The Toronto Blue Jays

Jose Reyes

The Blue Jays did not add much to their this off season but they still have some very good parts to their team. They have an excellent combination of speed power combination with excellent defense. The Blue Jays will have to compete with the stacked AL East.

Jose Reyes is the spark at the top of the lineup that scores all the runs. The Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion can hit up to 80 home runs combined and score much needed runs. Here is how the lineup in 2014 may look
.

1. S. Jose Reyes      SS 113 OPS+
2. S. Melky Cabrera LF 88 OPS+
3. R. Jose Bautista RF 132 OPS+
4. R. Edwin Encarnacion DH 145 OPS+
5. L. Adam Lind 1B 132 OPS+
6. R. Brett Lawrie 3B 94 OPS+
7. L. Colby Rasmus CF 127 OPS+
8. S. Maicer Iztirus 2B 65 OPS+
9. L. Josh Thole C 38 OPS+

Sike that's the wrong blue jay. 

The Blue Jays made an attempt to upgrade their rotation with the Marlins by acquiring Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle, but Josh Johnson is now with the Padres and Buehrle did not come through well last season. They do have RA Dickey and Brandon Morrow at the top of their rotation, but the rest of the rotation may be up in the air. Here is how I would set up the rotation in 2014.

1. R. Brandon Morrow 73 ERA+
2. R. RA Dickey  97 ERA+
3. L. Mark Buehrle  98 ERA+
4. L. JA Happ  90 ERA+
5. R. Kyle Drabek not enough data

Casey Jannsen is the closer for the Blue Jays, definitely not the best in the league, but he gets the job done. Hard throwers Sergio Santos and Steve Delabar also make their homes in the Blue Jay bullpen. Lefties Brett Cecil and Aaron Loup also get integrated into late innings to make interesting
match ups.

The Pittsburgh Pirates

Andrew McCutchen

The Pirates have the reigning National League MVP patrolling their outfield, they also a few other very important parts to their team. They did in fact lose Justin Morneau to free agency when he signed with the Colorado Rockies, and AJ Burnett when he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. Nonetheless the Pirates have a very good core of young players that look to compete in 2014.

The power comes from Andrew McCutchen and Pedro Alvarez who proved to be a terrifying duo in 2013. Starling Marte is also emerging as a great talent in the outfield. The Pirates may not have the strongest lineup in the league, but the top of it is stronger than many in the National League. Here is how the Pirates may stack up in 2014.

1. R Jose Tabata RF 119 OPS+
2. S. Neil Walker 2B 115 OPS+
3. R. Andrew McCutchen CF 158 OPS+
4. L. Pedro Alvarez 3B 116 OPS+
5. R. Starling Marte LF 122 OPS+
6. R. Russel Martin C 100 OPS+
7. R. Gaby Sanchez 1B 117 OPS+
8. R. Clint Barmes SS  58 OPS+

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The pitching rotation for the Pirates seems to always perform no matter who is in it. The Pirates always pick up someone and they do phenomenal. They got Francisco Liriano and he performed great, also with AJ Burnett, and plenty other players. This year it may be Edison Volquez, but young gun Garret Cole will be in the rotation and ready to play. Here is how the roation may look in 2014.

1. L. Francisco Liriano  117 ERA+
2. R. Garret Cole  109 ERA+
3. L. Jeff Locke  100 ERA+
4. R. Edison Volquez  60 ERA+
5. L. Wandy Rodriguez  99 ERA+

The bullpen was stripped of Joel Hanrahan last season and Jason Grilli emerged as a great closer. Additionally Mark Melancon came through as a stellar set up man. The bullpen for the Pirates is composed of several other decent arms which combat their half decent rotation.

The Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals made some very smart moves this off season. Those moves may have a very significant impact in the 2014 season. One big move they made was acquiring starting pitcher Doug Fister to add to an already steady rotation.

They added to their lineup by getting outfielder Nate McLouth to come in off the bench and play left field when needed. The two important parts to the Nationals' lineup are Ryan Zimmerman and Bryce Harper. In 2014 they will be healthy and ready to drive in some runs. Second base may be a battle between Anthony Rendon and Danny Espinosa, because of Rendon's high expectations and Espinosa's recent struggles. The following is how the Nationals' lineup should look in 2014.

1. L. Denard Span         CF 94 OPS+
2. R. Jayson Werth        LF 154 OPS+
3. L. Bryce Harper        RF 133 OPS+
4. R. Ryan Zimmerman  3B 121 OPS+
5. L. Adam Laroche      1B 102 OPS+
6. R. Ian Desmond         SS 114 OPS+
7. R. Anthony Rendon    2B 99 OPS+
8. R. Wilson Ramos         C 111 OPS+

Bryce Harper and Stephan Strasburg 

The Nationals not only have one of the best lineups in the Major Leagues, they also have one of the best starting rotations. They departed with Dan Haren who pitched under a one year deal in Washington and performed terribly, and replaced him with Doug Fister. Anchored by once phenom, but now veteran Stephan Strasburg and followed by southpaw Gio Gonzalez and studs Jordan Zimmerman and now Doug Fister, the Nationals are in a very good position. Here is how the pitching rotation for the Nationals looks.

1. R. Stephen Strasburg   126 ERA+
2. L. Gio Gonzalez           113 ERA+
3. R. Jordan Zimmerman  116 ERA+
4. R. Doug Fister             115 ERA+
5. L. Ross Detwiler            94 ERA+

The bullpen for the Nationals is pretty solid in the late innings. Pitching the 7th inning is one time closer Drew Storen, pitching the 8th inning is strikeout prodigy Tyler Clippard, and closing games out is the emotionless Rafael Soriano. The Nationals do not have a good lefty in their bullpen besides a few young guns and veteran Jerry Blevins. If they were to make another move this off season they should get a lefty specialist. The other important part to the Nationals pen is Craig Stammen who makes his money pitching the middle innings.