NL East
1.
C Brian McCann, 1B Ryan Howard, 2B Dan Uggla, 3B Alex Gordon, SS Yunel Escobar, LF Cody Johnson, CF Michael Bourn,
RF Jason Heyward.
SP1 Cole Rohrbough, SP2 Jair Jurrjens,
SP3 Paul Clemens, SP4 J.J. Hoover,
SP5 Wilfredo Boscan, CL Craig Kimbrel.
The Braves have a lot of offensive depth, including two prospects Cody Johnson and Kentrail Davis. They also have Martin Prado who will compete with Dan Uggla for the 2B spot this spring, along with a solid backup player Jeff Baker. There Rotation does not look as good as the Marlins, who should be hot on the Braves heels this season, but the Braves Lineup should keep them up front in the NL East. It is rumored that the 2011 MVP Ryan Howard is on the Braves block.
2.
C Bengie Molina, 1B Gaby Sanchez, 2B Jemile Weeks, 3B Scott Rolen, LF Chris Coghlan, CF Callix Crabbe, RF Michael Stanton.
SP1 Brett Hunter, SP2 Brett Anderson,
SP3 William Wilson, SP4 Kyle Winters,
SP5 Jeremy Bleich, CL Jose Ceda.
The Marlins have a great rotation which should keep them in the hunt in the NL east, but there lineup is so weak, that unless they pick up another bat, the should fall to the Braves and not make the playoffs.
3.
C Tyler Flowers, 1B Logan Morrison, 2B Aaron Hill, 3B Brent Morel, SS Jimmy Rollins, LF Andre Ethier, CF Jayson Werth,
RF Ryan Ludwick.
SP1 Roy Halladay, SP2 Michael Stutes,
SP3 Anibal Sanchez, SP4 Joe Blanton,
SP5 Vance Worley, CL Ryan Madson.
The Phillies acquired free agent Andre Ethier this offseason, signing him to a big fifty million dollar deal over five years. Hopefully he can help this average lineup become a stronger one. In order for this team to compete, Logan Morrison needs to bring more production. He was scouted to be just as good as Ryan Howard, which is why the Phillies delt him away to the Braves in 2010. On the pitching side, "the Doc" Roy Halladay needs to have another cy young season.
4.
C Jesus Montero, 1B Ike Davis, 2B Luis Castillo, 3B David Wright, SS Reese Havens, LF Jason Bay, CF Carlos Beltran,
RF Jeff Francouer.
SP1 Chris Garcia, SP2 Jenry Meijia, SP3 Scott Shaw,
SP4 Josh Stinson, SP5 Eric Niesen,
CL Francisco Rodriguez.
The New York Mets have been relatively unchanged compared to other teams. They have a good young catcher in Jesus Montero acquired from their cross town rivals, and a sophmore short stop in Reese Havens. Their biggest plus is their SP depth which should help them in the years to come.
5.
C Brian Peacock, 1B Travis Hafner, 2B Albert Callaspo,3B Adeiny Hechavarria, SS Omar Infante, LF Chris Duncan,
CF Roger Bernadina, RF Marlon Byrd.
SP1 Michael Kohn, SP2 Dustin McGowan, Sp3 Justin Jones,
SP4 Ryan Mattheus, SP5 Jack McGreary,
CL Darren O'Day.
The worst team in Baseball last season should have a slightly better season, but they are not going to be able to get out of the basement. They do have a bright future with some good prospects, and rookie Brian Peacock is going to be in the running for the NL rookie of the year award.
NL Central
1.
C Taylor Teagarden, 1B Yonder Alonso, 2B Ryan Flaherty, 3B Casey McGehee, SS Carlos Triunfel, LF T.J. Steele, CF Charles Blackmon, RF Greg Halman.
SP1 Josh Lindblom, SP2 Jos, Trinidad, SP3 Zack Braddock,
SP4 Daniel Barr, SP5 Kasey Kiker, CL Pat Neshek.
The Milwaukee Brewers had an amazing season last year, going all the way and winning the World Series, but the Houston Astros are not going to let it happen again. The Astros have put together one of the best young rosters in the whole league. There are not many holes on this team except bullpen. The Astros also have a few prospects. The team has a done of depth and I will be suprised if this team does not go all the way.
2.
C Jon Lucroy, 1B Prince Fielder, 2B Rickie Weeks, 3B Mat Gamel, SS Alcides Escobar, LF Ryan Braun,
CF Andrew McCutchen RF Lorenzo Cain.
SP1 R.J. Seidel, SP2 Julio Teheran, SP3 Yovani Gallardo, SP4 Cliff Lee, SP5 Evan Fredrickson, CL Trevor Hoffman.
The 2011 World Series Champions. The Milwaukee Brewers still have a great team, with a lot of SP depth, but they are going to finish second in the NL Central to the Astros this year. The Brewers strong roster should give them the wild card spot, and even though they will finish second, don't be suprised if they win over 100 games.
3.
C Victor Martinez, 1B Oni Take, 2B Andy LaAroche, 3B Aramis Ramirez, SS Starlin Castro, LF Hideki Matsui,
CF Jacoby Ellsbury, RF Matt Holliday.
SP1 Clay Buchholz, SP2 Francisco Liriano, SP3 Aoi Kami, SP4 Rick Porcello, SP5 Luke Sommer , CL Carlos Marmol.The Cubs have a good team, it's just not as good as the Brewers and Astros. These guys should win over 90 games. The Cubs recently signed two international free agents from Asia in Oni Take and Aoi Kami. Oni Take can play a lot of positions so it is unknown exactly where he will play, but it is likely that he will either be at first base, or he will be catching with Victor Martinez at first base. Aoi Kami is a great addition for the cubs rotation, but his poor endurance for a starter may be an issue. If the Cubs do not feel that Oni Take is ready for the big leagues yet, they recently acquired Buster Posey from the Giants, and might opt to put him at C with Martinez at 1B.
4.
C Russell Martin, 1B Albert Pujols, 2B Brandon Phillips, 3B Craig Allen, SS Freddy Sandoval, LF Skip Schumaker, CF Jon Jay,
RF Nick Stavinoha.
SP1 Chris Carpenter, SP2 Francisco Samuel,
SP3 Adam Wainwright, SP4 Barrett Browning,
SP5 Tim Dillard, CL Heath Bell.
The Cardinals have a very weak rotation. Chirs Carpenter is thinking about retiring at the end of this season do to his decreasing production. There isn't too much hope for the future with the Cardinals rotation do to a lack of pitching prospects, so they should fill up on pitchers at the draft. There offense is pretty good led by the future hall of famer Albert Pujols.
5.
C Ryan Hanigan, 1B Joey Votto, 2B Howie Kendrick, 3B Neftali Soto, SS Paul Janish, LF Kosuke Fukudome, CF Chris Heisey,
RF Adam Lind.
SP1 Aroldis Chapman, SP2 Mike Leake,
SP3 Fautino De Los Santos, SP4 Wade Davis,
SP5 Ryan Pope, CL Bud Norris.
Two years ago they this team was the NL champion, but they are from returning. They have some solid players in Votto and Chapman, but everyone else is pretty much just an average ball player, not bad but average. The Reds have a platoon at 1B, so expect Freddy Freeman to be placed on the block for a SP. Neftali Soto might be the starting 3B this season which would make him a rookie of the year candidate.
6.
C Jason Jaramillo, 1B Jesus Guzman, 2B Joe Inglett, 3B Troy Glaus, SS
Yuniesky Betancourt, LF Brad Nelson, CF Angel Pagan, RF Gerardo Parra.
SP1 Tim Alderson, SP2 Clayton Tanner, SP3 Bryan Morris,
SP4 Kyle Heckathorn, SP5 Fausto Carmona,
CL Frank Francisco.There are a lot of new faces on this years Pirates team, but it is not enough changes to bring the Pirates out of the cellar. The Pirates still have the worst lineup in the majors, which features absolutely no power. Tim Alderson and Clayton Tanner are a nice one two punch on the top of the Pirates Rotation, and Kyle Heckathorn is expected to break camp and make the rotation, and in the running for NL rookie of the year honors.
NL West
1.
C Lucas May, 1B Justin Smoak, 2B Ivan Dejesus Jr., 3B Ryan Zimmerman, SS Dee Gordon, LF Matt Kemp, CF Julio Borbon,
RF Kyle Russell.
SP1 Clayton Kershaw, SP2 Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP3 C.J. Wilson,
SP4 Rich Harden, SP5 Matt Garza,
CL Jonathan Broxton.The Dodgers acquired a lot of backup depth this offseason in Goloson, Milledge, Taveras, Morgan & Punto. They made a lot of changes to their rotation, but the acquired have never played for a National League team. Only Rich Harden has spent part of two seasons with the Cubs in 2008 and 2009, so it is a big question mark as to how the Dodgers rotation will play this year. They have a young pitching prospect in Nathan Eovaldi who will likely be called up some time this season if he doesn't break camp with the team. He has been a starter in the Dodgers minor league system, but his poor endurance has him projected to be a big league reliver.
2.
C Jason Castro, 1B Darin Holcomb, 2B Eric Young, 3B Chris Stewart, SS Troy Tulowitzki, LF Carlos Gonzalez,
CF Dexter Fowler, RF Brad Hawpe.
SP1 Ubaldo Jimenez, SP2 Christian Friedrich,
SP3 Aaron Weatherford, SP4 Jorge de la Rosa,
SP5 Edwar Cabrera, CL Huston Street.
The Rockies have a very nice lineup, there only weakness is their rotation. If they can get some other big names into their rotation to complement Ubaldo, then the Rockies should be the best team in the NL west. Rookie Darin Holcomb should deffiently be starting this year, it's just a question as to if it will be first base or third base, but seeing that the Royals have Chris Stewart, Holcomb will likely be at 1B. They might also decide to put Jason Castro at 1B and Pacheco at C, but I think the best thing this team could do, is trade Pacheco and some of their SP depth for another solid starting pitcher.
3.
C Miguel Montero, 1B Chris Mays, 2B Stephen Drew, 3B Mark Reynolds, SS Derek Jeter, LF Kelly Johnson, CF Justin Upton,
RF Conor Jackson.
SP1 Danny Haren, SP2 Brandon Webb, SP3 Wade Miley,
SP4 Wes Romer, SP5 Barry Zito, CL Chad Qualls.There are a lot of question marks on who is going to play what positions on this team. The Diamondbacks signed Derek Jeter as a free agent which shocked the whole baseball world that he didn't stay with the Yankees. Jeter said the Yankees have Lehman and feel that it is his time to take over as the starting short stop. With that being said, Jeter still wanted to play, and he felt like going to the Diamondbacks will put him with an underdog team and be in a similar position as he was when he started in 1996. With Jeter on the team, that displaces Kelly Johnson, who can also play LF.
The Diamondbacks also have a lot of options with their rotation, they also have starters Bryan Shaw, Ian Kennedy, Jeff Locke and Jake Peavy who are not mentioned in the above list.
4.
C J.P. Arencibia, 1B Paul Konerko, 2B Emmanuel Burris, 3B Pablo Sandoval, SS Freddy Sanchez, LF Eugenio Velez,
CF Mark Olesen, RF John Bowker.
SP1 Tim Lincecum, SP2 Madison Bumgarner,
SP3 Jose Castilla, SP4 Jeff Boulon,
SP5 Steve Hammond, CL Sergio Romo.
The Giants have an interesting platoon at 1B with Paul Konerko and the rookie Neal Thomas. I would expect the giants to trade Konkero this season to a contender looking for another bat to acquire some prospects. The Giants are not going to win this year, but do have a fairly promising future with decent young players across the board. With a little maturity the Giants might find themselves on top of this weak division in a few years.
5.
C Bryan Anderson, 1B Logan Forsythe, 2B Josh Barfield, 3B James Darnell, SS Martin Peguero, LF Kyle Blanks, CF Tony Gwyn,
RF Travis Snider.
SP1 Jerry Sullivan, SP2 Will Inman, SP3 Simon Castro,
SP4 Adam Reifer, SP5 Zach Stewart, CL Edward Mujica.The Padres are expected to once again be one of the worst teams in Baseball. They have a poor lineup and rotation, though 3B James Darnell has a lot of promise. Even though he lost 19 games last season Jerry Sullivan is the Padres stand out player do to his low 3.22 ERA over 204 innings along with 173 strikeouts. The Padres should consider trading away guys like Sullivan this season for more prospects to help them win sometime in the future.
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