CENTRAL DIVISION
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS 2022: 92-70, first place, lost to Yankees in ALDS
Manager: Terry Francona
Top Hitters: 3B José Ramírez (.280, 29 HRs, 126RBIs, .869OPS, AL-best 44 doubles), 2B Andrés Giménez (.297, 16, 69, .837OPS, AL-high 25HBP), LF Steven Kwan (.298, 6, 52, .373OBP, 9.4AB per K, third in AL Rookie of Year voting), SS Amed Rosario (.283, 11, 71, ALhigh 9triples), 1B/DH Josh Bell (.266, 17, 71, .784OPS with Nationals and Padres)
Projected Rotation: RH Shane Bieber (13-8, 2.88ERA, 198 Ks in 200innings), RH Triston McKenzie (11-11, 2.96, 190Ks), RH Cal Quantrill (15-5, 3.38; 9-0at home in 19starts), RH Zach Plesac (3-12, 4.31), RH Aaron Civale (5-6, 4.92)
Key Relievers: RH Emmanuel Clase (3-4, 1.36ERA, MLBleading 42saves), RH Eli Morgan (5-3, 3.38, 13walks in 66 1/3 innings), RH James Karinchak (2-0, 2.03, 3saves, 62Ks in 39innings)
Outlook: In their first year as the Guardians, baseball's youngest team rolled to a surprising division title, winning the AL Central by 11games. They did it without a proven power hitter in a lineup that relied on patience at the plate, speed on the bases and timely hits. The club hopes signing the switch-hitting Bell will give the Guardians an infusion of extra-base pop. Bieber bounced back nicely following an injury-slowed season. Cleveland's strong bullpen is a major weapon for Francona. Expectations are to go farther in the postseason for a franchise that hasn't won the World Series since 1948.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX
2022: 81-81, second place Manager: Pedro Grifol
Top Hitters: SS Tim Anderson (.301, 6 HRs, 25RBIs in 79games), OF Eloy Jiménez (.295, 16, 54, .858OPS in 84games), OF Luis Robert (.284, 12, 56in 98games), 3B Yoán Moncada (.212, 12, 51), 1B Andrew Vaughn (.271, 17, 76), OF Andrew Benintendi (.304, 5, 51 with Royals and Yankees)
Projected Rotation: RH Dylan Cease (14-8, 2.20ERA, 227 Ks), RH Lance Lynn (8-7, 3.99), RH Lucas Giolito (11-9, 4.90), RH Michael Kopech (5-9, 3.54), RH Mike Clevinger (7-7, 4.33with San Diego)
Key Relievers: RH Liam Hendriks (4-4, 2.81ERA, 37saves), RH Reynaldo López (6-4, 2.76), RH Joe Kelly (1-3, 6.08), LHP Aaron Bummer (2-1, 2.36), LH Jake Diekman (5-4, 4.99 for Red Sox and White Sox), RH Kendall Graveman (3-4, 3.18)
Outlook: The White Sox had their sights set on a deep playoff run last year after back-to-back early exits, only to deliver their most disappointing season in recent memory. Hall of Fame manager La Russa is gone after two seasons, and so is Jóse Abreu, the 2020AL MVP. The White Sox hope that better health and a change on the bench, not to mention the few additions they made, give them the lift they need to bounce back. One big question is when Hendriks will pitch. The three-time All-Star announced in January he has non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
MINNESOTA TWINS 2022: 78-84, third place Manager: Rocco Baldelli
Top Hitters: SS Carlos Correa (.291, 22 HRs, 64RBIs, .834OPS), CF Byron Buxton (.224, 28, 51, .833 OPS in 92 games), 3B Jose Miranda (.268, 15, 66, .751OPS), 2B Jorge Polanco (.235, 16, 56, .751OPS) Projected Rotation: RH Sonny Gray (8-5, 3.08ERA), RH Pablo López (10-10, 3.75for Miami), RH Tyler Mahle (6-8, 4.40for Cincinnati and Minnesota), RH Kenta Maeda (missed 2022season after elbow surgery), RH Joe Ryan (13-8, 3.55)
Key Relievers: RH Jhoan Duran (2-4, 1.86ERA, 8saves, 89Ks in 672/3 IP), RH Jorge López (4-7, 2.54, 23saves for Baltimore and Minnesota), RH Griffin Jax (7-4, 3.36, 1save)
Outlook: Bringing back Correa on a franchise-record $200 million contract was a game-changer on and off the field for the Twins, who led the AL Central for 108days last season before a hard fade triggered by a rash of injuries to important players. Buxton was again limited by injuries. Polanco is also coming off a bothersome knee injury that might keep him from being ready for Opening Day. Alex Kirilloff, in line to take over at first base, is yet another key hitter who has been brought along slowly in spring training. If those four and Miranda can stay healthy, the Twins ought to have a productive lineup. If not, they'll miss AL batting champion Arraez – who was traded to the Marlins for López – all the more.
DETROIT TIGERS 2022: 66-96, fourth place Manager: A.J. Hinch
Top Hitters: SS Javy Baez (.238, 16HRs, 67 RBIs, 147 Ks in 555 ABs), DH Miguel Cabrera (.254, 5, 43), CF Riley Greene (.253, 5, 42), 1B Spencer Torkelson (.203, 8, 28in 110games), C Eric Haase (.254, 14, 44, .748 OPS)
Projected Rotation: LH Eduardo Rodriguez (5-5, 4.05 ERA), LH Matthew Boyd (2-0, 1.35in 10games with Seattle), RH Michael Lorenzen (8-6, 4.24in 18games for Angels), RH Spencer Turnbull (4-2, 2.88in 9games), RH Matt Manning (2-3, 3.43in 12games)
Key Relievers: RH Alex Lange (7-4, 3.41 ERA in 71 games), RH Jose Cisnero (1-0, 1.08in 28games)
Outlook: Detroit hasn't had a winning season since 2016, a fact that cost former GM Al Avila his job last August, and the team hasn't been in the playoffs in nearly a decade. The franchise desperately needs Rodriguez to bounce back after a shaky season on and off the field. The rest of the rotation includes pitchers coming off injury-shortened seasons. Like Rodriguez, Baez is being counted on to provide a better return on the club's investment in him than he delivered last year. Cabrera, who turns 40on April 18, said this will be the last season and fans will come to Comerica Park to watch him add to his 507home runs, 3,088hits and 607doubles.
KANSAS CITY ROYALS 2022: 65-97, fifth place Manager: Matt Quatraro
Top Hitters: C Salvador Perez (.254, 23 HRs, 76RBIs), SS Bobby Witt (.254, 20, 80, 30SBs), C/OF MJ Melendez (.217, 18, 62),
1B/DH Vinnie Pasquantino (.295, 10, 26)
Projected Rotation: RH Zack Greinke (4-9, 3.68ERA), RH Jordan Lyles (12-11, 4.42 with Baltimore), RH Brady Singer (10-5, 3.23), LH Ryan Yarbrough (3-8, 4.50with Tampa Bay), RH Brad Keller (614, 5.09)
Key Relievers: RH Scott Barlow (7-4, 2.18ERA, 24saves), LH Aroldis Chapman (4-4, 4.46, 9saves with Yankees)
Outlook: Rather than invest in free agents to improve on last year's dismal record, the Royals hope a change in leadership from Mike Matheny to Quatraro, coupled with some growth in their young core, will help them take a big step forward. Witt emerged as one of the game's bright young stars and Singer had a breakout year.