A Look Ahead At The AL Central, 2017
Here's an interesting stat: The American League Central has housed the League Champion in 4 of the last 5 seasons (Detroit in 2012, Kansas City in 2014 & 2015 and Cleveland in 2016). So I guess the moniker lately is "if you are an AL Central team and playing postseason baseball, you have luck on your side. Of course, only one team has won it all in that span (Kansas City) so I guess you take the goods with the bads.
Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Last year Cleveland's pitching and timely hitting won over the American League, steamrolling through the Red Sox and Blue Jays in the playoffs before going back and forth with the Chicago Cubs in a CLASSIC World Series with so many shifts of momentum going back and forth. Unfortunately the Tribe did not finish the season with a win, but are looking sharp for 2017. The Detroit Tigers improved from their disastrous 2015 season with re-births of sorts for Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera. The offense remained stout and the prospects Detroit got from the trades of David Price and Yoenis Cespedes paid off fast (Michael Fulmer won Rookie of the Year while Daniel Norris & Matt Boyd made impacts late). Of course, they went into streaks where they looked like a championship threat and other times looking like those nightmare squads in the early 2000's. But they were there in the race the final weekend of the season. Kansas City fell back in a big way after being the kings of baseball, finishing right at .500 as the pitching fell apart badly. Chicago remained stuck in neutral and sounded like there were issues with their ace Chris Sale. Minnesota, many penned to be the team on the rise, crashed in 2016 as their highly touted rookies did not pan out at all and now questions abound if they are actually going to ever pan out. So what is going to be the case in 2017?
1. CLEVELAND INDIANS
Key Additions: OF/1B/DH Edwin Encarnacion (FA/Toronto), P Boone Logan (FA/Colorado), CF Austin Jackson (FA/Chicago White Sox)
Key Losses: OF Coco Crisp (FA), OF Rajai Davis (FA/Oakland), P Jeff Manship (Japan), C/DH Mike Napoli (FA/Texas)
2017 Outlook: So close but so far away. The Tribe once again battled in extra innings of a World Series Game 7 before falling. The Tribe quite possibly could have been the ones standing on top if they had a few of their starting pitchers healthy down the stretch and not have to rely on Corey Kluber trying to be Bumgarner 2.0. But the Tribe look to be stronger, adding Edwin Encarnacion to replace Mike Napoli and adding Boone Logan to help strengthen the Tribe bullpen. It is hard NOT to think they will win the AL Central (though Detroit could surprise) and be the team to beat in the Junior Circuit.
Player to Watch: Edwin Encarnacion. I said my peace about him, thinking he was more beneficial from being in the bandbox ballparks of the AL East. Now he is in the AL Central where the parks, including Cleveland, are quite the opposite. If he doesn't hit 30 HR and hits .260, given what he signed, he will be considered a flop. He needs to be the same Blue Jays Encarnacion for the Indians to have a strong chance at getting back to the Fall Classic.
2017 Projection: 95-67
2. DETROIT TIGERS
Key Additions: C Alex Avila (FA/Chicago White Sox), 2B-Omar Infante (FA/Atlanta), CF Mikie Mahtook (Trade/Tampa Bay)
Key Losses: CF Cameron Maybin (Trade/Los Angeles Angels), C Jarrod Saltalamacchia (FA/Toronto), IF Erick Aybar (FA)
2017 Outlook: I am not sure if most baseball experts were really hoping for Detroit to go on a fire sale mode this off-season, as comments from GM Al Avila said no player was untouchable (including Cabrera & Verlander). However, trading Cameron Maybin aside, the Tigers did nothing spectacular like they've done for the last 10 seasons. There's been talk of trading Kinsler, but he would veto any deal unless the new team would give him an extension, and JD Martinez. My guess is that Tigers owner Mike Illitch was on his deathbed, saying "give it one more year." So I think 2017 may be the last hurrah for the Detroit Tigers nucleus before they possibly ship some of these wheels out of the Motor City. But the thing is, the lineup 1-9 is strong (though Justin Upton needs to have a far better year in 2017 than in 2016), the pitching is young and you have Verlander in that rotation and surprisingly, the bullpen isn't too much of a trainwreck. They could make noise not only in the AL Central, but in the AL in general.
Player to Watch: Jordan Zimmermann: Zimmermann made Avila look good in April as he just was pitching in a Cy Young caliber. But then he fell off. Badly. And Avila got grilled for the signing alongside Justin Upton. If the Tigers really want to go after the Indians in the Central, they need all 5 starters to pitch great. And he is one that NEEDS to pitch great. If not, then they will be out of the race in Game 162 like they were last year.
Projected Record: 89-73
3. KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Key Additions: P Jason Hammel (FA/Chicago Cubs), P Nate Karns (Trade/Seattle), P Brandon League (FA/Los Angeles Dodgers-2015), P Seth Maness (FA/St. Louis), C/1B Brandon Moss (FA/St. Louis), OF Peter O'Brien (Trade/Arizona), P Bobby Parnell (FA/Detroit), C Brayan Pena (C Cincinnati), OF Jorge Soler (Trade/Chicago Cubs), P Chris Withrow (FA/Atlanta), P Travis Wood (FA/Chicago Cubs)
Key Losses: P Yordano Ventura (death), P Wade Davis (Trade/Chicago Cubs), OF Jarrod Dyson (Trade/Seattle), P Dillon Gee (FA/Texas), P Kris Medlen (FA/Atlanta), DH Kendrys Morales (FA/Toronto), P Edinson Volquez (FA/Miami)
2017 Outlook: The off-season for Kansas City was marred by the unfortunate, untimely death of their ace Yordano Ventura. It overlooked the major activity the Royals done, including giving Danny Duffy a multi-year contract (though Eric Hosmer is probably not going to get his contract despite talks with the Royals). But Kansas City added a few Cubs from last year in Jason Hammel, Travis Wood, and Jorge Soler. Hammel should be a nice addition to the rotation that has been their weak link, even when Ventura was around. Wood helps offset the loss of Wade Davis and Soler looks to be a key part in the Royals resurgence. They also added Seth Maness, who could be a sleeper signing to help more of the bullpen. The Royals are also hoping that Nate Karns looks like the Tampa Bay Nate Karns and not the Seattle Nate Karns. If he pitches like he is capable of, while a Hammel/Duffy/Karns tandem won't really scare anybody it will be more than serviceable. The Royals also added some pop with Brandon Moss, but he can be an all-or-nothing guy. But he has shown he can hit in spacious parks similar to Kauffman Stadium so it isn't the worst move in the world.
Player to Watch: Jorge Soler. Soler was one of the many Cubs youngsters that gave hope for Chicago to end their 108-year championship drought. And while he contributed, he wasn't on the same level as the other guys. Chicago, not bringing back Aroldis Chapman, used Soler to get Wade Davis. But Kansas City would be his best bet as he can play everyday and be a key part for the Royals. But he does need to make an impact at least early on if the Royals figure to be in the mix of it in 2017.
Projection: 83-79
4. MINNESOTA TWINS
Key Additions: C Jason Castro (FA/Houston), P Ryan Vogelsong (FA/Pittsburgh)
Key Losses: P Tommy Milone (FA/Milwaukee), 2B Trevor Plouffe (FA/Oakland), C Kurt Suzuki (FA/Atlanta)
2017 Outlook: After being in the mix for a wild card spot in 2015, Minnesota lost 103 games, worst in their franchise history. The youngsters such as Byron Buxton and Jose Berrios didn't pan out while Miguel Sano didn't match his scorching 2015 season either. Add in the fact Byung Ho Park, their great hope from the Orient, completely flopped as well as Jose Berrios just being an epic disaster, it was no reason why the Twins crashed. Then there was talk that Brian Dozier would have been dealt soon, but as of now he remains a Twin.
Player to Watch: Miguel Sano: I demanded a refund on this guy when I drafted him in my fantasy league this year. Thank God I ended up trading him for Cole Hamels when I did. But he doesn't need to be the likes of Chris Carter, Chris Davis, where he is a HR or nothing guy. He hit .231 with 25 HR. Not what the Twins or Brian Kenny hoped when he believed he was a top 10 RF in baseball in 2016. But if he doesn't get it going, it may be another long year in the Twin Cities for all parties involved.
2017 Projection: 73-89
5. CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Key Additions: P Derek Holland (FA/Texas), P Lucas Giolito (Trade/Washington), P Reynaldo Lopez (Trade/Washington), P Michael Kopech (Trade/Boston), IF Yoan Moncada (Trade/Boston), C Geovany Soto (FA/Los Angeles Angels
Key Losses: P Chris Sale (Trade/Boston), C Alex Avila (FA/Detroit), CF Adam Eaton (Trade/Washington), CF Austin Jackson (FA/Cleveland), 1B/DH Justin Morneau (FA)
2017 Outlook: While it wasn't a full blown fire sale for the ChiSox, they shipped two of their best pieces off in Sale (Boston) and Eaton (Washington). They really didn't need to. And then there has been much talk about Jose Quintana being next. The White Sox, whose farm system has been mostly down for years, needs to be replenished. One reason why the move was made and get fresh blood and Sale probably wore out his welcome on the South Side. But that said, the White Sox will have some pop on offense with Melky Cabrera, Jose Abreu, and the all-or-nothing Todd Frazier. It will be are they going to get enough pitching outside of Quintana? James Shields was picked up for nearly nothing from San Diego and he just epically collapsed. So you wonder if the fire sale will continue throughout the 2017 season under new manager Rick Renteria. The Sox have pieces, but really I don't think they are going to contend given there are far too many holes. The pieces they got from Boston and Washington are a start though (Moncada, Giolito).
Player to Watch: Jose Abreu. He may be elsewhere by the deadline, but his play will dictate how much the White Sox get for him.
2017 Projection: 68-94
That's it for the AL Central. Next week: the NL West
-Fan in the Obstructed Seat
