2016 MLB Preview: Intriguing NL Spring Training Position Battles to Watch
In the National League version of Call to the Pen’s 2016 MLB preview for position battles, there are quite a few teams amidst rebuilds. The Braves, Brewers, Phillies and Reds are all such cases.
It appears to be a two horse race in the NL East between the Nats and Mets. The Central should be the most competitive of the three divisions, while the West will be interesting to watch because it still boasts a lot of elite pitching since Zack Greinke signed with the Diamondbacks.
Matt Cain was once a Cy Young contender. Three times he’s seen his name appear on the ballot. Now 31, he’s hopeful of being a contributor to the rotation this year. He has not started more than 15 games since 2013. There won’t be a clear path to playing time for him, though.
As for the rest of the NL, the Cards lost quite a bit of star power but remain a well managed team. They have some question marks in their outfield, but pitching remains a strong area.
Read on to see what other interesting competitions there are to follow in baseball’s month of March.
Next: NL West
NL West
Dodgers – OF/3B: The main one here rests on how valuable Andre Ethier could be in Los Angeles’ outfield. Carl Crawford‘s health is always an issue in left, Joc Pederson is trending towards a sophomore slump after a brutal second half in 2015 and Yasiel Puig‘s character flaws have prevented him from seeing playing time before. Scott Van Slyke and Enrique Hernandez are no slouches, either. So while the Dodgers’ OF isn’t as crowded as it was with Matt Kemp, don’t forget that Alex Guerrero is still on the roster as well. The picture remains murky.
At the hot corner, Justin Turner is coming off knee surgery. If Chase Utley can dig deep at 37 and find a way to stay healthy, play through pain and return to form, he could snag the starting job away from Turner in camp.
Giants – SP: The strength of San Francisco will be their group of starters this year. One through four, they are as legitimate as any on paper. Madison Bumgarner will lead Johnny Cueto, Jeff Samardzija and Jake Peavy on this staff. The intriguing part is the battle for the fifth stater. That will come down to Matt Cain, who was one time viewed as the ace of this staff until multiple injuries derailed his career. After him, Chris Heston will look to follow up on a 2015 campaign that saw him win 12 games and pitch a no-no June 9 against the Mets.
Rockies – SP: No pitcher wants to play their home games at Coors Field, so few get involved with contract discussions when it comes to signing there as a free agent. Jorge De La Rosa has been with Colorado since 2008. Soon to be 35, he might be the only sure thing on Opening Day. The rest are yet to make any significant mark on MLB.
Jon Gray and Eddie Butler are a couple of former top prospects. Chad Bettis has a career ERA of 5.22 through 57 appearances in relief and starter capacities dating back to 2013. Tyler Chatwood was drafted by the Angels in 2008 and might actually project to be their best arm. In twenty 2013 starts, he registered an 8-5 record with a 3.15 ERA, then fell victom to TJ surgery in July of 2014. He did not appear for the Rockies in 2015. The remainder of the list is rounded out by Jordan Lyles, Chris Rusin and David Hale.
Lastly, the club will have Jeff Hoffman looking to turn his ninth overall draft pick billing from 2014 into something special for the Rockies. He hasn’t pitched beyond Double-A and along with RHP Miguel Castro, is the main haul Colorado received in the trade that sent Troy Tulowitzki to the Blue Jays last July.
Next: NL Central
NL Central
Brewers – Multiple: Milwaukee should have an ugly team to witness over an entire season. With Ryan Braun, Jonathan Lucroy and Aaron Hill as the only proven position players on the roster, the Brew Crew will be lucky to win 70 games in 2016. The rotation lacks an ace and the bullpen lacks a reliever with a track record of closing out ball games.
Their top six prospects are all position players, with shortstop Orlando Arcia and outfielder Tyrone Taylor being the only names projected for Major League work in 2016. At 32, Braun’s MVP days are long behind him. Even if they weren’t, the Brewers’ winning ways won’t be found anywhere in 2016.
Cardinals – 1B: Matt Adams and Brandon Moss will compete for everyday at-bats here in 2016. Moss, 32, had his best season in 2013 with Oakland when he hit .254 with 30 homers and 87 RBI. As for Adams, St. Louis is hopeful the 27-year-old’s best seasons are still ahead of him in a Cards uniform. Of course, another scenario would see Stephen Piscotty struggle in right field, thus opening up more playing time for Moss out there.
Pirates – 1B: Followers of MLB have seen what Mike Morse is capable of. His 2011 line from his days in Washington produced a .303-31-95 line. In 2014 with the Giants, .279-16-61 wasn’t too shabby either. Entering his age 34 season, Morse is on the downslope. He might have a year or two left in him though, and the Pirates will need at least one until he becomes a free agent in 2017. Battling him for playing time at first base will be John Jaso, a career .262 hitter who gets on-base (.361), has never gone deep more than 10 times in a season and has far more career starts at catcher (276) and DH (138) than he does at first base (zero).
Next: NL East
NL East
Braves – Multiple: When it comes to hitters, the notables are Nick Markakis, Freddie Freeman, Erick Aybar and the 39-year-old catching knees of A.J. Pierzynski. Cuban defector Hector Oilvera could be nice in left field, but he’s 30 already. As for the rotation, Julio Teheran will put in some solid innings. Given than Bud Norris is listed as the No. 2 starter, Atlanta’s starters are nothing to write home about. Norris posted a combined 6.72 ERA across 38 games with Baltimore and San Diego in 2015 before demotions to Double and Triple-A.
Mets – SP: New York might be stronger headed into 2016 than they were last year. As for Bartolo Colon‘s almost two decade long career, the fat lady is singing. Pending Zack Wheeler‘s return from TJ surgery or another serious injury to a rotation mate, his days as a starter in MLB are numbered. With Wheeler expected back in July, should there be no setbacks, it’s still possible another arm beats Colon out in the spring. Viable candidates would be RHP Logan Verrett or RHP Rafael Montero.
Phillies – Multiple: Like the Brewers, it’s going to be ugly in Philadelphia this year. Ryan Howard is still around, but he’s the past. Maikel Franco and Odubel Herrera are the future. It’s pretty slim pickings hitter-wise after that. As for the rotation, gone are the days of anything close to resembling Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels. Optimism resides in Aaron Nola and Vincent Velasquez, while Jeremy Hellickson is the only recognizable face there at the moment. Jonathan Papelbon is gone, even Ken Giles from the bullpen is. The re-building continues for yet another season.