the end of December rolls around and January 2012 approaches, we are only months away from the start of yet another MLB season. It is hard to believe that already over one month ago, the World Series was awarded and that now, teams are already preparing so that they have their shot to win it all in 2012.

With the Phillies having the National League's highest payroll, the Marlins moving to a new stadium and bringing stars with them, the Braves keeping much of their core in tact and the Nationals slowly working their way into the playoff conversation, the National League East race has the potential to be extremely tight and one of the best in baseball to follow in the coming season.

Let's start with the Phillies. Obviously, as the five-time defending champion of the NL East crown, they are the ones being chased in 2012. The Phillies had by most fan's reasoning a very quiet off season. As opposed to the past two years when Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay were ...

Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - MLB By Marilee Gallagher