2012 World Series Odds

With Spring Training just around the corner, teams are gearing up for yet another exciting season of MLB baseball. Last year, the St. Louis Cardinals went on one of the most improbable runs in baseball history, becoming the 2011 World Series champs and sending Tony LaRussa into retirement by getting him his third title and the second in five seasons.

So, who will win the 2012 World Series this year? Will we see another run similar to the one the Cardinals pulled off, or will it be one of the usual suspects the ones to capture the Commissioner’s Trophy? With a team pretty much dismantled, it would be hard to imagine St. Louis repeating as champs with Albert Pujols and LaRussa both gone.

But, perhaps the arrival of Prince Albert to the City of Angels will be enough to finally get the LA Angels that illusive second World Series championship. After all, the Angels organization has made it a point to put the best possible team out there this season, no matter the cost. As such, many people are picking this team as the betting favorites to win the 2012 World Series this year.

Should the LA Angels be considered among the favorites taking into account all the moved they’ve done this offseason? Besides the big addition of Pujols, the 2002 World Series champs also added and/or secured names like:

• (SS) Erick Aybar (avoided arbitration)
• (2B/3B) Alberto Callaspo (avoided arbitration)
• (1B/RF) Kendrys Morales (avoided arbitration)
• (OF) Drew Macias (signed to minor league contract)
• (2B/LF/1B) Howie Kendrick (avoided arbitration)
• (IF) Jorge Cantu (signed to minor league contract)
• (SP) Greg Smith (signed to minor league contract)

But it appears the Angels are not done adding names to their roster just yet. Various reports indicate that there’s a high interest for 2-time strikeout king, and New York Yankees starting pitcher, A.J. Burnett. It appears that the trade would send Bobby Abreu back to the Bronx for his second stay with the pinstripes.

Sources indicate that the only reason the trade hasn’t been made is because of Burnett’s no-trade in is contract. Because the Angels are in Burnett’s no-trade list, the Yankees simply cannot trade the hard-throwing righty to any of the teams on that list without his consent.

Having that said, observers believe that this transaction will ultimately become a reality, given that it would greatly benefit both teams this upcoming season.

But what teams do 2012 World Series Odds makers believe will have the best chances of winning it all this season? Check out the complete list of 2012 World Series Odds for your answer:

• Philadelphia Phillies 5/1
• New York Yankees 6/1
• Los Angeles Angels 8/1
• Detroit Tigers 8/1
• Boston Red Sox 8/1
• Texas Rangers 8/1
• San Francisco Giants 15/1
• Tampa Bay Rays 15/1
• Atlanta Braves 15/1
• Arizona Diamondbacks 20/1
• Cincinnati Reds 25/1
• Washington Nationals 25/1
• St Louis Cardinals 25/1
• Miami Marlins 25/1
• Colorado Rockies 30/1
• Kansas City Royals 40/1
• Milwaukee Brewers 40/1
• Chicago Cubs 40/1
• Los Angeles Dodgers 40/1
• Toronto Blue Jays 50/1
• Cleveland Indians 60/1
• Chicago White Sox 80/1
• Pittsburgh Pirates 100/1
• Minnesota Twins 100/1
• Baltimore Orioles 100/1
• New York Mets 100/1
• Seattle Mariners 100/1
• San Diego Padres 150/1
• Oakland Athletics 200/1
• Houston Astros 300/1