2010 PHILADELPHIA QUAKERS
2009 finish: 112-50, 1st place in Eastern Division, 21 games ahead of Pennsylvania; Won World Series
Arrivals: RHP Marc Martinez, OF John Brandon, RHP Antonio Lopez, 2B Ricardo Alvarez, RHP Gerardo Flores, OF Barney Everett, SS Bobby Jennings
Departures: RF Juan Esparza, SS George Dollard, 1B Gabe Martinez, 3B Mat Robichaux, RF Andres Garcia, RHP Lenny Perez
Rotation: Jorge Moralez, Aaron Larkin, Antonio Lopez, Nick Blackstone, Curt Brown, Travis Barron
Relievers: Frankie Azcarreta, J.J. Medina, Marc Martinez, Gerardo Flores, Vincente Barron, Steve Fuller
Regulars: RF Kenny Jones, 2B/SS Anselmo Cachiera, DH Ron Olden, 3B Randall Dorsey, OF Jon Brandon, OF Jackson Mason, C Lou West, 1B Dan Warren, 2B/SS Ricardo Alvarez
Role Players: C Felipe Magana, 2B Bobby Jennings, SS/OF Josh Monroe, CF Barney Everett
Rotisserie Sleeper: 24-year old righthander Travis Barron went 9-4 in the spot starting role for the Quakers last year and if there is an injury in the rotation, Barron, who was the team's 2nd round draft pick in 2008 will be slated to hit the rotation and could be poised for a big year. he's a big righthander with a power arm and could easily win 12-15 games as a starter.
Rundown: The defending World Series champs reloaded, picking up the ace of the team they beat in the World Series -- Antonio Lopez -- a 25-game winner who is slated as their third starter. With luck like that -- or more like, deep pockets -- put the expectations of this club at winning a World Series or else.
With the 2nd highest payroll in baseball heading into this year (the Royals are tops at $170m), the team is betting that inserting John Brandon into the fifth spot in the lineup that the former club legend during the franchise's time in Monterrey will give the team even more depth from 3-5, which bumps Jackson Mason to the sixth spot.
The real question marks for this team is how will it deal with adversity. If the team is hit with a rash of injuries or if there are some slow starts out of the game, there won't be a whole lot of wiggle room for management to get the team out, so they've essentially cast their lot with whatever they have on the active roster all year, save for any deals they make later in the year.
That said, they look as complete as almost any team in the majors and should be the presumptive favorites when the post-season rolls around.
Prediction: 105-57, 1st place Eastern Division