Kuzul

Apparently money can’t buy everything. All it got the team with the highest payroll in baseball (by a mile) was an NL West division crown, the highest attendance in the game, a trip to the NLCS, and endless momentum for the foreseeable future.

But when the end goal is to win a World Series title, this all feels a little…pointless.

Jay Gatsby can buy all the beautiful things in the world, but none of it matters if he doesn’t win Daisy Buchanan’s love, right? 

So while some fans may call for a complete overhaul, we’re going to keep it simple and rational here.

We’re going to list the five players who the Dodgers should either let walk to free agency or look to trade away in the off season. 

Make no mistake about it — the Dodgers can get better. And they will. These are some suggestions to help them along the way.

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Everybody’s favorite son had another big week for the big league team, including his first ever MLB-level heave-ho. Yasiel Puig continues to pound the baseball into submission for the Dodgers, prompting Don Mattingly to announce that he will stay up when Carl Crawford and Matt Kemp return.

That means Joc Pederson is stuck in Double-A until further notice, and pending a trade or injury, probably won’t see any action until the rosters expand. Given Mattingly‘s announcement, this will be the last week we see Puig in our rankings, as a full-time Major League player will no longer be considered a “prospect” for me. 

The bad news for the Dodgers is that they are in last place, about seven games out of first place. The good news is that everyone else is lumped in a cluster about two games apart at the top of the division, and will be beating each other up the rest of the first half. This may be the big opportunity to sneak back in.

With everyone getting healthy (finally), there may be less room for call-ups. Although Chris Withrow did get the promotion last week and performed admirably in his first couple MLB appearances. We could see more bullpen arms make the jump.

Let’s review this week’s top 10, as compared to last week’s group.

All stats courtesy of MiLB.com and current as of 6/18/2013.

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According to Barry Petchesky of Deadspin.com, an authentication expert concluded that a 1964 game-used Mickey Mantle bat that was going up for auction contained cork in the barrel.

Um, what?

After frantically searching the interwebs for a different Mickey Mantle, we have to confirm, sadly, that this can only be the legendary Yankees outfielder standing before the court of public opinion.

In a modern era defined by genetically-enhanced sluggers and clouds of accusations hanging over some of today’s best players, this one hurts.

We know that cheating, in some capacity, is an unspoken tradition of sorts in baseball, dating back to the spitballers in the first half of the 20th century. But most of these cases are attached to guys who are already unlikable. Pete Rose—whose game-used bat was also the victim of this same expert’s DNA scanner a few years ago—immediately springs to mind.

But this is entirely different. This is an accusation against a man and a player whom aspiring athletes worshiped and baseball junkies enshrine as the gold standard of sluggers. Mantle is a unanimous selection for the Mt. Rushmore of Yankees, which is no small task considering their storied history.

Surely, a situation like this calls for reflection upon the accused’s career. Granted, this was a bat used in Mantle’s age-32 season, so he was on the downswing of his prime. But he still hit .303 with 35 home runs and 111 RBI that season and finished second in the MVP voting.

So make what you will of the time frame that this bat was used in and feel free to draw your own conclusions about the seasons (or games, even) prior and beyond. But the suspicion lingers when the proof is there and the numbers are huge.

It’s been theorized that cork in a wooden bat doesn’t help the ball to go any farther and might actually deaden the impact. But many players who have corked likely did so in order to achieve the use of a lighter, longer bat that allowed them to swing harder and reach more areas of the plate.

Regardless of the actual effectiveness of bat corking, the fact remains that it is illegal, both in baseball law and moral code.

Rose won’t get a second chance, despite never betting against his own team, because he broke a cardinal sin in baseball.

But it’s easier to write off a guy who was classified as a jerk than someone who everyone aspired to be like. Mantle will forever be a legend, no matter what short cuts he may or may not have taken.

Of course, Mantle has been dead for nearly two decades. But does this mean the Yankee great gets a free pass for being one of the best for over 60 years (the days from his debut as a rookie until the news broke today)?

It may be wrong, but it may be all we have.

Mantle may have stuck his loyal fans with the burden of knowledge that he wasn’t who we perceived him to be. It’s up to the ones who care to discuss the issue of whether Mantle’s legacy is tainted. Do we give The Mick the benefit of the doubt? Do we carve an asterisk into his plaque at Cooperstown?

Probably, and definitely not, respectively. It doesn’t mean that’s the right outcome, but it’s the only one.

To the outside observer, the name “Mickey Mantle” will forever echo glory and stand for all that is right in sports. To the diehard fans, the name may now catch in your throat. Or, if you so choose, it may continue to ring clear. (Do we know it wasn’t a one-time fluke? Do we know this isn’t a hoax?)

The ultimate decision of whether or not this incident taints his legacy is, individually, ours to carry.

Mantle isn’t here to defend himself, but in the sense that Mantle is one of the greatest players to ever grace a baseball diamond, he will remain immortal. 

Follow @jamblinman

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The Los Angeles Dodgers announced today that right-handed starting pitcher Chad Billingsley will be going back on the DL with a season-ending elbow injury. This time, it will require Tommy John surgery, which is likely to keep Billingsley out for 12 months.

Given Billingsley‘s injury history and an apparent insistence on coming back from those maladies too early in the process, this was bound to happen. It’s still a shame to see a promising pitcher go down, and it causes a big problem for the Dodgers pitching staff.

Coming into the regular season, the Dodgers boasted one of the strongest pitching staffs in baseball, running eight starters deep. While Clayton Kershaw, Josh Beckett and Hyun-Jin Ryu are still intact, Zack Greinke hit the DL and Aaron Harang has been traded away.

Furthermore, southpaws Chris Capuano (started a game over the weekend before getting pulled and placed on the DL with a leg injury) and Ted Lilly (starting tomorrow; his first game back from an injury) are always on the brink of injury.

So what was once a team with eight options for the starting rotation, suddenly finds itself with three viable pitchers, surrounded by whomever they pull up from Triple-A and—for now—Lilly.

This offseason saw the Dodgers strengthen an already well-constructed team that many felt should win the NL West. Even with the defending champion Giants, upstart Rockies and always-dangerous Arizona Diamondbacks lurking, many experts picked Los Angeles to wear the division crown in 2013.

Though the pitching was nice, much of the reason for optimism is in the team’s offense. And once Hanley Ramirez returns and the lineup starts to click, the offense will be the reason why the Dodgers stay in contention.

Having guys who throw in a pitcher-friendly park under one of the best pitching coaches in the game means the rotation will likely continue to perform, but the team will ride its bats in the long run.

Last season, the Dodgers made due with a far worse group of starters and finished as one of the better staffs (by ERA) in the National League. It helps to have a Cy Young favorite as the ace of the rotation, but pitching coach Rick Honeycutt and manager Don Mattingly were even able to squeeze a mid-3.00’s ERA out of Harang in the fifth spot in 2012.

As far as changing the NL West picture, there’s no debating that an injury to a regular starting pitcher is detrimental to any team’s chances. And when he’s on, Billingsley can be absolutely dominant. So the Dodgers likely won’t find a replacement of his caliber in their farm system or in a trade, but they can lean on the knowledge that they’ve been here before.

When Greinke returns, they will still have a dangerous 1-2 punch at the top, followed by what looks to be a sturdy 3-4 in Beckett and Ryu. It’s not as good overall as the group you’ll find in San Francisco or Arizona, but it’s closer than many will think initially.

And again, the strength of this team going forward lies with the offense. If a team boasting Carl Crawford, Matt Kemp, Adrian Gonzalez, Ramirez, and Andre Ethier can’t stay in the playoff race, it won’t matter how well the pitchers are doing.

That being said, the elbow injury will close the gap between the Dodgers and their NL West counterparts. No matter how you look at it, you can’t replace that production in a fifth starter. But the fact that he was the fifth starter is something for Dodgers fans to hang their hats on.

As it stands now, the Giants are (and will be, until proven otherwise) the team to beat in the division. The Dodgers will have to contend with them, and Arizona, and Colorado, and the pesky Padres (who have four of their five wins this year against the Dodgers) if they want to win the West, regardless.

Losing Billingsley definitely doesn’t help the cause, but it may not be as crippling as advertised. When clicking on all cylinders–whether it’s Billingsley, Lilly, Stephen Fife, or an unknown trade acquisition holding down the last spot in the rotation–this team will be tough to beat. 

The NL West division title is a little bit more difficult to attain now, but it’s still well within the Dodgers reach. When all is said and done, losing someone like Greinke is much more perilous for their chances this year.

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Chad Billingsley will undergo Tommy John surgery tomorrow, April 24. Recovery time is expected to be 12 months.

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 23, 2013

That is very, very unfortunate news for the Dodgers. After losing Zack Greinke to a broken collarbone, trading away Aaron Harang, and seeing lefties Chris Capuano and Ted Lilly making regular trips to the DL, a once-stacked rotation is quickly dwindling.

Billingsley‘s injury seemed like a ticking time bomb all along, as he routinely came back too early from soreness or short DL stints. The Dodgers may have dropped the ball on his rehab, but either way they have a big problem on their hands.

After Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers are now left with Josh Beckett, Hyun-Jin Ryu, whichever combination of Lilly and Capuano is healthiest, and Stephen Fife. It’s a far cry from the staff they started with, but it will have to do until July, when Greinke returns.

Unless, of course, the Dodgers spend some of that endless cash and dip into their prospect pool a little bit to pull off a trade. They have the means, but will they pull the trigger? And if so, will it be the right move? Here are three potential trade scenarios for the Dodgers to replace Greinke and Billingsley.

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As evidenced by the 2013 version of MLB Network’s annual Top 100 players list, trying to rank the best in baseball is no easy feat. With so many different stars with different skill sets at different points in their careers, every opinion on such lists will be, well…different.

Bleacher Report’s own MLB Lead Writer Zachary Rymer compiled a fantastic, comprehensive, sabermetric-heavy list of his top 100 players earlier this month. But I wanted to take a poll of many separate rankings, much like MLB awards are tabulated, to create a more concise list of the top 10 hitters and pitchers in baseball today.

I anonymously surveyed 32 other B/R MLB Featured Columnists and asked them to rank their top 10 hitters and top 10 pitchers, then added up all the vote totals (10 points for being ranked first, nine points for being ranked second, etc.) to come up with the following results. I asked each voter to comment on a couple of their choices to provide further context. 

Everyone is encouraged to comment, debate and argue away. However, please keep in mind that this is a compilation of many different opinions, so pinning a selection you don’t like on any writer whose comments are on that player’s slide may not be representative of their personal overall rankings.

Here are B/R’s top 10 hitters and pitchers in baseball right now.

Stats taken from Baseball-Reference.com.

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As we inch closer to Opening Day, MLB teams are experiencing their fair share of hiccups.

Whether it be a slumping star player, an injury or a failed position battle, this is about the time in the spring when everything starts to shake into place.

For example, the Dodgers may not have Carl Crawford or Zack Greinke available for Opening Day due to arm injuries. Meanwhile, Yasiel Puig and Jeremy Moore continue to rake, and the team’s two best players continue to struggle.

While there isn’t necessarily anything going on to make fans lose hope for this season, there are bits of news that are worth poring over.

Read on for a full roundup of surprises, busts and injuries at Dodgers camp.

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This series will evaluate one team per day, starting on Jan. 23 and ending on Feb. 22 (the first game of spring training). It is based on last season’s performance, the offseason changes since then and the author’s outlook for the team in 2013. Please keep in mind that rosters can, and will, change before Opening Day. 

 We started in the American League East, worked across to the National League, tackled the Central divisions, knocked out the AL West, and now finish with the NL West, going in alphabetical order. Next up, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

2012 finish: 86-76 (2nd place, NL West)

Notable additions

LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu, LHP J.P. Howell, LHP Rob Rasmussen, RHP Zach Greinke, RHP Kevin Gregg, RHP Mark Lowe, RHP Peter Moylan, OF Alfredo Amezaga, 2B Skip Schumaker, 3B Dallas McPherson, C Jesus Flores, C Ramon Castro

Notable losses

LHP Randy Choate, RHP Joe Blanton, RHP John Ely, RHP Todd Coffey, RHP Jamey Wright, OF Bobby Abreu, OF Juan Rivera, OF Shane Victorino, 2B Adam Kennedy, SS Jake Lemmerman, C Matt Treanor

Why they will improve this year

If anyone was watching the race for the second NL Wild Card spot down the stretch last year, you saw a new lineup finally clicking in Los Angeles, which should have been signs of a brewing storm for the rest of the league. Though the Dodgers fell just short of sneaking into the playoffs in 2012, all the big bats started getting hot when it was too late.

That kind of production should carry over into 2013, and a full year with Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Adrian Gonzalez and Hanley Ramirez could be the makings of a championship contender. Los Angeles returns a pitching staff that was one of the best in the league a year ago, with a couple improvements.

Brandon League will close games out (or he better, for that contract he received!), and Howell gives them another southpaw option out of the bullpen. Former Cy Young winner Zack Greinke joins fellow honoree Clayton Kershaw at the top of the rotation and forms a formidable one-two punch. Closely following are Josh Beckett and Ryu, who are looking at big seasons at pitcher-friendly Dodger Stadium.

And the Dodgers have a good problem at the fifth starting spot, as Ted Lilly, Chad Billingsley, Aaron Harang and Chris Capuano all have a shot to fill the gap, and all would be above-average pitchers in that slot. But the real excitement with this team will lie in the offense.

A team that ranked 13th in runs scored last season will have the services of two former All-Stars for a full season in Ramirez and Gonzalez, and could get a healthy season from Kemp, which might put them over the top for the division.

Why they will regress this year

Everybody knows that money doesn’t necessarily buy championships. The Dodgers may have blown up their payroll, but did they really acquire enough talent to make the playoffs? First of all, Greinke’s value has been inflated since the day he was handed that shiny trophy. Then you have the up-and-down recent career of Beckett, and the complete unknown in Ryu.

Aside from Kershaw, do the Dodgers actually have any consistent starters? The bullpen is anchored by a guy who has limited (and mediocre) closing experience, and their next best option gets rattled after one bad pitch.

The lineup is another big “if.” The two best leadoff options are Mark Ellis and Carl Crawford—enough said. The former is an average hitter with no speed, and the latter is coming off an injury and just praying to regain his form after taking a dump in Boston in 2012. Nobody knows if Ramirez will bring his numbers back up or continue to decline.

Most importantly, Kemp missed significant time with injuries last season and Ethier couldn’t hit a pitch thrown by a lefty if it was set on a tee in front of him. If any one of the big four sluggers misses time or slumps horribly, the Dodgers lineup is suddenly a lot more vulnerable. 

And if Kershaw’s hip injury, which bothered him for a large part of last year, persists, who’s to say the Dodgers don’t lose their best (by far) pitcher? Even with a good year from their ace, what if Greinke tanks, Ryu struggles to adjust to major-league ball, or Beckett has another disaster of a season? In a worst-case scenario, the Dodgers are the ultimate busts and dip below .500 this year.

The outlook for 2013

The difference between the Dodgers and the pricey, star-studded Yankee regimes is that Los Angeles actually went out and traded for the guys they wanted, instead of only snatching up the biggest free agents every winter. Picking up Gonzalez and Ramirez via trade last year were moves almost any GM would have made if he had the financial capabilities. 

Gonzalez is one year removed from hitting over .330, Ramirez had a down year in 2012 and still hit 24 homers and drove in over 90 runs, and Kemp and Ethier are bona fide studs when healthy. This is the best lineup the Dodgers have fielded in years, and it’s only made better if Crawford rebounds, as I expect him to.

Whenever a team has Kershaw heading a rotation, they stand a fighting chance. But adding one of the best Korean pitchers in the world with a major-league-ready changeup to a staff that has Kershaw, Greinke and Beckett is heading toward a big improvement. Given that the Dodgers already had one of the better staffs in the league, this is icing on the cake.

Though I don’t personally trust League at closer, and expect Kenley Jansen to take over by the All-Star break, the bullpen should be very solid in 2013. The Dodgers have all the pieces in place to take back the division from San Francisco, and it will be a massive disappointment if they don’t. 

I’m looking forward to Kemp having a big year—closer to 2011 than 2012. Add in above-average years from Gonzalez, Ethier, Ramirez and Crawford means the Dodgers will have one of the best lineups in baseball—perhaps the best. It’s my opinion that the Dodgers live up to expectations and claim the NL West title with a win total in the mid-90s.

Potential changes before Opening Day

The Dodgers are pretty much set for 2013, but they might still be in the market for another reliever. Given that they have a plethora of starting pitching at the back end of the rotation, Capuano or Harang could be dealt to acquire more bullpen depth.

Chris Perez has been a name floating around the rumor mill in connection to the Dodgers lately, and Cleveland could definitely use a guy like Capuano in that rotation. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a move like that made before Opening Day. Otherwise, they are set.

Biggest surprise: Carl Crawford

Biggest disappointment: Brandon League

Bold prediction: Hanley Ramirez hits .290 with 30 homers and 20 stolen bases

Projected lineup

1. Carl Crawford, LF

2. Mark Ellis, 2B

3. Matt Kemp, CF

4. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B

5. Hanley Ramirez, SS

6. Andre Ethier, RF

7. Luis Cruz, 3B

8. A.J. Ellis, C

Projected rotation

1. Clayton Kershaw, LHP

2. Zack Greinke, RHP

3. Josh Beckett, RHP

4. Hyun-Jin Ryu, LHP

5. Chad Billingsley, RHP

Projected finish: 94-68, 1st place

For more preseason evaluations:

*Teams [in brackets] have not yet been evaluated.

You can follow Jeremy on Twitter @Jamblinman.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

This series will evaluate one team per day, starting on Jan. 23 and ending on Feb. 22 (the first game of spring training). It is based on last season’s performance, the offseason changes since then and the author’s outlook for the team in 2013. Please keep in mind that rosters can, and will, change before Opening Day. We started in the American League East, worked across to the National League, tackled the Central divisions, and now jump to the AL West, going in alphabetical order. Next up, the Texas Rangers.

2012 finish: 93-69 (2nd place, AL West — lost to Baltimore Orioles in Wild Card play-in game)

Notable additions

RHP Jason Frasor, RHP Randy Wells, RHP Evan Meek, RHP Joakim Soria, RHP Josh Lindblom, RHP Kyle McClellan, 1B Lance Berkman, C A.J. Pierzynski

Notable losses

RHP Barret Loux, RHP Mike Adams, RHP Mark Lowe, RHP Ryan Dempster, RHP Scott Feldman, RHP Koji Uehara, RHP Roy Oswalt, OF Josh Hamilton, 3B Michael Young, C Mike Napoli

Why they will improve this year

Losing Hamilton and Napoli will take a chunk out of the Rangers’ offensive output in 2013, but this is still a very solid team. The starting rotation should get a boost from a second year of growth out of Yu Darvish and improved seasons from Derek Holland and Alexi Ogando.

I like the bullpen a lot, and think adding Soria will turn out to be a coup in Arlington. But how can the Rangers improve from last year’s 93-win club after losing their biggest bat? Well, it’s still a team that was first in the league in runs scored and second in team batting average.

David Murphy should get full time action for the second straight year with that open spot in the outfield, and they did bring in Berkman to provide a little bit of pop. I still expect Texas to be in the top three or four teams in run production and home runs next season, and could even end up in the top two of batting average again.

But where the Rangers could really thrive in 2013 is in the rotation. It’s still a group with a few question marks, but Darvish and Ogando should have good seasons and if Holland finally figures out how to consistently get his pitches in the right spots, they may have a studly top four. If Martin Perez does snag the fifth spot as I expect and lives up to half the hype surrounding him, the rotation improves even more.

Why they will regress this year

You can’t understate how big of a loss Hamilton is. He had an up-and-down career with the Rangers and the fans seemed to have a mostly love or hate relationship with the oft-injured, streaky slugger. But the fact remains that he was good for a solid average, 30 homers and 100 RBI every season.

I do like Murphy, but he will not replace the production that Hamilton brought to the lineup. One saving grace could be a healthy season from Nelson Cruz, but with his name involved in the newest PED scandal, will he avoid a suspension? Pierzynski is a downgrade offensively from Napoli but brings a massive defensive upgrade.

The Rangers also will miss Young, who was a threat for 200 hits every year. Replacing him with the brittle Berkman and expecting any kind of significant numbers after his 2012 season is a bad bet. And looking to Mike Olt, Jurickson Profar, and any other young bat that may come up to fill offensive deficiencies right away is ambitious at best.

The bullpen looks very solid, but do the Rangers really have a bona fide ace in the rotation? Will Darvish improve upon his 2012 numbers? Will Holland finally put together a full, solid season? Can Perez live up to his Johan Santana comparisons, or will he scuffle like he has in the minors lately? 

The worst-case scenario is that Berkman and Pierzynski hardly add to the offense at all, Cruz misses time, the prospects struggle, and the only pitcher doing anything positive is Harrison. It could be a bust of a season if any major injuries hit, as the Rangers are already on thin ice with certain parts of the roster.

The outlook for 2013

I’m not sure why I believe in the Rangers this year. They missed out on all the major free agents they needed and only brought in decent replacements for Napoli, Young and Hamilton. I have major questions about the middle and end of the rotation, too.

But for some reason, I believe the Rangers will be deeply involved in the playoff hunt again in 2013. I don’t think they are as good as the Angels and will get a run for their money from Oakland and Seattle, but the Rangers have been here before. Ron Washington will do what he has to do to ensure that they are competitive even with the lost offense.

Murphy is a guy that I think will have a big year, and if Berkman stays healthy he could also put up some solid numbers. One reason I foresee Texas being competitive is that they still boast a talented, professional lineup, even if they did sacrifice some power. 

Overall, an order with Cruz, Beltre, Ian Kinsler, Elvis Andrus and Berkman will do some damage. The rotation will be middle of the pack but can ride the top two guys at least deep into the pennant race. It’s the opinion of this writer that the Rangers finish second in the AL West and lose a tiebreaker to the Royals for the second Wild Card spot in 2013. Their roster really is set for the next half-decade with that deep farm system, though.

Potential changes before Opening Day

According to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com, the Rangers are on the lookout for a backup utility infielder to mostly spell Andrus at shortstop. With short, second and third all filled by former All-Stars, a lot of free agent infielders are reluctant to sign in Texas at risk of not having playing time.

The better option may be for the Rangers to promote from within, as they have Profar and Leury Garcia who could come off the bench and make an impact. According to Sullivan, Ryan Theriot might be an option the Rangers explore.

I’ve suggested this move for most teams that need another pitcher, but I’d like to see the Rangers at least inquire about Kyle Lohse. The price is high, but it would legitimize their rotation and make them a favorite in my mind to return to the playoffs in the American League.

Biggest surprise: Lance Berkman

Biggest disappointment: Nelson Cruz

Bold prediction: Yu Darvish brings his ERA down around 3.30, WHIP to 1.15 

Projected lineup

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B

2. Elvis Andrus, SS

3. Adrian Beltre, 3B

4. David Murphy, LF

5. Nelson Cruz, RF

6. Lance Berkman, DH

7. A.J. Pierzynski, C

8. Mitch Moreland, 1B

9. Craig Gentry, CF

Projected rotation

1. Matt Harrison, LHP

2. Yu Darvish, RHP

3. Derek Holland, LHP

4. Alexi Ogando, RHP

5. Martin Perez, LHP

Projected finish: 88-74, 2nd place

For more preseason evaluations:

*Teams [in brackets] have not yet been evaluated.

You can follow Jeremy on Twitter @Jamblinman.  

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

This series will evaluate one team per day, starting on Jan. 23 and ending on Feb. 22 (the first game of spring training). It is based on last season’s performance, the offseason changes since then and the author’s outlook for the team in 2013. Please keep in mind that rosters can, and will, change before Opening Day. We started in the American League East, worked across to the National League, tackled the Central divisions, and now jump to the AL West, going in alphabetical order. Next up, the Seattle Mariners.

2012 finish: 75-87 (4th place, AL West)

Notable additions

LHP Joe Saunders, RHP Jeremy Bonderman, RHP Kameron Loe, RHP Jon Garland, OF Raul Ibanez, OF Michael Morse, OF Jason Bay, 1B Kendrys Morales, 1B Mike Jacobs, 2B Robert Andino, C Kelly Shoppach, C Ronny Paulino.

Notable losses

LHP Jason Vargas, LHP George Sherrill, RHP Kevin Millwood, RHP Shawn Kelley, OF Scott Cousins, INF/OF Chone Figgins, OF Trayvon Robinson, C John Jaso, C Miguel Olivo.

Why they will improve this year

I’m in love with this team. I’ll just put that out there. The young talent is amazing and you’d have to be crazy to dislike Felix Hernandez. But in order to improve, the M’s need big progressions from guys like Dustin Ackley, Kyle Seager and Jesus Montero.

One of the things holding Seattle back in recent years has been their lack of pop in the lineup. Safeco Field was where home runs went to die (Richie Sexson and Adrian Beltre can confirm), but they have moved the fences in for 2013.

Even if they hadn’t, the additions of sluggers Morse and Morales might still have added 25 homers each. The lineup is instantly upgraded with those two, as well as Ibanez off the bench as a designated hitter. I really like Vargas, but it was necessary to unload him for a big bat, and they may have found a better replacement with Saunders anyway.

The pitching staff should be strong again this season, but it’s the strides they made on offense that intrigue me the most. Adding Morse, Morales and Ibanez are huge moves that will definitely improve a team that finished dead last in the American League in both runs scored and batting average a season ago. With the new bats, plus growth from the young guns, they could climb those ranks rapidly.

Why they will regress this year

One thing Mariners fans never wanted to hear, even if just a whisper, was that there could be something wrong with Hernandez’s throwing arm. In a worst-case scenario, there actually is something wrong with that golden arm and the Mariners are absolutely sunk for 2013.

Without Hernandez, the team is significantly worse. But another big worry in Seattle is if Ackley continues to struggle with the bat (he definitely did not meet expectations in 2012), and Seager regresses from his powerful rookie season.

Both are very real possibilities. However, assuming the best for those two, what if Morse and Morales’ power don’t translate to Seattle? They can both hit the ball a mile, but as previously mentioned, that didn’t help former big bats that came to Seattle. Even if they all have great years, will the offense be good enough? It will be tough to measure up to the Angels and Rangers in their own division.

Behind Hernandez, the Mariners figure to line up Saunders, Hisashi Iwakuma, Blake Beaven and Erasmo Ramirez. Really? That’s it? That’s even more evidence that losing Hernandez would ruin this team’s season. There’s potential in that rotation, but it could be shockingly mediocre this year.

The outlook for 2013

Like I wrote, I do really like this team. The lineup excites me and I really do expect Seager to continue growing and Ackley to turn it around after last year. Morse and Morales are two of my favorite “under-the-radar” players and I think they were exactly the right moves for Seattle.

If Hernandez is healthy, he will be one of the best pitchers in baseball again, but the biggest question marks for me come after that. Saunders has been pretty solid over the last few years, but can he be consistent? Even less of a sure thing is the rest of the rotation who is either inexperienced, young or both.

One thing I’m really looking forward to is seeing the impending call-ups of Taijuan Walker, Danny Hultzen and James Paxton. All three have been studs in the minor leagues and could make immediate impacts in the rotation down the stretch. And don’t forget about top catching prospect Mike Zunino and top infield prospect Nick Franklin, who should get a shot at some point this year.

For me, watching the development of all the young talent will be the most exciting aspect of this Mariners season. I don’t think 2013 is their year, but they are very close. In 2014, they could legitimately contend for the division title, as long as health and regression don’t become huge issues.

It’s the opinion of this writer that the Mariners stay stuck in fourth place, but finish at .500 and start opening some eyes around baseball. Once the aforementioned minor league pitchers, as well as Ackley, Montero and Seager really get comfortable, this team is a force to be reckoned with.

Potential changes before Opening Day

According to Pete Abraham on Twitter, the Red Sox have “internally discussed” acquiring Mike Carp, who was recently designated for assignment by Seattle. The Mariners have nothing to lose with him, and might as well try to pick up a prospect or two from Boston there.

I doubt that general manager Jack Zduriencik will make a run at Kyle Lohse, but it wouldn’t hurt if they can afford to give up that draft pick. If anything, I could see the M’s making a run at another bullpen arm or two and a veteran bat like Casey Kotchman would have been nice if he didn’t just sign with Tampa Bay.

Biggest surprise: Joe Saunders

Biggest disappointment: Jesus Montero

Bold prediction: Mike Morse hits 35 home runs, drives in 125 runs

Projected lineup

1. Dustin Ackley, 2B

2. Franklin Gutierrez, CF

3. Kyle Seager, 3B

4. Michael Morse, LF

5. Kendrys Morales, DH

6. Jesus Montero, C

7. Justin Smoak, 1B

8. Michael Saunders, RF

9. Brendan Ryan, SS

Projected rotation

1. Felix Hernandez, RHP

2. Joe Saunders, LHP

3. Hisashi Iwakuma, RHP

4. Blake Beaven, RHP

5. Erasmo Ramirez, RHP

Projected finish: 81-81, 4th place

For more preseason evaluations:

*Teams [in brackets] have not yet been evaluated.

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