PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH:
Detroit Tigers
Cleveland Indians
Chicago White Sox
Minnesota Twins
Kansas City Royals
Tigers should rule the division and threaten the 100 Win - 1,000 Run marks. Cleveland will contend and challenge for a wild card slot. White Sox didn't do enough to revamp the lineup although the bullpen is improved. Twins took two steps back with the Santana deal, but in a year or two when the prospects are ready, watch out. The Royals are still in Kansas City.
Detroit Tigers
Pitching - Strong and still fairly deep. Justin Verlander, Jeremy Bonderman and a rejuvenated Dontrelle Willis will be hard to beat. Kenny Rogers and Nate Robertson are about as good a 4-5 starter combo as any. Todd Jones and Fernando Rodney will keep the closer spot warm for injured Joel Zumaya. The bullpen would normally be this teams Achilles heel, but not with this offense.
Lineup - The arrival of Miguel Cabrera 3B moves Brandon Inge into the C-DH rotation with Pudge Rodriguez and Gary Sheffield. Carlos Guillen at 1B is steady (21-102-.295) Placido Polanco and Edgar Renteria are solid defensively up the middle and contribute offensively as well. The outfield combo of Jacque Jones/Marcus Thames LF, Curtis Granderson CF and Magglio Ordonez RF (28-139-.363) is spectacular. The toughest lineup this side of the Red Sox.
Prospects - Most of the good ones are pitchers. Rick Porcello RHP is 19 but could get to Detroit in a hurry. Virgil Vasquez RHP, 25 might be the most major league ready. Kaneland's LHP Casey Crosby will be rehabbing an elbow, he's a couple of years from Detroit. Jordan Tata RHP, 25 may also get a shot at the rotation.
Cleveland Indians
Pitching - C.C. Sabathia, Fauston Carmona, Paul Byrd, Jake Westbrook and Cliff Lee are the best 1-5 rotation in the bigs. If they all perform well, they should challenge the Tigers. Joe Borowski (45 saves) is the closer and will be set up by Rafael Betancourt and Reid Santos. Mashide Kobayashi (27 saves in Japan) provides depth.
Lineup - Victor Martinez C (25-114-.301) is an All-Star. Travis Haffner and Ryan Garko combo at 1B-DH. Casey Blake 3B and Jhonny Peralta SS are 20-80.270 guys. Asdrubal Cabrera and Josh Barfield will compete at 2B. Jamey Carroll from Colorado is the back-up along with Andy Marte 3B. Jason Michaels and Dave Delluci split LF, Grady Sizemore is a bona-fide superstar in CF and Franklin Gutierez could really break out in RF. Lineup might be a tad under the Detroit-Boston juggernauts.
Prospects - Jordan Brown 1B-OF and Ben Francisco OF are good but both are blocked. Adam Miller RHP is a power pitcher who needs only to stay healthy. Aaron Laffey LHP showed well in spots in the bigs.
Chicago White Sox
Pitching - Mark Beuhrle, Javier Vasquez and Jose Contreras headline the top of the rotation but 2 of the three are inconsistent. No longer a team strength. John Danks and Gavin Floyd are unproven. Bobby Jenks (40 Saves) has been joined in the bullpen by set-ip men Octavio Dotel and Scott Linebrink. This now has to be a team strength.
Lineup - A.J. Pierzynski C is backed up by Toby Hall. Paul Konerko and Joe Crede hold down the corners and the World Series tradition. The middle infield has been revamped with Orlando Cabrera SS coming over in the John Garland deal and Danny Richar 2B the front runner to replace Tadahito Iguchi. Watch out for Alexei Ramirez to eventually settle in there though. Juan Uribe could be the odd-man out or dealt. Josh Fields waits at 3B for Crede to get hurt or be dealt. Carlos Quentin and Jerry Owens battle in LF, Nick Swisher will win over South Side fans in CF and Jermaine Dye remains inf RF. Brian Anderson CF is running out of chances to stick, he moves from prospect to suspect.
Prospects - Ryan Sweeney OF is about the only every day prospect even close. Aaron Poreda LHP is a power pitcher looking for a second pitch. Lance Broadway RHP and Kyle McCulloch RHP could contribute this year.
Minnesota Twins
Pitching - Francisco Liriano, Boof Bonser and Scott Baker at the top. This could be disaster if Liriano is not ready to pitch a full season. Phil Humber (from the Mets in the Santana deal) will challenge Kevin Slowey and Nick Blackburn for the back of the rotation. Jow Nathan (37 saves) and Juan Rincon are solid in the bullpen.
Lineup - Joe Mauer C needs to bring some power to his .293 average. Justin Morneau !B (31-111-.271) is an MVP candidate. Adam Everett SS brings stability from Houston. Mike Lamb 3B and Brendan Harris 2B are solid, but unspectacular. Michael Cuddyer RF (16-81-.276) is a budding star. Craig Monroe CF is keeping the spot warm for Carlos Gomez (from the Mets in the Santana deal). Delmon Young LF (13-93-.288) brings enormous potential from Tampa Bay. Nick Punto is the utility infielder. Denard Span may be the backup in the outfield.
Prospects - Carlos Gomez OF is the potential five-tool star that made the Santana deal work for the Twins. Anthony Swarzak RHP,22 is a power pitcher who comes right at hitters. Trevor Plouffe SS may be a year or two away.
Kansas City Royals
Pitching - Gil Meche (9-13), Brian Bannister (12-9) Zack Greinke (7-7) and Jorge De La Rosa (8-12) could have the makings of a .500 team's rotation. The drop-off to Brett Tomko and Hiodeki Nomo afterwards is the frightening part. Kyle Davies (from Atlanta) and prospect Luke Hochevar may have to produce this year to avert disaster.
Joakim Soria (17 saves) and Yasuhiko Yabuta (from Japan) anchor the bullpen.
Lineup - John Buck (18-48-.222) has to hit for better average. Miguel Oliva (16-60-237 with Marlins) could take over here. Ryan Shealy 1B anmd Alex Gordon 3B (15-60-.247) need to produce more. Gordon recovered after a horrible start last year as the uber-prospect. Tony Pena SS and Mark Grudzelanik 2B aren't going to carry the team, but Gruds did hit over .300. Jose Guillen LF (23-99-.290) comes over (banished) from Seattle. David DeJesus CF and Mark Teahen RF do nothing for me. Former Ray Joey Gathright CF could provide speed at the top of the order.
Prospects - Luke Hochevar RHP,24 is a potential top of the rotation starter. Mike Moustakas SS, 19 will be fast-tracked. He can rake. Daniel Cortes RHP,20 may have to contribute soon as well.
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