Spring is about to arrive, and with it comes the beginning of a new MLB season. The beginning of the season brings a fresh start for all 30 teams, as each organization has an equal opportunity to make the playoffs. It is a time in which every team’s fans are filled with optimism, whether last season resulted in a last place finish or a World Series title.

Led by stars David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, and Jon Lester, the Red Sox return to the field in 2014 attempting to defend their World Series title. The Rays, led by ace David Price and franchise cornerstone Evan Longoria, will look to replace the Red Sox as the division champs this year. The Orioles, led by stars Chris Davis, Manny Machado, and Adam Jones, are searching to build upon the success they have achieved the previous two seasons. The Yankees, led by Derek Jeter, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Masahiro Tanaka, look to topple the rest of the MLB en route to a 28^th title. The Blue Jays, who finished last in the AL East in 2013, look to rebound behind slugger Jose Bautista and ace R.A. Dickey, and put up a successful 2014 campaign.

The A.L. Central is arguably the weakest division in baseball, as the division can be won by any of its teams. The Tigers, led by slugger Miguel Cabrera, and dominant starters Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, will look to continue their run of division titles in 2014. The Indians, who surprised some in the baseball world last season by grabbing a wild card spot, will look to build upon that success, and bring the playoffs back to Cleveland again in 2014. The Royals are packed with both pitching and hitting talent. They will look to win a title for the first time since 1985. The Twins acquired pitchers Ricky Nolasco and Phil Hughes during the offseason, and are hoping the two will pan out as they bid to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2010. The White Sox are bidding on Captain Paul Konerko and new acquisition Jose Dariel Abreu to help deliver a championship to the South Side of Chicago for the first time since 2005.

The A.L. West emerged as a dominant division in the MLB during the 2013 campaign, as 3 out of 5 teams nearly made the playoffs. The Athletics found ways to win the AL West the past two seasons, unlike other teams the Athletics have been relatively successful with a minimal budget and young talent. The Rangers, led by new stars Prince Fielder and Shin-Soo Choo, will look to re-capture the AL West title from the Athletics. The Angels have one of the best young players in the game in Mike Trout, and will look for him to assist the team in winning the AL West for the first time since 2009. The Mariners shocked many when they signed slugging second basemen Robinson Cano this offseason, and they will look to him to help the franchise bring an MLB championship to Seattle in 2014. The Astros finished last season an abysmal 51-111, but have a great amount of young talent that could propel the team closer to success, however another 100 loss season could be possible.

The N.L East had been dominated by Philadelphia for years, however the other teams in the division have stepped up their game in the last 3 years. The Braves will look to stars Freddie Freeman, Jason Heyward, and Craig Kimbrel to not only win the NL East, but to deliver the city of Atlanta its first MLB title since 1995. The Nationals, led by young stars Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg, hope to regain their 2012 form, when the team finished 98-64, and won the NL East title. The Mets will look for team captain David Wright, outfielder Curtis Granderson, and the young pitching to bring the first division title to Queens since 2006. The Phillies will look for new additions A.J. Burnett and Marlon Byrd to lead the team back to success in 2014, especially after dismal 2012 and 2013 seasons. The Marlins, led by slugger Giancarlo Stanton, and young ace Jose Fernandez, hope to make the playoffs for the first time since their championship run back in 2003, the Marlins have yet to make a big attempt since their move to Miami in 2012.

The N.L Central has been dubbed the weakest division of baseball, however the Astros’ move to the A.L. West has helped the N.L Central become somewhat better. The Cardinals, as consistent as any team can be, will hope to make a run at title number 12 this year, after falling short to the Red Sox last season. The Pirates, led by center fielder Andrew McCutchen, will look to once again make the playoffs, as they did last season for the first time since 1992. The Reds are hoping that star first basemen Joey Votto will lead the team into the playoffs once again, as they lagged behind both Pittsburgh and St. Louis last year. The Brewers will look to returning slugger Ryan Braun to assist the team in making the playoffs for the first time since 2011. The Chicago Cubs enter this season once again looking to break their championship drought, and bring a title to the North Side of Chicago for the fist time in 106 years, however it is safe to say that 2014 is not the Cubs’ year.

The N.L. West may be the strongest division in the National League, as 4 teams could potentially contend for a playoff spot.  The Dodgers, who have spent unthinkable amounts of money on star players, will hope those stars pan out as they look to capture their first title since 1988. The Diamondbacks, led by slugging first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, will look to dethrone the Dodgers as division champs in 2014. The Padres are hoping that young star Andrew Cashner will pitch the team into the playoffs for the first time since 2006, however it is clear that the Padres are still in a rebuilding stage. The Giants recently won the World Series in both 2010 and 2012, and will look for the team to bring its third title to San Francisco in the past five seasons. The Rockies are known for their power from the heart of their order, however a lack of a formidable pitching staff puts the Rockies in an uphill battle against the rest of the division.

Fans look to the beginning of the season as a time of hope, for many believe their team can surprise critics and surge to the top of their respective divisions.  Ten out of 30 teams will make it to the playoffs, however the odds are much better for teams that have spent extraordinary amounts of money and are led by veteran pitchers and hitters. As for New York, it is safe to say that the Yankees will be competitive throughout the season, while the Mets remain in the “wait and see” stage that we see year after year.  The chance that a championship will be brought back to New York is minimal, however the Yankees’ spending history and the young talent of the Mets may prove otherwise.