I know it’s a bit late but you know, spending New Year’s Eve at Eat N Park just takes so long to recover from. (Half of that statement is true, I’ll leave you to decide which.) But the 2013 season already holds so many story lines before the season starts that there is no way we can ignore them. Here is a quick list for y’all with things we’ll be writing about once the season starts.

Can Another Team Not Named the Yankees Buy a Championship? 

No way around it: The Dodgers are the new evil empite in baseball for all us small market homers. The Dodgers are literally bleeding cash and are only to be replenished by the time their projection one billion (!!!!!!!) television deal is finalized. The Dodgers have one of the best rotations on paper after locking up Zack Grinke and still have Matt Kemp/Andre Ethier/Hanly Ramirez in the middle of their lineup. Needless to say, they are the paper champions of the offseason and one of the favorites to make a run.

Will a Canadian Team Win America’s Pastime? 

As the Dodgers are to money, the Blue Jays are to trades this offseason. The Blue Jays grabbed the Marlins failed attempt at a team, put it around Jose Bautista and are hoping that’s enough to generate some offense. But then you say “pitching has been their issue the last couple of seasons” and they go and get R.A. Dickey. The Blue Jays are going to need all of their acquisition to live up  expectations because they are still competing in the AL East, even if every team looks off a step.

What Exactly Are the Indians Planning? 

Bring in a World Series winning manager who grew too complacent in Boston, a top pitching prospect from Arizona with control and mental issues, an experienced but pretty washed up ex Yankee, shake it all up real good and you have the 2013 Cleveland Indians! To be honest, I have no idea what to expect from the Indians except mediocre but expectations are there. Still, they don’t look like much more than a .500 team. In the AL Central, one winning streak in September could be all that a .500 team needs to win it all.

Sooooooo Full Blown Marlins Break Up? 

The Marlins blow up their little experiment after getting a happy, shiny, new and lime green stadium. Any surprise? None? Ok moving on to actual news, Giancarlo Stanton could be yours! Listen. The Marlins aren’t doing anything in 2013. Or 2014. Probably not 2015 unless they get some pieces. So why hang on to a guy who will want out by 2015 when you can get those competitive pieces for him. Stanton could very well be the next Barry Bonds numbers wise. He played in an AWFUL stadium, missed 40 games due to injury and still hit 37 homeruns. Let that sink in and imagine him in Cincinnati or Yankee Stadium. Scratch those dreams and now think Texas or anyone with a farm system still left.

When Will Justin Upton Leave Arizona? 

The Diamondbacks have too many outfielders. They have enough to field two quality outfields and therefore with holes in so many other places someone will be traded. The easy choice is Jason Kubel because of his value but still being nothing special. But, Justin Upton has been on the black for about two years and almost dealt to almost half of the league and I’m sure that if Upton struggles, he’ll be thrown around in rumors if he hasn’t been traded. Then again, if he finds success he’ll be on the trade block because he’s Justin Upton.

OMERGERD MIKE TROUT MVP? 

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