MVP: Robinson Canó, 2B, Yankees
Cy Young: Josh Johnson, RHP, Blue Jays
Star on the Rise: Brett Lawrie, 3B, Blue Jays
Star in Decline: Mark Teixeira, 1B, Yankees
Player to Watch: Alex Cobb, RHP, Rays
Baltimore Orioles
2012 Record: 93-61, 2nd in AL East | Manager: Buck Showalter (4th season)
Key Additions: RHP Jair Jurrjens, SS Alexi Casilla, 3B Danny Valencia
Key Losses: 3B Mark Reynolds, SS Robert Andino, DH Jim Thome, OF Endy Chaves, 1B Nick Johnson
Top Prospect: Dylan Bundy, RHP (#2 in Top 100); ETA: 2013
Lineup (Projected AVG/OBP/SLG)
2B Brian Roberts (.263/.333/.395)
RF Nick Markakis (.297/.368/.453)
CF Adam Jones (.288/.340/.506)
C Matt Wieters (.266/.347/.476)
1B Chris Davis (.267/.323/.490)
SS J.J. Hardy (.260/.306/.438)
DH Nolan Reimold (.253/.333/.440)
3B Manny Machado (.254/.311/.407)
LF Nate McLouth (.231/.326/.367)
Rotation (Projected ERA and WHIP)
Jason Hammel (4.25, 1.34)
Wei-Yin Chen (3.74, 1.25)
Chris Tillman (3.94, 1.30)
Miguel Gonzalez (3.62, 1.23)
Brian Matusz (2.15, 0.99)
Outlook: I don’t think anyone expected the Orioles to win 93 games last season. The pitching staff and the bullpen overachieved, so in order for Baltimore to make its way back to the playoffs, they’re both going to have to overachieve again. Jason Hammel and Wei-Yin Chen are going to have to lead the way for the rotation while Jake Arrieta and Jim Johnson hold down the fort in the bullpen. Perhaps Dylan Bundy, should he debut this season, will be as good as advertised and help propel them into the postseason. Scouts have high hopes for third baseman Manny Machado, comparing him to the likes of all-time greats such as Brooks Robinson and Alex Rodriguez. Hopefully for Baltimore fans, Machado will have a breakout season and help the Orioles make another unexpected postseason run.
Boston Red Sox
2012 Record: 69-93, 5th in AL East | Manager: John Farrell (1st season)
Key Additions: C/1B Mike Napoli, RHPs Ryan Dempster, Joel Hanrahan, Koji Uehara, OFs Shane Victorino, Jonny Gomes, SS Stephen Drew
Key Losses: RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka, SS Mike Aviles, OF Cody Ross, 1B James Loney, 3B Danny Valencia
Top Prospect: Xander Bogaerts, SS (#8 in Top 100); ETA: 2014
Lineup (Projected AVG/OBP/SLG)
CF Jacoby Ellsbury (.301/.355/.445)
RF Shane Victorino (.264/.334/.423)
2B Dustin Pedroia (.293/.366/.457)
DH David Ortiz (.294/.395/.457)
1B Mike Napoli (.263/.371/.520)
3B Will Middlebrooks (.260/.301/.446)
LF Jonny Gomes (.247/.353/.448)
SS Stephen Drew (.265/.336/.427)
C Jarrod Saltalamacchia (.232/.296/.450)
Rotation (Projected ERA and WHIP)
Jon Lester (3.94, 1.24)
Clay Buchholz (3.91, 1.29)
Ryan Dempster (3.93, 1.31)
Felix Doubront (4.57, 1.43)
John Lackey (5.21, 1.50)
Outlook: Things do not look good in Boston. After the Bobby Valentine experiment fell flat on its face, the Sox brought in a much calmer, more relaxed skipper in John Farrell. Hopefully he’ll be able to straighten out this immature pitching staff. They’ve added several new pieces, including a new closer, something they were lacking last year — Joel Hanrahan should provide a huge upgrade from Alfredo Aceves. Shane Victorino was a solid pickup, he’s excellent when he’s not being forced to lead off. We all know what Ryan Dempster can do, he’s a veteran starter who will go deep in practically all of his starts. The best case scenario is that this team and a some of the top prospects will provide the front office and the fans with hope for the next few years.
New York Yankees
2012 Record: 95-67, 1st in AL East | Manager: Joe Girardi (6th season)
Key Additions: 3B Kevin Youkilis, DH Travis Hafner, 1B/OF Juan Rivera, OF Matt Diaz
Key Losses: OFs Nick Swisher, Raul Ibanez, Andruw Jones, C Russell Martin, RHP Rafael Soriano, 3Bs Casey McGehee, Eric Chavez
Top Prospect: Mason Williams, OF (#32 in Top 100); ETA: 2015
Lineup (Projected AVG/OBP/SLG)
RF Ichiro Suzuki (.271/.307/.351)
SS Derek Jeter (.302/.362/.399)
2B Robinson Canó (.315/.375/.549)
1B Mark Teixeira (.253/.350/.485)
CF Curtis Granderson (.241/.334/.495)
3B Kevin Youkilis (.248/.360/.433)
DH Travis Hafner (.258/.361/.437)
C Francisco Cervelli (.259/.332/.345)
LF Brett Gardner (.269/.362/.377)
Rotation (Projected ERA and WHIP)
C.C. Sabathia (3.42, 1.22)
Hiroki Kuroda (3.43, 1.23)
Andy Pettite (3.75, 1.32)
Phil Hughes (4.06, 1.24)
Ivan Nova (4.54, 1.43)
Outlook: This may very well be the Yanks’ first losing season since 1992. They’re aging roster is riddled with injuries. Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira are no longer premier power threats. Rodriguez’ body is falling apart; I doubt he’ll be able to stay healthy once he returns. To have any chance at the playoffs, they’ll need to stay afloat at the beginning of the year while they’re without Jeter, Rodriguez, Granderson, and Teixeira (not to mention they no longer have Russell Martin or Nick Swisher). Canó is one of the best hitters in the game, but he can’t do it alone. The rotation is aging just as quickly as the offense. Who knows how much longer Pettite will be able to last. Rivera should be back to his old self and have hitters looking silly in no time. It should be an interesting season in the Bronx.
Tampa Bay Rays
2012 Record: 90-72, 3rd in AL East | Manager: Joe Maddon (8th season)
Key Additions: SS Yunel Escobar, 1B James Loney, 2B Kelly Johnson
Key Losses: RHP James Shields, OF B.J. Upton
Top Prospect: Wil Myers, OF (#4 in Top 100); ETA: 2013
Lineup (Projected AVG/OBP/SLG)
CF Desmond Jennings (.257/.335/.410)
LF Matt Joyce (.257/.350/.454)
3B Evan Longoria (.288/.381/.527)
RF Ben Zobrist (.267/.369/.459)
DH Luke Scott (.243/.315/.465)
SS Yunel Escobar (.273/.342/.372)
1B James Loney (.268/.322/.382)
2B Kelly Johnson (.235/.320/.407)
C Jose Molina (.243/.309/.371)
Rotation (Projected ERA and WHIP)
David Price (2.93, 1.13)
Jeremy Hellickson (3.29, 1.26)
Matt Moore (3.37, 1.27)
Alex Cobb (3.59, 1.28)
Jeff Niemann (3.94, 1.21)
Outlook: The Rays boast arguably the best rotation in the league. Their offense is a little lacking, but they won’t need to score a ton of runs with the caliber of pitching they have. Perhaps Wil Myers will be called upon to provide some extra pop to go alongside Longoria and Desmond Jennings. David Price is in line for another tremendous season and Jeremy Hellickson and Alex Cobb are both poised for monumental seasons of their own. If the Blue Jays end up resembling the 2012 Miami Marlins, the Rays could have the East locked up by July.
Toronto Blue Jays
2012 Record: 73-89, 4th in AL East | Manager: John Gibbons (1st season)
Key Additions: OFs Melky Cabrera, Emilio Bonifacio, SS Jose Reyes, 2B Macier Itzuris, RHPs R.A. Dickey, Josh Johnson, LHP Mark Buehrle
Key Losses: C Travis d’Arnaud, SS Yunel Escobar
Top Prospect: Aaron Sanchez, RHP (#64 in Top 100); ETA: 2014
Lineup (Projected AVG/OBP/SLG)
SS Jose Reyes (.301/.357/.453)
LF Melky Cabrera (.316/.362/.478)
RF Jose Bautista (.270/.402/.581)
1B Edwin Encarnacion (.273/.372/.529)
CF Colby Rasmus (.239/.315/.426)
3B Brett Lawrie (.290/.347/.462)
DH Adam Lind (.249/.304/.425)
C J.P. Arencibia (.237/.292/.461)
2B Macier Itzuris (.264/.326/.350)
Rotation (Projected ERA and WHIP)
R.A. Dickey (3.22, 1.18)
Brandon Morrow (3.53, 1.19)
Mark Buehrle (4.06, 1.31)
Josh Johnson (3.22, 1.21)
Ricky Romero (3.93, 1.34)
Outlook: It was a fun winter for folks up north, now all they can hope for is that this team doesn’t end up like the Marlins did last year. The Blue Jays went all in and are ready to challenge the big boys for a shot at the World Series. Josh Johnson is there number four starter, and when he’s on point, he’s an ace. Brandon Morrow has front-of-the-line stuff, Mark Buehrle is a solid veteran arm, and R.A. Dickey, well, he’s coming off a pretty good year — he only won the National League Cy Young. Ricky Romero, he’s a different story. He was awesome in 2011, posting a 2.92 ERA in 32 starts. Last year, his ERA skyrocketed to 5.77 in as many starts. He doesn’t look like he’s improved much with a 6.23 ERA in five spring training starts. Whether he’ll keep the job as the fifth starter is uncertain, but no matter who’s at the back-end of the Jays’ rotation, they should be just fine, especially with a full season from big-time slugger Jose Bautista.