Questions Facing Every MLB Team Heading into 2012

With just a few days left in what has been a memorable 2011, teams are getting ready to turn the calendar to 2012 and start fresh on a new quest for a World Series trophy.

Trades and free agency have helped teams throughout the league fill holes, but questions still remain for every franchise in baseball.

Looking to 2012, here are some questions every team faces with spring training right around the corner.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Are the D'backs Favorites in NL West?

The Arizona Diamondbacks have made important steps this offseason in making their way back to the postseason again in 2012.

The retention of Aaron Hill along with the signing of slugger Jason Kubel to a two-year deal should help the team build on 2011, when which they ranked ninth in runs scored.

Atlanta Braves: What Will the Rotation Look Like in 2012?

The Atlanta Braves' starting rotation will undoubtedly be a crucial part of whether they're able to contend in the NL East come next season.

The question: Who will be in that rotation?

With a number of young pitchers ready to make a big impact and the possibility of Jair Jurrjens being dealt before spring training, the exact configuration of the Braves' rotation may not be known until days before the opener.

Baltimore Orioles: Is Tsuyoshi Wada Enough to Help the Rotation?

The Baltimore Orioles' big move this offseason was the signing of starting pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada to a two-year, $8.15 million contract.

It definitely looks like Wada has the stuff to at least contribute to the rotation, but they'll need to look for more help in order to improve on a staff that finished 29th and 30th in ERA, WHIP and opponent batting average.

Boston Red Sox: Will the Real Carl Crawford Show Up in 2012?

As one of the gems of last offseason's free agent market, much was expected from Carl Crawford in 2011.

He certainly didn't live up to any expectations, batting nearly 50 points below his career average and slumping throughout most of the season.

If the Red Sox hope to make a serious push towards a World Series it'd be nice to have their second-highest-paid player on board for it.

Chicago Cubs: Will Theo Epstein Make a Blockbuster Move?

When Theo Epstein was an executive for the Boston Red Sox it seems like all he did was make big moves and field a team that won big games.

Now he's made his way to Chicago, Cubs fans are hoping for more of the same from Epstein.

Prince Fielder is the most notable name to be linked to the Cubs this offseason and would certainly be the most positive move he could make from an offensive perspective, but all appears to be quiet at this point.

Chicago White Sox: Is the Team Really Rebuilding?

With longtime White Sox ace Mark Buehrle joining former Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen in Miami and the team toying with the possibility of moving impact players like Carlos Quentin and John Danks, it looked like GM Kenny Williams was embarking on a rebuilding project at the Cell.

Since then, John Danks has been signed to a long-term extension, possibly indicating the team isn't counting themselves out just yet.

Cincinnati Reds: Will the Mat Latos Acquisition Pan Out?

The Cincinnati Reds got a big-name starter this month with the acquisition of Mat Latos from the San Diego Padres in exchange for four players.

Since the Reds have a number of players capable of filling in for the shipped out players, it's quite possible the Latos deal will pan out nicely, although some analysts feel the Padres clearly got the better end of the deal.

Another aspect of the pitching staff to watch in 2012 will be seeing how fireballer Aroldis Chapman adjusts to his role in the starting rotation.

Cleveland Indians: Will the Old Ubaldo Jimenez Show Up in 2012?

The Cleveland Indians ascent in the AL Central standings in 2011 shocked much of the baseball world, with their acquisition of Ubaldo Jimenez at the trade deadline producing the same reaction.

Jimenez failed to produce for the Indians in the second half, however, going just 4-4 with an ERA over 5.

If the Indians hope to get the better end of that trade they'll need Jimenez to look more like the pitcher he was in 2010 when he went 19-8 with a 2.88 ERA.

Colorado Rockies: Is Michael Cuddyer Capable of Repeating 2011 Success?

The Colorado Rockies got a versatile player in signing Michael Cuddyer to a three year, $31.5 million contract.

Already in his mid-30s it's hard to say whether he's worth the money he was given, but the hitter-friendly confines of Coors Field should give Cuddyer plenty of confidence heading into 2012.

Detroit Tigers: Have They Done Enough to Repeat as AL Central Champs?

Behind an outstanding season from ace Justin Verlander, the Detroit Tigers won the AL Central and knocked off the New York Yankees in the ALDS before coming just short of a World Series berth.

They haven't done a lot in the way of free agent signings this offseason, so they'll once again be counting on stars like Verlander and Miguel Cabrera to step up as they look to knock off the rest of the AL Central competition.

Houston Astros: Will Wandy Rodriguez Be Moved?

The Houston Astros are clearly in no position to contend in the immediate future, but that shouldn't stop the organization from pursuing options that will help them grow in the future.

Wandy Rodriguez was nearly moved last season. As a team that will undoubtedly need pitching help this season, he represents the Astros' best chance at getting a package of prospects.

Kansas City Royals: Do They Have Enough to Finish Above .500?

The Kansas City Royals' last winning season came in 2003 when they finished 83-79, good enough for third place in the AL Central.

They followed that season with three consecutive 100-loss seasons but have recently shown signs of improvement.

With some offseason acquisitions going in their favor and the continued improvement of young players on the roster, the Royals have a great shot at getting back into the win column in 2012.

Los Angeles Angels: Can They Live Up to Lofty Expectations?

After making two of the biggest offseason signings by bringing Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson to Los Angeles, the Angels immediately put themselves in the conversation of the league's best teams.

However, as we've seen in the past, lofty expectations can sometimes set the table for failure. The Angels certainly have what it takes to succeed, but anything less than a championship could seemingly be a failure.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Will New Ownership Step in and Restore Order?

In what has been a very sticky debacle for quite some time now, the Los Angeles Dodgers ownership situation has taken up plenty of attention that should have been given to the players on the field.

With a talented cast of young stars like Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw, a new ownership group will step in and try to bring the Dodgers back to playing good baseball, without the sideshow.

Miami Marlins: Will New Moves Be Enough to Top NL East?

With a new stadium, new manager and new superstars, the Miami Marlins are looking to make a splash during the first year in their new stadium.

The signings of Heath Bell, Jose Reyes and Mark Buehrle will certainly improve the outlook for the team, but in the tough NL East, will it be enough to overtake teams like the Braves and Phillies?

Milwaukee Brewers: How Will the Team Fare Without Fielder and Braun?

It was more-or-less known before the season ended that Prince Fielder would be wearing a different team's uniform in 2012.

What wasn't expected was a positive test for a banned substance by Ryan Braun that would further diminish the Milwaukee Brewers offense for the first 50 games of the 2012 season.

There's still a possibility that Braun won't face the full suspension, but without a successful appeal in the process's history, it seems unlikely his fate will be any different.

Minnesota Twins: Can Mauer and Morneau Stay on the Field?

The Minnesota Twins' 99-loss campaign in 2011 can be attributed to a number of factors. But with Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau accounting for nearly half of the team's payroll, their absence during a significant part of the season can't be overlooked.

They're both set to return to the lineup in spring training, it's just a matter of how long they're able to stay there.

New York Mets: Will Team Rebound from Losing Reyes?

The New York Mets fanbase made it clear that they wanted their star shortstop to stick around for years to come.

That didn't happen as ownership didn't even formally offer Jose Reyes a contract during the free agency period this offseason.

New York Yankees: How Will the Rotation Shape Up?

Other than extending the contract of ace CC Sabathia, the New York Yankees have yet to make a move to improve their starting rotation for 2012.

They'll surely make some sort of move, as the back end of their rotation is shaky with the enigmatic A.J. Burnett in place. The team is listening to offers on him and could move him if they're willing to eat a substantial amount of his contract.

Oakland Athletics: How Will New Additions Fit into A's Plans?

The Oakland Athletics have been one of the most active teams in baseball this offseason by virtue of the number of players they've removed from their roster.

With Gio Gonzalez and Andrew Bailey out in Oakland, the team will have a number of new faces to work with in 2012 as they look to rebuild their staff, all while apparently pursuing a move to San Jose.

Philadelphia Phillies: Have NL East Foes Closed the Gap?

The Philadelphia Phillies ran away with the NL East crown in 2011, winning 102 games and beating out the Atlanta Braves by 13 games.

Keeping the Marlins spending spree in mind and the Washington Nationals emergence as buyers, the division could get a lot more interesting in 2012, with the Phillies still in the running as clear favorites.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Can They Get over the Hump in 2012?

The Pittsburgh Pirates surprised many during the first half of 2011 as they hung in towards the top of their division and even made moves at the deadline to improve the team.

Although they came up short, the team has signed a formidable infielder in Clint Barmes and additionally added Erik Bedard to the fold in the rotation, an indication they intend to show they're capable of contending in 2012.

San Diego Padres: Can They Surprise the Rest of the NL West?

Having gone through losing seasons on a consistent basis recently, the San Diego Padres fanbase is looking for things to turn around sooner rather than later as they hope to prove their run in 2010 wasn't a fluke. 

With star closer Heath Bell out the door, the Padres do still have a young nucleus of talented players and could surprise some in 2012.

San Francisco Giants: Can Buster Posey Return to Form?

Coming into 2011 with high hopes, the then reigning World Champion San Francisco Giants experienced a huge loss when catcher Buster Posey was lost for the season.

The Giants will face tough competition in the NL West next season and will need to have a healthy Buster Posey contributing as he did in 2010 if they hope to return to postseason play.

Seattle Mariners: Is There Any Answer for the Offense?

The Seattle Mariners offense set the bar for futility in 2011, scoring only 556 runs while batting only .233 as a team.

Without any significant moves being made this offseason, the team will need to rely on improvement from within in order to gain ground in the AL West.

St. Louis Cardinals: Will Carlos Beltran Account for Pujols' Absence?

Fans of the St. Louis Cardinals experienced the highest of highs this fall when their team won the World Championship in memorable fashion.

The same fans experienced some lows this offseason as longtime franchise player Albert Pujols signed a 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels.

The Cardinals have brought in Carlos Beltran to fill the void, but if fans expect him to match Pujols' production they're setting themselves up for disappointment.

Tampa Bay Rays: Can They Repeat 2011 Magic?

The Tampa Bay Rays improbable run towards a Wild Card berth in 2011 was just the start of what would be one of the most memorable postseasons in baseball history. 

With few moves made this offseason, they'll once again rely on their pitching, with current Rookie of the Year award winner Jeremy Hellickson and potential 2012 Rookie of the Year candidate Matt Moore leading the way.

Texas Rangers: Have They Done Enough to Make Another WS Appearance?

The departure of C.J. Wilson to division rival Los Angeles will undoubtedly hurt the Texas Rangers in 2012, although they're doing everything in their power to compensate for his loss.

After winning the bid for Yu Darvish, the Texas Rangers may have a superstar on their hands, although it's unclear whether he'll be a major factor in 2012.

Joe Nathan will be closing games for the Rangers next year as Neftali Feliz moves to the starting rotation, giving the team further hope for another deep October run.

Toronto Blue Jays: Can Blue Jays Crack the AL East Puzzle?

Led by slugger Jose Bautista, the Toronto Blue Jays finished .500 in a very tough AL East that boasts some of the biggest payrolls baseball has to offer.

With a number of potent weapons in their arsenal, they appear to be on their way up. With the possibility of further moves being made this offseason they could find themselves contending late in 2012.

Washington Nationals: Will Moves Turn Nationals into Contenders?

With stars like Stephen Strasburg already on board and budding talent like Bryce Harper arriving shortly, the Washington Nationals have huge upside.

They appear to be making moves to immediate contention as well after acquiring Gio Gonzalez from the Athletics. With the team also apparently in the running for Prince Fielder, the Nationals find themselves in the fold in the suddenly deep NL East.