It has been a long, exciting off-season in the world of Major League Baseball, but now America’s pastime is back.

There have been monumental deals — Justin Verlander getting the money he deserves, Buster Posey having a dump truck of cash backed up to his door and Zack Greinke getting large amounts of money coming off an average season.

And monumental moves — the Upton brothers uniting under the same banner, the Dodgers going all in, the Blue Jays finally spending money and the Angels adding another top 5 hitter to their lineup.

All of this and more will make for another thrilling season on the diamond and terrific storylines come September and October. But who will be around come playoff time?

So without further adieu, here are my division winners and why, and my World Series pick.

AL East

Toronto Blue Jays

It has been 20 years since the Blue Jays have been in the playoffs — they won the World Series the last time they were playing in October — but Toronto went all in this season, and they couldn’t have picked a better year. The Rays and Orioles will be right up there with the Jays, but Tampa Bay goes as the pitching staff goes and with the departure, and the O’s are still too youthful in my eyes. As for the Yankees and Red Sox, I don’t see the two division powerhouses threatening much this season, but the veteran leadership of Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera might prove me wrong.

AL Central

Detroit Tigers

No surprises here. The Tigers were in the World Series last season and have no real competition inside the division. Minnesota always seems to linger but will never surpass the Tigers until they decide to spend some money. The White Sox chased Detroit down late last year, but the Southsiders didn’t make a move that really excited me, except moving Mr. Bad Guy A.J. Pierzynski down south. The Royals brought in a good crop of pitching this offseason — James Shields and Wade Davis from Tampa Bay, nabbed Chris Volstad off waivers and Ervin Santana from the Angels. I like the moves, but don’t see the boys in blue threatening the Tigers, even though I’m intrigued to watch Eric Hosmer continue to develop. As for the Indians … maybe next year.

AL West

Los Angeles Angels

The AL West will be one of the toughest divisions in baseball this year, with three teams that I perceive to be possible playoff teams: the Angels, Athletics and Rangers. Unfortunately, I don’t see all three of these teams making the playoffs with the strength on the other coast. With that said, the Angels are getting my nod for the division. With the lineup they boast and acquisitions on the mound this offseason if the Angels don’t make it to the playoffs, it will be a colossal disappointment. As for the Houston Astros, a newcomer to the American League, we’ll talk in a few years.

AL Wild Cards

Baltimore Orioles

Oakland Athletics

NL East

Washington Nationals

The men from the capital city are back after their run at the playoffs in 2012 with more experience and hopefully having a healthy, non-inning restricted Stephen Strasburg on the bump for them in October. The Braves will be very good this season and will be around all season, but the Nationals can do it all. That’s what making good decisions with top 5 picks year after year will get you.

NL Central

Cincinnati Reds

This is going to be the Reds’ division to lose this year. The Cardinals always find a way to sneak into the postseason and kudos to them, but the NL Central crown is the Reds. Joey Votto continues to be arguable the best hitter in the National League and the pitching staff continues to improve. The re-signing of Ryan Ludwick was a smart move. Keep an eye on the development of Aroldis Chapman as they move him from the bullpen to the rotation.

NL West

Los Angeles Dodgers

I mentioned that the Blue Jays went all in earlier, but the Dodgers’ busy offseason makes Toronto look like they were sitting on the couch eating Cheetos all winter. The Dodgers brought in Greinke and Korean pitcher Ryu Hyun-Jin to solidify a pitching staff held down by Josh Beckett, Ted Lilly and NL Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw. The Giants will be in the mix again but the eccentric team from the Bay likes to wait until the end of the year to turn it up, which will leave them with too little, too late to win the NL West.

NL Wild Cards

San Francisco Giants

Atlanta Braves

World Series

Detroit Tigers v. Washington Nationals

The Tigers are back and the Nationals are storming their way into their first World Series in D.C. Unfortunately for the Tigers, they will go the way of the Texas Rangers before them and fall two years in a row in the World Series. Poor, poor Motor City, but with the pitching staff led by Strasburg, Rafael Soriano in the pen and young stud Bryce Harper, the Nationals take care of business in six games to bring home the hardware.

— Austin Bornheim is a senior in journalism and can be reached at [email protected] or followed on Twitter @ABornheim.