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Ranking Top 10 Lineups Heading Into 2015 MLB Season

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By @real_johnshea

Ranking Top 10 Lineups Heading Into 2015 MLB Season

David Ortiz Boston Red Sox
Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

The 2015 MLB season is nearly upon us, which means it's time to project the league's top offenses heading into spring training. This offseason has been the busiest in recent memory in terms of big-time shakeups, headlined by the resurgence of the Boston Red Sox and San Diego Padres. The upcoming season promises to flaunt a ton of intrigue, as more than 20 teams believe they're capable of contending for baseball's ultimate prize.

10. Chicago White Sox

Jose Abreu Chicago White Sox
Leon Halip/Getty Images

10. Chicago White Sox

Jose Abreu Chicago White Sox
Leon Halip/Getty Images

Projected Lineup: Adam Eaton (CF), Melky Cabrera (LF), Conor Gillaspie (3B), Jose Abreu (1B), Adam LaRoche (DH), Alexei Ramirez (SS), Tyler Flowers (C), Avisail Garcia (RF), Carlos Sanchez (2B).

The White Sox have taken legitimate strides toward becoming a contender in the AL Central this season. Offseason acquisitions of Cabrera and LaRoche bolster a lineup ranked eighth in team slugging percentage in 2014 (.398).

9. Los Angeles Angels

Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

9. Los Angeles Angels

Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Projected Lineup: Kole Calhoun (RF), Eric Aybar (SS), Mike Trout (CF), Albert Pujols (1B), Josh Hamilton (LF), C.J. Cron (DH), David Freese (3B), Chris Iannetta (C), Josh Rutledge (2B).

The Angels will be hard-pressed to duplicate last season's offensive showcase in which they led the big leagues with 773 runs scored (4.8 R/G), but they remain one of the most potent offensive clubs in the American League.

8. San Diego Padres

Justin Upton
Brett Davis - USA Today Sports

8. San Diego Padres

Justin Upton
Brett Davis - USA Today Sports

Projected Lineup: Alexi Amarista (SS), Wil Myers (RF), Matt Kemp (CF), Justin Upton (LF), Derek Norris (C), Seth Smith (1B), Will Middlebrooks (3B), Jedd Gyorko (2B), pitcher's spot.

The upstart Padres have revamped a lineup that ranked dead last in each major statistical category last season. Although it's difficult to produce runs at Petco Park, the additions of Myers, Kemp, Upton and Norris make San Diego a force to be reckoned with.

7. Miami Marlins

Giancarlo Stanton Miami Marlins
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

7. Miami Marlins

Giancarlo Stanton Miami Marlins
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Projected Lineup: Dee Gordon (2B), Christian Yelich (CF), Giancarlo Stanton (RF), Michael Morse (1B), Martin Prado (3B), Jarrod Saltalamacchia (C), Marcell Ozuna (CF), Adeiny Hechavarria (SS), pitcher's spot.

The Marlins surprised most baseball pundits last season, contending for the National League's final Wild Card spot into September. Miami appears ready to challenge the NL's elite in 2015 after acquiring Gordon, Morse and Prado this winter.

6. Los Angeles Dodgers

Yasiel Puig Los Angeles Dodgers
Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

6. Los Angeles Dodgers

Yasiel Puig Los Angeles Dodgers
Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Projected Lineup: Carl Crawford (LF), Jimmy Rollins (SS), Yasiel Puig (RF), Adrian Gonzalez (1B), Yasmani Grandal (C), Howie Kendrick (2B), Juan Uribe (3B), Joc Pederson (CF), pitcher's spot.

The Dodgers remain an offensive juggernaut despite trading Kemp to the division-rival Padres. Los Angeles ranked first in team on-base percentage last season (.333) while scoring the sixth-most runs (718). A third-straight NL West crown is within reach.

5. Texas Rangers

Adrian Beltre Texas Rangers
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

5. Texas Rangers

Adrian Beltre Texas Rangers
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Projected Lineup: Shin-Soo Choo (RF), Elvis Andrus (SS), Adrian Beltre (3B), Prince Fielder (1B), Mitch Moreland (DH), Leonys Martin (CF), Rougned Odor (2B), Robinson Chirinos (C), Jake Smolinski (LF).

The Rangers endured a tumultuous 2014 season headlined by roster-crippling injuries, but they are good enough to challenge for the AL West title this season if able to stay healthy. The return of Choo and Fielder lengthens the Rangers' lineup.

4. Washington Nationals

Bryce Harper Washington Nationals
Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

4. Washington Nationals

Bryce Harper Washington Nationals
Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Projected Lineup: Denard Span (CF), Anthony Rendon (3B), Bryce Harper (LF), Jayson Werth (RF), Ian Desmond (SS), Ryan Zimmerman (1B), Wilson Ramos (C), Yunel Escobar (2B), pitcher's spot.

The Nationals are perhaps the best all-around team in baseball on paper, even though a majority of the hype surrounding the club involves its starting rotation. The Nats ranked ninth in runs scored last season, but they could improve on that mark in 2015.

3. Detroit Tigers

Miguel Cabrera
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

3. Detroit Tigers

Miguel Cabrera
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Projected Lineup: Ian Kinsler (2B), Nick Castellanos (3B), Miguel Cabrera (1B), Victor Martinez (DH), Yoenis Cespedes (RF), J.D. Martinez (LF), Alex Avila (C), Jose Iglesias (SS), Anthony Gose (CF).

The Tigers failed to achieve their goal of winning the World Series last season, but they figure to return to the postseason yet again in 2015. The addition of Cespedes gives the Tigers one of the best 3-4-5 combos in all of baseball.

2. St. Louis Cardinals

Matt Adams St. Louis Cardinals
Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

2. St. Louis Cardinals

Matt Adams St. Louis Cardinals
Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

Projected Lineup: Matt Carpenter (3B), Kolten Wong (2B), Matt Holliday (LF), Matt Adams (1B), Jason Heyward (RF), Yadier Molina (C), Jhonny Peralta (SS), Jon Jay (CF), pitcher's spot.

The Cardinals struggled offensively for the better part of the 2014 season before exploding in the playoffs. The emergence of Wong combined with the addition of Heyward makes the Cardinals one of the deepest teams in the league.

1. Boston Red Sox

David Ortiz Boston Red Sox
Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

1. Boston Red Sox

David Ortiz Boston Red Sox
Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Projected Lineup: Shane Victorino (RF), Dustin Pedroia (2B), David Ortiz (DH), Pablo Sandoval (3B), Hanley Ramirez (LF), Rusney Castillo (CF), Mike Napoli (1B), Xander Bogaerts (SS), Christian Vazquez (C).

After an ugly 2014 campaign that resulted in a total reload this offseason, the Red Sox are ready to reclaim their title as one of the league's best teams. Boston's recent spending spree has created the greatest lineup on paper in MLB.

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