MVP: Miguel Cabrera, 3B, Tigers
Cy Young: Justin Verlander, RHP, Tigers
Star on the Rise: Mike Moustakas, 3B, Royals
Star in Decline: Paul Konerko, 1B, White Sox
Player to Watch: Austin Jackson, OF, Tigers
Chicago White Sox
2012 Record: 85-77, 2nd in AL Central | Manager: Robin Ventura (2nd season)
Key Additions: INF Jeff Keppinger, RHPs Matt Lindstrom, Jeff Gray
Key Losses: C A.J. Pierzynski, 3B Kevin Youkilis, RHPs Philip Humber, Brett Myers, LHP Francisco Liriano, 3B Orlando Hudson
Top Prospect: Courtney Hawkins, OF (#55 in Top 100); ETA: 2015
Lineup (Projected AVG/OBP/SLG)
CF Alejandro De Aza (.284/.353/.429)
3B Jeff Keppinger (.285/.331/.379)
RF Alex Rios (.278/.316/.457)
DH Adam Dunn (.202/.328/.453)
1B Paul Konerko (.294/.375/.515)
LF Dayan Viciedo (.267/.317/.464)
SS Alexei Ramirez (.265/.300/.387)
C Tyler Flowers (.222/.327/.433)
2B Gordon Beckham (.252/.323/.415)
Rotation (Projected ERA and WHIP)
Chris Sale (3.39, 1.16)
Jake Peavy (3.83, 1.14)
Gavin Floyd (4.28, 1.29)
Jose Quintana (3.93, 1.42)
Dylan Axelrod (3.80, 1.28)
Outlook: The Sox didn’t do a whole lot to improve their team this off-season. People often forget that Paul Konerko is 37 years old. They also often forget that he consistently puts up a .300 average, 30 home runs, and close to 100 RBI each season. Chris Sale is a stud, but they need to be careful they don’t overuse him so early in his career. If Dunn and Konerko can play up to their usual standards, the White Sox should be in good shape to make a run at a wild-card berth.
Cleveland Indians
2012 Record: 68-94, 4th i n AL Central | Manager: Terry Francona (1st season)
Key Additions: OFs Michael Bourn, Nick Swisher, Drew Stubbs, SS Mike Aviles, 1B/3B Mark Reynolds, 1B/DH Jason Giambi, RHPs Trevor Bauer, Brett Myers, Matt Capps
Key Losses: OFs Shin-Soo Choo, Grady Sizemore, Johnny Damon, Trevor Crowe, DH Travis Hafner, 1B Casey Kotchman, RHPs Roberto Hernandez, Derek Lowe
Top Prospect: Trevor Bauer, RHP (#14 in Top 100); ETA: 2013
Lineup (Projected AVG/OBP/SLG)
CF Michael Bourn (.281/.349/.385)
SS Asdrubal Cabrera (.272/.335/.427)
2B Jason Kipnis (.271/.348/.424)
1B Nick Swisher (.274/.369/.477)
DH Mark Reynolds (.219/.330/.458)
LF Michael Brantley (.279/.330/.458)
C Carlos Santana (.252/.372/.446)
3B Lonnie Chisenhall (.271/.324/.435)
RF Drew Stubbs (.232/.302/.370)
Rotation (Projected ERA and WHIP)
Justin Masterson (4.30, 1.41)
Ubaldo Jimenez (4.64, 1.45)
Brett Myers (3.99, 1.29)
Zach McAllister (4.10, 1.30)
Carlos Carrasco (4.50, 1.34)
Outlook: The Indians were one of the busiest teams this winter, bringing in a load of new faces to help launch this team into the postseason. Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn will vastly improve this offense, as will the likes of Mark Reynolds. Swisher is good for .270-.280 batting average and 20-25 home runs, and Reynolds, while he’ll give you 30+ homers, will frustrate a lot of fans with his constant strike outs and dismal batting average. But there may not be a more frustrating player in the league than Drew Stubbs. Loaded with talent, Stubbs has never lived up to his high expectations. He has the potential to be a 30-30 guy who could hit around .300. The pitching is Cleveland’s biggest weakness. If Justin Masterson can pitch like he did in 2011 (12-10, 3.21 ERA) and if Ubaldo Jimenez can pitch like he did in 2010 (19-8, 2.88 ERA), the Tribe should be in great shape.
Detroit Tigers
2012 Record: 88-74, 1st in AL Central | Manager: Jim Leyland (8th season)
Key Additions: OF Torii Hunter
Key Losses: RHP Jose Valverde, OF Delmon Young
Top Prospect: Nick Castellanos, 3B/OF (#21 in Top 100); ETA: 2014
Lineup (Projected AVG/OBP/SLG)
CF Austin Jackson (.283/.353/.428)
RF Torii Hunter (.277/.332/.423)
3B Miguel Cabrera (.335/.420/.618)
1B Prince Fielder (.300/.417/.534)
DH Victor Martinez (.288/.348/.426)
LF Andy Dirks (.285/.336/.434)
SS Johnny Peralta (.261/.324/.417)
C Alex Avila (.261/.364/.432)
2B Omar Infante (.282/.317/.410)
Rotation (Projected ERA and WHIP)
Justin Verlander (2.97. 1.11)
Doug Fister (3.33, 1.16)
Anibal Sanchez (3.72, 1.28)
Max Scherzer (3.66, 1.24)
Rick Porcello (4.35, 1.39)
Outlook: Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder will continue to strike fear deep in the hearts of opposing pitchers, as they form the deadliest 3-4 combination in the league. Austin Jackson really turned things around last year after a horrible 2011 campaign. Let’s not forget that the Tigers were without Victor Martinez for the entire season last year, so imagine how good they’ll be with him in the lineup. The rotation is solid. Justin Verlander is the best pitcher in baseball. Doug Fister is one of the most underrated pitchers in the game and Anibal Sanchez, Max Scherzer, and Rick Porcello will hold down the fort in the back-end of the rotation. With the loss of Valverde, the Tigers’ bullpen is a bit of a question mark. Even so, the offense and the starting pitching will allow them to coast into the playoffs and possibly even to a World Series championship.
Kansas City Royals
2012 Record: 72-90, 3rd in AL Central | Manager: Ned Yost (4th season)
Key Additions: RHPs James Shields, Ervin Santana, Wade Davis, SS Miguel Tejada, OFs Xavier Nady, Endy Chavez
Key Losses: OF Wil Myers, RHPs Joakim Soria, Vin Mazzaro, LHP Jonathan Sanchez
Top Prospect: Kyle Zimmer, RHP (#24 in Top 100); ETA: 2014
Lineup (Projected AVG/OBP/SLG)
LF Alex Gordon (.296/.378/.484)
SS Alcides Escobar (.279/.318/.379)
DH Billy Butler (.307/.377/.504)
3B Mike Moustakas (.263/.320/.443)
C Salvador Perez (.292/.328/.431)
CF Lorenzo Cain (.280/.337/.413)
1B Eric Hosmer (.282/.349/.453)
RF Jeff Francoeur (.255/.306/.415)
2B Chris Getz (.259/.314/.313)
Rotation (Projected ERA and WHIP)
James Shields (3.44, 1.17)
Ervin Santana (4.05, 1.26)
Jeremy Guthrie (4.20, 1.29)
Wade Davis (3.93, 1.31)
Bruce Chen (4.58, 1.35)
Outlook: By the All-Star break, the verdict on whether General Manager Dayton Moore is a genius or a moron will be made. If James Shields can pitch like he did two years ago, Moore might as well be Albert Einstein, but if Shields struggles and Wil Myers has a giant year in Tampa, uh oh. The Royals made a home out of the cellar of the AL Central, but last year they sold their home to the Twins — who seem to be quite comfortable there — and in return, they were left with an uncharacteristic third place finish. Perhaps a second place finish is in the cards for this year. While it certainly won’t be easy, the Royals finally have the tools to do it.
Minnesota Twins
2012 Record: 66-96, 5th in AL Central | Manager: Ron Gardenhire (12th season)
Key Additions: RHPs Vance Worley, Mike Pelfrey, Kevin Correia
Key Losses: OFs Ben Revere, Denard Span, SS Alexi Casilla, RHPs Matt Capps, Carl Pavano, 2B Tsuyoshi Nishioka
Top Prospect: Miguel Sano, 3B (#9 in Top 100); ETA: 2015
Lineup (Projected AVG/OBP/SLG)
CF Aaron Hicks (.269/.368/.410)
2B Brian Dozier (.259/.312/.346)
C Joe Mauer (.313/.404/.436)
LF Josh Willingham (.256/.363/.502)
1B Justin Morneau (.270/.341/.436)
DH Ryan Doumit (.277/.339/.458)
RF Chris Parmelee (.278/.360/.443)
3B Trevor Plouffe (.240/.306/.447)
SS Pedro Florimon (.267/.330/.372)
Rotation (Projected ERA and WHIP)
Vance Worley (3.55, 1.35)
Mike Pelfrey (4.17, 1.44)
Kevin Correia (4.58, 1.36)
Cole De Vries (4.58, 1.28)
Scott Diamond (4.28, 1.37)
Outlook: The Twins don’t have a whole lot to smile about. They don’t have a true number one starter — or even a number two for that matter. Vance Worley is a three on a god day. They lost two quality outfielders in Revere and Span who really sparked that lineup. Josh Willingham is a big-time power hitter who demolishes left-handed pitching. One thing they can smile about is their farm system. They have to guys in the top ten of Baseball America’s Top 100 Prospects (Miguel Sano, #9; Byron Buxton, #10).