The 2025 MLB regular season is fast approaching and teams around the league will use these next few weeks to evaluate their players and eventually finalize their Opening Day roster. Spring training games don’t count, but they do matter. For many players, this spring training is their best opportunity to win a big-league roster spot. It might be their only opportunity.
With that in mind, let’s break down 10 important position battles taking place this spring, with an emphasis on teams aiming to reach the postseason. These are hardly the only position battles this spring — lots of teams are sorting out their bench and auditioning guys for the last spot in the bullpen — but they’re arguably the most important.
Atlanta Braves: No. 4-5 starters
We could add a few more names to this position battle like Davis Daniel, Dylan Dodd, and Hurston Waldrep. Point is, the Braves need to fill two rotation spots behind Chris Sale, Reynaldo López, and Spencer Schwellenbach to begin the season. Spencer Strider is working his way back from last April’s UCL surgery, so one of these two jobs is temporary, but he won’t be in the Opening Day rotation. Atlanta has to figure out who’s giving them innings at the back of the rotation.
“We’ve lost free agents, no doubt about it, but we have some people we are going to give opportunities to,” POBO Alex Anthopoulos told Fox 5 Atlanta after the team opened spring training. “Strider and (Max) Fried are not the same, but we lost Strider for last year, and we had the best ERA in the game. And we lost Fried now, but Strider comes back. We lose Charlie Morton. Can Grant Holmes take that opportunity and be that guy? We think he’s certainly got a chance to do that.”
Holmes, a 28-year-old rookie a year ago, was a revelation last season, throwing 68 ⅓ innings with a 3.56 ERA and strong under-the-hood numbers. He made seven starts and 19 relief appearances. Anderson was so impressive as a rookie in 2020, but he took a step back in 2021, and another in 2022, then he blew out his elbow and needed Tommy John surgery. Now 26, Anderson has not pitched in MLB since 2022, though he fared well enough when healthy in Triple-A last year (3.96 ERA in 52 ⅓ innings). Elder has backslid since making the All-Star Game in 2023. Smith-Shawver had a 4.85 ERA in 21 Triple-A starts in 2024.
The frontrunners: It will almost certainly be Anderson and Holmes, both of whom are out of minor-league options and must pass through waivers to go to Triple-A. If waived, both are locks to get claimed. Anderson and Holmes will get the first crack at rotation spots this season. Elder and Smith-Shawver (and Daniel, Dodd, Waldrep, et al) will get their moment. Inevitably a need will arise later this year. But, on Opening Day, minor-league option status suggests Anderson and Holmes will be the guys.
The Cubs traded Isaac Paredes for Kyle Tucker, which was a great move, though it did create uncertainty at the hot corner. That uncertainty was ratcheted up a notch when Alex Bregman went to the Red Sox. It’s hard to see the Cubs swinging a Nolan Arenado trade with the Cardinals, and not only because they are historic rivals. Arenado is not especially attractive at this point in his career given his age, contract, and declining performance. Justin Turner could factor into the third base mix, though he’s started only 11 games at the hot corner the last two years and isn’t a full-timer at the position at this point in his career.
Clearly, the long-term answer is Shaw, Chicago’s top prospect. The 2023 first-round pick reached Triple-A last season and slugged 21 homers with 31 stolen bases. The questions are a) is Shaw big-league ready after only 35 Triple-A games, and b) are the Cubs willing to start his service time clock? I don’t think service time is an issue. You don’t trade for one year of Tucker only to play service time games with your top prospect in April. Workman, a Rule 5 Draft pick, is an interesting sleeper at the hot corner.
“I think he knows it’s come fast for him,” POBO Jed Hoyer told USA Today about Shaw recently. “He’s in the 2023 draft and has moved really quickly. Ultimately, spots on the team are earned. He knows that. He’s got a great head on his shoulders, so I don’t think any of that stuff bothered him. He’s here to play well, and we’ll see what happens.”
Frontrunner: Assuming his oblique injury is as minor as the Cubs say, I think it has to be Shaw right now. He is the most talented player in the third-base mix and I don’t think the Cubs will turn to lower upside options like Berti and Workman just to play service time games with Shaw. If Shaw falls on his face in spring training, the Cubs will pivot.
If Shaw struggles early in the regular season, the team has the option to send him down to regroup. However, at the moment, it seems like Shaw is the team’s top choice for the hot corner.
Is it most logical to have India at second, Massey in left field, and Melendez at DH? Alternatively, Massey at second, India at DH, and a Melendez/Velázquez platoon in left field could work. Joey Wiemer should also be considered for his defensive skills and athleticism, providing the righty power that Kansas City’s outfield lacked in 2025.
Frontrunner: It seems like India and Massey would be better suited for second base and DH, with Melendez and Wiemer taking on left field. The Royals did not acquire an outfield bat in the offseason, so placing India and Massey in the outfield may not be the best choice when the DH spot is available. In simple terms, infielders should play in the infield and outfielders in the outfield. This lineup configuration is the most straightforward and effective.
Milwaukee Brewers: Third base
The third base position battle for the Brewers involves various possibilities. With Willy Adames gone, the team could move Gold Glove second baseman Brice Turang to shortstop, keep Joey Ortiz at third base, and use Dunn and/or Durbin at second base. Alternatively, Turang could stay at second base, Ortiz could play shortstop, and a different player could be chosen for third base. It is uncertain at this point, but Turang and Ortiz are likely to be part of the infield configuration.
Manager Pat Murphy mentioned that there are many opinions and thoughts regarding the infield alignment, emphasizing the importance of determining the best overall infield setup early in spring training. Turang and Ortiz are strong candidates for the middle infield positions, with other players competing for the remaining spots. The Brewers are expected to stick with the chosen alignment without moving Turang and Ortiz between positions.
Frontrunners: A platoon of Dunn and Durbin at second base seems like the most suitable option due to their complementary skills. Turang is likely to remain at second base, with Ortiz moving to shortstop. Monasterio may serve as a utility player rather than a regular starter. The Brewers might consider adding an infielder at the trade deadline to strengthen their lineup further.
Minnesota Twins: Second base
The second base battle for the Twins involves multiple candidates, including Royce Lewis, who has been working out at second base but might end up playing third base. Castro is a versatile player capable of playing various positions, while Julien and Lee are also in contention for playing time at second base. Manager Rocco Baldelli emphasized that there is no designated player for 600 plate appearances at second base, indicating a competitive battle for playing time.
Julien had a strong rookie season in 2023 but struggled in 2024, while Lee, a former top draft pick, might find regular playing time at second base. The Twins could consider a platoon arrangement between Julien and Lee, utilizing their strengths against different types of pitchers. This battle is more about allocating playing time than securing a roster spot.
New York Yankees: Leadoff hitter
The Yankees lack a consistent leadoff hitter despite having standout players like Aaron Judge. Gleyber Torres briefly held the role last season but has since moved on to the Tigers. Volpe led the team in leadoff starts in 2025, but the Yankees are still searching for a reliable leadoff option to set the table for their powerful lineup.
If the Yankees were given a truth serum, they would likely admit that they want Volpe to be their leadoff hitter. However, with Volpe’s career .288 on-base percentage, it’s clear that he may not be the best fit for that role. Manager Aaron Boone has expressed uncertainty about who will hit leadoff, mentioning several potential candidates including Judge, Chisholm, LeMahieu, and Domínguez. Despite the desire for Volpe to succeed, it seems like the Yankees may opt for a platoon approach with Chisholm and Volpe to start the season, with the leadoff spot potentially becoming a revolving door throughout the year.
In Seattle, the Mariners are facing a similar dilemma at second base. Dylan Moore seems to be the frontrunner for the everyday job, despite his high strikeout rate. While Moore’s defense and speed make him a solid choice for the position, the Mariners may be looking for a temporary solution until top prospect Cole Young is ready for his MLB debut later in the season.
As for the Texas Rangers, they are still figuring out their closer situation after losing key relievers in free agency. Manager Bruce Bochy is considering using a committee approach for late-inning situations, with Jonathan Martin emerging as a strong option. Bochy’s track record as a bullpen strategist suggests that the Rangers will be flexible in their bullpen roles, prioritizing matchups over traditional closer roles. Martin has been exceptional over the past few seasons. In the last four years, he has only walked 16 batters unintentionally in 195 innings, making him a favorite among managers for his ability to throw strikes. As the most experienced member of the bullpen, Martin brings a sense of stability and reliability to the team.
Manager Bochy is known for his strategic approach, often mixing and matching his bullpen pitchers. However, he has also shown a willingness to let one pitcher take on the role of closer and excel in that position. Whoever earns the closer’s job on Opening Day could potentially hold onto it for the entire season, as long as they continue to deliver strong performances on the mound.