Here's a look at some of the interesting non-roster invites to National League camps. OK, mildly interesting. Even if these players don't crack the big league roster out of spring training, many will wind up as Triple-A insurance during the season.
Atlanta Braves -- Mat Gamel, Tyler Greene.
Gamel and Greene are the only invites with much of a major league resume.
Washington Nationals -- Chris Young, Jamey Carroll, Chris Snyder, Mike Fontenot.
That's Chris Young the pitcher, who was last seen making 20 starts for the Mets in 2012. Depending on what happens with Danny Espinosa, Carroll may have a shot at making the team as the utility infielder, although his .211 average in 2013 suggests he may be done.
New York Mets -- Daisuke Matsuzaka, Taylor Teagarden.
Those are the only two the Mets list for now. If activated, Dice-K is a good tanking piece who should help the Mets to again secure a bottom-10 finish.
Philadelphia Phillies -- Jesse Biddle, Chad Gaudin, Shawn Camp, Lou Marson, Ronny Cedeno, Reid Brignac, Maikel Franco, Tony Gwynn, Bobby Abreu.
Bobby Abreu? Former Phillies legend Bobby Abreu? That's right. He's still around, trying to fill the ceremonial Jason Giambi pinch-hitting role in which Giambi served last year for Cleveland. The guys to watch, however, are Biddle and Franco, the team's top two prospects who should show up sometime this summer.
Miami Marlins -- Kevin Slowey, Ty Wigginton, Reed Johnson, Colin Moran.
Casey McGehee gets a major league deal while Wigginton is stuck with a non-roster invite. Life just isn't fair.
St. Louis Cardinals -- Marco Gonzalez, Tim Cooney, Stephen Piscotty, James Ramsey.
These four are all prospects, the next line of young Cardinals who should reach the majors. Gonzalez was the club's first-round pick in 2013 out of Gonzaga, a polished lefty who is expected to move quickly even if he doesn't have a high ceiling. Cooney is another southpaw, a third-round pick out of Wake Forest in 2012 who reached Double-A last season. Piscotty was ranked No. 57 overall on Keith Law's top 100, an outfielder from Stanford. Ramsey is another outfielder, a first-rounder in 2012 from Florida State. Notice a trend? All college players from top baseball conferences.
Pittsburgh Pirates -- Jameson Taillon, Cody Eppley, Daniel Schlereth, Kyle McPherson, Robert Andino, Chris Dickerson.
Taillon, No. 27 on Keith's top 100, should show up sometime during the season. Maybe sooner rather than later as Jeff Locke and/or Edinson Volquez are questionable in the No. 5 slot in the rotation. I don't see veterans Andino or Dickerson making the roster; they look like Triple-A injury replacements if needed.
Cincinnati Reds -- Chien-Ming Wang, Jeff Francis, Robert Stephenson, Corky Miller, Chris Nelson, Ramon Santiago, Roger Bernadina
There may be room for one bench player, with Santiago having a decent shot to make the squad since the Reds don't really have a backup shortstop behind Zack Cozart. Good to see Miller still hanging. He surfaced for 17 games last year with the Reds and could do so again.
Milwaukee Brewers -- Mark Reynolds, Lyle Overbay, Taylor Green, Irving Falu, Zach Duke.
Reynolds is pretty much a lock to make the team as a platoon first baseman. Presumably, that will be with Juan Francisco, but Overbay is here as well. I can't see the Brewers keeping three first baseman; but Reynolds and Francisco do have experience at third base, so maybe they find room for all three.
Chicago Cubs -- Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, Albert Almora, Ryan Roberts, Chris Coghlan, Ryan Kalish, Casper Wells, Darnell McDonald, Jonathan Sanchez, Tsuyoshi Wada.
There are two groups. There is Baez, Bryant and Almora, the three guys Cubs fans care about. Then there is the group that is actually fighting for a roster spot. There is probably room for an outfielder behind Nate Schierholtz, Ryan Sweeney, Justin Ruggiano and Junior Lake. My lord, Almora and Jorge Soler can't arrive soon enough.
Los Angeles Dodgers -- Chone Figgins.
Hahahahaha.
Arizona Diamondbacks -- Daniel Hudson, Archie Bradley, Andy Marte, Henry Blanco.
Hudson was a huge part of Arizona's 2011 division champs when he went 16-12 with a 3.49 ERA. But he blew out his elbow in 2012 and is still trying to come back. Bradley is the No. 9 prospect on Keith's top 100; and after posting a 1.97 ERA in Double-A, there will be those who want to see him make the team out of spring training. He doesn't have Jose Fernandez's polish, but the stuff is there and the D-backs rotation could have an opening. Andy Marte? The one-time top-10 overall prospect? Hey, he's 30, in the prime of his career.
San Francisco Giants -- Kameron Loe, Brett Bochy, Kyle Crick Andrew Susac.
Bochy is the son of Bruce. He's a legit player, a 2010 draft pick out of Kansas who pitched in Triple-A last season, posting a 3.99 ERA with 57 strikeouts and 16 walks in 56.1 innings. Now, that doesn't make him a great prospect. He's probably a Grade C prospect at best, a fastball/slider guy who throws in the lows 90s but doesn't project to much more than a back-end bullpen guy. Sometimes, those types can surprise you, and I'm guessing having his dad as manager won't hurt his potential for a call-up at some point.
San Diego Padres -- Xavier Nady, Matt Wisler.
A bunch of other prospects are on their invite list, but Wisler is the one to watch. Very polished, pitched well in Double-A at age 20.
Colorado Rockies -- Michael McKenry.
He's the only guy the Rockies list. The only backup catcher on the roster is Jordan Pacheco, so McKenry has a shot to make the team, considering Pacheco didn't hit last season and isn't really much of a catcher.