Albert Pujols, C.J. Wilson to Angels: Power Ranking Every MLB Team After Deals

Have you heard? It's Vernon Wells' 33rd birthday! Brad Pitt surpassed George Clooney for the favorite for Best Actor! It's almost 2012!

Any other news today? How about Christmas come early in Southern California?

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim just drained the bank and shocked the baseball world (again) by signing Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson, the biggest hitter and pitcher, respectively, on the market. They both signed massive deals, that puts Los Angeles in a position to eventually not only sprint past the luxury tax, but slap it on the back and laugh as it passes.

Pujols got 10 years and $254 million, plus the all-important no-trade clause. Wilson received a 5-year, $77.5 million contract that suddenly makes the Angels' rotation as good, if not better, than the Philadelphia Phillies'.

We know that some small-market teams are left doe-eyed by those staggering dollar signs, and that Pujols has already become to St. Louis what LeBron is to Cleveland.

Does this make the Angels the team to beat in baseball? Or is there still work to be done? Read on to find out.

30. Houston Astros

The only team to lose 100 games in 2011 is in the middle of a major overhaul. They are shopping their best remaining player in Wandy Rodriguez and the front office is getting a Sammy Sosa-sized makeover.

They have a long, long way to go to contend again. But you have to like that they are recognizing the need to re-build and jumping right on it.

And on the bright side, at least they won't have to face Pujols in their own division! Oh...uh, well...for next season at least. Awkward.

29. Minnesota Twins

I figured out why the Twins had such an awful year in 2011. Ron Gardenhire clearly thinks we're playing football here. There are no safeties in baseball, skip!

The Twinkies fall from grace was swift and painful for all of us. And they seem to also be taking a rebuilding approach now. Maybe not a major overhaul, but with the Tigers being great and the Indians and Royals both rapidly improving, it's a long trek back to the top of the AL Central.

Maybe if Carl Pavano focused more on pitching better instead of immaculately grooming his dirty 'stache, they'd win a few more games in 2012.

28. Baltimore Orioles

I want the Orioles to be good. I really do. They brought in the legendary manager in Buck Showalter and made a lot of good moves to bulk up their lineup before last year. 

But with such young, inconsistent pitching, they are just running in place. In a division that boasts two of the richest teams and the most expertly-managed team in baseball, being passive won't get it done. 

Making a run at Yu Darvish or Prince Fielder would be a pretty big boost for this team, but it sounds like Peter Angelos is a lot more thrifty than Arte Moreno out West. At least they will always have the spoiler moment of the century from game 162 last season.

27. Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays have been irrelevant for a few years now. Just a few. They have a bona fide star in Jose Bautista warming the middle of the order, and a couple young guns in J.P. Arencibia and Brett Lawrie. 

This week, the Blue Jays acquired closer Sergio Santos in a trade with the Chicago White Sox to boost their struggling bullpen.

You have to love the young pitching they've got up in Canada, but they are still missing some big pieces. Here's another team that could really use Prince Fielder. According to Kevin Millar on Intentional Talk, the Jays might actually be in on Fielder right now. 

That would certainly change this ranking a bit, but not enough to boost them past the three other teams in the AL East.

26. San Diego Padres

It was only a couple seasons ago that the Padres were making a ridiculous run that nearly ended in an NL West title. But then Adrian Gonzalez got a sore back from carrying the team his whole career and moved on to Boston.

Heath Bell has taken his talents to South Beach. Ryan Ludwick was moved at the trade deadline in 2011. The closest thing they've made to a big move is bringing in the brittle, yet effective, Huston Street to fill the closer's role.

San Diego seems to also be in full-on rebuilding mode. They have some young hitters in place and a solid ace in Mat Latos, but the division basement might as well be carpeted in camouflage for the next few years. 

They do have great beaches in San Diego, though.

25. Seattle Mariners

Like Seattle Mariners fans needed any more bad news. I've really liked the young players the M's have started to develop. Michael Pineda looks like the next coming of Felix Hernandez (funny, since they have that guy too), and Dustin Ackley has future all-star written all over him.

Unfortunately, that's where the good vibes end. And now that the Angels have become the first team in baseball history to clinch their division in December, what are the Mariners to do?

They need to focus on developing their farm system and maybe finding a way to get the next big bat to take a shot at Seattle. It's a great place to play, but right now the best team in the land wears neon green and is sponsored by XBOX. 

24. New York Mets

Sorry, Mets fans. You are not going to enjoy 2012. It's going to be a massacre. The Phillies are the class of the National League, but the Braves and Marlins are both improving and the Nationals will sneak up on them next season.

That leaves the lowly Mets, searching for answers at the bottom of the division. This will be a big offseason and a big year for New York. Expectations on the field will be low. Off the field? They need to make some moves.

But not the typical big-market blitz where the owner sees a bowl marked "take two pieces of candy," and he empties the whole thing into his pillowcase. It's just going to make him sick. Sandy Alderson needs to build around David Wright and Ike Davis, and make some smart moves to acquire good, young pitching.

23. Chicago Cubs

Let's just go ahead and turn that counter to 104 years. The poor Cubs. We're all still waiting for Theo Epstein to make that big splash and give fans a reason to be excited. Instead, we are seemingly awaiting the inevitable.

Aramis Ramirez is out, Carlos Pena will be going elsewhere. They wanted Pujols. If you havevn't heard...he's gone. Could they trade Matt Garza?

Times are bad at Wrigley, but give this new front office a couple years to clean up the mess, and I wouldn't be surprised to see the Cubbies back on top of the N.L. Central.

22. Chicago White Sox

Can someone please explain what is going on in Kenny Williams' head? He's never been the easiest general manager to figure out, but my goodness. Apparently, John Danks, Gavin Floyd and Gordon Beckham are all on the block. He wants to get younger, but he's demanding multiple top prospects for Danks.

Maybe the guy just needs some attention. Either way, Williams should stop fooling around and make some real moves to improve a pitching staff that is already backed by a dynamite offense. 

Cleveland and Kansas City are getting better quickly, and the Tigers are in it for the long run. Williams needs to figure out where his team fits in, and make a move for some pitching punch. Speaking of punches, it's going to be a Nolan Ryan-esque beat down for rookie manager Robin Ventura if Chicago doesn't do something this winter.

21. Oakland Athletics

Another victim of the Angels making it rain in the A.L. West. The A's have been a revolving door of top prospects, great pitchers and mediocre veteran hitters for about five years now, and with the ever-present stadium issues, things won't be changing.

Unfortunately, to compete with a team who just signed one hitter who can out-produce nine guys on yours, moves must be made. It's just the nature of the business today. It looks like Billy Beane may be shopping closer Andrew Bailey and ace Gio Gonzalez, but it won't come cheap.

Give it a few more years, a new stadium and some sneaky moves by Beane, and the A's will be back. But for now, they will be long-forgotten in their newly star-studded division.

20. Colorado Rockies

The Rockies seem intent on building around Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez and the rest of that young, sparky offense. But as always, the Achilles heel is in the rotation. They shipped off Ubaldo Jimenez last year, and have a pretty shallow staff in a place where hitters thrive.

Part of me thinks 2011 was a fluke. They were an extremely streaky team, and have too much firepower on offense to struggle as much as they did. I don't know if the Rockies will rise in the division, but they'll definitely be better.

Still, they need to throw some cheddar at big name pitchers if they want to seriously compete down the road.

19. Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates were in first place last year, and it wasn't after the first game of the season. You may think I'm joking, but it really is a feat considering the sad state of the franchise over the last...oh, million years. 

It's been fun to watch this team grow and develop. Guys like Andrew McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez and Neil Walker are going to be big building blocks for a team that could challenge for the wild card in the next couple seasons.

One big move on offense and some more development in the rotation would do them a world of good in becoming one of the top five (remember, two wild cards after next season) teams in the National League.

18. Kansas City Royals

I absolutely love what the Royals have done over the last few seasons. They are finally getting good again. They are my dark horse American League team to be the next surprise World Series representatives. 

Not in 2012, not in 2013...it might take a few more seasons. But with the ridiculous corps of young talent they've amassed on offense, and the savvy to make big moves like acquiring Jonathan Sanchez to bolster the rotation, I see no reason why they won't challenge for the division title soon.

Bromance with the Royals? Guilty. But come find me in 2014 when they are in the Fall Classic and you can give me a high five for incredible insight. By the way, Eric Hosmer looks like the next great hitter in this league.

17. Cincinnati Reds

Well, the Reds had their moment in the sun. I do like that they've shown a willingness to part with some of their loaded farm system in order to improve the big league rotation.

They don't have a spot for Yonder Alonso right now, and they should be able to get back a solid pitcher or ten for a prospect of his talent level. They will probably be in on Gio Gonzalez and looking at any and all other options. 

With the offense they have in Cincy, a couple good starting pitchers would definitely vault them back into contention. But until then, they are stuck in the middle.

16. Cleveland Indians

The 2011 Indians reminded me of the 2010 Padres. Shocking success, only to fall short as the season wound down. If you're a baseball fan though, you love what this Cleveland organization is doing. 

In my opinion, they are the second best team in the A.L. Central right now. That's a big "second best," though. The Tigers are far and away the favorites, but the Tribe has a great young nucleus of hitters and looks to have an improving rotation.

I think bringing back Grady Sizemore will end up being a brilliant move, as he could be a spark plug that has the Indians in contention for the wild card most of next season.

15. Washington Nationals

All those years of number one picks are finally paying off. Some of the shine is coming off the big draft picks by giving guys like Jayson Werth half of the national budget, but this team is absolutely loaded.

Give them a full, healthy season of Stephen Strasburg, one more good pitcher and the development of young hitters like Ian Desmond, Wilson Ramos and Mike Morse. They won't be a playoff team quite yet in 2012, but they are really, really close.

All I know is the Braves, Phillies and Marlins better watch their backs, because D.C. is looming large in the shadows. And it ain't the government.

14. Los Angeles Dodgers

Hallelujah, the McCourt court is over! Fans eagerly await the new owner of this storied franchise. But in the mean time, they can at least be thankful that Frank McCourt went out and spent some of the future owner's money in securing MVP snub Matt Kemp to a long-term contract.

If they can get Clayton Kershaw locked up, the Dodgers are one big bat and one starting pitcher away from being the best team in the N.L. West. The lineup is already looking pretty good for 2012, assuming Andre Ethier stays healthy. 

But I worry about the depth of the rotation behind Kershaw. They've tried to address that by adding Chris Capuano and Aaron Harang, but it won't be enough. The Dodgers will improve their record next season, but I've got to believe they are still a step behind Arizona and San Francisco in the division.

13. San Francisco Giants

The Giants are making moves, but not really improving or declining. Adding Melky Cabrera and Angel Pagan gives much-needed depth to their outfield, but they sacrificed one of their best relievers in Ramon Ramirez, and are already down their best pitching prospect from the Carlos Beltran deal last season.

Pitching will be this team's bread and butter again with Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner. But as of now, their hope on offense rests with two great, not quite elite, players. 

Buster Posey will return to form and Pablo Sandoval will continue to mash, but the rest of the offense is so questionable, that fans must be getting nervous in San Francisco. I still think the Giants would do themselves a big favor by signing either Jimmy Rollins or Rafael Furcal to play shortstop.

12. St. Louis Cardinals

That's quite a fall for the defending champions. But losing Albert Pujols is quite a hit. The Cardinals still have a decent lineup in place, but it's like taking that awkward Jenga tile right out of the middle and watching in fear as the entire tower starts to wobble violently. 

Lance Berkman and Matt Holliday will still lead the offense, and the pitching staff only gets better with the return of Adam Wainwright. But I don't know if they will be able to overcome the loss of Pujols.

How do you replace a guaranteed .300/30/100-plus player? If the Cardinals stand pat, I think they are still a force to be reckoned with in the N.L. Central, but will fall short.

11. Atlanta Braves

The bounce-back campaign begins. Hopefully the Braves have washed out the nasty taste of collapse from their mouths after they got caught and passed by the eventual champion Cardinals last season. 

It's interesting that they've been shopping Martin Prado and Jair Jurrjens this offseason. Prado is a solid player and Jurrjens is one of the most underrated pitchers in all of baseball. They want a power-hitting left fielder in return, and should be able to land it for one of those guys.

I think Atlanta has enough pitching depth to be a playoff contender in 2012, but another bat would be nice. With Florida and Washington making big strides, and all three teams constantly chasing Philly, something needs to happen for the Braves to actually make the playoffs.

10. Tampa Bay Rays

The little engine that could keeps on chuggin'. The Rays provided the most exciting win of the season in 2011, with a huge come-from-behind victory over the New York Yankees to secure the wild card spot in the American League.

They are going to need a lot more magic to return in 2012. They will be one of the best, most complete teams in baseball again, but they are severely lacking some pop. Tampa has been shopping Wade Davis and Jeff Niemann for a bat, and should find a match soon. 

Will it be enough? I can never count out the walk-off Rays, but chances are it's going to have to be a really creative, clever move to get them back to the postseason next year.

9. Arizona Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks pulled the wool over our eyes last year and made an easy, smooth run to the playoffs behind Manager of the Year Kirk Gibson. Really, we should have seen it coming. That offense has been explosive for years, and their two best pitchers were forgotten, despite pretty solid stuff.

Now the question is, will they continue their success, or get passed by the Giants, Dodgers or Rockies? They definitely have the people in place to win another division title, but I worry about the back end of the rotation.

I think the Diamondbacks will win the West again, but it will be a lot more bumpy than last year. They could use another starter and a little plate discipline, but it will be a pleasure to watch Justin Upton get even better in 2012.

8. Texas Rangers

The two-time defending American League champs just got a whole lot worse. Not by any fault of their own, but the "favorite" label just became "underdog" with two swift swipes of a pen. The Rangers are the team to beat until proven otherwise, but you have to think losing their ace and seeing a division rival improve drastically overnight, might spell doom for their 2012 playoff hopes.

Then again, can you really ever count the Rangers out of free agency moves these days? Maybe they jump in on Yu Darvish. Maybe Neftali Feliz and Alexi Ogando become a ferocious 1-2 punch. You just never know in Arlington.

What we do know is the offense is arguably the best in the league. The biggest issue here isn't necessarily that they lost Wilson. It's that the Angels rotation and lineup improved big time. If the Rangers want to keep pace, they need to make a move.

7. Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers are still technically in on Prince Fielder, but you have to think with the Angels driving the market up, that they won't be able to afford him. So let's move on without him. The Brew Crew still has a pretty hard-hitting lineup, and a big three at the top of the rotation.

I think the Cardinals and Reds are both looking up to the Brewers, and the Pirates are a couple years away. That means the NL Central is the Brewers' for the losing. They signed Alex Gonzalez to replace Yuniesky Betancourt at shortstop to add a little pop, but the 2012 version of the Brewers will definitely be a downgrade.

What else can you expect when you lose a guy like Fielder? It will be interesting to see how reigning MVP Ryan Braun does without Fielder's bat in the lineup behind him. Expect another playoff run from Milwaukee in 2012, but it's going to be a much tougher road.

6. Boston Red Sox

You know what sucks for everyone else? If the Red Sox go and get one pitcher...ONE pitcher, they might jump five spots in these power rankings. To No. 1. The best team in baseball. They definitely have the scariest lineup right now, with four legitimate MVP candidates. 

Assuming Clay Buchholz comes back healthy and Josh Beckett wasn't an enormous fluke in 2011, the BoSox are in a pretty good spot for 2012. They need to forget last season's collapse and try to start fresh next year. 

Boston is in the market for another starter and a closer, and everyone knows they will get them before the season begins. It's just a matter of if they can surpass the Yankees and get a stranglehold on a playoff spot.

5. Detroit Tigers

The Tigers have the best pitcher and the best player in baseball. He happens to be the same person. Justin Verlander really came into his own last season, putting up other-wordly numbers on the mound, and leading the Tigers to an A.L. Central crown.

Rumor has it that Detroit is in on Cuban sensation Yoenis Cespedes, and adding him to a lineup with Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez could be pretty deadly for opposing pitching staffs.

Speaking of pitching, the Tigers also have Rick Porcello, Max Scherzer and Doug Fister, not to mention the owner of a perfect 49-for-49 save season, Jose Valverde. This is a very well-rounded team and should be a heavy favorite to take home another division title in 2012.

4. Miami Marlins

Boom. They moved up this list faster than Jose Reyes going first to third. Miami is taking this "go big or go home" thing to a whole new level. Even though they missed out on Pujols and Wilson, the new-look Marlins are absolutely loaded.

A lineup with Reyes, Hanley Ramirez, Gaby Sanchez, Mike Stanton and Logan Morrison is scary-powerful. With Josh Johnson coming back to anchor the top of the rotation, the additions of Mark Buehrle and Heath Bell, this team is extremely well-rounded.

And they may not be done yet. They are still looking at trading for another pitcher, and could sneak in again for Prince Fielder. When all is said and done, I would not be surprised in the least if Ozzie Guillen led this team to a playoff appearance in 2012.

3. Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies lost some major pieces already in the offseason. It sounds like they are letting Placido Polanco and Jimmy Rollins walk, Roy Oswalt is gone, and Ryan Howard is injured. They brought in Jonathan Papelbon to close, but that's like upgrading to a more expensive car because its got a flashier paint job.

Ryan Madson was just as fast, and probably more practical than Papelbon. Anyway, the Phils still have three legit Cy Young contenders in the rotation, and some all-stars in the lineup. The N.L. East is theirs to lose. I think if Philly stands pat on offense, they could be in trouble.

But let's be real; is Ruben Amaro really going to let the Marlins kick his butt this winter? Don't be surprised if the Phillies bring in a bat like Aramis Ramirez to kick-start their offense and regain a stranglehold on that division title for next season.

2. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Warning: I'm about to write a whole bunch of stuff you already know. Enjoy!

The Angels just made themselves the most powerful, least cost-effective team in the majors by signing Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson today. And despite the ridiculous amounts of cash they just blew, at least they made a decent team great. 

I'm not sold on them being the dream team or World Series favorites just yet, but they will definitely be a juggernaut in the American League. Adding Wilson to a rotation that already boasts Jered Weaver, Dan Haren and Ervin Santana gives them the best rotation outside of Philadelphia.

And a pretty deep lineup just got a guy who will not only contribute .300/30/100-plus numbers for at least five more seasons, but will make everyone else around him a lot better. The reason the Angels won't be the Red Sox of 2011, is because their pitching is actually dominant.

This equation will work. We're just not sure if it will work well enough to bring a title to the Angels in 2012.

1. New York Yankees

What a big, fat, annoying cliche. But it's so true, and you know it. They won 97 games last year with Bartolo Colon pitching every fifth day. Holy cholesterol. The only team with a better record last year was the Phillies, and we all know about their problems right now.

I think with Phil Hughes and C.C. Sabathia back in place next season, and the extraordinary talent of Ivan Nova, this team is looking at 100 wins. The Yanks are still hot on the trail of a couple starting pitchers, and if they make a trade for a premiere starter like Gio Gonzalez, or make the highest bid on Yu Darvish, this team is instantly a World Series favorite.

The offense is just unstoppable, and as long as they have Mariano Rivera in the bullpen, you can assume a lead past the seventh inning turns into a "W." Don't count the Yanks out to make a big move, either. You think Arte Moreno is rich? Brian Cashman wipes his butt with $300 million.

New York probably doesn't need to make a move, but if they do, the Evil Empire will be even more likely to strike again. I swear, one of these days they will actually lose.