Justin Verlander leads a dynamic Tigers rotation. (Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports)
AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST
Boston Red Sox: Jacoby Ellsbury high-tailed it for the Bronx, but the Red Sox retained enough talent over the winter to make another serious run at the top. With youngsters Xander Bogaerts joining the lineup and Jackie Bradley also contributing, the champs could be more dynamic than they were a year ago. Imagine that.
Tampa Bay Rays: A terrific pitching staff will keep the Rays afloat during those times when their league-average offense is scuffling. Much will depend on the progress of outfielders Wil Myers, 23, and particularly Desmond Jennings, who is 27 and losing his luster. Keep an eye on Alex Cobb; he’s pitched like an ace.
Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles lost more than they gained over the winter, and there are serious questions about the starting pitching. Big boppers Chris Davis and Adam Jones ensure there will be nightly fireworks, and Manny Machado is a doubles machine. That’s good, because the O’s will need all the offense they can muster.
New York Yankees: This is not a golden age for Yankees baseball. Robinson Cano left for greener pastures, A-Rod is suspended for the year , and the future looks bleak because the farm system is bereft of talent. Most important for 2014, the Yankees, despite signing Masahiro Tanaka, lack the starting pitching to keep pace with the American League’s heavyweights.
Toronto Blue Jays: No team underachieved in 2013 as badly as the Blue Jays, and now the trendy pick to win the AL East a year ago is staring up from the cellar. The starting pitching (4.81 ERA last year) is abysmal. Injury-free seasons for Jose Bautista and Jose Reyes could trigger a quick turnaround, but what are the chances of that?
AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL
Detroit Tigers: The Tigers dared to dream big in the offseason, shedding Prince Fielder and Jhonny Peralta for a more athletic lineup and payroll flexibility. The pitching, even without Doug Fister, promises to be first-rate. Brad Ausmus steps into the manager’s chair at an opportune time — these Tigers shouldn’t miss a beat.
Kansas City Royals: The Royals’ long-awaited turnaround began to take shape in 2013 and should continue to progress this summer. Eric Hosmer and Salvador Perez are young hitters on the come, and the club’s underrated pitching staff posted the lowest ERA in the American League last season. It’s onward and upward in K.C.
Cleveland Indians: The Tribe was a happy bunch last season, grinding out 92 wins and a wild-card berth under new skipper and favorite son Terry Francona. The rotation took hits in the offseason, with Scott Kazmir (Oakland) and Ubaldo Jimenez (Baltimore) taking leave, but the young arms, particularly Danny Salazar, should adequately fill the void.
Chicago White Sox: GM Rick Hahn earned praise for his winter handiwork, bringing in promising hitters Jose Abreu, Adam Eaton and Matt Davidson without sacrificing core assets. But the rotation is iffy beyond Chris Sale, and it’s a long way up from 63-99. At least the White Sox will be better than the Cubs, for those who care.
AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST
Minnesota Twins: The Twins have been bottom-feeders for a few years now, and the future — No. 1 prospect Byron Buxton — might be a year away. In the meantime, veteran righthanders Ricky Nolasco and Phil Hughes should help stabilize a staff that yielded 688 runs last year, more than every other club except the Astros.
Texas Rangers: A 91-win season represented a letdown in Arlington, where playoff games have become commonplace. Surprisingly, the Rangers’ normally explosive offense was largely to blame, so GM Jon Daniels brought in impact bats Shin-Soo Choo and Prince Fielder to complement the Yu Darvish-led pitching staff. Nice.
Oakland A’s: No team has done more with less over the past two seasons, and it’s not like Billy Beane is doing it with smoke and mirrors. There’s sneaky talent up and down the lineup, and Oakland starting pitchers won 72 games last year, more than every other team except Detroit and St. Louis. These guys aren’t going away.
Seattle Mariners: Excitement over the Robinson Cano signing was tempered by reports of a dysfunctional front office at Safeco Field. The pitching is thin behind Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma, and Cano, for all his talents, can’t carry a team on his back. The M’s will need guys like Corey Hart and Logan Morrison to provide pop if they want to hang in this division. The addition of Fernando Rodney bolsters the bullpen.
Los Angeles Angles: It’s hard to get excited about the Halos. Albert Pujols is fading, Josh Hamilton was stunningly inept at times during his fi rst Anaheim season, and longtime ace Jered Weaver is fraying around the edges. If not for the incredible Mike Trout, this would be one of the least-entertaining teams in the major leagues.
Houston Astros: The Astros were an embarrassment in 2013, plunging to 60 games under .500 while going 6-32 against AL West heavies Oakland and Texas. The organizational pipeline is bursting with talent — Mark Appel, Carlos Correa, George Springer and others — but the future in Houston is most definitely not now.
AL MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Joe Maddon, Rays
AL MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Mike Trout, Angels
AL CY YOUNG AWARD WINNER
Yu Darvish, Rangers
AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox
AL ROOKIE PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Taijuan Walker, Mariners
AL DIVISION WINNERS
EAST — Red Sox
CENTRAL — Tigers
WEST — Rangers
AL WILD CARD TEAMS
A’s, Rays
AL CHAMPION
Tigers
WORLD SERIES CHAMPION
Tigers
