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With just over a week separating us from Opening Day, we’re seeing rosters start to take shape as teams make their cuts and send promising prospects off to their minor league assignments.

There are a great deal of teams that have the potential to make a run at a championship in 2013, but some other teams aren’t quite so lucky.

Another losing season in certain cities might simply mean disappointment for their fanbases, but in the case of the managers, it could mean unemployment this October.

With the size of coaching staffs in every major league dugout and in minor league organizations all over the country, there is never a shortage of candidates to take over if someone is handed their walking papers, but this year’s World Baseball Classic may have provided us with the best option out there.

Tony Pena hasn’t been a manager since 2005 when he was at the helm of the Kansas City Royals, and though he’s currently the first base coach for the New York Yankees, he was seriously considered for an MLB managerial job as recently as a couple of years ago when the Boston Red Sox ultimately hired Bobby Valentine.

Leading his team to a perfect 8-0 record, Pena paced the Dominican Republic to its first WBC championship, impressing many along the way and fueling the notion that he could once again be in line for a managerial gig in the near future.

A move wouldn’t likely take place during the season, but here are a few teams that could be in need of some help once the winter arrives.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

The Angels front office has been busy over the past two years, as the signings of C.J. Wilson and Albert Pujols marked the highlight of the 2011 offseason, and the addition of Zack Greinke at last summer’s trade deadline

Those moves wouldn’t be enough for manager Mike Scioscia and the Angels, as the team missed the postseason and was sent back to the drawing board this past winter.

They lost Greinke and Torii Hunter to free agency, though the addition of Josh Hamilton to the outfield will certainly go a long way toward ensuring a strong 2013 roster.

Should they fail to live up to their once-again-lofty expectations, however, it wouldn’t be entirely surprising to see Scioscia on the chopping block.

Bringing Pena (or any other manager for that matter) into the fold wouldn’t be an easy task for GM Jerry Dipoto no matter how you look at it. Scioscia is under contract through the 2018 season, and even though he could opt out after 2015, the notion of anyone else at the helm could be a pipe dream

Minnesota Twins

Until recently, the Twins and skipper Ron Gardenhire were considered one of the most successful small-market teams in baseball with a consistently competitive team in the AL Central, all while boasting one of the league’s lowest payrolls.

That all changed a few years ago when they handed Joe Mauer a $184 million contract, pushing the team’s payroll over $100 million as the Twins christened their brand new stadium.

It’s been a struggle since for the Twins, however, as the team has narrowly missed the 100-loss mark in each of the past two seasons while finishing last in the division.

Gardenhire has lost favor with much of the fanbase in Minnesota, and with 2013 marking the final season he’ll be under contract, it will seemingly take a miracle to see him back with the team in 2014.

Adding a manager like Pena to the mix would be somewhat atypical for the organization, as it tends to promote from within, though his ability to work with players in a firm but fair fashion may sit well as the Twins rebuild for the future with a number of prospects set to make a jump to the majors in the coming years.

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Many professional athletes will do whatever it takes to get a leg up on the competition, but MLB players seem to take it to a different level when it comes to their unique superstitions.

Whether it’s the way a pitcher avoids the foul lines or a batter goes through the motions of re-gripping their batting gloves time after time, the superstitions all serve a purpose for the players.

Some superstitions, however, are a little more unique than that, taking things to a new level of odd.

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Anytime a young player makes his way toward his first crack at free agency, there is no doubt a sense of urgency about getting a big deal done.

San Diego Padres third baseman Chase Headley finds himself in that very situation right now, just a year away from free agency.

A strong stat line would seemingly be enough for the San Diego Padres to take advantage of an opportunity to get a head start on signing their lone star to a long-term deal that could help set the team in the right direction of a rebuilding process.

Instead, the team simply avoided arbitration with Headley in agreeing to a one-year deal worth $8.6 million, but that clearly isn’t what the third baseman had in mind (via Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune):

We talked about a long-term contract briefly at the start of these negotiations. It was a quick discussion. We weren’t on the same page right from the start. This close to free agency, it has to be a good deal for us. You can’t sacrifice what’s fair.

And as spring training kicks into high gear, it now appears that the team is taking the exact opposite approach to a long-term deal, with Bill Madden of the New York Daily News reporting that the Padres are putting out feelers for trade offers on their star third baseman.

When a player of this caliber enters the conversation surrounding a trade, any front office will make a phone call to see what it may take to get a deal done, though there are always a few favorites that stand out above the rest.

Perhaps the most likely landing spot for Headley, however, is Yankee Stadium, where the Bronx Bombers have already had interest in the third baseman as recently as last summer.

Before committing to such a deal, however, Brian Cashman and the rest of the front office needs to take a long look at the pros and cons that come along with bringing Headley on board.

Pros

The benefits of bringing a player like Headley into the lineup are fairly obvious, especially as he comes off his best season as a major leaguer, with 31 home runs and a league-leading 115 RBI to his name in 2012.

Injury issues are a big part of the reason that the Yankees are in a position to need to take on additional offense, and though Headley struggled to stay on the field during the 2011 season, he did average160 games per season during 2009, 2010 and 2012.

Taking into account the different players that will be missing time for the Yankees early on in 2013 (Curtis Granderson, Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez), it needs to be noted that Headley has seen time at multiple positions, with nearly 500 games played at third base and 200 in the outfield—and he was solid enough with the leather in 2012 to earn his first Gold Glove award.

At the plate, Headley has seen his on-base and slugging percentages increase in each of the past three seasons and is effective from both sides of the plate, with almost equal numbers against both right- and left-handed pitchers. He has rounded out his game with more solid play in the field, taking home his first Gold Glove last season.

Cons

The Yankees may have far greater financial freedom than many other teams when it comes to pulling off a blockbuster deal, but that doesn’t mean that the moves don’t carry some risks with them.

Case in point, Rodriguez is still owed over $100 million before his contract expires five years from now, and that’s a financial commitment that the team surely wishes it didn’t have on its books.

Headley is young enough that the risks of handing out a big sum of money likely wouldn’t come back to bite the team a few years from now, but the cost of acquiring him very well could.

New York is heavy on veterans, meaning that in a matter of years it’ll be looking toward its top prospects to produce. Trading for a superstar player, however, would more than likely push one or two of those prospects out of the picture.

In the short term, the team would also need to take into consideration what type of logjam would form once players do get healthy, as Granderson, Teixeira and Rodriguez won’t be lost forever.

Nobody expects that a trade would be imminent, but with the possibility of a free-agent battle looming next winter and the Padres seemingly coming to the realization that Headley won’t be a long-term fixture in San Diego, that could change at any moment.

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For the first time in a number of years, the New York Yankees are heading into the regular season with a fair amount of uncertainty regarding the team’s standing in the AL East.

The Yankees have boasted one of the strongest pitching rotations in the game over the past few years, with stars like C.C. Sabathia and Mariano Rivera leading the way.

Their offense, however, has gotten the bulk of the credit, with Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson adding up to one of the most feared lineups in the league.

Granderson and Rodriguez are absent from the lineup right now, and with Teixeira‘s best days admittedly almost behind him, the future lies in the bat of Robinson Cano.

The reliable slugger is set to enter free agency after the 2013 season, and with the team making him an offer already this spring, it’s clear that they’re making his place in pinstripes a top priority.

The report from Wallace Matthews of ESPN New York noted that the offer was “significant,” but failed to provide any concrete details about how serious of an offer was posed.

Any contract he earns will need to be on an elite level, as Cano has missed only seven total games over the past four seasons, hit 114 home runs and posted a strong .314 batting average during that time, while averaging less than $10 million per year.

On top of that, Cano’s .986 fielding percentage and two Gold Glove awards are a testament to the multiple facets he brings to the diamond.

There’s no doubt that Cano has been one of the most underpaid players in the league over the past few seasons, but as he looks towards his pending freedom, there are certainly some other superstar infield contracts that he can look at for guidance.

Troy Tulowitzki

When thinking about the best young shortstops during the game, you can’t omit Troy Tulowitzki, who the Rockies have locked in as the cornerstone of their franchise through the 2021 season.

Tulowitzki has played more than 150 games only twice in his seven year career, with 2012 marking his low point as he made his way into only 47 contests.

He flashes just as much brilliance in the field as Cano, but isn’t quite as efficient at the plate, though he does boast an almost identical OPS.

Tulo is set to make $10 million this season but will be earning $20 million annually from age 30-34, where Cano currently sits.  

Adrian Gonzalez

The Boston Red Sox made a big addition to their offense when they signed first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to a seven year, $154 million contract, and while his time in Fenway was short, he’ll be earning his keep in a Dodgers uniform moving forward.

Gonzalez is the same age as Cano, and while he plays a less taxing position at first base, his ability to stay on the field allows him to remain as offensively sound as he has.

He’ll be earning more than $21 million annually through 2018 and while it’s hard to compare such different positions, their offensive numbers are quite similar, leading to the belief that Cano could command a similar payday.

Joey Votto

As mentioned, drawing comparisons from different positions can be a difficult task, but looking at what Joey Votto has done at first base for the Cincinnati Reds could very well give a parallel to exactly how important Cano is to the Yankees’ chances.

Votto is an amazing offensive talent and while he struggled to stay healthy in 2012 it’s hard to argue with the results when he’s on the field.

He’s led the league in on-base percentage in each of the past three seasons and drawn the most walks in the past two, while batting no lower than .309 since 2008.

Under team control through 2024, the 29-year-old is set to earn $238 million in his 30s, perhaps setting somewhat of a bar for what Cano might seek with the prime of his career upon him.

In the end it’s hard to believe that the Yankees would ever let Cano get away, and while it doesn’t appear that a deal is imminent, there shouldn’t be any concern in the Bronx.

With cutthroat agent Scott Boras representing the superstar second baseman, however, you had better believe Cano will be getting every penny available in a contract extension.

Looking at the body of work on Cano’s resume, it stands to be money well spent.

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2012 Record: 81-81

Key Departures: RHP Josh Lindblom, RHP Jose Contreras, RHP Vance Worley, OF Juan Pierre, OF Nate Schierholtz, 1B Ty Wigginton, 3B Placido Polanco, C Brian Schneider

Key Arrivals: LHP John Lannan, RHP Chad Durbin, RHP Rodrigo Lopez, RHP Mike Adams, RHP Juan Cruz, RHP Aaron Cook, OF Ben Revere, OF Delmon Young, 3B Michael Young 

Projected Rotation

Cole Hamels (17-6, 3.05 ERA, 1.124 WHIP, 216 K in 2012)

Roy Halladay (11-8, 4.49 ERA, 1.222 WHIP, 132 K)

Cliff Lee (6-9, 3.16 ERA, 1.114 WHIP, 207 K)

Kyle Kendrick (11-12, 3.90 ERA, 1.274 WHIP, 116 K)

John Lannan (4-1, 4.13 ERA, 1.439 WHIP, 17 K—six starts)

Projected Starters

C: Carlos Ruiz (.325/.394/.540—2012 slash line)

1B: Ryan Howard (.219/.295/.423)

2B: Chase Utley (.256/.365/.429)

3B: Michael Young (.277/.312/.370)

SS: Jimmy Rollins (.250/.316/.427)

LF: Dominic Brown (.235/.316/.396)

CF: Ben Revere (.294/.333/.342)

RF: Delmon Young (.267/.296/.411)

Bullpen

Closer: Jonathan Papelbon (2.44 ERA, 1.057 WHIP, 38 SV in 2012)

Setup: Mike Adams (3.27 ERA, 1.395 WHIP)

Others: Antonio Bastardo, Jeremy Horst

Rotation Report

The 2012 season wasn’t always kind to the Philadelphia Phillies starting rotation, with Roy Halladay struggling at times to stay on the mound and Cliff Lee seemingly never getting the run support needed to get the win.

They did get another great season from Cole Hamels, and in a move that took some of the guessing out of last year’s trade deadline, they signed him to an extension that will keep him in a Phillies uniform for years to come.

Vance Worley won’t be in the rotation this season after being sent to Minnesota in the trade that brought center fielder Ben Revere to town, but the addition of John Lannan could prove to be one of the most underrated moves of the offseason.

Lannan struggled to fit in with the Nationals last season, but with a wealth of talent and plenty to prove to his former team, we may see the lefty emerge as a star in the NL East.

Kyle Kendrick may still be known best in the baseball world for the time he was “traded” to a Japanese club, but he nevertheless represents a solid fifth starter who should do a fine job of bringing up the back end of the rotation.

Bullpen Report

One of the biggest signings the Phillies made last offseason was the deal that brought Jonathan Papelbon in as the team’s closer to the tune of four years and $50 million.

He was solid once again in 2012, finishing a league-high 64 games while notching 38 saves, giving him at least 30 in each season since joining the league full-time in 2006.

Signing Mike Adams to a two-year, $12 million deal this winter gave the team one of the best setup pitchers in the division, something that should pave the way to Papelbon’s continued dominance.

Adams has never made an All-Star Game appearance but has been a force wherever he’s gone, including the 1.66 ERA he posted in more than 200 games with the San Diego Padres from 2008-2011.

Offense Report

One of the bright spots for Philadelphia last season was the play of catcher Carlos Ruiz, who batted a career high .325 in 114 games while appearing in his first All-Star Game.

He’ll be missed early on as he awaits his suspension to end, but the team will hope that there are others ready to pick up the offensive slack.

One player they’ve counted on for years is slugger Ryan Howard, who has been a huge threat in the batter’s box overall but struggled to return from injury last season and saw some of the lowest offensive numbers of his career.

Chase Utley had his own issues when it came to getting healthy enough for significant production, but he did manage to post a .365 on-base percentage and went deep 11 times despite missing half the season.

In the outfield, the Phillies will be missing Shane Victorino’s productivity and the depth that Juan Pierre gave them, but the additions of Delmon Young and Ben Revere could pay off.

Young will have plenty of reason to perform, as he was forced to sign an incentive laden contract, and with Revere representing one of the speediest players in the league—both on the basepaths and in the field—he should have plenty of energy this season.

Pitching Stud: Roy Halladay

When you think about the Phillies pitching staff, it’s hard to not think of Roy Halladay before all others.

The 15-year veteran has posted a 51-24 record since coming over from Toronto after the 2009 season.

He made just 25 starts last season, something that could concern the front office and fans alike as he continues to get up there in age, but Halladay has always been able to produce even when he’s not at his best.

Keeping that in mind, the front of the rotation will continue to be in good hands if he can get back to a season like 2010 when he led the league with 21 wins en route to his second Cy Young award.

Hitting Stud: Ryan Howard

From 2006 through 2011, the Phillies had Ryan Howard producing an average of 44 home runs and 133 RBI per season, numbers that made him one of the best in the league during that span and the unquestioned offensive leader in Philly.

2012 was an entirely different story for Howard, as he appeared in only 71 games and batted .219, 52 points lower than his career average.

He’s only 33 years old and should be able to return to form if healthy, something the Phillies definitely need if they hope to contend in the tough NL East.

X-Factor: Ben Revere

Top Prospect: Jesse Biddle

Jesse Biddle probably won’t be seeing a major league diamond full-time until 2014, but if his minor league exploits are any indication, he’ll be worth the wait.

He’s been one of the best pitchers in each league he’s thrown for, and with his strikeouts on the rise and walks on the decline, the 60th-best prospect in the league has the makings of a pitcher who could fit in on a rotation with a reputation for doing big things.

What Will the Phillies Do Well?

When you look at the makeup of the Phillies roster, it’s obvious to say that the team will once again have a well above-average starting rotation.

When you have three starting pitchers who would be aces on most other rosters, you know you’ve got the right stuff.

The rotation wasn’t at their best in 2012 but still managed to post more quality starts than all but one team and had a team WHIP in the top five in the league.

What Will the Phillies Not Do Well?

I’m not necessarily saying that the Phillies won’t see enough production from their outfielders, but they definitely represent the biggest question mark.

As mentioned, Revere and Young could be a big positive for the team, but Revere doesn’t have enough major league experience to give the team confidence that they’ve got a solid everyday center fielder.

With Young, you’ve got a former No. 1 overall pick who has had his share of struggles off the field, something he would most certainly like to keep in his past as he joins his fourth major league roster.

If he can focus on baseball and put pride and distractions in his blinders, he should be able to show the offensive power that he had at times in Detroit, but the fact that a 27-year-old with his talent was forced to sign for only $750,000 is somewhat alarming.

Final Thoughts

In a 2012 predictions piece that I wrote in December 2011, my pick to take home the World Series title was the Philadelphia Phillies.

With a .500 record and no playoff appearance for the Phillies last season, the prediction proved to be way, way off.

I’m not going to go as far as to say that Philadelphia has what it takes to make it to the Fall Classic in 2013, but I definitely think they can be a legitimate playoff contender.

There is plenty of talent to contend with in the NL East with the Braves and Nationals both stockpiling talent for long-term contention, but even without any “big” moves this winter, the Phillies can’t be ignored in the division.

Projected Record: 92-70

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Spring training is finally among us, and with only 42 days separating us from MLB Opening Day, teams everywhere have their work cut out for them as they prepare for a regular-season marathon.

Teams like the Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays made major improvements to their lineups and rotations this offseason, and they promise to make a big splash once the season gets underway.

The next month-and-a-half will provide teams the opportunity to tune their lineups in any way possible to give them the upper hand, and even though a season brings about unpredictable obstacles, it’s hard to beat a balanced attack.

Infields make up an important core of a team’s efforts, with their defense holding up a pitcher’s efforts and their bats accounting for half the lineup.

Here is where lineups all around the league stack up as teams begin making tweaks leading up to April.

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We saw a couple young stars emerge in a big way last season when Mike Trout and Bryce Harper showcased exactly why they’re the future of baseball.

The Texas Rangers may have waited until the end of the season to debut star prospect Jurickson Profar, but in the limited time he saw the infielder gave Rangers fans plenty of reason for optimism up the middle.

Profar isn’t currently listed as a starting shortstop for Texas, as they still have Elvis Andrus on the roster and can give him more time to develop, but the logjam in the infield has also put baseball’s top-rated prospect in trade rumors of all sorts.

One recent notion brought up by ESPNs Keith Law would be sending Profar to Tampa Bay in exchange for ace David Price.

Moves involving such highly touted prospects rarely come to fruition, though the notion of a trade addressing needs on both sides does give it some legs.

The offseason wasn’t overly kind to the Rangers, who had their sights set on addressing the top end of their rotation by pulling ace Zack Greinke away from the Los Angeles Angels.

Greinke would remain in Los Angeles, and while Texas can take some relief in knowing that it’s with the Dodgers instead of the Angels, they’re still left with some question marks in the starting rotation after Yu Darvish and Derek Holland.

In that respect adding Price would make sense, but Profar has the makings of a perennial All-Star, and since the Rays would likely need additional compensation to part with one of the best pitchers in the league, the price may be too rich for the Rangers.

With Tampa Bay you’re looking at a team that’s had one of the most underrated rotations in baseball in recent years with Price, James Shields and recently Jeremy Hellickson leading the way, with Matt Moore and Jeff Niemann also in the mix.

Offseason shuffling changed that, though, as the Rays moved Shields to Kansas City in a trade that would bring highly touted outfield prospect Wil Myers over in an effort to fill the hole left by B.J. Upton’s departure.

Adding Profar in exchange for Price would give the team the best one-two prospect punch in the league along with Myers, though the hit to the rotation probably wouldn’t be worth it.

Hellickson has the makings of a pitcher who will dominate for years to come and Moore could very well follow the same path, but the notion of losing Shields and Price in one offseason may just be too much to swallow for Rays fans.

As mentioned, these deals rarely take shape, and I don’t see this rumor ending any differently. Then again, the blockbuster transactions we’ve seen in the past six months have proved that nothing is out of the realm of possibility.

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With just a few weeks separating teams all across the major leagues from spring training, we’re beginning to get a clear picture of what the rosters may look like come Opening Day.

A number of high-profile signings highlighted the offseason, though many other moves that haven’t received nearly as much attention could still yield just as much upside.

We’re all excited to see what the season will bring—but in the meantime, here’s a rundown of some major ($25 million-plus) MLB signings that went down over the winter.

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