Breaking down how former O's, Nats fit in with their new teams

The Nationals and Orioles are basically the same teams as last season, minus a few key players. Here's a look at players that helped the two local nines win division championships last season and how they fit into the plans of their new teams: * Nick Markakis - Signing Markakis to a $44 million contract is a good deal for a contending team that wants to add an experienced left-handed bat. But the Braves aren't that anymore. They were a weak offensive team last season and they traded their three best hitters - Justin Upton (Arizona), Jason Heyward (St. Louis) and Evan Gattis (Houston). Signing an outfielder with an injury history doesn't make sense. Markakis, 31, can hit .280 with 15 home runs, but it's not going to do much for the Braves, whose best hitter is Freddie Freeman. The rest of the Braves outfield is Eric Young Jr. and the unproductive Melvin (B.J.) Upton. Chris Johnson needs to rebound at third. Andrelton Simmons at shortstop, either Alberto Callaspo or prospect Phil Gooselin at second, and catching prospect Christian Bethancourt aren't the makings of a power lineup, although Bethancourt and Gooselin are top-of-the-line prospects. * Adam LaRoche - Except for six games with Boston in 2009, LaRoche, 35, has never played in the American League and he'll be adjusting to a new role. Instead of a full-time first baseman, he'll share first base with Jose Abreu, the AL Rookie of the Year last season after hitting .317 with 36 homers and 107 RBIs. LaRoche is a better defensive player than Abreu, although White Sox manager Robin Ventura says that Abreu is improving. Ventura says LaRoche, who hit .259 with 26 homers and 92 RBIs last season for the Nats, will play first twice a week. And LaRoche will hit fourth behind Abreu and ahead of Avisail Garcia. LaRoche's personality and experience also means that he'll take over the leadership role now that Paul Konerko is retired. * Nelson Cruz - Cruz led the AL with 40 home runs for the Orioles in cozy Camden Yards last season, but his home park is now Seattle's Safeco Field, a pitcher-friendly place where home runs are more difficult to hit. Comparison: At Safeco, the left field power alley is 378 feet from home plate compared to 364 at Camden Yards. The right field power alley in Seattle is 381 feet away compared to 373 in Baltimore. The Mariners are loaded with pitching, led by Felix Hernandez, and getting Cruz, 34, as their DH makes sense. Even though, Safeco isn't a hitter's paradise, the Mariners do have pop with third baseman Kyle Seager (25 home runs), catcher Mike Zunino (22), Robinson Cano (14), Dustin Ackley (14), Logan Morrison (11) and Brad Miller (10). The Mariners also have good speed at the top of their order with Austin Jackson. * Tyler Clippard - Clippard, traded to Oakland in January, was acquired to be the setup man for closer Sean Doolittle, but Doolittle has a tear in his shoulder, so that means Clippard will likely start the season as the Athletics closer. Clippard, 30, had 32 saves for the Nationals in 2012. Clippard's durability is legendary, given that he's averaged 74 appearances over the last five seasons. Clippard was with the Nationals for seven seasons, appearing in 414 games with a 2.68 ERA. Oakland manager Bob Melvin likes to have set roles for his bullpen and that works in Clippard's favor when it comes to determining the closer. * Andrew Miller - Whoever wins the Yankees' closer role, it's fair to say he's going to be extra tall. Miller, 29, a lefty who stands 6-foot-7, is competing for the job this spring with 26-year-old Dellin Betances, a right-hander who is 6-8. One of the two will be the closer, the other will pitch the eighth inning, meaning the back end of the Yankees bullpen will be strong. After having a combined 2.02 ERA for Boston and the Orioles last season, Miller became a free agent and had offers from other teams for a guaranteed closer job. He went with the Yankees, and given his experience and the closer money in his contract (fout years, $36 million), the job is his to lose. Miller had 34 strikeouts in 20 innings for the Orioles last season.