NL Position Battles

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

Part 1

Arizona shortstop: Youngsters Didi Gregorius and Chris Owings are battling for the starting job, with Gregorius emerging as the better defender and Owings as the superior hitter. Old guy Cliff Pennington is also a possibility here, though a distant one. All signs point to this battle going down to the last minute, as Kirk Gibson has said that both youngsters will play in the opening series against the Dodgers next weekend in Australia.

A fairly typical Darwin Barney swing.
Good thing he's a Gold Glover!

Chicago second base: Oregon State product Darwin Barney is the incumbent here, but his lack of offense has opened him up to a challenge from Emilio Bonifacio. It looks like both will make the team and that Barney will be the regular second baseman while Bonifacio plays all over the field, but Barney has also played some shortstop this spring. Making things more muddled has been the stellar play of top prospect Javier Baez, a shortstop who looks like the potential long-term answer at second base as the Cubs remain firmly attached to Starlin Castro.

Chicago third base: Though he's starting the season in Triple-A, Baez is a possibility here, too. Luis Valbuena is the incumbent at third, but former top prospect Mike Olt, coming off eye surgery, could be a factor once his shoulder his healthy. Current top prospect Kris Bryant has made a charge this spring and is a dark horse candidate. Donnie Murphy, who was probably the best player at the hot corner for the Northsiders last year, could also be a factor. Honestly, there are more candidates to start in the Cubs infield this year than there are for the 2016 election.

Colorado second base: Josh Rutledge came into last season appearing to be the second baseman of the future... until struggles and injuries opened things up for D.J. Lemahieu, who had a solid season. Both will likely make the team, but LeMahieu is the favorite to be the everyday starter, especially given his strong defense. Rutledge, as the likely utility infielder, will have every chance to hit his way into the starting job.

Colorado center field: And you thought the Cubs infield was a mess. Once the Rockies gave up the pipe dream of "Carlos Gonzalez, center fielder," this job became wide open. Drew Stubbs, Charlie Blackmon, Corey Dickerson and Brandon Barnes are battling to start, with Dickerson probably being the most attractive candidate from a fantasy perspective. Unless you get points for strikeouts, in which case Stubbs is your man. Also, the dreaded platoon is a very realistic possibility.

No, not THAT kind of expensive Cuban import.

Los Angeles second base: Hey look, another second base job up for grabs! Former shortstop prospect Dee Gordon looks like he'll start the season as the starter, but expensive Cuban import Alexander Guerrero seems likely to take the job at some point, once his defense catches up a bit. Gordon leads the Cactus League with nine steals, but his hitting and defense have always been shaky. Former Met/current ginger Justin Turner could also get some time in a platoon if Gordon struggles at the plate.

Miami first base: Garrett Jones and Jeff Baker look likely to platoon.

Miami center field: Hotshot youngsters Marcell Ozuna and Jake Marisinick are dueling here, with Ozuna displaying the raw power and lack of plate discipline that he showed last year and Marisinick featuring speed and defense. Ozuna seems to be the favorite, but this is another platoon possibility.