We're already seeing the video from warm and sunny locations across Florida and Arizona. Players are trickling into camps, and in a matter of days a new set of issues will move front and center.
Here's a look at nine major ones, as no other number seems right:
PAYING PUJOLS
No situation has more potential ramifications than the Cardinals' negotiations with the game's best player. Albert Pujols' scheduled reporting date ? and more importantly, deadline date for negotiations ? is less than a week away, and while the possibility of the Cardinals without Pujols seems surreal, at stake is all of this:
The top end of the game's pay structure. Pujols' current salary of $16 million barely is top-25, and if the Cardinals don't want to make him No. 1 in terms of annual average value (currently Alex Rodriguez at $27.5 million), then you know somebody else will next offseason.
The Cardinals' place as a perennial National League powerhouse. Since Pujols' debut in 2001, the Cardinals have won a World Series, lost a World Series, won five division titles and made six playoff appearances. They're not coming close to that in the next decade without Pujols, even if he does suffer the inevitable performance decline near the end of his upcoming new deal. So crying the mid-market blues in this situation isn't going to cut it with their fan base.
Tony La Russa's future. The future Hall of Famer is operating on a one-year-plus-option deal, and already is having serious thoughts about what's next for him. As tied as he is to Pujols, it's hard to imagine La Russa sticking around much longer without Pujols in the No. 3 spot in his lineup every day.
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
The Rangers' feel-good pennant story has hit a snag. Yes, Adrian Beltre playing third and hitting cleanup makes the defense and lineup better. But it's never a good thing to alienate your longtime star and clubhouse leader, even if Michael Young isn't quite the player he used to be.
For the time being, Young is stuck in a place he says he doesn't want to be, as trade possibilities aren't panning out. Maybe the hurt feelings will blow over as Young reunites with teammates this spring. But maybe not.
For a team that lost Cliff Lee, faces a decision on where to use Neftali Feliz and could be challenged by the A's as well as the Angels, an ongoing soap opera is the last thing the Rangers need as they begin their first-ever AL pennant defense. Will it be the first development in a failed division-title defense?
GIANT OFFENSIVE QUESTION MARKS
Let's face it: For all their dominant pitching, the defending World Series champions have a lineup of Buster Posey and bunch of 30-plus veteran regulars, a few of whom nobody else wanted and probably would be better off in time-share situations.
Replacing Edgar Renteria and Juan Uribe with Miguel Tejada isn't going to change much of anything, especially when it's highly questionable that Tejada remains a quality defensive shortstop. So there's no understating the importance of Pablo Sandoval's weight loss and potential return to being a lineup force.
We'll also see the debut of the next Giants position-player prospect star, Brandon Belt. He'll get a chance to win a spot in the starting lineup either at first base (his natural position) or left field. And if not, he'll start the season at Triple-A Fresno. But a Posey-esque recall by June certainly seems likely. It might be very necessary, too.
FIXING A.J. BURNETT
Given that Cliff Lee will be in the Phillies camp down the coast in Sarasota, and Andy Pettitte will be back in his Houston-area home, all eyes will be on new pitching coach Larry Rothschild's work with A.J. Burnett at the Yankees camp in Tampa.
Whether it's mechanical changes, pitch selection, psychological impact or some combination, Rothschild must find a way to erase the damage done in 2010, when Burnett slipped to 10-15-5.26 ? by far his worst big-league season.
At stake could be the Yankees' need to trade for another quality starter behind CC Sabathia and Phil Hughes, which could mean parting with top hitting prospect Jesus Montero and/or disappointing-to-date Joba Chamberlain.
TWIN HEALTH ISSUES
The Twins keep winning division titles and hitting the postseason wall. Where they go from here could depend on how two of their stars, Joe Nathan and Justin Morneau, rebound.
The bullpen took a major hit with the losses of Jesse Crain, Matt Guerrier, Brian Fuentes and Jon Rauch, who combined for 244 innings and 45 saves. That makes Nathan's healthy return even more important, but he is 36 and coming off major surgery. Pat Neshek also needs to bounce back from injury, and a breakthrough from talented young left-hander Jose Mijares would be helpful.
Morneau lost the second half due to post-concussion symptoms, but is expected to be ready to go by Opening Day. But he was supposed to be ready to return late last season, too. At least you know the Twins can score enough runs without him, as they finished top-seven in the majors in runs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS and batting average despite Morneau's absence. But they have to have Morneau to get past the first round in October.
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