Cheatin’ Astros still a contender, as are loaded Yanks 1. HOUSTON ASTROS. 3. LOS ANGELES ANGELS 1. MINNESOTA TWINS
The Houston Astros became arguably the most hated team in league history after being outed for sign stealing, but still have enough talent to contend for a title. The Yankees reclaimed full Death Star Status by swiping Gerrit Cole from Houston. In Anaheim, the Angels signed Anthony Rendon to pair with Mike Trout, and Shohei Ohtani could return to the rotation and fulfill his two-way superstar potential. The White Sox and Twins loaded up while Oakland and Cleveland boast intriguing mixes of talent.
Ranking the AL West
Last year: 107-55 (1st place), lost to Washington Nationals in World Series, 4-3
Key newcomers: RHP Austin Pruitt, C Dustin Garneau
Key losses: SP Gerrit Cole, RP Will Harris, C Robinson Chirinos, OF Jake Marisnick, SP Aaron Sanchez, SP Wade Miley
Best-case scenario: The Astros continue to chug along despite their new role as baseball’s villains and contend for their second World Series title in four years.
Worst-case scenario: Houston crumbles amidst the pressure, Justin Verlander and Zack Greinke begin to show their age and they’re an early exit in the playoffs.
2. A’S
Last year: 97-65 (2nd place), lost to Tampa Bay Rays in AL Wild Card Game
Key newcomers: OF Tony Kemp, C Austin Allen
Key losses: SP Brett Anderson, SP Homer Bailey, 2B Jurickson Profar, SP Tanner Roark, RP Blake Treinen, RP Ryan Buchter, C Josh Phegley
Best-case scenario: Jesus Luzardo and A.J. Puk solidify Oakland’s rotation, Marcus Semien, Matt Chapman, Matt Olson and Ramon Laureano continue playing like budding stars and the A’s finally win the AL Wild Card Game.
Worst-case scenario: Oakland’s lack of established pitching comes back to bite and they miss the playoffs altogether.
Last year: 72-90 (4th place)
Key newcomers: 3B Anthony Rendon, SP Dylan Bundy, SP Julio Teheran, SP/RP Matt Andriese, C Jason Castro
Key losses: 1B Justin Bour, OF Kole Calhoun, SP Trevor Cahill, C Kevan Smith
Best-case scenario: Mike Trout and Rendon do superstar things, Andrelton Simmons and Shohei Ohtani return to form and the Angels get just enough out of their starting rotation to make the AL Wild Card Game.
Worst-case scenario: The Angels don’t get enough out of their rotation, Ohtani fails to rediscover his pre-injury form, Rendon struggles to adapt to American League pitching and the Angels miss the playoffs.
4. TEXAS RANGERS
Last year: 78-84 (3rd place)
Key newcomers: SP Corey Kluber, SP Kyle Gibson, SP Jordan Lyles, RP Joely Rodríguez, C Robinson Chirinos, 3B Todd Frazier
Key losses: IF Logan Forsythe, OF Nomar Mazara, OF Hunter Pence, RP Emmanuel Chase
Best-case scenario: Kluber, Gibson and
Lyles give Texas a legitimate one-through-five rotation, Nick Solak builds off an impressive rookie campaign and the Rangers field a competitive team that flirts with a wild-card spot.
Worst-case scenario: Texas’ offense sputters due to a lack of established hitting and the Rangers open up Globe Life Field with an uncompetitive team.
5. SEATTLE MARINERS
Last year: 68-94 (5th place)
Key newcomers: SP Kendall Graveman, RP Yoshihisa Hirano, RP Carl Edwards Jr.
Key losses: SP Félix Hernández, C Omar Narváez, RP Wade Leblanc, OF Domingo Santana, OF Tim Beckham, OF Keon Broxton
Best-case scenario: Mitch Hanniger returns to All-star form after coming back from injury. Justin Dunn, Kyle Smith, Justus Sheffield and other youths put together encouraging seasons. Jarred Kelenic, MLB Pipeline’s No. 13 prospect, tears up the minors and cooks up some hope for the future.
Worst-case scenario: Seattle’s youth struggles to develop and the team slogs through another uncompetitive season.
Ranking the AL Central
Last year: 101-61 (1st place), lost to New York Yankees in ALDS, 3-0
Key newcomers: 3B Josh Donaldson, SP Kenta Maeda, C Alex Avila, SP Homer Bailey,
SP Rich Hill, RP Sergio Romo, RP Tyler Clippard
Key losses: C Jason Castro, 1B CJ Cron, 2B Jonathan Schoop, SP Kyle Gibson, SP Martín Pérez, RP Trevor Hildenberger
Best-case scenario: The Bomba Squad, now including Donaldson, continues to hit bombs. Maeda, Hill and Bailey provide legitimate pitching come October and the Twins prove worthy of hanging with the American League’s big dogs.
Worst-case scenario: Minnesota’s home run-centric offense falters in the postseason and the Twins end the season still searching for their first postseason victory since 2004.
2. CLEVELAND INDIANS
Last year: 93-69 (2nd place)
Key newcomers: 2B César Hernández, OF Delino Deshields, RP Emmanuel Chase, C Sandy León
Key losses: SP Corey Kluber, 2B Jason Kipnis, OF Yasiel Puig, RP Tyler Clippard
Best-case scenario: José Ramírez and Francisco Lindor play like super-duper stars and carry an otherwise average offense and the pitching staff is productive enough for Cleveland to reclaim the division title.
Worst-case scenario: Cleveland’s lack of offensive weapons and starting rotation depth are too much to overcome, the Indians miss the playoffs and the Lindor trade rumors get louder and louder.
3. CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Last year: 72-89 (3rd place)
Key newcomers: C Yasmani Grandal, SP Dallas Keuchel, DH Edwin Encarnación, SP Gio Gonzalez, OF Nomar Mazara, RP Steve Cishek
Key losses: C Welington Castillo, SP Iván Nova, RP Hector Santiago, 2B Yolmer Sanchez
Best-case scenario: Grandal, Keuchel and Encarnación provide a huge boost to Chicago’s existing core, Luis Robert, MLB Pipeline’s No. 3 prospect, looks the part of a future superstar and the White Sox give the Twins and Indians a run for their money.
Worst-case scenario: The splashy free agents aren’t enough to compete this season and the Sox miss the playoffs, remaining a year away from legitimate contention.
4. KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Last year: 59-103 (4th place)
Key newcomers: RP Greg Holland, 3B Maikel Franco
Key losses: IF Cheslor Cuthbert, RP Brad
Boxberger
Best-case scenario: Adalberto Mondesi has his breakout season and Salvador Perez doesn’t miss a beat after missing last season and the Royals establish a sneakily good lineup while Jakob Junis and Brad Keller emerge as legitimate starters, giving Kansas City some pieces going forward.
Worst-case scenario: Jorge Soler, Whit Merrifield and Hunter Dozier regress and Perez can’t return to pre-injury form as the Royals record another 100-plus loss season.
5. DETROIT TIGERS
Last year: 47-114 (5th place)
Key newcomers: 1B C.J. Cron, 2B Jonathan Schoop, C Austin Romine, SP Ivan Nova, OF Cameron Maybin
Key losses: SP Edwin Jackson, SP Matt Moore, SP Tyson Ross, RP Victor Alcántara
Best-case scenario: Matthew Boyd, Victor Reyes and Niko Goodrum emerge as pillars of the future. Casey Mize and Matt Manning pitch well enough in the minors to earn midseason call-ups. Veterans play well enough to generate buzz at the trade deadline and they’re flipped for prospects.
Worst-case scenario: Detroit’s young cubs don’t show growth and not a single position player has more than a 2+ WAR.
Ranking the AL East 1. NEW YORK YANKEES
Last year: 103-59 (1st place), lost to Houston Astros in ALCS, 4-3
Key newcomer: SP Gerrit Cole
Key losses: DH Edwin Encarnación, SP CC Sabathia, RP Dellin Betances, SS Didi Gregorius, C Austin Romine
Best-case scenario: Cole continues to pitch at a Cy Young level while Miguel Andjuar and Giancarlo Stanton return to full health, giving the Bronx Bombers a legit one-through-nine lineup as the Yankees return to Death Star status.
Worst-case scenario: Injuries once again derail another season, leaving the Yankees still searching for their first championship in over a decade.
2. TAMPA BAY RAYS
Last year: 96-66 (2nd place), lost to Houston Astros in ALDS, 3-2
Key newcomers: 1B Yoshitomo Tsutsugo, DH José Martínez, OF Manuel Margot, OF Hunter Renfroe, C Mike Zunino
Key losses: OF Tommy Pham, RP Emilio Pagan, C Travis d’arnaud, OF Avisaíl García, 3B Matt Duffy, RP José De León
Best-case scenario: Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow stay healthy, Tsutsugo, Nate Lowe and Yandy Díaz break out to complement
Austin Meadows, Brendan Mckay taps into his two-way potential and the Rays make the ALCS for the first time since 2008. Worst-case scenario: The Rays’ collection of good-but-not-great hitting proves detrimental, the pitching staff regresses and they miss the playoffs.
3. BOSTON RED SOX
Last year: 84-78 (3rd place)
Key newcomers: OF Alex Verdugo, SS Jeter Downs, SP Martín Pérez, RP Austin Brice, C Kevin Plawecki
Key losses: OF Mookie Betts, SP David Price, SP Rick Porcello, IF Brock Holt, C Sandy León
Best-case scenario: Xander Bogartes, Rafael Devers and J.D. Martinez continue to mash, Andrew Benintendi and Jackie Bradley Jr. have career years and the offense provides fireworks to make up for the loss of Betts, willing Boston into wild-card contention.
Worst-case scenario: The loss of Betts, Price and Porcello is too much to remain competitive in an already top-heavy AL East and Boston’s championship window slams shut.
4. TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Last year: 67-95 (4th place)
Key newcomers: SP Hyun-jin Ryu, SP Tanner Roark, SP Chase Anderson, IF Travis Shaw, SP Shun Yamaguchi, RP Anthony Bass Key losses: 1B Justin Smoak, SP Clay Buchholz, RP Ryan Dull
Best-case scenario: Toronto’s young core of Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Cavan Biggio emerge as budding stars and the Blue Jays make some noise as a budding, scrappy young team.
Worst-case scenario: The Jays’ young bats experience the sophomore slump and free agent signee Ryu can’t stay healthy.
5. BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Last year: 54-108 (5th place)
Key newcomers: SS José Iglesias, RP Kohl Stewart, RP Wade Leblanc
Key losses: IF Jonathan Villar, SP Dylan Bundy, OF Mark Trumbo
Best-case scenario: Trey Mancini and Renato Nunez both once again slug 30-plus home runs and Ryan Mountcastle hits well upon his debut. Adley Rutschman lights up minor league pitching and breezes through the minors and the Orioles get another high draft pick.
Worst-case scenario: Baltimore’s pitching staff somehow gives up more home runs than last season and no young players emerge to complement Rutschman down the line.