***Every time I've ever seen Ryan Bates step into the starting lineup -- from the first preseason game onward -- I've liked what I've seen from him. With the way the contracts of Morse, Feliciano, and Williams are structured, I think it's possible Bates gets a crack at the starting lineup outright in 2022. At worst, I see him being a very valuable utility guy here for as long as we can afford him. https://theathletic.com/2477632/2021/03/26/they-saw-something-in-me-ryan-bates-knows-the-va