5 High-Profile MLB Teams Guaranteed to Be Also-Rans

Spring training is nearly upon the baseball world and while the upcoming season is full of optimism for every team, there are a few with reasons to worry.

A number of high profile teams are gearing up for a 162 season and the playoffs. Unfortunately, some of those teams are grossly over estimating their upcoming season.

Every team has a number of questions that need answering during the season. Some will receive satisfactory answers, but others will go begging.

Many big name teams will compete down the stretch, but some will be left in the dust.

Here are some of those teams that will be also-rans by season's end.

Chicago Cubs

Ah, the Cubs.

They are certainly on to something, bringing Theo Epstein to head their baseball office. But 2012 is not going to be a great year for the Cubs.

They've got some young talent, like shortstop Starlin Castro and potential Rookie of the Year Brett Jackson. But Epstein hasn't done enough (anything really) to make it seem like the Cubs can compete.

I believe they'll surprise out of the gate. But once August comes around, its pretty clear the Cubs won't be able to keep up with the rest of the division.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers have been so focused on off-field activities that they haven't put enough thought into their on-field team.

They have made a few good moves, especially the signings of Clayton Kershaw and Matt Kemp to extensions. But they haven't been active enough in the free agent market to consider themselves contenders.

The NL West is not particularly strong, but the Dodgers are short on talent right now. In 2013 they have enough coming through their system to give them a shot.

But 2012 will be a rebuilding year for the Blues.

Washington Nationals

Typically, the Nationals are out of contention by April 3rd.

Things will be different in 2012 as the Nationals have made a number of shrewd moves to makes themselves competitive for the first time in their Washington history.

The beginning of the season will see the Nats truly compete. But come September they will be out of contention.

Their pitching staff has too many question marks from Gio Gonzalez and Edwin Jackson's consistency to the health of Jordan Zimmerman and Stephen Strasburg.

Their hitting will be better. But Jayson Werth and Ryan Zimmerman aren't enough to support an entire lineup.

Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox faded down the stretch in 2011. Health was not on their side and. despite it all, they only missed the playoffs by a single game.

The Sox's are banking on everything going right for them in 2012. While things will probably be better, they won't be good enough.

Their rotation depends on a number of injury-free seasons and their offense hinges on a bounce back year by Carl Crawford and no regression for Jacoby Ellsbury.

Too many questions without competent answers will lead the Red Sox to third place.

San Francisco Giants

The Giants may have the best rotation in baseball. But they also one of the worst offenses.

The offseason saw the Giants maintain their pitching, but they failed to do the same with their offence.

Their most talented offensive player, Carlos Beltran, is gone. In his place are Angel Pagan and Melky Cabrera. Pagan is a hit or miss player whose talent is marred by inconsistency. Cabrera is coming off a career year and is moving to a pitcher-friendly park.

The Giants are hoping Buster Posey returns to his glory of 2010, Aubrey Huff remembers how to hit, Ryan Vogelsong doesn't regress to the long reliever he used to be and Pablo Sandoval keeps the weight off in all the right places. Its very unlikely that all of those things will happen.

If a single offensive player struggles, the whole team will suffer and if Vogelsong pitches as his career indicates, the Giants will need a another starter.

If everything goes right, the Giants will be contenders in the NL West.

If one thing goes wrong, they could be battling for 3rd place.