2015 MLB Spring Training

It's not easy to get a bad grade just yet.

After breaking out the red pen and grading the MLB offseason's 20 biggest acquisitions, there is a startling number of high marks. Simply put, just over a week's worth of games isn't much time for a lot to go wrong.

For big-money free-agent signings and prominent trade additions, spring training is all about staying healthy. As a result, ending up on the injury report is the surest way for a player to see his grade take a hit.

Through the first nine games of spring training at Camelback Ranch, it’s clear that the Los Angeles Dodgers are beginning to shake off the winter rust.

Most of the players are, anyway.

Some members of the team have yet to find their rhythm on the mound and in the batter’s box. While the sample size is small, these players will need to turn things around if they have aspirations of making the 25-man roster when camp breaks in less than three weeks.

The early parts of spring training have given us a glimpse as to what the roster may look like come Opening Day.

It's an important spring for a number of guys, given the large amount of turnover the Atlanta Braves had this offseason.

Spring training offers the chance for guys to win starting positions. This looks to be the case at second base, left field, two starting rotation spots and a number of bullpen spots.

1. Masahiro Tanaka: Do We Really Know the Percentages?

TAMPA, Fla. — Every single Masahiro Tanaka pitch is being watched closely this spring, and surely the bad news involving Yu Darvish out of Texas' camp over the weekend didn't make the Yankees feel any better about the whole situation.

The New York Yankees are just a week into spring games, but several players have already started to create some buzz in camp.

The "buzz" we'll look at here is good buzz, of course. No A-Rod bashing, no harping on health issues, just standout performances that are starting to gain some extra notoriety.

Though there are a number of very deserving candidates, I narrowed this list down to six players who have all put up exemplary performances down in the Grapefruit League. 

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Immediately, you recognize the infectious smile from a mile away. Pure Panda. So is the laughter and the joy.

And inside the Boston Red Sox clubhouse, nothing about Panda says San Francisco anymore.

Leaving the Giants?

Spring training might represent a fresh start for the fans of each of MLB's 30 teams. But 2014 is still on the minds of several players on those rosters.

Injuries, most of which were suffered last season, continue to dominate the headlines surrounding a handful of the biggest names in the game.

Some have progressed in their rehabilitations to the point where they've gotten back on the field and into exhibition games. These players will be our focus.

The Arizona Diamondbacks began spring training games Wednesday, the first step toward getting ready for the 2015 campaign. 

Several players have opened eyes thus far in limited time such as Walter Ibarra, Peter O'Brien, Rubby De La Rosa and Archie Bradley to name a few. 

On the other hand, several big-name players who are supposed to contribute greatly during the upcoming season have not performed as predicted.

Baseball has finally returned. With actual games—albeit ones that don't count—in the books, it's time for fantasy baseball players to buckle down for draft day.

While spring training shouldn't drastically change anybody's predraft outlook, ignoring the exhibition clashes altogether is also ill-advised. If you're searching for the right things, March happenings can help in small doses.

OK, first the obligatory caveat: It's spring training—and the beginning of spring training at that. Drawing firm conclusions now would be like critiquing a movie 26 seconds into the first trailer. On the other hand, Major League Baseball is back!

You want to talk about it. We want to talk about it.