MLB Power Rankings: Washington Nationals top our preseason rankings

Previous: . St. Louis Cardinals. 6. team. 33. For a team that is as perennially quiet as the St. Louis Cardinals are, they have a habit of being awfully consistent. In fact, the team made only one truly significant move, plucking outfielder Jason Heyward and reliever Jordan Walden from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Tyrell Jenkins and Shelby Miller. While one would fret that Miller was an expensive piece to give up for a one-year rental of Heyward, it became an important move for a team needing to clear out some of its pitching wealth. <p>Of course, the question still lingers as to who gets that open slot, with Carlos Martinez and Marco Gonzalez looking awfully impressive. With Gonzalez having control issues, it likely gives Martinez the first shot, but it’s hard to argue with the option. 1-9, the Cardinals may be the deepest team in baseball, but do they have enough to win another championship?</p>.

Previous: . Detroit Tigers. 7. team. 63. There was a time when the Detroit Tigers would sit at the top of these rankings, and likely still would if they had managed to keep Max Scherzer from splitting town. That’s left the rotation with some interesting questions, most notably around Justin Verlander, who struggled last season and hasn’t looked good at all this spring. Filling in behind Verlander, David Price, and Anibal Sanchez, the Tigers may have bought high on Alfredo Simon and there’s no telling what they have in Shane Green yet. <p>That all said, Detroit still has one of the most dangerous line-ups in basebll, even with Victor Martinez just getting back into the swing of things. The additions of Anthony Gose and Yoenis Cespedes could pay big dividends, as could the return of defensive wizard Jose Iglesias. In particular, the Cespedes acquisition could help protect the team against a regression from 2014 sensation J.D. Martinez, but judging by his spring results, that may not even be a concern </p>.

7. 2014 was a magical year for the Royals and their fans, who could very well be the World Series champions if it wasn’t for Madison Bumgarner. The Royals are hoping that that magic didn’t wear off over the winter either, as they are essentially bringing back the same team, built around the best bullpen in baseball. <p>However, to get the same results, Kansas City is hoping beyond hope that Edinson Volquez can approximate what the team received from the departed James Shields and that Alex Rios and Kendry Morales are somehow better cogs for them than Billy Butler and Nori Aoki. This is probably a conservative ranking here for the Royals, but it gives them room to build up.</p>. . Previous: . Kansas City Royals. 8. team

Previous: . Baltimore Orioles. 9. team. 11. Let’s face facts, Nelson Cruz is a big bat to lose via free agency, and right field fixture Nick Markakis is going to be tough to replace as well. That said, the Baltimore Orioles are not completely down and out either. Remember, this is an Orioles team that will have Manny Machado and Matt Wieters returning from extended injuries a season ago, and they’ll also get Chris Davis back after he finished the season on a 25-game suspension.That’s a lot of firepower to be down, and still win the AL East. <p>Of course, those returns do bring questions. Wieters is coming back from Tommy John surgery, and while he’s not a catcher, he will not be ready for Opening Day. Additionally, Davis was dismal last season before he was suspended. However, if Stephen Pearce can maintain his rise in 2014, and Travis Snider is somehow able to find his potential from 5 seasons ago, the Orioles should not be written off in the East again in 2015.</p>.

Previous: . San Diego Padres. 10. team. 127. Of all the teams in the game, the Padres easily won the offseason, if for no other reason that watching A.J. Preller buying like a kid with his allowance in a toy store. Whether it was with hypnosis or not, Preller somehow managed to get the Padres ownership to open up their wallets and in the process added Matt Kemp, Justin Upton, Wil Myers, Will Middlebrooks, Derek Norris, and topped it all off with James Shields. Talk about injection of talent. <p>Of course, all that talent has to co-exist and manage to play together. In particular, the outfield of Upton, Kemp, and Myers leaves much to be desired defensively in spacious Petco Park. Can they manage to mash and play defense behind pitchers that pitch to contact? If so, they can turn around quickly in San Diego. If not, it could be the loudest face palm of all-time.</p>.