With the off-season and spring training behind us, its time for a new baseball season. Last year saw history being made as the Cubs became world champions. Will they be able to keep the magic going? Will there be any surprise teams making a playoff push? All of those predictions and more, as I embark on this season preview.
1) Red Sox: 91-71
2) Blue Jays: 90-72 (WC)
3) Yankees: 87-75
4) Orioles: 86-76
5) Rays: 75-87
The AL East has been a hotly contested race for a while now, with nearly every team being in contention down the stretch, and I don't see that changing this season.
The Red Sox may have lost David Ortiz, but they loaded up on pitching, with the biggest move by any team this off-season in landing Chris Sale from the White Sox. They may be without David Price until May, but if he's able to work his way back, Boston could suddenly have a potent top 3 of the rotation with Sale-Price-Porcello. The offense may take a step back, but its still loaded with young talent.
The Blue Jays lost Edwin Encarnacion, but retained Jose Bautista. They'll have to hope that Kendrys Morales and Steve Pearce can make up for some of Encarnacion's bat.
After a mini-sell off last year, the Yankees suddenly look a bit younger then they have in the past, with the likes of Aaron Judge, Greg Bird and Gary Sanchez stepping into the lineup. The key for the Yankees will be the back of their rotation.
The Orioles resigned Mark Trumbo and landed Seth Smith in a deal, but it thinned out their rotarion, granted it was just Yovani Gallardo.
The Rays seemed to be in seller's mode a bit this offseason, trading Logan Forsythe for Jose De Leon. But they also signed catchers Wilson Ramos, and later Derek Norris.
1) Indians: 96-66
2) Tigers: 88-74
3) Royals: 83-79
4) White Sox: 72-90
5) Twins: 67-95
The Indians seem well prepared to repeat in the Central, adding a big bat in Edwin Encarnacion. If they can get a healthy Michael Brantley into the lineup, that batting order will be even more potent.
The Tigers could be a bit of a playoff dark-horse. They'll need Justin Verlander to keep up what he did last year, returning as one of the top pitchers in the game. First, though they'll have to weather the opening of the season without J.D Martinez.
The Royals window with their current core of players is closing. A lot of their top players, including Lorenzo Cain and Mike Moustakas will be heading towards free agency at the end of the season. They already shipped out closer Wade Davis to the Cubs, but got an intriguing player back in Jorge Soler.
The White Sox started off a long delayed sell-off this off-season, moving Chris Sale and Adam Eaton. Their farm system is loaded now, with the likes of Yoan Moncada, Michael Kopech and Reynaldo Lopez. This may be a rough year for them, but there are brighter days ahead.
The Twins have a new front office team in Falvey and Levine. For now, the Twins just have to wait for their young prospects to fulfill their potential.
1) Rangers: 93-69
2) Astros: 89-73 (WC)
3) Mariners: 87-75
4) Angels: 77-85
5) A's: 74-88
The Rangers will be looking for a full year of Yu Darvish sitting on top of their rotation, along with last season's deadline acquisition Jonathan Lucroy. Pitching could be an early issue for Texas.
The Astros seem to be a buzz team to make it far this season. They'll hope for a bounceback year for pitcher Dallas Keuchel. They also added Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran to an already explosive offense.
Dipoto as been loading up the Mariners for a potential playoff push, landing players like Jarrod Dyson and Jean Segura. They'll need Felix Hernandez to reach back to his ace-form if they want to go far.
The Angels will hope for a healthier season, as their pitching staff got decimated last season.
The A's look like a lost team. They made a few outfield addition is Matt Joyce and Rajai Davis, but they don't have a clear cut team leader.
Wildcard Teams:
AL Wildcard: Astros at Blue Jays
ALDS: Astros at Indians (in 5)
Red Sox at Rangers (in 4)
ALCS: Red Sox at Indians (in 7)
1) Nationals: 93-69
2) Mets: 89-73 (WC)
3) Marlins: 82-80
4) Phillies: 79-83
5) Braves: 76-86
The Nats present an enviable rotation, if Stephen Strasburg can have a healthy season, and Bryce Harper can trend closer to his 2015 results.
The Mets could be right up there with the Nats, but health on their young pitching could be a big question mark, especially with Steven Matz. Luckily for their offense, they were able to again retain Yoenis Cespedes.
The Marlins were hit hard toward the end of last season when they lost Jose Fernandez in a tragic boating accident. Baseball aside, there aren't really any words that can be said on just what a loss that is for his family, friends and teammates.
The Marlins have put together quietly a fairly solid bullpen, but that rotation could be iffy.
The Phillies and Braves are both rebuilding, but they may not be too far off.
1) Cubs: 99-63
2) Cardinals: 86-76 (WC)
3) Pirates: 83-79
4) Brewers: 78-84
5) Reds: 69-93
The world champion Cubs are returning pretty much the same team (sans Dexter Fowler). They essentially replaced midseason acquisition Aroldis Chapman with Wade Davis in a trade with the Royals. If there's any question with the Cubs, its the bridge to Davis, which may be a bit spotty. But that's really nitpicking.
The Cardinals added said Cubs OF Dexter Fowler, and when teamed with Stephen Piscotty and Randal Grichuk makes for a really solid outfield. If Carlos Martinez realizes his potential in that rotation, then watch out.
The Pirates certainly have an uphill climb to playoffs contention with the Cubs and Cardinals. There big question mark will be their young pitching. If Tyler Glasnow can come out like the top prospect he is, that'd put them one step closer.
The Brewers have added some nice pieces over the past few years, while the Reds have sold low on some of their trades. The Brewers seem closer to contention.
1) Dodgers: 94-68
2) Giants: 85-77
3) Rockies: 76-86
4) Diamondbacks: 74-88
5) Padres: 71-91
The Dodgers have a plethora of depth when it comes to their hitters. They added to that by trading for Logan Forsythe from the Rays.
The Giants have maybe the best all-around player in Madison Bumgarner, seeing what he can do with his arm and bat. Though a question for the Giants will be the back of their rotation, and how they fill out their bullpen, with the loss of Will Smith to Tommy John Surgery.
The Rockies were looking to contend with their off-season moves, adding Ian Desmond on a big contract to play 1B. But during spring training, they've gotten ravaged by injuries, including Desmond.
The D'Backs brought in a new regime, adding Torey Lovullo (Red Sox bench coach) to be their new manager. We'll see if they can stay healthier than they did last year. And the Padres will be seeing what their young top prospects can do as they look towards the future.
Wildcard Teams:
NL Wildcard: Cardinals at Mets
NLDS: Mets at Cubs (in 4)
Nationals at Dodgers (in 5)
NLCS: Dodgers at Cubs (in 6)
World Series: Red Sox at Cubs (in 6)
AL MVP: Carlos Correa
NL MVP: Kris Bryant
AL Cy Young: Chris Sale
NL Cy Young: Clayton Kershaw
AL ROY: Andrew Benintendi
NL ROY: Tyler Glasnow
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