2021 AL Central Preview
Apr 8, 2019 12:08:46 GMT -5
Commissioner Erick, Ben_Dodgers, and 1 more like this
Post by dbackhon on Apr 8, 2019 12:08:46 GMT -5
1) Chicago White Sox
Who they were: The Unluckiest team in PBA history? After a 103-win season the White Sox still lost the division and were forced to host the Wild Card game as the heavy favorites against the Oakland A's. Where in a game that will live on in history Brendan "The Ultimate Sacrificer" Finnegan blew out his arm after an amazing performance to sent the A's into the ALDS, and the White Sox home to watch the rest of October on their televisions.
Offseason Review: The White Sox had a relatively quiet off-season. Their main acquisition was OBP-machine Jesse Winker from the Oakland A's. Winker looks like a depth piece, and a fourth outfields... Which goes to show the embarrassment of riches that the Chicago White Sox have in that lineup. Chicago did however suffer a major loss on from last year to this year losing Carlos Rodon for the entirety of the 2021 last September. Despite this injury the White Sox rotation is deep with players like Eddie Rodriguez, Antonio Senzatela, and Andy Suarez all looking like good if not spectacular options. That being said after those players the roster depth gets very thin at starter.
On the Farm: 1B/3B Joe DeCarlo looks poised to have a breakout year in AAA and possibly even contribute to the big club. He wasn't ready and struggled at both the AAA and PBA levels last season but OSA scouts have been impressed with his work over the winter and believe he has a chance to break out this season. Outside of DeCarlo, most of the White Sox minor league talent is in the lower minors... These youngsters are barely even 20 yet, so while they have all the talent in the world they are at least 4 years from PBA level.
Best Case Scenario: Win a title
Worst Case Scenario: Exactly what happened last year
Questions: Do you ever look approach roster building with some sort of intention to beat Cleveland in particular?
How has Rodon's injury changed your outlook on the season, and your approach to building up the roster this past off-season?
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2) Cleveland Indians
Who the were: Well they won the World Series for the first time since 1948. So they've got them going for them... Seriously though Cleveland dominated wire-to-wire, pulling away from the White Sox at the end of the season to establish dominance in the American League. And stomped their way to a World Series Crown.
Offseason Review: Cleveland added a lot of depth pieces and some talented organizational players to supplement and give a veteran presence to their upper minors. The core of the team is still there and didn't add or really lose very many pieces: Kluber, Quintana, Carrasco are among the strongest top 3 SPs in the AL, and the offense still boasts superstars Addison Russell, budding superstar Evan Skoug, and one of the best late bloomers in PBA history in Mike Papi. The core of this team is still together, despite jettisoning Giancarlo Stanton.
So why are they in second?: The AL Central has, ever since the infamous "Sox got bleached" trade in 2017 been a battle between the White Sox and Indians with an occasional third team butting their head into the mix when opportunity arises. At this moment I believe that the White Sox would be more able to handle an injury to a key player, particularly a key batter, better than this Indians team would be able to.
On the farm: Cleveland has a deep farm system with many players who look like they will be contibutors at the PBA level though none that really look like they are going to be superstars at the next level. According to the OSA they have two prospects in the top-100 in SP Yu-Pu Wang who will likely fall out of the top-100 this year, and Garrett Mitchel (#100) who projects to be a 4th outfielder and defensive replacement at the PBA level. However some pieces look interesting particularly in the infield: Ulysses Cantu and Isaac Paredes both look like they can contribute at the PBA level within the next two years or so even if they don't look like young stars.
Best Case Scenario: Repeat Champs, plain and simple.
Worst Case Scenario: 2nd place in the division, fights hard for the second wild card spot and loses the WC game.
Questions: Do you ever look approach roster building with some sort of intention to beat Chicago in particular?
Do you intend to sign Corey Kluber and Addison Russell to extensions this offseason?
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3) Minnesota Twins
Who they were: After making the playoffs in 2019, the Twins fell to a distant third place in the division and were out of the division race by July. Ultimately they fell below .500 and didn't play a ton of meaningful september baseball.
Offseason Review: The Twins decided to go into full rebuild mode, trading away Jose Berrios, Byron Buxton, Max Kepler, Nick Gordon, Zach Burdi... leaving behind a team of unproven players, talented under performers, and a few expiring contracts that may not be on the team very long.
On the farm: According to the OSA the Minnesota Twins have the 6th best farm system in the PBA. However, most of these top-100 prospects are likely to make their major league debuts this year as they will be called to support the big club this year after Minnesota's fire sale last year. However Minnesota has stockpiled draft picks to a level heretofore unknown in the PBA. If this draft class is loaded, then so will the Twins farm system in the coming years. They twins also have Wessel Russchen a Dutch super prospect who just turned 18.
Best Case Scenario: The young players play gain a lot from their major league experience, the twins solidify a future core, trade off their remaining big contracts for future assets and enter next year with a young core and financial flexibility... And still lose 88-90 games or so.
Worst Case Scenario: The young players are flustered by major league experience and regress, they Twins lose 95-100 games and this years draft class is a dud leaving the twins with no major league talent and a mediocre farm system.
Questions for the GM:
You have a few expiring contracts on your books, notably Miguel Sano, do you intent to trade them or keep them around as veteran leadership for this crop of youngsters?
You stockpiled a lot of draft picks, if the draft class turns out not to be particularly deep would you regret that tactic?
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4) Detroit Tigers
Who they were: A 71-91 team that struggled to find an identity in the basement of a division with two titans of the sport.
Offseason Review: Detroit didn't add anyone but lost SP Jordan Zimmerman
On the Farm: Like Minnesota a lot of Detroit's top prospects are making their major league debuts this season, including 3 of their 5 top-100 ranked prospects going into the year. There is some talent in the lower minors but no player stands out as a budding superstar that will lead the team to glory
Best Case Scenario: The young players do well in their major league experience and supplement Cabrera and Happ with more talent. The Tigers lose 88 games or so but enter next season knowing their core well.
Worst Case Scenario: The rookies crack under the lights of Comerica park leaving Detroit in the basement for years to come.
Questions for the GM:
What would you consider to be a successful statistical season from your rookie players this year: in particular from Reinoso, Truang, and Canning?
Is there any pressure on you as a GM to draft players who are more likely to contribute to the big club sooner over others who may have higher ceilings but are farther away from the bigs and long shots to reach their full potential?
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5) KC Royals
Who they were: Among the worst hitting teams of all time, they were in the basement of the AL Central from May until the end of the year.
Offseason Review: Almost completely inactive.
On the Farm: While KC has a lot of players in the minors who have the potential to be above average contributors in the PBA (notably last years 4th overall pick RF Jason Ancrum) most of their talent is concentrated in the low-minors and are quite a ways away from contributing to the big club.
Best Case Scenario: KC suprises as their players improve just a bit accross the board and finish in third in the division.
Worst Case Scenario: 100+ losses, and players in the lower minors stagnate.
