The Best and Worst Proposed Starting Lineups in MLB Right Now

Opening Day is right around the corner, and as position battles are wrapping up, lineups are coming into shape.

With all the big-name free agents changing zip codes in the offseason, lineups have shuffled and have been improved—in some cases.

In other cases, teams made additions that won't be enough to protect their fan bases from woeful offensive anemia.

Let's take a look at the best and worst lineups in baseball.

Best: New York Yankees

Projected Lineup

1.	Derek Jeter	SS
2.	Curtis Granderson	CF
3.	Robinson Cano	2B
4.	Alex Rodriguez	3B
5.	Mark Teixeira	1B
6.	Nick Swisher	RF
7.	Russell Martin	C
8.	Raul Ibanez	DH
9.	Brett Gardner	LF

Even with Jeter aging and A-Rod on the downhill, the combination of power and speed from Granderson and Cano with the power bats of Teixeira and Swisher make the Yankees too strong for most pitching staffs.

The bottom third of the order with Russell Martin, Raul Ibanez and Brett Gardner isn't too shabby either.

Worst: Oakland Athletics

Projected Lineup

1.	Jemile Weeks	2B
2.	Coco Crisp	LF
3.	Josh Reddick	RF
4.	Seth Smith	DH
5.	Brandon Allen	1B
6.	Yoenis Cespedes	CF
7.	Kurt Suzuki	C
8.	Josh Donaldson	3B
9.	Cliff Pennington	SS

The A's aren't going to be a power-hitting team by any stretch of the imagination.

But they won't be awful if Yoenis Cespedes hits and if Manny returns healthy and ready post-steroid suspension.

Best: Texas Rangers

Projected Lineup

1.	Ian Kinsler	2B
2.	Elvis Andrus	SS
3.	Josh Hamilton	LF
4.	Adrian Beltre	3B
5.	Michael Young	DH
6.	Nelson Cruz	RF
7.	Mike Napoli	C
8.	Julio Borbon	CF
9.	Mitch Moreland	1B

There's really no weak spot in the Rangers lineup, which is 1-9 probably the deepest in the majors.

Despite no new additions to the offense this year, there's little reason to expect much of a regression from last year.

Worst: Chicago Cubs

Projected Lineup

1.	David DeJesus	RF
2.	Starlin Castro	SS
3.	Marlon Byrd	CF
4.	Bryan LaHair	1B
5.	Alfonso Soriano	LF
6.	Geovany Soto	C
7.	Ian Stewart	3B
8.	Darwin Barney	2B

There's a lot of youth and a lot of speed, but other than Soriano, there's not much power and not much hope—for 2012 that is.

The Cubs are rebuilding, and they'll get the opportunity to see their prospects in big-league action for most of the year.

Best: Boston Red Sox

1.	Jacoby Ellsbury	CF
2.	Dustin Pedroia	2B
3.	Adrian Gonzalez	1B
4.	Kevin Youkilis	3B
5.	David Ortiz	DH
6.	Cody Ross	RF
7.	Jarrod Saltalamacchia	C
8.	Ryan Sweeney	LF
9.	Mike Aviles	SS

While the bottom four probably won't cause too much strife amongst opposing pitchers, the top five are arguably the best in baseball.

Table-setters Ellsbury and Pedroia can both hit for power and average, and the middle of the order is fearsome.

If Cody Ross magically returns to his 2010 postseason form, the Sox will be even more dangerous.

Worst: Seattle Mariners

Projected Lineup

1.	Chone Figgins	3B
2.	Dustin Ackley	2B
3.	Ichiro Suzuki	RF
4.	Mike Carp	LF
5.	Jesus Montero	DH
6.	Justin Smoak	1B
7.	Michael Saunders	CF
8.	Miguel Olivo	C
9.	Brendan Ryan	SS

I think the Mariners could be real good—in two or three years—but for now, they are stuck with an underpowered lineup.

Best: Colorado Rockies

Projected Lineup

1.	Dexter Fowler	CF
2.	Marco Scutaro	2B
3.	Carlos Gonzalez	LF
4.	Troy Tulowitzki	SS
5.	Todd Helton	1B
6.	Michael Cuddyer	RF
7.	Ramon Hernandez	C
8.	Casey Blake	3B

While it's not the sexiest lineup on paper, it's well constructed, and the additions of Cuddyer and Scutaro will only compliment the power duo of Carlos Gonzalez and Tulowitzki.

Worst: San Francisco Giants

Projected Lineup

1.	Angel Pagan	CF
2.	Melky Cabrera	LF
3.	Pablo Sandoval	3B
4.	Buster Posey	C
5.	Aubry Huff	1B
6.	Nate Schierholtz	RF
7.	Ryan Theriot	2B
8.	Brandon Crawford	SS

The Giants lineup will be better than last year with the return of Buster Posey and Freddie Sanchez.

But the additions of Melky Cabrera and Angel Pagan aren't enough to make up for a woefully underpowered lineup with injury risks and holes throughout.

Best: Detroit Tigers

Projected Lineup

1.	Austin Jackson	CF
2.	Brennan Boesch	RF
3.	Miguel Cabrera	3B
4.	Prince Fielder	1B
5.	Delmon Young	DH
6.	Alex Avila	C
7.	Jhonny Peralta	SS
8.	Andy Dirks	LF
9.	Ryan Raburn	2B

Even after losing Victor Martinez for the season, the addition of Prince Fielder makes all the difference.

Boesch is ready to break out, and him and Jackson at the top are going to create numerous RBI chances for Cabrera, Fielder and Young. Alex Avila had a solid 2011 and is looking to push his numbers even higher this year.

Worst: Houston Astros

Projected Lineup

1.	Jordan Schafer	CF
2.	Jose Altuve	2B
3.	J.D. Martinez	LF
4.	Carlos Lee	1B
5.	Brian Bogusevic	RF
6.	Jed Lowrie	SS
7.	Chris Johnson	3B
8.	Chris Snyder	C

This is definitely a team in transition as the Astros complete their final season in the NL. They've got a decent amount of young talent, but no superstars in the making.

A solid season from Carlos Lee would at least make the Astros "respectable"—that is, perhaps not losing 100 games in 2012.