But do they have the best rotation in MLB?
James Shields happens to be the No. 1 starter for the Rays in 2012, but any one of the other four could get the nod as the top pitcher in the rotation. Price finished 2011 with a 12-13 record and a 3.49 ERA. In 2010, he went 19-6 with a 2.72 ERA in 32 games. Moore and Hellickson have only combined for 36 starts, but have held their own at the major league level.
The Red Sox also have an exceptional rotation with the 1-2 punch of Jon Lester and Josh Beckett at the top of their rotation. Lester and Beckett combined for 28 wins in 2011, with Clay Buchholz and Felix Doubront filling in the back end of the rotation with Daniel Bard.
The Yankees made some noise this offseason by acquiring Michael Pineda and Hiroki Kuroda to bolster their rotation behind CC Sabathia. Pineda may on the disabled list at the moment, but he will be a difference-maker when healthy.
Elsewhere, Jared Weaver, Dan Haren and C.J. Wilson make up the three-headed monster leading the Los Angeles Angels pitching staff. Also out west, two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum is the ace of the San Francisco Giants pitching staff, alongside young guns Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner. And even without Roy Oswalt, the Philadelphia Phillies still have Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels to send out every five days or so.
