40 Predictions for MLB Stars on New Teams in 2012

It's been a busy offseason for many teams and players this winter, as a number of stars have changed teams and now find themselves heading into spring training with a fresh start.

Organizations and fans alike are hoping for big things from their newfound stars, and while there will inevitably be some failures in the mix, most players appear to be setting themselves up for great success.

Here are some 2012 outlooks for the top players in new towns this season.

Mark Buehrle

After leaving Chicago for the sunnier landscape of Miami, Mark Buehrle will likely continue to be the model of consistency as he takes the mound for the Marlins.

With at least 10 wins in every season since he was a rookie, Buehrle has enough talent behind him to have a great shot at reaching the 20-win plateau, something he's never done.

Chris Capuano

Chris Capuano's best season came with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2005, when he won 18 games and posted a sub-4.00 ERA.

He won 11 games last season in New York, and with a new home on the West Coast in 2012, he'll feed off Clayton Kershaw and once again near his best days.

He probably won't see 18 wins, but 15 isn't at all out of the question.

Mark Ellis

Signing with the L.A. Dodgers this offseason, Mark Ellis returns to California in hopes of his best days being ahead of him.

He's only managed to stay healthy enough to play more than 130 games three times during his career, but with a healthy 2012 season, Ellis should be able to reach the 20-HR/100-RBI mark.

Adam Kennedy

Another new member of the L.A. Dodgers, Adam Kennedy will look to get back on track after two disappointing seasons in Washington and Seattle.

Having batted more than 30 points below his career average in each of those seasons, Kennedy's fresh start could once again propel him toward a .300 batting average, something he's reached on multiple occasions during his career.

Josh Willingham

With Michael Cuddyer out the door in Minnesota, the Twins turned to Josh Willingham to fill the void left by their most consistent offensive player's departure.

Despite Target Field's reputation as a pitcher's ballpark, Willingham should be able to build off his 2011 season and reach 30 home runs for the first time in his career.

C.J. Wilson

It takes a lot to upstage a massive contract signing like C.J. Wilson's in Los Angeles, but with Albert Pujols coming to town, Wilson's deal takes a back seat.

Joining what will now be one of the best rotations in all of baseball should only help Wilson, however, as he along with Dan Haren and Jered Weaver could very well combine for 60 wins.

Tsuyoshi Wada

After a 16-5 record with a 1.51 ERA in 2011, Tsuyoshi Wada's stock rose enough to propel him to Major League Baseball, signing a contract with the Baltimore Orioles.

Fans in Baltimore shouldn't expect the same returns in the AL East however, as Wada could struggle to adapt to major league hitters.

Jim Thome

Forty-one-year-old Jim Thome returns for a second stint in Philadelphia in 2012, hoping to get the World Championship that has eluded him for so many years.

As we saw during 2011 with the Twins, his age appears to be catching up with him, and while his bat will always be dangerous, he likely won't see enough at-bats to make the impact he did during his first appearance in a Phillies uniform.

Kelly Shoppach

Having played in 100 games only one time during his career, Kelly Shoppach likely won't reach that number again, with Jarrod Saltalamacchia holding down the top catcher's spot.

He has shown that even with limited at-bats, he can provide a powerful offensive bat, and while he probably won't reach the 20-home-run mark without a number of games at DH, he should be good enough for one of his strongest offensive seasons yet.

Joel Zumaya

Joel Zumaya last pitched in 2010, with his career abruptly coming to a halt in Minnesota when an arm injury would end his season and prevent a 2011 season from happening.

He returns to the scene of the crime in 2012, this time in a Twins uniform.

With plenty to prove and a young arm, Zumaya will prove doubters wrong and hit 100 mph on the radar gun this season.

Jose Reyes

After an outstanding 2011 season in which he led the league in batting with a .337 average, Jose Reyes was among the most coveted free agents this offseason.

He'll no doubt provide significant offensive output for the upstart Marlins in 2012, but expect his average to come back down to earth, as Reyes is a sub-.300 career hitter.

Jonathan Papelbon

Jonathan Papelbon is coming into a good situation in Philadelphia, with a great pitching staff and a strong offense behind him.

He'll have many opportunities to close the door on games in 2012, and if he's able to remain composed in high-pressure situations, he could push toward the 55-save mark.

Albert Pujols

In what has been the biggest move of this offseason, the Los Angeles Angels signed one of the best players of our time to a 10-year mega deal, effectively ensuring Albert Pujols ends his career as an Angel.

After seeing career lows (if you can call them lows) in a number of different areas, Pujols will tear up American League pitching in 2012 en route to AL MVP honors.

Darren Oliver

Forty-one-year-old Darren Oliver spent two productive seasons in his second stint in Texas in 2010 and 2011, winning six games in 125 relief appearances and playing a part in both postseason runs.

He moves north of the border in 2012, and as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays will likely continue to succeed, although the strong offensive talent spread out through the AL East could prove to cost him as he continues to get long in the tooth.

Carlos Pena

After finishing 10th in the league in strikeouts in 2011 with 161, Carlos Pena returns to Tampa Bay, where he played from 2007 to 2010. 

With the tough pitching he'll face on a regular basis, Pena, who has struck out more than 150 times in a season in four consecutive years, could reach the dreaded 200 mark.

Joe Nathan

After saving an average of 41 games per season from 2004 to 2009 with the Minnesota Twins, Joe Nathan missed the entire 2010 season due to Tommy John surgery and failed to return to form in 2011.

Nathan removed himself from the closer role due to a lack in confidence and ended up finishing the season with only 14 saves and an ERA hovering around 5.00.

With the hitter-friendly confines in Texas, Nathan could see the same fate once again in 2012.

Ryan Madson

Ryan Madson's tenure with the Philadelphia Phillies got considerably better in the past two seasons, as his ERA dropped below 3.00 and strikeout numbers continued to rise.

He'll look to continue his ascent in the ranks of relief pitchers in 2012 with the Cincinnati Reds.

With a solid starting rotation leading the way, Madson should continue to improve with the Reds, likely making his first All-Star appearance.

Carlos Beltran

With Albert Pujols out the door, Lance Berkman and Matt Holliday remain as the most dangerous offensive weapons for the St. Louis Cardinals.

The team will benefit from adding the services of Carlos Beltran, who was one of the best free-agent targets this offseason and should thrive in his new setting.

Frank Francisco

Striking out better than a batter per inning in his last four seasons, Frank Francisco takes his talents to the Big Apple in 2012, as he'll eat up late innings for the Mets.

Francisco adds needed depth in the bullpen, and with many opportunities to succeed throughout the year, he should have his best season yet and could very well reach career highs in strikeouts, innings and wins.

Yu Darvish

The Texas Rangers have made a big investment in Yu Darvish, and while I don't doubt at all that he'll pay dividends over the duration of his career in Texas, it may not be immediate.

Depending on how the Rangers use Darvish after spring training, he may not end up being the ace fans are hoping for right away.

Alex Gonzalez

There was some brief hope in Milwaukee that the Brewers would work out a deal to bring coveted free agent Jose Reyes into Miller Park, adding offense after the departure of Prince Fielder.

With Reyes signing in Miami, the Brewers looked to former Atlanta Brave Alex Gonzalez to fill the infield void.

He'll take with him a career .247 batting average but may continue to struggle further, as he has seen his on-base percentage decline over the past few years.

Clint Barmes

During his first (and only) season with the Houston Astros in 2011, Clint Barmes batted .244 with a meager on-base percentage of .312.

As a part of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2012, Barmes likely feels a lot better about the situation he's in and may find himself nearing a .300 average, something he came close to a couple of times while with the Colorado Rockies.

Dontrelle Willis

Dontrelle Willis' career has seen its share of ups and downs, as the talented lefty was once thought to be the next big thing in the league.

After making 13 starts for the Cincinnati Reds in 2011, Willis will likely be pitching out of the bullpen for the Phillies in 2012, as there really isn't room for him in the league's best rotation.

With a great cast setting the table for him, Willis should settle into a bullpen role nicely, and at just 30 years old, there's plenty of time for him to make a career there.

Jason Marquis

The Minnesota Twins' starting rotation is decent enough on paper to make one think they've got what it takes to contend in the AL Central with veteran Carl Pavano and talented lefty Francisco Liriano on board.

Their addition of Jason Marquis follows the Twins' trend of adding pitchers who don't strike out batters, as Marquis strikes out only four batters per nine innings, while walking nearly as many.

With the Twins' potential struggles on offense again in 2012, I don't see Marquis getting enough run support to be successful by any means at Target Field.

Erik Bedard

With less than 300 innings logged in his past three seasons combined, Erik Bedard doesn't have the best track record for staying healthy and keeping himself on the mound.

He'll look to change that in 2012 as he joins the Pittsburgh Pirates pitching staff.

He's only won five games per season since 2008, but as long as injuries don't get the best of him, he could very well return with a season similar to 2006 and 2007, when he won 15 and 13 games respectively.

Jason Kubel

Despite playing in less than 100 games in 2011, Jason Kubel did enough good throughout the season (and the early part of his career) to warrant a contract from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

He'll enjoy the friendly confines in Arizona and should see his offensive numbers continue to climb, as the 29-year-old slugger is poised for a true breakout season.

Aaron Rowand

Aaron Rowand was a major disappointment in San Francisco after signing his five-year, $60 million contract prior to the 2008 season.

After batting just .233 in 2011, the Giants released Rowand, who recently signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins.

Rowand has shown that he can play, and at just 34 years of age, he should view the change of scenery as a second shot at playing up to high expectations.

Jon Rauch

After an up-and-down tenure with the Minnesota Twins in 2009 and 2010, Jon Rauch headed north of the border in 2011 as he suited up for the Toronto Blue Jays.

His strikeout numbers declined, while his ERA jumped more than a run-and-a-half to 4.85, making this a one-year stop for the Jays.

In a Mets uniform, the surprisingly powerless Rauch could continue to struggle, being overshadowed by the acquisition of Frank Francisco.

Jamie Moyer

Despite not playing in the major leagues in 2011, 49-year-old (yes, 49) Jamie Moyer has his sights set on a 2012 return, and despite a plethora of free-agent starting pitching available, it's really not out of the question to see him return.

In his last three seasons, Moyer has won 42 games while pitching nearly 600 innings.

A veteran presence like him will be valuable, and with something to prove, he could easily reach double-digit wins.

Mat Latos

The Cincinnati Reds certainly made a bold move when they traded for San Diego Padres starting pitcher Mat Latos earlier this offseason.

The package of players they gave up in return for Latos (Edinson Volquez, Yonder Alonso, Yasmani Grandal and Brad Boxberger) may prove to be a high price, but with Latos on the rise, he'll see his best career numbers and will be one of the best starters the NL Central has to offer.

Aramis Ramirez

The Milwaukee Brewers had to do something to bring some offense back into their lineup with the departure of Prince Fielder this offseason.

Aramis Ramirez made the move from Chicago and will be looked on to add some pop with Ryan Braun's potential suspension.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the 2012 version of Ramirez resemble his first years in Chicago, hitting 30-plus home runs and posting an OPS near 1.000.

Bryce Harper

He may not technically be on a new team, but Bryce Harper has never played for the Nationals, so I'll consider this a new team for him. 

With the way he excelled in 2011, he may not start the season with the team, but it won't be long before the organization has no choice but to bring him up.

When he does arrive, opposing pitchers will definitely have their hands full helping Harper along, as he could very well take home NL Rookie of the Year hardware.

Roy Oswalt

After making consecutive All-Star appearances from 2005 to 2007 with the Astros, Roy Oswalt has been absent from the Midsummer Classic since.

I still don't know who Oswalt will sign with, but with the number of teams looking for help in their rotations, he'll certainly get a chance to win games and should put up good numbers and head back to the All-Star game as long as he remains healthy.

Anthony Rizzo

Despite struggling to a .141 batting average with only 10 extra-base hits in San Diego during the 2011 season, Anthony Rizzo has an upside that made him appealing to the Chicago Cubs.

With a new opportunity in a new city, Rizzo will thrive in Wrigley Field, becoming a top young talent in the league.

Heath Bell

As part of the mass exodus toward Miami this offseason, Heath Bell will take on the closer role for the Marlins in 2012, hoping for many opportunities to save games for the up-and-coming team.

Racking up at least 40 saves in his past three seasons, I see Bell saving more than 50 games in 2012, as he'll likely get more opportunities to close out games than he did in San Diego.

Paul Maholm

Having won only 15 games in his last 58 starts, Paul Maholm is looking for a fresh start with the Chicago Cubs in 2012.

He'll join an organization looking to turn the corner with Theo Epstein at the helm, and while he may not be a 15-game winner, Maholm should be primed for his first winning season of his career.

Manny Ramirez

He's not on a new team yet, but Manny Ramirez has made it known that he intends to return to baseball again after calling it quits after last season's debacle in Tampa Bay, according to ESPN.com.

It's hard to say which team at this point would take a chance on Ramirez, as he seems like more of a liability than anything else, but if he catches on somewhere once his suspension ends, he could prove himself to be a strong candidate to play some October baseball on a team in need of an extra bat.

Gio Gonzalez

The Washington Nationals made a big statement regarding their intentions to contend in the NL East this offseason with their acquisition of Gio Gonzalez from the Oakland Athletics.

Along with ace Stephen Strasburg, Gonzalez will thrive in his new setting, further improving on his 16-win 2011 season.

Luke Scott

After three consecutive seasons with the Baltimore Orioles from 2008 to 2010, Luke Scott played only 63 games in 2011 and saw his numbers take a hit.

He heads south in the AL East to Tampa Bay, where he should once again return as a 25-home-run hitter and will have an OPS nearing 0.900 once again.

Michael Cuddyer

After spending the first 11 seasons of his career in a Minnesota Twins uniform, Michael Cuddyer followed the money to Colorado, signing a three-year deal with the Rockies.

Averaging 22 home runs and 82 RBI per season over the last three years, Cuddyer is setting himself up to surpass those averages significantly in the hitter-friendly confines of Coors Field, where he could easily pass 30, maybe even 35 home runs.