MLB Previews: Breaking Down the AL and NL East Divisions

This is a pivotal time in the history of Toronto, as their personnel management over the course of the next few offseasons could spell disaster for years to come if J.P. Ricciardi doesn't eventually acquire youth. Doc Halladay will anchor a relatively young rotation (everyone basically had to move up a spot in the rotation with Burnett's departure), and so long as the kids follow his shadow, they will eventually blossom into starters who work well in succession of each other.

5. Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore is actually headed into a positive direction. The O's acquired Rich Hill a couple weeks ago, who struggled last season in Chicago and was eventually moved to the bullpen. Adam Jones now has a full season of big league ball under him, and Matt Wieters is the most talked about prospect in baseball right now.

Nick Markakis will eventually be a household name, as his offensive production and absolute cannon in right field will get him noticed. This team, however, is not ready to compete at the level of Tampa, New York, or Boston, but if all goes well it could finish at .500 or just below the 81-81 mark.

National League East

1.   Philadelphia Phillies

A potentially great rivalry is building in the National League east. the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets are chasing each other once again, not just on the field, but in the papers as well.

The Boston-New York rivalry isn't what is used to be (think Pedro and Zimmer/Garcia/Posada, Manny against Clemens—but Joba/Youk? Please.), and a fresh spirit of hatred between Philly and Flushing has been brewing ever since Jimmy Rollins declared Philly the team to beat entering the 2007 season, following the season the Mets won it and came within a Yadier Molina home run of reaching the World Series.

If Chase Utley is really ready by April like Charlie Manuel said earlier in the week, and Ryan Howard can get off to a good start with the stick, this team is scrappy enough to pull games out. They do, however, still need a fifth starter.

2. New York Mets

The Mets made the biggest bombshell moves of the division, signing Francisco Rodriguez to much less than he wanted and prying J.J. Putz from Seattle for pieces that were hurting the club anyway. The re-signing of Oliver Perez and Johan Santana's decision not to participate in the World Baseball Classic following knee surgery in the offseason mean that the Mets can have a potentially healthy front four entering April, and the signing of Tim Redding and Freddy Garcia to a minor league deal mean that the club has options at the fifth starter spot.

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