OkayTim^*

AL East

1. New York The Yankee’s key losses this offseason include and DH with bad knees and an aging outfielder who had a oddly productive season in 2009. They’re additions include a very strong outfielder in Curtis Granderson, a DH/1B in Nick Johnson and Javier Vaquez who failed last time he was in New York but had a resurgence in Atlanta last year. They improved in the right spots and got younger in ways that can only benefit the team. This was an easy pick to win the AL East.
2. Boston ^wildcard Everyone knows how Boston is beefing up run prevention (defense) this year. I think it’s going to be a struggle for them to get the wildcard, but it’s doable. All the preseason drama with the over stuffed pitching staff and the Lowell situation will probably work itself out by opening day, but the Martinez C/1B/DH position switching is going to be a problem and might even negatively effect that run prevention they’re working on. I’m looking for Youkilis, Pedroia and Ellsbury to all have big years to carry this team. SIDE NOTE: other than short stop, they actually had a pretty strong defense last year.
3. Tampa Bay The Rays rarely make an offseason move, and I like how they use their farm system but unfortunately, in the AL East, you usually need to make some moves to compete They’ll make a solid run, but I don’t think they have the pitching to make it down the stretch. And who knows what’s going to happen with Crawford in a contract year
4. Baltimore The Orioles have a lot of young talent in players like Matt Weiters, Nick Markakis and Adam Jones, I think they’ll be very good in a couple years and might even contend for a wildcard spot in the east. They’re not quite there yet, but they’re definitely going to be a fun team to watch as long as they don’t sell off their up and coming players.
5. Toronto The Blue Jays were not a good team last year and they just got rid of a Hall of Fame pitcher. They did pick up some prospects in the process but not nearly enough to make a run at the division. It might take them a few years to get back on track.

AL Central

1. Minnesota The Twins are at a pretty crucial point where Joe Mauer’s contract is up at the end of the year and baseball is holding it’s collective breath to see if he’ll turn out to be a Cal Ripken, being loyal to a team or an Alex Rodriguez and following the money. Either way, I think this may be the last year the Twins have a serious shot at the playoffs. If they have Mourneu and Mauer eating up $35MIL a year in payroll, it won’t leave the small market with much to play with for signing other talent.
2. Detroit The Tigers late signing of Johnny Damon will fill a whole for them in LF and offer another option at DH. I’m looking for Bonderman and Verlander to have solid years at 15-17 wins each. They should be right in the wildcard race with the Red Sox deep into September.
3. Chicago This will be Jake Peavy’s first fun season in Chicago and he should do very well in the Central, but pitching isn’t the White Sox problem; it’s the rest of their aging team. While additions like Omar Vizquel add wisdom and a prove glove, it also adds an aging middle infielder with an historically weak bat. They need a lot of players to spring back from abysmal 2009 seasons to do well in and otherwise tight division. They’ll be close and I wouldn’t be surprised if they prove me wrong, but I see 3rd place in their future.
4. Cleveland The Indians are a weird team, they have a lot of talent, but went from first to worst last year. I don’t have them quite figured out, but they should outplay the Royals in 2010.
5. Kansas City I really wish this team could get back to where it was in the years of George Brett, but it doesn’t look like it’s in the cards any times soon. Of course they have some great prospects in Zack Greinke and Alex Gordon, there’s a very good chance players like that are just waiting out their contract to move onto a bigger market or more promising team.

AL West

1. Seattle The addition of Cliff Lee and Chone Figgins will have a serious impact on the Mariners this year, but want will effect them the most is the falling off of a perennial playoff team in the Angeles. In an already weak division, this team should be able to do some damage in 2010.
2. Los Angeles There’s no doubt that Angels’ losses of Chone Figgins, and John Lackey will damage the team, but enough to slip out of that garanteed first place slot they have every year in the West? I think so. Replacing Vlad with Matsui isn’t doing to add much pop to the team. Unless they make some mid-season acquisitions this division could slip away.
3. Oakland
4. Texas

NL East

1. Philadelphia
2. Florida
3. New York
4. Atlanta
5. Washington I’m looking forward to seeing what Stephen Strasburg can do at the Major League Level.

NL Central

1. St. Louis
2. Milwaukee ^wildcard
3. Chicago
4. Houston
5. Cincinnati
6. Pittsburgh

NL West

1. San Francisco
2. Colorado
3. Los Angeles
4. Arizona
5. San Diego

World Series

New York ^winner vs. San Francisco

AL Awards

• MVP: Mark Teixeira
• Cy Young: Felix Hernandez

NL Awards

• MVP: Albert Pujols
• Cy Young: Tim Lincecum