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We just have to start with the obvious. The New York Yankees are going to be really, really good this year. Who knows what type of spending spree that the Steinbrenner family is going to go on after getting knocked out of the playoffs in the ALCS. The biggest question marks all really seem to be dealt with, as manager Joe Girardi has already inked his contract, closer Mariano Rivera seems to be a certain to come back, and a contract with SS Derek Jeter really only seems to be a matter of days or weeks away. The middle of this order with 3B Alex Rodriguez and 1B Mark Teixeira is already as good as it gets, and it seems like a formality that LHP Cliff Lee is going to get oodles and oodles of money thrown his way to don pinstripes. He and LHP CC Sabathia very well could make the best combination of left handed starting pitchers ever in the history of baseball, and its fairly clear that the Yanks are once again going to be the team to beat. Youll never see better odds than this on the Bronx Bombers for next year, so you might as well open up your wallet and make the investment now before the return on that money is significantly decreased.

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You can never really tell what the Philadelphia Phillies are going to do in the offseason either. What we do know is that this is the best pitching staff in baseball at the moment (until the Yanks sign Lee), and it would be a real shock if Philly doesnt make it back to the postseason once again in 2011. It was really quite the shock that the Phils didnt get there this year with RHP Roy Halladay, RHP Roy Oswalt, and LHP Cole Hamels on the mound, but what we have to remember is that the fourth pitcher on this staff, LHP Joe Blanton is remarkable as well. This lineup is still the best in the National League, and that isnt changing next year either as long as 2B Chase Utley, SS Jimmy Rollins, and 1B Ryan Howard are all back. OF Jayson Werth is probably moving on, but there will inevitably be someone stepping in to replace him by the time Spring Training comes around.

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We really hate the odds on the American League champions, the Texas Rangers. In all likelihood, Lee is getting out of Dodge while the payout is a good one, and this is a team that is still strapped to the nines financially. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim should be a much improved team this coming year, and the Oakland Athletics probably arent all that far off either. We know if the Rangers get to the playoffs this coming year that they have a great shot of winning the World Series after their experience acquired this year. However, thats a huge, huge if.