The time has come, the time to break down the most competative and worst divisions in baseball, the AL and NL Centrals. For those of you who were confused, the AL Central is probably the most competative and the NL Central is the worst - easily, which actually makes it pretty competative itself, no team is actually good enough to stand out among the others. In theory the best team in the NL Central would be the Cubs, but since it is the Cubs theory doesn't really apply. Anyway, here we go.

Before we do I would like to congratulate the Boston Red Sox on the signing of Bartolo Colon. Not only is it a low risk move to get someone who could potentially fill in for Curt Schilling in the rotation, but he's probably the only person who can make Curt Schilling feel as if he is in shape.

Now onto the central teams:

Chicago Cubs:
Projected Finish: First in NL Central
Key Addition: Kosuke Fukudome
Key Subtraction: None

Thoughts: They have a pretty strong team even if they don't swing the deal for Brian Roberts, and in theory, should be the class of the NL Central. That said, after Zambrano, their rotation is weaker than a water-soaked paper bag. Don't believe me? Ted Lilly is their number 2 starter (incidentally, Ted Lilly is the reason why if I were a pitcher I would pitch in the National League. Here's a guy who was an average to below average pitcher in the American League who actually looked like a good pitcher in the National League), keep in mind, Bronson Arroyo, when he came over from Boston had a tremendous year his first season in a new league and then the league figured him out and he became Bronson Arroyo again - the same will happen with Lilly this year. If they can get a full season out of Kerry Wood as closer that would be a step up from what they've had in the past, but getting a full season out of Kerry Wood is about as likely to happen as Ashley Judd knocking on my door and asking if I would like to go out.

Side note: Is there any better woman than Ashley Judd? She seems frighteningly normal for a celebrity, is gorgeous, stays away from the Hollywood fashion fads (I hate that waifs are back) and digs sports - what more could you want in a girlfriend?

Chicago White Sox
Projected Finish: 4th in AL Central
Key Additions: Orlando Cabrera, Nick Swisher, Carlos Quentin
Key Subtractions: Jon Garland

Thoughts: I really like Nick Swisher and Carlos Quentin, and I really dislike this pitching staff. Even before they traded Jon Garland this rotation was pretty weak, now that they are counting on a strong season out of Gavin Floyd I like the rotation even less. They have not yet traded Joe Crede, which confuses me, they have Josh Fields to play 3rd, and I know they just don't want to give away Crede, but at some point they need to accept that no one is going to give them a bounty for an overrated 3rd baseman with back problems and Scott Boras representing him. If Jermaine Dye plays like he did last season this team is toast and you can expect Paul Konerko to get shipped to the Dodgers by the trade deadline. If Dye plays better, well they still don't have a chance to compete in the division.

Best thing you can say about this team is that they are going to have the chance to get a lot of prospects come July 31 since the contenders are going to come a calling for Orlando Cabrera, Konerko, Thome, and even a couple of their terrible pitchers. And no, Scott Linebrink does not count as a key signing - just a stupid one.

Cincinnati Reds
Projected Finish: 5th in NL Central
Key Additions: Francisco Cordero
Key Subtractions: None

Thoughts: What is there to say really? I don't quite get why a team with such a limited budget would throw a ton of money at a closer when they have so many other holes to fill, but such is their right. And it's never really a good sign when you have to start cutting players before Spring Training really gets going. And the fact that Cincy's front office is willing to trust the development of top prospect Homer Bailey to Dusty Baker is pretty confusing too (has no one heard of Mark Prior and Kerry Wood?)

One of my sleeper fantasy picks is Andy Phillips who will compete with Joey Votto at first base, Phillips always hit until he became a bench player. If he gets an opportunity to play everyday, in that park, I fully expect him to be at least a 20 HR guy. The good news is we're almost done having to listen to questions about whether or not they will deal Junior and Dunn.

Cleveland Indians
Projected Finish: 2nd in AL Central
Key Additions: None
Key Subtractions: None

Thoughts: Joe Borowski is not a good closer! There, I said it, I finally said what every Indians' fan has been trying to not think for the last year. If any team SHOULD have spent for Cordero it should have been the Tribe and not the Reds. Mark Shapiro seems to be taking the Steve Phillips thought on his team. In 2000 the Yankees beat Phillips' Mets in the World Series, rather than tweak and improve his club, Phillips left the team static, figuring the team that overachieved last season would be good enough to "make the leap" the next season. It doesn't work that way.

Here's a thought, why not sign Barry Bonds? He would fit in perfectly for this team. I mean right now they have a platoon of Dellucci and Jason Michaels in Left and Gutierrez in Right. They can play Bonds in one corner and spot him with any of those guys. In addition, the lineup would be just so much better. Picture a 3-4-5 of Bonds, V-Mart, and Pronk. In a division with Detroit's Murderer's Row that lineup might actually compete.

Detroit Tigers
Projected Finish: 1st in AL Central
Key Additions: Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis, Edgar Renteria
Key Subtractions: None

Thoughts: If I told you that you could get a young Manny Ramirez without having to give up a single member of your big league club, would you believe me? Well Detroit did it. I like the prospects they gave up, but I like Miguel Cabrera better. And keep in mind, we're not talking about a 30-year old guy here, Cabrera is only 24. And oh yeah, they got Willis (who could go either way) too. Add in Renteria allowing them to move Carlos Guillen to 1st and there is not one thing that Detroit has done that I can argue with. If they can spin Brandon Inge off into a legit LF or a relief pitcher, then they'll be perfect. Even if they don't Jacque Jones and Marcus Thames should be able to hold down the fort out there. In theory what I might have done, in Jimmy Leyland's position, is play Cabrera in LF (since his best defensive tool is his bat) and left Inge at 3rd.

Houston Astros
Projected Finish: 3rd in NL Central
Key Additions: Michael Bourn, Miguel Tejada, Kaz Matsui
Key Subtractions: Craig Biggio, Brad Lidge

Thoughts: Another team whose lineup I like a ton better than their rotation. Roy Oswalt and then what....Woody Williams? Yeesh. I'm surprised they didn't take a $5 milliion risk on Livan Hernandez, at least they could count on him making every start. Well, Kyle Loshe and Jeff Weaver are still out there and frankly when Kyle Loshe and Jeff Weaver could upgrade your rotation, you've got problems. The good news is that the Central stinks and their offense should at least carry them to 3rd place in the division.

Kansas City Royals
Projected Finish: 3rd in AL Central
Key Additions: Jose Guillen
Key Subtractions: none

Thoughts: I like this team in that they are going to be a third place team. They have a pretty good rotation and with Guillen, when he eventually plays, the offense should be better. I also don't expect Alex Gordon and Mark Teahan to struggle as much as they did offensively. That said, for this team to even finish third they have to have everyone stay healthy and peform up to snuff. Mike Sweeney is no longer there, but given how little he has played in the last couple of years I can't consider him a key subtraction, though his leadership might be missed in the lockerroom.

Milwaukee Brewers
Projected Finish: 2nd in NL Central
Key Additions: Eric Gagne, David Riske
Key Subtractions: Johnny Estrada

Thoughts: The Brew Crew addressed their biggest weakness - the bullpen - and are hoping that Gagne will be the pitcher he was with Texas last year rather than the one he was with Boston. Considering what other closers got, Gagne imploding in Boston might have been the best thing that could have happened to the Brewers.

High marks to the Brewers also for realizing that as good as Braun is, he's terrible at third base and thus shouldn't play there any more. If they can get healthy seasons out of Ben Sheets and JJ Hardy this team should compete for the Central crown.

Minnesota Twins:
Projected Finish: 5th in AL Central
Key Additions: Delmon Young, Livan Hernandez
Key Subtractions: Johan Santana, Torii Hunter, Matt Garza, Carlos Silva

Thoughts: I think the plundering Vikings left people with more than the Twins have after this winter. They got $.50 on the dollar for the best pitcher in baseball, and lost another 2 starters for what amounts to Delmon Young, a great talent with a questionable head. Hunter was always a little overrated but the bottom line is that he was the face of the franchise and his loss is a little stomach punch to Twinkie Fans. They still have Mauer, and Morneau - which softens the blow a little. Here's the thing though, Joe Mauer needs to show he can stay healthy. Right now he is Jason Kendall with a worse injury history.

The positive for the Twins is that they are good at this rebuilding thing and have done it before - I don't much like the haul they got back for Santana, but maybe down the line, one of the younger former Mets turns into something nice.

Pittsburgh Pirates:
Projected Finish: Last in NL Central
Key Additions: None
Key Subtractions: None

Thoughts: What is there to say? They've been rebuilding since Barry Bonds left and haven't made any progress to date. Why they have not yet traded Jason Bay is a mystery that grows larger each day. They've shaken up things in the front office, so maybe that will help right the ship, though I doubt it. They need to start drafting better, which means walking away from Bud Selig's "suggested signing slots" for draft picks. Beyond Bay, they have tradable assets in Adam LaRoche, Xavier Nady, and Ronny Paulino - as well as a couple of their relievers - they should move these guys and start building this thing up again from bottom to top. And yes, it is amazing that a team with this many tradable assets stinks as badly as it does.

St. Louis Cardinals
Projected Finish: 5th place in NL Central
Key Additions: Troy Glaus
Key Subtractions: Jim Edmonds, David Eckstein, Scott Rolen

Thoughts: Getting Rolen away from LaRussa is good, but expecting Glaus's foot to hold up playing the field over a full season is - well see my Ashley Judd comments above. And the injury woes don't stop there. Chris Carpenter and Mark Mulder will not be ready to open the season and so their starting rotation is: Matt Clement (who has not pitched in two years) Braden Looper, Adam Wainwright, Joel Pinero, and Anthony Reyes (who did not win a start last year I believe). On top of that there's word that Albert Pujols may need Tommy John surgery. Didn't this team win a World Series not too long ago?

So there you have it. Two central divisions that couldn't be more different. On one side, teams that are strong and getting stronger. On the other side, teams that are so bad I wouldn't be shocked if their playoff representative finished with a sub .500 record.