HOUSTON ASTROS
2018 RECORD: 103-59, first place, AL West; lost
in ALCS
MANAGER: AJ Hinch, fifth season with Astros
(374-274)
THE BASICS
HOME STADIUM: FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm
Beaches, 5444 Haverhill Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33407
DIRECTIONS: From Exit 74 of I-95, go west on
45th Street for 1 mile and turn left onto Haverhill Road. The complex will be
on your left. From Exit 99 of the Florida Turnpike, turn left on Okeechobee
Boulevard. After three fourths of a mile, turn left on Haverhill Road. The
complex will be on your right after 3 1 / 2 miles.
INFORMATION: 561-500-4487; www.astros.com/spring
PROSPECT TO WATCH: JOSH JAMES, RHP. James, 25,
has a shot at a rotation spot after showing overpowering stuff and striking out
9.8 hitters per nine innings in 104 minor league games. James hit 101 mph in
his big-league debut and 102 in the 2018 playoffs but might need to improve his
command to stick in the major leagues.
BURNING QUESTIONS
ROTATION REVAMP
UNDERWAY
WHO’S GOING TO
FILL OUT ROTATION?
Charlie Morton left for Tampa Bay, Lance McCullers is gone
for the year following Tommy John surgery, and Dallas Keuchel lingers on the
open market. There’s a chance Houston re-ups with Keuchel, and the club signed
Wade Miley to a one-year, $4.5 million deal.
Collin McHugh, who flourished in setup in 2018 but started
from 2014 to 2017, appears likely to return to the rotation. Josh James, a
fireballer who excelled in 23 big-league innings, appears to have the inside
track over Brad Peacock and Framber Valdez for the fifth spot.
CAN KYLE TUCKER
FORCE HIS WAY INTO PLAYING TIME?
The 22-year-old outfielder has been a fixture on prospects
lists and spent most of 2018 beating up on Class AAA pitching. Tucker struggled
in a 64 at-bat cameo with Houston, but his .332/.400/.590 line in the minors
suggests he doesn’t need much more development time.
The Astros undoubtedly want Tucker somewhere where he can
play every day and their outfield is crowded with veterans. Michael Brantley
should get the bulk of the work in left, with George Springer in center and
Josh Reddick in right. Reddick’s hold on the spot looks most tenuous after
a disappointing 2018. Tucker is likely to return to Class AAA to start 2019,
but a big spring could force the Astros into tough decisions.
LOS ANGELES ANGELS
2018 RECORD: 80-82, fourth place, AL West;
missed playoffs
MANAGER: Brad Ausmus, first season with Angels
THE BASICS
HOME STADIUM: Tempe Diablo Stadium, 2200 W.
Alameda, Tempe, AZ 85282
DIRECTIONS: From I-10 North: Broadway Street
exit; west on Broadway to 48th; turn left (south) on 48th. From I-10 South:
Broadway exit; south on 48th to Alameda; turn left. Stadium is on the left.
INFORMATION: 888-796-4256,
480-350-5265; www.Angelsbaseball.com/spring PROSPECT TO WATCH: JO
ADELL, OF.
Adell is an extremely athletic prospect. There’s work to be
done with his strikeout rate (26 percent in 2018), but with his instincts and
raw power at just 19, there’s time. Adell has lethal speed and plus range,
which makes him a lock for center field. He also has hit .302 with a .362
onbase percentage in 148 career minor league games. He’ll likely return to
Class AA but could make the majors this season.
BURNING QUESTIONS
CLOCK’S TICKING ON
TROUT
WHAT CAN ANGELS
EXPECT FROM OHTANI?
One of the biggest storylines of 2018 took a disheartening
turn when it was announced Shohei Ohtani would need Tommy John surgery,
effectively keeping him out of pitching duties until 2020.
After playing five seasons in Japan, the two-way sensation
made the move to Los Angeles and quickly put together an impressive season,
earning the 2018 American League Rookie of the Year award in decisive fashion.
He posted a slash line of .285/.361/.564 with 22 home runs and 61 RBI along
with a 3.31 ERA in 10 starts. Ohtani is expected to return to action in May as
a DH.
WITH TROUT NEARING
FREE AGENCY, CAN ANGELS MAKE LEAP FORWARD?
Arguably the biggest gripe about the Angels has
been the franchise’s inability to capitalize on Mike Trout’s
prime. Since bursting onto the scene in his first full season in
2012, the two-time MVP has represented the prototype of
what teams want in a franchise player. Despite the long list of
individual accolades he’s compiled, the 27-year-old is still looking for his
first playoff win.
Trout is set to hit free agency following the 2020 season
and will certainly garner a monumental sized contract. There is an added
sense of urgency for the franchise to leave its mark on the postseason in 2019.
OAKLAND ATHLETICS
2018 RECORD: 97-65, second place, AL West; lost
AL wild-card game
MANAGER: Bob Melvin, eighth full season with
Athletics (634-599)
THE BASICS
HOME STADIUM: Hohokam Stadium, 1235 N. Center
St., Mesa, AZ 85201
DIRECTIONS: Take I-10 to 60 East to Country Club
Drive, exit north; turn right at Brown Road; turn left at Center Street;
ballpark is one block on the right.
INFORMATION: 480-644-4451; www.Athletics.com/spring
PROSPECT TO WATCH: RAMON LAUREANO, OF. The
24-year-old was electric during Oakland’s playoff push and looks to be a
defensive star in center field. Although 48 games in the majors is a small
sample size, he flashed some power and speed. There are concerns about his
strikeout rate (50 Ks in 156 at-bats), but Laureano should be starting on
opening day and has the tools to stick. He has a .271 career minor league
batting average and .800 on-base plus slugging percentage. He has 100 steals in
124 career attempts in 395 minor league games. He also has 45 homers, 76
doubles, 22 triples and 199 RBI.
BURNING QUESTIONS
LUZARDO READY FOR
ROTATION
CAN PROSPECT JESUS
LUZARDO CRACK THE ROTATION?
Luzardo emerged as one of the top pitching prospects in
baseball last year as he cruised through three levels of the minors. The
21-year-old lefty has drawn rave reviews, with some in the organization
claiming his stuff looks better than that of the hallowed trio of Barry Zito,
Mark Mulder and Tim Hudson from early this century. Manager Bob Melvin said at
the winter meetings he thinks Luzardo is ready for the majors. With Mike Fiers
and recently signed Marco Estrada the only real locks, the opportunity is there
for Luzardo to claim a spot in the back end of the rotation.
WILL MATT CHAPMAN
BE READY FOR OPENING DAY?
Oakland has a rising star in Chapman, but the
25-year-old third baseman will be limited early in
spring training after two offseason procedures. After a
lingering hand issue bothered him for much of 2018 (and cost him
a few weeks on the injured list), he ad surgery on his
right thumb in October and a second surgery on his right shoulder in
December. Chapman remains on a swing progression program but says he’ll be
ready for the regular-season opener March 20 against the Mariners in
Tokyo. Chapman won his first Gold Glove in 2018 and finished seventh in AL MVP
voting after hitting .278 with 24 homers, 68 RBI and a .864 OPS.
SEATTLE MARINERS
2018 RECORD: 89-73, third place, AL West; missed
playoffs
MANAGER: Scott Servais, fourth season with
Mariners (253-233)
THE BASICS
HOME STADIUM: Peoria Sports Complex, 16101 N.
83rd Ave., Peoria, AZ 85382
DIRECTIONS: From I-17 north: Exit at Bell Road;
proceed west to intersection of Bell Road and 83rd Avenue; left to stadium and
complex.
INFORMATION: 623-773-8720; 800677-1227; www.Mariners.com/spring
PROSPECT TO WATCH: JUSTUS SHEFFIELD, LHP. Sheffield,
22, posted a 2.56 ERA in 88 innings at Class AAA last year. His slider
took a step forward and his changeup fades well, but he struggles commanding
his two-seam fastball that has solid arm-side run. He likely starts the year at
AAA with an early shot at joining Seattle’s rotation. He appears to be first in
line if someone struggles or is injured.
BURNING QUESTIONS
ICHIRO BACK AS M’S
RETOOL
WHO ELSE IS ON THE
MOVE?
The Mariners and GM Jerry Dipoto drew attention after their
fire sale sent Robinson Cano, Edwin Diaz, Jean Segura, James Paxton and others
packing. The decision came as a surprise to some, as the 89 wins in 2018 were
the franchise’s most since 2003. Nevertheless, the franchise with MLB’s longest
playoff drought will start with a new look, and more players could be on the
move.
Edwin Encarnacion and Felix Hernandez are two veterans who could
be dealt, as they are expected to hit free agency after the season.
HOW WILL ICHIRO
SUZUKI BE INVOLVED THIS SEASON?
27 years after he made his first professional baseball
appearance as an 18year-old in Japan, Suzuki will be trying to
add another season on to his already legendary career. The
45-year-old signed a minor league contract that pays $750,000 if he
makes the major league roster. The future Hall of Famer
appeared in 15 games for the Mariners in 2018 but struggled, hitting
.205 with no extra base hits.
He will certainly be the center of attention when the
Mariners face the Athletics in Japan on March 20, but it remains to be
seen whether Suzuki can permanently make the team add to his lifetime hit total
of 4,367 between the MLB and Japan.
TEXAS RANGERS
2018 RECORD: 67-95, fifth place, AL West; missed
playoffs
MANAGER: Chris Woodward, first season with
Rangers
THE BASICS
HOME STADIUM: Surprise Stadium, 15754 N. Bullard
Ave., Surprise, AZ 85374.
DIRECTIONS: From downtown Phoenix: Take I-10
West to 101 North to Grand Avenue (Exit 11). Turn left onto Grand Avenue, left
onto Bell Road and left onto Bullard Avenue.
INFORMATION: 623-222-2222; Rangers.com/spring
PROSPECT TO WATCH: WILLIE CALHOUN,
OF, Rangers. Calhoun has shown a power stroke in
the minors (40 homers, .858 OPS in 236 games) and is next in line as a regular
behind a projected outfield of Nomar Mazara, Delino DeShields and Joey Gallo.
Calhoun, 24, who says he has dropped 10-plus pounds, could also be in the mix
at DH. If DeShields, coming off a .216 season in which he broke his hand,
struggles, Gallo could slide to center and Calhoun to left.
BURNING QUESTIONS
TRYING TO REVERSE
REGRESSION
WHO FILLS VOID
LEFT BY BELTRE?
Hello, Asdrubal Cabrera. The longtime second baseman will
shift to third, a position he’s not so familiar with. Cabrera admits the
transition to third will be “kind of hard.” He’s started only 52 games at third
base, as opposed to 2,713 for Adrian Beltre. The 39-yearold announced his
retirement in November, concluding a 21-year Hall of Fame career in which he
amassed 477 home runs and 3,166 hits.
CAN THE RANGERS
BUILD ON THEIR YOUNG CORE?
The expectations might be at its lowest since the early
2000s. And the Rangers have regressed in each of the last three years, losing
95 games in 2018.
It has a solid young core — 2B Rougned Odor, 1B
Joey Gallo, OF Nomar Mazara, 1B Ronald Guzman, C Isiah Kiner- Falefa and RHP
Jose Leclerc — to build around, including Andrus, a 10year veteran. All made
significant contributions last season. To date, their biggest offseason
acquisitions have been free agents RHPs Lance Lynn and Shelby Miller, catcher
Jeff Mathis and second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera.
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