Spring Training is in full swing with all 30 clubs back in action in Arizona and Florida! Everyone is doing their best to get up to speed for the season ahead and part of that work is revolving around sorting out whose playing what position, a hot topic in camps right now. We’ll talk through some of the drama around the diamond, a player looking to make his exit and a wily veteran hanging on for one more year. Let’s round the bases!

First Base

Time’s Up Toronto: That’s what Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is saying to the Jays front office this week, as the slugging first baseman did not sign an extension with Toronto before his self-imposed deadline of “the beginning of spring training.” Vlad was looking for a mega deal, something similar to the contracts Aaron Judge and Juan Soto have signed…a difficult though to imagine given his comparatively small list of accomplishments next to those players. The question that now looms north of the border is, should the Jays ride it out with Vladdy this season and try and win now? Or trade him for a haul avoid losing him for free. I’m inclined to choose option two, but he won’t be easy to replace from a production standpoint as the Jays look to stay relevant this year. GM Ross Atkins is in a very tough position much earlier than he’d like to be this year.

Second Base

Who’s on Third?: Devers? Bregman? Both? Haha, just kidding, the correct answer is Rafael Devers. All you’d have to do to get the answer to the question is asking him. Devers got the spring training pot stirring as he told the gathered Red Sox media pool, that third base is his position, despite the team signing Alex Bregman. First baseman Tristan Casas even chimed in and said Devers should remain at third, but what did Bregman have to say? Well, ever the diplomatic winner, the new man in Beantown said he’ll play wherever helps the ball club win games. And so, the mini controversy ends…for now. I wouldn’t worry too much about this one in my opinion, as it seems the Red Sox signed Bregman to play second from the outset, and both players experienced winners looking to help Boston get back to the top, but chemistry can always be a delicate balance.

Third Base

Trout Finds the Right Stream: Sticking with the position player theme, let’s head out west, where the Angels are re-calibrating their roster for what figures to be another long year. What might make the 2025 season a little “less long?” Three words, not often heard, healthy Mike Trout. Trout is undoubtedly one of the all-time great talents the game has ever seen, and while sadly his career has been ruined by injuries and the Angels ineptitude, there is still plenty of racetrack ahead of the 33-year-old. The Halos think they can help in keeping him on the field, by moving him to right field, away from his usual post in center field. The team hopes the less physically demanding position coupled with some good luck will keep number 27 healthy for a lot more than the 29 games he played in 2024. Let’s be honest, the game would benefit all the way around from seeing Mike Trout on tv every day.

Home Plate

Not Finished Yet: You never can have enough depth when there are 162 games to play. Don’t take it from me, ask Cubs GM Jed Hoyer, who signed veteran utility man and fan favorite Justin Turner to a 1-year, $6 million deal. Turner, who turned 40 years old this past November, is entering his 17th major league season in 2025 having enjoyed a very successful career to this point with the Orioles, Mets, Dodgers, Blue Jays, and Mariners. His youth may be gone, but his clutch playoff pedigree and infectious personality is still an asset to a team looking to win now, much like the Cubs are in 2025. Last year in 139 games with Toronto and Seattle, Turner batted .259, with 11 home runs and 55 RBI’s, solid numbers for a veteran like himself, and numbers that could take another jump in an already deep Cubs lineup. Chicago wanted Alex Bregman, and while Turner certainly isn’t the player Bregman is, he’ll do just fine for them at first and third base in the upcoming season.

On Twitter you can find Mike @Mike_Sheerin, Tyler @TMon_19 and Sean @SeanMartinNFL. Subscribe to the site by hitting the follow button in the bottom right corner and entering your email address. Check out our Instagram feed @thebroadwaybreakdownsports for special gameday and promotional content. Our podcasts are available on Spotify. Visit the Rangers Ed Shop by clicking the link on our homepage. Check out our mailbag page to join the conversation here on the site and on our partners show, The Rangers Ed Podcast! We’ll be back with more soon!