We opened the spring with questions for every National League team.
Here’s how they answered those questions — and the questions that come next with Thursday’s season openers upon us.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Spring question: Does Madison Bumgarner have enough left in the tank to win a rotation spot, if not help a team with sneaky talent chase a long-shot playoff berth?
So far, it’s a big yes, as Bumgarner looked good this spring and heads into the season as the No. 3 starter behind Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly.
Next question: Can the snarly veteran with three World Series rings be the competitive linchpin and emotional sherpa that leads a talented staff to October ahead of schedule?
Atlanta Braves
Spring question: How effectively will the Braves replace All-Star, Gold Glove shortstop Dansby Swanson?
So much for favored prospect Vaughn Grissom and minor-league challenger Braden Shewmake, a mid-camp flavor of the week. Both were sent back to the minors as the Braves went with veteran insurance policy Orlando Arcia as their first Opening Day starting shortstop not named Dansby Swanson since 2016.
Next question(s): Who steps into the clubhouse-presence/leadership void left with Swanson’s departure? And how much does it matter, given how talented the roster is in every position area?
Chicago Cubs
Spring question: Who will be the kings of the hill for the division’s big spenders ($300 million-plus this winter) when they break camp with an eye on chasing down the St. Louis Cardinals?
Rookie Hayden Wesneski, with the best slider on the staff, had the best six-week performance of Cubs camp, earning a rotation spot alongside Marcus Stroman, Jameson Taillon, Justin Steele and Drew Smyly.
Next question: How big an impact will three-time Opening Day starter Kyle Hendricks have on this group — and the NL Central — when he returns, barring setback, from a shoulder injury in May?
Cincinnati Reds
Spring question: ‘Where you gonna go?’
A question that focused on foot-in-mouth CEO Phil Castellini found little in the way of answers this spring, especially if we’re talking about fan interest. Face-of-the-franchise Joey Votto opens on the IL, and exciting top prospect Elly De La Cruz injured a hamstring on the way back to Triple-A.
Next question: How ‘bout those Bengals?
Colorado Rockies
Spring question: Anybody seen Kris Bryant?
Pitchers in the Cactus League saw plenty from the $182 million former MVP, who spent most of last year injured but has been more than healthy at the plate during a hale and hearty spring (four homers, 1.085 OPS).
Next question: How far from the bottom of a front-loaded division can a healthy Bryant and rotation ace Kyle Freeland actually lift the Rox?
Los Angeles Dodgers
Spring question: What the hell?
After a quiet-for-them winter, the Dodgers installed Miguel Rojas at short to replace the departures in back-to-back years of $300 million free agents (Corey Seager and Turner) and continued to prepare for life without Walker Buehler (Tommy John surgery) and life after Trevor Bauer (released after the longest domestic violence suspension the league has doled out). Don’t look now, but they emerged with what looks like a healthy, contender-quality rotation — again — led by Julio Urias, Clayton Kershaw and Tony Gonsolin.
Next question: Will they have enough quality up the middle with Gavin Lux out for the year (spring knee injury), and where might they find help outside the organization if not?
Miami Marlins
Spring question: Can Sandy Alcantara pitch more often and maybe play some shortstop and catch while he’s doing it?
As it turns out, no. But starting the season with the reigning Cy Young winner, finding enough success during the spring to stick with Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s move to centerfield from the infield, and adding 2022 batting champ Luis Arraez gives fans reason to buy a ticket, if not hope. With a balanced schedule in play, it’s not unrealistic to think there’s enough talent here to produce a winning season with a few breaks (assuming they’re not bones).
Next question: Can Sandy Alcantara start the second game of the season, too? And the third?
Milwaukee Brewers
Spring question(s): Is everybody forgetting the Brewers? And who’s this Brice Turang fellow?
The front end of the Brewers’ vaunted rotation — the reason nobody should overlook this team — emerged from camp looking healthy and strong. And Turang, a former first-round draft pick and last year’s impressive Triple-A shortstop, earned the Opening Day second base job.
Next question: How many times will the Brewers hit Willson Contreras with pitches now that he’s gone from the Cubs to the Cardinals — and now that his brother William is the Brewers’ starting catcher.
New York Mets
Spring question: Does the Chili’s in Port St. Lucie offer 10% or 15% off with an AARP card?
Turns out it’s 15% off at Denny’s, in case graybeards Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer care to celebrate looking this good at 40 and 38, respectively, as they depart spring training healthy and ready to lead the Mets.
Next question: How will the Mets survive the rugged NL Central without $102 million closer Edwin Diaz (out for the year with a knee injury) and without free agent starter Jose Quintana (rib surgery) for at least half the season?
Philadelphia Phillies
Spring question: Have you seen the size of those bases?
Yes. And speedy Trea Turner looks like he’s ready to steal about 40 of them this year. But the way he looked putting on a power display for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, the most intriguing free agent of the winter also might not need to always rush to round those “pizza boxes” at slugger-friendly Citizens Bank Park.
Next question: How fast can Bryce Harper return from Tommy John surgery now that Rhys Hoskins is likely out for the year with a torn ACL and now that we find out Harper may be ahead of his original midseason schedule — and will open on the 10-day injured list instead of the 60-day IL?
Pittsburgh Pirates
Spring question: Does Reynolds’ rap make it harder to cook?
The Pirates made it clear through the spring they had no intention of honoring one of their best player’s request to be traded, and in fact renewed efforts to extend him long-term, with a report on that coming as recently as Friday. Another report from Pirates camp suggested the relationship has improved since the start of camp. Good news for Pirates fans.
Next question: What else ya’ got, Buccos?
St. Louis Cardinals
Spring question: If a popup falls in Jupiter and there’s no Cardinal there to hear it, is spring training really happening?
The 19 Cardinals who spread out to points across the World Baseball Classic — including the team’s top three veterans playing for Team USA — all returned intact and well prepped. Although longtime ace Adam Wainwright subsequently tweaked a groin in the weight room and will open his final MLB season on the IL, the Cardinals look poised for a vigorous defense of their division title.
Next question: Can $87.5 million catcher Willson Contreras do enough to replace Yadi Molina to gain fans’ acceptance, if not embrace?
San Diego Padres
Spring question: What position will $340 million superstar and former shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. play this season once his PED suspension is up on April 20?
With Xander Bogaerts at short and Ha-Seong Kim (Tatis’ injury replacement last year) moving over to second, Tatis is slated to open in right field once he concludes a Triple-A prep stint ahead of his reinstatement. Even more intriguing: Manager Bob Melvin says he’ll bat leadoff this season for the Friars, creating a terrifying top of the order of: Tatis, Juan Soto, Manny Machado and Bogaerts.
Next question: Can Tatis stay healthy all year after recovering from shoulder and wrist surgeries, and perform at his mega-contract level without the PEDs?
San Francisco Giants
Spring question: What if money can’t buy you glove?
The worst-fielding team in the majors by multiple metrics last year might find incremental improvement through a few under-the-radar moves, but they don’t have enough improved bats or swing-and-miss pitching to make up for what continues to look like a sizable fielding deficit — especially as infield shifts go away.
Next question: Should a team that won 107 games just two years ago blow what’s left of its roster to bits and piss off top-dollar-paying fans for a multiyear rebuild or spend all that money Aaron Judge wouldn’t take and Carlos Correa couldn’t take (after the failed physical) next winter to chase the Dodgers and Padres — and Diamondbacks — in 2024?
Washington Nationals
Spring question: How fast can Juan Soto get the Nats back to the playoffs?
Starting pitcher Mackenzie Gore and second-year shortstop CJ Abrams — the two big-league-ready prospects acquired from San Diego in last summer’s blockbuster for Soto — didn’t exactly light it up this spring but will both open as starters as expected. Gore will be No. 5 in the rotation and Abrams in the lower part of the Nats’ order. They’ll get plenty of time to develop, regardless of growing pains, for what looks like the worst team in the league again, while younger, lefty-hitting outfielders in the Soto deal (James Wood and Robert Hassell) work in the minors on eventual debuts.
Next question: Will Abrams show the Gold Glove-caliber talent over a full season that he’s already shown in glimpses? That would be a clear building block for the Nats’ process.