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.

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.