National League: early calls have the Braves, Cardinals and Giants repeating as division champions with the Phillies, Astros and Diamondbacks challenging for the wild card playoff berth. (2003 Division Previews).

THE NATIONAL LEAGUE MAY NOT HAVE WON THE World Series last year, the Giants coming up short in a seven-game classic with the Angels, but there is little question about which circuit was the busiest in the hot-stove season.

The biggest movers and shakers in the off-season resided in the N.L., where the Phillies convinced Jim Thorne to leave his American League roots in Cleveland, where Cliff Floyd returned after finishing last season in Boston, where Ivan Rodriguez, Ray Durham, Mike Stanton and All-Star Robert Fick landed during the winter.

The N.L. also is where Jeff Kent decided to stay, trading a black and orange Giants uniform for the red and black of the Astros. Edgardo Alfonzo also stayed put, moving coast to coast, from New York to San Francisco. Fred McGriff stayed home as well, leaving the Cubs for the Dodgers.

Don't forget, this also is the league that still employs Hall of Famers in waiting such as Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Randy Johnson and Greg Maddux. And it's the home of stars like Albert Pujols, Lance Berkman, Todd Helton, Roy Oswalt, Chipper Jones, Brian Giles, Vladimir Guerrero, Jeff Bagwell, Adam Dunn, Larry Walker and Shawn Green, to name two handfuls.

All of the player movement was done in an attempt to unseat the Giants as National League champions. The Giants could be vulnerable, losing four everyday players and a starting pitcher. The other division winners, the Braves and Cardinals, also could face stiff challenges from teams that were active in the winter. The Phillies, Mets, Astros and Cubs believe they've upgraded their lineups and are good enough to reach the post-season in 2003.

Here is a look at the teams in predicted order of finish:

EAST DIVISION