National League notes
Arizona Diamondbacks
Veteran RHPs Tyler Clippard and Joakim Soria, both 36, are competing for the closer’s job. Clippard signed a oneyear, $2.25 million contract a few days into spring training. Soria agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million deal.
Clippard pitched in 26 games for the Twins last year and compiled a 2.77 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 26 innings. Soria had two saves with a 2.82 ERA in 22 games for the Athletics while striking out 24 in 22 1⁄3 innings. Soria, 36, has 223 saves in his 13year career. Clippard has 69 over 14 seasons.
What we learned: Manager Torey Lovullo believes 2B/CF Ketel Marte is a Gold Glove candidate at either position. Lovullo, though, is not sure where he will deploy Marte. IF Asdrubal Cabrera could play second base, which would make Marte the starting center fielder.
Atlanta Braves
Brian Snitker was considered a placeholder by many when he was named interim manager in 2016 after Fredi Gonzalez was fired. Now, Snitker is under contract through the 2023 season.
The Braves signed Snitker to a two-year extension last week that includes a club option for 2024. The 65-year-old has led the Braves to three straight National League East titles. The Braves came within one game of the World Series last season before losing to the Dodgers.
What we learned: OFs Cristian Pache and Ender Inciarte are ostensible competing to be the starting center fielder. However, the rookie Pache appears to be the overwhelming favorite after starting the last six games of the NLCS.
Chicago Cubs
3B Kris Bryant is still with the Cubs following an offseason in which he briefly thought he had been traded to the New York Mets.
Bryant received a text message from a Connecticut phone number that welcomed him to the Mets. Bryant immediately called agent Scott Boras, who was assured by president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer no deal had been made.
The 2016 NL MVP is eligible for free agency at the end of the season. “I’ve always said I’ve been open and willing to hear whatever Jed now has to say and would take it with open arms and consider everything that is thrown my way,” Bryant said.
What we learned: Bryant is one of three key Cubs in walk
years with 1B Anthony Rizzo and SS Javier Baez. A prevailing thought around the team is Rizzo is most likely to be signed.
Cincinnati Reds
Since hitting 36 home runs in 162 games in 2017, 1B Joey Votto has gone deep 38 times in 341 games over the past three seasons. The 37-year-old did have a power surge late in 2020 when he hit eight homers in 28 games.
“I lost some of my strengths that I first came to the league with – hitting the ball all over the field with power, being difficult to defend,” said Votto, who was the 2010 NL MVP. “I did that in exchange for command of the strike zone, putting the ball in play, being a tough at-bat. And it zapped my power.”
Votto hit a career-low .226 last season in 54 games, though 37 walks boosted his on-base percentage to .354.
What we learned: C/IF/OF Kyle Farmer is considered the early favorite to be the openingday shortstop despite starting just 10 games at the position in his four-year career.
Colorado Rockies
IF Ryan McMahon is getting the first opportunity this spring to replace 3B Nolan Arenado, who was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in the offseason.
Arenado won the NL Gold Glove Award in each of his first eight seasons and was selected
to five straight All-Star Games.
“My goal is just going to be to go out there and be the best version of myself,” McMahon said.
McMahon has batted .238 with 37 home runs in 301 games in his four-year career.
What we learned: SS Trevor Story is in his final season before becoming eligible for free agency. Though he and the team have not engaged in contract talks, the Rockies say they have no plans to trade the 28-yearold. Story hit .289 with 11 homers and a .874 OPS in 59 games last season.
Los Angeles Dodgers
IF Gavin Lux entered the spring in 2020 considered the best prospect in baseball.
However, Lux then had a disastrous season once it started in late July following a fourmonth delay because of the pandemic. He hit just .175 with three home runs in 19 games with a .596 OPS.
Lux, though, is still just 23. He is competing with IF/OF
Chris Taylor for the starting second baseman’s job this spring. Lux could also make the team as the backup middle infielder behind Taylor and SS Corey Seager.
The Dodgers drafted Lux in the first round in 2016 following his senior year of high school in Kenosha, Wisconsin. In 396 minor league games in four years, he hit .305 with 48 homers and a .866 OPS.
What we learned: One of the most interesting players in spring camp is RHP Josiah
Gray. He was an infielder at LeMoyne College but was converted to a pitcher in the minor leagues.
Miami Marlins
OF Adam Duvall was signed to a one-year, $5 million contract as a free agent just before the start of spring training. He is expected to be the everyday right fielder.
While playing for the Braves last season, Duvall hit five home runs in nine games against the Marlins. Three of those homers came in one game and the 32year-old also posted a 1.201 OPS versus Miami.
In 57 games overall in 2020, Duvall had a .232 batting average, 16 homers and a .833 OPS.
“He’s a guy who is big and strong and capable of hitting the ball out of the ballpark, and it doesn’t really matter what ballpark,” manager Don Mattingly said.
What we learned: SS Miguel Rojas has been with the Marlins since 2015, an eternity for a franchise noted for massive roster turnover. However, Rojas has never had any desire to leave Miami.