MLB players hoping for bounce-back seasons in 2016

Arcia's career is at a crossroads after a sorely disappointing third season. He was injured early in the year and hit only .199 in 79 games at Triple-A. Out of options, Arcia needs to produce and has proven capable after hitting 34 homers over his first two seasons.

Bailey underwent Tommy John surgery after only two starts last season, and his 2014 season was also plagued by elbow issues. With a clean bill of health, Bailey could help as early as May. The Reds owe him about $20 million per season over the next four years, so they're awfully hopeful of a rebound.

Injuries have limited Cain to only 151 total innings over the last two seasons, and he's seen his performance wane. He was one of baseball's most reliable pitchers from 2007-2012, making at least 32 starts in each season. Have all the innings finally caught up to him?

Carter settled for only $2.5 million this offseason, but he's in a favorable situation with Milwaukee. He hit 37 home runs in 2014 for the Astros but declined to 24 with a .199 batting average last season. The Brewers won't expect the career .217 hitter to help with his batting average, but he can certainly hit the ball a long way.

Cishek lost his closer job with the Marlins last season and showed mediocre control after getting traded to the Cardinals. That didn't stop Seattle from signing him to take over as the team's closer, but the leash will be short with the experienced Joaquin Benoit behind him.

Darvish is hoping to return from Tommy John surgery in May and could be an X-factor for the Rangers. He's made the All-Star Game in all three seasons he's pitched in the U.S., with a combined 3.27 ERA and 11.2 strikeouts per nine innings.

Dickerson was curiously traded to the Rays from Colorado for relief pitcher Jake McGee this offseason. He struggled with injuries last season but was an effective .304-10-31 hitter in 224 at-bats while on the field. He was terrific in 2014, hitting .312-24-76 in only 436 at-bats. Leaving Coors Field really hurts, but Dickerson has hit at every level he's played in pro baseball.

Garza's streak of eight consecutive seasons with a sub-4.00 ERA ended last season, when he went 6-14 with a 5.63 ERA and was demoted to the pen at the end of the year. Milwaukee probably would have traded Garza this offseason if it found a taker, with two years and $25 million left on his contract. 

Gomez tried to play through nagging injuries last season, and he even had a trade to the Mets scrapped after New York reportedly didn't like his health records. Still, he performed as an elite center fielder over 2013 and 2014, so the Astros are hoping he can show that ability again.

Lowrie has been no stranger to injuries over his career and played only 69 games for the Astros last season. He also struggled offensively in 2014, but Lowrie hit an impressive .290-15-75 with a career year in 2013 with Oakland. The A's are hoping he can find that ability again.

Cincinnati desperately tried to get something out of Mesoraco last season despite a hip injury, using him as a pinch hitter for nearly one month and experimenting with him as an outfielder in the minors. He eventually had hip surgery but enters spring training healthy. Mesoraco can be a difference maker, as he showed in 2014 when he hit .273-25-80.

Norris' 2015 season was one to forget. He threw only 83 innings and was one of baseball's worst pitchers while on the mound with a 6.72 ERA. Atlanta is taking a flier on him, which could prove worthwhile after he went 15-8 with a 3.65 ERA in 2014.

Ozuna was demoted to Triple-A and had issues with Marlins management last season. He hit only 10 home runs in 123 games but is one year removed from hitting 23 homers and 85 RBI.

The formerly uber-durable Pence got off on the wrong foot in spring training in 2015, taking a pitch to the forearm. He got hurt again late in the year, resulting in only 52 games played last season. He played at least 154 games in each of the previous seven seasons and had been one of the game's most consistent players.

Porcello went 9-15 with a 4.92 ERA in his first season with Boston, only one year after a career year in Detroit. The good news is that his K/BB ratio of 3.92 has never been higher, but he needs to keep the ball in the park.

The enigmatic Puig was terrible during the second half of 2014 and missed half of last season to nagging hamstring issues. His offense hindered the Dodgers, and he made some disturbing off-field headlines. New manager Dave Roberts will be tasked with containing Puig, who has still shown he can be a superstar.

Ramirez's return to Boston and transition to the outfield couldn't have gone much worse. He's moving positions again, going over to first base. Considering he's averaged only 106 games played over the last three seasons, the Red Sox would probably just be happy if Ramirez stays healthy.

Rendon had a breakout season in 2014, hitting .287-21-83 and leading the NL in runs scored. Injuries plagued him last season, and the production was well off in the 80 games he was on the field.

Ryu was great in his first two years in the Majors with 28 wins and a 3.17 ERA, but he didn't pitch last season due to shoulder issues. The Dodgers are hoping he can rebound, but they have the depth to make due if he can't return.

Samardzija got a five-year, $90 million contract despite posting a 4.96 ERA in 32 starts with the White Sox last season. Some think Samardzija was just tipping his pitches, and the Giants are hoping the issues were that simple.

No stranger to injuries over his career, Sanchez has struggled to stay healthy over the last two seasons. His performance when he was healthy last season was disturbing, with a 4.99 ERA and a league-worst 29 home runs allowed.

Sandoval had his worst year in the first season of a five-year deal with Boston in 2015. He became a consistent hitter for the Giants over the years, averaging .280-14-72 in the three seasons leading up to last year.

Heading into a walk year, the motivation will be there for Strasburg to put 2015 behind him. He made only 23 starts due to injuries and had a career-worst 3.46 ERA when he was on the mound. A career-best 5.96 strikeout-to-walk ratio shows that he's capable of rebounding, however.

Pitching will be key if the Orioles are to compete in the AL East this season, and Tillman's rebound would go a long way in addressing that area. He had a 4.99 ERA in 31 starts last season, just one season after posting a 3.34 ERA.

Wainwright got off to another fine start last season but tore his Achilles early in the year while running out of the batter's box. He pitched in relief late in the year and goes into 2016 with a clean bill of health.