Every MLB team's X-factor

Marte is coming off a great second half, when he posted an .841 OPS, and is set to split time between second base and center field this season. There's also a strong possibility that he will serve as Arizona's leadoff man. The Diamondbacks don't have the star power that they did last year after trading Paul Goldschmidt and losing Patrick Corbin to free agency, but there remains significant under-the-radar talent, led by Marte.

Atlanta has been in rebuild mode for years and might have the deepest starting pitching in the game if we include its minor league system. Among the candidates who could help later in the year are Kyle Wright, Ian Anderson, Luiz Gohara, Bryse Wilson and Kolby Allard. The young group gives the coaching staff and front office plenty of flexibility.

Baltimore is in clear rebuild mode, and Martin is competing for the starting shortstop job after being taken first overall in the Rule 5 draft. He got off to a quick start in spring training after hitting .300/.368/.439 with 25 steals in 118 games at Double-A Midland in the Athletics farm system last year. The Orioles need to keep Martin on the 25-man roster to retain him, so they have plenty of motivation to give the 24-year-old playing time if he's deemed ready.

Dustin Pedroia is back healthy this year but isn't expected to be the everyday player we've witnessed in years past due to his knee issue. Nunez disappointed last year after re-upping on a two-year, $9 million contract, but he's just one year removed from posting an .801 OPS. He will play an important role again this year as a utilityman.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon loves his interchangeable parts, and Happ fits that description. The former first-round pick appeared at every position except shortstop and catcher last year, and the team will rely on him again after making few offseason moves. His bat regressed last year after posting an .842 OPS in his rookie campaign, resulting in starting 2019 in the minors, but a rebound would make the Cubs a premier lineup again.

Jimenez is arguably the top outfield prospect in the game. He hit .337-22-75 in 456 plate appearances between Double- and Triple-A last season and is an elite middle-of-the-order hitter in the making. The White Sox whiffed on signing Manny Machado in the offseason, but the big-time hitter they were looking for could be in their organization already.

Cincinnati decided to go for it this offseason rather than strip down after another disappointing year. Among its additions was the acquisition of Gray from the Yankees. He was a poor fit for Yankee Stadium, but the team hopes Gray pitches better in the NL after signing him to a three-year extension. He finished third in the AL Cy Young race in 2015 and posted a 3.55 ERA just two years ago.

Zimmer had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder last July and is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day. However, the former first-round pick is well ahead of schedule and could return before the end of April. Cleveland is in dire need of outfield help, and Zimmer could provide it with a career .819 OPS in the minors and great speed.

Hampson is battling Ryan McMahon for the starting second base job this spring after the departure of DJ LeMahieu. Both players have proved to be capable minor league hitters, but Hampson adds another dimension: speed. He's swiped at least 36 bases in three straight seasons and has also hit well above .300 every year in the minors. He has the upside to be the leadoff man if he can carve out enough playing time.

Goodrum served as a utilityman for Ron Gardenhire's squad last season and will continue to serve in that role after the Tigers signed the former Pirates double play duo of Jordy Mercer and Josh Harrison to start. He emerged to hit 16 home runs and swiped 12 bases off the bench last season and also appeared at six different positions defensively.

After serving as a swingman in 2017 and going 13-2 with a 3.00 ERA, Peacock moved back to the bullpen full time last year. This spring he's been competing for a starting spot again, and he has the potential to make Astros fans forget about the losses of Lance McCullers, Charlie Morton and Dallas Keuchel.

It's clear that adding speed was part of general manager Dayton Moore's plan when he signed Billy Hamilton in the offseason. Adding him to Whit Merrifield and Adalberto Mondesi makes for arguably the fastest lineup in the game, which fits K.C.'s recent trend of finding success with old-fashioned baseball methods.

The Angels obviously hope 2018 free-agent signing Zack Cozart can rebound from an injury-plagued season, but they have an intriguing backup plan. Ward became a great hitting prospect last year when the Angels moved him from catcher to third base, hitting .349-14-60 in 446 plate appearances between Double- and Triple-A. While his performance in the majors wasn't quite as smooth, Ward could emerge as a key part of the Angels lineup this season.

Urias was one of the most prodigious pitching prospects we've seen in years when he was promoted at age 19 in 2016, but he missed most of the last two seasons after shoulder surgery. Fortunately Urias looked fully healthy late last season, and he looks like he could earn an early-season rotation spot. With Clayton Kershaw breaking down in recent years, Urias could play a huge role in the Dodgers' success.

Lopez doesn't get much attention on the rebuilding Marlins roster, but he has huge upside. The former Mariners farmhand added velocity last season and was solid in 10 starts with the Marlins. He has the inside track on a rotation spot after a good start to spring, and his sub-2.0 walks per nine innings at every minor league stop show his elite control.

Nelson missed all of the 2018 season following shoulder surgery after a breakout 2017 season in which he went 12-6 with a 3.49 ERA and 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings. The Brewers have been cautious with him this spring, but the right-hander hopes for a full rebound. If it happens, Milwaukee could be the front-runner in the competitive NL Central.

A former top prospect, Perez's career didn't go as planned in Texas. After posting a 3.62 ERA in 2013 as a 22-year-old, the lefty's ERA increased in nearly every season to 6.22 last year. Minnesota surprised by signing him for $4 million this offseason, and the reports this spring have been spectacular due to increased velocity. The Twins have a chance to compete with Cleveland if Perez can complete his turnaround.

The acquisitions of Robinson Cano and Jed Lowrie seemed to take McNeil out of the running for regular at-bats, but the Mets appear committed to keeping him in the lineup. He could open the year as the starting third baseman while Lowrie nurses an injury, before shifting to the outfield. A late bloomer, McNeil held his own by hitting .329/.381/.471 during his MLB debut last season.

With Luis Severino set to miss the start of the year due to a shoulder injury, the Yankees are counting on German or Jonathan Loaisiga to fill the void. German was erratic for the Yankees last season with a 5.57 ERA in 85.2 innings, but he also had 10.7 strikeouts per nine innings and has shown similar dominance in the minors. German could play a key role as a spot starter and long reliever this year.

Profar was a former top prospect in Texas whose career went sideways due to shoulder issues. He finally rebounded last year, hitting 20 home runs, and was traded to the rival A's in the offseason. While he's set to serve as the second baseman, Profar has experience at nearly every spot on the field and will most likely get some time at first base while Matt Olson recovers from hand surgery. He gives Oakland flexibility should it run into injuries, and he still has star potential at age 26.

Pivetta has been an underachiever in consecutive years relative to his ERA metrics, most recently posting a 4.77 ERA but 3.80 FIP last season. He's shown dominant strikeout rates but just hasn't been able to keep the ball in the park. Philadelphia needs more from Pivetta to support the many lineup additions it made in the offseason and complement top starters Aaron Nola and Jake Arrieta.

Gonzalez will be the starting shortstop after being acquired from Cleveland in the offseason. Should that not work out, he still will see significant at-bats as the team's utilityman. While he hasn't hit much in the majors yet, Gonzalez has shown a capable bat in the minors, along with a smooth glove. He's a key fallback plan with several youngsters set to start in Pittsburgh.

After returning from a knee injury and pitching mostly in relief last year, Strahm is competing for a starting rotation spot this spring. The early results have been terrific, and the lefty has shown impressive flashes between the minors and majors. The Padres have plenty of talent in their lineup but are currently thin on proven pitching, so Strahm is capable of making a difference.

Pomeranz had to settle for a small contract with the Giants after posting an ERA above 6.00 in an injury-plagued 2018 season, but he had a 3.32 ERA in consecutive seasons leading up to last year. He's competing for a rotation spot with the Giants, who are trying to find their mojo again after major injuries over the last two seasons. If Pomeranz can rebound, the Giants are capable of competing again.

Seattle is undergoing a complete rebuild, so it was somewhat surprising when Kikuchi agreed to sign with the Mariners in the offseason. The 27-year-old has an outstanding track record in Japan with a career 2.77 ERA and has flashed early in spring training. The Mariners probably don't expect to compete after cutting so much payroll, but Kikuchi could at least make them interesting.

Reyes returned from Tommy John surgery last season, only to suffer a season-ending lat injury in his first start back with the Cardinals. The former top prospect is expected to begin the year in the bullpen, but St. Louis would like him to return to the starting rotation before too long. He's shown dominant ability at every level and could be a true difference-maker.

Diaz is a proven minor league hitter but was stuck down there for most of his time with the Indians. He gets a clean slate with Tampa Bay and should have the opportunity for more at-bats. He was an on-base machine in the minors with terrific plate discipline and at least has the physique of a power hitter.

Kiner-Falefa didn't do much with the bat in his rookie season, but his versatility made him extremely valuable. He's a rare utilityman who can play catcher, starting 35 games at that spot last season. Kiner-Falefa has shown on-base ability in the minors and has nothing stopping him from seeing more playing time behind the plate.

Drury is expected to begin the year as Toronto's starting third baseman before assuming a utility role when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. makes it to the majors. 2018 was forgettable for Drury, as he suffered through multiple health issues, but he's a proven major league hitter. During his three seasons in Arizona, Drury posted a .767 OPS and is capable of playing second base and the outfield, in addition to the hot corner. His bat could be significant for the Jays this year.

Washington struck early in the offseason when it signed Rosenthal to a one-year deal. The former Cardinals closer is returning from Tommy John surgery and showing great velocity this spring. He's often shown erratic control, but Rosenthal also has 12 strikeouts per nine innings for his career. He could play a huge role as the Nationals' setup man this season.