More NL Position Battles

With the season starting shortly, we're looking at some of the key position battles.

Part 2

Milwaukee first base: This is looking like a platoon of Mark Reynolds and Lyle Overbay, with Juan Franscisco still making a push. Reynolds has the highest offensive ceiling, and the Brewers like Overbay's defense. And, hey, anything's better than starting Alex Gonzalez and Yuni Betancourt! Francisco is likely to be traded if he doesn't top the depth chart. And there's always the chance the Brewers will pursue an outside option, like Kendrys Morales or Mike Carp.

Pushed to the brink of irrelevance, Rickie Weeks is having a big spring.

Milwaukee second base: More Brewers intrigue! This one is more clearcut: old/expensive Rickie Weeks vs. young/cheap Scooter Gennett. Weeks has played well this spring and Gennett has struggled, leading to the strong possibility that Weeks will win the job, at least to start the year. But Weeks has been slumping for two years now, and the Crew are unlikely to have much patience if he struggles out of the gate. If that happens, he'll be fitted for pinstripes before you know it.

New York first base: Two flawed candidates, two leg injuries. Ike Davis, who admitted to keeping his injury from the Mets, is the likely favorite to start the season with the job if he's healthy. Or he could be traded to some team infatuated with underachievers. Lucas Duda is healthier right now and just might win the job by default. Because... well, it's the Mets.

Bud Harrelson, baseball enforcer.

New York shortstop: The Mets desperately wanted Ruben Tejada to take this job. They did nothing to shore up the position, brought in no competition, treated the whole thing in a very Mets fashion, in fact. Tejada, um, didn't exactly grab the job. So now the Mets are looking at trade targets like Nick Franklin and still considering signing Stephen Drew. And they're trying top prospect Wilmer Flores at shortstop, which would be a great idea if he'd played the position in the last three years. Still, he's a possibility to start at shortstop, as are Omar Qunintanilla, Kevin Elster, Rey Ordonez, Jose Vizcaino, Jose Oquendo and Bud Harrelson (OK, really only Quintanilla, but you believed it for a second, didn't you?)

Pittsburgh first base: Gaby Sanchez is the only proven guy on the roster and is being given every chance to win the job. Andrew Lambo, a powerful left-handed hitter, could be part of a platoon here, but he's just 2 for 23 this spring. Unless the Pirates make a move like signing Brett Wallace or Morales (or, dear God, trading for Ike Davis), look for Sanchez to tepidly be the man here.

Pittsburgh right field: Until top prospect Gregory Polanco is ready, the sampler plate of Jose Tabata, Travis Snider, Jaff Decker and Chris Dickerson are battling for the job, with a Tabata/Snider platoon seeming the most likely outcome. At least until June.

St. Louis center field: Now healthy, Peter Bourjos looks to be the main guy in center field, but Jon Jay lurks to steal some starts.

Washington second base: This was an open competition between Anthony Rendon and Danny Espinosa to start the spring, and both seem likely to make the team. But Espinosa's sluggish spring makes Rendon the favorite to start.