AL East

If actions and words are any indicator, there appears to be a difference of opinion regarding the importance of New York Yankees starter Phil Hughes developing his changeup.

Coaches keep mentioning Hughes' further development and use of the pitch as the primary goal for him this spring.

Spring training started last weekend.  In some cases, fans were glued to their televisions or radios to tune into games that meant absolutely nothing.

I, for one, enjoy spring training.  This season's sure to be a good one, as my beloved New York Yankees look to put together the puzzle that will send them back to the World Series and bring home title No. 28.

He was a 16th-round pick in the 2000 MLB draft, just another pick out of many on draft day, but James Shields, with his bulldog mentality, made more out of his experience in baseball than just being a draft selection.

Shields made his major league debut at 24 and struck out 184 batters the next season, on his way to a 12-8 record. His win-loss numbers would improve the next season, as he became the opening day starter for the Rays.

Most of the questions the New York Yankees have this spring training surround their starting rotation. Will A.J. Burnett show signs of bouncing back, and who will win the fourth and fifth spots in the rotation?

All major league teams are now full bore in camp and the countdown until March 31st can't get here quick enough. With teams going through their full workouts and games starting last weekend, who are the "old timers" that came into camp maybe a little more fit than last year? Bleacher report will look at these aging stars and see if they can regain or increase their numbers from last year.

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If anything can be taken from the first two days of spring training, it's this: The Yankees have a great farm system. 

The Yankees are choc-full of talent ranging from starting pitchers to catchers. 

At nearly every position there are legitimate prospects that should be making their ways to the Bronx over the next couple of years. 

Most importantly, and immediately, is starting pitching and catching.

Quick, check your calender. OK it's still 2011. Yes, that was the theme of this offseason for your usual big spending, aggressive New York Yankees. I'm not sure if Hank and Hal Steinbrenner know what year it is, because they sure as hell don't know how to construct a team. If I didn't know any better I would of thought Tommy Boy was running this organization.

Luke Scott has become a fan favorite in Baltimore since he came to the Orioles from the Houston Astros in 2008.

In 2010, Scott was one of Baltimore's most consistent hitters and helped carry Baltimore late in the season after Buck Showalter came aboard.

5. Luke Scott, LF

The Rays' journey to becoming a constant playoff-contender took awhile, but came all of sudden when it finally happened.

Contending with the power-house teams of the AL East—the Yankees and Red Sox—is the toughest thing to do for any team to have to do. It's makes it even tougher when you can't spend half the money of the those two teams.

But the Rays haven't used any excuses, rather using lower-risk, high-reward pickups and their minor league system to create a nucleus for a championship-caliber squad.

This is the division that many regard as the most competitive in baseball.  I would say it is in a tie for first with the NL Central, but that's just me.  The AL east is a powerhouse, just as it is most years.  Some of the less relevant teams for the 21st century AL East have made moves during the offseason, and it should make for an interesting division race.