Predicting each club's Opening Day roster
Breaking down all 30 ahead of Spring Training
With pitchers and catchers reporting this week, it's a good time to take a shot at a way-too-early prediction of what the 25-man Opening Day roster will look like for each team. Many unknown variables could change the way the rosters end up looking, but here are predictions from each of the 30 MLB.com beat writers.
AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST
Blue Jays
New manager Charlie Montoyo has a nucleus of many new faces to work with. The biggest question surrounding Toronto -- if not all of MLB -- relates to top prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and it's not a question of if, but when. More >
Orioles
Even for the rebuilding Orioles, not every player in big league camp will have a realistic chance of cracking the Opening Day roster. More >
Rays
With a versatile roster on defense, Tampa Bay will look to build upon its 90-win season in a manner mirroring its practices last year. More >
Red Sox
Boston got by with subpar catching last season en route to winning the World Series. Where do the Sox stand at backstop ahead of the '19 campaign? More >
Yankees
The Yanks could have a difficult decision looming in left field if Jacoby Ellsbury is capable of returning from the left hip surgery he underwent in August. More >
AL CENTRAL
Indians
As it has been all offseason, the Tribe faces significant questions relating to its outfield depth. More >
Royals
The most challenging aspect for Kansas City will be sifting through the right-field options, as well as the bullpen, and the two are interconnected in terms of roster space. More >
Tigers
The health of veteran Miguel Cabrera this spring could loom large over the rest of Detroit's roster construction. More >
Twins
Aside from the battle for the fifth starter's spot and the resulting impact on Minnesota's bullpen depth, the Twins' current roster situation looks largely settled as they prepare for Spring Training. More >
White Sox
Chicago's roster could change in a major way in the immediate future -- if the club signs either Manny Machado or Bryce Harper. More >
AL WEST
Angels
The Halos are mostly set with their roster heading into Spring Training, but one of the questions that remains is: Who will take Shohei Ohtani's spot on the Opening Day roster since the AL Rookie of the Year will not be ready to return by then? More >
Astros
Houston doesn't enter Spring Training with many questions about its Opening Day roster, but among the areas where there will be competition are the fifth starter spot, a crowded outfield and the last slots in the bullpen. More >
Athletics
The A's will enter camp with a few areas to sort through before Opening Day arrives, including the outfield, the bullpen, and especially the starting rotation, where three of the five spots are up for grabs. More >
Mariners
Following a busy offseason, the Mariners will have some roster decisions to make, particularly when it comes to the bullpen. More >
Rangers
The outfield and the bullpen are two key areas to watch at Rangers camp this spring. Does Hunter Pence make the cut? More >
NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST
Braves
As far as position player battles are concerned, Atlanta is unlikely to have any. Where will the competition be? Pitching, both in the starting rotation and the bullpen. More >
Marlins
Miami has some intriguing positions at which there isn't a lock for a starter heading into Spring Training, including first base, shortstop and closer. More >
Mets
It's been a very busy offseason for new general manager Brodie Van Wagenen and the Mets. Camp battles to watch include first base, with the organization's No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline, Peter Alonso, trying to make the Opening Day roster with Todd Frazier being the incumbent choice. Another area to watch is the outfield, where much will depend on how Jeff McNeil takes to a new position. More >
Nationals
The Nats look to be set with their position players heading into camp, but the fifth-starter spot is up for grabs, as are some spots in the bullpen. More >
Phillies
Suffice it to say: A lot could change in the coming days for the Phillies, depending on where two particular free agents decide to sign. More >
NL CENTRAL
Brewers
After falling a game short of the World Series last year, some interesting position battles to watch at Brewers camp include first base, where Jesús Aguilar and Eric Thames will compete for the starting spot, and the bullpen, where multiple spots remain open. More >
Cardinals
The Cards will head to camp with most positions spoken for, but also a lot of options when it comes to filling out certain areas like the bullpen. More >
Cubs
The Cubs will go into Spring Training with all but the bullpen pretty much set. But the bullpen was a major factor in Chicago's fade down the stretch last season, so all eyes will be on the relief corps. More >
Pirates
There are a lot of question marks when it comes to what the Pirates' Opening Day roster will look like, including uncertainty at shortstop, the fifth starter spot, on the bench and in the bullpen. More >
Reds
With newly acquired veterans Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp, it will be interesting to follow how Cincinnati determines what the outfield will look like come Opening Day. More >
NL WEST
D-backs
Arizona's situation heading into camp is pretty straightforward: the areas where we're likely to see competition are behind the plate, and the last two spots in the bullpen. More >
Dodgers
Opening Day roster construction for the reigning two-time NL champs will likely center around two names: Corey Seager and Kenley Jansen. More >
Giants
There's really one big question for San Francisco, and that's in the outfield, where president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi would like to make a couple of additions. Will one of them be Harper? More >