Post by torontogm on Dec 23, 2017 13:23:49 GMT -5
1) Cleveland Indians
2017: 90-72, 1st AL Central. World Series loss to New York Mets.
Who they were: The Indians are defending American League Champions, winning their division and plowing through the first two rounds of the playoffs before falling to the Mets. They had superstars in every area, including Francisco Lindor, Corey Kluber, and Cody Allen.
Offseason Review: Despite having the league’s best offense in 2017, Cleveland was active in upgrading their offense. They did lose one of their bigger contributors in Carlos Santana, but should have a much different looking outfield after adding J.D. Martinez, Lewis Brinson, and Kevin Pillar. Pitching-wise, their biggest loss was Danny Salazar, but they acquired some youth in Luke Weaver.
On the Farm: Their farm system is likely near the bottom of their concerns. Other than a couple names, it is also near the bottom of the league. Top prospects Varin and Wang are no sure bet to ever make a major league impact. Their biggest names (Kristian Robinson, Evan Skoug) still seem to be a few years away, but with such a stacked roster, the Indians can handle that.
Best case scenario: World Series Championship. This team looks improved from last year and had perhaps one of the best offseasons in terms of picking up value.
Worst case scenario: Frankly, I do not see a scenario in which this team does not win the AL Central. Anything short of a World Series appearance will probably be considered a disappointment. Major injuries are really the only thing that can slow this team down.
Key questions: 1) I think the biggest question on everyone’s mind: how do you maximize the value and split up playing time between Pillar, Brinson, J.D., Zimmer, Stanton, and Brantley?
2) You were 1st in runs scored and 7th in runs allowed in 2017, yet you seemed to focus more on bats this offseason. What are your plans for improving your pitching in 2018?
2) Chicago White Sox
2017: 71-91, 3rd AL Central
Who they were: The White Sox are young and extremely dangerous at the plate. They were league-average offensively in 2017, but surely have improvement in store for Andrew Benintendi, Charlie Tilson, and more playing time in the future for prospects Moncada and Devers. Pitching-wise, however, they were 13th in the AL in runs allowed, and dead last in the MLB in total pitching WAR.
Offseason Review: Out of the teams chasing Cleveland, the White Sox were, in my opinion, the most aggressive this offseason in pursuing short-term wins. Their big trade was acquiring Adam Wainwright and Carlos Martinez from the Cardinals, but it came at a cost of their young pitching talent. It is yet to be seen if Todd Frazier (4+ WAR in 2017) will return to the team.
On the Farm: The White Sox’s three biggest prospects (Devers, Lopez, and Moncada) all figure to have large major league roles in 2018. Beyond those three, however, much of their talent is only average and already at or near the major league level. It is clear why Chicago made some “win-now” moves this offseason, but if the team falters, they don’t have much of a future security blanket in the lower minors of their organization.
Best case scenario: C-Mart wins AL Cy Young Award, he and Wainwright boost Chicago’s pitching to be league-average, and the young bats in the lineup post a top-5 offense. The White Sox come out of it all with a wild card.
Worst case scenario: The pitching last year was so bad, it can not be a problem solved in one offseason. Martinez will help, but they are an injury away from wasting a season of their young talent on the team.
Key questions: 1) It’s not very often we see a 90-loss team be so aggressive in the offseason. How close are you to contending, and how soon do you see yourself challenging Cleveland?
2) You traded away a lot of young talent to acquire the arms from St. Louis. If your team starts well, can you see yourself trading more youth to acquire proven major league talent?
3) Minnesota Twins
2017: 70-92, 4th AL Central
Who they were: Like the White Sox, the Twins have a good supply of young talent. Miguel Sano, Byron Buxton, and Jose Berrios are just a few of the names that come to mind. Also like the White Sox, the Twins struggled immensely harnessing their pitching talent, finishing dead last in the AL in runs allowed. Despite the poor pitching results, the Twins finished 3rd in the league in runs scored and actually were the 2nd “unluckiest” team, underperforming their expected wins total by 5 games.
Offseason Review: Doomed to a smaller budget, the Twins tried to shed salary this offseason while not pursuing a full rebuild. Many small moves will define their offseason. Notable losses include Jason Castro and Robbie Rossman, but Jharel Cotton, Hector Sanchez, and Rule 5 pick Jordan Luplow could provide some cheap, controllable upside.
On the Farm: Much of Minnesota’s young talent is in the major leagues, but they still offer some interesting names in the minors. Hunter Greene and Alex Kirilloff in particular could be above average regulars down the road.
Best case scenario: The Twins get some luck, outperform their expected wins, stay in the wild card race, and increase their future budget to fill in the missing pieces next year.
Worst case scenario: 2017’s pitching performances were a sign of things to come. Key prospects such as Buxton and Berrios crash and burn, forcing this team into a full rebuild.
Key questions: 1) Your limited budget surely impacted your offseason plans. Were you content with how your offseason went, or were you looking to add pieces if had the budget room?
2) Given your abundance of young talent, do you have a target year for competing with Cleveland and other AL powerhouses? Where do you see this team 5 years from now?
4) Detroit Tigers
2017: 77-85, 2nd AL Central
Who they were: The Tigers are in the interesting position of having older, talented players on large contracts, but not quite enough talent to put around them and win. Such was the case in 2017, as Detroit was led by Miguel Cabrera, Justin Verlander, and Jordan Zimmermann but were unable to crack .500 and a wild card birth.
Offseason Review: The Tigers lost two of their bigger contributors this offseason in J.D. Martinez and Justin Verlander. Jose Iglesias’ defense could also be missed in the infield. Their biggest acquisitions were through the Rule 5 draft, in which the Tigers selected a whopping EIGHT players.
On the Farm: Mendez (acquired for Verlander) becomes the team’s best prospect, but overall the system is pretty barren in Detroit. Matt Manning is a name of interest, and other mid-level names could potentially be moved with some contracts in 2018.
Best case scenario: It is difficult for me to imagine this team being better than last year after their offseason losses. Best case scenario would be a repeat of last year’s record, and finding a way to shed some of the massive contracts on their payroll, either via trade or retirement.
Worst case scenario: Zimmermann and Cabrera falter, the team loses 100 games, and they don’t have the budget to do much about it in 2019.
Key questions: 1) Talk us through the Verlander trade this offseason. You acquired another large contract in Homer Bailey but were able to get younger. What motivated you to make this move?
2) How do you plan to work around some of the large contracts on your payroll to sustain success in the future?
5) Kansas City Royals
2017: 69-93, 5th AL Central
Who they were: Like much of the rest of their division, the Royals had trouble preventing runs in 2017, finishing 12th in “runs against”. However, they also struggled scoring runs, too, finishing 12th in that category as well in the AL. The Royals had a lackluster team and seemed to know it, moving Lorenzo Cain, Danny Duffy, and Dan Straily to Seattle before the deadline and making many more moves once the offseason began.
Offseason Review: Kansas City seems to be content to undergo a full rebuild. They were very busy this offseason, trading talent of any age and position. They took on a lot of contracts from Atlanta, Texas, and Miami, but were also able to acquire some interesting prospects for doing so. Also, don’t count out shortstop Hayato Sakamoto from making an impact. The 29-year-old was signed through free agency after a some solid seasons in Japan.
On the Farm: The Royals have work to do on their farm. Currently only with one top-100 prospect (Reid-Foley), Kansas City acquired a lot of depth for their minor league rosters this offseason, and have to hope that they develop into quality specs in 2018. Early results look promising.
Best case scenario: Clearly, the Royals have their mind on rebuilding this year. Development of their prospects will go a long way towards determining the success of this year, but on-field wins will also translate to more fan interest and budget down the road.
Worst case scenario: 100 losses and a difficult road of rebuilding the trust of their fanbase.
Key questions: 1) Your offseason seems to be geared towards acquiring veterans with larger, short-term contracts and a lot of young prospect talent. However, signing Hayato Sakamoto to a 9 year, $115M contract doesn’t seem to fully align with the other moves. Walk us through your motivation to sign the Japanese shortstop.
2) You seem to understand that you are a few years away from competing. How close do you feel you are, and when do you expect all of your young talent to make a splash? Bonus question: who is the prospect you acquired that you are most excited about?
2017: 90-72, 1st AL Central. World Series loss to New York Mets.
Who they were: The Indians are defending American League Champions, winning their division and plowing through the first two rounds of the playoffs before falling to the Mets. They had superstars in every area, including Francisco Lindor, Corey Kluber, and Cody Allen.
Offseason Review: Despite having the league’s best offense in 2017, Cleveland was active in upgrading their offense. They did lose one of their bigger contributors in Carlos Santana, but should have a much different looking outfield after adding J.D. Martinez, Lewis Brinson, and Kevin Pillar. Pitching-wise, their biggest loss was Danny Salazar, but they acquired some youth in Luke Weaver.
On the Farm: Their farm system is likely near the bottom of their concerns. Other than a couple names, it is also near the bottom of the league. Top prospects Varin and Wang are no sure bet to ever make a major league impact. Their biggest names (Kristian Robinson, Evan Skoug) still seem to be a few years away, but with such a stacked roster, the Indians can handle that.
Best case scenario: World Series Championship. This team looks improved from last year and had perhaps one of the best offseasons in terms of picking up value.
Worst case scenario: Frankly, I do not see a scenario in which this team does not win the AL Central. Anything short of a World Series appearance will probably be considered a disappointment. Major injuries are really the only thing that can slow this team down.
Key questions: 1) I think the biggest question on everyone’s mind: how do you maximize the value and split up playing time between Pillar, Brinson, J.D., Zimmer, Stanton, and Brantley?
2) You were 1st in runs scored and 7th in runs allowed in 2017, yet you seemed to focus more on bats this offseason. What are your plans for improving your pitching in 2018?
2) Chicago White Sox
2017: 71-91, 3rd AL Central
Who they were: The White Sox are young and extremely dangerous at the plate. They were league-average offensively in 2017, but surely have improvement in store for Andrew Benintendi, Charlie Tilson, and more playing time in the future for prospects Moncada and Devers. Pitching-wise, however, they were 13th in the AL in runs allowed, and dead last in the MLB in total pitching WAR.
Offseason Review: Out of the teams chasing Cleveland, the White Sox were, in my opinion, the most aggressive this offseason in pursuing short-term wins. Their big trade was acquiring Adam Wainwright and Carlos Martinez from the Cardinals, but it came at a cost of their young pitching talent. It is yet to be seen if Todd Frazier (4+ WAR in 2017) will return to the team.
On the Farm: The White Sox’s three biggest prospects (Devers, Lopez, and Moncada) all figure to have large major league roles in 2018. Beyond those three, however, much of their talent is only average and already at or near the major league level. It is clear why Chicago made some “win-now” moves this offseason, but if the team falters, they don’t have much of a future security blanket in the lower minors of their organization.
Best case scenario: C-Mart wins AL Cy Young Award, he and Wainwright boost Chicago’s pitching to be league-average, and the young bats in the lineup post a top-5 offense. The White Sox come out of it all with a wild card.
Worst case scenario: The pitching last year was so bad, it can not be a problem solved in one offseason. Martinez will help, but they are an injury away from wasting a season of their young talent on the team.
Key questions: 1) It’s not very often we see a 90-loss team be so aggressive in the offseason. How close are you to contending, and how soon do you see yourself challenging Cleveland?
2) You traded away a lot of young talent to acquire the arms from St. Louis. If your team starts well, can you see yourself trading more youth to acquire proven major league talent?
3) Minnesota Twins
2017: 70-92, 4th AL Central
Who they were: Like the White Sox, the Twins have a good supply of young talent. Miguel Sano, Byron Buxton, and Jose Berrios are just a few of the names that come to mind. Also like the White Sox, the Twins struggled immensely harnessing their pitching talent, finishing dead last in the AL in runs allowed. Despite the poor pitching results, the Twins finished 3rd in the league in runs scored and actually were the 2nd “unluckiest” team, underperforming their expected wins total by 5 games.
Offseason Review: Doomed to a smaller budget, the Twins tried to shed salary this offseason while not pursuing a full rebuild. Many small moves will define their offseason. Notable losses include Jason Castro and Robbie Rossman, but Jharel Cotton, Hector Sanchez, and Rule 5 pick Jordan Luplow could provide some cheap, controllable upside.
On the Farm: Much of Minnesota’s young talent is in the major leagues, but they still offer some interesting names in the minors. Hunter Greene and Alex Kirilloff in particular could be above average regulars down the road.
Best case scenario: The Twins get some luck, outperform their expected wins, stay in the wild card race, and increase their future budget to fill in the missing pieces next year.
Worst case scenario: 2017’s pitching performances were a sign of things to come. Key prospects such as Buxton and Berrios crash and burn, forcing this team into a full rebuild.
Key questions: 1) Your limited budget surely impacted your offseason plans. Were you content with how your offseason went, or were you looking to add pieces if had the budget room?
2) Given your abundance of young talent, do you have a target year for competing with Cleveland and other AL powerhouses? Where do you see this team 5 years from now?
4) Detroit Tigers
2017: 77-85, 2nd AL Central
Who they were: The Tigers are in the interesting position of having older, talented players on large contracts, but not quite enough talent to put around them and win. Such was the case in 2017, as Detroit was led by Miguel Cabrera, Justin Verlander, and Jordan Zimmermann but were unable to crack .500 and a wild card birth.
Offseason Review: The Tigers lost two of their bigger contributors this offseason in J.D. Martinez and Justin Verlander. Jose Iglesias’ defense could also be missed in the infield. Their biggest acquisitions were through the Rule 5 draft, in which the Tigers selected a whopping EIGHT players.
On the Farm: Mendez (acquired for Verlander) becomes the team’s best prospect, but overall the system is pretty barren in Detroit. Matt Manning is a name of interest, and other mid-level names could potentially be moved with some contracts in 2018.
Best case scenario: It is difficult for me to imagine this team being better than last year after their offseason losses. Best case scenario would be a repeat of last year’s record, and finding a way to shed some of the massive contracts on their payroll, either via trade or retirement.
Worst case scenario: Zimmermann and Cabrera falter, the team loses 100 games, and they don’t have the budget to do much about it in 2019.
Key questions: 1) Talk us through the Verlander trade this offseason. You acquired another large contract in Homer Bailey but were able to get younger. What motivated you to make this move?
2) How do you plan to work around some of the large contracts on your payroll to sustain success in the future?
5) Kansas City Royals
2017: 69-93, 5th AL Central
Who they were: Like much of the rest of their division, the Royals had trouble preventing runs in 2017, finishing 12th in “runs against”. However, they also struggled scoring runs, too, finishing 12th in that category as well in the AL. The Royals had a lackluster team and seemed to know it, moving Lorenzo Cain, Danny Duffy, and Dan Straily to Seattle before the deadline and making many more moves once the offseason began.
Offseason Review: Kansas City seems to be content to undergo a full rebuild. They were very busy this offseason, trading talent of any age and position. They took on a lot of contracts from Atlanta, Texas, and Miami, but were also able to acquire some interesting prospects for doing so. Also, don’t count out shortstop Hayato Sakamoto from making an impact. The 29-year-old was signed through free agency after a some solid seasons in Japan.
On the Farm: The Royals have work to do on their farm. Currently only with one top-100 prospect (Reid-Foley), Kansas City acquired a lot of depth for their minor league rosters this offseason, and have to hope that they develop into quality specs in 2018. Early results look promising.
Best case scenario: Clearly, the Royals have their mind on rebuilding this year. Development of their prospects will go a long way towards determining the success of this year, but on-field wins will also translate to more fan interest and budget down the road.
Worst case scenario: 100 losses and a difficult road of rebuilding the trust of their fanbase.
Key questions: 1) Your offseason seems to be geared towards acquiring veterans with larger, short-term contracts and a lot of young prospect talent. However, signing Hayato Sakamoto to a 9 year, $115M contract doesn’t seem to fully align with the other moves. Walk us through your motivation to sign the Japanese shortstop.
2) You seem to understand that you are a few years away from competing. How close do you feel you are, and when do you expect all of your young talent to make a splash? Bonus question: who is the prospect you acquired that you are most excited about?
