The 2021 Major League Baseball regular season is a little more than one month away. Teams around the league will use these next five weeks to evaluate their players and eventually finalize their roster. Spring training games don't count, but they do matter. For many players, spring training is their best opportunity to win a big-league roster spot. It might be their only opportunity, really. With that in mind, let's break down 10 important position battles that will take place around the league this spring, with an emphasis on contending teams. These aren't the only ongoing position battles this spring. Not even close. But they are the most important (and they're listed alphabetically by team). ATL SP #30 ERA5.21WHIP1.55IP38BB24K30 Candidates: , , , , Center field is a bit up in the air in Atlanta as well, though top prospect would Robert Covington Jersey have to really fall on his face to lose the job to at this point. The fifth starter's job is much more wide open because is still on the mend following last year's Achilles injury, and he's yet to run at full speed. "Obviously my response to that is I'll tell you I could be ready to compete right now," , then added, "It's not where exactly I need to be when running . I need to get a little strength so I can come out of the gate hot." As an extreme ground ball pitcher, Soroka must be able to field his position and cover first base, so running is important (plus he'll have to hit this year too). The Braves are not going to push him to be ready for Opening Day. Their priority is making sure he's ready for October, and if that means getting a late start on the regular season, so be it. , , , and are locked into the top four rotation spots in whatever order. Wright was much better after making mechanical adjustments at the alternate site last year, and Wilson of course had that incredible start in Game 4 of last year's NLCS. Tou saint and Newcomb in particular seem best suited for the bullpen at this point. The Julius Erving Jersey front runner: Wright. Last year's adjustments, specifically shifting to the first base side of the rubber and altering his pitch selection, led to real improvement and I think the Braves are ready to give the No. 5 pick in the 2017 draft a longer look. That said, Soroka is on the mend, and Wright will have to pitch well to keep the job with Sergio Rodriguez Jersey Wilson looming. Fantasy Baseball Today Newsletter Your Cheat Code To Fantasy Baseball You're destined to gain an edge over your friends with advice from the award-winning FBT crew. I agree to receive the "Fantasy Baseball Today Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. By pre sing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the . Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox. Sorry! There was an error proce sing your subscription. BOS 3B #23 BA0.239R17HR6RBI17SB0 Candidates: , , The Brewers declined club option over the winter even though he led the team's regulars in OPS+ last year, leaving a great big opening at third base. Shaw is back on a minor-league contract and will get every opportunity to win a roster spot this spring, and Urias, a recent top prospect, is probably who the Brewers want at the hot corner given his upside. "We're still evaluating that position," president of baseball operations David Stearns told reporters, , recently. "...This is going to take some time for everyone to find a seat. Sometimes, patience can be a virtue in those scenarios. I'm comfortable that once we get to Opening Day we're going to have a good grasp on what third base will look like and be pleased with where it is." Urias, the centerpiece in the trade, injured his wrist in winter ball last year and never got going during the regular season, even after the shutdown gave him more time to recover. Wilt Chamberlain Jersey He is a career .226/.315/.320 hitter in 422 plate appearances but is still only 23, and sending him to Triple-A to begin 2021 wouldn't be crazy. It might be the best thing for him long-term. Milwaukee signed only three free agents to major-league contracts over the winter and Robertson was one of them ( and were the others). He had a nice 13-game cameo with the last year and is very versatile, so while he is an option at third base, Robertson is most valuable the team moving all around in a super utility role. The front runner: Shaw. The offense badly needs a jolt and Shaw will still take a walk and put a mistake in the seats. He gives the Brewers the opportunity to remain patient with Urias and leave Robertson in a utility role. STL 3B #19 BA0.250R29HR5RBI26SB2 Candidates: , , , , Okay, leadoff hitter is not a "position," nece sarily, but it is a role and the Cardinals don't have an obvious leadoff hitter now that has departed as a free agent. Wong started 47 of the team's 58 games in Allen Iverson Jersey the leadoff spot last year (Edman started the other 11), and the team's current leadoff mix includes a collection of imperfect solutions: Bader hits lefties well (career .855 OPS) but struggles against righties (career .668 OPS).Edman's 2020 (87 OPS+) was a considerable step down from 2019 (122 OPS+).Carpenter has been ineffective the last two years and doesn't have a full-time lineup spot.Ideally Carlson's and DeJong's power would slot in toward the middle of the lineup."There's an old adage in baseball: 'If you hit, you play.' And so I think we have to approach this camp being very open-minded to that," president of baseball operations John Mozeliak told reporters, , about Carpenter recently, but he might as well have been referring to the leadoff spot in general. Whoever hits is going to get it. The front runner: Edman. Personally, I would love to see Carlson get a crack at the job because he's a disciplined hitter and teams are willing to employ a power threat in the No. 1 lineup spot Darryl Dawkins Jersey these days ( , , etc.). I say give the young man a chance to blo som with all those at-bats. My gue s is St. Louis will go with Edman though. He's e sentially the incumbent, and hey, there is merit to giving him a chance to show 2020 was a fluke and 2019 was the real him. CLE SS BA0.263R22HR3RBI12SB8 Candidates: , Cleveland has a lot -- a LOT -- of position battles this spring. The outfield alongside is wide open. The fifth starter's spot is up for grabs. First base is unsettled. We're going with shortstop here because, well, someone has to replace , and that player will be under the microscope through no fault of his own. It's not his fault the team traded Lindor. With all due respect to non-roster invitee and defensive wiz , Gimenez and Rosario are the only realistic candidates