Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg appears ready to test the free-agent market after the 2016 season. Strasburg’s agent, Scott Boras, told FOXSports.com on Monday the club and his client are not in active talks regarding a contract extension.

The countdown for Thursday, the official report date of Yankees pitchers and catchers, is ticking down. Activity has already started at the team complex in Tampa, Fla. and anticipation is kicking into high gear for the upcoming season.

Position battles are a staple of Spring Training, and every single team has at least one — some a bit more high-profile than others. With that in mind, beat reporters for all 30 clubs analyzed the biggest battles for their respective teams. Here’s a breakdown.

Mark Buehrle is reportedly strongly considering retiring, but he is not yet ready to announce his future plans, according to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman.

The Blue Jays’ lineup is expected to be one of the best in baseball again this year but the exact formation of that order remains somewhat uncertain.

The offseason was far from being four months of rest and relaxation for Marlins first baseman Justin Bour and center fielder Marcell Ozuna. The Marlins challenged both players to get in better shape, and it appears the sweat and sacrifices have paid off.

The Milwaukee Brewers made their only World Series appearances in 1982. Two years, 121 days after the final out in the Brewers’ Game 7 loss to the Cardinals, David Stearns was born on Feb. 18, 1985.

Better and Bart-ier.

In recovery from a near-fatal heart attack in September, Hall of Famer Rod Carew opens up to host Bob Costas in an episode of MLB Network Presents, premiering tonight at 9 ET. “Rod Carew: The Fight of His Life” was filmed from Carew’s home in Southern California and Minnesota’s Target Field.

Hitters should always be trying to swing at good pitches in the zone, but we know that doesn’t always happen. When it doesn’t, who makes for baseball’s best bad-ball hitters? We run down 2015’s best here.

Let’s look at the 10 teams that played in the postseason last season and their chances to return. Which ones of them have the best shot? Which ones need things to fall their way?

Can we be the third wheel next time?

Andy Pettitte was the latest speaker at the Yankees’ four-week “Captain’s Camp,” which invited several of their up-and-coming prospects for a crash course on leadership.

Wrapping up an otherwise successful year, Yankees top prospect Aaron Judge noticed that pitchers at the Triple-A level seemed to be more confident nibbling at the corners of the strike zone with their offspeed pitches, reducing the number of meaty fastballs available to be mashed.

Taking a question about his projected 2016 lineup at the December Winter Meetings, manager Mike Matheny joked that it had taken reporters longer than usual this offseason to start inquiring about lineup possibilities. Perhaps he’ll appreciate that respite given that he’s about to field plenty more.

First baseman Ike Davis signed a Minor League deal with the Rangers, the club announced Monday.

With his hand free of the hard cast that immobilized it for the past two months, Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina has begun the process of regaining strength in his left thumb. Now it’s a matter of whether he can do so in time to take the field 48 days from now in Pittsburgh.