Preview/Prediction

They are a rare breed and a highly prized commodity if you can find them. Here are the top five-tool players in Major League Baseball.

Before we begin, let’s get something right out in the open. You can be a great all-around ballplayer but lack the classical five-tool label.

You only have to look at Mike Trout, who is one of the most amazing players in baseball at the moment but also has issues with his arm.

Pitchers and catchers will be reporting before you know it, but there’s still plenty of time to sit and listen to the trade winds a’blowing.

The Minnesota Twins' crop of young players in 2013 is much more exciting than years prior simply because they won't be filling in for injured or ineffective big leaguers. Instead, there will be a team full of healthy, young competition vying for spots on the major-league roster.

Nearly every position player will have a battle on their hands during spring training. This is good, because competition breeds success—and success is something Minnesota needs dearly.

It's hard to believe that, after winning their second World Series in two years, the Giants would have much room for improvement heading into 2013.

But it could be argued that they won last season despite some of their best players struggling through the regular season. And how could anyone have predicted that the team that finished dead last in the major leagues in home runs would win it all?

But that is exactly what the Giants did, and now they're entering the new season with just about the same roster as last season, and with the potential to improve in several areas.

After months of trade rumors it's looking more and more like Justin Upton will remain on the Arizona Diamondbacks' 25-man roster.

Last season, manager Ron Washington went with Colby Lewis as the Texas Rangers' Opening Day starter. This coming season, the decision has to be between Matt Harrison and Yu Darvish. 

Both pitchers had stellar seasons in 2012, and, as a result, both players have made a strong case to toe the rubber on Opening Day in 2013. 

With spring training just around the corner, St. Louis Cardinals players old and new are putting the finishing touches on the offseason as they prepare for 2013.

Next season, the Cincinnati Reds will take a risk that everyone in baseball wants to see Aroldis Chapman as a starter.

The southpaw has already shown that he can do just about everything from the bullpen. He can be a situational pitcher, a setup man or a closer. He can go more than one inning and can go back-to-back-to-back days. He can pitch in key situations or in the postseason.

In regards to young players making names for themselves at the big-league level, the 2013 Major League Baseball season has a very hard act to follow.

The 2012 season brought Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Wade Miley and assorted others. Which prospects will the 2013 season bring?

Probably quite a few by the end of it all, but likely not so many right away. Baseball fans may be able to count the number of prospects in Opening Day lineups this year on one hand.

After insisting on a three year deal but ultimately failing to land one, first baseman Adam LaRoche agreed to resign with the Washington Nationals for a two year deal with a mutual third year option.