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1 non-roster invite from each NL team to watch during spring training

Jason Miller / Getty Images Sport / Getty

It's been a little over a week since pitchers and catchers reported to spring training, and with the first preseason contests for most teams set to begin on Friday, clubs continue to fill out their rosters.

Whether or not the 30 MLB teams around the league are still pondering marquee free agents such as Jake Arrieta or Mike Moustakas, they're also taking flyers on players looking to crack a big-league roster by persuading them to camp as a non-roster invitee.

On Wednesday, we took a look at one player from each AL organization who could turn heads and potentially crack their respective organization's Opening Day roster.

Today, we'll attack the NL.

NL East

Braves - Ronald Acuna - OF

Acuna, the top prospect in baseball not named Shohei Ohtani, is going to be an interesting watch in camp. The 20-year-old Venezuelan did everything he needed to last season, tearing up three minor-league levels to the tune of a .325/.374/.522 slash line with 21 homers, 82 RBIs, and 44 steals, and may be the best option in Braves camp to start in left field. Unfortunately, the youngster may be held back by the team's front office to manipulate his service time and delay his free agency despite his overwhelming ability.

Marlins - Scott Van Slyke - OF

The rebuilding Marlins are going to resemble a group of misfit toys during spring with their outfield looking drastically different from a season prior. With Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, and Marcell Ozuna long gone, Van Slyke has a good chance of cracking the Opening Day roster to provide Miami with some added veteran presence. The 31-year-old played under Marlins manager Don Mattingly for four seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Mets - Jose Lobaton - C

It's obvious former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow will garner the most attention in Mets camp, but despite GM Sandy Alderson's belief he'll play in the majors one day, the chances of Tebow cracking the big-league roster this season are next to none. Jose Lobaton, however, has a better shot and should give Kevin Plawecki a run for his money for the backup catcher's spot. Lobaton has experience in his corner, but the Mets may not be ready to give up on 2012 first-round pick Plawecki (who is out of options and only 26) just yet.

Phillies - Francisco Rodriguez - RP

It's not every day a team gets a chance to sign the league's active leader in career saves for potentially nothing, but that's the situation with the Phillies and Francisco Rodriguez. After an effective 2016 campaign with the Detroit Tigers during which he saved 44 games, he was a bust for them last season and couldn't get things together in the minors for Washington either. Rodriguez just turned 36 and has had to re-invent the way he pitches, but he appears determined to go out on his terms, not when a team tells him to.

Nationals - Miguel Montero - C

Catchers for the Nationals were among the worst in baseball from an offensive standpoint last season (combined to hit .208/.275/.319), so it's no wonder they've invited four to camp as NRIs. Among them is two-time All-Star Miguel Montero, who was ousted from Chicago last season after disparaging comments about his Cubs teammates and didn't perform very well with the Blue Jays after a trade. The 34-year-old may have enough experience to outduel Pedro Severino for the backup spot, although Severino is out of options and might not clear waivers if he doesn't win the job in spring.

NL Central

Brewers - Wade Miley - SP

The Brewers have been one of the league's talking points after a busy offseason that netted them Lorenzo Cain and Yelich. Although the Brew Crew tried to add to their pitching depth by acquiring starters Jhoulys Chacin and Yovani Gallardo, it's still an area that could be shaky (especially with ace Jimmy Nelson out of action to begin the year). This gives veteran southpaw Wade Miley a good shot to break the team's Opening Day roster as a potential No. 5 starter. Miley struggled to a 5.61 ERA and 1.73 WHIP with the Orioles last season, but is durable (1,155 2/3 career innings) and is on a low-risk, incentive-rich deal with Milwaukee.

Cubs - Chris Gimenez - C

The 2016 World Series champions are deep, but one area they need to address is backup catcher, where 35-year-old NRI Chris Gimenez appears to be the front-runner for the job. Gimenez might also be the perfect kind of player for intricate wizard Joe Maddon, too. He has not only played catcher during his career but also first and third bases, the outfield, and has even made nine pitching appearances. Sounds like a perfect fit for a Maddon squad used to doing things a bit differently.

Reds - Cliff Pennington - IF

The Reds didn't make any eye-popping moves during the offseason, and the most interesting storyline coming into camp may have involved Joey Votto's weight gain, but they did sign veteran infielder Cliff Pennington to a minor-league deal. The 33-year-old has a very good shot of earning a job on the Reds' bench prior to Opening Day, and gives them a versatile veteran who can spell Jose Peraza, Scooter Gennett, and Eugenio Suarez.

Pirates - Daniel Nava - OF

Even after the Pirates acquired Corey Dickerson and Bryce Brentz in trades this week, outfielder Daniel Nava might still have the best chance of any of Pittsburgh's NRIs to crack their big-league roster as a fourth outfielder. Nava appeared in 80 games for the Phillies last season and posted a .301/.393/.421 slash line. However, he doesn't possess much power and should have stiff competition from Brentz and 2016 All-Star Michael Saunders, which should make for an interesting spring battle.

Cardinals - Jason Motte - RP

In 2011, Jason Motte was responsible for throwing the final pitch before the Cardinals clinched the 11th World Series title in franchise history. He now returns to the franchise that drafted him in 2003 looking for a job out of spring camp and should have a decent shot of cracking their bullpen. Motte posted a reasonable 3.54 ERA in 46 appearances with the Braves last season, but his strikeout totals have dwindled (6.0 SO/9 in 2017) since his flame-throwing days from earlier in his career.

NL West

Padres - Tyson Ross - SP

After a brief - and unsuccessful - stop in Texas with the Rangers, Ross returned to the West Coast by way of a minor-league deal with the Padres at the end of December. The towering right-hander could actually leave camp as the team's No. 2 starter behind Clayton Richard. He previously spent four seasons with the Padres from 2013-16 and was very reliable, registering 81 starts, 3.16 ERA, and 9.2 SO/9.

Diamondbacks - Jorge De La Rosa - RP

The Diamondbacks should have an intriguing bullpen battle taking place at spring camp, with proven veteran arms such as Antonio Bastardo, Neftali Feliz, Fernando Salas, and Kris Medlen all entering camp as NRIs with a shot of making the team. However, former Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa and his left arm may have the best shot of making the Opening Day roster because, as it stands, Andrew Chafin may be the team's only lefty out of the 'pen. Although Bastardo is also a southpaw, he struggled last season with the Pirates, and the D-Backs are familiar with De La Rosa, who made 65 appearances for them last season, striking out 45 in 51 1/3.

Rockies - Shawn O'Malley - OF/IF

The Rockies enter spring camp in really good shape. There aren't a lot of holes from a depth standpoint, and although the team's top prospect Brendan Rodgers should be an interesting watch, it's doubtful he wiggles his way onto the roster this season. Shawn O'Malley's diversity may give him the best chance of any NRI to crack the club, however. The 30-year-old wasn't much of an offensive threat last season (.235/.333/.361) in the minors, but has played six different defensive positions at the big-league level.

Dodgers - Pat Venditte - RP

Cracking the Opening Day roster of a team as talented as the Dodgers is no small task for an NRI, but perhaps an oddity will be the one to do it. Switch-pitcher Pat Venditte was invited to spring camp to compete for a bullpen spot. The 32-year-old always makes a game interesting with his ability to throw from both sides but hasn't been consistent at the big-league level (4.97 ERA, 1.36 WHIP in 41 career appearances).

Giants - Derek Holland - SP

Despite a terrible 2017 campaign which landed them in baseball's basement, the Giants enter spring training looking like a team ready to contend. The top three of their starting rotation - Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto, and Jeff Samardzija - is still solid and could be joined by veteran southpaw Derek Holland if he can outduel Ty Blach and Chris Stratton, who are both unproven at the big-league level. Holland has not pitched like the 16-game winner he was in 2011, but when healthy, he's proven he can be a durable starter with big-game experience.

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