Let the games begin

Spring Training is a fresh start for all 30 teams, who all have an equal chance at winning a ring. It is a time of hope, new beginnings and revivals. Prospects seek to prove themselves, veterans take in another year and non-roster invitees look to resurrect careers that have fallen short in recent years. For fans, it is a time to see their team's newest player in a new uniform, watch batting practice, and collect autographs. Spring Training is where the opening chapter to the year's book begins. With many teams starting play on Tuesday, here are the top three things to watch for in Spring Training this year.

1. New Cubs on the North side
Last year was a monumental year for the Chicago Cubs, who won 97 games, advanced to the NL Division Series and featured the NL Cy Young Award winner, Jake Arrieta, the NL Rookie of the Year, Kris Bryant and the NL Manager of the Year, Joe Maddon. This offseason the Cubs dug deep into their pockets, spending a total of $285 million on four players -- right fielder Jason Heyward, right-hander John Lackey, utility man Ben Zobrist and most recently center fielder Dexter Fowler. They also added Adam Warren and Rex Brothers via trade. The lineup this season looks to be even better than last year by adding Heyward and Zobrist to the likes of Anthony Rizzo and Bryant. The Cubs will also benefit from a full year of Kyle Schwarber, who hit 16 home runs in 69 games as a rookie last year. On the pitching side, the rotation is even deeper than in 2015, with Arrieta positioned in the No. 1 slot, followed by Jon Lester and Lackey. Maddon's presence has continued to be felt, and with a full year under his belt in Chicago, he can have an even greater impact on the team in 2016.

2. The Diamondbacks' new snakes and skins
Although they are a relatively new franchise, dating back to only 1998, the Arizona Diamondbacks are already on their third uniform change. This offseason they debuted the "D-backs Evolution" by unveiling eight new uniforms. They kept the Sedona red and black color schemes, but added a teal accent in their home alternate, road alternate and red alternate jerseys. They also changed the fonts in addition to adding a darker grey to the road uniforms. To better connect with their name, they added a diamond pattern to the shoulders and the back of the pant legs to represent snakeskin. On the baseball side, chief baseball officer Tony La Russa and general manager and senior vice president Dave Stewart were busy this offseason finding pieces to bolster their club, whose offense scored the second-most runs in the National League in 2015. Their notable acquisitions include 2015 NL Cy Young Award runner-up Zack Greinke, right-hander Shelby Miller, shortstop Jean Segura and right-handed-reliever Tyler Clippard. Only time will tell whether or not this team will compete in 2016, but with a cast of Paul Goldschmidt and A.J. Pollock now paired with pitchers like Greinke and Miller, the Diamondbacks certainly have put themselves in a position for success. Hopefully for the Diamondbacks, the D-Backs Evolution can usher in an age of winning, after averaging only 76 wins over the past four seasons.

3. Minor risk, Major reward
Every year, handing out a Minor League contract with an invite to big league camp seems to pay off  for at-least a handful of clubs. Last year Kelly Johnson revived his career by going back to the Atlanta Braves on a Minor League deal. He finished the year hitting .265 with 14 home runs and 47 RBIs in 335 plate appearances between the Braves and the New York Mets. Here are five non-roster invitees to look out for in 2016.

Jimmy Rollins - Chicago White Sox
The 2007 NL MVP had a down year last year with the Los Angeles Dodgers, hitting .224 with 13 home runs and 41 RBIs in 144 games. The 37-year-old shortstop can still play, and even turned down offers to be in a utility role. The White Sox have 22-year-old Tim Anderson waiting in the Minors, but starting the season with Rollins at short could give Anderson more seasoning before being tested at the Major League level.

Bronson Arroyo - Washington Nationals
The 39-year-old Arroyo was one of the most durable pitchers in the game until his 2014 season was cut short due to a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Arroyo pitched at-least 200 innings from 2005 to 2013 except for 2011 when he threw 199 innings. If he proves healthy, this could be a high-reward move for the Nationals.

Jeff Francoeur - Atlanta Braves
After enduring almost a full year in the Minors with the Padres in 2014, Francoeur made the most of his time in 2015 with the Phillies, hitting .258 with 13 home runs and 45 RBIs. Though he most likely won't command a starting job in Atlanta, he could be valuable in a platoon role, as well as in the clubhouse. Francoeur was tops in the Majors off the bench last year going 11-for-30, and was second with 11 RBIs. Atlanta can definitely find a spot for a former "Baby Brave."

Domonic Brown - Toronto Blue Jays
A career year in 2013 led many to believe that the left-handed-hitting Brown would be a key piece in the Phillies team of the future, but after struggling mightily the past two years, Brown found himself at Triple-A Lehigh Valley for most of 2015. Although he might not hit for a high average, Brown still has some pop in his bat, and could be an asset in a platoon role in Toronto.

Ricky Romero - San Francisco Giants
After a breakout 2011 season where he posted 15 wins and a 2.92 ERA in 225 innings, the five-year $30.1 million extension that Romero signed in 2010 was looking like a steal for the Blue Jays. Romero, though, fell off of the map in 2013 after being demoted to Class-A Dunedin. He hasn't reached the Majors since 2013, but could be a diamond-in-the-rough for the Giants.