GOODYEAR, Arizona − By several accounts, the Cincinnati Reds’ internal competition for the No. 5 spot in the starting rotation is already heating up.
Those involved include Chase Burns, Rhett Lowder, Brandon Williamson and Julian Aguiar. While live action in spring training has so far been sparse, each of those players has shown flashes of viable candidacy for the No. 5 position in the rotation.
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“They obviously know one another. They’ve been teammates at other places,” Reds pitching coach Derek Johnson said. “So, it does make a lot of sense that there’s competition there. And you know what, to me that’s the best way you could ever have a camp. That’s the best way you can run a camp, is if there’s actual competition and there is something at stake. You’re going to see really good performances from a lot of guys because they do have that kind of heightened awareness of, ‘hey, man, I’ve got to get going now.’
“So it’s good. It’s never a bad thing.”
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Cincinnati Reds begin full squad workouts. See photos
Cincinnati Reds Bench Coach/Field Coordinator Freddie Benavides (45) huddles with players ahead of full squad workouts, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, at the Cincinnati Reds player development complex in Goodyear, Ariz.
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Cincinnati Reds begin full squad workouts. See photos
Cincinnati Reds Bench Coach/Field Coordinator Freddie Benavides (45) huddles with players ahead of full squad workouts, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, at the Cincinnati Reds player development complex in Goodyear, Ariz.
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Cincinnati Reds begin full squad workouts. See photos
Cincinnati Reds catcher Jose Trevino runs a drill during the first day of full squad workouts, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, at the Cincinnati Reds player development complex in Goodyear, Ariz.
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Cincinnati Reds begin full squad workouts. See photos
Cincinnati Reds infielders Ke’Bryan Hayes (3) runs drills during the first day of full squad workouts, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, at the Cincinnati Reds player development complex in Goodyear, Ariz.
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Cincinnati Reds begin full squad workouts. See photos
Coaches assist in running drills with players during the first day of full squad workouts, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, at the Cincinnati Reds player development complex in Goodyear, Ariz.
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Cincinnati Reds begin full squad workouts. See photos
Cincinnati Reds outfielders Rece Hinds (57) and Will Benson (30) share a conversation during the first day of full squad workouts, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, at the Cincinnati Reds player development complex in Goodyear, Ariz.
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Cincinnati Reds begin full squad workouts. See photos
Cincinnati Reds Eric Davis, left, and outfielder TJ Friedl (29) share a conversation during the first day of full squad workouts, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, at the Cincinnati Reds player development complex in Goodyear, Ariz.
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Cincinnati Reds begin full squad workouts. See photos
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Rhett Lowder (25) practices his pitch during the first day of full squad workouts, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, at the Cincinnati Reds player development complex in Goodyear, Ariz.
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Cincinnati Reds begin full squad workouts. See photos
Cincinnati Reds infielder Spencer Steer (7) swings during a batting practice, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, at the Cincinnati Reds player development complex in Goodyear, Ariz.
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Cincinnati Reds begin full squad workouts. See photos
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz runs drills during the first day of full squad workouts, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, at the Cincinnati Reds player development complex in Goodyear, Ariz.
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Cincinnati Reds begin full squad workouts. See photos
From left, Cincinnati Reds infielders Eugenio Suárez (28), Nathaniel Lowe (31) and Sal Stewart (27) share a conversation during the first day of full squad workouts , Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, at the Cincinnati Reds player development complex in Goodyear, Ariz.
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Cincinnati Reds begin full squad workouts. See photos
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Chase Burns practices his pitch during the first day of full squad workouts, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, at the Cincinnati Reds player development complex in Goodyear, Ariz.
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Cincinnati Reds begin full squad workouts. See photos
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Héctor Rodríguez (43) runs drills during the first day of full squad workouts, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, at the Cincinnati Reds player development complex in Goodyear, Ariz.
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Cincinnati Reds begin full squad workouts. See photos
Cincinnati Reds infielders Ke’Bryan Hayes (3) and Sal Stewart (27) share a conversation, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, at the Cincinnati Reds player development complex in Goodyear, Ariz.
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Cincinnati Reds begin full squad workouts. See photos
Players stretch ahead of workouts, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, at the Cincinnati Reds player development complex in Goodyear, Ariz.
More: Check out the 5 biggest offseason moves in National League Central
More: Check out the Reds roster projection as spring training starts
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Seeing as it seems an accepted truth that the top four rotation spots are spoken for via two-time Opening Day starter and 2024 MLB All-Star Hunter Greene, 2025 All-Star Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo and Brady Singer, what will become of the pitchers that fall short in the battle for the No. 5 spot?
Is it a given they’d drop into the bullpen in order to create a stable of flame-throwing relievers? Not necessarily.
For one thing, mid-February is too early to start picking the Opening Day roster. And along with that, Reds coaches need to let spring play out, along with all the successes, failures and possible injuries that might come.
“I would say you’re getting a little ahead of us,” Reds manager Terry Francona said. “There’s going to be a lot of factors. One, how is everybody throwing? Healthy, days off early and then balancing the need to win here but also knowing you’re probably going to need more starters.”
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The last part of Francona’s explanation during his Feb. 16 morning meeting with reporters at the Reds’ spring training complex is an important one. He highlighted a fact of life in modern baseball, as well as a reality the Reds knew well during their run to the postseason in 2025.
Pitchers get hurt, too, and in 2025, veteran innings-eater Brady Singer was the only Reds starting pitcher to go the entirety of the season without in injured-list stint. Considering that, maybe it would be best to keep 23-year-olds like Burns and Lowder, or a 27-year-old coming off Tommy John surgery like Williamson, on a normal, starter’s cadence and routine.
Also, the Reds’ bullpen isn’t exactly barren at the moment. Time will eventually reveal the strengths and weaknesses of the club’s offseason bullpen rebuild, but right now, that portion of the roster has its battles for innings to consider.
Closer Emilio Pagán, Tony Santillan and Graham Ashcraft, along with offseason acquisitions Caleb Ferguson, Brock Burke and Pierce Johnson, appear positioned to lead the reliever corps. A battle for the remaining spots between the likes of Connor Phillips, Sam Moll, and several other viable candidates will soon heat up and be in full view during Cactus League games.
Cincinnati Reds pitching coach/director of pitching Derek Johnson (36) watches a bullpen session at the Cincinnati Reds player development complex in Goodyear, Ariz., on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026.
“I hate to say we have an embarrassment of riches,” Johnson said. “I don’t ever think you should say that in baseball because things happen way too fast. But on the other side of it, we do have more depth than we’ve had in quite some time.
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“Some of these decisions will be based around what happened last year, what we think they need from this year. And it’s like anything else: You never go through a season with the group that you started with. There’s always going to be a turnover because of injury or whatever, and then you have that second tier of guy that comes in and hopefully can do a good job for you and win you some ballgames.
“We’re really excited about the depth we do have. Just the fact of, like, putting it together.”
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
MARCH 27, 1951: Walker Cooper, left, Boston Braves’ catcher, and Hobie Landrith, Reds’ backstop, talk things over at spring training camp.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
MARCH 27, 1951: Walker Cooper, left, Boston Braves’ catcher, and Hobie Landrith, Reds’ backstop, talk things over at spring training camp.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
MARCH 21, 1954: Catcher Ed Bailey and his wife.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
APRIL 3, 1956: NUXHALL: Joe Nuxhall with wife, Donzetta and sons, Phil and Kim at spring training in Tampa, Fla.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
FEBRUARY 28, 1957: Ted Kluszewski stepping into a pitch during a batting drill.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
MARCH 5, 1959: Ed Bailey working on his shoes.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
FEBRUARY 24, 1961: Among the runners above are, from left, pitcher Marv Fodor (No. 45), pitcher Dave Stenhouse (No. 61), catcher Jerry Zimmerman (No. 8), infielder Lou Skizas (No. 21), pitcher Joey Jay (hatless), catcher Larry Rancourt (No. 33), and pitcher Ken Hunt (No. 50), leading the charge.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
MARCH 12, 1961: Eddie Kasko, right, is diagramming some future Reds plays in the sands at Tampa, Fla., while a couple of his teammates, Gene Freese, left, and rookie Jim Baumer, look on during a spring training session.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
MARCH 17, 1961: Reds pitchers Jim Maloney, left, and Jim O’Toole ham it up in anticipation of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
MARCH 26, 1961: Reds manager Fred Hutchinson talks a little business with Hank Greenberg, vice president and treasurer of the Chicago White Sox, during a meeting at the Reds’ spring training camp in Tampa, Fla.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
MARCH 5, 1962: Gene Freese, Cincinnati Reds’ third baseman, gets first aid from assistant trainer, Joe Carroll, after he broke his right ankle during the team’s first intra-squad game of the spring training season in Tampa. Cincinnati manager Fred Hutchinson looks on at left.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
MARCH 1963: Al Lopez Field, winter home of the Cincinnati Reds in Tampa, Fla.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
MARCH 24, 1963: Don Blasingame and daughter Dawn at spring training in Tampa.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
MARCH 5, 1967: Reds’ veteran Jim Maloney, left, chats with rookie Gary Nolan at spring training camp in Tampa, Fla.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
MARCH 7, 1973: Joe Morgan and Bobby Tolan.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
APRIL 1976: Pete Rose during Cincinnati Reds spring training.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
1977: Rawly Eastwick, left, and Larry Shepard during Cincinnati Reds spring training.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
1977: Cincinnati Reds spring training.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
MARCH 2, 1977: Pete Rose sharpens his skills at table tennis in the clubhouse.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
MARCH 1978: Visitors watch batting practice during Cincinnati Reds spring training.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
MARCH 1978: Cincinnati Reds spring training.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
MARCH 6, 1978: Jack Billingham cleans out his locker at the Reds’ spring training headquarters.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
MARCH 12, 1978: Spectators line the roped-off edge of the ball field to watch Reds go through a routine.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
1979: Cincinnati Reds spring training.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
MARCH 18, 1979: Joe Morgan greets fans near the backstop before a recent exhibition game.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
1981: Johnny Bench signs autographs during Spring Training 1981.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
1981: Johnny Bench gives an interview during Spring Training 1981.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
MARCH 2, 1982: Cincinnati Reds manager John McNamara, right, talking baseball with Notre Dame head football coach Gerry Faust, left, as he visited the Reds’ spring training camp in Tampa, Fla. Richard Wagner, president and chief executive officer of the Reds, center, joined the discussion.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
MARCH 9, 1982: Jose Brito’s fastball is a fuzzy blur in the camera’s eye as it speeds plateward during a spring training workout in Tampa, Fla. Watching the Reds rookie are Charlie Leibrandto (left), Mike LaCross (51) and Rick O’Keeffe (58).
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
MARCH 8, 1983: Johnny Bench , center, practices some casting in a giant Redsland mud puddle in Tampa. Looking on are catcher Steve Christmas, left, and pitcher Tommy Hume.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
FEBRUARY 26, 1984: Tony Perez returned to a familiar position, crashing line drives all over the Redsland spring training complex during the first workout for Cincinnati’s position players.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
MARCH 1984: Left to right: Mark Stowe, Jim Stockelman, and Mike Burkhart play cards in Redsland where they sleep during spring training.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
MARCH 1984: Running workout during Cincinnati Reds spring training.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
MARCH 10, 1984: Infielders Wade Rowden, Skeeter Barnes and Nick Esasky ham it up for the photographer during break in Reds’ spring training activities at Tampa. Barnes, a Cincinnatian, is up from Indianapolis; Rowden from Waterbury.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
FEBRUARY 22, 1986: Trainer Larry Starr (in shorts) leads the 28 Reds in camp through running drills. Among those in action are pitchers John Franco (31), Frank Pastore (35) and Ted Power (48), and player-manager Pete Rose (in dark jacket behind Rastore).
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
MARCH 9, 1988: Tom Browning came to spring training with an attitude shaped by last year’s performance.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
MARCH 12, 1988: Pitching coach Scott Breeden shows starter Danny Jackson a couple of ways to grip the ball during spring training workouts in Florida.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
UNDATED: Cincinnati Reds player Chris Sabo signs autographs in Plant City, Florida during spring training.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
Lou Piniella’s theory of hitting begins with the feet. Piniella was very active working with hitters during spring training in 1990. Here, he offers advice to catcher Terry McGriff.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
MARCH 23, 1990: Cincinnati Reds catcher Joe Oliver at spring training camp in Florida.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
MARCH 27, 1991: Glenn Braggs.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
February 17, 1996: Reds outfielder Eric Davis works on his bunting during batting practice on the first day of spring training in Plant City.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
February 21, 1996: Reds pitchers John Smiley, Dave Burba, and Trevor Wilson walk from the clubhouse to the field for warmups at spring training in Plant City.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
February 14, 1998: Reds players Damian Jackson, left, and Reggie Sanders play around during a pepper drill during the first day of Reds spring training workouts at the Sarasota Sports Complex.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
February 23, 1998: ESPN sports analyst Dick Vitale talks to Willie Greene as Vitale visited the Reds spring training camp in Sarasota.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
February 23, 1998: Gary Pagano, a server at the Cafe L’Europe restaurant in Sarasota, throws to a Reds player during a pepper game at the start of the Reds spring training camp. Pagano is living every baseball fan’s dream, being able to participate in the camp of a major league baseball team.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
February 27, 1998: Reds owner Marge Schott gets a hug from manager Jack McKeon at the Reds new spring training camp in Sarasota.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
March 14, 1998: Reds first baseman Eduardo Perez (left) and shortstop Barry Larkin (right) watch a potential home run from the batting cages at the Reds spring training camp in Sarasota.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
February 21, 1999: Reds pitchers work out with medicine balls, bouncing them of a wall at the Reds spring training facility in Sarasota.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
February 22, 1999: Reds pitcher Dennys Reyes slides during a drill at spring training camp in Sarasota.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
February 23, 1999: Reds infielder Pokey Reese gets a greeting from broadcaster Joe Nuxall at the Reds spring training facility in Sarasota.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
February 26, 1999: Reds infielder Aaron Boone checks out his batting position as he speaks to coach Buddy Bell at the Reds spring training facility in Sarasota.
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Look back at Reds spring training photos from the ’50s through the ’90s
February 26, 1999: Reds infielder Barry Larkin smiles during warmups at the Reds spring training facility in Sarasota.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds pitching rotation: Final spot on roster most intriguing battle