Lm Otero / AP

The addition of leadoff hitter Jose Reyes helps make Marlins a likely bet for the most improved in 2012, NBCSports.com contributor Tony DeMarco writes.

I do agree that the Giants could use another quality outfielder, even after dealing for Cabrera and Angel Pagan. They chose not to make a big effort to re-sign Carlos Beltran, and go into spring training with Nate Schierholtz, Pagan and Cabrera as the regulars, with Brandon Belt as a LF/1B backup.

Q: Don't you think there are a lot of questions remaining with the Angels, especially offensively? Can Vernon Wells bounce back? Will Kendrys Morales come back and be productive? Will Bourjos and Trout develop?
— Brian Cooper, Burbank, Calif.

A: Those are legitimate questions, Brian, and I'll add a few more: fifth starter, the right-handed side of the bullpen and the leadoff spot.

But the good news is those were problem areas last season, and the Angels still won 86 games. And now they have Albert Pujols hitting third and playing Gold Glove-caliber first base, so they're sitting in a nice position heading into spring training.

The fifth rotation spot is up in the air, but how can you not love the first four: Jered Weaver, Dan Haren, C.J. Wilson and Ervin Santana? That's as good as it gets.

There also is increasing evidence that Morales will be healthy, and there's no understating how important he would be hitting behind Pujols, and as a left-handed presence among all the right-handed hitters in Pujols, Hunter, Trumbo and Wells.

The last also enters camp as a question mark — at 33 and coming off his worst season, and needing to start the season strongly to hold off top prospect Mike Trout.

Jordan Walden will have to follow up his excellent rookie season as the closer, and LaTroy Hawkins has been added to the right-handed setup crew, which is thin — as opposed to the left-handed combination of Scott Downs and Hisanori Takahashi.

One other important transition will be new catcher Chris Iannetta learning to work with the pitching staff. But I'll be surprised if the Angels don't win 90 games this season.

More news

Tony Gutierrez / AP

More heroics from Hamilton

Josh Hamilton fights off illness to hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the 13th inning, lifting the Texas Rangers to an 8-7 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Angels win as Pujols HR streak up to 3 games

SEATTLE (AP) - Albert Pujols hit a home run in his third straight game and pinch hitter Alberto Callaspo came through with a grand slam in the sixth inning to give the Los Angeles Angels a 5-3 win over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday.

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