Preview/Prediction

According to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, left-handed pitcher Dontrelle Willis has signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs—the team who originally drafted him in the eighth round in 2000.  

Spring Training can't come soon enough for rabid Cardinal fans, and with the turning of the new year, it's a good time to preview the Cardinals' 25-man Opening Day roster.

As usual, the team has question marks in the middle infield and in the starting rotation.

The 2013 MLB season will provide plenty of day-to-day excitement, but we shouldn't forget about the teams and individuals who will gradually approach records as the summer wears on.

Several pursuits attest more to loyalty than skill. Challengers to the following franchise records, for example, have reached free agency multiple times during their careers, only to re-sign with familiar clubs.

The Houston Astros will open the regular season at home on March 31st, hosting the Texas Rangers on Sunday Night Baseball.

In 2013, the Houston Astros will leave the National League Central division after two years of negotiations. They will switch instead to the American League West, with this switch balancing the number of teams in each league. 

Earlier this week, I took a look at the Twins biggest weaknesses heading into the 2013 season. I think most are aware of the recent pitching woes and the struggle this team has endured. There are bright spots, however, and some may even stay bright for years to come.

It’s been a long time since Roberto Alomar manned second base for the Toronto Blue Jays, and boy do they miss him. What was once a point of strength and consistency for the ballclub has become a revolving cast of players.

If the San Francisco Giants formula for success is as strong as it appears to be, they could have a run for their money coming from the St. Louis Cardinals over the next decade.

The cornerstone of the Giants success hasn’t come from blockbuster trades and massive free-agent splashes. It has come from two things, smart player acquisitions and some serious homegrown pitching.

MLB fans have seen a slew of free-agent acquisitions this offseason, but there are still a handful of potential trades that could happen before spring training starts.

MLB trade rumors are about as common as Mark Sanchez turnovers, but the following five players and their rumored deals have some weight to them.

The MLB season always surprises us. Teams and individuals often sustain excellence that we didn't think they could or change abruptly when we least expect it. These bold predictions about 2013 won't seem so far-fetched come summertime.

Read on to see why the AL Central could produce a small-market contender, which new faces will disappoint in new places and who might ride the bench despite a high salary.

Of course, share your own thoughts in the comments section below.

The Tigers rode their starting rotation to a Central Division title and an appearance in the World Series. The Tigers have insured they will have the same rotation (more or less) that pitched a great postseason for Detroit.

They do have several questions facing them for the 2013 season, can they stay healthy, can Porcello or Smyly take a hold of the fifth job, and can recently re-signed Anibal Sanchez pitch as well as he did down the stretch and in the playoffs.