Players who are on the spot for 2017 season

As the dominoes of the Hot Stove start to settle, the roster shuffling this winter has started to cast a clearer scope of how teams will stack up in 2017. Under multiple contexts, MLB.com looks at a congregation of players on the proverbial spot in ’17 — those who will face loftier expectations than others based on specific circumstances. The list was portioned into three categories, based on: incumbents whose clubs underwent roster overhauls, those playing for teams on the cusp of contending and those with pricey contracts. Here is a look:

Roster shuffling

Troy Tulowitzki, Blue Jays SS: Josh Donaldson remains, and Toronto signed Kendrys Morales to account for a potential power dip, but Tulowitzki is arguably the third-best bat in their lineup, and his numbers have declined since he was acquired in 2015.

Tulowitzki’s strikeout percentage the last two seasons has been the highest since his rookie year, and he’s hit just .250 with a .745 OPS in 172 games since he left Colorado, well below his career averages for each. He is projected at 2.9 WAR in ’17, eighth-highest among shortstops, which isn’t a major uptick from his figures last year.

The AL East has gotten more competitive this offseason, and while the Jays do have strong pitching, their trademark offense could suffer if Tulowitzki doesn’t regain at least some of his old form.

Jonathan Lucroy, Rangers C: Lucroy is coming off a career year, and didn’t slip when he was traded from Milwaukee. His offensive contributions in just 47 games with Texas ranked among the team’s best over the final two months.

The Rangers have lost many offensive contributors, but they could still add another bat. As-is, Lucroy assuredly will move up in the lineup, and be relied on even more for run production.

Whoever closes for the Nats: After the Nationals came away empty-handed in the sweepstakes for bluechip closers — including Mark Melancon, who they traded for at the non-waiver Trade Deadline last year, Kenley Jansen, Brad Ziegler and Wade Davis — this club that is on the cusp still hasn’t found an answer for the ninth inning.

The remaining free-agent options are limited, and they have yet to make a strike via trade, meaning they may have to look in-house. As MLB.com’s Jamal Collier notes, they have plenty of options that fit the closer mold — Shawn Kelley, Blake Treinen, Koda Glover — even if those players lack the …

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