With the rest of baseball starting their seasons on Friday, it’s time for the second part of our baseball preview—the American League.
For most of the last decade, the league has been considered superior to the Senior Circuit with their win/loss advantage in interleague play as well as the All-Star game. But with St. Louis’ winning of the World Series in 2011, the National League has now hoisted the trophy four out of the last six seasons.
A couple significant moves happened in the offseason that may squelch any talk of the National League being superior as both Albert Pujols (Angels) and Prince Fielder (Tigers) joined the AL and instantly made their teams better.
AL East
1. New York Yankees; Predicted Record: 93-69, Key Additions/Losses/Injuries: Exchanged top hitting prospect Jesus Montero and pitcher Hector Noesi for Seattle’s top pitching prospect Michael Pineda, three days before signing pitcher Hiroki Kuroda. Then signed Raul Ibanez to replace Montero as DH and paid the Pirates to take on A.J. Burnett’s contract. Lastly, 39-year-old Andy Pettitte signed with them on March 16. Even with aging stars Jeter and A-Rod the free-spending Yankees are still favorites to win this division for the third time in the last four years.
2. Tampa Bay Rays; Predicted Record: 91-71, Key Additions/Losses/Injuries: Rays signed two second-tier power hitters in first baseman Carlos Pena and DH Luke Scott. Though closer Kyle Farnsworth will start the season on the DL, the Rays pitching is their strength with the foursome of starters James Shields/David Price/Jeremy Hellickson/Matt Moore. With manager Joe Maddon still at the helm the Rays will be in the hunt again.
3. Boston Red Sox; Predicted Record: 86-76, Key Additions/Losses/Injuries: The Red Sox did little in the offseason besides replacing departed closer Jonathan Papelbon by trading for Oakland’s Andrew Bailey. Since then the injury-prone Bailey has landed on the DL and won’t be back until mid-season. After their late-season collapse last year Boston and their aging roster may need an overhaul.
4. Toronto Blue Jays; Predicted Record: 76-86, Key Additions/Losses/Injuries: Toronto’s main offseason move was signing closer Francisco Cordero who has averaged 39 saves the past five seasons. The Blue Jays have several good players in starting pitcher Ricky Romero and outfielder Jose Bautista but will need more before they can break through the top of this division.
5. Baltimore Orioles; Predicted Record: 66-96, Key Additions/Losses/Injuries: Despite seeing DH Luke Scott and Vladimir Guerrero leave via free agency, Baltimore still has a decent offense with Nick Markakis, Adam Jones, and Matt Wieters but their starting rotation needs a major upgrade to compete in the AL East.
AL CENTRAL...
AL Central
1. Detroit Tigers; Predicted Record: 90-72, Key Additions/Losses/Injuries: Detroit reacted to losing catcher/DH Victor Martinez by signing coveted slugger Prince Fielder to a massive nine-year $214 million contract. The subsequent announcement though of moving the overweight Miguel Cabrera back to third base so that the slow-footed Fielder could play first base, instead of DH, may hinder the team. What this means is that a very good starting rotation, anchored by Cy Young winner Justin Verlander, will have a good offense to back them up, but a very suspect defense, especially in the infield.
2. Cleveland Indians; Predicted Record: 81-81, Key Additions/Losses/Injuries: Cleveland did little this offseason other than adding back-of-the-rotation starter Derek Lowe and re-signing outfielder Grady Sizemore, who will begin the season on the 60-day DL. The Indians’ year may hinge on whether Ubaldo Jimenez turns out to be the staff ace they traded for last summer.
3. Kansas City Royals; Predicted Record: 80-82, Key Additions/Losses/Injuries: The Royals traded away outfielder Melky Cabrera to the Giants for starter Jonathan Sanchez and re-signed Bruce Chen. Their farm system has planted a number of good, young players on the team in the last year but when Chen is your opening-day starter you still have a ways to go.
4. Minnesota Twins; Predicted Record: 75-87, Key Additions/Losses/Injuries: The Twins replaced departing outfielder Michael Cuddyer by signing Josh Willingham and are hoping Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer can return to their pre-injury form of 2010. Their starting rotation, led by Carl Pavano, is not enough to win on its own.
5. Chicago White Sox; Predicted Record: 70-92, Key Additions/Losses/Injuries: Chicago saw workhorse starter Mark Buehrle take his talents to South Beach and traded away Carlos Quentin to the Padres. Their main problem is the combined $43 million they'll be paying unproductive veterans Alex Rios, Adam Dunn, and Jake Peavy this season.
AL West
1. Los Angles Angels; Predicted Record: 97-65, Key Additions/Losses/Injuries: The Angels committed over $300 million in combined contracts to Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson last December to try and win their first division title since 2009. The ploy should at least be enough to reach the playoffs as the three-time MVP Pujols is a difference-maker in any lineup. Adding Wilson to a rotation that already includes Weaver, Haren, and Santana edges Tampa Bay for the best staff in the league.
2. Texas Rangers; Predicted Record: 96-66, Key Additions/Losses/Injuries: The two-time defending pennant-winners replaced C.J. Wilson with Japan’s Yu Darvish and then signed former Twins closer Joe Nathan to complement the bullpen. The $100-plus million Darvish commitment was a major gamble as Japan’s best players haven’t had great success but the team fortifies their pitchers with one of the best infields in the league.
3. Seattle Mariners; Predicted Record: 70-92, Key Additions/Losses/Injuries: The Mariners did well to get Montero and Noesi from the Yankees, though giving up Pineda was a high price. With young players Dustin Ackley and Justin Smoak to go along with Montero and ace starter Felix Hernandez anchoring the rotation the Mariners could have something, but it won’t be this year.
4. Oakland Athletics; Predicted Record: 63-99, Key Additions/Losses/Injuries: Oakland has continued its recent trend of trading away good young players for prospects by sending pitchers Trevor Cahill to Arizona and Gio Gonzalez to Washington. In a somewhat puzzling move though, the seemingly cash-strapped A’s signed unproven Cuban free-agent outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to a $36 million contract while letting outfielder David DeJesus sign with Chicago. All signs point to them getting a top pick in the 2013 draft.
