2012 Predictions: NL West

1st Place: Arizona Diamondbacks- The Diamondbacks haven't really lost anything from a team that went 94-68 last year. In fact, if anything, they've improved. They acquired Trevor Cahill (right) and Craig Breslow in a shrewd trade with the A's that will net them a solid reliever in Breslow (0-2/3.79/44 in 2011) and a solid starter in Cahill (12-14/4.16/147 in 2011). I expect Aaron Hill (.246/8/61) and Lyle Overbay (.234/9/47) to have rebound years with a change of scenery. The D-Backs could be among the league's elite without a doubt  in 2012.

2nd Place: San Francisco Giants- After winning the World Series in 2010, 2011 was a disappointment for the Giants as they went 86-76 and missed the playoffs. If anything, 2011 just showed that 2010 was a fluke. While they do have fantastic pitching: Tim Lincecum (13-14/2.74/22), Matt Cain (12-11/2.88/179), and Madison Bumgarner (13-13/3.21/191) highlighted the second best rotation in baseball last year, they have no hitting. While they were battered by injuries, Buster Posey (.305/18/67 in 2010) and Freddy Sanchez (.292/7/47 in 2010) will be back for the full year, they just don't have enough offense to compete. The acquired a couple of outfielders in Angel Pagan (.262/7/56) and Melky Cabrera (left) (.305/18/87) but they don't have the offense to compete.

3rd Place: Colorado Rockies- The Rockies were a major disappointment to many who thought that they would ride a great offense to a playoff berth; however, they finished 4th and went 73-89. Still, they have done nothing but improved this offseason, acquiring Michael Cuddyer (right)(.284/20/70), Casey Blake (.252/4/26), Marco Scutaro (.299/7/54), and Ramon Hernandez (.282/12/36) to bolster an offense that was 7th in the league last year. Their pitching is a bit weak, but Jhoulys Chacin (11-14/3.62/150) is a stud and Jorge De La Rosa (5-2/3.51/52 in 10 starts) should be healthy.

4th Place: Los Angeles Dodgers- Like the Rockies, the Dodgers were a disappointment to many in 2011. However, unlike the Rockies, they haven't done much to improve in the offseason. They do have a strong pitching staff, led by NL Cy Young Award Winner Clayton Kershaw (21-5/2.28/248), Chad Billingsley (11-11/4.21/152), and Ted Lilly (12-14/3.97/158). However, their offense lacks any firepower whatsoever behind Matt Kemp (.324/39/126) and Andre Ethier (.292/11/62). Plus, this offseason, the only real players they acquired were replacement level middle infielders like Mark Ellis (.248/7/41), Adam Kennedy (.234/7/38), and Jerry Hairston Jr. (left)(.270/5/31). In other words, the Dodgers lack the offensive firepower to compete, even in a weak division like the NL West.

5th Place: San Diego Padres- Like all too many teams in this division, the Padres have a stellar pitching staff and a terrible offense. However, they have made a move to fix that, trading Mat Latos to the Reds for gifted first baseman Yonder Alonso (.330/5/15 in 47 games), Edinson Volquez (5-7/5.71/104), and a bucket of prospects. They also netted Carlos Quentin (right) (.254/24/77) in a trade with the White Sox-- however, Petco Park should keep Quentin's undeniable power at bay. The Padres haven't done enough to make them a contender, or even close to one.

Maine Becomes A Part of Massachusetts

Today, the Red Sox added one to their depth moves-- signing starting pitcher John Maine to a minor league contract. Just a few years ago, Maine was an above average pitcher with the Mets before injuries unraveled his career. Maine's best season came in 2007, when he went 15-10/3.91/180 for the Mets, making 32 starts. He also posted above average peripheral stats that year with a 4.18 FIP and xFIP as well as an excellent 8.48 K/9 and 3.53 BB/9. However, injuries really rattled him and he did not pitch in the majors in 2011. He put up a miserable 1-3/7.43/35 line with the Rockies' AAA affiliate to go with a 5.98 FIP. However, this is partially because he averaged a ridiculously bad 7.24 BB/9, even more than his 6.85 K/9 (which is still respectable). According to Maine's agent, the Red Sox have talked to Maine about potentially becoming a reliever. Maine is definitely a bit of a reclamation project, but it never hurts to have depth.

Four Red Sox Prospects Rank In MLB.com's Top 100

Last night, MLB.com announced the top 100 prospects in all of baseball and four Red Sox prospects ranked in this list. The highest ranked Red Sox at #56 was Will Middlebrooks (right) who plays third base for AAA Pawtucket. Middlebrooks had an excellent season in 2011, going .285/23/94 between AA and AAA along with, allegedly, playing excellent third base. Next was Bryce Brentz at #64, who raised his prospect status tremendously playing right field for A Greenville and A+ Salem in 2011, going .306/30/94. Next was #76, Xander Bogaerts. Bogaerts raised a lot of eyebrows in 2011, including mine, after going .260/16/45 as the shortstop for the Greenville Drive. However, those numbers don't look all that impressive-- the catch is that he's only 18. Finally was #93 Ryan Lavarnway who we all know had an excellent year and is considered the future behind the plate for the Red Sox. Between AA Portland and AAA Pawtucket, Lavarnway showed amazing potential, batting .290/32/93 and getting a cup of coffee at the end of the year. A few of these players are the future of the franchise and I'm very excited to see them.

Red Sox Avoid Arbitration With Andrew Bailey

Today, the Red Sox locked up another arbitration eligible player in Andrew Bailey and now only have two remaining. Bailey's deal is worth $3.9 million over one year. Bailey is slated to be the Red Sox' closer in 2012 after going 0-4/3.24/41 in 2011 with the A's. He was acquired in the Red Sox' biggest move of the offseason-- a 5-player trade with the A's in which Josh Reddick was shipped to Oakland. Bailey experienced his worst season in the majors, and was plagued by injuries. However, he still managed a very respectable 3.24 ERA, 2.86 FIP, and 3.52 xFIP to go with 8.86 K/9 and 2.59 BB/9. Needless to say, those are some pretty impressive peripheral stats. If Bailey can stay away from the forearm and neck injuries he suffered in 2011, a $3.9 million deal should come off as a bargain for the 27-year old. I'm glad the Sox locked up Bailey, now only two to go!

Red Sox Add Right Field Option With Cody Ross

Today, the Red Sox agreed to terms with Cody Ross on a contract. Ross will be in the right field mix for the Red Sox in 2012, after going .240/14/52 as the Giants left fielder in 2011. Allegedly, the deal is worth $3 million over a year. Ross has been a consistent outfielder in his career, and his career 162-game average in .261/21/79-- numbers that would be very solid as the Red Sox' right fielder in 2012. I'm a bit surprised that the Red Sox made this move as he wouldn't be all that solid a platoon partner to Ryan Sweeney. He only batted .234 against lefties in 2011 and slugged only .362 off lefties as opposed to .405 total. Even so, however, I'd much more comfortable with a Sweeney/Ross platoon than I am with a Sweeney/McDonald platoon. In his career, right field has been the strongest position for Ross-- however, he isn't stellar anywhere-- his career UZR/150 in right is -0.5. I suppose it can't hurt to have depth but I don't see Ross becoming a star in Boston.

Conor Says... Sign Wilson Betemit

After trading away Marco Scutaro yesterday, the Red Sox will be strongly in the market for two things. Those are a starting pitcher and an additional bat off the bench. While I hope they sign Roy Oswalt for the former, the latter takes a bit more work to figure out. A guy that I think could be a really helpful player off the bench would be Wilson Betemit. Mike Aviles will likely take over the starting shortstop role and with Nick Punto off the bench, they have a strong middle infield backup. However, the past few years, Kevin Youkilis has been a growing concern for Red Sox fans as he hasn't played 140 games since 2008. The Red Sox will likely be giving Youk some time off to help him recover and having a guy off the bench who can bat .285/8/46, as he did in 2011. He would likely be available on a short, cheap contract and the Red Sox could do worse to fill out their bench.

Red Sox Avoid Arbitration With Daniel Bard

Just recently after trading Marco Scutaro to Colorado, Ben Cherington jumped right back into action, agreeing to a contract with Daniel Bard. The deal will be worth $1.6125 million over a year. Bard had his worst year as a major league pitcher, going a very good 2-9/3.33/74. However, Bard, who has been the Red Sox' set-up man the past two seasons is expected to move into the rotation in spring. During spring training, Ben Cherington has said the Sox expect to stretch Bard out to join a potentially very good rotation. They have a very strong front three of Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, and Clay Buchholz and they have "intensified their interest" in Roy Oswalt after trading Scutaro. Bard was a starter in college and for a year in the minors (2007) when he went 3-5/6.42/38 for the Greenville Drive. The Sox then transferred him to a reliever and the rest is history. Hopefully, Bard works out as a starter and the Red Sox develop a strong pitching rotation.

Red Sox Ship Scutaro To Colorado

Today, the Red Sox completed a move that broke the heart of many Red Sox fans, including me. They shipped scrappy fan favorite Marco Scutaro to the Colorado Rockies in return for Clayton Mortensen. This move is likely just a payroll dump as they are trading Scutaro, who will make $6 million in 2012 for Mortensen, who is not even arbitration eligible yet-- this could secure some payroll space for a guy like Roy Oswalt. Mortensen finally broke through as a major leaguer in 2011, going 2-4/3.86/30 for the Rockies. However, he got lucky as his FIP stood at 5.34 and his xFIP was 4.67; plus, his K/9 of 4.63 and BB/9 of 3.70 are less than impressive. Mortensen is no more than depth just like Aaron Cook, Carlos Silva, and Vicente Padilla. At shortstop, the Red Sox will likely platoon Mike Aviles and Nick Punto. If this move translates into Roy Oswalt, I will be happy-- if not, I will be very mad at Ben Cherington.

Red Sox, Rockies Talking Marco Scutaro

Earlier today, the Red Sox and Rockies were reported to be talking about trade possibilities for Marco Scutaro. Scutaro had a great season in his second year with the Sox in 2011, going .299/7/54. However, the 36 year old shortstop has only gone .270/10/59 in his 162-game average. Trading Scutaro would leave no real shortstop heading into the season with the best free agent shortstops available being Miguel Tejada, Ryan Theriot, and Edgar Renteria. I have no idea who the Rockies would have traded the Red Sox but a few realistic options for Scutaro would probably be a major league pitcher or two. However, the Rockies don't have very solid pitching and they'd be unwilling to trade Jhoulys Chacin (11-14/3.62/150 in 2011) for as little as Scutaro. Maybe Jorge De La Rosa? Point is, I don't know, and I don't see these talks going anywhere.

Crawford Had Wrist Surgery, May Miss Start of Season

Earlier today, Carl Crawford underwent a surgical operation on his left wrist. Crawford may miss opening day, but will be the starting left fielder for "the bulk of the season." Crawford had a tough first season in Boston after signing in December 2010 for a 7 year/$142 million contract. He struggled, batting just .255/11/56 after extremely high expectations before the season began. Apparently, it's a relatively routine operation that has low risk and Crawford should be batting in spring training, according to Ben Cherington. Allegedly, Crawford began to feel pain in his wrist around New Year's Day when he began to amp up his hitting workouts. Red Sox fans everywhere hope that Crawford can play in 2012 and will live up to the lofty expectations that Red Sox Nation gave him before the season started. I really hope that injuries do not affect the Red Sox in 2012 as they have in 2010 and 2011.