With opening day for Major League Baseball fast approaching, The Eagle Sports section weighs on which teams will rise and fall in 2013.
The Kansas City Royals will finish the 2013 season with a winning record and will compete for a wild card spot. They have some of the best young hitters in the game with Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas and Billy Butler, but the problem a year ago was the starting pitching. This year, the Royals will have an improved rotation headlined by James Shields, one of the top pitchers over the last two seasons. - Eric Saltzman
The Houston Astros in 2013 will be one of the worst teams in MLB history. This season, Houston moves to the superior AL West, which boasted three top 10 teams in baseball last season. The Astros were nearly last in almost every statistical category last season, and the roster that only won 55 games is virtually unchanged. - Gennaro Farone
The Boston Red Sox had a laughable 2012 season, but they rid themselves of the problem (Bobby Valentine). Their starting rotation looks promising, with Jon Lester looking to prove himself after a poor year and John Lackey coming back from Tommy John surgery. Jacoby Ellsbury will prove his worth in a contract year, and Will Middlebrooks will have the breakout season Sox fans have been waiting for as they earn a wild card spot. - Molly Kepner
The 2013 Seattle Mariners will be an improved young team that will endure growing pains in the tough AL West. Seattle looks to benefit from a young core of Jesus Montero, Dustin Ackley and Kyle Seager, but recent additions Raul Ibanez and Jason Bay will have to see how they fit into a team full of designated hitter-types. Despite locking up phenom Felix Hernandez, the team is still at least a year or two away from competing in the AL West. - Chris Hall
With all the attention focused on the revamped Blue Jays and the injury-plagued Yankees, one under-the-radar team to look out for is the Tampa Bay Rays. Despite losing B.J. Upton and James Shields, the Rays still have more than enough pitching to compete in a competitive AL East. Between Evan Longoria and top prospect Wil Myers, the Rays should have just enough offense to compete for a playoff spot. - Adrian Cruz
Just one year after making the postseason for the first time in 15 years, the Baltimore Orioles will surprise baseball by once again competing for an AL wild card spot. Manny Machado will show why he’s one of the best 20-year-olds in baseball, top prospect Dylan Bundy will add to the O’s rotation and Brian Roberts will finally play an entire season for the first time in four years. - Josh Paunil
The New York Mets will continue their realm of irrelevance in 2013. The Mets made positive trades by sending R.A. Dickey for Travis d’Arnaud since d’Arnaud will bring an important price for the Mets in the near future. Dickey’s absence will be compounded by Johan Santana’s recurring injuries as the Mets will finish in fourth place in the NL East for the second year in a row. - Adam Hamburger sports@theeagleonline.com
