Storyline: The 2016 MLB season is here! Here are my predictions for the American League East. Written by Tomas D’Anella, Murray, Utah.
Chris Davis (photo, Baltimore Sun)
Baltimore Orioles: Opening Day Nine Will Slug Well Over 200 HRs. The Orioles front office waited and waited for slugger Chris Davis to decide where he’d sign. In the meantime they prepared to move on without the presence of Davis’ big bat. They acquired slugger Mark Trumbo, Japanese outfielder Hyun Soo Kim, and re-signed team leader, Matt Wieters. Even without Davis and these upgrades the team had a dominant core in Manny Machado, Adam Jones, and Matt Wieters. who could produce 100 HRs by themselves. And with other sluggers in the fold–Davis, Trumbo, and Pedro Alvarez–expect the O’s to top 200 long balls, possibly 250.
Boston Red Sox: Travis Shaw Will Take Over and Push Hanley or Pablo Elsewhere. After a breakout rookie campaign. which saw him produce 13 home runs in only 65 games, Travis Shaw made his case for an everyday spot in the lineup. But Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval are in the way, blocking positions that Shaw plays. So Travis will have to wait until they either play themselves out of the lineup or he forces his way in. Manager John Farrell has said he’s interested in testing Shaw into left field. Adding outfield to the positions he plays will give Shaw valuable versatility, which many first baseman lack. The Red Sox already own one of the best all-around position players in Brock Holt, who can play every position except pitcher and catcher. Shaw will provide another valuable piece who, if all else fails, can get the BoSox solid return in a trade package.
Ivan Nova (photo, nj.com)
New York Yankees: Betances or Miller and Prospect Will Be Traded For True Ace. The Yankees never have been, and never will be, a team to just sit back and have experts question the team going into rebuild mode. Don’t expect 2016 to be any different. The Bronx Bombers have a gaping hole in their lineup: the starting rotation. Though Masahiro Tanaka proved to be capable to contain major league batting after coming over from Japan, the rest of the rotation consists of passable fourth or fifth slot starters. Former aces CC Sabathia, Ivan Nova, and Nathan Eovaldi make up the back-end of the rotation. The Yankees were projected to be spenders this offseason, the favorite to sign an ace. The Steinbrenners answered emphatically by spending $0 in free agency. The team did acquire Aroldis Chapman to form a dominant back-end of the rotation, alongside Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller. With a pitcher to move, and with many prospects that have caught the eye of other team, the Steinbrenners are likely to make a move by the trade deadline. Don’t be surprised if they trade one head of their three-headed monster, the bullpen, for a starting pitcher. They’ll need another starting arm to contend with the Blue Jays.
Tampa Bay Rays: “Super Rotation” and Longoria Powers Club To Second-Place Finish. The Rays have a situation that team owners drool over: an abundance of pitchers with starting experience on their 40-man roster (7 starters tallied at least 12 starts last season). This year, Chris Archer, Jake Odorizzi, Drew Smyly, Matt Moore, Erasmo Ramirez and top prospect, Blake Snell, will get first shots at the rotation. On the everyday side, the lineup will feature veteran Evan Longoria. Evan led the Rays to their lone World Series appearance (2008), and is the last member of that team still in Tampa. Last year the third baseman produced great numbers in a lackluster offense. With a rock solid rotation and a veteran leading the offense, I project the team to finish just behind the heavy-hitting Blue Jays.
Josh Donaldson (photo, CBSSports.com)
Toronto Blue Jays: Stroman and Estrada Prove They Didn’t Need David Price. The Blue Jays don’t need to improvem their lineup. They have Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion, and reigning AL MVP, Josh Donaldson. The Jays got David Price from the Tigers last year, lost him over the Winter to the BoSox, but didn’t acquire a Price-caliber starter in return. Instead the Jays got a consistent starter in J.A. Happ, who has found his groove over the years. They also have youngsters in Marcus Stroman and Marco Estrada, who are expected to lead the staff. Stroman had break-out year after knee surgery. In only four late-season starts, Stroman had a 1.67 ERA in 27 innings. Marco Estrada stepped up in his absence, going 13-8 with a 3.13 ERA. Estrada and Stroman are out to prove that the acquisition of Price was only insurance.
Pick to win the AL East: Toronto Blue Jays
Pick as AL Wild Cards from the AL East: None
Pick to win AL MVP from AL East: Josh Donaldson
Pick to win CY Young from the AL East: None
