With Alex Rodriguez expected to miss at least the first few months of the season, Kevin Youkilis will see plenty of playing time. Can he overcome his own recent health woes? Plus Ivan Nova, Melky Cabrera, Lucas Harrell and A.J. Pierzynski.

With a new contract extension, is Felix Hernandez worth $175 million over the next seven years? Plus Torii Hunter, Jake Arrieta, Raul Ibanez and Joel Hanrahan.

Billy Butler's power breakout in 2012 is sure to get the noticed—can he deliver a strong encore performance? Plus profiles of Rick Porcello, Jason Bay, Brian Matusz and Andy Dirks.

Does Adam Jones (OF, BAL) still have a growth spurt in him? Plus Ricky Romero, Mike Moustakas, Blake Beavan and Coco Crisp.

Nice season, Mike Trout (OF, LAA)—so, what do you have planned for an encore? Trout will definitely be one of the first players picked in 2013 drafts; the question is what are the odds that he can deliver a repeat performance?

Practice excruciating patience. If you weathered the storm of Max Scherzer’s (RHP, DET) horrid April (7.77 ERA in five starts), you’ve been repaid for your virtue; he’s been lights-out since mid-June.

After two 30/30 seasons in three years, Ian Kinsler (2B, TEX) was a popular choice early in many 2012 drafts. While he’s put up some decent stats, he’s not met the expectations of owners who took him as early as the second round.

It looks like the Fountain of Youth is actually located in the Bronx. After Derek Jeter (SS, NYY) hit .260 in the first half of 2011, it looked like he was on the downside of his career. But after he got his 3,000th hit, he went on a tear—and he hasn’t slowed down since.

Going into the 2011 draft, it all seemed so simple—Adam Dunn (1B/DH, CHW) had hit 38+ HR for seven straight years, and had moved to a hitter’s park. But it was not to be; Dunn and his anemic performance dragged down numerous fanalytic teams. Those who took a chance on a recovery this year have gotten a mixed bag of results.

When Joe Mauer (C, MIN) signed his mega-contract in the spring of 2010, it looked like he’d be a mainstay behind the plate for years to come. But knee issues sidelined him for two months of 2011, giving Twins’ fans a scary look at life without him. While the Twins aren’t doing much winning this year, Mauer looks like he’s healthy.

In the off-season, there was concern with how Miguel Cabrera (3B, DET) would handle the hot corner. When an errant ground ball fractured his orbital bone in spring training, those fears weren’t quelled. Fast forward to mid-August, and Cabrera is holding his own in the field.