A few winners of these position battles could emerge as surprise fantasy starters in standard leagues. Otherwise, most of the winners will be mainly for single leagues (AL-only, NL-only).
We’ll review these situations again later in the spring when some of them should be resolved.
Closer battles are covered already.
Hitters
Philadelphia: Right field
Blue-chip prospect Domonic Brown is clearly more talented than Ben Francisco, but the Phillies haven’t yet decided if they’re ready to give him an everyday job or send him back to the minors for a little while. This could become a platoon, with Brown getting the busier half. Brown is a great keeper-league target.
Los Angeles Angels: First base/centerfield/DH
This isn’t so much a battle as it is a health question about Kendry Morales. If Morales is 100 percent by Opening Day, he’ll play first base, with Peter Bourjos in center and Bobby Abreu at DH. If Morales has to DH sometimes – which the Angels have suggested – then Abreu’s bat only fits in the outfield, and that could create trouble for Bourjos.
Cincinnati: Left field
Fred Lewis will battle Jonny Gomes for playing time. Lewis’ chances rest on being one of the Reds’ few leadoff candidates, and Gomes’ so-so abilities against righthanded pitchers (.745 career OPS vs. RHP, .881 vs. LHP). Gomes is also a butcher in the outfield.
Colorado: Second base
Jose Lopez and Eric Young, Jr. are the leading contenders. Young will provide lots of speed if he starts, while Lopez could get some help from Coors Field in trying to approach his 25-homer season of 2009. Lopez could also see time at third base if Ian Stewart continues to struggle against southpaws (.683 OPS last season).
Chicago White Sox: Third base
Manager Ozzie Guillen says he wants to decide between rookie Brent Morel and veteran Mark Teahen as soon as possible. Teahen would become a utility player if he doesn’t get the job, while Morel’s fallback option is Triple A. Neither will hit much.
Washington: Left field
Intriguing power-speed man Roger Bernadina (had 11 homers and16 stolen bases in 134 games) will probably get the most time, but Rick Ankiel and Mike Morse need at bats, too. If centerfielder Nyjer Morgan falters, some of those at bats could come at his expense.
San Francisco: First base/Left field
Phenom Brandon Belt has an outside chance to make the team out of spring training. He’ll probably start at Triple A, making Aubrey Huff the first baseman. Mark DeRosa, Nate Schierholtz and Pat Burrell (in that order) will fight for time in left if Huff isn’t in that mix.
Chicago Cubs: Outfield
Four players – Marlon Byrd, Tyler Colvin, Kosuke Fukudome, Alfonso Soriano – will share the three outfield spots. This isn’t so much a battle as it is a warning that every member of the quartet could see the bench once or twice per week.
New York Mets: Second base
The New York Daily News reported this week that manager Terry Collins called the second-base completion “open” between Luis Castillo, Daniel Murphy, Brad Emaus and Justin Turner. Mets fans want Castillo gone, and he could get released before Opening Day. Murphy’s bat isn’t bad, and Emaus showed some power and speed in the Blue Jays’ system.
Florida: Third base
The Fish really want 21-year-old Matt Dominguez (had 14 homers, .744 OPS at Double A last season) to win the job, and they’re pushing him very quickly. Wes Helms stands by as a mediocre option if Dominguez has a rough spring.
Detroit: Second base
Carlos Guillen isn’t expected to be ready for Opening Day, so youngsters Scott Sizemore and Will Rhymes will fight for early-season time at the keystone. Rhymes has shown plenty of speed in the minors, but stole no bases for the Tigers last season. Sizemore was everyone’s favorite fantasy rookie at this time last year, but after breaking his ankle, he never got untracked.
Cleveland: Second base
Veteran shortstop Orlando Cabrera appears to be the favorite, with Jayson Nix in the mix as well. Nix will also compete with Jason Donald for time at third base. That’s quite a frightening lineup the Tribe has, huh?
Kansas City: Centerfield
Melky Cabrera will probably be the Opening Day starter, though speedy Lorenzo Cain could push him with a strong spring. Also, manager Ned Yost recently called speedier Jarrod Dyson his best leadoff candidate, while noting that Dyson is expected to start the season in the minors. That has to make you wonder what will happen if Dyson hits well in Arizona.
Pitchers
New York Yankees: Nos. 4 and 5 starters
Ivan Nova, Freddy Garcia, Bartolo Colon and Sergio Mitre will compete for the final two spots in the Bombers’ rotation. As a Yankee fan, I think I just got sick.
Atlanta: No. 5 starter
Youngsters Mike Minor and Brandon Beachy will compete for this slot. Minor is considered the better prospect, but Beachy’s minor-league performance last season (with a 1.73 ERA in 119 1/3 IP) was terrific. However, Beachy has spent more time as a reliever than a starter in his career, and that could be a factor.
Florida: No. 5 starter
Chris Volstad is the favorite, with Alex Sanabia, Analberto Mendez and Sean West trying to break through. Volstad is only 24. While his strikeout rate isn’t very good, he does keep the ball on the ground.
Houston: No. 5 starter
This one will probably come down to a choice between Nelson Figueroa and Ryan Rowland-Smith. Figueroa isn’t bad, and he’s definitely better than Rowland-Smith. He posted a 6.75 ERA last season while pitching home games in Safeco Field. That’s like a 99.99 ERA anywhere else.
Arizona: Nos. 4 and 5 starters
Zach Duke and Armando (Mr. Near Perfect) Galarraga appear to be the favorites, with Barry Enright trailing after a so-so rookie season (had a 3.91 ERA, 49 K in 99 IP).
Minnesota: No. 5 starter
Nick Blackburn and Brian Duensing are the contenders. Blackburn struck out 68 batters in 161 innings last season. Ugh.
Pittsburgh: No. 5 starter
Charlie Morton, Scott Olsen and Jeff Karstens are under consideration for this role. Olsen has been nursing a hamstring injury recently, but it’s apparently not serious. Olsen has flashed promise in the past, while Karstens has flashed only mediocrity. Morton had a 7.57 ERA last season, but bad luck was a factor. I’d take a flier on him in an NL-only league.
Cleveland: No. 5 starter
Josh Tomlin, Jeanmar Gomez, David Huff, Aaron Laffey and Anthony Reyes are the candidates. Tomlin’s above-average control makes him mildly intriguing in AL-only leagues.
Seattle: No. 5 starter
Big-time prospect Michael Pineda is in the mix, but the team would be smart to keep him in the minors for a couple of months so that his free-agency clock starts a year later. Righty David Pauley and lefty Luke French are the alternatives.
Baltimore: No. 5 starter
Free-agent signee Justin Duchscherer is likely to win the job, with youngster Chris Tillman heading back to Triple-A Norfolk. Duchscherer is also likely to injure himself while retrieving the morning paper from his driveway, so Tillman could be back before you know he’s gone.
Colorado: No. 5 starter
Former Astros Felipe Paulino is interesting, but for now he’s boxed out of the No. 5 slot by Jason Hammel. NL-only owners should keep Paulino on the free-agent radar in case someone in the Rox rotation gets hurt.
