Detroit Tigers
Management: GM – Dave Dombrowski; Manager – Jim Leyland
Notable Additions: Miguel Cabrera, Jacque Jones, Edgar Renteria, Dontrelle Willis,
Notable Losses: Sean Casey, Jair Jurjens, Cameron Maybin, Andrew Miller, Chris Shelton.
Down the Road: Yorman Bazardo, Brent Clevlen, Jeff Larish, Jordan Tata.
Projected Starters:
C – Ivan Rodriguez
1B – Carlos Guillen
2B – Placido Polanco
3B – Miguel Cabrera
SS – Edgar Renteria
LF – Jacque Jones
CF – Curtis Granderson
RF – Magglio Ordonez
DH – Gary Sheffield
SP – Justin Verlander
SP – Jeremy Bonderman
SP – Dontrelle Willis
SP – Kenny Rogers
SP – Nate Robertson
CL – Todd Jones
2008 Outlook: This is the team to beat, period.
They added Cabrera, Renteria, and Jones to an already potent lineup. Those 3 should make the rest of the lineup that much better. To complement the fielders, the pitchers are just as good. Verlander has the ability to be a special pitcher. Willis will have a new bunch of hitters to fool with this deceptive delivery; he should be back to his early career form. The bullpen is weak, but they are actively shopping for any help they can get.
Of course, the downside is they traded most of their system to get to this point. They don’t have much left, as far as impact prospects go. Given the way many of their players are homegrown, they shouldn’t have to wait too long to rebuild the system.
Final Prediction: 1st, 103-59
Cleveland Indians
Management: GM – Mark Shapiro; Manager – Eric Wedge
Notable Additions: Masahide Kobayashi.
Notable Losses: Trot Nixon.
Down the Road: Ben Francisco, Adam Miller, Tony Sipp, Brian Slocum.
Projected Starters:
C – Victor Martinez
1B – Ryan Garko
2B – Asdrubal Cabrera
3B – Casey Blake
SS – Jhonny Peralta
LF – David Dellucci/Jason Michaels
CF – Grady Sizemore
RF – Franklin Gutierrez
DH – Travis Hafner
SP – C.C. Sabathia
SP – Fausto Carmona
SP – Jake Westbrook
SP – Paul Byrd
SP – Cliff Lee
CL – Joe Borowski
2008 Outlook: Last years Central champ did nothing to improve their team; they really didn’t need to do much. They had solid hitting that had under-performed before last season. Now all of the pieces are in place and Detroit has passed them. They didn’t have much they could upgrade and didn’t have the prospects to deal to get a Cabrera or Swisher (or didn’t want to get rid of the prospects they do have).
Their pitching is second to none, after the emergence of Carmona. They have one of the best bullpens in the game. The only question is soft throwing Borowski as the closer – he’s not the prototypical closer and has struggles quite a bit in his career. Fortunately, they have Rafael Betencort who can close in a pinch.
Final Prediction: 2nd, 95-67
Chicago White Sox
Management: GM – Ken Williams; Manager – Ozzie Guillen
Notable Additions: Orlando Cabrera, Octavio Dotel, Scott Linebrink, Alexei Ramirez, Nick Swisher.
Notable Losses: Darin Erstad, Jon Garland, Gio Gonzalez, Ryan Sweeney.
Down the Road: Lance Broadway, Charlie Haeger.
Projected Starters:
C – A.J. Pierzynski
1B – Paul Konerko
2B – Alexei Ramirez
3B – Joe Crede
SS – Orlando Cabrera
LF – Nick Swisher
CF – Jerry Owens
RF – Jermaine Dye
DH – Jim Thome
SP – Javier Vazquez
SP – Mark Buehrle
SP – Gavin Floyd
SP – Jose Contreras
SP – Jon Danks
CL – Bobby Jenks
2008 Outlook: As I said in my last column, the White Sox had one of the better off seasons in the game. They added Cabrera, Swisher, Carlos Quentin, and Cuban Defector Ramirez, all of whom should have a huge impact on the offense. Brian Anderson has had a heck of a spring, and could possibly play his way onto the club. Add in that Konerko, Thome, and Dye can still produce, and this offense looks pretty good.
The pitching, on the other hand, is more of a question mark. You know what you are getting with Vazquez and Buehrle; the rest of the rotation is a question mark. I think the addition of Ramirez will help fellow Cuban Contreras have a good season. Floyd and Danks will be on a short leash, but both could work out nicely. They have also built a decent pen; Dotel and Linebrink are both more than capable of hand a lead off to Jenks.
Final Prediction: 3rd, 83-81
Minnesota Twins
Management: GM – Bill Smith; Manager – Ron Gardenhire
Notable Additions: Adam Everett, Carlos Gomez, Brendon Harris, Livan Hernandez, Phil Humber, Mike Lamb, Craig Monroe, Delmon Young.
Notable Losses: Jason Bartlett, Matt Garza, Torii Hunter, Johan Santana, Carlos Silva.
Down the Road: Brian Buscher, Robert Delaney, Carlos Gomez, Phil Humber.
Projected Starters:
C – Joe Mauer
1B – Justin Morneau
2B – Brendon Harris
3B – Mike Lamb
SS – Adam Everett
LF – Delmon Young
CF – Carlos Gomez
RF – Michael Cuddyer
DH – Jason Kubel
SP – Francisco Liriano
SP – Livan Hernandez
SP – Kevin Slowey
SP – Scott Baker
SP – Boof Bonser
CL – Joe Nathan
2008 Outlook: A lot of people criticized the Twins for the package they got for Johan Santana; I personally think they got a decent deal (not what they would have gotten from the Red Sox or Yankees when they first put him on the market, but they also said they didn’t want to trade him to an AL team). They got the pieces to build for their future; they also made some deals to help now.
The signature of the Twins for the last few years was the pitching – that hasn’t changed. They dealt Santana and Matt Garza because they had a surplus of young pitching. Kevin Slowey was as good as Garza in the minors, and Baker and Bonser are constantly improving. Liriano should be back to the form he was in 2 years ago. Livan Hernandez will provide the veteran leadership that this young staff needs. Add in Glen Perkins and Phil Humber who are ready too, and they have plenty of options.
The hitting last season was weak, which is why they dealt Garza. Delmon Young has the potential to be one of the top hitters in baseball and the Twins couldn’t pass on that opportunity. The upgrade the infield bats by getting Harris in the Young deal and signing Lamb to play third.
Final Prediction: 4th, 69-93
Kansas City Royals
Management: GM – Dayton Moore ; Manager – Trey Hillman.
Notable Additions: Alberto Callaspo, Jose Guillen, Ron Mahay, Miguel Olivio, Brett Tomko, Yasuhiko Yabuta.
Notable Losses: Emil Brown, Billy Buckner, Jason LaRue, Odalis Perez, David Riske, Mike Sweeney.
Down the Road: Luke Hochevar, Justin Huber, Chris Lubanski, Mitch Maier.
Projected Starters:
C – John Buck
1B – Ross Gload
2B – Mark Grudzielanek
3B – Alex Gordon
SS – Tony Pena
LF – Mark Teahen
CF – David DeJesus
RF – Jose Guillen
DH – Billy Butler
SP – Gil Meche
SP – Brian Bannister
SP – Zach Greinke
SP – Kyle Davies
SP – Brett Tomko
CL – Jokim Soria
2008 Outlook: Mark my words – the Royals will be competing in 2 more seasons. Until then, the people in KC will suffer through some more bad baseball. The pieces are in place. Butler and Gordon have the potential to be the best 3-4 hitting combo in baseball. DeJesus’ time in KC is limited, but should net them some good prospects. They are counting on Teahen to bounce back from a rough season; he should since he’s learned the ways of the outfield.
The pitching is just about there. Meche anchors the young staff, but Bannister and Greinke will be at the top of the rotation. Davies has the potential to be a solid starter and Tomko is just holding a spot for Hochevar. They have a young bullpen that has been effective in the past. Soria will be a closer for the team for quite some time.
Final Prediction: 5th, 60-102
