Each MLB Team's Biggest 2017 Early-Season Question Mark
From the World Series favorite to the rebuilding club headed for a 100-loss season, every MLB team has question marks.
For some teams, it's a question of when a key player will return from injury or when a top prospect will be promoted from the minors.
For others, it's a more broad question of whether enough was done to address certain areas of need during the offseason and whether the in-house talent is good enough for the team to contend.
The point is, everyone has questions.
What follows is a look at the biggest one each MLB team is facing here at the onset of the 2017 season.
Arizona Diamondbacks
1 of 30
Question: Can Fernando Rodney hold down the closer's role?
Analysis
With legitimate hopes of contending, the Arizona Diamondbacks took a real chance this offseason when they decided to rely on Fernando Rodney as their closer.
The 40-year-old began last season with the San Diego Padres, going a perfect 17-of-17 on save chances with a 0.31 ERA through the end of June before being traded to the Miami Marlins.
Things quickly went south from there, as he posted a 5.89 ERA and 1.80 WHIP in 39 appearances with the Marlins to close out the season.
He followed up a shaky debut in Arizona (1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 ER) with a perfect ninth on Wednesday to pick up his first save.
Questions about his ability to hold down the role for the entire season remain, though, and the team doesn't have a clear fallback option.
Atlanta Braves
2 of 30
Question: How soon will Ozzie Albies join Dansby Swanson up the middle?
Analysis
It's all about the future for the Atlanta Braves, and the next big piece of that future to arrive in the majors will likely be Ozzie Albies.
The 20-year-old remains miles ahead of the developmental curve after hitting .292/.358/.420 with 49 extra-base hits and 30 steals between Double-A and Triple-A last season.
Veteran Brandon Phillips was acquired during the offseason to serve as a stopgap option at second base, but he'll be pushed aside once Albies is ready.
While a good portion of the Braves' top prospects are still in the lower levels of the minors and a few years away, all signs point to Albies making an impact alongside rookie shortstop Dansby Swanson sooner than later.
Baltimore Orioles
3 of 30
Question: When will Chris Tillman return to action?
Analysis
The Baltimore Orioles were already thin on starting pitching when spring training began.
No one of significance was added to a starting staff that finished 19th in ERA (4.22) and 18th in quality starts (69), leaving the team to once again rely on a rotation of Chris Tillman, Kevin Gausman, Dylan Bundy, Ubaldo Jimenez and Wade Miley.
However, Tillman was forced to start the season on the disabled list after having an injection of platelet-rich plasma in his sore throwing shoulder in December and then suffering a setback this spring.
"Tillman's spring was hampered by shoulder soreness that lingered from last August through the offseason, and he was already this far into his comeback before discomfort shut him down and required a cortisone shot in mid-March," wrote Jon Meoli of the Baltimore Sun.
Ideally, Gausman and Bundy would take a step forward this season and emerge as the leaders of the staff, but the team still needs the veteran Tillman pitching at a high level in order to succeed.
The current best-case scenario for his return is May 2, according to Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun.
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Boston Red Sox
4 of 30
Question: When will David Price return to action?
Analysis
When David Price first started experiencing forearm and elbow soreness during a simulated game on Feb. 28, the initial fear was that he was headed for Tommy John surgery.
While that was followed by the good news that there was no ligament damage and that he would not require surgery, there's still a long road ahead rebuilding his arm strength as he's essentially "back to square one," as Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald put it on March 21:
"The starter has lost enough strength in his arm to where he is weaker than he was when he reported to spring training, the team said today. And until he regains that strength, he cannot begin -- never mind ramp up -- his throwing program.
With fewer than two weeks to go before the season begins, Price's absence is going to stretch at least into mid-to-late April. If his arm does not begin to rebound in the coming days, Price's absence could even stretch into May.
"
With Steven Wright, Drew Pomeranz and Eduardo Rodriguez originally slated to battle for two spots in the rotation when spring training began, the Red Sox have more rotation depth than most, but losing Price is a blow nonetheless.
Getting him back at the beginning of May would be ideal and he took a big step forward on Wednesday when he threw 25 pitches off a mound.
Chicago Cubs
5 of 30
Question: How will Joe Maddon juggle playing time for Ben Zobrist and Javier Baez?
Analysis
Having too few at-bats to spread around to deserving players is a good problem to have, and it's something Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon is as good at juggling as anyone in the league.
While the team has a crowded outfield, it's actually second base that is shaping up to be the biggest time crunch as dynamic youngster Javier Baez and World Series MVP Ben Zobrist are both standout options.
Zobrist started in right field on Opening Day before sitting in the team's second game of the season, and this will no doubt remain a fluid situation here in the early parts of the season.
At the end of the day, these things have a way of working themselves out.
Remember last season when no one could wrap their heads around why the team re-signed Dexter Fowler to join an outfield that already included Kyle Schwarber, Jason Heyward and Jorge Soler?
That worked out pretty well.
Chicago White Sox
6 of 30
Question: How quickly will Yoan Moncada get the call?
Analysis
The Chicago White Sox made it clear that the Yoan Moncada era would begin in short order when they made the surprise decision to release incumbent second baseman Brett Lawrie during spring training.
While Moncada reported to Triple-A to begin the season, no one expects the light-hitting duo of Tyler Saladino and Yolmer Sanchez to hold him off for long.
More than likely, the White Sox will keep Moncada down long enough to keep from losing an addition year of team control, before installing him as the everyday second baseman long before the All-Star break rolls around.
"I was thinking about texting or calling him to let him know that he has to do good and just to talk about his preparation," first baseman Jose Abreu told Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune. "He has a lot of talent and we are waiting for him here."
The 21-year-old looked the part of a future star once again this spring as he hit .317 with a 1.074 OPS, tallying four doubles, three home runs and 13 RBI in 46 plate appearances.
He stands as the face of progress for a team that is likely headed for a lengthy rebuild.
Cincinnati Reds
7 of 30
Question: What will the starting rotation look like a month from now?
Analysis
The offseason trade of Dan Straily and spring injuries to Anthony DeSclafani and Homer Bailey has left the Cincinnati Reds rotation in a state of flux.
Scott Feldman, Brandon Finnegan and rookies Amir Garrett and Rookie Davis made up the Opening Day rotation, and veteran Bronson Arroyo is expected to be recalled from the minors when the team needs a fifth starter for the first time on Saturday.
Meanwhile, starting pitching prospects Cody Reed and Robert Stephenson also broke camp with the team as part of the bullpen, though it's not out of the question to think they could find their way into the rotation at some point as well.
Once DeSclafani (sprained elbow) and Bailey (elbow bone chip removal) return to action, the team will have some decisions to make.
Juggling the development of young players with the urge to field the best team possible here in 2017 makes this an important situation.
Cleveland Indians
8 of 30
Question: When will Jason Kipnis return to action?
Analysis
The Cleveland Indians look like a force to be reckoned with here in 2017, but they are without one of their biggest weapons to start the year.
Second baseman Jason Kipnis is currently sidelined with shoulder inflammation.
The 30-year-old hit .275/.343/.469 with 41 doubles and a career-high 23 home runs last season, joining emerging superstar Francisco Lindor to form one of the most productive middle infields in the game.
A mid-to-late April return was the timetable given last month, and he looks to be on track as he's begun playing games in minor league camp.
In the interim, Jose Ramirez has slid over to second base and prospect Yandy Diaz is getting a chance to show what he can do here early in the season.
Diaz won't push Kipnis or Ramirez out of a starting role, but he could play his way into a bench spot or put himself in position for another call-up down the road with a strong showing.
Colorado Rockies
9 of 30
Question: Can the rookie starters pull their weight?
Analysis
The Colorado Rockies finished 25th in the majors with a 4.79 starter's ERA last season.
That might not sound like a good thing, but it was a significant improvement over the MLB-worst 5.27 ERA that their starting staff posted the previous season and there was a lot to like on an individual level.
Jon Gray looks like an ace in the making, Tyler Chatwood continued his emergence as a solid middle-of-the-rotation arm and Tyler Anderson was quietly one of the best rookie pitchers in the league.
That trio is set to lead the way once again, but the back of the rotation will be filled out by rookies.
Antonio Senzatela and Kyle Freeland will get the first crack at those final two spots, while German Marquez begins the year in the bullpen and Jeff Hoffman starts out in Triple-A.
The team desperately needs two guys to emerge from that group as reliable rotation options.
If that happens, they could be one of the dark-horse contenders of 2017.
Detroit Tigers
10 of 30
Question: When will J.D. Martinez return to action?
Analysis
The Detroit Tigers already had a hole in center field and with slugger J.D. Martinez opening the season on the disabled list, so they're forced to rely on some combination of Tyler Collins, JaCoby Jones and Mikie Mahtook to man two starting spots.
Martinez is expected to be sidelined for the first month of the year after suffering a mid-right foot sprain on March 18.
His cast on that foot was removed on Monday, and he's begun physical therapy in the first step toward getting back on the field.
The 29-year-old is a key piece of the offensive puzzle for a Tigers team that is perhaps trying to make one last run at contention.
He's also perhaps the most likely trade chip if the team does fall out of contention. He'll reach free agency next offseason, and lingering injury issues would no doubt take a bite out of his trade value.
Regardless of what direction the team is headed, they need him healthy.
Houston Astros
11 of 30
Question: Is the starting rotation good enough to legitimately contend for a title?
Analysis
It's the same question we've asked all offseason and it's something we'll probably still be asking in the days leading up to the trade deadline.
Do the Houston Astros have the starting pitching to be legitimate World Series contenders?
Dallas Keuchel and Lance McCullers Jr. are both capable of providing front-line production. Charlie Morton, Mike Fiers and the currently injured Collin McHugh are all solid veteran options. Joe Musgrove and prospects David Paulino and Francis Martes are also intriguing options.
There's no clear ace in that group, though, unless Keuchel returns to his 2015 form or McCullers takes a significant step forward.
With a dynamic offense and a loaded bullpen, it looks like the one thing that could derail a title push.
Expect to hear Jose Quintana's name early and often in Houston this season.
Kansas City Royals
12 of 30
Question: Is contention possible without the stacked bullpen they've grown accustomed to?
Analysis
The Kansas City Royals have leaned on three things during their recent run of success.
Defense, speed and relief pitching.
The bullpen, in particular, has been a huge weapon and has often propped up mediocre starting rotation and carried the team for long stretches.
In fact, they've had a top-10 bullpen for five years running:
- 2012: 3.17 ERA, sixth in MLB
- 2013: 2.55 ERA, second in MLB
- 2014: 3.30 ERA, 10th in MLB
- 2015: 2.72 ERA, second in MLB
- 2016: 3.45 ERA, fourth in MLB
But gone are the likes of Greg Holland, Wade Davis, Luke Hochevar, Tim Collins, Ryan Madson, Aaron Crow, Jason Frasor and other staples.
All-Star setup man Kelvin Herrera is more than capable of holding down the closer's role, but the supporting cast is unproven and if the bullpen isn't a strength, they could have a hard time clawing back toward contention.
Los Angeles Angels
13 of 30
Question: Were the modest offseason additions enough to contend for a playoff spot?
Analysis
The Los Angeles Angels had a busy offseason.
Danny Espinosa, Cameron Maybin, Ben Revere and Luis Valbuena all joined the offense, while Jesse Chavez, Yusmeiro Petit, Bud Norris and Blake Parker were added to the pitching staff.
A pretty uninspiring collection of offseason additions, though, no?
Second base and left field are no longer offensive black holes and the starting rotation has some viable depth, but we're talking about a team that went 74-88 last year trying to make a legitimate jump to contention.
The Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers all did more to improve and looked like better teams to begin with, leaving the Angels potentially facing also-ran status once again in the AL West.
Los Angeles Dodgers
14 of 30
Question: What's the plan for Julio Urias?
Analysis
Few teams have the luxury of leaving someone like Julio Urias behind at extended spring training and starting him out at the Triple-A level in an effort to limit his innings.
At some point, the Los Angeles Dodgers need to have their five best starters making up the rotation, though, and there's little question Urias is part of that group.
The 20-year-old went 5-2 with a 3.39 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 84 strikeouts in 77 innings over 15 starts and three relief appearances last season, earning a postseason start in the NL Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs.
Rich Hill, Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu are all healthy, but given their respective injury histories, that's a precarious situation, to say the least.
Ross Stripling and Alex Wood are also viable rotation options currently pitching out of the bullpen, as is the currently sidelined duo Scott Kazmir (strained hip) and Brock Stewart (shoulder tendinitis).
The team doesn't need to rush Urias as long as they have five starters pitching well enough to hold down rotation spots, but they do need a clearly defined plan for the precocious left-hander.
Miami Marlins
15 of 30
Question: Is the bullpen good enough to carry the starting rotation?
Analysis
On paper, there's little question the Miami Marlins have one of the weakest starting rotations in the majors.
Edinson Volquez, Dan Straily, Tom Koehler, Wei-Yin Chen and Adam Conley are all capable MLB starters, but all five profile best as No. 4/5 starters on a contender.
However, what they do have is a potentially dominant bullpen.
A.J. Ramos, Kyle Barraclough, Brad Ziegler and Junichi Tazawa are all dangerous late-inning options, while David Phelps is one of the league's best multi-inning guys and hard-throwing Jose Urena is a potential X-factor.
With that in mind, they may only need that suspect starting rotation to get them five good innings most nights before turning things over to the relief corps.
It's not an ideal situation, but it's not out of the realm of possibility that the bullpen could be a good enough crutch for the rotation to allow this team to contend for a wild-card spot.
It will almost certainly have to be.
Milwaukee Brewers
16 of 30
Question: How quickly will Lewis Brinson get the call?
Analysis
Keon Broxton is one of the more popular breakout candidates of 2017 after he hit .294/.399/.538 with 18 extra-base hits and 16 stolen bases in 46 games after returning from a minor league demotion on July 26 last season.
The 26-year-old opens the season as the Milwaukee Brewers' starting center fielder, and the rebuilding club is hoping he can emerge as a viable long-term piece.
However, even if he does, there's a good chance he'll at the very least be pushed to a corner spot by top prospect Lewis Brinson.
The centerpiece of last summer's Jonathan Lucroy trade and a legitimate five-tool threat, Brinson will begin the season in Triple-A and he could be one of the first top prospects to get the call once the Super Two deadline passes.
He has legitimate 30/30 potential and all the tools to be a standout defensive center fielder as well.
Minnesota Twins
17 of 30
Question: Where does Jose Berrios fit into the immediate plans?
Analysis
The Minnesota Twins opted to go with left-hander Adalberto Mejia for the No. 5 starter spot to begin the season after he posted a 1.88 ERA over 14.1 innings this spring.
That meant a Triple-A assignment for former top prospect Jose Berrios.
Berrios was the No. 28 prospect in baseball at the start of last season, per Baseball America, and he has the stuff to be the future ace of the staff for a Twins team still building toward the future.
The 22-year-old struggled to an unsightly 8.02 ERA and 1.87 WHIP in 14 starts at the MLB level last season, but he has little left to prove in the minors after going 10-5 with a 2.51 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 125 strikeouts in 111.1 innings in Triple-A.
Veterans Ervin Santana, Hector Santiago, Phil Hughes and Kyle Gibson make up the rest of the Twins rotation, but at some point they need to give Berrios an opportunity, considering there's a good chance none of those guys will be a part of the next contending Twins team.
An injury could open the door. If not, a move needs to be made.
New York Mets
18 of 30
Question: Will injuries derail things once again?
Analysis
The New York Mets were hit as hard by injuries as any team in recent memory last season.
With Steven Matz, Seth Lugo, Juan Lagares, David Wright and Brandon Nimmo all starting the season on the disabled list, things were not off to a promising start in that area once again.
Then, ace Noah Syndergaard was forced to leave his Opening Day start after six strong innings when a blister emerged on his right middle finger.
"Mets manager Terry Collins says the team will push Syndergaard's next start to Sunday—one day later than expected—to give him more time to heal, but Collins doesn't consider it a serious problem," wrote Ted Berg of USA Today.
Still, that's unsettling, to say the least. We saw what an issue a blister can become with Rich Hill last season.
There's little question the Mets have the talent to contend.
It's another question entirely if they're capable of weathering another storm of injuries.
New York Yankees
19 of 30
Question: Is the starting rotation good enough to contend?
Analysis
Masahiro Tanaka looked like the one sure thing in the New York Yankees rotation heading into the season.
So, of course, he went out and promptly allowed eight hits and seven earned runs in 2.2 innings on Opening Day.
As long as his elbow holds up, the Japanese standout is going to be fine, but questions remain about the rest of the starting staff.
Michael Pineda remains frustratingly inconsistent, CC Sabathia is running on fumes at 36, Luis Severino has yet to translate his minor league success to the majors, and the No. 5 starter spot remains up in the air.
With a good, young lineup, more help in the way and a bullpen that stacks up to any in baseball, that rotation will be the deciding factor in whether the Yankees can contend in 2017.
It's no secret the team is building toward the future, but there's no such thing as a "rebuilding" year when it comes to the Yankees.
Oakland Athletics
20 of 30
Question: When will Sonny Gray return to action?
Analysis
The Oakland Athletics need Sonny Gray.
Whether it's to serve as the ace of a staff that is fronted by Kendall Graveman and Sean Manaea in his absence or as the team's most valuable trade chip, getting the right-hander back to full health is crucial.
The 27-year-old went 14-7 with a 2.73 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 169 strikeouts in 208 innings to finish third in AL Cy Young voting in 2015.
However, he made just 22 starts last season and pitched to a 5.69 ERA while battling arm issues.
Now he's sidelined once again, this time with a right lat strain. Barring any setbacks, the hope is that he'll be ready to return by the end of the month.
"I'm anxious to get back, but at the same time, after going through this a little last year, I understand that maybe one more week, or an extra bullpen or an extra couple days on the front end, could really benefit you on the back end," Gray told Jane Lee of MLB.com after throwing a bullpen session on Tuesday.
Getting him healthy is important, but keeping him healthy is the key.
Philadelphia Phillies
21 of 30
Question: Where do the rising prospects fit into this year's plans?
Analysis
The Philadelphia Phillies have a number of top prospects expected to reach the big leagues this season.
However, none of them have a clear path to playing time.
- C Jorge Alfaro: Currently blocked by Cameron Rupp and Andrew Knapp, who are both relatively young in their own right. Rupp posted a .750 OPS with 26 doubles and 16 home runs in his first full season last year.
- SS J.P. Crawford: Currently blocked by Freddy Galvis, who hit 20 home runs last season and graded out as one of the league's best defensive shortstops with a 5 DRS and 14.6 UZR/150.
- OFs Roman Quinn and Nick Williams: Currently blocked by franchise cornerstone Odubel Herrera in center field and veteran additions Howie Kendrick and Michael Saunders at the corner outfield spots.
- SPs Ben Lively and Jake Thompson: Currently blocked by veterans Jeremy Hellickson and Clay Buchholz, who make up the Opening Day rotation alongside the young trio of Aaron Nola, Vincent Velasquez and Jerad Eickhoff.
Something has to give as the team continues to build toward the future.
Pittsburgh Pirates
22 of 30
Question: Will Jung Ho Kang play in 2017?
Analysis
Jung Ho Kang is still trying to make his way to the U.S. after being denied a visa following an offseason DUI conviction in his home country of South Korea.
Following his arrest this winter, it also came to light that Kang had been arrested twice before for DUI.
Kang was sentenced to eight months in prison following his conviction, but the sentence was suspended for two years, meaning he can avoid jail time if he avoids further trouble during that span.
Still, there's no guarantee he'll be granted a visa anytime soon.
"It’s unclear how long Kang will have to wait to get approved for a visa, though it’s possible this will keep him out the entire 2017 season since there's a conviction and prison sentence involved," wrote Mike Axisa of CBS Sports.
Even if he does eventually make his way stateside, it's entirely possible he could then face a suspension from the league.
At any rate, it's a good thing the Pittsburgh Pirates decided to re-sign David Freese to a two-year, $11 million extension last August.
San Diego Padres
23 of 30
Question: Is there any way this team doesn't lose 100 games?
Analysis
Here's what I had to say about the San Diego Padres in our Opening Day power rankings:
"Fun fact: The San Diego Padres are spending less on their active roster ($28.8784 million) than they are on players who have been traded or released ($37.05 million), per Spotrac.
This is what ground zero of a rebuild looks like, folks.
The Opening Day roster will feature six rookies—including three Rule 5 picks—and a starting rotation made up of four veterans who signed one-year deals in the offseason and one holdover who was a Rule 5 selection a year ago.
Wil Myers has established himself as a franchise cornerstone, and the arrivals of Manuel Margot, Hunter Renfroe and Austin Hedges provide some hope for the future, but a 100-loss season looks inevitable in 2017.
"
That pretty well sums it up.
San Francisco Giants
24 of 30
Question: Is the bullpen going to be an issue again?
Analysis
Really, Mark Melancon?
The 32-year-old closer who signed a four-year, $62 million deal during the offseason to shore up a leaky San Francisco Giants bullpen is going to be fine.
Still, after watching the relief corps crumble during the postseason last year, the last thing Giants fans wanted to see was their new closer cough up a lead on Opening Day.
Melancon might not have the traditional overpowering stuff you see from most closers, but there's a reason he's converted 90.7 percent of save chances (147 of 162) over the past four years with a 1.80 ERA and 0.91 WHIP.
The bigger concern is his supporting cast.
Lefty setup man Will Smith has been lost for the season to Tommy John surgery. Derek Law and Hunter Strickland both have plus stuff, but they're short on MLB experience. George Kontos, Cory Gearrin and Neil Ramirez are interchangeable middle relievers, and Ty Blach might eventually find himself in the rotation.
It's a different-looking relief corps, but is it really better?
Seattle Mariners
25 of 30
Question: Is the starting pitching good enough to back the stacked offense?
Analysis
The Seattle Mariners finished sixth in the majors last season with 4.74 runs per game.
After adding Jean Segura, Danny Valencia, Jarrod Dyson, Mitch Haniger and a few other pieces on the position-player side of things, they should be one of the league's most potent offenses once again.
The bullpen also looks solid with Edwin Diaz bringing stability to the closer role and a host of new arms to bridge the gap to him in the ninth.
It's the starting rotation that will determine their fate.
Felix Hernandez pitched to a 3.82 ERA and failed to reach 200 innings for the first time since 2007 last season. He's just 30, but with 2,420.2 innings on his arm, it's fair to question whether his days as King Felix are behind him.
Hisashi Iwakuma is a solid veteran arm and James Paxton looks like a potential breakout candidate, while offseason additions Drew Smyly and Yovani Gallardo will look to prove their better than their 2016 numbers might suggest.
It has the potential to be a very strong rotation. It also has the potential to be a complete mess.
St. Louis Cardinals
26 of 30
Question: How will playing time be balanced for Jedd Gyorko, Kolten Wong and Jhonny Peralta?
Analysis
Jedd Gyorko posted an .801 OPS and slugged 30 home runs in 438 plate appearances for the St. Louis Cardinals last season.
Yet, he finds himself without a position to call his own.
The emergence of Aledmys Diaz has pushed veteran shortstop Jhonny Peralta to third base and with a newfound emphasis being placed on defense, the team is hoping Kolten Wong can justify seeing everyday playing time.
That didn't stop them from benching Wong on Opening Day, though, with a tough left-hander in Jon Lester on the mound for the Chicago Cubs.
Juggling playing time for those three guys will undoubtedly be one of the biggest challenges facing manager Mike Matheny in the early part of the season.
In the end, the answer might be cutting ties with Peralta or at the very least relegating him to the bench.
Considering he's been hitting cleanup to start the season, that's obvious not a move the team is close to making at this point, though.
Tampa Bay Rays
27 of 30
Question: How quickly will Willy Adames get the call?
Analysis
The jump to the Double-A level can often be a tough transition.
Willy Adames made it look easy, actually improving his offensive game in what was by all accounts a breakout season at the plate.
The 21-year-old hit .274/.372/.430 with 48 extra-base hits and 13 stolen bases, raising his walk rate (11.8 to 13.0 percent) and trimming his strikeout rate (27.0 to 21.3 percent) in the process.
MLB.com wrote: "To go along with loud tools and both sides of the ball, Adames continues to receive raves from club officials for his plus makeup and leadership skills. He has all the ingredients to develop into an All-Star-caliber shortstop capable of hitting in the middle of a lineup and could be ready for his first taste of the majors in 2018."
Might that arrival come even sooner?
He'll head to Triple-A Durham to start the season, and if he gets off to a hot start, the Rays could easily move Brad Miller back to first base, Matt Duffy (once he's healthy) to second base and Logan Morrison to a bench role to accommodate Adames.
Texas Rangers
28 of 30
Question: Are Joey Gallo and Jurickson Profar finally ready to deliver on their potential?
Analysis
Joey Gallo and Jurickson Profar were both mentioned among the game's top prospects not all that long ago.
However, injuries to Profar and a hefty strikeout total for Gallo have thus far kept them from delivering on their potential.
Might this finally be the season they take that next step?
Gallo is getting a chance to play third base on an everyday basis while Adrian Beltre recovers from a calf strain, and he crushed a 443-foot bomb for his first home run of the season on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Profar added the outfield to his defensive arsenal while going 13-for-28 with five doubles and one home run for Team Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic.
If even one of those guys turns in a breakout season, it would be a huge boon to a Texas Rangers team trying to hold off the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners to repeat as AL West champs.
Toronto Blue Jays
29 of 30
Question: When will Roberto Osuna return to action?
Analysis
Roberto Osuna is one of the best closers in baseball and the anchor of a Toronto Blue Jays bullpen that is average at best.
The 22-year-old converted 36 of 42 save chances with a 2.68 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 10.0 K/9 last season while once again ranking among the youngest players in the league.
Now he's dealing with his first significant injury issue as he opens the season on the disabled list with what is being called a cervical spasm by the team.
"We really just felt as though we wanted to give him the best chance to get off to his best start possible. We felt like a little bit more time and rest to get that tightness and stiffness out of there would benefit him," general manager Ross Atkins told Robert MacLeod of the Globe and Mail.
However, Osuna didn't exactly provide reassurance that the injury was only minor.
According to John Lott of The Athletic, when asked how soon he'll be back, he replied: "Who knows?"
One thing we do know is that the Blue Jays need him healthy if they hope to make a run at the Boston Red Sox in the AL East.
Washington Nationals
30 of 30
Question: Will the lack of a proven closer be an issue or a forgotten story by midseason?
Analysis
Much has been made of the Washington Nationals' lack of a proven closer.
Blake Treinen was eventually named to the closer's role this spring, beating out fellow setup man Shawn Kelley and hard-throwing rookie Koda Glover for the job.
Treinen doesn't have the traditional swing-and-miss stuff you see in that ninth-inning role, but he's a groundball machine.
The 28-year-old posted a 65.9 percent groundball rate last season and that helped him to a 2.28 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 22 holds, as he pitched in plenty of high-leverage situations.
Along with Treinen, Kelley and Glover, the Nationals also have Joe Blanton in a setup role and a trio of lefties in Oliver Perez, Sammy Solis and Enny Romero who are all capable of being plus options.
So while there may not be a proven 40-save arm on the staff, there's enough overall talent to think the bullpen could still be a strength in 2017.
All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference and FanGraphs, unless otherwise noted.
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