Reviewing Each MLB Team's Offseason, and Previewing Each Team's 2013

It's been a wild ride this winter with big-name free agents signing their typical lucrative contracts, and teams making trades to potentially better themselves for the upcoming season (and possibly beyond).

We now sit just a little more than a month away from Opening Day. So with that in mind, with the offseason dust just about settled, it's time to take a look at where each team sits with its roster.

Let's recap each team's major moves this offseason and preview what their lineups and pitching rotations will look like in the season ahead. Keep in mind, as of the publishing of this article, free agent standouts Kyle Lohse and Jose Valverde (among a few others) still remain unsigned.

Arizona Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks pulled off the blockbuster trade of the new year. The Snakes sent prized young outfielder Justin Upton (along with third baseman Chris Johnson) to the Atlanta Braves. In return, they received a package including third baseman Martin Prado, right-hander Randall Delgado and three minor leaguers. 

Though Upton's departure will leave the team with a little less thump in its lineup, the D-Backs are certainly not short in outfielders. In addition to 2012 holdovers Jason Kubel and Gerardo Parra, the team signed Cody Ross to a three-year, $26 million contract. It seemed only a matter of time before one of their outfielders changed uniforms.

Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks did make some other moves this winter. They swung a three-team deal with the Miami Marlins and the Oakland A's, netting themselves reliever Heath Bell and infielder Cliff Pennington in the process, while parting with yet another outfielder, Chris Young. Later, they took part in another three-team trade, this time of the Ohio variety. The deal with the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds saw the Snakes send top pitching prospect Trevor Bauer to the Tribe (along with a couple of relievers) and received a package that includes Lars Anderson, Didi Gregorius and Tony Sipp in return.

They also brought in right-hander Brandon McCarthy on a two-year, $15.5 million deal. They kept one of their own as well, agreeing to a two-year extension with closer J.J. Putz. There were some supplemental signings as well, including Eric Chavez, Eric Hinske and Mark Teahen.

Projected Starting Lineup (as of 2/22/13):

CF - Adam Eaton

3B - Martin Prado

C - Miguel Montero

1B - Paul Goldschmidt

RF - Cody Ross

LF - Jason Kubel

2B - Aaron Hill

SS - Cliff Pennigton

Projected Starting Rotation (as of 2/22/13):

Ian Kennedy

Brandon McCarthy

Trevor Cahill

Wade Miley

Randall Delgado/Patrick Corbin/Tyler Skaggs

Atlanta Braves

It had been a relatively and unusually quiet offseason for the Atlanta Braves. For a while, their biggest loss came at the end of the 2012 season when future Hall of Famer Chipper Jones said goodbye to the game.

But the Braves responded by acquiring not one, but two Upton brothers. First, they got the free agent frenzy started when they signed outfielder B.J. Upton to a five year $75.25 million contract in November. Then, they were one of the teams eyeing the Diamondbacks and whether they were willing to deal the other Upton brother. Well, as it turns out, they were.

The Braves acquired Justin Upton from the D-Backs in a package deal that also resulted in Martin Prado being shipped to the desert. The Braves all of a sudden have added another impact bat to their already deep lineup. 

Other than changing the address of the Upton family, the Braves brought in Gerald Laird to back-up Brian McCann behind the plate. They also bulked up their already-intimidating bullpen by acquiring fireballer Jordan Walden from the Angels for Tommy Hanson.

Projected Starting Lineup (as of 2/22/13):

SS - Andrelton Simmons

CF - B.J. Upton

RF - Jason Heyward

C - Brian McCann

LF - Justin Upton

1B - Freddie Freeman

2B - Dan Uggla

3B - Chris Johnson

Projected Starting Rotation (as of 2/22/13):

Kris Medlen

Tim Hudson

Mike Minor

Paul Maholm

Julio Teheran

Baltimore Orioles

Coming off their first playoff appearance in over a decade, many were expecting the Baltimore Orioles to be busy this winter. However, that has not exactly been the case. Aside from a couple of minor league deals and waiver claims, the O's have remained fairly quiet in the offseason frenzy. They are still targeting some remaining free agents and/or trade candidates, but their options are starting to wear thin.

The team did make some noise by extending the contracts of GM Jim Duquette and manager Buck Showalter, the league's runner-up for Manager of the Year in 2012.

Projected Starting Lineup (as of 2/22/13):

LF - Nolan Reimold

RF - Nick Markakis

CF - Adam Jones

1B - Chris Davis

C - Matt Wieters

SS - J.J. Hardy

3B - Manny Machado

DH - Wilson Betemit

2B - Ryan Flaherty

Projected Starting Rotation (as of 2/22/13):

Jason Hammel

Wei-Yin Chen

Chris Tillman

Miguel Gonzalez

Brian Matusz/Dylan Bundy

Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox suffered their worst season since 1965, finishing with a 69-93 record, good for last in the American League East. They quickly fired manager Bobby Valentine, and hired John Farrell, who used to be the Sox's pitching coach. But that wasn't the only move they made this offseason.

Starting with re-signing David Ortiz to a two-year, $26 million contract, the Sox went on a small spending spree. Within less than two weeks, they signed catcher David Ross and outfielder Jonny Gomes to two-year deals. Then came the fun. Despite their apparent surplus of outfielders, they signed Shane Victorino to a three-year, $39 million contract.

Then, they beefed up their pitching staff by signing reliever Koji Uehara to a one-year, $4.25 million deal and starter Ryan Dempster to a two-year, $26.5 million pact. And as if that wasn't enough, they swung a deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates to acquire closer Joel Hanrahan. And they weren't done there.

The Sox added depth to their infield by signing Stephen Drew to a one-year deal. And after about a month and a half of re-negotiations, they signed Mike Napoli to a one-year, $5 million contract (early in December, they had agreed on a three-year, $39 million contract, but after Napoli's medical records indicated a hip problem that spurred the Sox to alter the terms of the deal).

And they may still not be done dealing. With the additions of Gomes, Victorino, Ross and Hanrahan, the Red Sox seem to have a surplus of outfielders, catchers and relievers. Don't expect this team to have a consecutive 90-loss season in 2013.

Projected Starting Lineup (as of 2/22/13):

CF - Jacoby Ellsbury

RF - Shane Victorino

2B - Dustin Pedroia

DH - David Ortiz

1B - Mike Napoli

3B - Will Middlebrooks

LF - Jonny Gomes

C - Jarrod Saltalamcchia

SS - Stephen Drew

Projected Starting Rotation (as of 2/22/13):

Jon Lester

Ryan Dempster

Clay Buchholz

John Lackey

Felix Doubront

Chicago Cubs

Contrary to the Baltimore Orioles, the Chicago Cubs have been very active in the offseason. After finishing their third consecutive losing season (and first 100-loss season since 1966), the Cubs started their winter shopping with a buy-low approach.

They added some starting pitchers to the fold with one-year deals to Scott Baker and Scott Feldman. Carlos Villanueva signed a two-year, $10 million deal as well. The Cubs also got their hands into the international signings, as they inked right-hander Kyuji Fujikawa to a two-year, $9.5 million deal. 

They brought in Dioner Navarro to provide some catching depth and experience behind Wellington Castillo. And Nate Schierholtz brought his outfield experience to the Windy City on a one-year deal. 

But then the Cubs made a splash. They seemingly came out of nowhere to sign right-hander Edwin Jackson to a four-year, $52 million contract. And at the same time, they were courting fellow right-hander Anibal Sanchez, who instead returned to Detroit. Jackson, 29, immediately solidifies the Cubs' rotation for 2013 and beyond. With the holdovers from 2012, plus the myriad of additions for 2013, the Cubs are looking to once again be contenders in the NL Central.

Projected Starting Lineup (as of 2/22/13):

CF - David DeJesus

2B - Darwin Barney

SS - Starlin Castro

LF - Alfonso Soriano

1B - Anthony Rizzo

RF - Nate Schierholtz

C - Wellington Castillo

3B - Ian Stewart

Projected Starting Rotation (as of 2/22/13):

Matt Garza

Edwin Jackson

Jeff Samardzjia

Scott Baker

Scott Feldman/Travis Wood

Chicago White Sox

Last season, the Chicago White Sox made a bold move by appointing Robin Ventura as the team's new manager, with no Major League Baseball managerial experience. But the move wound up working out for the South Siders. The Sox finished the season three games behind the Tigers for tops in the division and were in first place as late as September 25. And after having a season in which you were the fourth-highest scoring team in the league, it's hard to find much to fix.

As such, the White Sox were rather quiet this offseason. Their biggest move was possibly overpaying for Jeff Keppinger (three-year, $12 million contract). They also signed right-handed reliever Matt Lindstrom. 

Projected Starting Lineup (as of 2/22/13):

CF - Alejandro De Aza

SS - Alexi Ramirez

RF - Alex Rios

DH - Adam Dunn

1B - Paul Konerko

LF - Dyan Vicedo

3B - Jeff Keppinger

2B - Gordon Beckham

C - Tyler Flowers

Projected Starting Rotation (as of 2/22/13):

Chris Sale

Jake Peavy

John Danks

Gavin Floyd

Hector Santiago

Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds, coming off their division-winning 2012 season, have had themselves a quiet but effective winter. They re-signed outfielder Ryan Ludwick to a two-year deal. They also acquired their new leadoff hitter, Shin-Soo Choo, in a three-way deal with Arizona and Cleveland. 

The Reds also added some spare parts through minor league deals, such as Armando Galarraga, Cesar Izturis and Corky Miller. Ultimately, the team is more-or-less the same as it was a season ago, which immediately puts them in the competitive set heading into 2013.

The biggest move may be the impending switch to the rotation for left-hander Aroldis Chapman. The hard-throwing Cuban was the Reds' closer in 2012, saving 38 games and collecting 122 strikeouts in just 71 innings pitched. But there is a chance that the team will move Chapman into the rotation for 2013.

Projected Starting Lineup (as of 2/22/13):

CF - Shin-Soo Choo

SS - Zack Cozart

1B - Joey Votto

2B - Brandon Phillips

RF - Jay Bruce

LF - Ryan Ludwick

3B - Todd Fraizer

C - Ryan Hanigan

Projected Starting Rotation (as of 2/22/13):

Johnny Cueto

Mat Latos

Bronson Arroyo

Homer Bailey

Mike Leake/Aroldis Chapman

Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians are aiming to compete in 2013. This offseason, they were uncharacteristically busy, spending money to transform themselves into contenders once again.

Their biggest signings were the four-year, $56 million contract they handed out to Nick Swisher, and the four-year, $48 million deal that landed them Michael Bourn. Swisher will immediately give the Tribe the thump in the lineup they have been needing—the Indians were the lowest scoring team in the league not from Seattle. And Bourn fills two glaring holes—a leadoff hitter, and a center fielder.

The Indians also added some solid pitching depth, including a 22-year-old top prospect. Trevor Bauer came over from the Diamondbacks in a three-team deal that also saw the Indians send Shin-Soo Choo to their cross-state rivals in return for Drew Stubbs. Bauer gives the team a young, controllable pitcher that has tremendous upside. 

Also acquired was Brett Myers, who signed a one-year, $7 million contract. Myers has extensive experience as a starter and a closer. He figures to slide into the rotation for Cleveland. The Indians also found some depth through minor league deals, including Scott Kazmir, Ryan Raburn and Ben Francisco.

And let us not forget their managerial acquisition, hiring two-time World Series winner Terry Francona to man the helm. Don't sleep on the Tribe in 2013.

Projected Starting Lineup (as of 2/22/13):

CF - Michael Bourn

LF - Michael Brantley

SS - Asdrubal Cabrera

1B - Nick Swisher

DH - Mark Reynolds

C - Carlos Santana

2B - Jason Kipnis

RF - Drew Stubbs

3B - Lonnie Chisenhall

Projected Starting Rotation (as of 2/221/13):

Ubaldo Jimenez

Justin Masterson

Brett Myers

Zach McAllister

Trevor Bauer/Carlos Carrasco

Colorado Rockies

The biggest change the Colorado Rockies made this offseason is the man sitting in the manager's chair. Walt Weiss makes his debut as skipper with the club for which he played four seasons. He takes the lead on a team that finished third in the league in runs scored, and last in the Major Leagues in runs allowed. No surprise here, given the intricacies of playing at Coors Field.

As far as on-the-field personnel, the Rockies will look generally the same as in 2012. They added some pitching depth through minor league deals (Chris Volstad, Miguel Batista and Manny Corpas). They still have some options in terms of free agent veterans, such as Derek Lowe and Carl Pavano. 

Offensively, they have as solid a group of hitters as you're going to find. Of course, the pitching staff leaves a lot to be desired, and their home park will once again be a factor on both sides of the field.

Projected Starting Lineup (as of 2/22/13):

CF - Dexter Fowler

3B - Chris Nelson

SS - Troy Tulowitzki

LF - Carlos Gonzalez

RF - Michael Cuddyer

1B - Todd Helton

C - Wilin Rosario

2B - Josh Rutledge

Projected Starting Rotation (as of 2/22/13):

Jhoulys Chacin

Jorge De La Rosa

Jeff Francis

Juan Nicasio

Drew Pomeranz/Tyler Chatwood/Miguel Batista/Chris Volstad

Detroit Tigers

There wasn't much for the Detroit Tigers to fix, coming off a trip to the World Series. They have the reigning league MVP (and Triple Crown winner), Miguel Cabrera. They have arguably the game's greatest pitcher, Justin Verlander. However, their trip to the World Series ended in futility, losing out to the Giants in four games.

Much of this team will look the same in 2013. The major acquisitions the team made were signing Torii Hunter to a two-year, $26 million contract, and re-signing right-hander Anibal Sanchez to a five-year, $80 million deal. 

The team may not be done yet, as they currently have rookie Bruce Rondon pegged as the closer to replace Jose Valverde. Rondon has never pitched in a Major League game, but possesses a ton of upside. The Tigers may want to find a suitable backup in case Rondon falters his first time out. Plus, there have been rumors swirling all winter long about Rick Porcello being available, while the team is searching for a shortstop.

Projected Starting Lineup (as of 2/22/13):

CF - Austin Jackson

RF - Torii Hunter

3B - Miguel Cabrera

1B - Prince Fielder

DH - Victor Martinez

C - Alex Avila

SS - Jhonny Peralta

LF - Andy Dirks

2B - Omar Infante

Projected Starting Rotation (as of 2/22/13):

Justin Verlander

Max Scherzer

Doug Fister

Anibal Sanchez

Rick Porcello/Drew Smyly

Houston Astros

The Houston Astros are in a rebuilding phase, that can not be argued. The biggest changes the club will see in 2013 is its logo, its manager and its division. The Astros are moving to the American League West this season, under new skipper Bo Porter.

As far as the athletes go, the only Major League signings the 'Stros made were Carlos Pena and Jose Veras, each of whom signed to one-year deals. There were some notable minor league deals handed out, including Rick Ankiel and Erik Bedard. They also acquired Alex White in a deal with the Colorado Rockies, and claimed Phil Humber off waivers from the Chicago White Sox. But they may have made things even more difficult on themselves in 2013 by trading Jed Lowrie to the Oakland A's for a package of players "highlighted" by first baseman Chris Carter and right-hander Brad Peacock

There's no doubt that 2013 will be a tough year in Houston. No team should want to face the Rangers and Angels 19 times a season. But when you have very little Major League experience on your roster, the challenges are even more difficult. ESPN's Buster Olney put it best (via MLBTradeRumors.com):

"

Bud Norris’ $3MM salary now leads the Astros. That’s less than the average MLB salary and what Zack Greinke will earn in three weeks
Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/02/trade-reaction-athletics-astros-deal.html#PORF5mGSKgqQjwqD.99 

"

Projected Starting Lineup (as of 2/22/13):

CF - Justin Maxwell

2B - Jose Altuve

LF - J.D. Martinez

DH - Carlos Pena

1B - Brett Wallace

3B - Matt Dominguez

SS - Tyler Greene

RF - Fernando Martinez

C - Jason Castro

Projected Starting Rotation (as of 2/22/13):

Lucas Harrell

Bud Norris

Jordan Lyles

Phil Humber

John Ely/Alex White

Kansas City Royals

It was an interesting offseason for the Kansas City Royals. After years of futility (they haven't reached the playoffs since they won the World Series in 1985), the team has brought together some veteran leadership to surround their core of young talent. 

For starters (pun intended), the Royals struck a deal with the Angels to acquire right-hander Ervin Santana. But that was just the tip of the iceberg. General Manager Dayton Moore boldly traded away budding young super prospect Wil Myers (amongst a package of prospects) to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for right-handers James Shields and Wade Davis. They also re-signed Jeremy Guthrie to a three-year deal. Starting pitching had been the Royals' downfall the last few seasons, but that should all go by the wayside in 2013.

And the minor league deals they made can't go unnoticed either. They were even able to get Miguel Tejada to come out of hiding. They also signed Chad Tracy, Endy Chavez, Xavier Nady, Dan Wheeler, George Sherrill and Willy Tavares to minor league deals. The Royals will be more than a spoiler in the AL Central this season, and within a few years could become legitimate contenders. 

Projected Starting Lineup (as of 2/22/13):

CF - Lorenzo Cain

SS - Alcides Escobar

DH - Billy Butler

1B - Eric Hosmer

LF - Alex Gordon

C - Salvador Perez

3B - Mike Moustakas

RF - Jeff Francoeur

2B - Chris Getz

Projected Starting Rotation (as of 2/22/13):

James Shields

Jeremy Guthrie

Ervin Santana

Wade Davis

Bruce Chen/Luke Hochevar

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Well, the Angels did it again. Last year, they shocked the baseball world by signing slugger Albert Pujols to a mega 10-year, $240 million contract. They followed that up this year by signing outfielder Josh Hamilton to a five-year, $125 million deal, seemingly coming out of nowhere to scoop up the former Texas Ranger.

Adding Hamilton's bat to an already dominant lineup makes the Halos an even bigger threat in the AL West. But that wasn't the only move they made this winter. In an effort to fortify their bullpen, they signed closer Ryan Madson and lefty set-up man Sean Burnett. And GM Jerry Dipoto added to his rotation as well, signing Joe Blanton and acquiring Jason Vargas and Tommy Hanson from the Mariners and Braves respectively.

The Angels clearly were not content with a third-place division finish in 2012. They made waves again this offseason, and will look to trounce the competition in 2013.

Projected Starting Lineup (as of 2/22/13):

CF - Peter Bourjous

LF - Mike Trout

RF - Josh Hamilton

1B - Albert Pujols

DH - Mark Trumbo

2B - Howie Kendrick

C - Chris Iannetta

3B - Alberto Callapso

SS - Erick Aybar

Projected Starting Rotation (as of 2/22/13):

Jered Weaver

C.J. Wilson

Jason Vargas

Tommy Hanson

Joe Blanton

Los Angeles Dodgers

Remember when the New York Yankees was the richest team in baseball? And remember when the National League West division was considered the weakest division in baseball? Well, times have changed. Now, there's a new beast in town, and it's the Los Angeles Dodgers. The new ownership group, spearheaded by Magic Johnson and Stan Kasten, have not been shy about spending money, and that shows in their 2013 offseason shopping.

Already stacked with a crowded rotation, the Dodgers added arguably the number one free agent on the market this winter, right-hander Zack Greinke. The Dodgers gave the 29-year-old a hefty six-year, $147 million contract. But he isn't the only newcomer to the rotation. The Dodgers went back to the Japanese market and brought Hyun-Jin Ryu, a 25-year-old southpaw, out West with a six-year, $36 million deal. 

They bolstered their bullpen as well by re-signing right-hander Brandon League and importing lefty J.P. Howell.

The Dodgers are fierce in the NL West, and are out to improve on their 2012 second-place finish in the division. But rest assured, if results aren't in the Dodgers' favor, changes will happen.

Projected Starting Lineup (as of 2/22/13):

LF - Carl Crawford

2B - Mark Ellis

3B - Hanley Ramirez

CF - Matt Kemp

1B - Adrian Gonzalez

RF - Andre Ethier

3B - Luis Cruz

C - A.J. Ellis

Projected Starting Rotation (as of 2/22/13):

Clayton Kershaw

Zack Greinke

Hyun-Jin Ryu

Josh Beckett

Chad Billingsley

Miami Marlins

Miami Marlins fans may want to skip over this page. 

A complete 180 from an offseason ago, the Marlins overhauled the majority of their Major League talent to the Toronto Blue Jays. Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, Josh Johnson, John Buck and Emilio Bonifacio all flew north-of-the-border. In return, the Marlins got a package full of young prospects, including infielder Adeiny Hechavarria and pitcher Henderson Alvarez. This move trimmed Miami's payroll from over $100 million to about $16-$20 million.

The only Major League free agents that the Marlins signed this winter were Placido Polanco (one-year, $2.75 million contract) and former World Series hero, Juan Pierre (one-year, $1.6 million deal). They also signed notable names to minor league deals, such as John Maine, Chone Figgins, Casey Kotchman, Austin Kearns, Kevin Slowey and Kevin Kouzmanoff.

Projected Starting Lineup (as of 2/22/13):

LF - Juan Pierre

SS - Adeiny Hechavarria

1B - Logan Morrison

RF - Giancarlo Stanton

3B - Placido Polanco

CF - Justin Ruggiano

C - Rob Brantly

2B - Donovan Solano

Projected Starting Rotation (as of 2/22/13):

Ricky Nolasco

Jacob Turner

Henderson Alvarez

Nate Eovaldi

Wade LeBlanc

Milwaukee Brewers

With most of their core pieces still intact after 2012, the Milwaukee Brewers were not really expected to do much this offseason (though an upgrade to the rotation would seem to be in order). And as such, the Brew Crew remained virtually quiet over the winter.

They added a couple of lefties to the back of their their bullpen—Tom Gorzelanny and Mike Gonzalez. And other than some minor league deals, that's just about it for the Brewers' offseason. So while the Cubs and Reds improved, and the Cardinals still remain a perpetual threat, the Brewers remained at the status quo, which could pose a problem if they wish to compete in 2013.

First baseman Corey Hart had knee surgery last month, which could sideline him for at least four months. Mat Gamel, who was tabbed to try and replace him, has endured his own knee injury, leaving first base a bit of an enigma for the Brewers. There are internal options, such as Alex Gonzalez, Bobby Crosby and Taylor Green, but the Brewers may decide to scrape the bottom of the free agent barrel to see what's left.

Projected Starting Lineup (as of 2/22/13):

CF - Carlos Gomez

RF - Norichika Aoki

LF - Ryan Braun

3B - Aramis Ramirez

2B - Rickie Weeks

C - Jonathan Lucroy

1B - Alex Gonzalez/Taylor Green

SS - Jean Segura

Projected Starting Rotation (as of 2/22/13):

Yovani Gallardo

Marco Estrada

Chris Narveson

Wily Peralta

Mike Fiers

Minnesota Twins

It's not easy playing in the same division as the Detroit Tigers or the Chicago White Sox. It's even harder when the Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Royals have vastly improved themselves. But for the Minnesota Twins, they seem more-or-less content with what they have heading into the 2013 season.

The Twins have made just a few moves this offseason. They revamped the rotation a bit by signing right-handers Kevin Correia and Mike Pelfrey to one-year contracts, and Rich Harden to a minors deal.

But this winter, they arguably lost more than they gained, at least for the immediate future. They traded away two of their talented outfielders, sending Ben Revere to the Philadelphia Phillies for Vance Worley and Trevor May, and Denard Span to the Washington Nationals for Alex Meyer. Worley is the only one of the three pitchers with Major League experience, and Meyer had his first pro-season in 2012.

The Twins' offense is still pretty packed. But if their young pitching isn't able to live up, it could be another sub-par season in the Twin Cities in 2013.

Projected Starting Lineup (as of 2/22/13):

CF - Darin Mastroianni

2B - Jamey Carroll

C - Joe Mauer

LF - Josh Willingham

1B - Justin Morneau

DH - Ryan Doumit

3B - Trevor Plouffe

RF - Chris Parlamee

SS - Pedro Florimon

Projected Starting Rotation (as of 2/22/13):

Kevin Correia

Vance Worley

Scott Diamond

Mike Pelfrey

Liam Hendriks

New York Mets

Predictably, the New York Mets were rather quiet on the free agent market this winter. Still reeling from the effects of the Bernie Madoff debacle, coupled with some large contracts still on the books, the Mets had a tight budget from which to spend. Still, the low-budget moves they made seem to be for the best and may in fact make the team better than it was in 2012, both short-term and long-term.

Their big splash was trading the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey to the Toronto Blue Jays (along with catchers Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas). In return, they received super catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud, as well as pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard. They also acquired John Buck in the deal to handle the catching duties until d'Arnaud is ready. 

They recently signed Shaun Marcum to a one-year, $4 million contract. The 31-year-old right-hander was efficient for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2012, posting a 3.70 ERA in 21 starts. He has been slightly prone to injury throughout his seven-year career, but when healthy, he keeps the ball in the yard and eats up innings. And they bolstered their bullpen with the signings of Brandon Lyon, LaTroy Hawkins and Scott Atchinson (the latter two were signed to minor league contracts).

They came into the offseason with one of their goals being to improve their outfield. They were seriously considering signing speedy center fielder Michael Bourn. But they dragged their feet for too long (mostly due to the draft-pick compensation that went along with signing him), and the Indians scooped him up. The goal of an improved outfield has not come to fruition.

Of course, the biggest move they made in terms of dollars was keeping one of their own for the foreseeable future. David Wright, who was set to become a free agent at the end of the 2013 season, signed an eight-year, $138 million contract extension that will keep him as the face of the franchise for likely his entire career.

Projected Starting Lineup (as of 2/22/13):

SS - Ruben Tejada

2B - David Murphy

3B - David Wright

1B - Ike Davis

LF - Lucas Duda

C - John Buck

RF - Marlon Byrd

CF - Kirk Nieuwenhuis/Collin Cowgill

Projected Starting Rotation (as of 2/22/13):

Johan Santana

Jon Niese

Shaun Marcum

Dillon Gee

Matt Harvey

New York Yankees

Conspicuous by their absence in the offseason frenzy, the New York Yankees will open 2013 looking to stay under the luxury tax threshold. Thus, the team has made just a handful of minor moves, uncharacteristic for the team that has previously signed Alex Rodriguez to a record $275 million contract.

In response to A-Rod's hip surgery—which could sideline him for the entire season—the Bombers signed former Red (and White) Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis to a one-year, $12 million contract. Other than that, the majority of their offseason spending went towards re-signing a number of their own players— Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera and Hiroki Kuroda all signed one year deals, and Ichiro Suzuki was brought back on a two-year contract.

They also imported free-agent designated hitter Travis Hafner on a one-year, $2MM contract. He will likely split the DH duties with Matt Diaz (who was brought in on a minor league deal), in what would be a true lefty-righty platoon.

There's no question the Yankees still have a formidable club. But there's also no arguing that this team is rapidly getting older, and could experience a disappointing season if their aging veterans are not able to contribute up to their standards in 2013.

Projected Starting Lineup (as of 2/22/13):

RF - Ichiro Suzuki

SS - Derek Jeter

2B - Robinson Cano

1B - Mark Teixeira

CF - Curtis Granderson

3B - Kevin Youkilis/Alex Rodriguez

DH - Travis Hafner/Matt Diaz

C - Francisco Cervelli/Austin Romine/Chris Stewart

LF - Brett Gardner

Projected Starting Rotation (as of 2/22/13):

C.C. Sabathia

Hiroki Kuroda

Andy Pettitte

Phil Hughes

Ivan Nova

Oakland Athletics

After stunning the majority of baseball by winning the AL West in 2012, the A's were pretty silent during the offseason. Early in the winter, they swung a three-team deal with Arizona and Miami, netting the team centerfielder Chris Young in the process.

They also got their hands into international free agency by signing Japanese shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima to a two-year, $6.5 million contract. The 30-year-old instantly slides in as the team's starting shortstop, after they included Cliff Pennington in the deal with Arizona, and Stephen Drew left for Boston as a free agent.

The A's should be in the mix for the best in the West this year once again. But they will have their hands full with the Texas Rangers and Anaheim Angels seeking retribution, not to mention a much-improved Seattle Mariners team.

Projected Starting Lineup

CF - Coco Crisp/Chris Young

SS - Hiroyuki Nakajima

RF - Josh Reddick

LF - Yoenis Cespedes

DH - John Jaso

C - Derek Norris

1B - Brandon Moss

3B - Josh Donaldson/Jed Lowrie

2B - Jemile Weeks

Projected Starting Rotation:

Brett Anderson

Bartolo Colon

Jarrod Parker

A.J. Griffin

Drew Straily/Tom Millone

Philadelphia Phillies

Over the last few years, we've become accustomed to seeing the Philadelphia Phillies win. Up until last season, they had finished first in the NL East division each of the previous five seasons, and they hadn't finished less than second since 2003. That is, until 2012.

Last year, the club finished with an even .500 record, their worst winning percentage since '02. But one could argue that the cause of their demise has more to do with an improved division (most notably the Washington Nationals), and not so much the talent on the roster. Still, GM Ruben Amaro has spent this winter making the moves he needed to make to solidify his ballclub for 2013.

The Phils made two big splashes in the trade market, acquiring third baseman Michael Young from the Texas Rangers, and speedy outfielder Ben Revere from the Twins. But they also completed their roster by adding free-agent reliever Mike Adams and left-hander John Lannan. They also brought in outfielder Delmon Young on a one-year deal, but November ankle surgery could land him on the Disabled List to start the season.

The Phillies still expect to be competitive in 2013. But the team is getting older, and injuries have been taking a toll. The Atlanta Braves and the Washington Nationals have bettered themselves since last year, and it should be another three-team dog fight for the top of the division in 2013.

Projected Starting Lineup (as of 2/22/13):

SS - Jimmy Rollins

CF - Ben Revere

3B - Michael Young

1B - Ryan Howard

2B - Chase Utley

C - Carlos Ruiz

LF - Dominic Brown

RF - Laynce Nix

Projected Starting Rotation (as of 2/22/13):

Roy Halladay

Cliff Lee

Cole Hamels

Kyle Kendrick

John Lannan

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates were once again a surprise team in 2012—for most of 2012 that is. The Bucs were in first place in the NL Central as late as July 18, and were 16 games over .500 on August 8. Yet, a second-half swoon landed the team with another losing record (their 20th consecutive such record), and 18 games behind the first-place Reds.

Still, there's much to be excited about in the Steel City in 2013. Andrew McCutchen is one of the most dynamic players in the game right now. They should get a full season from youngster Starling Marte. And Pedro Alvarez is coming into his own, after the first 30-home run season of his young career.

And the additions the team made this winter, though small in comparison to the likes of the Los Angeles teams, will likely be a big help in 2013. Russell Martin will give the team a solid, veteran presence behind the plate—he signed a 2-year, $17MM deal. They signed left-hander Francisco Liriano to a two-year deal as well, giving them depth in the rotation.

The Pirates play in a very tough division. But they have the pieces in place to at least be competitive in 2013.

Projected Starting Lineup (as of 2/22/13):

LF - Starling Marte

2B - Neil Walker

CF - Andrew McCutchen

3B - Pedro Alvarez

1B - Garrett Jones

C - Russell Martin

RF - Travis Snider

SS - Clint Barmes

Projected Starting Rotation (as of 2/22/13):

A.J. Burnett

Wandy Rodriguez

James McDonald

Francisco Liriano

Jeff Karstens

San Diego Padres

It's been a predictably quiet winter out in San Diego. The Padres, who finished 10 games below .500 in 2012, completed only one Major League signing to this point, re-signing Jason Marquis to a one-year, $3MM deal. They also acquired Tyson Ross, a former second-round draft pick, from the A's. And, they recently inked right-hander Freddy Garcia to a minor league contract, giving them some veteran depth in their rotation.

The Padres will have another tough season in 2013, most likely, even if they get another MVP-caliber season from Chase Headley. They have some true talent in their lineup. But it will be difficult for them to match up to the division behemoths that are the Dodgers, Giants and Diamondbacks.

Projected Starting Lineup (as of 2/22/13):

CF - Cameron Maybin

RF - Will Venable

LF - Carlos Quentin

3B - Chase Headley

1B - Yonder Alonso

C - Nick Hundley

2B - Logan Forsythe

SS - Everth Cabrera

Projected Starting Rotation (as of 2/22/13):

Edinson Volquez

Clayton Richard

Eric Stults

Tyson Ross

Freddy Garcia/Jason Marquis

San Francisco Giants

If you were expecting the San Francisco Giants to make any major moves this winter after winning the 2012 World Series, you've certainly been disappointed. But who could blame General Manager Brian Sabean? As the old adage goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." And the Giants are definitely not a broken team.

In fact, the only Major League signing the team made to a player that was not on the 2012 team was with Andres Torres (one-year, $2MM deal), and he played with the team from 2009-2011.

The difference this year is, the competition has gotten stronger...namely the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Giants were able to thwart the Dodgers last year. But it will be a tall task to do it again in 2013.

Projected Starting Lineup (as of 2/22/13):

CF - Angel Pagan

2B - Marco Scutaro

3B - Pablo Sandoval

C - Buster Posey

RF - Hunter Pence

1B - Brandon Belt

LF - Gregor Blanco

SS - Brandon Crawford

Projected Starting Rotation (as of 2/22/13):

Matt Cain

Madison Bumgarner

Tim Lincecum

Ryan Vogelsong

Barry Zito

Seattle Mariners

The Seattle Mariners are desperately trying to rid themselves of the "troubled team" label. After finishing 2012 with a 75-87 record, they haven't had a winning season since 2009, and haven't finished higher than third in the AL West since '07. But the M's have made a lot of moves this winter that should help them become a legitimate threat in the division.

The biggest Achille's heal with the Mariners over the past few seasons has been their offense. They have scored the fewest runs in the American League each season since '09, and had the second-fewest in 2008. So, logically, GM Jack Zduriencik focused his offseason on finding bats. And bats he found.

He swung deals with the Angels and the Nationals to acquire Kendrys Morales and Michael Morse respectively. They reunited themselves with outfielder Raul Ibanez, and added Jason Bay to the outfield mix as well. These acquisitions, combined with budding sluggers like Jesus Montero, Justin Smoak and Dustin Ackley will definitely help the Mariners right the ship in 2013.

The Mariners are also chock-full of young talent making their way through the farm system. For a look at MLB.com's look at their top prospects, click here—we could very easily see some of these youngsters in the big leagues in 2013.

Projected Starting Lineup (as of 2/22/13):

CF - Franklin Gutierrez

2B - Dustin Ackley

LF - Michael Morse

DH - Kendrys Morales

C - Jesus Montero

1B - Justin Smoak

3B - Kyle Seager

RF - Michael Saunders

SS - Brendan Ryan

Projected Starting Rotation (as of 2/22/13):

Felix Hernandez

Hiashi Iwakuma

Joe Saunders

Blake Beaven

Hector Noesi 

St. Louis Cardinals

It's been a strangely quiet offseason for the St. Louis Cardinals, coming off another playoff appearance in 2012. Of course, there isn't a whole lot the Cards are lacking heading into 2013, after finishing 88-74 and making it to the NLCS before losing to the eventual World Series-winning San Francisco Giants.

They signed super-utility man Ty Wigginton to a two-year $5MM contract, and left-handed reliever Randy Choate to a three-year $7.5MM deal. And, other than recently adding infielder Ronny Cedeno to the fold, the team looks pretty much the same as it did a season ago (not including the impending loss of free-agent Kyle Lohse).

They are anticipating not having Chris Carpenter pitch at all this season, but seem to be content with internal replacement options such as Shelby Miller, Trevor Rosenthal and Joe Kelly.

Still, the Red Birds expect to be competitive again in 2013, but they will have to deal with a division that includes an improved Chicago Cubs team, and no longer includes the division punching bags, the Houston Astros.

Projected Starting Lineup:

SS - Rafael Furcal

CF - John Jay

RF - Carlos Beltran

LF - Matt Holiday

C - Yadier Molina

1B - Allen Craig

3B - David Freese

2B - Danny Descalso

Projected Starting Rotation (as of 2/22/13):

Adam Wainwright

Lance Lynn

Jamie Garcia

Jake Westbrook

Trevor Rosenthal/Joe Kelly/Shelby Miller

Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays' offseason was punctuated by a bold trade completed with the Kansas City Royals. The Rays dealt frontline starter James Shields (along with fellow right-hander Wade Davis) to the Royals. In exchange, they received four prospects, including phenom Wil Myers, as well as pitching prospects Jake Odorizzi and Mike Montgomery. 

The Rays made other moves this winter, though not as prolific as the aforementioned trade. They re-signed reliever Kyle Farnsworth and DH Luke Scott. They also brought in Kelly Johnson to platoon at second base and outfield. 

They also agreed to a six-year, $100MM contract extension with third baseman Evan Longoria, the face of the franchise. The Rays figure to be competitive once again in 2013. Though, it would have helped some if they were able to get one or two power hitters to hit behind Longoria. But with the reigning Cy Young Award winner at the top of their rotation, look for the Rays to contend for the AL East title.

Projected Starting Lineup (as of 2/22/13):

LF - Desmond Jennings

2B - Kelly Johnson

RF - Ben Zobrist

3B - Evan Longoria

DH - Matt Joyce

1B - James Loney

SS - Yunel Escobar

C - Jose Molina

CF - Sam Fuld

Projected Starting Rotation (as of 2/22/13):

David Price

Jeremy Hellickson

Matt Moore

Alex Cobb

Jeff Niemann/Roberto Hernandez

Texas Rangers

If you're looking for a team that missed out on a number of opportunities this offseason, look no further than the Texas Rangers. They watched their best hitter depart via free agency to their division rivals (Josh Hamilton, $125MM deal with the Angels). They missed out on other free agent targets such as Zack Greinke and Anibal Sanchez, not to mention trade target Justin Upton.

Despite all of that, the Rangers still have a fearsome lineup and a rotation that demands attention as well. They added some thunder to their batting order, signing Lance Berkman and A.J. Pierzynski each to a one-year deal. They also beefed up their bullpen by signing right-handers Joakim Soria and Jason Frasor.

And in case the Rangers don't feel content, Kyle Lohse still remains a free-agent target, though they currently claim to have no interest in the right-hander. Plus, they have MLB.com's #1 prospect, infielder Jurickson Profar waiting in the wings. It ought to be a dog fight in the AL West this season, but count the Rangers in as part of the bout.

Projected Starting Lineup (as of 2/22/13):

SS - Elvis Andrus

2B - Ian Kinsler

RF - Nelson Cruz

3B - Adrian Beltre

DH - Lance Berkman

C - A.J. Pierzynski

1B - Mitch Moreland

LF - David Murphy

CF - Craig Gentry

Projected Starting Rotation (as of 2/22/13):

Matt Harrison

Yu Darvish

Derek Holland

Alexi Ogando

Martin Perez/Colby Lewis

Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays have been the talk of the offseason. In the span of two high-profile trades, the Jays have propelled themselves into instant contention for 2013.

First, they shocked the baseball world by acquiring Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle, Emilio Bonifacio and John Buck from the Miami Marlins for a package that included Adeiny Hechavarria, Yunel Escobar and Henderson Alvarez.

Then, they acquired the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, R.A. Dickey from the New York Mets in exchange for Buck, and prospects Travis d'Arnaud and Noah Syndergaard.

These deals, combined with the signings of Melky Cabrera along with role-players such as Mark DeRosa, Andy LaRoche, Henry Blanco and Maicer Izturis will help the Jays lose the label of "playing in the wrong division". They are ready to win in 2013, and have prepared themselves to do just that.

Projected Starting Lineup (as of 2/22/13):

SS - Jose Reyes

LF - Melky Cabrera

RF - Jose Bautista

1B - Edwin Encarnacion

3B - Brett Lawrie

DH - Adam Lind

C - J.P. Arencibia

CF - Colby Rasmus

2B - Emilio Bonifacio

Projected Starting Rotation (as of 2/22/13):

R.A. Dickey

Josh Johnson

Mark Buehrle

Brendan Morrow

Ricky Romero

Washington Nationals

In case you haven't heard, the Washington Nationals are for real. The team from the Capital awoke in 2012 to win the NL East division, and garnered the franchise's first playoff appearance since 1981. And though their playoff run ended rather short (they lost to the Cardinals in the NLDS in stunning fashion), their 2012 campaign was impressive altogether.

But if the Nationals were good in 2012, imagine what they could be in 2013. They should receive a full season of play from Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg. They re-signed Adam LaRoche to a two-year deal, after his career-year. Their center field problem got solved when they snatched Denard Span away from the Minnesota Twins. They also bolstered their rotation and their bullpen by signing Dan Haren and Rafael Soriano respectively. 

Depending on what happens with Gio Gonzalez, the team could look to add another starter to the rotation. But regardless, this team has all the makings of a gold standard in the National League. It will be fun to watch this team continue to win and develop at the same time for years to come.

Projected Starting Lineup (as of 2/22/13):

CF - Denard Span

SS - Ian Desmond

RF - Jayson Werth

3B - Ryan Zimmerman

1B - Adam LaRoche

LF - Bryce Harper

2B - Danny Espinosa

C - Kurt Suzuki

Projected Starting Rotation (as of 2/22/13):

Stephen Strasburg

Gio Gonzalez

Jordan Zimmermann

Dan Haren

Ross Detwiler