and with so many non-roster additions, at least a few guys are bound to make a surprise push for a 25-man spot as well.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| LF Nori Aoki | RHP Felix Hernandez |
| SS Ketel Marte | RHP Hisashi Iwakuma |
| 2B Robinson Cano | RHP Taijuan Walker |
| DH Nelson Cruz | LHP Wade Miley |
| 3B Kyle Seager | RHP Nate Karns |
| 1B Adam Lind | |
| RF Seth Smith | LHP Mike Montgomery |
| C Chris Iannetta | RHP Evan Scribner |
| CF Leonys Martin | RHP Justin De Fratus |
| RHP Tony Zych (R) | |
| C Steve Clevenger | LHP Charlie Furbush |
| 1B Jesus Montero | RHP Joaquin Benoit |
| IF/OF Shawn O'Malley (R) | RHP Steve Cishek |
| OF Franklin Gutierrez |
15. Arizona Diamondbacks
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Spring Focus
It's easy to get excited about the Arizona Diamondbacks' potential this season after their all-in approach to the winter.
The additions of Zack Greinke, Shelby Miller and Tyler Clippard will no doubt be a significant boost to the pitching staff, while the offense is once again anchored by the terrific trio of Paul Goldschmidt, A.J. Pollock and David Peralta.
For now, we'll take a cautiously optimistic approach and rank them in the No. 15 spot, but they're capable of emerging as a top-10 team if everything falls into place.
The question marks that breed that cautious approach?
Rubby De La Rosa and Robbie Ray showed flashes last season, but they are far from sure things at the back of the rotation. Meanwhile, Chris Owings, Jean Segura and Jake Lamb were all below-average contributors offensively relative to their positions, while Yasmany Tomas will be tasked with replacing standout Ender Inciarte after a disappointing rookie season.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF A.J. Pollock | RHP Zack Greinke |
| SS Jean Segura | RHP Shelby Miller |
| 1B Paul Goldschmidt | LHP Patrick Corbin |
| RF David Peralta | RHP Rubby De La Rosa |
| C Welington Castillo | LHP Robbie Ray |
| LF Yasmany Tomas | |
| 3B Jake Lamb | RHP Josh Collmenter |
| 2B Chris Owings | RHP Daniel Hudson |
| RHP Silvino Bracho (R) | |
| C Tuffy Gosewisch | LHP Andrew Chafin |
| C/OF Chris Herrmann | RHP Randall Delgado |
| IF Nick Ahmed | RHP Tyler Clippard |
| IF/OF Phil Gosselin | RHP Brad Ziegler |
| OF Socrates Brito (R) |
14. Los Angeles Dodgers
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Spring Focus
Without a doubt, the biggest gripe with these rankings the last time they were released was the placement of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the No. 14 spot.
Your complaints were heard, but I'm not budging on this one.
Clayton Kershaw is the best pitcher on the planet, and the starting pitching crop is much deeper than it was a year ago. However, the Giants and Diamondbacks both look to have better rotations from top to bottom this year, and losing Zack Greinke is going to hurt a lot, no matter what fans try to tell themselves.
The bullpen ranked 19th in the league last year with a 3.91 ERA while blowing 21 saves, and the underwhelming additions of Joe Blanton and Louis Coleman don't inspire much confidence that they'll improve on that performance.
Offensively, there might not be two bigger question marks among position players than Joc Pederson and Yasiel Puig. Both are capable of playing at an All-Star level or struggling to the point of being benched.
This was a team that ranked 19th in the majors at 4.12 runs per game in 2015, so it was by no means an offensive juggernaut a year ago.
Could the Dodgers win the NL West for a fourth straight season? Absolutely. Would it be surprising to see them finish third in the division and miss the playoffs? Not really.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| 2B Howie Kendrick | LHP Clayton Kershaw |
| SS Corey Seager (R) | LHP Scott Kazmir |
| 3B Justin Turner | LHP Brett Anderson |
| 1B Adrian Gonzalez | RHP Kenta Maeda (R) |
| RF Yasiel Puig | LHP Alex Wood |
| LF Andre Ethier | |
| C Yasmani Grandal | RHP Joe Blanton |
| CF Joc Pederson | LHP Luis Avilan |
| RHP Louis Coleman | |
| C A.J. Ellis | RHP Pedro Baez |
| 1B/OF Scott Van Slyke | LHP J.P. Howell |
| IF Chase Utley | RHP Chris Hatcher |
| IF/OF Enrique Hernandez | RHP Kenley Jansen |
| OF Carl Crawford |
13. New York Yankees
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Spring Focus
No starting rotation in baseball has more boom-or-bust potential than the New York Yankees' group.
Masahiro Tanaka could be a Cy Young contender or his arm could explode tomorrow. Luis Severino was great last season, but he has just 62.1 innings under his belt. Michael Pineda is always one start away from throwing a gem or landing on the disabled list. Nathan Eovaldi is still transitioning from thrower with plus stuff to pitcher. Then there's CC Sabathia, who's by far the biggest question mark on the roster.
Their offense is old and will need to stay healthy once again after avoiding significant injuries last season, but they were terrific in 2015, finishing second in the majors at 4.72 runs per game. If Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner can rebound from their abysmal second-half performances and Starlin Castro can make the most of his change of scenery, they could be even better in 2016.
It will all hinge on health and starting pitching, because the bullpen will be a force and the lineup is capable of piling up runs if everyone is present.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Jacoby Ellsbury | RHP Masahiro Tanaka |
| LF Brett Gardner | RHP Luis Severino |
| RF Carlos Beltran | RHP Michael Pineda |
| 1B Mark Teixeira | RHP Nathan Eovaldi |
| DH Alex Rodriguez | LHP CC Sabathia |
| C Brian McCann | |
| 2B Starlin Castro | RHP Ivan Nova |
| 3B Chase Headley | RHP Nick Rumbelow (R) |
| SS Didi Gregorius | LHP Chasen Shreve |
| RHP Branden Pinder | |
| C Austin Romine | LHP Andrew Miller |
| IF Pete Kozma | RHP Dellin Betances |
| IF/OF Dustin Ackley | LHP Aroldis Chapman |
| OF Aaron Hicks |
12. Pittsburgh Pirates
19 of 30
Spring Focus
It's not been a good start to spring training for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Gerrit Cole.
The ace didn't take kindly to the team's decision to renew his salary at the same $541,000 he made last year, according to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune.
Of course, the flip side of that argument is that if the Pirates were to have given Cole a respectable raise this year, would it have helped them at all in arbitration negotiations with Cole and agent Scott Boras next winter? Probably not.
On top of the salary issue, Cole is also dealing with rib inflammation that has him behind schedule to start the spring.
Meanwhile, the team figures to get a long look at prospects Tyler Glasnow and Alen Hanson this spring. Glasnow could join the rotation sooner than later, and Hanson looks like the favorite to win the vacated second base job.
It's a different-looking Pirates team, but the pieces are all still in place for the squad to contend in the NL Central.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| RF Gregory Polanco | RHP Gerrit Cole |
| 3B Josh Harrison | LHP Francisco Liriano |
| CF Andrew McCutchen | LHP Jon Niese |
| LF Starling Marte | RHP Ryan Vogelsong |
| 1B John Jaso | LHP Jeff Locke |
| C Francisco Cervelli | |
| 2B Alen Hanson (R) | RHP Juan Nicasio |
| SS Jordy Mercer | RHP Neftali Feliz |
| LHP Eric O'Flaherty | |
| C Chris Stewart | RHP Arquimedes Caminero |
| 1B/OF Michael Morse | RHP Jared Hughes |
| IF Pedro Florimon | LHP Tony Watson |
| IF/OF Sean Rodriguez | RHP Mark Melancon |
| OF Matt Joyce |
11. Boston Red Sox
20 of 30
Spring Focus
The arrival of David Price and Craig Kimbrel and the potential for an improved pitching staff is the big positive for the Boston Red Sox looking ahead to the start of the season.
However, the presence of Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval and the questions about what exactly they can provide this season remains the big story of the spring.
"We need them to produce, there’s no doubt about that," manager John Farrell told Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe in December. "And talking to both guys, they’re working extremely hard right now to get back to the years of performance that they’ve had in the past."
Those two are not the only question marks on the roster, though. Jackie Bradley Jr. and Rusney Castillo are both potential X-factors in the outfield, and left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez might be the key to the starting rotation.
For now, the No. 11 spot in these rankings puts them on the outside looking in for the second AL wild-card spot, but there is definitely postseason potential here.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| RF Mookie Betts | LHP David Price |
| 2B Dustin Pedroia | RHP Clay Buchholz |
| SS Xander Bogaerts | LHP Eduardo Rodriguez |
| DH David Ortiz | RHP Rick Porcello |
| 1B Hanley Ramirez | RHP Joe Kelly |
| 3B Pablo Sandoval | |
| LF Rusney Castillo | RHP Steven Wright |
| C Blake Swihart | LHP Tommy Layne |
| CF Jackie Bradley Jr. | RHP Junichi Tazawa |
| LHP Robbie Ross Jr. | |
| C Ryan Hanigan | RHP Carson Smith |
| 1B/3B Travis Shaw | RHP Koji Uehara |
| IF/OF Brock Holt | RHP Craig Kimbrel |
| OF Chris Young |
10. Washington Nationals
21 of 30
Spring Focus
Count me among the many who were burned by the wildly disappointing Washington Nationals last season, as they began the year at No. 1 in these power rankings and were my pick to win the World Series.
Here at No. 10 overall, they're currently lined up as the No. 2 wild card in the National League, and the talent is certainly there once again for them to make a run.
Ben Revere and Daniel Murphy were the big offseason additions to the offense, but a healthy season from Anthony Rendon could prove to be the biggest difference-maker by far.
Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister are gone from the rotation, but Joe Ross (5-5, 3.64 ERA, 1.109 WHIP) showed front-line potential as a rookie, and the team has some interesting depth in the form of veteran Bronson Arroyo as a non-roster invitee.
Overhauling the bullpen should also make a difference. It ranked 10th in the league with a 3.46 ERA but converted just 41 of 64 save chances and went 22-22 in one-run games.
Don't look now, but manager Dusty Baker recently referred to Jonathan Papelbon as a "leader" , for the team this spring, per ESPN.com's Eddie Matz.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Ben Revere | RHP Max Scherzer |
| 3B Anthony Rendon | RHP Stephen Strasburg |
| RF Bryce Harper | LHP Gio Gonzalez |
| 1B Ryan Zimmerman | RHP Joe Ross |
| 2B Daniel Murphy | RHP Tanner Roark |
| LF Jayson Werth | |
| C Wilson Ramos | RHP Yusmeiro Petit |
| SS Danny Espinosa | LHP Felipe Rivero |
| RHP Blake Treinen | |
| C Jose Lobaton | RHP Trevor Gott |
| 1B/OF Tyler Moore | LHP Oliver Perez |
| 1B/OF Clint Robinson | RHP Shawn Kelley |
| IF Stephen Drew | RHP Jonathan Papelbon |
| OF Michael Taylor |
9. Houston Astros
22 of 30
Spring Focus
The Houston Astros didn't add a ton this winter, acquiring Ken Giles to anchor the bullpen and signing veteran Doug Fister to prove some starting pitching depth, but they should get a big boost from their incumbent talent.
Consider the following:
- Carlos Correa was called up in June, so they'll have two extra months of him.
- Lance McCullers was called up in May and limited to 22 starts with an innings limit, so he should also be able to provide more.
- George Springer was limited to 102 games after fracturing his hand, and he's back to 100 percent.
- Carlos Gomez was acquired at the deadline in July and was dealing with a nagging hamstring issue, so he'll be around for a full season and back at 100 percent.
These could wind up being bigger additions than anything the team did this offseason. While the Astros still appear to be chasing the Texas Rangers at this point, they're more than capable of a return trip to the postseason and an improvement on their 86 wins from a year ago.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| RF George Springer | LHP Dallas Keuchel |
| 2B Jose Altuve | RHP Collin McHugh |
| SS Carlos Correa | RHP Lance McCullers |
| LF Colby Rasmus | RHP Mike Fiers |
| CF Carlos Gomez | RHP Doug Fister |
| DH Preston Tucker | |
| 3B Luis Valbuena | RHP Scott Feldman |
| 1B Jon Singleton | RHP Josh Fields |
| C Jason Castro | RHP Pat Neshek |
| LHP Tony Sipp | |
| C Max Stassi (R) | RHP Will Harris |
| 1B/3B Matt Duffy (R) | RHP Luke Gregerson |
| IF Marwin Gonzalez | RHP Ken Giles |
| OF Jake Marisnick |
8. Detroit Tigers
23 of 30
Spring Focus
The Detroit Tigers will need to prove their 2015 struggles are behind them before they can be considered a legitimate threat to the Kansas City Royals for AL Central supremacy, but they appear ready to make another postseason push.
Looking up and down the roster, it's hard to find a clear weakness after a busy offseason from new general manager Al Avila.
The Tigers added Justin Upton to an offense that would also benefit greatly from an healthy season out of Victor Martinez, while Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Mike Aviles and Cameron Maybin were also great pickups from a depth standpoint.
Adding Jordan Zimmermann and Mike Pelfrey gives the team a passable rotation with plenty of upside. The biggest difference could be in the bullpen, where the team finally made upgrading a priority with the additions of Mark Lowe, Justin Wilson and Francisco Rodriguez.
Healthy seasons from Victor Martinez, Miguel Cabrera and Anibal Sanchez would also go a long way, while Justin Verlander may be Detroit's biggest X-factor. He'll look to keep rolling after finishing the 2015 season with a 2.12 ERA in his final 11 starts.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| 2B Ian Kinsler | RHP Justin Verlander |
| LF Justin Upton | RHP Jordan Zimmermann |
| 1B Miguel Cabrera | RHP Anibal Sanchez |
| RF J.D. Martinez | RHP Mike Pelfrey |
| DH Victor Martinez | LHP Daniel Norris |
| 3B Nick Castellanos | |
| C James McCann | RHP Drew VerHagen |
| SS Jose Iglesias | LHP Blaine Hardy |
| CF Anthony Gose | RHP Bruce Rondon |
| RHP Alex Wilson | |
| C Jarrod Saltalamacchia | LHP Justin Wilson |
| IF Mike Aviles | RHP Mark Lowe |
| IF/OF Andrew Romine | RHP Francisco Rodriguez |
| OF Cameron Maybin |
7. New York Mets
24 of 30
Spring Focus
The New York Mets solidified their place as NL East favorites when they managed to re-sign Yoenis Cespedes to a three-year, $75 million deal, but they have work to do if they hope to defend their NL pennant.
There are not many roster spots up for grabs this spring, but there is a spot in the bullpen to start the year with Hansel Robles suspended for the first two games after throwing at Phillies catcher Cameron Rupp at the end of last season.
Beyond that, the roster appears to be more or less set at this point.
The question marks come from whether David Wright and Travis d'Arnaud can stay healthy, whether Michael Conforto can emerge as a star and whether the young starting rotation will show any lingering effects of the heavy workload they put on their arms last season.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| RF Curtis Granderson | RHP Jacob deGrom |
| 3B David Wright | RHP Matt Harvey |
| 1B Lucas Duda | RHP Noah Syndergaard |
| CF Yoenis Cespedes | LHP Steven Matz |
| 2B Neil Walker | RHP Bartolo Colon |
| C Travis d'Arnaud | |
| LF Michael Conforto | LHP Sean Gilmartin |
| SS Asdrubal Cabrera | RHP Logan Verrett |
| LHP Jerry Blevins | |
| C Kevin Plawecki | RHP Erik Goeddel |
| IF Wilmer Flores | LHP Antonio Bastardo |
| IF Ruben Tejada | RHP Addison Reed |
| OF Alejandro De Aza | RHP Jeurys Familia |
| OF Juan Lagares |
6. Kansas City Royals
25 of 30
Spring Focus
Betting against the Kansas City Royals has proved to be a foolish move the past two seasons, and there's no reason to think things will be any different in 2016.
They're not the traditional 21st-century baseball team, as they've built a contender on the strength of defense, speed and relief pitching as opposed to front-line starting pitching and a juggernaut offense.
Those three areas should be a strength once again, and that should make Kansas City a contender, but the starting rotation will likely be key for them to make a return trip to the World Series.
Kris Medlen, Chris Young and Danny Duffy are battling for the final two spots in the rotation, while Ian Kennedy will try to prove he was worth the five-year, $70 million deal he signed that also cost the team a draft pick.
Unless the team makes a late signing, it appears Jarrod Dyson will get his first crack at regular playing time. He could be a 50-plus steal threat as a result, but will he hit enough to justify everyday at-bats?
Projected 25-Man Roster
| SS Alcides Escobar | RHP Yordano Ventura |
| 3B Mike Moustakas | RHP Edinson Volquez |
| CF Lorenzo Cain | RHP Ian Kennedy |
| 1B Eric Hosmer | RHP Chris Young |
| DH Kendrys Morales | RHP Kris Medlen |
| LF Alex Gordon | |
| C Salvador Perez | RHP Dillon Gee |
| 2B Omar Infante | LHP Scott Alexander (R) |
| RF Jarrod Dyson | RHP Luke Hochevar |
| LHP Danny Duffy | |
| C Tony Cruz | RHP Kelvin Herrera |
| IF Christian Colon | RHP Joakim Soria |
| OF Reymond Fuentes (R) | RHP Wade Davis |
| OF Paulo Orlando |
5. St. Louis Cardinals
26 of 30
Spring Focus
For all of the attention heaped on the New York Mets' rotation, and understandably so, it was the St. Louis Cardinals who led the majors with a 2.99 starters' ERA last season.
And that was with ace Adam Wainwright making a grand total of four starts.
The big question this offseason has been whether they will score enough runs, but that's been a question the past few seasons, and it hasn't stopped them from being perennial contenders:
- 2014: 3.82 runs per game (T-23rd in MLB), 90 wins
- 2015: 3.99 runs per game (24th in MLB), 100 wins
Piling up runs is not how the Cardinals have built a sustainable winner. They've done it with terrific pitching and impressive depth, which has allowed them to overcome injuries better than most teams.
There's no reason to think they won't be able to do it again in 2016, and breakout offensive seasons from Randal Grichuk and Stephen Piscotty and a rebound campaign by Matt Adams could quickly put the offensive concerns to rest.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| 3B Matt Carpenter | RHP Adam Wainwright |
| RF Stephen Piscotty | RHP Michael Wacha |
| LF Matt Holliday | RHP Carlos Martinez |
| CF Randal Grichuk | RHP Mike Leake |
| 1B Matt Adams | LHP Jaime Garcia |
| SS Jhonny Peralta | |
| C Yadier Molina | LHP Tyler Lyons |
| 2B Kolten Wong | RHP Seth Maness |
| RHP Seung Hwan Oh (R) | |
| C Brayan Pena | RHP Jonathan Broxton |
| 1B/OF Brandon Moss | RHP Jordan Walden |
| IF Greg Garcia | LHP Kevin Siegrist |
| IF Jedd Gyorko | RHP Trevor Rosenthal |
| OF Tommy Pham |
4. San Francisco Giants
27 of 30
Spring Focus
We're roughly a week into spring training, and Matt Cain has already gone under the knife again for the San Francisco Giants.
This time it was just a minor procedure to remove a cyst from his throwing arm, and he's expected to resume throwing in 10 days, but it's not a good start for the veteran as he looks to prove he's healthy and capable of holding down a rotation spot.
And that's exactly why the Giants broke the bank to go out and sign Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija this offseason. Cain is currently penciled in as the No. 5 starter, but with Chris Heston waiting in the wings, the team is not necessarily counting on anything from Cain.
The big battle to watch this spring will be in left field, where Jarrett Parker will look to unseat the oft-injured Angel Pagan as the starter.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Denard Span | LHP Madison Bumgarner |
| 2B Joe Panik | RHP Johnny Cueto |
| C Buster Posey | RHP Jeff Samardzija |
| 1B Brandon Belt | RHP Jake Peavy |
| RF Hunter Pence | RHP Matt Cain |
| 3B Matt Duffy | |
| SS Brandon Crawford | RHP Chris Heston |
| LF Angel Pagan | LHP Josh Osich |
| RHP George Kontos | |
| C Andrew Susac | LHP Javier Lopez |
| IF Ehire Adrianza | RHP Hunter Strickland |
| IF/OF Kelby Tomlinson | RHP Sergio Romo |
| OF Gregor Blanco | RHP Santiago Casilla |
| OF Jarrett Parker (R) |
3. Texas Rangers
28 of 30
Spring Focus
After a relatively quiet offseason, the Texas Rangers made a splash over the weekend when they signed Ian Desmond to a one-year, $8 million deal to play left field.
Jim Bowden of ESPN was not shy about sharing his thoughts on that deal on MLB Network radio (via the Washington Post):
"What a great job by (Rangers GM) Jon Daniels to hang around long enough to get Desmond for one year at eight.
You talk about the worst negotiated contract that we’ve seen in the last five years. Is there a worse deal that we have ever seen, EVER? I have never seen a worse contract, ever. Ever, for a player. You can’t tell me you can’t even get $10 million on a one-year deal? You can’t get (Howie) Kendrick’s (two-year, $20 million) deal? Wow. That’s a stunner.
"
The signing makes it pretty clear the Rangers are not counting on anything out of Josh Hamilton, who is already sidelined with a knee injury and expected to start the year on the disabled list.
Deciding who will round out the rotation until Yu Darvish returns between Nick Martinez, Chi Chi Gonzalez and non-roster invitee Jeremy Guthrie now looks like the one big choice the Rangers will have to make this spring.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Delino DeShields Jr. | LHP Cole Hamels |
| RF Shin-Soo Choo | LHP Derek Holland |
| DH Prince Fielder | RHP Colby Lewis |
| 3B Adrian Beltre | LHP Martin Perez |
| 1B Mitch Moreland | RHP Nick Martinez |
| LF Ian Desmond | |
| SS Elvis Andrus | RHP Tony Barnette (R) |
| 2B Rougned Odor | LHP Sam Freeman |
| C Robinson Chirinos | RHP Tom Wilhelmsen |
| LHP Jake Diekman | |
| C Chris Gimenez | RHP Keone Kela |
| IF Hanser Alberto | RHP Sam Dyson |
| OF Ryan Rua | RHP Shawn Tolleson |
| OF Justin Ruggiano |
2. Toronto Blue Jays
29 of 30
Spring Focus
The Toronto Blue Jays should pile up runs once again in 2016, but first they will need to decide who will be batting leadoff.
With Ben Revere traded to the Washington Nationals for reliever Drew Storen, there's a hole at the top of the lineup and no traditional fit to replace him.
Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com provided some clarity on the situation last week when he tweeted manager John Gibbons said he prefers Troy Tulowitzki in the No. 5 spot and that the leadoff job is between Kevin Pillar and Michael Saunders.
That's far from the only decision facing the team this spring, though, as Storen and Roberto Osuna will battle for the closer's job, and Drew Hutchison will look to hold off Aaron Sanchez and Jesse Chavez to be the No. 5 starter.
Even with those significant decisions on the to-do list, this still looks like the team to beat in the American League thanks to its juggernaut offense and quietly improved pitching staff.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Kevin Pillar | RHP Marcus Stroman |
| 3B Josh Donaldson | RHP R.A. Dickey |
| RF Jose Bautista | RHP Marco Estrada |
| DH Edwin Encarnacion | LHP J.A. Happ |
| SS Troy Tulowitzki | RHP Drew Hutchison |
| 1B Chris Colabello | |
| C Russell Martin | RHP Jesse Chavez |
| LF Michael Saunders | LHP Aaron Loup |
| 2B Ryan Goins | RHP Steve Delabar |
| LHP Brett Cecil | |
| C Josh Thole | RHP Aaron Sanchez |
| 1B Justin Smoak | RHP Roberto Osuna |
| IF Darwin Barney | RHP Drew Storen |
| OF Ezequiel Carrera |
1. Chicago Cubs
30 of 30
Spring Focus
As though the hype train wasn't already flying down the tracks at full speed, the Chicago Cubs shocked the baseball world last week when they swooped in and re-signed outfielder Dexter Fowler just as he was nearing a deal with the Baltimore Orioles.
The immediate question became what the team would do with Jorge Soler, and it's not yet clear how the Cubs will utilize four everyday-caliber outfielders.
That said, nobody is better at shuffling lineups and getting the most out of all 25 guys than manager Joe Maddon, and quality depth is never a bad thing over the course of a long season.
In a smaller-scale move, the team also signed veteran outfielder Shane Victorino to a minor league deal. He'll compete with Matt Szczur and Tommy La Stella for the final bench spot.
Sorting out the bullpen will be the biggest decision of the spring, and there's a good chance the team will break camp with 13 pitchers as a result.
Aside from the eight relievers listed below, the team will also take long looks at Rex Brothers, C.J. Riefenhauser, Carl Edwards Jr. and Spencer Patton, as well as non-roster invitees Jean Machi, Brandon Gomes, Manny Parra and Edgar Olmos. There is no shortage of options to round out the relief corps.
Projected 25-Man Roster
| CF Dexter Fowler | RHP Jake Arrieta |
| 2B Ben Zobrist | LHP Jon Lester |
| 1B Anthony Rizzo | RHP John Lackey |
| 3B Kris Bryant | RHP Jason Hammel |
| LF Kyle Schwarber | RHP Kyle Hendricks |
| RF Jason Heyward | |
| C Miguel Montero | RHP Adam Warren |
| SS Addison Russell | LHP Clayton Richard |
| RHP Trevor Cahill | |
| C David Ross | RHP Neil Ramirez |
| IF Javier Baez | RHP Justin Grimm |
| IF/OF Tommy La Stella | LHP Travis Wood |
| OF Jorge Soler | RHP Pedro Strop |
| RHP Hector Rondon |
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.
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