Preview/Prediction

The Yankees consist of great talent, including Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano, and Mark Teixeira. And don't forget about the man behind the plate: Jorge Posada.

But what about the future of this infield? What will happen when Jeter is too old to play everyday? And what about when A-Rod, Teixeira, and Posada are no longer productive?

Here is the future of the Yankees infield.

First Base: Jesus Montero

In no uncertain terms, the Red Sox significantly stepped up the pressure on catcher Victor Martinez Monday when they signed Cuban Adalberto Ibarra to a Major League contract worth anywhere between $3 and $4.3 million over five years.

Welcome to the second edition of the MLB Featured Columnists' Poll!

After the success of last week's player award predictions, Chicago Cubs FC Matt Poloni suggested a survey of predictions about how the divisions will shake out.

For each team I have listed the cumulative rank, average rank, and number of first-place votes.

With Adeiny Hechavarria being signed to the largest contract every given out by the Toronto Blue Jays to an international player ($10 million over four years), the Jays finally have hope that their shortstop carousel may be slowing down.

Hechavarria figures to be both a stolen bases threat and a leadoff staple for the next decade; however, I can't find anything about the kid other than really basic scouting reports and the fact that he had a .262 average last year on the Cuban National Team.

The Yankees have won their first five series, including last week's triumph over the Angels, but now the Bombers head out to Anaheim for a rematch in a stadium where New York has not had a great deal of success over the past 15 years.

Then again, this doesn't appear to be the same Halos team the Yanks have battled during the past decade-and-a-half. Los Angeles has been mediocre out of the gate, posting an 8-9 record with less-than-stellar statistics to back it up.

Don’t expect the Cubs (6-10) to have an easy go of it facing the Milwaukee Brewers (8-7) this time around.

The Cubs opened up their home schedule by taking two of three from the Brewers back on April 12-15—their lone series win to date—but Milwaukee and Chicago are two teams heading in opposite directions.

The Brewers piled on 20 runs against the Pittsburgh Pirates yesterday and outscored the Buccos 36-1 in a three-game sweep.

The Cubs, meanwhile, haven’t scored 36 runs in their past eight games combined.

When Daisuke Matsuzaka returns from his rehab assignment sometime during the next 10 days, the Red Sox will need to make room for him on the 25-man roster.

At about the same time, Jacoby Ellsbury—sidelined with four fractured ribs—will also be coming off the disabled list, though it may be some time before he can play.

Because they are against a tough, and often contending division rival, games against the Milwaukee Brewers are a reasonable "litmus test" of how the Pirates will fare in the National League Central.

And the only thing worse than being swept by the Milwaukee on the road is to be swept by them at home.

Worse, being all but shut out, scoring only one run in three games. While the Brewers scored 36 runs during the same stretch. Talk about a "kitchen sink."

Call them World Champions....yet again.

A simulated season on Out of the Park Baseball 11 (www.ootpdevelopments.com) determined that the New York Yankees will win the 2010 World Series over the Philadelphia Phillies. The title would be the 29th in franchise history, but the first one via wild card for the Bronx Bombers, who finished second to Tampa in the American League East with a 95-67 record.

Manager Joe Girardi's team swept AL Central champ Minnesota (87-75) in the division series before flooring a 105-win Rays team with a surprising four-game sweep in the ALCS.