Spring Training News & Notes, 3/16: Catching Up With Everyone

Blue Jays: The biggest question mark revolving around the Blue Jays this offseason is how they will fill the hole left by the dearly departed Roy Halladay. Answer? A lot of young guys. ... One of the guys looking to fill Halladay’s shoes will be Shaun Marcum, who now will take a leadership role as one of the more veteran pitchers on the staff. ... Bluebird Banter wants to know who you think will be the last person off the bench for the Jays this season.

Orioles: The Orioles will feature a young squad this season, but who will stand out the most offensively? Adam Jones, Nick Markakis and Matt Wieters all should be in the mix for that title. ... Justin Turner is making Brian Roberts seem obsolete this spring training. ... Camden Chat looks at father-son combos that have played in Baltimore.

Marlins: Hanley Ramirez returned the lineup after a precautionary rest of a tight groin…Jorge Cantu is still recovering from the flu…Cameron Maybin has resumed running the bases. He has been nursing a groin strain for the past few weeks…Derrick Turnbow’s shoulder tendinitis flared up in a wild eighth inning today. He is conceded to not making the team and beginning treatment on the injury…The Marlins are internally discussing re-acquiring former Fish-hero Mike Lowell as an option at first base.

Mets: Top prospect Jenrry Mejia and newcomer Kiko Calero will be pitching tomorrow and potentially competing for the 8th-inning relief role, in so doing…Nelson Figueroa seems out of the fifth starter competition, so it’s between Jon Niese, Fernando Nieve, and Hisanori Takahashi now…Jerry Manuel will give Fernando Martinez a chance to be the opening day center fielder, despite comments from Omar Minaya earlier in the week.

Diamondbacks The team was distinctly unimpressed by what appeared to be the Mariners’ Cliff Lee throwing at catcher Chris Snyder yesterday. Third baseman Mark Reynolds said, “It’s bush league. Stuff like that doesn’t need to happen anytime, especially in spring training. You’re messing with guys’ careers going up that high. I think something was intentional. I’ve faced Cliff Lee enough times to know he has amazing control.” Reynolds is right: over the past two seasons, only Roy Halladay and Kevin Slowey walked fewer batters per nine innings than Lee.

Dodgers True Blue LA have been impressed with the numbers put up by Ramon Ortiz this spring. “It would be great if Ortiz, who turns 37 a week from tomorrow, has suddenly turned over a new leaf as a pitcher,” they say, with Ortiz saying his time in Japan has helped him grow as a pitcher. However, they are not entirely convinced, this being spring training ‘n’ all – “Color me skeptical that Ramon Ortiz will make it” - though they note success from similar projects in the past, like Chan Ho Park.

Giants Rule 5 draft pick Steve Johnson has been sent back to the team from whom the Giants selected him, the Baltimore Orioles. Johnson allowed five hits and three runs in 4 2/3 innings this spring, but it was his lack of control which damned him – he walked six batters and hit another in that time. By the draft rules, he had to be kept on the 25-man roster all season, or offered back to the Orioles at half the price paid for him ($50,000). The Giants decided to cut their losses early with Johnson.

Mariners: The Mariners released their 2010 team commercials today, to much public approval...Rob Johnson caught five innings on Monday and moved around well, showing that he’s made a good recovery from his countless offseason surgeries...the M’s cut six more players from camp on Tuesday, including Dustin Ackley and Ezequiel Carrera...Mike Sweeney went 3-4 on Monday and is now batting 13-17 on the spring...the M’s are off on Tuesday.

Athletics: Ben Sheets faced ten hitters on Monday and allowed all ten to reach, and became the first pitcher in the modern era to allow ten runs without recording an out...Rule 5 selection Bobby Cassevah was offered back to the Angels, his original team...Clayton Mortensen, Pedro Figueroa, and Fautino De Los Santos were re-assigned to minor league camp.

Royals: The Royals seem headed towards a number of questionable decisions regarding playing time. You can never have enough Bloomquist. Spring Training pictures and videos here. Royals Authority breaks down the spring training stats so far and discusses if they matter.

White Sox: The Hardball Times offers five questions on the White Sox, while the Sun Times looks at the roster.

Pirates: Reliever Octavio Dotel, who has yet to pitch in a game this spring due to a strained oblique, pitched off a mound for the first time Monday, and was seen high-fiving teammates afterwards, usually a good indication that all went well. Dotel will likely pitch in a minor league game sometime this week and could see his first Grapefruit League action shortly thereafter.

Reds: Prospect Juan Francisco, who has played third base in 390 of his 395 career minor league games, is expected to start in left field Tuesday against the Diamondbacks. Francisco has very limited experience in the outfield but the Reds would love to find a place to stash his bat: He’s hit 75 home runs in the minors over the last three seasons.

Follow along with this stream as we check out what’s going on in every camp for every team in baseball. Updates will be provided on a division-by-division basis.