Every MLB Team's Worst Nightmare Next Season

MLB general managers are skeptical—even paranoid—when constructing their teams. They prepare for adversity, but each has a potential nightmare that would be impossible to deal with.

Just one injured player, underachiever, flawed philosophy or environmental effect could derail a club's season. Many of the following hypothetical scenarios would impede competitiveness beyond 2013, too.

Though none are certain to unfold, all of them could realistically happen.

Every executive fears the factors that they can't control.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Justin Upton Traded, Wins MVP Award

Justin Upton is very much on the trading block this winter, although the Arizona Diamondbacks expect a tasty package of players in return.

As they should. The 25-year-old has more talent in his fingertips than most MLB players do from head to toe. With all five tools and a high baseball IQ, Upton could be an MVP someday.

Regardless of who the D-Backs acquire in exchange, it would stink to see him excel elsewhere.

Atlanta Braves: Everybody Swings for the Fences

In signing B.J. Upton, the Atlanta Braves have replaced Michael Bourn with the only free agent who strikes out even more frequently. Teammates Freddie Freeman, Jason Heyward and Dan Uggla aren't particularly good at making contact, either.

Atlanta is going to be formidable next season because of a deep pitching staff and excellent defense.

But will there be enough runs scored by this lineup if top power sources can't put the ball in play?

Hopefully Chipper Jones stays fit (just in case).

Baltimore Orioles: Another Overload of Extra-Inning Games

There's no denying it—the Baltimore Orioles had luck on their side in 2012. They had a better record in one-run games (29-9) than any team in recent memory, frequently benefiting from events that they couldn't control.

If their hit-or-miss lineup fails to add more cushion heading into the later innings, the O's will be depending on good fortune again.

The law of averages says they won't be as lucky in 2013.

Boston Red Sox: John Farrell Makes Poor Decisions, Triggers Media Circus

The 2012 Boston Red Sox were doomed to fail because of manager Bobby Valentine. He said all the wrong things to the public and communicated poorly with his players and coaches. The media ripped him constantly, causing a distraction that only grew louder as the season wore on.

John Farrell needs to go about his job completely differently.

Otherwise, writers will be calling for his head before Boston even has a chance to rebound.

Chicago Cubs: Starlin Castro Doesn't Mature

The Chicago Cubs made a $60-million commitment to Starlin Castro.

They're looking for a lot more than just his offensive potential. The Cubs need leaders to guide them back to prominence, and veterans Matt Garza and Alfonso Soriano aren't likely to be around to fill those roles.

Castro is often associated with nonchalant defense and other bone-headed mistakes. His teammates certainly won't be inspired if that continues.

Chicago White Sox: GM Rick Hahn Tries to Be Kenny Williams

First-year general manager Rick Hahn could run the Chicago White Sox into the ground if he tries to imitate his predecessor, Kenny Williams.

The latter constantly rearranged the roster through blockbuster trades and high-risk free-agent signings.

If Hahn is the same way, he'll get the itch to re-tool at midseason.

Change isn't always a good thing.

Cincinnati Reds: Aroldis Chapman Wastes Pitches as a Starter

Aside from a couple of midseason and September hiccups, Aroldis Chapman cruised through his competition in 2012 (1.51 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, 122 SO in 71.2 IP). He deservedly finished 8th in NL Cy Young voting.

After launching his MLB career with 137 relief appearances, the Cincinnati Reds will move their "Cuban Missile" to the starting rotation.

But Chapman cannot continue pitching with the same approach.

Last summer, for example, he consistently got ahead in the count and tried to tempt opposing batters into chasing his blazing fastball out of the strike zone. They often wouldn't, and on average he needed 4.36 pitches to get through each plate appearance (via Baseball-Reference.com).

The Reds will rarely get him through six innings if that stat holds up.

Short starting-pitcher outings every fifth day will expose Cincinnati's bullpen, which no longer has him as an anchor.

Cleveland Indians: Mark Shapiro Meant What He Said

President Mark Shapiro was refreshingly honest during an interview with More Sports with Les Levine (via Bruce Hooley, ESPN Cleveland). He essentially confessed that the Cleveland Indians won't be successful in 2013.

Shapiro describes competitive "cycles" when teams can win, and implied that the Tribe wasn't currently in that situation.

In context, these comments were part of a poetic explanation as to why baseball is about much more than results. He discusses how, win or lose, unique ballpark experiences can send you home smiling.

But Indians fans who were looking forward to next season surely feel discouraged.

Colorado Rockies: Versatile Michael Cuddyer Joins Pathetic Pitching Staff

During a catastrophic 2012 season, the Colorado Rockies' pitchers finished with baseball's weakest earned run average and opponents' OPS. The panicked switch to a four-man starting rotation prevented anybody from tossing a complete game.

The Rockies don't trust all of their options, which explains why management condensed the pitching staff.

Turning to versatile veteran Michael Cuddyer—and his one inning of MLB pitching experience—would be rock bottom.

Detroit Tigers: Justin Verlander Marries Kate Upton, Loses Motivation

Justin Verlander was linked to the supermodel this past summer. Celebuzz claimed that, of all people, his grandfather confirmed their relationship to the media.

He has AL MVP and Cy Young awards, World Series experience and $40 million owed to him through 2014.

With a commitment from one of the world's most beautiful women, what would Verlander have left to prove?

Houston Astros: Lance Berkman Signs, Suffers Career-Ending Knee Injury in April

How could you promote the 2013 Houston Astros? Their inexperienced roster only offers a preview of what the possibly-relevant 2017 Astros might look like!

Lance Berkman could remedy that. He is open to continuing his MLB career—for the right price—and his hometown team is very much in the hunt for his services.

His excellent offensive skills would draw larger crowds to Astros games. Berkman's bat makes Houston more competitive and gives longtime fans the chance to reminisce about when the club annually contended for a playoff berth.

It would be a high-risk, high-reward free-agent signing considering his chronic knee problems. Anybody driven to purchase season ticket packages by the news of a completed deal would be bitter during the dogs days of summer if Berkman has already worn down.

Kansas City Royals: Key Position Players Don't Bounce Back

Most industry experts had high expectations for last year's Kansas City Royals lineup.

Alas, K.C. ended up with the 12th-ranked American League offense, outscoring only the Cleveland Indians and Seattle Mariners.

The Royals got solid contributions from Billy Butler, Alex Gordon and Salvador Perez. Unfortunately, Lorenzo Cain, Jeff Francoeur and Eric Hosmer offset all their help with less-than-stellar work.

Ownership is committing all available funds to the pitching staff, so this team will have to rely on familiar faces to produce at the plate. The .500 mark is a pipe dream if the underachievers don't bounce back.

Los Angeles Angels: Setbacks Keep Ryan Madson out All Season

Los Angeles Angels relievers are coming off of a nightmare of a season. Collectively, they tied for the American League lead with 22 blown saves.

To address the problem, the Halos have signed closer Ryan Madson to a one-year deal. Madson will likely miss Opening Day while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he'll debut shortly thereafter...or so the team hopes.

It is not uncommon for sudden setbacks to extend the rehab, which ideally can be completed in a tidy 12 months.

However, L.A. is presuming the best and reportedly shopping Jordan Walden this winter. A trade would leave the club with one fewer late-inning alternatives.

The bullpen could actually be weaker than last season if Madson struggles to get healthy.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Zack Greinke Signs, but Struggles to Overcome Anxiety

The Los Angeles Dodgers look like front-runners for Zack Greinke considering the kind of money his camp is seeking (via Buster Olney, ESPN).

It has the potential to be a terrible fit.

The right-hander has battled social anxiety in the past. In fact, he missed nearly all of 2006 to get his mind right.

Seeing him perform well with the Los Angeles Angels last season was encouraging. Greinke made all of his scheduled starts and didn't seem rattled in a large market.

But playing for the prestigious Dodgers is a totally different experience. The franchise has six World Series titles—five since moving west—and expectations for a seventh in 2013. Local and national media cover the Dodgers very carefully because of their generations of tradition and unprecedented spending in recent months.

Greinke would be L.A.'s worst investment yet if the atmosphere doesn't suit him.

Miami Marlins: Giancarlo Stanton Demands Trade

The 23-year-old is a budding superstar who is under team control for another four seasons. The Miami Marlins can get a half-dozen solid, promising players in return, so they'll certainly consider moving him in 2013.

Their worst fear, however, is that Giancarlo Stanton follows up on his angry tweet and demands a deal. In that case, the Fish would lose all leverage when negotiating with potential buyers. Disgruntled guys on the trading block depreciate by pressuring their teams to complete an exchange.

Stanton has the potential to lead the Marlins back to relevance or attract a strong package of prospects who will.

But he won't do either if the franchise continues to upset him.

Milwaukee Brewers: John Axford's Facial Hair, Closing Ability Don't Come Back

John Axford was one of the league's biggest individual disappointments last year. The Milwaukee Brewers very likely would have qualified for the playoffs had his fastball command not been an ongoing issue.

He spent the previous two seasons as a top NL closer, but a sample size that small hardly assures that he'll be an elite performer again.

The Brew Crew has its fingers crossed.

Minnesota Twins: Joe Mauer Can't Get His Legs Underneath Him

Mark Miller and I are on the same page here.

Joe Mauer will be tasked to carry a weak Minnesota Twins roster out of the AL Central cellar.

The team needs him to contribute in the batter's box, of course, and also behind the plate. Minnesota's pitching staff won't have great talent or depth in 2013, which is where Mauer's athleticism and experience come into play.

The All-Star has caught barely 1,000 innings over the past two seasons due to "bilateral leg weakness" and general aches and pains.

If he's not healthy, the Twins are doomed.

New York Mets: Management Coddles David Wright After Monster Extension

WFAN’s Ed Coleman reports that David Wright and the New York Mets have officially agreed to an eight-year, $138-million contract extension.

Meanwhile, negotiations between R.A. Dickey and the team are progressing slowly. The master knuckleballer will be used as trade bait if New York cannot convince him to settle for something reasonable.

Wright becomes the star attraction if Dickey leaves this winter, perhaps the only reason for Mets fans to believe in an unproven roster.

There's a fear that the third baseman will be over-protected because he's signed through 2020. Management could sit Wright with barely-existent injuries or schedule him for surgery that he doesn't need, in order to prepare him for a brighter future.

In 2012, the Mets contended through late July, but they are poised to throw in the towel much earlier next season.

New York Yankees: Alex Rodriguez Lashes out Against Joe Girardi

In recent years, many veteran players have accepted lesser salaries to sign with the New York Yankees. Manager Joe Girardi fosters a peaceful and professional environment.

If there's anybody who could have legitimate beef with him, it's Alex Rodriguez. The declining superstar saw limited action during the 2012 postseason despite being reportedly healthy.

A-Rod had a prima donna reputation earlier in his career. More me-first behavior would ruin the dynamic of the Yankees' clubhouse and put the team in an awkward situation with a player whom it is obligated to pay through 2017.

Oakland Athletics: Heavy Workload Takes Its Toll on Young Arms

The Oakland Athletics rode their young pitching staff to an improbable AL West title. Starters like Tommy Milone and Jarrod Parker threw more professional innings than ever in 2012. 

The question is how their bodies will respond.

In the back of their minds, A's fans worry that their young stars may have been overtaxed.

Philadelphia Phillies: Ryan Howard Continues to Fade

The crop of free-agent outfielders remains strong. Ryan Ludwick, Cody Ross or Nick Swisher, for example, could potentially sign with the Philadelphia Phillies as a steady power source.

But for the time being, their lineup is very questionable.

Carlos Ruiz will miss 25 games for taking amphetamines. Who knows if he'll still swing a mighty stick without performance enhancers. Also, Chase Utley is tough to trust considering his chronic knee problems.

Philadelphia expects improvement from one slugger—first baseman Ryan Howard. He missed most of 2012 with an Achilles injury and returned to post an underwhelming 91 OPS+ when "healthy."

The Phillies won't be able to support their star-studded starting rotation if his numbers continue to dip.

Pittsburgh Pirates: A.J. Burnett Starts Pitching Like A.J. Burnett Again

A.J. Burnett had shocking success last summer (16-10, 3.51 ERA, 1.24 WHIP), all while the New York Yankees paid 70 percent of his salary. In 2013, his former team will again be writing the majority of his checks.

If Burnett doesn't regress, the Pittsburgh Pirates will emerge from this deal as clear-cut winners.

However, bouts of wildness have historically prevented the right-hander from sustaining success. Another one could derail his career and send the Bucs to their 21st consecutive losing season.

San Diego Padres: Chase Headley Alters Swing to Match 2012 Home Run Total

The San Diego Padres can be very dangerous next season if Chase Headley has another MVP-caliber campaign. He blossomed into an elite, middle-of-the-order power threat while continuing to contribute as a fielder and baserunner.

The fear is that he sacrifices contact ability to repeat as a 30-homer hitter. Headley whiffed a career-high 157 times to reach that milestone the first time.

It's in San Diego's best interests that both of those numbers go down.

San Francisco Giants: Tim Lincecum Messes with His Weight...Again

Tim Lincecum gave up In-N-Out burgers last winter to slim down, a decision that led to his 2012 season-long struggles.

The Freak didn't adjust his mechanics to suit his new form. Hampered by poor control and reduced velocity, he led the National League in earned runs allowed.

He dominated in October as a reliever, pitching out of the stretch and moving fewer body parts. The San Francisco Giants couldn't have won the World Series without him.

They won't repeat, however, unless he becomes a viable starting option again.

Seattle Mariners: Safeco Field Plays Large Despite Smaller Dimensions

In recent years, the Seattle Mariners have finished last among American League teams in runs scored.

They plan to buck that trend in 2013 by 1) shrinking Safeco Field so that more balls reach the seats and 2) signing a power-hitting free agent—Josh Hamilton, Mike Napoli, Nick Swisher, etc.—who can produce in any environment.

But what if these physical and personnel changes don't lead to higher scores?

There will be nothing to distract M's fans from their team's mediocrity. For the second straight season, the beautiful ballpark will fail to draw two million attendees.

St. Louis Cardinals: John Mozeliak Trusts Roster, Doesn't Make Major Moves

GM John Mozeliak doesn't have any holes to plug...yet.

But three contributors to the 2012 pitching staff—Joe Kelly, Shelby Miller and Trevor Rosenthal—will be entering their second seasons. They all experienced initial MLB success before the league had time to adjust.

Shortstop Rafael Furcal is reportedly healthy after struggling with an elbow injury last year. Still, he's a 35-year-old who annually lands on the disabled list.

Affordable reliever Marc Rzepczynski hasn't been much of a weapon since coming over from the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011. For now, he's the lone left-hander in the bullpen.

The St. Louis Cardinals' nightmare involves an over-confident front office leaving the team exposed to these potential weaknesses.

Tampa Bay Rays: Evan Longoria Rushes Back from Surgery, Can't Play Third Base

According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, newly-extended Evan Longoria underwent hamstring surgery on Nov. 20.

A nagging injury caused him to miss more than three months last season. He couldn't play the field during his first few weeks back. Longoria eventually returned to the hot corner, but was visibly limited.

The small-market Tampa Bay Rays wouldn't be able to afford an adequate replacement third baseman in the unfortunate scenario that he rushes back to action too soon. Few players at the same position can rival him offensively or defensively, and no alternative provides equal overall value.

Texas Rangers: Josh Hamilton Re-Signs

Firstly, re-signing Josh Hamilton would deprive the Texas Rangers of a supplemental first-round draft pick in 2013. After making him a $13.3-million qualifying offer, the Rangers would receive compensation if he goes anywhere else.

Hamilton is a talented slugger, but also a polarizing figure. While some fans appreciate his production, many others—including team owner Nolan Ryan—criticize his stubborn approach.

Overall, a potential championship contender like the Rangers could do without the distracting debate. And as Ben Lindbergh of Baseball Prospectus eloquently details, "his prime production is already past" (ESPN Insider access required).

Toronto Blue Jays: Josh Johnson Gets Paid, Fails in the American League

The 12-player blockbuster completed between the Miami Marlins and Toronto Blue Jays began as a Josh Johnson inquiry (via Alex Speier, WEEI.com). Toronto's front office was so fond of him that they agreed to take on tens of millions of dollars in other back-loaded contracts to get the right-hander north of the border.

He certainly has incredible potential.

So much, apparently, that general manager Alex Anthopoulos doesn't mind all the red flags, like Johnson's injury history or declining velocity. Or the facts that he'll be pitching in a hitter-friendly home ballpark in a hyper-competitive division in a league that employs designated hitters.

According to Brendan Kennedy of The Toronto Star, agent Matt Sosnick is already thinking about negotiating an extension for his client.

Investing in Johnson could haunt the Blue Jays for years if any of the aforementioned factors affect him.

Washington Nationals: Stephen Strasburg Re-Injures Elbow

The Washington Nationals—specifically GM Mike Rizzo—took a beating from the baseball world for coddling Stephen Strasburg in his first full major league season. Benching the phenom was motivated by the belief that it would protect him from arm problems in the long term.

Washington will loosen the reins going forward. Trusting Strasburg to begin and end 2013 as a starting pitcher, they aren't likely to re-sign Edwin Jackson or pursue a top-tier free agent.

Should the 24-year-old go down with an injury, the Nats won't be equipped to replace him in the rotation. Moreover, tearing an elbow ligament and requiring a second Tommy John surgery would put his once-bright future in doubt.

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