Baseball Prospectus' PECOTA projections arrived last week, offering answers to two of the most common questions asked each spring: Which players are expected to make major improvements, and which are big risks to head downhill?
We'll tackle five hitters and five pitchers whom PECOTA projects to make major gains today, then do the same for some of the biggest projected decliners on Monday. One note: It doesn't take PECOTA to tell you that a player like Troy Tulowitzki -- who missed most of last season after left groin surgery -- could be in line for a big bounce back with better health, so this list is restricted to people who played full seasons in 2012.
Hitters
Albert Pujols, 1B, Los Angeles Angels
2012 stats: .285 BA/.343 OBP/.516 SLG (3.7 WARP)
Projected 2013 stats: .296/.382/.549 (6.9 WARP)