2014 MLB Spring Training

As we head toward the first games of spring training, the Cincinnati Reds' roster contains quite a few "ifs." Fortunately, some of those "ifs" are in a position to break out both in spring training and the 2014 regular season.

The 2014 version of this list contains a few familiar faces. However, two prospects joined the rank of breakout candidates, with one holding the potential to make himself into one of the most dynamic players in all of baseball.

The Texas Rangers did plenty of housekeeping during the offseason.

The 2014 Chicago Cubs broke camp in Mesa, Ariz. this week with several unanswered questions in regard to their final 25-man roster. There are several position battles which will involve players who are on the cusp of making the major league squad. 

Which players currently on the roster bubble are going to have a tough time making the team?

Let's take a few moments to examine the players that project to be locks to make the team. 

Despite missing out on the postseason last October, the New York Yankees enter spring training as the biggest story in Major League Baseball.

The New York Yankees roster consists of a flurry of stars and a vast collection of bubble players who will need to fight during spring training to crack the final 25-man squad.

With depth in the middle infield, manager Joe Girardi will have to make some tough decisions throughout the spring. Each middle infielder offers similar versatility and skills at the plate, though it might come down to who performs best as camp closes and the regular season begins.

The Texas Rangers boast one of the better farm systems in all of baseball.

Now it isn’t what it was a year or two ago, but is still ranked No. 13 overall by ESPN’s Keith Law (subscription required). The main reason for the drop is the collective age of talent. Many of the prospects still are a few years away from being ready for the big leagues.

Spring training has barely begun, and already, a trade involving a trio of prospects has taken place.

Spring training has arrived, as players around the league are making their way to sunny Arizona or Florida to gear up for the 2014 MLB season.

Teams will now go to work evaluating their talent and determining who will make up their 25-man roster when Opening Day rolls around.

For some teams, there's a big decision to be made, be it a battle between two everyday guys at the same position or a number of guys for the No. 5 starter job. For others, it's just a matter of rounding out the bench or picking the final bullpen arm.

For teams like the Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays, deciding which starter will take the mound on Opening Day 2014 is nothing but a formality. 

However, for most MLB clubs around the league, the process of selecting an Opening Day starter can be far more complex. Some teams simply have a ridiculous abundance of options, while other teams are noticeably lacking in viable candidates. 

So, here's a look at the projected Opening Day starting pitchers for all 30 MLB teams in 2014. 

As pitchers and catchers report for duty, baseball fans can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Before long, the 2014 Major League Baseball season will begin.

After a long, cold winter, baseball is back. 

For most of us, the wait was endless. If you latched onto the hot-stove season, disappointment likely followed.