All 30 MLB Teams' Biggest Storylines of 2016 Spring Training
With spring training games in full swing and position battles going strong, all 30 MLB teams have at least a handful of major storylines surrounding the club.
We are still four weeks from Opening Day, and plenty of new storylines will pop up in the weeks to come as a result of surprise performances and unexpected injuries.
For the time being, though, what follows is a look at each team's biggest storyline of 2016 spring training.
It's a mix of position battles, health concerns, bounce-back candidates, fan expectations and trade talks that gives a nice overview of what each team is focusing on right now.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Sorting out the Middle Infield Playing Time
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The Arizona Diamondbacks didn't get much in the way of offensive production from the middle infield duo of Chris Owings and Nick Ahmed last season, as both positions tallied well-below-average numbers across the board.
- 2B: .220/.266/.340, 11 HR, 60 RBI
- SS: .226/.276/.340, 10 HR, 49 RBI
Prospect Brandon Drury was already expected to push his way into the picture at some point this year after hitting .303/.344/.412 with 40 doubles between Double-A and Triple-A last year.
Then the team pulled off a five-player trade to acquire Jean Segura from the Milwaukee Brewers.
Like Owings and Ahmed, Segura struggled at the plate last season, but the 25-year-old is not all that far removed from being an All-Star in 2013 and could benefit from a change of scenery.
Segura has played exclusively at shortstop during his time in the majors, and while Ahmed was a drain offensively last season, he was nothing short of phenomenal (20 DRS, 16.1 UZR/150) with the glove at shortstop.
One way or another, all three guys figure to see playing time, but the most intriguing battle of the spring for the D'Backs looks to be deciding who the primary starters are.
Atlanta Braves: The Long-Term Potential of CF Mallex Smith
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Expectations are low for the Atlanta Braves this season as they continue their rebuilding efforts, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel in the form of one of the deepest and most talented farm systems in all of baseball.
There are more than a few prospects expected to arrive in the big leagues in 2016, but the talk of spring training so far has been center fielder Mallex Smith.
Acquired from the San Diego Padres as part of the four-player return package for Justin Upton last offseason, Smith was a fifth-round pick in the 2012 draft.
The 22-year-old immediately made his mark in the Braves' organization, hitting .306/.373/.386 with 27 extra-base hits and 57 stolen bases while reaching Triple-A for the first time.
He's expected to start the year back in the minors, but he is in big league camp this spring, and it didn't take him long to turn heads as he went 4-for-6 with a double, two triples and a home run in his second game.
"He’s getting better," manager Fredi Gonzalez said after that big game, via David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "(He's) cleaning up his game, and he’s getting closer to the major leagues. He’s receptive to everything, which is good. He’s got a great attitude along with pretty good talent, which we saw a little bit of today. Especially the speed – that’s game-changing speed."
There's no clear path to the majors for Smith at this point after the offseason addition of Ender Inciarte and with Hector Olivera making the transition to left field, but once he's ready the team will find a way to make it work.
For now, fans will have to settle for watching the team's future center fielder and perhaps leadoff hitter in action this spring.
Baltimore Orioles: A Healthy Dylan Bundy Finally Ready to Make an Impact
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Dylan Bundy appeared to have all of 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.
While the team would no doubt love to bring him along slowly, the fact 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.
A spot in the rotation this season is unlikely as he rebuilds his arm strength and innings count, but he has a chance to be a real weapon out of the bullpen while he does that.
"I'm looking at it that he's going to pick up where he was a couple of years ago before all this happened and remind everybody why he was so well thought of," manager Buck Showalter told Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun. "All of a sudden, everybody will be going, how lucky we are to have an arm like that in the bullpen, and how are we going to figure out a way for him to start? That's where I'm hoping we get to."
The 23-year-old still has the stuff and the build to be a front-line starter at the highest level, but the long journey back from injury is far from over.
A healthy and productive 2016 out of the bullpen would be another big step.
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Boston Red Sox: What Will $40 Million Buy the Team in 2016?
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Technically it's $40,350,000.
That's how much Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval will earn this coming season, but they weren't worth $40.35 last season based on their combined negative-2.2 WAR.
With Sandoval showing up to camp rounder than expected and Ramirez once again transitioning to a new position as he moves from left field to first base, there are plenty of question marks surrounding the high-priced duo once again.
"Hanley and Pablo are two key components to our lineup, our everyday lineup," manager John Farrell told Sean McAdam of CSN New England. "Returning close to their normal performance is going to be huge as far as what this team is able to produce going forward.”
Ramirez got off to a great start offensively last season with a .999 OPS and 10 home runs over the first month of the year, but he was a disaster defensively in left field and when all was said and done injuries had limited him to 105 games, and he finished the year with a .717 OPS and 19 home runs.
Meanwhile, Sandoval put together a .245/.292/.366 line at the plate while also struggling defensively at third base after being a sure-handed option there during his time in San Francisco.
The presence of Travis Shaw should help push both players, as he posted an .813 OPS with 10 doubles and 13 home runs in 226 at-bats as a rookie and is capable of playing both corner infield spots.
Best-case scenario, though, Ramirez and Sandoval would duke it out for AL Comeback Player of the Year honors and live up to their hefty salaries.
Chicago Cubs: Managing the Lofty Expectation of Being a World Series Favorite
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The Chicago Cubs don't have much in the way of position battles to sort out this spring, as the final bench spot and a few bullpen slots seem to be the only real decisions to be made.
Instead, the challenge for manager Joe Maddon will be dealing with the rapidly growing expectations surrounding a young team that arrived as contenders sooner than expected last year.
The Cubs snuck up on some people and proved to be one of the bigger surprises in the league in 2015, but they won't be sneaking up on anyone this time around.
The offseason additions of Jason Heyward, John Lackey and Ben Zobrist to a team that won 97 games a year ago has made the North Siders a popular pick to win it all, and even those who doubt their ability to hoist the trophy generally agree that no team has more talent on paper.
Overwhelming on-paper talent doesn't always mean a World Series contender, though, as the 2015 Washington Nationals can certainly attest.
Maddon proved to be the perfect man for the job last year when it came to nurturing the wave of high-profile prospects arriving in the majors and facilitating a changing of the guard of sorts for what was a rebuilding organization.
Now a whole new set of challenges awaits him in Year 2.
Chicago White Sox: The Outfield Crunch
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After being linked to a number of different outfield targets throughout the offseason, the Chicago White Sox finally pulled the trigger on signing one over the weekend when they added free-agent Austin Jackson to a one-year, $5 million deal, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network.
Heyman went on to report Jackson had opportunities for more money elsewhere, but preferred to stay in Chicago and play primarily center field.
That means Adam Eaton, who was the team's most productive outfielder last season by a longshot, will be moving to a corner spot and a roster crunch is coming as a result.
Melky Cabrera had a rough first season with the White Sox, but given his track record and the fact he's still owed $29 million over the next two years, it's hard to see him moving to the bench.
That leaves Avisail Garcia, who was once viewed as a significant long-term piece for the White Sox, as the odd-man out and perhaps ticketed for the minors.
Garcia, 24, hit .257/.309/.365 with 17 doubles, 13 home runs and 59 RBI in his first full season in the majors after dealing with a labrum injury in 2014.
With shaky plate discipline and terrible defensive skills, some time in the minors could benefit Garcia, but it will take approaching the situation with the right mindset.
Otherwise, we could see him demanding a trade before too long.
Cincinnati Reds: A Potential Jay Bruce Trade
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The Cincinnati Reds have been trying all offseason to add Jay Bruce to the list of veterans that have been traded by the rebuilding franchise over the past calendar year or so.
The latest rumblings had a potential three-team deal sending Bruce to the Blue Jays for prospects, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, but that proposal eventually fell apart.
That was followed by word the Reds were hoping to move Bruce within the next week, or otherwise his odds of starting the season in Cincinnati would greatly increase, according to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.
That was on Feb. 24, so that week has come and gone, and Bruce is still a member of the Reds as of writing this.
It won't take much for the slugger to rebuild some value this season after a rough 2015 performance, so the big picture of holding on to him for now could be in the Reds' best interest.
Still, they'll no doubt continue to listen to any and all proposals that come their way for the 28-year-old this spring.
The Baltimore Orioles are one team that still has at least some level of interest, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.
Cleveland Indians: The Outfield Situation
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Offseason shoulder surgery by Michael Brantley meant the Cleveland Indians were already expected to be down one outfielder to start the season.
Then came an 80-game suspension for Abraham Almonte after a positive PED test, leaving Lonnie Chisenhall and Rajai Davis as the only outfielders locked into roster spots heading into spring training.
Assuming Davis is in left field and Chisenhall is in right, someone is going to have to play center field on Opening Day.
Joey Butler and Collin Cowgill are both on the 40-man roster and in the mix for bench spots, while Will Venable, Robbie Grossman and Shane Robinson are among the non-roster invitees vying for a roster spot.
That being said, the name to watch is Tyler Naquin, a former first-round pick who is coming off of a strong season in the minors and already on the 40-man roster.
The No. 15 pick in the 2012 draft, Naquin has been dogged by injuries throughout his career, but he managed to hit .300/.381/.446 with 33 extra-base hits and 13 stolen bases between Double-A and Triple-A last year.
Regardless, the team will be counting down the days until Brantley returns to the lineup, and he's said to be ahead of schedule at this point so that's a promising sign.
Colorado Rockies: Who Steps in for Jose Reyes at Shortstop?
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The Colorado Rockies made the proactive move to place shortstop Jose Reyes on paid leave a few weeks ago, pending the completion of a domestic violence case he's currently facing in Hawaii.
After seeing Aroldis Chapman receive a 30-game suspension for his role in a domestic violence dispute for which charges were not pressed, there's a good chance Reyes finds himself slapped with an even longer ban once the legal side of things is sorted out.
His trial date is set for April 4, the same day the Rockies kick off the 2016 season against the Arizona Diamondbacks, so all signs point to them needing to make alternative plans at the shortstop position to begin the year.
"We're just waiting to hear what happens," manager Walt Weiss said in an Associated Press article (via ESPN). "We know that whenever Jose is active again, there's going to be a period where he's going to have to get ready to go out and compete in games. So our focus is on the guys here and getting ready for the season."
Daniel Descalso, Cristhian Adames and Rafael Ynoa are all options to see time at shortstop, but the guy to watch is prospect Trevor Story.
Story, 23, has hit every step of the way since being taken with the No. 45 pick in the 2011 draft.
Last season, he posted a .279/.350/.514 line with 40 doubles, 10 triples, 20 home runs and 22 stolen bases between Double-A and Triple-A.
"If I were (GM Jeff) Bridich, I would be thinking very hard about making Trevor Story my starting shortstop. If I'm (manager Walt) Weiss, I push for it to happen," wrote Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post.
Detroit Tigers: Can Victor Martinez Return to MVP-Caliber Form?
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Victor Martinez picked the perfect time to have the best season of his career.
The veteran hit .335/.409/.565 with 33 doubles, 32 home runs and 103 RBI in 2014 to finish second to Mike Trout in AL MVP voting.
That just so happened to also be the final year of his contract, and the Detroit Tigers rewarded that performance with a four-year, $68 million deal ahead of his age-36 season.
Suffice to say his 2015 season did not go quite as well.
Dealing with left knee issues all season, V-Mart hit just .245/.301/.366 with 11 home runs and 64 RBI in 120 games.
Now he's healthy and looking to rebound.
"There’s no question, from day one, we’ve been pinning eyes on Victor not only when he hit but moving around," manager Brad Ausmus told Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press. "So far, so good."
"Now I’m not saying he’s going to be second in the MVP voting, but even if he’s just average Victor Martinez, it’s a huge difference between what we saw last year and when we saw a hobbled Victor Martinez."
Houston Astros: A.J. Reed and the First Base Battle
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Since debuting in June 2014 and signing a five-year, $10 million extension a few days later, Jon Singleton has done nothing to cement his place as the long-term answer at first base for the Houston Astros.
In 357 career big league at-bats, he's hit .171/.290/.331 with a staggering 36 percent strikeout rate, and he spent the bulk of 2015 in Triple-A.
However, after the team non-tendered Chris Carter this winter, the 24-year-old is once again in a position to seize the everyday job.
This could be his last chance, though, as top prospect A.J. Reed has that same first base job in his sights after a monster season in the minors.
Reed, 22, hit .340/.432/.612 with 30 doubles, 34 home runs and 127 RBI between High-A and Double-A, and he's in big league camp this spring.
He's gone 4-for-10 with a double so far this spring, while Singleton is 2-for-10 with a double, home run and four strikeouts.
Considering he has yet to play a game at the Triple-A level, the odds are still stacked against Reed breaking camp with the team.
A strong showing this spring would put him on the cusp, though, and leave Singleton looking over his shoulder from Day 1.
Kansas City Royals: The Pressures of Trying to Defend a Title
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The Kansas City Royals will enter the 2016 season looking to become the first team since the 2000 New York Yankees to repeat as World Series champions.
It's been a busy offseason, too.
Rental players Johnny Cueto and Ben Zobrist are gone, along with Greg Holland, Ryan Madson, Alex Rios, Franklin Morales and Louis Coleman.
However, the team was unexpectedly able to re-sign Alex Gordon, while also bringing back Chris Young and adding Joakim Soria and Ian Kennedy.
Despite those changes, it will once again be things like speed, defense and solid relief pitching that the Royals lean on in their hopes of making a third straight appearance in the Fall Classic.
General manager Dayton Moore certainly feels all of the pieces are there for them to contend once again, courtesy of Bob Nightengale of USA Today:
"We can play defense. We have speed, speed you can’t mask. We’re able to steal a base, take the extra base, run down balls in the outfield. The bullpen remains very strong. The rotation, as far as depth, is probably the best since we’ve been here. And we feel that all of our players are capable of having a better year than in 2015.
The big thing, too, is our team chemistry. A culture that exists. There’s a strong sense of unity and togetherness. The players are the ones that create that environment, and Ned Yost and the coaches do a great job helping sustain that.
"
The AL Central will be tough this year, but the Royals are still the favorites.
Los Angeles Angels: The Health of Albert Pujols
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The Los Angeles Angels went from being the highest-scoring team in baseball in 2014 (4.77 runs per game) to one of the worst offenses in the American League (4.08 runs per game) in the course of a year.
Mike Trout is still the best player in baseball, but after failing to add any significant pieces to the offense this winter outside of Yunel Escobar and Andrelton Simmons, there's once again a question of who else will contribute.
Veteran slugger Albert Pujols answered the bell last season, posting a .787 OPS with 40 home runs and 95 RBI, his first 40-homer season since 2010.
However, he was slowed by a foot injury down the stretch, and foot surgery followed this offseason.
The original timetable for his return was four-and-a-half months from the surgery date on Nov. 9, according to Jon Morosi of Fox Sports.
He's returned to action ahead of schedule, though, as he made his spring debut on Sunday when he went 0-for-2 as the designated hitter.
"I knew I was going to be ready for opening day since I showed up for spring training," Pujols told Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register.
The 36-year-old may not be the same MVP-caliber force he was in his prime, but he remains important to the team's offensive success as a run producer and the primary protection for Trout.
Los Angeles Dodgers: The Performance of Starting Pitchers Not Named Kershaw
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The Los Angeles Dodgers' starting pitching depth is already being put to the test, and we're still roughly a month from the start of the season.
With Brandon McCarthy not expected to return from Tommy John surgery until midseason and Hyun-Jin Ryu joining him on the Opening Day disabled list while he continues to recover from shoulder surgery, the team was already prepared to be down two starters.
However, things are now being stretched even sooner after Brett Anderson underwent back surgery which will sideline him for three to five months.
That leaves Clayton Kershaw, Scott Kazmir, Kenta Maeda, Alex Wood and Mike Bolsinger as the projected rotation, with questionable depth should someone else land on the disabled list.
Kershaw remains the best pitcher in the game and Maeda has drawn rave reviews from catcher Yasmani Grandal this spring, but the rotation as a whole is still a huge question mark for a team looking to contend for a World Series title.
Expect everyone not named Kershaw to be under a microscope all spring, and the panic buttons will be getting a workout if someone else gets hurt or a few guys struggle.
Miami Marlins: The No. 5 Starter Battle
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There is no shortage of starting pitching depth in the Miami Marlins organization, and that should make for an exciting battle for the No. 5 starter job this spring.
Jose Fernandez, Wei-Yin Chen and Tom Koehler appear to be locked into rotation spots, and as long as the vertigo issues that plagued him last season are a thing of the past, Jarred Cosart figures to join them.
However, the final rotation spot is wide open.
Veteran Edwin Jackson was signed for the league minimum to compete for that job, and he'll look to hold off a handful of youngsters who got a taste of big league action last year.
Justin Nicolino (12 GS, 5-4, 4.01 ERA), Adam Conley (11 GS, 4-1, 3.76 ERA) and Jose Urena (9 GS, 1-5, 5.25 ERA) all saw extended time in the rotation last year, and Conley might actually be the front-runner for that No. 5 spot as things currently stand.
"This atmosphere itself isn't any different for me, it's not new to me," Conley told Shandel Richardson of the Sun Sentinel. "But from the experience that I had last year and being in the big leagues and everything, I think that I'm so much more prepared now."
David Phelps, Kendry Flores and non-roster invitees Andre Rienzo, Chris Narveson and Dylan Axelrod are also starting options in camp.
Milwaukee Brewers: A Potential Jonathan Lucroy Trade
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After making a run at NL MVP honors in 2014, Jonathan Lucroy struggled through a rough 2015 season while first battling a toe injury and then concussion issues.
He wound up hitting .264/.326/.391 with 20 doubles, seven home runs and 43 RBI in 371 at-bats, as his OPS fell from .837 to .717 and his WAR plummeted from 6.7 to 1.0.
Despite that disappointing performance, the 29-year-old remains an attractive trade target for teams looking to upgrade behind the plate.
His $4 million salary this coming season and $5.25 million option for 2017 makes him a cost-effective option and more than just a rental player, and provided the concussion issues are behind him there's no reason to think his offensive numbers won't improve.
The rebuilding Brewers continued trading off veteran pieces this winter when they sent Francisco Rodriguez to the Tigers and Adam Lind to the Mariners, and Lucroy could bring a substantial return if he's the next one out the door.
Nothing has taken shape yet, but Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe wrote the following on Feb. 27:
"There’s still buzz in the scouting community that Lucroy could be moved in spring training. 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.
"
As the team looks to sort out a wide-open roster situation, a potential trade of Lucroy remains their biggest storyline.
Minnesota Twins: Miguel Sano Transitioning to the Outfield
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Miguel Sano is going to hit, that much most people are convinced of after he posted a .916 OPS with 17 doubles and 18 home runs in 279 at-bats as a rookie last year.
However, the jury is still out on how he'll handle the transition to right field after coming through the minors as a third baseman and spending most of last season as a DH.
"I keep working really hard," Sano told Tyler Kepner of the New York Times. "I want to be one of the best outfielders. I have a good arm, I have good speed, and I think I can catch the ball."
That's certainly the attitude you're looking for out of a young player being asked to make a tough transition, and Sano has drawn praise in the past for his personality.
"He’s a hard kid not to love, because he does everything so well. He’s a good teammate; the guys love him. He’s not flashy, he’s not arrogant. He’s just Miggy," Double-A manager Doug Mientkiewicz told Kepner.
As long as the defensive switch doesn't interfere with his offensive game, and there's no reason to think it will, all signs point to a big year ahead for the 22-year-old slugger.
New York Mets: The Best Starting Rotation Ever?
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Alright, it's probably not going to be the best starting rotation ever, but dollars to donuts you'd be able to find a good number of New York Mets fans willing to argue otherwise.
Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz, Bartolo Colon and eventually Zack Wheeler.
That's enough starting pitching talent to make any fan dream big about the Mets' potential heading into 2016.
The highest-paid member of that staff?
That would be Colon, who was re-signed on a one-year, $7.25 million deal this offseason.
Harvey will earn $4.325 million in his first year of arbitration eligibility, while deGrom, Syndergaard, Matz and Wheeler are all still pre-arbitration and earning less than $1 million.
That's what makes this Mets rotation so special, the fact they're all so young and their best could legitimately still be to come.
That is other than Colon, who at 42 has at least 15 years on all of them.
The rotation will be the top story all season, and it will be the determining factor in whether they can repeat as NL champs.
New York Yankees: How Good Can the Starting Rotation Really Be?
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There may not be a bigger boom-or-bust group in all of baseball than the New York Yankees' starting rotation.
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.
Trading valuable swingman Adam Warren to the Chicago Cubs means they don't have a standout sixth pitcher to lean on when the inevitable injury strikes either, so the health of that group becomes that much more important this season.
The Yankees' rotation has the potential to be one of the best in the American League if everything is clicking, but it also have a chance to implode and completely ruin their changes of contending in 2016.
Oakland Athletics: The Long-Term Potential of SP Sean Manaea
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The Oakland Athletics have three pitchers penciled in as locks for the starting rotation in Sonny Gray, Jesse Hahn and Rich Hill, but the other two spots are up for grabs.
Kendall Graveman and Chris Bassitt look like the favorites to win those jobs, but they are by no means the only options as Jarrod Parker is pushing closer to being healthy and Felix Doubront is out of minor league options.
Then there's top prospect Sean Manaea.
"He checks all the boxes to be a big-league starter, and a good one," said general manager David Frost, via Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.
The left-hander was acquired from the Kansas City Royals at the deadline last year in the Ben Zobrist deal, and he finished the year at 7-1 with a 2.66 ERA, 1.251 WHIP and 90 strikeouts in 74.1 innings.
Taken with the No. 34 pick in the 2013 draft, Manaea was in the mix to go No. 1 overall before a hip injury torpedoed his draft stock.
Now healthy, it looks like he could deliver on those once-lofty expectations.
He worked two innings in his spring debut, allowing one hit and walking one while striking out four, and a couple more strong outings could leave the organization with an interesting decision to make.
Philadelphia Phillies: A First Look at the Eventual Reinforcements
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None of the Philadelphia Phillies' top prospects are expected to be part of the Opening Day roster, but more than a few are on track to debut in 2016.
Shortstop J.P. Crawford, outfielders Nick Williams and Roman Quinn, catcher Jorge Alfaro and pitchers Jake Thompson and Mark Appel are all in big league camp, and all six guys have a 2016 ETA, according to Roster Resource.
Crawford is the team's top prospect and a potential future star at the shortstop position, so Freddy Galvis won't stand in his way once the team deems him ready.
Williams has the higher ceiling of the two outfield prospects, but Quinn should be the first to arrive after hitting .306/.356/.435 with 29 steals in Double-A last year.
Alfaro is still rough around the edges as far as his receiving skills are concerned, but he has big-time power potential and his bat should play at first base if the team decides to move him.
Thompson, who was acquired in the Cole Hamels trade, went 11-7 with a 3.73 ERA, 1.274 WHIP and 112 strikeouts in 132.2 innings at Double-A last season, and he could be the first starter called on to fill a rotation spot.
The X-factor here is Appel, who has yet to deliver on being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 draft but still has a big arm and power stuff.
Chances are it won't be a pretty season for the Phillies from a win-loss standpoint, but the fans will have plenty of reason for excitement with the future on full display.
Pittsburgh Pirates: The Health and Happiness of Ace Gerrit Cole
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After two seasons of teasing his potential, Gerrit Cole officially made the leap to elite starter last season as he went 19-8 with a 2.60 ERA, 1.091 WHIP and 202 strikeouts in 208 innings to finish fourth in NL Cy Young voting.
His reward?
The same $541,000 he made last season, and that only came after the organization's original offer of $538,000 was rejected.
"They even threatened a salary reduction to the league minimum if I did not agree," Cole told Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune.
"When you perform at a level that draws the praise of management, teammates, coaches and fans, you expect appropriate compensation," Cole went on to say. "I understand the business of this game, but it is hard to accept that a year of performance success does not warrant an increase in pay."
Agent Scott Boras was quick to come to the defense of his client, as expected.
"I would think (owner) Bob (Nutting) would want to reward a guy for a special performance,” Boras said. "Other teams have that system. If Gerrit was with the Mets, he'd get well over $650,000."
For what it's worth, both sides appear to have put this behind them as they turn their attention to the season ahead.
Now Cole needs to stay healthy, as he was slowed by rib inflammation at the beginning of camp and has yet to make his spring debut.
San Diego Padres: The Left Field Battle
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After going all-in to try to put a winner on the field last season, the San Diego Padres were forced to take a step back this winter as they work to restock the farm system and plug some roster holes created by departing free agents.
One such free agent was outfielder Justin Upton, who declined a qualifying offer and joined the Detroit Tigers on a six-year, $132.75 million deal.
That leaves a clear hole to fill in left field, and the team has a few intriguing candidates vying for the job this spring.
Jon Jay was acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals for second baseman Jedd Gyorko, and he might be the front-runner, but he's probably best suited to be a platoon partner for Melvin Upton in center field.
Alex Dickerson, Travis Jankowski and prospect Hunter Renfroe will also get a look this spring, but the guy to watch is Jabari Blash.
A Rule 5 pick, Blash crushed minor league pitching last season to the tune of a .946 OPS with 24 doubles, 32 home runs and 81 RBI between Double-A and Triple-A.
"If it all comes together, Blash has the skill-set to be an everyday player at the highest level," wrote MLB.com's Prospect Watch.
San Francisco Giants: The Health of Matt Cain
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As recently as 2012, Matt Cain was one of the best pitchers in all of baseball.
That season, the right-hander went 16-5 with a 2.79 ERA, 1.040 WHIP and 193 strikeouts in 219.1 innings, marking the the sixth-straight season in which he threw at least 200 innings and earning him a sixth-place finish in NL Cy Young voting.
A mediocre 2013 season followed as he went 8-10 with a 4.00 ERA, and then the injury issues began.
Surgery to remove bone spurs from his elbow ended his 2014 season in August, and last year it was a flexor tendon strain that cost him significant time.
He didn't pitch well upon returning, either, going 2-4 with a 5.79 ERA and 1.500 WHIP in 11 starts and two relief appearances.
The 31-year-old found himself under the knife once again this spring, this time for a minor procedure to remove a cyst from his upper arm, but it has nonetheless put his status for Opening Day in doubt.
After signing Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija this offseason to join Madison Bumgarner and Jake Peavy in the rotation, and with viable depth in the form of Chris Heston and Clayton Blackburn, the Giants are prepared to be without Cain.
However, if he can return to form, it would obviously be a huge addition.
Seattle Mariners: The No. 5 Starter Battle
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The Seattle Mariners went out and acquired Wade Miley from the Boston Red Sox this offseason while under the assumption veteran Hisashi Iwakuma was about to join the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Shortly after that trade, Iwakuma's deal with the Dodgers fell apart after issues popped up on his physical and he wound up back with the Mariners after all.
Starting pitching depth is never a bad thing, but that series of events has left the Mariners with more viable starters than they have rotation spots.
Felix Hernandez, Taijuan Walker and the aforementioned duo of Iwakuma and Miley appear to be locks for the first four spots on the staff, but the No. 5 starter gig should be a good battle.
James Paxton, Mike Montgomery and another offseason addition in Nate Karns are the three leading candidates, while Joe Wieland, Brad Mills and Donn Roach are also options.
Paxton has flashed quality stuff at times, but he's yet to establish himself in the majors after dealing with injuries and going 3-4 with a 3.90 ERA in 13 starts.
Meanwhile, the Mariners gave up Brad Miller and Logan Morrison to acquire Karns from the Rays after he went 7-5 with a 3.67 ERA in 26 starts.
Montgomery fits in the bullpen as a second left-hander and he's seen time in relief in the past, but whoever loses out between Paxton and Karns looks to be ticketed for Triple-A.
Should make for an interesting competition.
St. Louis Cardinals: The Health of Yadier Molina
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His offensive numbers were down across the board last season, but Yadier Molina remains as vital to the success of his team as any player in baseball.
The St. Louis Cardinals pitching staff posted a 2.79 ERA with Molina behind the plate last season, compared to a 3.49 ERA without him, and at this point he's essentially a second coach on the field.
A play at the plate late last season resulted in torn ligaments in his thumb, and as soon as the Cardinals were eliminated from the playoffs the 33-year-old underwent surgery.
However, the first surgery "didn't take" and he was forced to undergo a second operation in the middle of December that has left his status for Opening Day in question.
The Cardinals are 40-38 (.513) without Molina in the lineup the past two seasons, compared to 150-96 (.610) with him, so his health will obviously be monitored closely all spring.
Michael Ohlman is the only other catcher on the 40-man roster besides backup Brayan Pena, so he could crack the Opening Day roster if Molina goes on the disabled list.
Eric Fryer is also in camp as a non-roster invitee with MLB experience.
Tampa Bay Rays: The Outfield Roster Crunch
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Looking to provide some support for Evan Longoria in the middle of the lineup, the Tampa Bay Rays acquired outfielder Corey Dickerson from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for reliever Jake McGee.
Dickerson hit .304/.333/.536 with 18 doubles, 10 home runs and 31 RBI in 224 at-bats last season, and while he had some significant home/road splits, he'll still be a welcome addition to the Rays' lineup.
That being said, his arrival does create a roster crunch in the outfield.
Kevin Kiermaier is locked in as the starting center fielder, leaving Dickerson, Steven Souza, Desmond Jennings and Brandon Guyer to duke it out for what appears to be two starting spots and one bench job.
Guyer is out of minor league options, and after posting a solid 3.5 WAR over the past two seasons it's unlikely the team would be able to sneak him through waivers so he may be a lock as well.
That makes either trading Jennings or optioning Souza to the minors the two most likely solutions.
Jennings is still under team control through the 2017 season, and while he's never lived up to expectations, he still provides a good mix of power and speed when healthy.
Meanwhile, Souza struggled as a rookie due in large part to a 33.8 percent strikeout rate, so some extra time in the minors to work on his approach could be exactly what he needs.
Texas Rangers: The Health of Yu Darvish
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The Texas Rangers were dealt a huge blow last spring when ace Yu Darvish was lost for the season to Tommy John surgery.
That left the team without an ace for much of the year, but when they found themselves still in contention come July, they pulled the trigger on acquiring Cole Hamels in a blockbuster deal.
With Hamels signed through the 2018 season with an option for 2019, he was far more than just a rental, and now the Rangers are set to boast one of the best one-two punches in baseball once Darvish returns.
Darvish worked his sixth bullpen session of the spring on Friday, and the reviews have been nothing but positive to this point.
"There was no breakdown in his delivery (on changeups). He’s getting a good release point, good finish on the ball. I’m very happy with the progression that is being made," pitching coach Doug Brocail told Stefan Stevenson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
As of now, a return at some point in May still appears to be the timetable, and he'll continue to be monitored closely this spring as he works his way back.
Toronto Blue Jays: Settling on a Closer and a No. 5 Starter
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Despite ranking as one of the favorites in the American League, the Toronto Blue Jays have a pair of significant roster battles to sort out before the season starts.
The first is the closer job, as Roberto Osuna did a fantastic job as a 20-year-old rookie but he could be pushed to a setup role after Drew Storen was acquired from the Washington Nationals for outfielder Ben Revere.
The other is at the back of the rotation, where Drew Hutchison will look to hold off newcomer Jesse Chavez and young right-hander Aaron Sanchez to lock up the No. 5 spot.
Hutchison threw 150.1 innings last season and won 13 games, but he did it with a 5.57 ERA and 1.483 WHIP as he obviously benefited from the team's juggernaut of an offense.
While those numbers weren't pretty, he's just a year removed from going 11-13 with a 4.48 ERA, 1.262 WHIP and 184 strikeouts in 184.2 innings and at 25 years old there is still reason for optimism.
All five players involved in these two position battles figure to crack the Opening Day roster in some capacity, so it's not quite as dire a situation as other position battles around the league, but it's an intriguing storyline nonetheless.
Washington Nationals: Can Trea Turner Play His Way onto the Opening Day Roster?
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The Washington Nationals opted against entrusting the everyday shortstop job to prospect Trea Turner to begin the year, signing David Murphy and Stephen Drew in free agency.
Murphy will be the team's everyday second baseman, which means for now Danny Espinosa will slide over to shortstop and Drew will serve as the team's utility infielder.
However, once Turner proves he's ready the shortstop job will be his and Espinosa will return to the super utility role that he thrived in a year ago.
While the team has guarded against having to rely on an unproven commodity at such an important position, there's no reason to think they'll hold Turner back once he's deemed ready and that may not take long.
The 22-year-old hit .322/.370/.458 with 39 extra-base hits and 29 stolen bases last year between Double-A and Triple-A, and the team gave him a taste of big league action with a 27 game cup of coffee.
With top-flight speed and a good hit tool, Turner looks like a future leadoff hitter, and he could make an immediate impact once he arrives.
Can he play his way onto the roster this spring, though?
It's not out of the question.
All standard statistics and WAR totals courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com, while defensive metrics and advanced offensive stats come via FanGraphs.
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