It's cold out right now and most -- if not all -- of the conversation on sports talk radio centers around the Super Bowl (with good reason); however, I guess now is a good time as any to see how the American League East may shape out this season.

As always, it will be one tough division.

Obviously, this is just an opinion, but the big dogs - the Yankees and Red Sox -- will finish in the top two spots. The Rays will finish a solid third, the Orioles fourth and the Jays fifth.

Here's the reasoning why the teams will place where they will and why.

• Boston Red Sox: I think this is the year they take the division. To begin with, they always have a fairly solid team, but they have added a bulldog pitcher - John Lackey - and have a starting rotation that can match the Yankees. Their offense suffered at times last season, but if David Ortiz can reclaim his career, if Adrian Beltre can benefit from Fenway and if Victor Martinez can continue to hit, they'll be difficult to beat. I think the Red Sox bullpen is fairly strong; however, Jonathan Papelbon did look shaky at times in 2009. All things considered, they still have a complete team and should win the division.
• The New York Yankees: Yes, they are the reigning World Champions, and yes, they do have C.C. Sabathia, Jeter, A-Rod, Mariano Rivera, Mark Teixiera and team full of other great players. Their problem is I see on the horizon: age. As talented as they are, the Yankees have several guys -- some of their top guys -- on the wrong side of 30. Everything came together for them last year, but I would think the issue of age, plus A-Rod's hip would have to play a role in how the they in 2010 and beyond. But, I do think at some point, some of their top guys will start to play their age than at continually at an elite level. I do think the addition of Javier Vasquez was a plus, but I have my doubts about Granderson in the Bronx and the loss of key guys - Damon and Matsui. Their bullpen is solid, and if Mariano is still healthy, then there's no reason to see why the Yankees won't win.
  
• Tampa Bay Rays: They have a nice young core, plus nice players in Evan Longoria, Carlos Pena and Carl Crawford - in which the last two could be traded if Tampa of the playoff hunt mid-season -- but, they don't have the firepower to contend with the Yankees. Tampa has some nice young starting pitching, but their bullpen seems to somewhat shaky, and their lineup is weak in comparison to New York and Boston. Sadly, because of money issues, they cannot build upon what they have for most part in the free agent market and have do everything from within.
  
• Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles seem to have a plan in place and young players to hopefully acheive their goals with. They won't contend in 2010, but if the youngsters play to their potential and the mainstays play as they always have, Andy MacPhail and the organization may a grab a free agent or two in the next off-season to put things seriously into high gear. The starting pitching will need to perform a lot better than last year, the starting lineup doesn't have a bopper, and while the bullpen may be better -- consistency will be the key.
  
• Toronto Blue Jays: Much like Baltimore, they have a young staff and they have a lot of potential. However, with Roy Halladay gone, a bloated lineup and lack of offense from some positions, in addition to rumored money problems, the Jays much like the Orioles are rebuilding. Toronto over the past several seasons have always seemed to put a competitive team on the field, but those days may be numbered for now.

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