PLAYERS TO WATCH
1 Eric Thames: Released from the 2013 Rainiers so the Mariners could clear room on their 40-man roster for Franklin Gutierrez, the 30-year-old journeyman put his power-and-speed game together in South Korea’s KBO league. Thames’ 2016 numbers -- .321, with 40 homers and 121 RBIs -- intrigued the Brewers to the point they signed the left-hand hitting first baseman to a three-year, $16 million contract.
2 Andrew Miller: Thanks to Cleveland manager Terry Francona, who last season called upon Miller to help the Indians escape from mid-game jams, the lefty has changed the belief that a conventional closer must be saved for the save.