National League Predictions

National League:

NL East:
1. New York Mets
2. Philadelphia Phillies
3. Florida Marlins
4. Atlanta Braves
5. Washington Nationals

NL Central:
1. Chicago Cubs
2. St. Louis Cardinals
3. Cincinnati Reds
4. Milwaukee Brewers
5. Pittsburgh Pirates
6. Houston Astros

NL West:
1. Los Angles Dodgers
2. Arizona Diamondbacks
3. San Francisco Giants
4. Colorado Rockies
5. San Diego Padres

MVP: David Wright. Wright is arguably the best third baseman in baseball. He is at the heart of the Mets order and should easily hit for 30+ home runs and bat over .300. Wright is one of baseball's top young stars and has only continued to get better. Dark Horse: Hanley Ramirez. Ramirez won't have the same profile as Wright given that the Marlins aren't expected to compete this year, but he is just as talented. Ramirez is a true 5-tool talent and has 40/40 potential.

Cy Young: Johan Santana. Santana already has two Cy Young awards and should look to add his third this season. Santana is one of the best pitchers in the game and with his talent combined with the Mets lineup and improved bullpen, Santana should be among the league leaders in wins. Dark Horse: Matt Cain. Cain doesn't get the hype of his teammate 2008 Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum but he can be just as good of a pitcher. Cain is actually younger than his teammate and at 24 could be primed for a breakout. The Giants made some improvements to their bullpen and lineup this season which should help Cain in the win column.

ROY: Colby Rasmus: Rasmus is probably the best center fielder prospect in the game. He combines power, speed and excellent defense. He will probably get time at all three spots in the Cardinals crowded outfield this season but will be playing most days. Rasmus is a star in the making and should be a big part of St. Louis's lineup this season. Dark Horse: Jordan Schafer. Schafer is another one of the top young center field prospects in the National League this year. He may not have the same tools as Rasmus but is still a quality prospect. He is a good hitter with 20/20 ability. Schafer will give the Braves some much needed production from the outfield and should be a strong candidate to win the Rookie of the Year award.

American League Predictions

With the baseball season already starting I wanted to post my predictions for each division as well as the MVP, Cy Young, and Rookie of the year. I'll keep posting the team by team previews throughout the week.

American League:

AL East:
1. Boston Red Sox
2. Tampa Bay Rays
3. New York Yankees
4. Toronto Blue Jays
5. Baltimore Orioles

AL Central:
1. Minnesota Twins
2. Cleveland Indians
3. Chicago White Sox
4. Kansas City Royals
5. Detroit Tigers

AL West:
1. Los Angeles Angels
2. Oakland Athletics
3. Texas Rangers
4. Seattle Mariners

MVP: Grady Sizemore. Sizemore is one of the best young players in this league. He does everything for the Indians and should make a strong MVP bid as he helps the Tribe battle for the Central division. Dark Horse: B.J. Upton. Upton had a great postseason last year and should look to build on that performance. This could be the year that he takes his game to the elite level the Rays knew he could when they drafted him second overall in 2002.

Cy Young: Roy Halladay. Halladay is such a talented pitcher but is often overlooked since he plays for the Blue Jays. His numbers are even more impressive because he has to deal with the talented Yankees and Red Sox lineups more than most pitchers. Dark Horse: Felix Hernandez. While it seems like he's been around forever Hernandez is just 23 years old and has his best years in front of him. He won't get much support on the Mariners but has the stuff to be among the best in the game.

ROY: Matt Wieters. Wieters might not play in his first game until June but still should be the favorite for the Rookie of the Year award. He is the top prospect in the game and has dominated at every level of his baseball career. He could be the best offensive catcher in the game before the year is out. Dark Horse: Travis Snider. The Blue Jays new left fielder could be a big addition to the middle of Toronto's lineup. He has 30 home run power and should hit for a solid average.