Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

Offseason Movement: To the surprise of absolutely no one, the Bronx Bombers went out and threw gobs of money at top free agents after missing the postseason last year. They signed the biggest bat on the market in 1B Mark Teixeira, then added the two best arms in CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett. The Yanks also added 1B/OF Nick Swisher via a trade with the White Sox, but they might ship him elsewhere since he’s drawing attention from clubs like the Pirates, Nationals and Braves. With Xavier Nady being penciled in at right fielder, Swisher might become expendable.

Top Prospect: Jesus Montero, C/1B
The 19-year old Montero is being groomed as a catcher but could make the move to one of the corner infield spots if he doesn’t clean up his footwork behind the dish. Said to have excellent strength and raw power, Montero could emerge as a future All-Star. He has a great arm and that’s why the Bombers envision him as a future catcher but regardless of his eventual position, Montero will be given the opportunity to play in the big leagues as long as he continues to work on his plate discipline and patience at the plate.

The Big Question: How will A-Rod’s absence affect the offense?
After publicly admitting in late February that he used performance-enhancing drugs as a member of the Texas Rangers from 2001 to 2003, a report surfaced in early March that Alex Rodriguez would have to undergo surgery to repair a torn labrum. A-Rod had the surgery a couple weeks ago and the latest reports state he could return to the lineup before his original target date of May 15. If Rodriguez can return in mid-May at almost full health and bounce back quickly, there’s little doubt that the Yankees’ offense will once again be powerful. But if he struggles, believe it or not the Bombers could have trouble scoring runs as the lineup is set to battle age, inexperience and injury concerns.

Outlook: Boo! Hiss! The Yankees aren't even close to being the top team in baseball! You're an idiot! Look, there’s a lot to dislike about this club and it has nothing to do with how much money they spent in the offseason in effort to rebuild their roster. Cody Ransom is one hell of a drop off from Alex Rodriguez in the lineup, while Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui are all battling age, injuries or both. And who’s to say that CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett won’t turn out to be huge free agent busts? But the bottom line is that the additions of Sabathia, Burnett and Mark Teixeira have put the Bombers back in the driver’s seat in a highly competitive AL East. And if A-Rod returns to full strength and finds his stroke in late May or early June, the lineup will once again score plenty of runs. Assuming everyone stays healthy (and that might be assuming too much), the Yankees still have the best collection of talent in the American League from top to bottom. Yes, there are concerns about A-Rod, Posada, Chien-Ming Wang and Hideki Matsui staying healthy. And yes, there are even bigger concerns about Ransom, Brett Gardner, Robinson Cano and Joba Chamberlain stepping up. But given their starting four of Sabathia, Wang, Burnett and Andy Pettitte, there’s no doubt that if things come together for the Yankees and they make the postseason, then they could also wind up playing in October.

Projection: 1st AL East

Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

Offseason Movement: The Red Sox made a slew of moves this offseason, including signing free agent starters John Smoltz and Brad Penny, as well as adding outfielders Rocco Baldelli and Brad Wilkerson. Boston also added pitchers Takashi Saito, Junichi Tazawa, Billy Traber, Ramon Ramirez, Miguel Gonzalez and Randor Bierd.

Top Prospect: Lars Anderson, 1B
Anderson was considered a top talent in 2006, but slipped to the 18th round of the 2006 MLB Draft because teams were worried about whether or not they could sign him. The lefty first basemen can hit for average and power, and has an excellent feel for the strike zone. He was named Minor League Offensive Player of the Year for the Red Sox in 2008 after clubbing 18 home runs and driving in 80 runs while hitting over .300. After spending most of the year in Single-A, Anderson has a while to go before he makes his MLB debut – especially considering the Red Sox are never out of contention these days. But he’ll be a name to keep an eye on down the road.

The Big Question: Can the bottom of the lineup produce?
The Red Sox are absolutely stacked from head to toe and simply don’t have any glaring weaknesses. But the bottom of the order is a bit of a question mark entering the season given Mike Lowell’s health problems, Jed Lowrie’s inexperience and Jason Varitek’s poor 2008 production. Lowell seems to be fully recovered from offseason hip surgery, but he’s yet to play back-to-back days this spring. Lowrie has been absolutely smoking hot this spring, hitting .462 with just three strikeouts in 39 at bats. But he’s extremely young and will have to produce at the bottom of the order while Julio Logo continues to recover from knee surgery. Varitek just signed a one-year, $5 million contract after months of negotiations, but he’s only batting .194 this spring and is coming off a 2008 season in which he hit just .220. Again, most clubs would die to have this bottom of the order and it won’t be something that holds the BoSox back this season. But it is something worth mentioning.

Outlook: You’re not going to find anything here that hasn’t already been written about the BoSox elsewhere. Their starting lineup is chockfull of outstanding talent including youngster Jacoby Ellsbury, reigning AL MVP Dustin Pedroia, power hitters David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis, as well as all-around quality bats in Jason Bay and J.D. Drew. The starting rotation is outstanding as well, headlined by a top three that consists of Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka, and rounded out by steady knuckleballer Tim Wakefield and former ace Brad Penny. The bullpen is also extremely deep and Jonathan Papelbon is one of the best young closers in the game, if not the best. The question will be whether or not guys like Penny, Mike Lowell and John Smoltz can stay healthy and whether or not Boston can battle with the Yankees and Rays all season in a tough AL East. Those questions won’t be answered for a while, but the bottom line is that this club is once again a World Series contender.

Projection: 2nd AL East

Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

Offseason Movement: In a major effort to try and bolster their bullet riddled bullpen, the Mets signed top free agent closer Francisco Rodriguez, who saved a record 62-games last season for the Angels. The Mets also acquired reliever J.J. Putz, outfielder Jeremy Reed and RHP Sean Green in a three team swap with the Mariners and Indians. The club signed free agent starter Freddy Garcia, but after he gave up 15 runs in just seven innings this spring, they reassigned him to minor league camp. Livan Hernandez - yet another free agent signing - fared much better and will be the Mets’ fifth starter when the season opens. Casey Fossum, Alex Cora, Darren O’Day, Rocky Cherry, Connor Robertson and Cory Sullivan round out the rest of New York’s offseason additions.

Top Prospect: Wilmer Flores, SS
Outfield prospect Fernando Martinez also deserves mention here, but Flores is already showing potential at just 17 years old. Flores is light years away from the big leagues, but he’s already drawing comparisons to Miguel Cabrera in terms of his potential at such a young age. The Mets will likely move Flores along slowly and let him develop his skills. There’s absolutely no need to rush him, but he’ll get his opportunity to shine in the next couple of years.

The Big Question: Can the new faces in the bullpen come together?
The Mets blew 29 save opportunities last year, so to address that weakness they signed a closer in Francisco Rodriguez who set a record in saves last season with 62. Outside of his WHIP rising every season since 2002, K-Rod remains one of the best closers in the league and at only 27, he still has plenty of baseball ahead of him. Adding J.J. Putz via trade this offseason was also a solid move for this club, but the long-relief situation is a bit of an uncertainty considering the mixed bag of Pedro Feliciano, Sean Green, Brian Stokes (who was almost traded recently), Nelson Figueroa, Bobby Parnell and Darren O’Day. Parnell and O’Day have been good this spring, so the Mets’ bullpen appears to be ready for a major bounce back. But with so many new faces, it’s tough to assume that all of the club’s issues in the pen last year are fixed.

Outlook: The Mets fit in one of two categories in terms of their 2009 outlook. People either assume that they’re postseason bound after addressing their most glaring weakness (the bullpen), or they’re not fooled by all the offseason moves and therefore are urging the rest of the baseball world not to buy into the hype. I tend to fit into the former category and believe that this could be the Mets year to make some noise. They collapsed last year – bottom line. And there’s no way of knowing if they’ll do it again this year. But they completely overhauled the bullpen with quality arms like K-Rod, J.J. Putz and Sean Green, and still have one of the best lineups in the National League, headlined by Jose Reyes, David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado and emerging youngster Daniel Murphy. It’s no secret that the starting rotation is a bit of a question mark after Johan Santana, but it’s solid nonetheless. Should anyone be surprised if the Mets fall apart again this year? No. But given their talent, nobody should be surprised if they make a run at the World Series either.

Projection: 1st NL East

Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

Offseason Movement: The Cubs were seemingly hosed by the Indians in a trade that sent ultra-utility player Mark DeRosa to Cleveland in exchange for minor league pitching prospects Jeff Stevens, Chris Archer and John Gaub, none of which were viewed as top 10 prospects in the Tribe’s organization. But maybe one of those youngsters will emerge as a quality arm down the road and DeRosa’s contract does expire at the end of the season so at least the Cubs got something for him. Chicago also added volatile outfielder Milton Bradley, reliever Kevin Gregg and pitcher Aaron Heilman, who will move to the bullpen after losing out to Sean Marshall this spring for the Cubs’ fifth spot in the rotation.

Top Prospect: Josh Vitters, 3B
This club is loaded with quality prospects, including reliever Jeff Samardzija, shortstop Ryan Flaherty and outfielder Tyler Colvin. But Vitters appears to be the best of group, with his excellent plate approach, outstanding hand-eye coordination and natural swing. Thus far in Single-A, Vitters is hitting .357 and slugging .529 in 70 at bats. At only 19, he still has a ways to go before he’ll make his big league debut, but Vitters appears to have quite a future ahead of him.

The Big Question: Will the bullpen be the Achilles Heel?
The Cubs allowed Kerry Wood to jettison to Cleveland in the offseason, but signed free agent traded for Kevin Gregg to compete with 26-year old Carlos Marmol for the right to be the club’s closer this season. Manager Lou Piniella is expected to announce who his closer will be soon, but if he’s basing the decision on spring performance, Gregg should earn the job. That said, Marmol clearly has the more electric stuff, but has been erratic and inconsistent when given opportunities. Prized prospect Jeff Samardzija is also expected to see time as a late-inning reliever, but he’s been brutal so far in spring training and might need more seasoning in Triple-A. Long relief is where this club could have issues, as Luis Vizcaino (27 ER in 46 IP last year), Chad Gaudin and Angel Guzman (6.00 ERA in 96 IP) all come with their flaws. But free agent signing Aaron Heilman (acquired via trade with Seattle) should help in that category and hey, at least there’s no chance of Bob Howry making any appearances after he signed with San Francisco in the offseason. The offense and starting pitching is solid, but perhaps the key to the Cubs’ success this year will rest upon the arms in the bullpen.

Outlook: I’ll save Cub fans the aggravation of reading another preview dedicated to curses, Billy goats and failed expectations. I’m sure they’ve already gotten enough of that from every other sports site and blog on the net. The bottom line is that the Cubs are built to win now and have one of the strongest rotations in the NL, led by a three-headed monster in Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster and Rich Harden. The lineup is also one of the most balanced in baseball and while losing Mark DeRosa hurt, the signing of Milton Bradley (when healthy and taking meds) added a quality bat to the middle of the order. The bullpen has some question marks, but as long as Kevin Gregg or Carlos Marmol are reliable in the closers role, then the Cubs should win the NL Central and make another postseason appearance. Once they’re there, who knows? This club hasn’t shown the mental fortitude to win in the postseason but that doesn’t mean it can’t do it this year. As long as guys like Aramis Ramirez, Geovany Soto and Alfonso Soriano continue to produce, the Cubbies will once again give themselves the opportunity to win a World Series title.

Projection: 1st NL Central

Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

Offseason Movement: The Halos added outfielder Bobby Abreu for cheap and also signed former Colorado reliever Brian Fuentes to replace long-time closer Francisco Rodriguez. Along with K-Rod, the club also lost Garret Anderson, Jon Garland and Mark Teixeria via free agency.

Top Prospect: Nick Adenhart, RHP
Some feel as though Jordan Walden is the Halos’ best prospect, but Adenhart is the one that will have the opportunity to make the big league roster this year as a fourth or fifth starter. With Ervin Santana, Kelvim Escobar and John Lackey all sidelined due to various injuries, Adenhart will likely start the season in the starting rotation. He could be sent down as soon as the rest of the starters get healthy, but if he does well he’ll no doubt earn a future spot in the rotation. Thus far in spring training, Adenhart has displayed good command and struggled just once in five outings.

The Big Question: Will injuries and offseason departures doom the rotation?
Ervin Santana led the Halos last year in strikeouts with 214 and posted a 16-7 record with a 3.49 ERA. But he’ll likely miss all of April because of a sprained elbow ligament, while fellow starters Kelvim Escobar and John Lackey will also miss time due to injuries. Furthermore, the club lost closer Francisco Rodriguez (who saved a record 62 games last season) and 14-game winner Jon Garland in free agency this offseason. Joe Saunders and Jered Weaver are locks, but can Dustin Moseley, Nick Adenhart and Shane Loux produce at the bottom of the rotation? Can former Rockie Brian Fuentes adequately replace K-Rod? This pitching staff seemingly has a fair amount of issues entering Opening Day.

Outlook: There’s no doubt that the Angels are the favorites in a weak AL West and should make a return trip to the postseason. But this club doesn’t come without some glaring weaknesses. Brian Fuentes is a downgrade from Francisco Rodriguez at closer, Kendry Morales is a downgrade from Mark Teixeria in the order and Nick Adenhart, Dustin Moseley and Shane Loux are downgrades for Ervin Santana (elbow), Kelvim Escobar (shoulder) and John Lackey (forearm) in the rotation. (Lackey is also somewhat at odds with the club over a new contract.) Again, unless the A’s (possible) or Rangers (unlikely) surprise, the Angels should win the West and have one of the better orders in the American League, led by the ever consistent Vladimir Guerrero, solid free agent addition Bobby Abreu, leadoff man Chone Figgins and versatile Torii Hunter. But it’s highly unlikely that this team will advance far in the postseason with the amount of questions that are surrounding it now.

Projection: 1st AL West

Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

Offseason Movement: The Rays hope the signing of OF/DH Pat Burrell will add a little more pop to their lineup, although it could sink their team batting average at the same time. The club also added a slew of pitchers including Lance Cormier, Jason Isringhausen, Joe Nelson and Brian Shouse, and acquired outfielder Matt Joyce from the Tigers in exchange for RHP Edwin Jackson.

Top Prospect: David Price, RHP
The Rays never seem to have a shortage of top prospects at their disposal and Price clearly tops a group that also includes RHP’s Wade Davis and Jeremy Hellickson. Some believe Price is the best pitching prospect in baseball and he should have gotten the opportunity to prove that this year at the big league level. But the Rays optioned the talented youngster to Triple-A Durham recently for reasons unknown to Price and the rest of the baseball world. Tampa could be regretting the decision if the Yankees and/or Red Sox take early lead in the highly competitive AL East.

The Big Question: Will B.J. Upton be healthy?
The 24-year old Upton proved how vital he was to the Rays last year when he led the club in on base percentage, doubles and stolen bases. He also absolutely raked in the playoffs, clubbing seven home runs and helping Tampa set a new team record for steals in a single postseason (22). But in mid November, Upton underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder and while he was recovering this spring, also suffered a bone bruise when he was hit on the hand by a pitch. He’ll likely miss Opening Day, but should be back sometime in mid April. Still, will the effects of either injury slow him down this season? Can the Rays get by with Ben Zobrist in center field until Upton recovers? If he misses significant time, the Rays could take a step back this year.

Outlook: After producing the single greatest season in club history, 2009 marks a vital year for the Rays. Why you ask? Because Tampa is now the model franchise, building their roster the way rosters should be built. They slowly developed prospects instead of signing big name free agents. They won with youth and are built for the long haul. And most importantly, they’re the anti-Yankees and Red Sox in every sense of the word. B.J. Upton’s injuries aside, the Rays should be better than they were a year ago. Upton, Carl Crawford, Evan Longoria, Matt Garza and Andy Sonnanstine have yet another year of experience under their belts and thus should lift the Rays right back into contender status. This club didn’t lose much in the offseason either, and even signed free agent Pat Burrell to give the middle of the lineup some added pop. But obviously things will be different this year. The Rays won’t sneak up on anybody and both the Yankees and Red Sox retooled in the offseason. New York and Boston have been consistently winning for years. It’s time for the Rays to prove that last year wasn’t a fluke and they don't go the way of the '08 Tigers and Indians.

Projection: 3rd AL East

Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

Offseason movement: The D-Backs made a couple of nice moves, including signing potential leadoff hitter and everyday second baseman Felipe Lopez, as well as free agent starter Jon Garland. They also added Tom Gordon and Scott Schoeneweis to help setup closer Chad Qualls. Randy Johnson, Orlando Hudson, Adam Dunn, Brandon Lyon, Juan Cruz and David Eckstein all vacated the desert this offseason.

Top Prospect: Jarrod Parker, RHP
Unlike other clubs that have a couple of players that could be viewed as top prospects, there’s no question that Parker is the best of the best in the D-Backs’ farm system. The 9th overall pick in the 2007 amateur draft, Parker stands just 6’0”, 175 pounds and is rather small in stature. But his fastball is dominating and has even drawn comparisons to Roy Oswalt, which is quite the compliment in itself. The 20-year old probably won’t get the opportunity to crack the big league roster for another year or two, but he could be quite the No. 3 behind Brandon Webb and Dan Haren as early as 2011.

The Big Question: Can this club make a postseason run without a dominant closer?
Chad Qualls will likely emerge as the Opening Day closer, but that doesn’t mean that it’s his job for keeps. He’ll have to continue to earn it throughout the season because Tony Pena, Jon Rauch and even Tom Gordon will have the opportunity to snatch the role from him if he starts to falter (much like they did this spring). The D-Backs are definitely a contender and could win the NL West given their young lineup and outstanding starting pitching. But will the lack of a dominant closer eventually sink them? Manager Bob Melvin can’t be worried about who will close out a tight ballgame in the ninth, so hopefully Qualls will not only keep the job all season, but also be steady and reliable.

Outlook: As soon as Manny Ramirez re-signed with the Dodgers, everyone and their mother was ready to hand the weak NL West over to the boys in blue. But people seem to be forgetting how good the Diamondbacks’ starting pitching is, and how good it can be. (Okay, well maybe people aren’t forgetting, but they certainly seem to be pushing it aside to drink out of the Manny Ramirez-Dodgers Kool Aid fountain.) Brandon Webb and Dan Haren form one of the best 1-2 punches in the NL and offseason addition Jon Garland won 14 games for the Angels last year. Throw in emerging youngster Max Scherzer and ‘Zona has the best rotation in the NL. The problem (and it’s a big one, which is why many believe L.A. is the team to beat in the NL West) is that the D-Backs’ lineup is pretty weak. It isn’t San Francisco Giants-weak, but weak nonetheless. Felipe Lopez isn’t an upgrade over Orlando Hudson and while Chris Young and Justin Upton have loads of potential, neither of them even sniffed a .270 batting average last season. The lineup is full of holes and strikeout artists and losing Adam Dunn cuts down on the power production. It’ll be interesting to see which team emerges in the NL West this year – the offensive-friendly Dodgers or the pitching-stacked Diamondbacks. We’ll go with the pitching and say ‘Zona comes out on top.

Projection: 1st NL West

Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

Offseason Movement: The defending World Series champs added 2B Miguel Cairo, OF Raul Ibanez, C Ronny Paulino and pitchers Gary Majewski and Chan Ho Park this offseason. Philly also parted with OF Pat Burrell, OF So Taguchi and pitchers Adam Eaton, Tom Gordon and Rudy Seanez.

Top Prospect: Carlos Carrasco, RHP
Carrasco enters 2009 as one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball and if Chan Ho Park struggles as the fifth starter, there’s a chance that Carrasco might make an appearance at some point this season. He appears to have a very high ceiling and while he’s still a bit erratic at times, Carrasco will likely smooth out his rough spots in Triple-A before making the big league roster.

The Big Question: Is the starting rotation good enough to repeat?
Cole Hamels is one of baseball’s best young arms, but he had to receive an anti-inflammatory injection in his left elbow in mid-March and there’s some concern that the injury could flair up again. If he shows no ill effects, then he’ll once again head a pretty solid starting rotation, but one that once again won’t be overpowering. Brett Myers struggled last year, while Jamie Moyer was outstanding but at 46 years old can he produce another 16-win season? Joe Blanton turned out to be a solid addition at the trade deadline last year, but don’t forget his career ERA is 4.24 and he’s liable to lose as many games as he wins. Chan Ho Park has had a decent spring but he hasn’t won more than nine games since 2002. (Of course, a 9-win season from a fifth starter would be pretty damn good.) The Phillies could do incredibly worse than this starting rotation, but will it be enough to get them back to the Series?

Outlook: The Phils’ lineup is absolutely stacked and there might not be a better 1 through 4 of Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard in the NL. But despite winning it all last year, Philly doesn’t come without its question marks. Utley and starting 3B Pedro Feliz each had offseason surgery and although they haven’t suffered any setbacks to this point, you just never know how the effects of a full season can have on an injury. As previously mentioned, the starting rotation is pretty solid but the law of averages suggests that Jamie Moyer won’t win 16 games again this season and Joe Blanton’s ceiling seems about maxed. Is Cole Hamels healthy? Can Brett Myers rebound? Some feel as though the Phillies are destined for another NL East crown, but the Mets are stacked and the Braves and Marlins should give opponents fits this year, too. Philly is going to win some games this year and probably make another postseason appearance. But back-to-back World Series titles will be tough.

Projection: 2nd NL East

Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

Offseason Movement: The Indians traded for the do-it-all Mark DeRosa (formerly of the Cubs) and also added pitchers Kerry Wood, Carl Pavano and Matt Herges. Wood will be the closer and although he’s been pounded thus far in spring training, it would appear that Pavano will have a spot in the starting rotation.

Top Prospect: Matt LaPorta, OF/1B
Carlos Santana (not that Carlos Santana) definitely deserves mention here because he absolutely raked minor league pitching last year and has a ton of power potential at the catcher position. But all eyes will be on LaPorta after the Tribe acquired him last summer as part of the deal that sent CC Sabathia to Milwaukee. Some are down on his potential because he struggled in Double-A and the Venezuelan Winter League last year. But LaPorta still remains one of the best prospects in baseball and should be Cleveland’s long-term answer at either first base or in the outfield.

The Big Question: Can this club stay healthy?
Cleanup hitter Travis Hafner was limited to just 57 games last year due to a shoulder injury and thus far in spring training, he’s 3 for 15 with only one extra base hit. Catcher Victor Martinez was also severely limited last year because of an elbow injury and promising starter Fausto Carmona spent some time on the DL with a bad hip. The collection of injuries sunk Cleveland last year and unfortunately there is no guarantee it won’t happen again. The good news is that the Tribe appears to be healthy so far in spring training and outside of Pronk’s struggles at the plate, the club looks bound for a bounce back season.

Outlook: Cleveland’s lineup (when healthy) is absolutely solid and it all starts with CF Grady Sizemore. The 27-year old is entering the prime of his career and as long as the groin injury he suffered this spring doesn’t slow him down (which it shouldn’t), he’s bound for another 30-plus home runs, 100-plus runs and 90-plus RBI season. The Tribe added ultra-utility man Mark DeRosa this offseason, who is coming off a career year after hitting .285 with 21 dingers, 87 RBI and 103 runs scored. Sizemore and DeRosa will set the table for Victor Martinez and Travis Hafner, who, when healthy, can absolutely rake. The starting pitching doesn’t come without its question marks. Can Cliff Lee dominate like he did last year (or come close)? Did Fausto Carmona just go through a sophomore slump last year or was his amazing 2007 season a fluke? Is Carl Pavano just shaking off rust or is his awful spring a sign of bad outings to come? Outside of not having CC Sabathia pitch every five days, the good news is that everything seems to be in place for the Tribe to rebound this season. But the core has to stay healthy and the top of the rotation has to produce. They certainly have the talent to win the AL Central this year with the Tigers, Twins and White Sox all battling their own uncertainties. But health is the key.

Projection: 1st AL Central

Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

Offseason Movement: The Dodgers were mostly quiet this offseason outside of adding Orlando Hudson, Guillermo Mota and Randy Wolf. Oh yeah, and after 4,958 days of painful back and forth negotiating, L.A. GM Ned Colleti was able to re-sign outfielder Manny Ramirez to a two-year deal.

Top Prospect: James McDonald, RHP
The Dodgers have a couple of top prospects, including OF/1B Andrew Lambo and INF Ivan DeJesus Jr., but McDonald is the closest to making the big league roster. The club has been in search for a fifth starter all spring and they could tab McDonald for the role if he continues to pitch well in exhibition games. McDonald doesn’t overpower hitters (his fastball only tops out at 92 mph), but he has a nasty curveball and his command is solid as well. It’ll be interesting to see if L.A. gives the 24-year old the fifth spot in the rotation or sends him down to Triple-A for more seasoning.

The Big Question: Is this a postseason-caliber pitching staff?
For as good as the Dodgers’ lineup is, the starting rotation and bullpen looks like a potential mess. The supposed ace Chad Billingsley only has two full years of starting experience, while young sensation Clayton Kershaw hasn’t even seen his 21st birthday yet and there is no clear fifth starter. Hiroki Kuroda is expected to be the Opening Day starter and he went 9-10 with a 3.73 ERA last year. Making matters worse, the bullpen lost a decent piece this offseason when Joe Beimel signed with the Nationals. Closer Jonathan Broxton has a ton of talent, but he’s still inconsistent at this point in his development and if the Dodgers expect to get by with mediocre relievers like Guillermo Mota, then they’ll probably be in for a rude awakening.

Outlook: The good news is that the Dodgers’ lineup is absolutely rock solid from top to bottom. There simply aren’t any holes and if Rafael Furcal can stay healthy, then he gives L.A. one of the best table setters in the NL. Joining Furcal and Manny Ramirez in the lineup is stud catcher Russell Martin, promising outfielders Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp, as well as quality hitters James Loney, Orlando Hudson and Casey Blake. But the problem with this club lies within its unproven pitching staff, which includes the bullpen. The Dodgers are definitely a postseason contender in one of the worst divisions in baseball and also have a manager that always gets the most out of his players in Joe Torre. But their pitching will likely keep them from making a deep run if they do reach the playoffs and even though many pundits handed the division to them the moment they re-signed Manny, the boys in blue still have to get past a good Diamondbacks team, which boasts one of the best starting rotations in the National League.

Projection: 2nd NL West

Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

Offseason Movement: The Braves brought in former Dodgers’ starter Derek Lowe, as well as a quality (albeit aging) bat in Garret Anderson, formerly of the Angels. The club also traded for pitcher Boone Logan and signed Japanese pitcher Kenshin Kawakami.

Top Prospect: Tommy Hanson, RHP
Some consider outfielder Jason Heyward the Braves’ top prospect – and for good reason. But he’s only 19 and has a couple years to go before reaching the big leagues and therefore Hanson gets the nod here. Hanson has the opportunity to crack the Opening Day roster this season, although Tom Glavine would probably have to start the year on the DL for that to happen. Hanson dominated Class-A, Double-A and Arizona Fall League hitters and so far has looked decent in spring training. He probably isn’t a future ace, but Hanson appears to be a solid No. 2 in the making.

The Big Question: Can this club succeed without a true ace?
The acquisition of Derek Lowe this offseason went a long way to stabilize a rotation that has some question marks. But neither Lowe nor No. 2 Javier Vazquez have been the ace in a rotation and the Braves’ best starter last year, Jair Jurrjens, is entering just his second full season. The rotation is more than adequate and can certainly keep Atlanta in contention, but the top 3 can’t underachieve because the Phillies and Mets are going to be tough to beat all season long. (Not to mention the young Marlins, who could give opponents trouble again this year.)

Outlook: The Braves are far better than the 72-90 record they produced last year and chances are they’ll prove it in ‘09. Are they a significantly better? Like 90-win better? Probably not, but 80-85 wins is very realistic considering the of the top of their lineup is pretty good and their starting pitching should be consistently solid all season. On paper, the Braves aren’t going to terrify many opponents. But again, a lineup comprised of Yunel Escobar, Kelly Johnson, Chipper Jones, Brian McCann and Garret Anderson will win some games and it’s probably a safe bet that this club will sneak up on people this year. Do the Braves have enough to overtake the Mets and Phillies in the division? Probably not at this point, but nobody should be surprised if Atlanta is still sniffing the NL Wild Card in the final month of the season.

Projection: 3rd NL East

Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

Offseason Movement: The Tigers didn’t make a ton of offseason moves, but they did add shortstop Adam Everett, catcher Gerald Laird, pitchers Edwin Jackson, Brandon Lyon and Juan Rincon.

Top Prospect: Rick Porcello, RHP
Porcello, who is widely considered one of the best pitching prospects in baseball, was selected with the 27th overall pick in the first round of the 2007 draft. He has a low-to-mid 90s fastball, a slider, changeup and a curve, but it’ll take time for that array of pitches to be mastered. Some believe that the 20-year old is ready now, but there are signs (mostly his K/IP ratio) that another year or two in the minors would do him good. Unless Jeremy Bonderman starts the season on the DL, Porcello will likely start in Double-A this season to gain more experience.

The Big Question: Can the pitching bounce back?
There’s no doubt that if the lineup stays healthy, the Tigers will score plenty of runs this season. But this club produced a 4.90 ERA last season, which was good for third worst in the AL and 27th overall. After amassing an 18-6 record in 2007, ace Justin Verlander sputtered to an 11-17 record and a 4.84 ERA. Verlander struggled mightily with his control (he walked 87 batters in 201 innings) and it’s unclear if he was battling arm/shoulder injuries or if he just had a bad year. Regardless, he’ll need to bounce back in a big way this season and lead a rotation that posts uncertainties in Jeremy Bonderman, Nate Robertson and Dontrelle Willis. The lone bright spot last year was Armando Galarraga, who led the club in wins with 13. But 2009 marks only his second full season in the big leagues.

Outlook: Two major factors will likely play into whether or not the Tigers bounce back after underachieving greatly in 2008. The first was discussed in the aforementioned “The Big Question” section; the Tigers need the starting five to rebound from a disastrous ’08 campaign and it all starts with ace Justin Verlander. The second factor is the overall health of the club, which was a major issue last season. Curtis Granderson, Jeremy Bonderman and Gary Sheffield all missed significant time last year and it sunk this team’s fortunes. The lineup is absolutely stacked from top to bottom and offers an excellent balance of speed, power and average. When healthy, Granderson, Placido Polanco, Magglio Ordonez, Miguel Cabrera, Carlos Guillen and Gary Sheffield comprise one of the best offenses in all of baseball. But again, is this club destined to stay healthy all season? Can the starting pitching produce like it did during the Tigs’ World Series run a couple years ago? The Tigers are definitely contenders and with the uncertainty surrounding the Indians, Twins and White Sox in the AL Central, Detroit could easily win the division. But they’re going to find out quickly if they’re a balanced club or if the offense will have to carry them throughout.

Projection: 2nd AL Central

Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

Offseason Movement: The biggest move the Cardinals made this offseason was acquiring former Padres’ shortstop Khalil Greene, who the club hopes will bring a little pop to the lineup. St. Louis also added pitchers Trever Miller and Dennys Reyes, the latter of which posted a 2.23 ERA in 46 1/3 innings last season in Minnesota.

Top Prospect: Colby Rasmus, OF
Rasmus isn’t just the Cardinals’ top prospect – he’s one of the top prospects in all of baseball. Although St. Louis is expected to go with Chris Duncan as their starting left fielder, Rasmus’ potential is going to force him onto the field in 2009. The 22-year old isn’t expected to produce a high average right away, but he flashes good power and speed, while his defense is above average as well. Rasmus is a stud prospect and could become a household name in the next couple years.

The Big Question: Is Chris Carpenter finally healthy?
The Cardinals’ ace pitched just one game in 2007 and four games in 2008. But so far this spring, Carpenter hasn’t allowed an earned run in 19 innings and his WHIP currently stands at 0.74. With Adam Wainwright and Kyle Lohse coming off solid 2008 campaigns, one would assume that if Carpenter were to stay healthy for an entire season, he could be the key to a postseason run. Then again, nobody knows what kind of form Carpenter will be in once the regular season starts. After all, he’s only pitched in five games in the past two seasons and is no 33-years old. Expecting him to win 21 games again like he did in 2005 would probably be unreasonable. But maybe the 15 games he won in 2006 wouldn’t.

Outlook: The Cardinals should definitely compete with the Cubs in the NL Central this season or at the very least, the Wild Card. But just because they’re contenders doesn’t mean that they don’t come without their question marks. Chris Carpenter has to stay healthy, Kyle Lohse has to prove that his 3.78 ERA last year wasn’t a fluke because he wanted a new contract (his career ERA is 4.67), and it remains to be seen if this club can succeed without any real base-stealing threats (leadoff hitter Skip Schumaker only swiped eight bags last season). That said, the Cards have one of the best pure hitters in all of baseball in Albert Pujols, will get decent power production out of Rick Ankiel, Ryan Ludwick, Troy Glaus and Khalil Greene, and the starting rotation (assuming Carpenter stays healthy and both Lohse and Todd Wellemeyer did what they did last year) is pretty solid. Again, this club is a definite contender, but the Cubs are still the clear favorites in the division and the NL East has three postseason contenders themselves in the Phillies, Mets and Braves. So the competition for the NL Wild Card this year will be tough.

Projection: 2nd NL Central

Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

Offseason Movement: The Twins were rather quiet this offseason, but they did sign free agent third basemen Joe Crede (formally of the White Sox) and pitcher Luis Ayala, who could contribute as a setup man this season.

Top Prospect: Aaron Hicks, OF
The Twins selected Hicks with the 14th overall pick in the 2008 draft in hopes he could become the next Torii Hunter. Hicks is a switch-hitter, with above average power and has demonstrated excellent bat speed. He could turn out to be a five-tool player, but it’ll be a couple years before we see him in the big leagues because he’s only 19. Believe it or not, many teams preferred him as a pitcher in last year’s draft; that’s how good of an athlete Hicks is.

The Big Question: Will Joe Mauer’s back injury keep the Twins from competing?
There’s no question that a lot of the Twins’ success this year will revolve around the health of catcher Joe Mauer. He underwent kidney surgery earlier this offseason and had been slow to recover. But he was also diagnosed with an inflamed lower back in mid March, which is now the chief concern for the Twins. It already appears that Mauer will miss Opening Day and as of right now, there is no timetable for his return. There’s no doubt that Minnesota needs their star 25-year old catcher healthy, or else the Indians, Tigers and/or White Sox will overtake them in the AL Central.

Outlook: The Twins won 88 games last year and it’s hard to believe that the team that they’ll put on the field this year will be any worse. This club has a balanced lineup from top to bottom, with most of its power coming from Justin Morneau, Joe Crede and emerging youngster Jason Kubel, while Denard Span and Carlos Gomez bring the speed. But the nucleus is Joe Mauer, who (as previously noted) has some major health concerns right now. If his back doesn’t become a long-term problem, then the Twins could compete for the AL Wild Card, if not the division depending on whether or not the Indians and Tigers can bounce back from horrid 2008 seasons. But if Mauer’s injury sticks around for a while, it’s hard to see this club being competitive over the long haul, especially considering the starting rotation is a bit unproven. (Albeit the top three of Scott Baker, Francisco Liriano and Kevin Slowey are all solid.)

Projection: 3rd AL Central

Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

Offseason Movement: In one of the biggest trades this offseason, the Rockies’ dealt outfielder Matt Holliday to the A’s in exchange for Carlos Gonzalez, Huston Street and Greg Smith. Oakland also brought back Jason Giambi, who played for the A’s earlier in his career, and signed free agent Orlando Cabrera.

Top Prospect: Trevor Cahill, RHP
Some would say that LHP Brett Anderson deserves mention here, but his ceiling isn’t as high as Cahill’s and he suffered a forearm injury in spring training, which probably cost him a roster spot this year. Cahill has a chance of landing in the starting rotation now that Anderson and Gio Gonzalez have been sidetracked by injuries. He has the potential to be a future ace and even if he doesn’t make the Opening Day roster this season, he could be called up at the All-Star break if the A’s our out of contention.

The Big Question: Can the young arms produce?
The A’s have a ton of promising young arms in their rotation, but a ton of question marks as well. With Justin Duchscherer expected to miss Opening Day with an elbow injury, youngsters like Sean Gallagher, Gio Gonzalez, Trevor Cahill (if he makes the major league roster), Edgar Gonzalez, Dana Eveland and Dallas Braden have to step up. Thus far, Gallagher and Edgar Gonzalez haven’t looked sharp this spring and Gio Gonzalez has been sidelined with tightness in his throwing shoulder. Braden is expected to start on Opening Day, but he’s more of a fourth or fifth starter. If a young prospect like Cahill can emerge, the A’s should remain in contention. But if more injuries occur, then this rotation seems doomed.

Outlook: With the offseason additions of Matt Holliday, Jason Giambi and Orlando Cabrera, it’s clear that the A’s are going for broke this season. In Holliday, Giambi and Jack Cust, they have one of the better 3-4-5’s in baseball and should score runs in bunches again this season. (Although Holliday's numbers will no doubt take a dip now that he won't be hitting at Coors anymore.) But everything hinges on the young pitching staff. If a couple of youngsters can grow up in a hurry, the A’s will be in contention. But so far small injuries are starting to spread and for a club that has had trouble staying healthy in the past, that’s not good. It also remains to be seen whether or not their closer-by-committee plan will pan out. Given their offensive and defensive upgrades this offseason, there’s some talk of the A’s being a dark horse this year. Will they overtake the Angels in the division? Probably not. But again, if the young pitching staff comes together and the A’s stay healthy, the AL Wild Card might not be out of reach.

Projection: 2nd AL West

Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

Offseason Movement: GM Kenny Williams made a pair of trades that could help the Sox in the near future. Williams first traded outfielder Nick Swisher to the Yankees for Jeff Marquez and Wilson Betemit, then dealt veteran pitcher Javier Vazquez to Atlanta for catching prospect Tyler Flowers and infielder Brent Lillibridge. Marquez has a chance to earn the fifth spot in the rotation, although a hamstring injury could hold him back. The Sox also added veteran pitcher Bartolo Colon and young Cuban defector Dayan Viciedo.

Top Prospect: Gordon Beckham, SS
Beckham helped lead Georgia to a second-place finish at last year’s College World Series, hitting .474 with five dingers and 2 RBI in 14 games. At one point during the college season last year, he was also tied for the Division I lead for home runs with 28. Thus far in spring training, Beckham is 6-for-18 with four doubles and two home runs. The 22-year old prospect probably won’t make the Opening Day roster, but once he learns how to play second after making the switch from shortstop in college, Beckham is going to be playing big league ball.

The Big Question: Can the youngsters produce right away?
The youth movement has clearly started in Chicago as the club parted with former All-Star Orlando Cabrera and veteran third baseman Joe Crede in the offseason. Alexei Ramirez and Josh Fields will fill in at short and third, respectively, while another youngster, Chris Getz, will become the full-time starter at second. With all that youth in the infield, can the Sox expect success right away? After hitting .290 with 21 long balls and 77 RBI as a rookie last year, Chi-Sox fans can’t wait to see what Ramirez can do this season. He provides an upgrade at short, but Fields and Getz are both largely untested.

Outlook: This club has a nice mixture of veteran (Carlos Quentin, Jim Thome and Jermaine Dye) and youthful (Alexei Ramirez, Josh Fields, Chris Getz) talent, but can it all mesh this season? The starting lineup is pretty good, but the Sox relied too much on the long ball last year and both Dye and Thome are at their ceilings in terms of production. Quentin also has to stay healthy after suffering a wrist injury last year and Brian Anderson needs to be a reliable table setter at the top of the lineup. The top three in the starting rotation – Mark Buehrle, Jon Danks and Gavin Floyd – are all solid. But Bartolo Colon is a question mark and Ozzie Guillen needs to find a fifth starter out of Clayton Richard, Jeffrey Marquez and Jose Contreras. The bottom line is that this team could definitely compete in the AL Central, but the young hitters and back of the rotation starters have to produce. If the Indians, Twins and Tigers bounce back like many expect, the Sox will probably take a back seat to them in the division. But if Cleveland, Minnesota and Detroit struggle again like they did last year, one has to believe that the AL Central is Chicago’s to lose.

Projection: 4th AL Central

Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

Offseason Movement: The G-Men added a solid piece to their starting rotation in former Cy Young-winner Randy Johnson. The club also signed free agent Edgar Renteria to play shortstop, and added Jeremy Affeldt and Bob Howry in hopes to strengthen their bullpen. Rich Aurilia and Josh Phelps were given minor league contracts, although Phelps was already reassigned to minor league camp.

Top Prospect: Madison Bumgarner, LHP
Who would have thought that the farm system that produced Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Brian Wilson and Jonathan Sanchez would have a pitcher as its top prospect? While catcher Buster Posey, corner infielder Angel Villalona and starter Tim Alderson deserve mention here, Bumgarner earns the Giants’ top prospect tag for his “ace” potential. While he isn’t expected to take Lincecum’s No. 1 spot any time soon, Bumgarner could turn out to be a San Fran’s No. 2 in the next couple seasons. He dominated his first full year in the minors after being selected in the first round out of high school, posting a 1.46 ERA in A-ball. He has a fastball that reaches 97 mph and once he develops his secondary pitches, Bumgarner should make his first big league appearance in no time.

The Big Question: Will this team score any runs?
Out of all the teams in baseball last year, only the Padres (637) scored fewer runs than the Giants (640). And all San Fran did to reshape their roster was give youngsters Pablo Sandoval and Travis Ishikawa full-time roles. While Sandoval has a ton of potential, he is largely unproven and along with Bengie Molina and Fred Lewis, he comprises one of the weakest 3-4-5 middle-of-the-orders in baseball. From top to bottom, the Giants once again have one of the worst offenses in the league and unless they can add a big bat at the trade deadline, they’ll likely play in a ton of low scoring ballgames this year.

Outlook: This team actually has scattered potential, but they’re just not there yet. 2008 Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum is already one of the most dominating pitchers in baseball and it seems like his popularity has grown overnight. Randy Johnson, Matt Cain, Barry Zito and Jonathan Sanchez join Lincecum to form one of the better young rotations in the National League. Unfortunately, they’ll once again have little to no run support because GM Brian Sabean has ignored drafting top position players for years. Instead, he has chosen to overpay for guys like Aaron Rowand, and therefore must hope that youngsters Pablo Sandoval, Fred Lewis, Travis Ishikawa and Kevin Frandsen have breakout years. Randy Winn, Edgar Renteria and Bengie Molina are fine role players, but they’re being counted on as the core of the Giants’ lineup, which limits this club’s potential. The starting pitching will once again be solid and the bullpen actually looks decent with closer Brian Wilson leading the way, followed by free agent addition Jeremy Afeldt and promising youngsters Alex Hinshaw and Sergio Romo. But the lineup will once again hold the Giants back this year and unless Sabean has a trick up his sleeve at the trade deadline, San Fran will have to wait another year or two before they’re competitive again.

Projection: 3rd NL West

Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

Offseason Movement: The Brewers signed long-time Padres’ closer Trevor Hoffman in the offseason and also brought on pitchers Jorge Julio and Braden Looper, as well as outfielder Trot Nixon.

Top Prospect: Mat Gamel, 3B
Some would say Alcides Escobar is the Brewers’ top prospect, but you can’t go wrong with either. Milwaukee seems to be following a trend of taking prospects based more on their offense than defense, because not unlike Matt LaPorta and Ryan Braun before him, Gamel doesn’t have the best defensive skills. But there is no denying that the kid can hit. Gamel has a nice, pure swing and has shown excellent plate discipline to this point in his career. He has great hand/eye coordination and he loves hitting the gaps. Gamel figures to start the season in Triple-A, but could get a shot to compete if Bill Hall continues to struggle with a calf injury.

The Big Question: How will this club respond without CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets?
The Brewers’ starting rotation shows some potential with Yovani Gallardo and Manny Parra at the top. But Gallardo missed four and a half months last year with a knee injury and Parra has had some shoulder issues in the past. If Sabathia and Sheets headlined the rotation, then there would obviously be less concern about Gallardo and Parra’s injury history. But considering Jeff Suppan, Dave Bush, Braden Looper and Seth McClung comprise the rest of the rotation, there are a ton of question marks following the Brewers’ pitching staff heading into Opening Day.

Outlook: Milwaukee’s lineup is absolutely stacked from top to bottom. Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder and Corey Hart make up one of the best middle of the order trio in the National League, while Rickie Weeks and J.J. Hardy have proven to be solid table setters. Unless a couple of players make lengthy trips to the DL, the Brewers will once again score a ton of runs this season. But will they have to? Losing CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets at the top of the rotation hurts and unless Yovani Gallardo and Matt Para have breakout seasons, the Brewers might not make a ton of noise this year. Then again, Gallardo and Para very well could have breakout campaigns and with that lineup, Milwaukee could easily win the Wild Card again. Their success this season likely lies at the feet of their starting rotation.

Projection: 3rd NL Central

Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

Offseason Movement: The Marlins made a series of trades this offseason, including sending first basemen Mike Jacobs to the Royals for reliever Leo Nunez, starting pitcher Scott Olsen and outfielder Josh Willingham to the Nationals for infielder Emilio Bonifacio, and closer Kevin Gregg to the Cubs for Jose Ceda. All three moves were made in hopes of helping the club down the road and get compensation for players that had already reached their ceilings.

Top Prospect: Cameron Maybin, OF
The Marlins essentially handed Maybin a starting job before spring training started – and for good reason. The 21-year old is one of the most exciting prospects in baseball and a rare five-tool player. Maybin has it all – speed, average, power - but he will need time to develop and patience should be shown. At least playing in Florida he’ll see some quality at bats and nobody is behind him so the pressure should be off.

The Big Question: Can all of the young talent come together and produce?
Cameron Maybin, Hanley Ramirez, Jorge Cantu, Dan Uggla and Gaby Sanchez comprise one of the most promising lineups in all of baseball. But is it too much expected out of guys like Maybin and Sanchez at this stage in their careers? There’s no doubt that both players are the real deal, but they’ll have to produce if Florida expects to put a winner on the field in ’09. The Fish finished just 5.5 games back of the Wild Card last season, so a postseason appearance isn’t out of the question. But a lot has to come together in order for that to happen.

Outlook: If you’re a true baseball fan, how could you not like what this young club brings to the table? Hanley Ramirez is an absolute stud, while Cameron Maybin and Gaby Sanchez are two of the most promising players in the league. The starting five is solid as well, led by Ricky Nolasco and followed by promising arms Josh Johnson, Chris Volstad, Andrew Miller and Anibel Sanchez. All five of those pitchers have a bright future ahead of them and all are young and healthy. The Rays gave inexperienced, small market teams hope next year. Is it out of the question for the Marlins to make a postseason run this year? Absolutely not, although young teams tend to fade after a hot start so it’ll be interesting to see how the Fish play after the All-Star Break. And considering they’ll have to compete with the Phillies, Mets and Braves all season, it’ll be tough for the Marlins to emerge as a playoff team. But one thing is for sure – this club has loads of potential.

Projection: 4th NL East

Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

Offseason Movement: The Reds signed a true leadoff hitter in Willy Taveras and added catcher Ramon Hernandez in a trade with the Orioles. The club also signed free agents Jacque Jones, Arthur Rhodes, Jonny Gomes and Daryle Ward.

Top Prospect: Yonder Alonso, 1B
Alonso is quickly becoming a polished hitter and has displayed a good combination of average and power. Thus far, he’s tore up the Hawaii Leagues, hitting .323 with three dingers in 93 at bats. If all goes well, he should spend this year in Double-A, work his way up through the minors and possibly get an opportunity to crack the big league roster in 2010.

The Big Question: Can Jay Bruce and Joey Votto have breakout seasons?
The Reds have one of the more promising young lineups in baseball, but Brandon Phillips isn’t a true cleanup hitter and the club would love it if either Bruce or Votto (or both) would have breakout seasons. The concern regarding Votto is that he might not get enough at bats this spring after playing for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic. But even if Bruce and Votto don’t go gangbusters this year, it’s clear that both have very bright futures and will hopefully be the core of the Reds’ lineup for years to come.

Outlook: A lot has to go right for Dusty Baker’s club to compete this season, but the Reds definitely have the makings of a nice young team. The addition of Willy Taveras should help the top of the lineup and if he and Jerry Hairston Jr. can get on, that only means more opportunities for Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips and Jay Bruce. Ramon Hernandez also gives Cincy more pop at the bottom of the order, although Edwin Encarnacion’s wrist injury has been a small concern this spring. The club hopes Edinson Volquez won’t take a step back after winning a surprising 17 games last year, because he makes a nice 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation with Aaron Harang. The key to the pitching staff will be getting decent production out of Bronson Arroyo and Johnny Cueto, who threw a one-hitter in his first start last season before finishing 9-14. With youngsters Votto, Phillips, Bruce, Cueto and Homer Bailey, this will be a fun team to watch this year. But the bottom line is that the Reds need some of these young players to have breakout seasons, which is asking too much at this point.

Projection: 4th NL Central

Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

Offseason Movement: The biggest move the Rockies made this offseason was trading outfielder Matt Holliday to the A’s in exchange for pitchers Huston Street and Greg Smith, as well as outfielder Carlos Gonzalez. Street takes over for Brian Fuentes, who signed with the Angels. Colorado also added pitchers Jason Marquis and Alan Embree, as well as outfielder Matt Murton.

Top Prospect: Dexter Fowler, OF
Fowler is destined to start the season in the minors, but the Rockies hope that he’ll become a middle of the order hitter and flash some pop in due time. He has tons of speed, but he’s an unpolished player overall, and one that will need time to mature. With a current rash of outfielders already on the big league roster, Colorado isn’t likely to rush Fowler or Carlos Gonzalez, the latter being acquired in the Matt Holliday trade.

The Big Question: How will the rotation look without Jeff Francis?
Nobody will confuse Francis with Cole Hamels, but at least the Rockies could usually count on 13-plus wins from the 28-year old starter. But Francis underwent arthroscopic surgery in the offseason to repair his labrum and clean up the rotator cuff in his left shoulder. He’ll likely miss the entire 2009 season, which leaves the starting rotation awfully thin. Aaron Cook and Ubaldo Jimenez are solid, but after them are Jason Marquis, Greg Smith and Jorge De La Rosa/Franklin Morales. Maybe the the Rocks will get lucky and one will surprise, but this is a weak rotation on paper.

Outlook: Without Matt Holliday in the middle of their lineup, the Rockies will probably play more small ball this year. Hopefully promising youngster Troy Tulowitzki can put his injury-plagued 2008 season behind him and bounce back to his 2007 form. Colorado will rely on him and Ryan Spilborghs to set the table at the top of the lineup, while hopefully getting some pop from Garrett Atkins, Brad Hawpe and Todd Helton. The starting pitching is a huge question mark, which is why the Rockies will likely struggle again in 2009. But even though this club is far removed from its World Series team in 2007, there is some hope on the horizon in the form of several promising prospects.

Projection: 4th NL West

Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

Offseason Movement: The Jays added pitchers Brian Burres, Matt Bush, Matt Clement and Ken Takahashi as well as catcher Michael Barrett, outfielder Jason Lane and first basemen Kevin Millar. Outside of Barrett, Millar and maybe Lane, none of Toronto’s offseason additions are expected to make the Opening Day roster. And Barrett started 1 for 16 in spring training, so, good luck with that.

Top Prospect: Travis Snider, OF
Snider is a true power hitting prospect who has a long swing but above average plate discipline. The Jays hope he can develop into an player that hits for extra bases and who can drive the ball to all parts of the field. He’ll probably never hit for average, but his power should more than make up for it and he has a great arm for the outfield. Thus far, the 21-year old is hitting .371 with six extra-base hits in 35 at-bats in spring training.

The Big Question: What’s after Halladay in the rotation?
The Jays know exactly what they’ll get out of Halladay every fifth day – dominance. But outside of a win every fifth day, Toronto doesn’t have much to look forward to in terms of their starting pitching staff. Jesse Litsch, David Purcey, Scott Richmond and Casey Janssen/Matt Clement/Dustin McGowan form a rotation filled with question marks and uncertainty. This is one of the most unproven rotations in baseball and Cito Gaston better have his finger on the bullpen dial all season long.

Outlook: While every club in the AL East improved this offseason, the Blue Jays stayed pat. None of their offseason moves will have an impact this season and while most teams could do worse than a lineup comprised of Lyle Overbay, Aaron Hill, Marco Scutaro, Alex Rios and Vernon Wells, they could also do much better, too. The lineup defies the word “meh” and the starting rotation, save for Roy Halladay, will struggle. The defense is very good, but an injury to Rios or Wells (which is likely in Wells’ case) leaves the outfield awfully thin. Expecting the Jays to sniff 90 wins again like they did last in a tough division might not be realistic.

Projection: 4th AL East

Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

Offseason Movement: The Rangers signed a bunch of used-to-be’s to minor league contracts, including OF Andruw Jones, SS Omar Vizquel and pitchers Kris Benson, Derrick Turnbow and Brendan Donnelly. Truth be told, all of these players could wind up helping Texas in some way this season save for Jones, who has had a brutal spring and most likely won’t be kept.

Top Prospect: Derek Holland, LHP
Neftali Feliz, who the Rangers got from the Braves in the Mark Teixeira trade a couple years ago, deserves mention here as well. But Holland’s dazzling 2008 season in the minors (14-2, 2.05 ERA in 29 starts) gives him the nod over the 19-year old Feliz. Holland, who is Texas’s Nolan Ryan Minor League Pitcher of the Year, probably won’t make the Opening Day roster this season, but he could be called up by mid-summer if he continues to dominate the minor league hitters.

The Big Question: How bad with the starting rotation be this year?
Calling this pitching staff terrible would be putting things nicely. None of the Rangers’ top four starters – Kevin Millwood, Vincente Padilla, Matt Harrison and Brandon McCarthy – had an ERA lower than 4.74 last year and Millwood, the club’s supposed ace, posted a 5.07 mark. There is hope on the horizon in minor leaguers Derek Holland and Neftali Feliz, but they’re still a year away from making the rotation, although each could be called up at some point in ’09.

Outlook: This club will score plenty of runs again this season, but they’ll also need to in order to win. The Rangers’ lineup is filled with potential, from Ian Kinsler to Josh Hamilton (one of the best stories in all of sports last year) to Chris Davis. But the front office did nothing to improve the rotation from last year and unless Derek Holland and Neftali Feliz grow up in a hurry or the club catches lighting in a bottle with Kris Benson, then the starting pitching will doom the Rangers once again this season. The offense will be fun to watch, but fans might as well channel surf when the defense trots onto the field.

Projection: 3rd AL West

Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

Offseason Movement: The ‘Stros signed Aaron Boone in the offseason, but he recently announced that he’s scheduled to undergo open heart surgery and therefore his season, if not his career, is over. Houston also added pitchers Mike Hampton and Clay Hensley, as well as outfielder Jason Michaels and shortstop Jason Smith.

Top Prospect: Jason Castro, C
The 21-year old catcher was the first of five draft selections for Houston in 2008. Castro has flashed good plate discipline and if he develops, could add power to an already above-average bat. He probably won’t blow anyone away defensively, but he’s more than adequate behind the dish and should make a solid overall player in the future.

The Big Question: Where’s the pitching?
Roy Oswalt is a freak – a true No. 1 starter who usually gives the Astros a win every five days and halts losing streaks with ease. But after him, the starting rotation looks awfully bleak. Mike Hampton is never healthy, Wandy Rodriguez strained an oblique muscle earlier this spring and Brian Moehler hasn’t looked particularly great to this point. The fifth spot in the rotation is up for grabs between Brandon Backe, Russ Ortiz and Jose Capellan. Yikes.

Outlook: The Astros’ lineup is pretty solid. Kazuo Matsui has good speed, Hunter Pence has above average power (although he needs to lift his average quite a bit), Lance Berkman is one of the best switching hitters in baseball and Carlos Lee continues to drive the ball out of the park and knock in runs. Geoff Blum also had a career-high in home runs last year with 14 and Michael Bourn has demonstrated the ability to get on base. The bullpen is solid as well, led by closer Jose Valverde, who topped the NL last year in saves with 44. But after Roy Oswalt, the starting rotation could be the worst in baseball and that’s why Houston is destined to finish near the bottom of the NL Central Division. They just don’t have enough quality arms and while there are things to like about the lineup, the offense just isn’t good enough to carry this club on its own. Oswalt is also a candidate to be dealt at the trade deadline.

Projection: 5th NL Central

Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

Offseason Movement: The Royals signed free agents 1B Mike Jacobs, 3B Willie Bloomquist and RHP Kyle Farnsworth, while acquiring OF Coco Crisp from the Red Sox in exchange for Ramon Ramirez. The club also signed RHP Kyle Farnsworth, formally of the Tigers.

Top Prospect: Mike Moustakas, INF
Moustakas is a high-A prospect selected with the second overall pick in the 2007 draft. Moustakas played shortstop at the collegiate level, but his arm strength will allow him to move over to third base at the next level. He struggled hitting the ball at the start of last season, but finished with a respectable .272 average in 496 minor league at bats. As long as his hitting continues to improve, he should move through the minors this year and get a shot at the big leagues in 2010.

The Big Question: Does this club have enough pitching?
Gil Meche (14-11, 3.98 ERA, 210 IP) and Zach Greinke (13-10, 3.47 ERA, 202 IP) each found success last year, while the third spot in the rotation has been given to 25-year old Kyle Davies, who hasn’t allowed a run yet in spring training. The rest of the rotation is spotty, however. The club signed veteran Sidney Ponson to a minor league contract and is expected to challenge Brian Bannister, Horacio Ramirez and Luke Hochevar for the final two spots in the rotation. After posting a winning record in 2007, Bannister took a step back in his second full season last year, going 9-16 with a 5.76 ERA. If he can bounce back to his ’07 form, the Royals could have the makings of a nice staff. But that’s also assuming Meche and Greinke produce winning seasons again, and the youngster Davies comes through in the third spot.

Outlook: There’s plenty to like about the Royals and there’s plenty to dislike. The top of their rotation is pretty solid, but questions remain about their fourth and fifth starters. The bullpen features one of the better young closers in the game in Joakim Soria, but will the addition of Kyle Farnsworth be enough of a boost for the rest of the unit? The lineup might be the best thing going this club, with Coco Crisp and Mike Jacobs joining Jose Guillen and breakout candidate Billy Butler in an above-average offense. Many things have to come together for the Royals to be successful this season, but do they have enough to overtake the Indians, Tigers, White Sox and Twins (assuming Joe Mauer is healthy, that is) in the AL Central? The division isn’t a powerhouse, but teams like the Indians and Tigers are expected to have huge bounce back seasons, which likely means that KC will be left in the dust.

Projection: 5th AL Central

Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

Offseason Movement: The M’s will bring back a familiar face this season after signing OF/DH Ken Griffey Jr. The club also made a slew of trades, adding outfielders Franklin Gutierrez (Indians) and Endy Chavez (Mets), as well as pitchers David Aardsma (Red Sox) and Garrett Olson (Cubs). Seattle also signed free agents Tyler Johnson, Tyler Walker and Russell Branyan.

Top Prospect: Greg Halman, OF
Some feel as though infielder Carlos Triunfel is the Mariners’ best long-term prospect and that very well might be the case, but Halman is closer to making an impact at the big league level at this point. Halman has flashed an outstanding array of power and speed and with Seattle not expected to contend this year, he could be a late season call up. Along with Halman and Triunfel, pitcher Phillippe Aumont is another prospect worthy of keeping an eye on.

The Big Question: Can Erik Bedard stay healthy?
The Mariners have some of the best pitching depth in baseball, but they need Bedard to stay healthy. The club traded promising youngster Adam Jones and pitcher George Sherrill for Bedard last offseason and all they got was 15 starts before he suffered major shoulder issues. If he can stay healthy, Bedard and “King” Felix Hernandez form a nice 1-2 punch at the top of a rotation that also features Carlos Silva, Brandon Morrow and Jarrod Washburn. The M’s might be wise to move Bedard back in the rotation at the start to get him more days rest earlier in the season.

Outlook: Don’t get it twisted – this isn’t a bad club. Well, this was a bad club last year, but the pieces are there for a contender down the road. The M’s have one of the better rotations in the AL and if youngsters Yuniesky Betancourt, Brandon Morrow and Franklin Gutierrez start producing right away, Seattle could surprise. But that’s asking a lot of those young players and unfortunately even with players like Ichrio, Griffey and Adrian Beltre, the veterans probably aren't good enough to carry this team on their own. The bullpen is also a major question mark. New management has brought a little excitement to this club and it probably won’t be long before things start turning around on the field. But inexperience will be the downfall this year and it’s hard envisioning the M’s making a surprise run this season.

Projection: 4th, AL West

Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

Offseason Movement: The Padres didn’t make a ton of moves this offseason, but they did add 2B David Eckstein to help mentor a young club and hopefully provide a boost at the top of the lineup. San Diego also signed free agents Cliff Floyd, Henry Blanco, Chris Burke, Kevin Correia and traded for RHP Mark Worrell, formerly of the Cardinals.

Top Prospect: Matt Antonelli, 2B
The Padres selected Antonelli with the 17th overall pick in the 2008 draft and while he played third base at Wake Forest, the club envisions him as a second basemen at the next level. Thus far in spring training, Antonelli is hitting .348 in 23 at bats and although the club signed David Eckstein to play second base, they could move him to short to make room for the 23-year old prospect. Antonelli has flashed a decent combination of pop and speed, which is certainly two things the Padres would love to add to their lineup.

The Big Question: Has the offense improved?
No team scored fewer runs last year than the Padres, who didn’t do much to upgrade their lineup in the offseason. First basemen Adrian Gonzalez is one of the best young hitters in the game, but he doesn’t have much around him. Brian Giles’ skills are declining but he can still rake (he hit .306 last year and added 12 dingers), while Kevin Kouzmanoff has above-average pop but doesn’t offer much in average. If this club expects to have better offensive production this year, then guys like Jody Gerut and David Eckstein have to be solid table setters at the top of the lineup.

Outlook: The Padres have one of the better 1-2 punches in all of baseball with ace Jake Peavy (whom the club decided to hang onto despite talk of him being traded to the Cubs this offseason) and Chris Young. Henry Blanco also offers a slight upgrade at the catcher position in terms of defense, although he won’t do much for San Diego’s weak offensive production. The bottom line is that the Pads didn’t do much to upgrade their offense and even though their starting pitching is solid, the bullpen could be a major issue and their defense is weak up the middle. This team isn’t void of talent with Gonzalez, Peavy, Giles, Kouzmanoff and Young, but on a whole there are just too many holes and the basement of the NL West is probably calling San Diego’s name.

Projection: 5th NL West.

Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

Offseason Movement: One of the busier teams this offseason, the Orioles acquired OF Felix Pie and LHP Rich Hill from the Cubs, while also adding free agents Ty Wigginton, Mark Hendrickson, Cesar Izturis, Gregg Zaun, Ryan Freel, John Parrish, David Pauley, Chris Gomez, Chad Moeller and Japanese pitcher Koji Uehara.

Top Prospect: Matt Wieters, C
Wieters isn’t only the best prospect in Baltimore – he’s the best prospect in baseball. He can flat out rake and once he gets some experience under his belt, he could be a .300 hitter who produces 12-15 home runs a year. Unfortunately, Baltimore fans that were hoping to see him play early this season will have to wait. Wieters is expected to start the first two months in the International League, but could be called up before the All-Star Break with the O’s not expected to be in contention. Some have compared Wieters to Joe Mauer and Mike Piazza.

The Big Question: Can the starting pitching come through?
Jeremy Guthrie will assume the role of ace again this season after posting 10 wins and a 3.63 ERA. After Guthrie is a relative unknown in Koji Uehara, who went 12-0 last year in Japan. Mark Hendrickson adds a veteran arm to the rotation, but he won’t dazzle anyone and Rich Hill had issues with his control last season in Chicago. Throw in David Pauley and this is one of the worst starting rotations in all of baseball.

Outlook: The Orioles have a nice collection of position players starting with Nick Markakis, who is one of the best young outfielders in the game. The club also hung onto 2B Brian Roberts despite offseason trade rumors, so at least they’ll have a quality bat at the leadoff position while Aubrey Huff, Melvin Mora and Luke Scott add to a promising lineup. If newly acquired Felix Pie and former top prospect Adam Jones ever develop, the O’s would have one of the better young lineups in all of baseball. But the starting pitching is horrible and the O’s play in one of the toughest divisions in the league. The Rays came out of nowhere last year, but at least they had a true ace in Scott Kazmir and a nice developing youngster in Matt Garza. Baltimore’s lineup shows some potential, but the pitching staff will doom this club once again this year.

Projection: 5th AL East.

Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

Offseason Movement: Perhaps the Nats’ biggest addition was 1B/OF Adam Dunn, who will add some pop to the lineup, as well as a fair amount of strikeouts. Washington also acquired OF Josh Willingham and LHP Scott Olsen in a trade with the Marlins and signed free agents Daniel Cabrera, Alex Cintron and Javier Valentin. In the deal to land Willingham and Olsen, the Nationals agreed to send 2B Emilio Bonifaci, INF Jake Smolinski and RHP P.J. Dean to Florida.

Top Prospect: Jordan Zimmerman, RHP
Zimmermann is a serious Rookie of the Year candidate and is turning in a fantastic spring. As of this writing, he has allowed only six hits, two walks and has struck out 16 batters over 12 1/3 scoreless innings. He seems to be over shadowed on a national level, but that’s mostly because the Nationals have yet to officially hand him a spot in the starting rotation. But that should change soon and as long as he doesn’t let the bright lights of the Big Leagues eat him alive, the 22-year old could be a future star.

The Big Question: How bad will the bullpen be?
Take a gander at these names: Joel Hanrahan, Saul Rivera, Steven Shell, Garrett Mock, Jason Bergmann, Julian Taverez and Mike Hinckley. None really strike the fear of God into any hitter do they? Hanrahan, Rivera and Shell are average at best and Taverez is better at delivering quotes than he is on the hill these days. If the Nats get anything out of former starters Mock and Bergmann, maybe this unit can survive the season. But that’s a huge “if”.

Outlook: This club is actually filled with potential, but that’s about it at this point. Shortstop Cristian Guzman raked last year, hitting .316 with nine home runs and six stolen bases at the leadoff position. Lastings Milledge and Elijah Dukes have a ton of talent, but they can’t seem to keep their heads on straight. Dunn and Ryan Zimmerman should complement each other well hitting 3-4 in the lineup, but there are some major question marks at the bottom of the order. Can Nick Johnson stay healthy? The starting pitching isn’t terrible, with John Lannan, Scott Olson and Daniel Cabrera leading the way at the top of the rotation. And if Jordan Zimmermann develops like everyone expects, Washington could have an above average starting five. But the pullben is a major weakness and there just seems to be too many question marks surrounding this club. It’s safe to expect some improvement out of the Nats, but it probably won’t be anything earth shattering.

Projection: 5th NL East

Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

Offseason Movement: In typical Pittsburgh fashion, the Bucs didn’t make much of a splash in free agency this year. They did sign infielder Ramon Vazquez, who is coming off a career year with the Rangers, but he’s more of a utility man than a regular. The Pirates also signed outfielder Eric Hinske, who could wind up starting in left field as long as his bruised left ribcage heals in time for Opening Day, but will more likely be the club’s fourth outfielder.

Top Prospect: Pedro Alvarez, 3B
The Pirates finally drafted the best player available in 2008 and bucked the trend of staying away from prospects that command big signing bonuses. Contract negotiations between the club and Alvarez didn’t go smoothly, but all of that can be put in the rearview mirror if breezes through the minors. He was a 2007 Baseball America First Team All-American and was also a Golden Spikes Award Finalist in ’07, as well. He has outstanding hitting ability and rarely chases pitches out of the strike zone. If he stays healthy, Alvarez could be a young superstar in the making.

The Big Question: Can Ian Snell and Tom Gorzelanny bounce back?
The Pirates thought that they would have a nice 1-2 punch at the top of their rotation entering 2008, but both Snell and Gorzelanny turned in disastrous seasons. Snell finished with a 5.42 ERA; Gorzelanny a 6.66 ERA. Both are still young at 27 and 26, respectively, but 2009 could be a make or break season for the duo. Snell seems more likely to bounce back this season because he has the better overall stuff. (The Bucs also feel like he could team up with Paul Malholm to form the 1-2 combo that he and Gorzelanny were expected to be.) Gorzelanny, however, appears to be battling with Jeff Karstens for the fifth spot in the rotation and his bloated ERA (7.00 as of this writing) in spring training certainly hasn’t helped. Gorzelanny remains the more intriguing option because of his age, but he is dangerously close to dropping off the Pirates’ radar altogether.

Outlook: Not good. The Pirates don’t spend money and don’t draft well, which is why they haven’t produced a winner in nearly 16 seasons. They do have a nice core of 2B Freddy Sanchez, CF Nate McLouth and C Ryan Doumit in the middle of their lineup, but their young pitching staff has to step up. So far, Maholm, Snell, Gorzelanny and Zach Duke haven’t matched the buzz that has surrounded them over the past couple years and even if they do produce this season, the bullpen is riddled with question marks (outside of closer Matt Capps, that is). A lot essentially has to go right for this club just to get out of the basement of the NL Central, nevertheless actually compete for a postseason berth. Hopefully the Bucs will get something out of their starting pitching staff and after stringing together a couple of solid drafts, maybe then they can start competing. But this club appears years away from that.

Projection: 6th NL Central.