1 position battle still undecided for each team

There's so much on the line every Spring Training as all 30 MLB teams work to finalize their rosters for Opening Day.

While some positions are set long before the season begins, each club is still trying to nail down at least one key aspect of its roster -- and sometimes, those decisions can come down to the wire.

Jump to: AL East | AL Central | AL West | NL East | NL Central | NL West

With the help of MLB.com's beat writers, here is one position battle still yet to be decided for every team.

American League East

Blue Jays: Final bullpen spot
This applies to most teams in early March, but the Blue Jays’ competition is fascinating because of all the factors involved. There are two Rule 5 relievers in Spencer Miles and Angel Bastardo, both of whom would have to be offered back to their original clubs if they don’t crack the Opening Day roster. Bastardo has flashed some tantalizing talent in camp, so it will be awfully tempting for the Blue Jays to extend that audition into April. Meanwhile, veteran relievers and their remaining options are another factor (Chase Lee has them, Tommy Nance doesn’t). The kicker? Eric Lauer already needs a bullpen spot as the long man, and with six other starters in Dylan Cease, Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, José Berríos, Cody Ponce and Max Scherzer, the Blue Jays may need to clear a seat in the bullpen for another. This is one crowded, complicated competition. -- Keegan Matheson

Orioles: Final bench spot
There are a lot of ways the O’s could go with this decision. They could carry Jeremiah Jackson, whose bat impressed over the final two months of last season. But the 25-year-old’s infield defense is still a work in progress, plus Baltimore will already have a right-handed bat on the bench in Ryan Mountcastle. Luis Vázquez is an intriguing option because he’s a plus defender at every spot in the infield -- which would be valuable if Coby Mayo starts at third base, as expected -- and his bat is showing a bit more pop this spring. If the O’s want to have a third catcher because Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo will frequently be in the lineup together, then Sam Huff is an option. Or outfielder Heston Kjerstad could continue to rake and force the Orioles’ hand. -- Jake Rill

Rays: Bullpen
If anything, Edwin Uceta’s “cranky” shoulder has made the composition of Tampa Bay’s bullpen less clear since Spring Training began. If Uceta isn’t ready for Opening Day, the Rays have five spots to fill in the bullpen behind the high-leverage trio of Griffin Jax, Garrett Cleavinger and Bryan Baker. They have a handful of candidates who could pitch 1-2 innings (right-handers Kevin Kelly, Hunter Bigge and Cole Sulser and lefties Cam Booser and Joe Rock) and a big group being stretched out to either work in long-relief roles or as rotation depth, including Yoendrys Gómez, Mason Englert, Joe Boyle, Ian Seymour, Jesse Scholtens and non-roster invitee Jake Woodford. -- Adam Berry

Red Sox: No. 5 starter
The battle for the fifth spot in the rotation is still up for grabs between a trade acquisition (Johan Oviedo) and the team’s top two pitching prospects (Payton Tolle and Connelly Early). All three have options remaining, which only adds to the intrigue. After a clunky first start in which he had an illness, Oviedo has been tremendous his last two times out. Early has been the most consistent of the three so far, but Tolle was dominant in his last outing, striking out seven in three innings of relief. Veterans Kutter Crawford and Patrick Sandoval, who both didn't pitch last year due to injuries, could join the competition early in the season but won't be ready by Opening Day. -- Ian Browne

Yankees: Final bench spot
The “run it back” Yankees have most of their roster settled at this point, but one of the most interesting calls could be their final bench spot. J.C. Escarra is in line to serve as the backup catcher to Austin Wells, while both Paul Goldschmidt and Amed Rosario seem assured of playing time against left-handed pitching. Oswaldo Cabrera is returning from a gruesome left ankle injury sustained last May, and it’s possible he won’t be ready for Opening Day. That’s why the Yanks are trying Ryan McMahon as a backup shortstop, with mixed results thus far. If it works, they could have the flexibility to carry Randal Grichuk as an extra outfielder. -- Bryan Hoch

AL Central

Guardians: Starting rotation
There are also questions within the position-player mix and bullpen, but the Guardians’ starting rotation competition could go down to the final days of camp. We know Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams will lead the group, and Slade Cecconi is on steady ground heading into Year 2 with Cleveland. It’s a matter of which of three lefties (Logan Allen, Joey Cantillo and Parker Messick) grab the final two spots. The Guardians will continue stretching out each pitcher as their evaluation process continues. Allen is following a progression while he represents Panama in the World Baseball Classic. -- Tim Stebbins

Royals: Bench
While the "everyday" players seem fairly set on the Royals’ roster, the bench competition is wide open. And it will really come down to what the Royals feel like they need the most to fill out the final two to three spots on their roster. Speed? Tyler Tolbert can do that, and he brings extra defensive versatility, too. More versatility? Nick Loftin has expanded his glove collection to include all the infield spots and left field. The NRIs in camp each bring different skill sets, too, and Josh Rojas has particularly stood out for the results he’s had so far this spring. -- Anne Rogers

Tigers: Shortstop
Remember when camp opened a few weeks ago and Kevin McGonigle looked like a long shot at best to make the Opening Day roster and push up his timetable? Well, it’s not so long anymore. The more McGonigle plays – and he has been playing a lot lately – the more he looks like a Major League player right now, not just a big leaguer in the making. In so doing, he’s disrupting the anticipated platoon of Zach McKinstry and Javier Báez, the latter of whom could end up pushing for time in center field. -- Jason Beck

Twins: Back end of the rotation
Even after the injuries to Pablo López and David Festa, there are still four candidates for three spots. And all of them have looked good. Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober should be set, leaving Taj Bradley, Simeon Woods Richardson, Zebby Matthews and Mick Abel for three rotation slots. Abel entered camp with the longest odds of the four but has been the most impressive, meaning this battle should go on till the end of camp. -- Matthew Leach

White Sox: Pitching
The White Sox pitching, as a whole, has a number of questions related to the Opening Day roster. Nine hurlers currently are being stretched out as starters, but clearly all nine won’t break in that role. Shane Smith, Anthony Kay and Davis Martin will be the rotation’s front three in some order, but which pitchers out of Erick Fedde, Sean Burke, Sean Newcomb, Chris Murphy, Jonathan Cannon and Mike Vasil join that trio? Which ones end up in relief? Right-handers Alexander Alberto and Jedixson Paez, two Rule 5 selections with high upsides, also will be tough calls for the team. -- Scott Merkin

AL West

Angels: Second base
Christian Moore, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 Draft, is competing for the starting second base job along with others such as Vaughn Grissom, Oswald Peraza, Adam Frazier, Nick Madrigal and Chris Taylor. Moore is having a solid spring, but no one has separated themselves from that group just yet. Frazier is on a Minor League deal but fits the roster well as a left-handed hitter who makes contact. Grissom and Peraza are both out of Minor League options. -- Rhett Bollinger

Astros: All three outfield spots
With Jose Altuve back at second base this year, Yordan Alvarez slated to get most of his at-bats at DH, center fielder Jake Meyers the subject of trade rumors and Cam Smith having to win a job this spring, the outfield is completely up for grabs. Meyers will be the starter in center if he’s not dealt, leaving the two corner spots to be contested between Zach Cole, Joey Loperfido, Smith and non-roster veteran Taylor Trammell. All are extremely athletic, but will they be able to hit enough to be everyday players? Of course, if the Astros acquire a left-handed bat in the outfield, things could look much different by Opening Day. -- Brian McTaggart

Athletics: Third base
Max Muncy was the perceived leader for the job entering Spring Training. That might still be the case, but there appears to be very little separation between him and Darell Hernaiz, who is away from camp and performing well for Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. Andy Ibáñez also remains in the mix here. There is a chance the A’s decide to enter the season with somewhat of a third base by committee situation before eventually riding the hot hand as the season rolls along. -- Martín Gallegos

Mariners: Cal Raleigh's backup
Seattle’s one true position battle could be decided during this WBC stretch, as Mitch Garver and Andrew Knizner have each started multiple Spring Training games since Raleigh departed to join Team USA on March 1. This decision won’t necessarily come down to offensive performance but, more chiefly, a rapport with the pitching staff, where the incumbent Garver has a leg up. It could also come down to dollars, as Knizner is earning a guaranteed $1 million after signing a one-year Major League contract, while Garver is on a Minor League pact that isn’t guaranteed but will pay him $2.25 million if he appears in the big leagues. -- Daniel Kramer

Rangers: Fifth starter
The top of the rotation could be one of the best in baseball with Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, MacKenzie Gore and Jack Leiter. But that final spot will come down to Kumar Rocker and Jacob Latz. Rocker struggled through much of 2025 and was demoted multiple times, finishing with a 5.74 ERA. Latz had much more success in a swingman role (2.72 ERA as a starter and 2.93 ERA as a reliever) and could be even more useful if he continues to work in that role. -- Kennedi Landry

National League East

Braves: Designated hitter
Jurickson Profar’s 162-game PED suspension has created an opportunity for some non-roster invitees, including Dominic Smith, who is now a strong candidate to begin the season as Atlanta’s DH against right-handed starters. Drake Baldwin will serve as the DH whenever he’s not catching, and veteran catcher Sean Murphy is on track to be activated from the injured list in early May. So, while the Braves could find a better option than Smith, they may stick with him for a month. If so, Smith would get the final bench spot instead of Kyle Farmer or Ben Gamel. -- Mark Bowman

Marlins: Bullpen
Pete Fairbanks will be the pitcher to finish the most games, followed by setup men Calvin Faucher and Anthony Bender, who is working back from a shin flareup. John King and Cade Gibson are the lefty options. Tyler Phillips and Lake Bachar are the multi-inning options. Can Michael Petersen sneak in there in that same role or will Janson Junk, who is out of options, be built up enough in his return from an ankle sprain? -- Christina De Nicola

Mets: Right field
The Mets are going to take all spring to determine their right-field competition, which includes Carson Benge, Mike Tauchman, Tyrone Taylor, Brett Baty and MJ Melendez. Each of those players brings a little something different to the competition. And while the popular fan choice may be Benge, the 16th-ranked prospect in baseball, there are no guarantees that he will win the job. Watch this one carefully during the second half of Grapefruit League play. -- Anthony DiComo

Nationals: First base
The Nationals could address first base with a by-committee approach. Andrés Chaparro and No. 24 prospect Abimelec Ortiz are vying for playing time in camp, and the Nats are getting second baseman Luis García Jr. reps at first base as well. Washington has been impressed by how García is adapting to a new role, including learning the nuances of the corner position. A combination of players give the Nationals lineup options: Chaparro bats righty while García and Ortiz hit lefty. All three players are on the 40-man roster. -- Jessica Camerato

Phillies: Backup catcher
There will be a heated competition for the final two bullpen spots, with as many as 10 pitchers in the mix, but one of the only head-to-head battles is for the reserve catcher spot behind J.T. Realmuto. Rafael Marchán held the role last season and appears to once again have the edge over veteran Garrett Stubbs this year. That said, the decision was much easier last year when Stubbs had a Minor League option remaining and Marchán did not. With both players now out of options, this one will strictly come down to performance. -- Todd Zolecki

NL Central

Brewers: Starting rotation
With Brandon Woodruff building up carefully given his injury history and Quinn Priester dealing with lingering wrist soreness, the Brewers will have to piece together innings at the start of the season. Manager Pat Murphy says Jacob Misiorowski and Chad Patrick are in, but after that it’s all up in the air. Left-handers Kyle Harrison and Robert Gasser and right-handers Logan Henderson and Brandon Sproat are all candidates. The Brewers are also building up Aaron Ashby and DL Hall for potential starting roles to open the year, even though both may be better suited to the bullpen. If Woodruff misses Opening Day, the Brewers hope he doesn’t miss by much. -- Adam McCalvy

Cardinals: Left field
Lars Nootbaar's status remains in doubt because he is still recovering from surgery on both heels. While he is hitting and fielding his position, Nootbaar has yet to run the bases. With less than two weeks to go before the regular season starts, manager Oliver Marmol needs someone to fill Nootbaar’s shoes. Thus far, the Cardinals have used 12 left fielders this spring from Chase Davis to José Fermín to Nelson Velázquez. Entering the week, the job is still up for grabs. It would be nice if the Cardinals could find someone like Nootbaar, who has the ability to draw walks -- since 2021, Nootbaar ranks 16th in walk percentage (12.8%) -- and drive the baseball. Nootbar is one of four Cardinals all time with double-digit career homer totals from all three outfield positions, joining Stan Musial, Wally Moon and Randal Grichuk. -- Bill Ladson

Cubs: Filling out the bench
The Cubs signed first baseman Tyler Austin to fill a spot as a backup to Michael Busch and versus-lefties bat off the bench, but he is expected to be out “months” (per manager Craig Counsell) after right knee surgery. That has opened up an extra spot for Chicago’s group of reserves. Beyond the catchers, the Cubs plan on having Matt Shaw fill a super utility role. From there, the North Siders could consider carrying two outfielders from their candidates in camp (Kevin Alcántara and Justin Dean from the 40-man roster, plus Dylan Carlson, Michael Conforto and Chas McCormick from the non-roster invitees). First-base prospect Jonathon Long could be a contender for a bench job, but he has dealt with a left elbow sprain this spring that could hinder his Opening Day chances. -- Jordan Bastian

Pirates: Shortstop
The risk-vs.-reward factor involved here means this decision will likely come down to the final days of camp. Nick Gonzales has done a respectable job since Pittsburgh took him seventh overall in the 2020 MLB Draft, and he has experience at both middle-infield spots. Gonzales has appeared at short in just 30 career games vs. 199 at second, though, and Pirates newcomer Brandon Lowe is expected to man the latter this season. On the other hand, baseball’s top prospect, Konnor Griffin, has done nothing to suggest that he’s not ready to make the big league leap out of Spring Training, despite not having played above Double-A in his one (!) season of professional baseball. Griffin’s makeup is solid, but what’s left to see is whether the Pirates feel comfortable accelerating the timeline for the 19-year-old phenom, who was the No. 9 pick in the 2024 Draft. -- Dawn Klemish

Reds: Two spots in the rotation
It was originally slated to be a four-way battle for the fifth spot, but Hunter Greene's recent elbow injury has potentially opened a second spot in the rotation. Now there are three candidates remaining among Rhett Lowder, Chase Burns and lefty Brandon Williamson for those final two spots after Julian Aguiar was a spring cut on Friday. Of those three, Lowder is having the strongest spring and is looking good for the fourth spot. But the final spot is still up for grabs. -- Mark Sheldon

NL West

D-backs: Starting rotation
Heading into camp it looked like the Diamondbacks had five starters set in stone with Merrill Kelly, Ryne Nelson, Brandon Pfaadt, Eduardo Rodriguez and Michael Soroka. Then, four days into camp, they re-signed Zac Gallen, giving them six starters. It went back down to five when Kelly experienced some back stiffness, but he is making good progress and could be on the Opening Day roster. If he is, the Diamondbacks will need to either move one of the starters to the bullpen or the Minor Leagues, or they could go with six starters until Kelly is healthy enough to pitch deeper into games. -- Steve Gilbert

Dodgers: Second base
Questions remain about the back of the rotation, but second base is still an unknown for the back-to-back champions. Miguel Rojas and non-roster invitee Santiago Espinal are expected to be part of the mix, but the Dodgers are looking to have a left-handed-hitting option for the position as well. Hyeseong Kim and Alex Freeland are the leading candidates for that role. Kim is away with Team Korea for the WBC, while Freeland should have plenty of time to make his case in Dodgers camp. -- Sonja Chen

Giants: Backup outfielders
Heliot Ramos, Harrison Bader and Jung Hoo Lee are locked into the three starting spots in the Giants’ outfield, but it’s unclear who will be backing them up to start the season. Luis Matos and Jerar Encarnacion are both out of options and can’t be sent to Triple-A Sacramento without being exposed to waivers, but the Giants are unlikely to carry both of the right-handed hitters on their Opening Day roster. If San Francisco wants another left-handed bat off the bench, the club could also fold Will Brennan, Drew Gilbert or Grant McCray into its initial outfield mix. -- Maria Guardado

Padres: No. 5 starter
The Padres began camp by adding a handful of arms to their rotation mix, and it now appears as though those arms are all competing for one spot. Joe Musgrove is on his way back from Tommy John surgery, joining Nick Pivetta and Michael King at the front of the rotation. Randy Vásquez seems to be securing his place as well with a strong spring. That leaves five pitchers -- Germán Márquez, Walker Buehler, JP Sears, Marco Gonzales and Triston McKenzie -- vying for one spot at the back end of the rotation. The competition is wide open. -- AJ Cassavell

Rockies: First base
It is one of a couple positions where the Rockies are testing young players, but third baseman Kyle Karros fits in the team's long tradition of strong defenders and is showing a Major League bat. At first, lefty hitter TJ Rumfield, acquired from the Yankees before camp, has been the best performer. He has four homers this spring and a solid history of handling Minor League fastballs. But fellow lefty hitters Edouard Julien and Troy Johnston remain in the mix, with Julien and Johnston able to play other positions. Ideally, he could pair with an experienced righty bat, but Blaine Crim is out with an oblique injury. Will Rumfield show enough offensively and defensively to lock down the position as a first-time Major Leaguer? Will the Rockies bring in an experienced first baseman, preferably a righty batter, to either share the spot or be the regular? -- Thomas Harding