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Pitcher Roy Halladay is wearing the Philadelphia Phillies’ red pinstripes. Cliff Lee dons the Seattle Mariners’ teal and silver. Jim Thome? He’s with the Minnesota Twins, his third team in the American League Central.

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MLB Network to follow White Sox in 2010

Cactus League ready for teams to swing away

Beat writer Jorge L. Ortiz breaks down spring training with a look at who’s new, who to watch and a key issue for each Cactus League team:

MLB arbitration: Astros beat Wandy Rodriguez; Jeff Mathis, Sean Burnett have hearings

Associated Press NEW YORK — Pitcher Wandy Rodriguez lost to the Houston Astros in salary arbitration on Thursday, and Los Angeles Angels catcher Jeff Mathis and Washington Nationals reliever Sean Burnett had their

Five teams, five puzzles to solve

USA TODAY’s Mel Antonen looks at issues facing five teams this spring:

MLB: Mathis wins in arbitration, Burnett loses

NEW YORK — Catcher Jeff Mathis defeated the Los Angeles Angels in salary arbitration and reliever Sean Burnett lost to the Washington Nationals.

Grapefruit League teams hit ground running in Florida

Paul White breaks down spring training with a look at who’s new, who to watch and a key issue for each Grapefruit League team.

Forbes Fantasy Baseball Investment Guide: Outfield

Exclusive fantasy analysis this week turns to outfielders, with composite rankings from a distinguis

MLB Network to take viewers behind closed front-office doors

A new MLB Network show will give viewers an inside look at the decision-making in the front office of the Chicago White Sox.

Winter deals bring Halladay as staff ace, stability for future

For a team that has won the National League East each of the last three seasons and been to the World Series the last two, the Philadelphia Phillies have had a hectic winter.

MLB bans guns, other weapons from clubhouses

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball has a new message for players and employees this spring training: Keep guns, long knives and explosives out of the clubhouse.

MLB bans guns from clubhouses

Major League Baseball has a new message for players and employees this spring training: Keep guns, long knives and explosives out of the clubhouse. Signs have been placed in spring training locker rooms stating “individuals are prohibited from possessing deadly weapons while performing any services for MLB.” The rules apply to employees of the commissioner’s office, other central…

MLB players that could be attractive | AL East breakdown

The Philadelphia Phillies were neither celebrating their World Series title nor anticipating defense of their National League championship when the All-Star break rolled around a year ago. They were desperately sifting through pitching options as they tried to fix their starting rotation.

MLB: AP source: Branyan reaches agreement with Indians

A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that first baseman Russell Branyan has reached a preliminary agreement to rejoin the Cleveland Indians.

Former New York Yankees RHP Chien-Ming Wang finalizes $2 millions deal with Washington Nationals

Pitcher Chien-Ming Wang and the Washington Nationals have finalized a $2 million, one-year contract.

2010 MLB preview: New York Yankees

Where does the time go, between the Super Bowl, Daytona 500, and the Winter Olympics it seems that the start of the 2010 MLB Spring Training really snuck up on us this year. With that being said let us take a look at the 30 team of Major League Baseball starting with the most likely [...]

MLB capsules: American League teams at start of spring training

A team-by-team look at the American League entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:

MLB: Frank McCourt’ wife seeks nearly $1M per month

LOS ANGELES — The estranged wife of Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt is asking for nearly $1 million per month in temporary support.

MLB: Gagne agrees to minor league contract with Dodgers

NEW YORK — A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press former NL Cy Young Award winner Eric Gagne has agreed to a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Florida Marlins sign former Washington Nationals closer Mike MacDougal to a minor-league contract

Florida Marlins sign former Washington Nationals closer Mike MacDougal to a minor-league contract

Former New York Yankees ace Chien-Ming Wang finalizes $2 million deal with Washington Nationals

Pitcher Chien-Ming Wang and the Washington Nationals have finalized a $2 million, one-year contract. The deal includes the chance to earn $3 million in performance bonuses.

Yankees fans need not worry about Rivera

Remember when closer John Wetteland left the New York Yankees back …

Two other teams wanted McGwire coaching

Mark McGwire has been running through rings of fire recently to …

Texas Rangers adding Jose Molina?

The Texas Rangers have three catchers on the 40-man roster right …

Damon choosing White Sox?

There are a lot of rumors floating around that even though the …

Four teams after Felipe Lopez

The St. Louis Cardinals , San Diego Padres , and two other teams …

White Sox Front Office to Star in MLB Network Reality SeriesBen Affleck set to direct Yankee wife swap movie ‘The Trade’Nationals to Brian Bruney: ‘Welcome to the club, you stink’

The rites of spring are nearly here at last. It seems like only yesterday the New York Yankees were wrapping up their 27th Major League Baseball Championship, and now here we are staring down the barrel of another exciting MLB season. Will the Yankees repeat? Will the Phillies pull it together and repeat their championship of a couple of seasons ago? And what will all of this mean to you when it comes time for some good old-fashioned baseball betting? It’s always a fun time of year filled with myriad possibilities. And to get the ball curving right, let’s take a look at these five likely MLB picks for the Top Five positions of 2010.

5. Philadelphia Phillies: Despite falling four games to two in the 2009 season, the Philadelphia Phillies really showed some guts throughout the year, knocking off the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies to earn the right to play for it. And the previous year this team actually claimed a World Series. So don’t count the Phillies out. Not a lot has changed in the last few years, so it seems like they will be in the mix for the next few seasons at least.

4. Boston Red Sox: Long trying to live down the fabled curse that resulted in generation after generation of frustrated Bostonians, the Boston Red Sox finally broke the spell a few seasons ago against none other than their heated rivals, last year’s World Series Champions, the New York Yankees. The Sox have since been able to hold it together and stay competitive late into the season. Expect more of the same from them in the coming months.

3. New York Mets: The New York Mets had high hopes for the 2009 season, but those hopes were cut short long before they could actually see them to fruition. It couldn’t have helped their pride any watching their cross-town rivals claim yet another World Series Championship. Expect the Mets to turn up the heat this season.

2. Arizona Diamondbacks: The Diamondbacks are another team with loads of promise. Last season’s preseason rankings had them in the top ten. They finished last in their division with a 70-92 record. They, too, will have something to prove in 2010.

1. New York Yankees: All those World Series Championships speak for themselves, with 2009 being a painful reminder for the rest of the division. To be the best, you have to beat the best!

Baseball betting should not be left completely up to chance. Nor should you completely take our word for it. Examine the facts for yourself. Weigh the previous year’s performance against the off-season trades, up-and-comers, and behind the scenes shenanigans, and make MLB picks that you can depend on with the utmost confidence for the coming season. It could be the difference between a long ball and a strike out. Time to play ball!

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