MLB 2009: Predictions

After free-agent signings, trades, and call-ups, predictions for the 2009 season are now more readily able to be made:

1. New York Yankees—took three of the top free agents on the market
2. Texas Rangers—explosive offensive and healthy pitchers
3. Minnesota Twins—no drastic changes, which is a good thing
4. Cleveland Indians

—hottest team at the end of baseball last year
5. Boston Red Sox—there are some health concerns
6. Los Angeles Angels—lost some veteran stars and took some gambles
7. Tampa Bay Rays—one-year fluke? We'll have to wait and see
8. Oakland Athletics—Holliday's numbers will decline
9. Detroit Tigers—so much talent, can it produce?
10. Chicago White Sox—youth movement doesn't look promising
11. Toronto Blue Jays—not many changes; no bright future in the AL East
12. Baltimore Orioles—can Roberts, Wieters, and Markakis carry this team?
13. Kansas City Royals—played pretty hot at the end of last year
14. Seattle Mariners—will Griffey solve 101 losses?

1. New York Mets—great offense and (finally) a good bullpen to finish the game
2. Chicago Cubs—can they avoid another collapse?
3. Los Angeles Dodgers—this is all dependent on Manny's return
4. Philadelphia Phillies—will Utley be healthy enough? Will Howard produce?
5. St. Louis Cardinals—explosive offense, but bullpen woes remain
6. Pittsburgh Pirates—will finally have a good year, they have the tools
7. Colorado Rockies—one year removed from a World Series berth
8. Atlanta Braves—healthy and young, looks promising
9. Milwaukee Brewers—they have the offense, but what about the pitching?
10. Cincinnati Reds— looks like a good rotation, but lacks offense.
11. Florida Marlins—Ramirez and Uggla can only do so much
12. Houston Astros—can this team remain healthy?
13. Arizona Diamondbacks—Haren and Webb are awesome, that's about it
14. San Francisco Giants—it stinks that the Freak only plays once every five games
15. San Diego Padres—can their pitching staff return to form?
16. Washington Nationals—Dunn won't solve any problems

ALDS: (1) New York Yankees over (4) Cleveland Indians
ALDS: (3) Minnesota Twins over (2) Texas Rangers
ALCS: (3) Minnesota Twins over (1) New York Yankees

NLDS: (1) New York Mets over (3) Los Angeles Dodgers
NLDS: (2) Chicago Cubs over (4) Philadelphia Phillies
NLCS: (1) New York Mets over (2) Chicago Cubs

WS: (3) Minnesota Twins over (1) New York Mets

AL MVP: Grady Sizemore, CLE
NL MVP: Manny Ramirez, LAD

AL CY: Francisco Liriano, MIN
NL CY: Cole Hamels, PHI

AL Manager: Ron Gardenhire, MIN
NL Manager: Jerry Manuel, NYM

AL ROY: David Price, TB
NL ROY: Jeff Samardzija, CHC