Post by torontogm on Dec 27, 2017 21:22:35 GMT -5
This 2018 division preview is the last, and it will be a bit different than others. The AL East was the most difficult for me to evaluate and project, due to the abundance of talent. Last year, the entire division finished within 16 games of each other, and I would not be surprised to see it even closer this year. It was difficult to pick a winner; any team could come away with the title. Similarly, any team could find themselves in last place. As such, some of the material (and one of the questions) are the same for each team.
1) Toronto Blue Jays
2017: 95-67, 1st AL East. ALDS loss to Cleveland.
Who they were: The Blue Jays won one of the most competitive divisions in 2017, and did so by playing as one of the most balanced teams in the league. Their offensive superstar was Josh Donaldson (6.6 WAR), and pitching-wise, the rotation was fantastic.
Offseason Review: The team, like most of the division, made minor changes this offseason. The biggest loss will be felt in the defense of Kevin Pillar in CF. However, Anthony Alford seems capable of producing better offensive numbers and could post a similar value with playing time. With Alford sliding over to CF, Michael Saunders was brought in to play LF, and other pitching depth was acquired (Sugiuchi, Karns).
On the Farm: Other than Vladamir, Guerrero, Jr., the Blue Jays look to have one of the weaker systems in the minors. With older and soon-to-be-expensive players on their roster, this could pose a problem for the future of this team.
Best case scenario: Another division win and a deep playoff run.
Worst case scenario: With such a competitive division, the Jays will likely be in the race in September no matter what. Worst case scenario would be buying in July, being close, but missing out on a playoff spot.
Key questions: 1) You acquired some depth for your rotation in Karns, and Sugiuchi, but also have Zeuch at your disposal. Where do you see these players contributing on your team in 2018?
2) Broadly speaking, where do you see this team? Are you in “win-now” mode, “rebuilding”, or a mixture of both? How soon do you expect to make a deep playoff run and at what point do you intend to make trades, if any, to match your strategy?
2) New York Yankees
2017: 87-75, 2nd AL East, Loss to Texas in ALWC game
Who they were: The Bronx Bombers silenced any bombs in 2017; they were the best in the AL in runs prevented. Boasting a strong rotation and arguably the best bullpen in the game, they shut down bats both at home and on the road. Ironically, the team only went as far as their bats took them, finishing the year around league average. Ultimately, some weak links in their lineup led to an early playoff exit.
Offseason Review: New York signed the top international free agent in Wladamir Balentien in hopes of adding some more thump to the lineup. In my opinion, the Yankees lost the most talented player (Mateo) to switch teams in the Rule 5 draft, but they also did some shrewd trading to acquire more minor league talent.
On the Farm: The Yankees have a lot of prospects on their major league roster (Torres, Frazier, Fowler, and Montgomery), but the minors still provide some interesting names. Blake Rutherford is a key name to keep an eye on; with so much depth in the outfield, he may be on the move sooner rather than later.
Best case scenario: Division win, more balanced team, deep playoff run.
Worst case scenario: With such a competitive division, the Yankees will likely be in the race in September no matter what. Worst case scenario would be buying in July, being close, but missing out on a playoff spot.
Key questions: 1) Your pitching is clearly not a concern, but after Severino, Bauer, Pineda, and Tanaka, things get a little thin in your rotation. Who gets the fifth spot and how will you handle a potential injury to one of the first four?
2) Broadly speaking, where do you see this team? Are you in “win-now” mode, “rebuilding”, or a mixture of both? How soon do you expect to make a deep playoff run and at what point do you intend to make trades, if any, to match your strategy?
3) Baltimore Orioles
2017: 79-83, 5th place AL East
Who they were: The Orioles finished 2017 in last place in the division, but were only 16 games out of the lead. They were 5th in the AL in runs scored (1st in home runs), but their kryptonite, as it is in real life, was in their rotation. Despite a pretty good bullpen, the Orioles finished 14th in the AL in runs allowed.
Offseason Review: Baltimore was deliberate in their attempts to solve their weaknesses in the offseason. However, they did so with small, but potentially effective moves. Andrew Cashner was brought in to provide more depth in the rotation, and Jonathan Lucroy could provide an upgrade (and leadership) in place of the departing Willington Castiillo.
On the Farm: According to OSA, Baltimore has the weakest farm system, and a quick run through their minor leagues seems to confirm this.
Best case scenario: If the cards fall the right way, the Orioles could find themselves in the postseason.
Worst case scenario: With such a competitive division, the Orioles will likely be in the race in September no matter what. Worst case scenario would be buying in July, being close, but missing out on a playoff spot.
Key questions: 1) You brought in Cashner, but lost Jimenez and Miley over the offseason. Walk us through the Cashner signing ($57.5M) and your plans for the rotation moving forward.
2) Broadly speaking, where do you see this team? Are you in “win-now” mode, “rebuilding”, or a mixture of both? How soon do you expect to make a deep playoff run and at what point do you intend to make trades, if any, to match your strategy?
4) Tampa Bay Rays
2017: 85-77, 3rd place AL East
Who they were: Tampa Bay led a reasonably balanced team to 3rd place in their division in 2017, but that year may be remembered for blowing a substantial wild card lead in the 2nd half of the season. Chris Archer and Kevin Kiermaier were the superstars for the team, each posting over 5 WAR and helping their respective units.
Offseason Review: The Rays were likely the busiest team in their division this offseason. Two most notable moves include moving Evan Longoria (3.4 WAR) to Cincinnati and acquiring Steven Matz (3.9 WAR) from the Mets.
On the Farm: A lot of the major league talent in Tampa are still considered prospects, but in the minors, there are also a lot of names to like. With depth at multiple positions, expect the Rays to be competitive for a long time.
Best case scenario: The Rays have immense talent in every area, but are young and traded away their best leader (Longoria). Regardless, they have the potential to take the division and keep going deep into the playoffs.
Worst case scenario: With such a competitive division, the Rays will likely be in the race in September no matter what. Worst case scenario would be buying in July, being close, but missing out on a playoff spot.
Key questions: 1) Walk us through the Evan Longoria trade. Your team has a lot of talent, but a small market and youth on the team. How will you be able to replace Longoria’s leadership and popularity?
2) Broadly speaking, where do you see this team? Are you in “win-now” mode, “rebuilding”, or a mixture of both? How soon do you expect to make a deep playoff run and at what point do you intend to make trades, if any, to match your strategy?
5) Boston Red Sox
2017: 80-82, 4th place AL East
Who they were: Boston was victim to a balanced and competitive AL East in 2017. Despite one of the best pitching corps in the league, their bats couldn’t put it together and they finished 4th in their division. Jose Ramirez (4.4 WAR) was huge offensively for the team, and Rick Porcello (8.1 WAR) delivered a Cy Young-caliber year.
Offseason Review: The Red Sox made a series of moves over the offseason, focusing on getting younger and adding depth to their bats. Zack Greinke will slide into the rotation, Alex Dickerson will provide power from the outfield, and Tyler O’Nieill will likely start in the minors but could be a long-term option.
On the Farm: Boston was aggressive in restocking the farm in 2017, and may be one of the better positioned teams long term in the division. Zack Collins, Michael Kpech, and Tyler O’Neill all seem likely to make their presence known quickly.
Best case scenario: Don’t discount the projected 5th place finish; the Red Sox have the talent to win the division.
Worst case scenario: With such a competitive division, the Red Sox will likely be in the race in September no matter what. Worst case scenario would be buying in July, being close, but missing out on a playoff spot.
Key questions: 1) Your pitching is solid and could only get better with Greinke, but talk us through your plans offensively. You made many small moves this offseason, but also have a young team. How do you plan to make progress in this area in 2018?
2) Broadly speaking, where do you see this team? Are you in “win-now” mode, “rebuilding”, or a mixture of both? How soon do you expect to make a deep playoff run and at what point do you intend to make trades, if any, to match your strategy?
1) Toronto Blue Jays
2017: 95-67, 1st AL East. ALDS loss to Cleveland.
Who they were: The Blue Jays won one of the most competitive divisions in 2017, and did so by playing as one of the most balanced teams in the league. Their offensive superstar was Josh Donaldson (6.6 WAR), and pitching-wise, the rotation was fantastic.
Offseason Review: The team, like most of the division, made minor changes this offseason. The biggest loss will be felt in the defense of Kevin Pillar in CF. However, Anthony Alford seems capable of producing better offensive numbers and could post a similar value with playing time. With Alford sliding over to CF, Michael Saunders was brought in to play LF, and other pitching depth was acquired (Sugiuchi, Karns).
On the Farm: Other than Vladamir, Guerrero, Jr., the Blue Jays look to have one of the weaker systems in the minors. With older and soon-to-be-expensive players on their roster, this could pose a problem for the future of this team.
Best case scenario: Another division win and a deep playoff run.
Worst case scenario: With such a competitive division, the Jays will likely be in the race in September no matter what. Worst case scenario would be buying in July, being close, but missing out on a playoff spot.
Key questions: 1) You acquired some depth for your rotation in Karns, and Sugiuchi, but also have Zeuch at your disposal. Where do you see these players contributing on your team in 2018?
2) Broadly speaking, where do you see this team? Are you in “win-now” mode, “rebuilding”, or a mixture of both? How soon do you expect to make a deep playoff run and at what point do you intend to make trades, if any, to match your strategy?
2) New York Yankees
2017: 87-75, 2nd AL East, Loss to Texas in ALWC game
Who they were: The Bronx Bombers silenced any bombs in 2017; they were the best in the AL in runs prevented. Boasting a strong rotation and arguably the best bullpen in the game, they shut down bats both at home and on the road. Ironically, the team only went as far as their bats took them, finishing the year around league average. Ultimately, some weak links in their lineup led to an early playoff exit.
Offseason Review: New York signed the top international free agent in Wladamir Balentien in hopes of adding some more thump to the lineup. In my opinion, the Yankees lost the most talented player (Mateo) to switch teams in the Rule 5 draft, but they also did some shrewd trading to acquire more minor league talent.
On the Farm: The Yankees have a lot of prospects on their major league roster (Torres, Frazier, Fowler, and Montgomery), but the minors still provide some interesting names. Blake Rutherford is a key name to keep an eye on; with so much depth in the outfield, he may be on the move sooner rather than later.
Best case scenario: Division win, more balanced team, deep playoff run.
Worst case scenario: With such a competitive division, the Yankees will likely be in the race in September no matter what. Worst case scenario would be buying in July, being close, but missing out on a playoff spot.
Key questions: 1) Your pitching is clearly not a concern, but after Severino, Bauer, Pineda, and Tanaka, things get a little thin in your rotation. Who gets the fifth spot and how will you handle a potential injury to one of the first four?
2) Broadly speaking, where do you see this team? Are you in “win-now” mode, “rebuilding”, or a mixture of both? How soon do you expect to make a deep playoff run and at what point do you intend to make trades, if any, to match your strategy?
3) Baltimore Orioles
2017: 79-83, 5th place AL East
Who they were: The Orioles finished 2017 in last place in the division, but were only 16 games out of the lead. They were 5th in the AL in runs scored (1st in home runs), but their kryptonite, as it is in real life, was in their rotation. Despite a pretty good bullpen, the Orioles finished 14th in the AL in runs allowed.
Offseason Review: Baltimore was deliberate in their attempts to solve their weaknesses in the offseason. However, they did so with small, but potentially effective moves. Andrew Cashner was brought in to provide more depth in the rotation, and Jonathan Lucroy could provide an upgrade (and leadership) in place of the departing Willington Castiillo.
On the Farm: According to OSA, Baltimore has the weakest farm system, and a quick run through their minor leagues seems to confirm this.
Best case scenario: If the cards fall the right way, the Orioles could find themselves in the postseason.
Worst case scenario: With such a competitive division, the Orioles will likely be in the race in September no matter what. Worst case scenario would be buying in July, being close, but missing out on a playoff spot.
Key questions: 1) You brought in Cashner, but lost Jimenez and Miley over the offseason. Walk us through the Cashner signing ($57.5M) and your plans for the rotation moving forward.
2) Broadly speaking, where do you see this team? Are you in “win-now” mode, “rebuilding”, or a mixture of both? How soon do you expect to make a deep playoff run and at what point do you intend to make trades, if any, to match your strategy?
4) Tampa Bay Rays
2017: 85-77, 3rd place AL East
Who they were: Tampa Bay led a reasonably balanced team to 3rd place in their division in 2017, but that year may be remembered for blowing a substantial wild card lead in the 2nd half of the season. Chris Archer and Kevin Kiermaier were the superstars for the team, each posting over 5 WAR and helping their respective units.
Offseason Review: The Rays were likely the busiest team in their division this offseason. Two most notable moves include moving Evan Longoria (3.4 WAR) to Cincinnati and acquiring Steven Matz (3.9 WAR) from the Mets.
On the Farm: A lot of the major league talent in Tampa are still considered prospects, but in the minors, there are also a lot of names to like. With depth at multiple positions, expect the Rays to be competitive for a long time.
Best case scenario: The Rays have immense talent in every area, but are young and traded away their best leader (Longoria). Regardless, they have the potential to take the division and keep going deep into the playoffs.
Worst case scenario: With such a competitive division, the Rays will likely be in the race in September no matter what. Worst case scenario would be buying in July, being close, but missing out on a playoff spot.
Key questions: 1) Walk us through the Evan Longoria trade. Your team has a lot of talent, but a small market and youth on the team. How will you be able to replace Longoria’s leadership and popularity?
2) Broadly speaking, where do you see this team? Are you in “win-now” mode, “rebuilding”, or a mixture of both? How soon do you expect to make a deep playoff run and at what point do you intend to make trades, if any, to match your strategy?
5) Boston Red Sox
2017: 80-82, 4th place AL East
Who they were: Boston was victim to a balanced and competitive AL East in 2017. Despite one of the best pitching corps in the league, their bats couldn’t put it together and they finished 4th in their division. Jose Ramirez (4.4 WAR) was huge offensively for the team, and Rick Porcello (8.1 WAR) delivered a Cy Young-caliber year.
Offseason Review: The Red Sox made a series of moves over the offseason, focusing on getting younger and adding depth to their bats. Zack Greinke will slide into the rotation, Alex Dickerson will provide power from the outfield, and Tyler O’Nieill will likely start in the minors but could be a long-term option.
On the Farm: Boston was aggressive in restocking the farm in 2017, and may be one of the better positioned teams long term in the division. Zack Collins, Michael Kpech, and Tyler O’Neill all seem likely to make their presence known quickly.
Best case scenario: Don’t discount the projected 5th place finish; the Red Sox have the talent to win the division.
Worst case scenario: With such a competitive division, the Red Sox will likely be in the race in September no matter what. Worst case scenario would be buying in July, being close, but missing out on a playoff spot.
Key questions: 1) Your pitching is solid and could only get better with Greinke, but talk us through your plans offensively. You made many small moves this offseason, but also have a young team. How do you plan to make progress in this area in 2018?
2) Broadly speaking, where do you see this team? Are you in “win-now” mode, “rebuilding”, or a mixture of both? How soon do you expect to make a deep playoff run and at what point do you intend to make trades, if any, to match your strategy?
