Monday, March 25, 2019

AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL 2019 SEASON PREVIEW


MINNESOTA TWINS
2018 Record: 78-84 (2nd AL Central)
2018 Payroll: $116,373,333 (17th)
Projected 2019 Lineup:
1. SS Jorge Polanco, .272 AVG/.333 OBP/.420 SLG, 2.6 WAR
2. OF Marwin González, .267 AVG/.332 OBP/.435 SLG, 1.5 WAR
3. OF Eddie Rosario .277 AVG/.318 OBP/.470 SLG, 2.5 WAR
4. DH Nelson Cruz .282 AVG/.361 OBP/.533 SLG, 3.0 WAR
5. 3B Miguel Sanó, .236 AVG/.327 OBP/.456 SLG, 2.3 WAR
6. 1B C.J. Cron, .261 AVG/.323 OBP/.482 SLG, 1.7 WAR
7. 2B Jonathan Schoop, .266 AVG/.307 OBP/.468 SLG, 2.0 WAR
8. C Jason Castro, .219 AVG/.308 OBP/.363 SLG, 1.2 WAR
9. OF Byron Buxton, .244 AVG/.301 OBP/.410 SLG, 2.2 WAR
Projected Starting Rotation:
1. José Berríos, 193 IP/4.27 ERA/1.29 WHIP, 2.6 WAR
2. Kyle Gibson, 192 IP/4.22 ERA/1.39 WHIP, 2.6 WAR
3. Jake Odorizzi, 161 IP/4.95 ERA/1.39 WHIP, 1.2 WAR
4. Michael Pineda, 138 IP/4.11 ERA/1.26 WHIP, 2.2 WAR
5. Martín Pérez, 119 IP/4.71 ERA/1.47 WHIP, 0.9 WAR
OFFSEASON RECAP
The Twins had an active offseason, bolstering their batting order by signing the former All-Stars Jonathan Schoop and Nelson Cruz. They also claimed C.J. Cron off waivers and signed the versatile Marwin González to improve their lineup even further. Their major issue last season was their pitching, but they did little to improve it; the only notable signings were Martin Perez and Blake Parker. Of the major free agents left, the Twins are unlikely to sign another big name like Dallas Keuchel, but they may try and bolster their rotation or bullpen some more in the month or so before the season starts. This was a solid offseason for the Twins. They made some good moves to add great batting talent in Cruz and Schoop. However, they neglected to address their main issue of pitching, so it was not the best offseason that they could have had.
SEASON PREVIEW
The Twins finished 2nd in the American League Central last season with a solid batting team but a below average pitching staff. They lost only one major member of the team: face of the franchise Joe Mauer, who played in 127 games and hit .282, earning 1.0 fWAR. Mauer was never going to return to his former batting champion self, so it’s not as big of a loss for the team performance-wise. To replace him they added Nelson Cruz, coming off his fifth consecutive year of hitting 35 home runs or more, on a one-year deal with a club option for a second. They also claimed 30-home run C.J. Cron off waivers, giving them an instant replacement at first base. Super-utility player and former Astro Marwin González may have had a down year in 2018, but he remains a versatile player who has experience at every position except pitcher and catcher. Armed with the MLB.com 7th ranked farm system, the Twins are in a position to compete for the second Wild Card spot and might even challenge Cleveland for the AL Central crown. The most important thing for the Twins’ playoff chances this year, however, is how well their pitching staff can perform.
The Twins’ pitching staff is led by José Berríos and Kyle Gibson. Last year, the entire pitching staff did not have the best season as they finished 16th in K/9, 20th in total pitching WAR, and 21st in both team ERA and team FIP. Despite a bottom third pitching staff, they still managed to finish second in the AL Central. José Berríos had a very good season, finishing top 25 in pitching WAR last season with a 3.93 ERA and a 9.45 K/9. Berríos is only 24, and he still has his best years ahead of him. Behind him in the rotation is Kyle Gibson, who had 2.8 WAR in a career year. He had a 3.62 ERA, but will probably regress as he outperformed his 4.13 FIP. The Twins third starter is Jake Odorizzi. Odorizzi had a 4.49 ERA last season, but he got slightly unlucky as he had a 4.20 FIP last season. Kyle Gibson should regress and Jake Odorizzi should improve, so the Twins starting rotation will likely end up being pretty similar to last year. The Twins bullpen was 18th in WAR, 21st in team ERA, and 11th in K/9. The bullpen was led by Fernando Rodney, now an Oakland Athletic. Instead of Rodney, Trevor May is the projected closer this season. Last season, May had a 3.20 ERA and 12.79 K/9. May should have actually been better, as he had a 3.02 FIP. The Twins major pitching free agent signing was Blake Parker, who played last season with the Los Angeles Angels. He had a 3.26 ERA, this obscures his 4.40 FIP. The Twins’ overall weakness is their pitching staff, but this should still be an average to above average staff that could lead them to a good record.
One of the Twins strongest suits is their infield. They claimed first baseman C.J. Cron off waivers coming off of the best season of his career. Cron hit 30 home runs and slashed .253/.323/.493 in 2018. He should be able to continue his power dominance in Minnesota. Another major signing was former All-Star Jonathan Schoop. He had a very bad season after his 2017 All-Star season, slashing .233/.266/.416 with 21 home runs only one year after hitting .293/.338/.503 with 32 home runs in his All-Star campaign. Schoop probably will not return to 2017 numbers but should still be a productive member of the lineup while providing a great defensive boost as well. The Twins’ biggest question mark of the infield is Miguel Sanó. In 2017, Sanó showed the flashes that made him a top prospect after slashing .264/.352/.507 and hitting 28 home runs. However, he took a massive step back last year, hitting .199/.281/.398 with 13 home runs in 71 games and was at one point demoted to Class A-ball. Sanó will have to get back to his 2017 form if he wants to continue on the team as the starting third baseman. The last starting member of the infield is Jorge Polanco. He hit .288/.345/.427 in 2018, good for a 1.3 WAR season. Polanco is not the best defensively, however, as he was worth -0.5 defensive WAR last year. Still, as long as Sanó and Schoop can improve on their previous season, the infield will be a strength for the Twins.
With Eddie Rosario, Byron Buxton, Max Kepler, and Marwin González, the Twins’ outfield is another strong point. Rosario was a highlight of the Twins lineup last season, hitting .288/.323/.479 line with 24 home runs. His .316 BABIP was noticeably lower than his first two seasons and only four points higher than his 2017 mark of .312, which indicates that the success he found last year wasn’t a fluke. Like Sanó, Byron Buxton faced some offensive struggles in 2018, slashing only .156/.183/.200, hitting zero home runs and finishing the year with -0.4 WAR. He will have to improve if he wants to stay with the team. Max Kepler is not in the projected lineup, but he figures to be a major part of the team. Kepler owned a line of .224/.319/.408 with 20 home runs and a 97 wRC+. Kepler is looking to be a great player and looking to continue on his path upward. The last player is Marwin González. Marwin is known for his positional flexibility. He started 21 games at first base, 19 games at second, 2 games at third, 29 games at shortstop, and 65 in the outfield. Marwin González is a great depth guy to have as he can play anywhere that is needed. If Buxton can tap into the potential that made him the second overall pick seven years ago, the Twins’ outfield will not be one to be trifled with.
The Twins also have a top 10 farm system, highlighted by Royce Lewis and Alex Krilloff. According to MLB.com, Lewis is the fifth best prospect in baseball. He played in Single and High-A in 2018 so he will not have an immediate impact on the team. Alex Krilloff is in the same boat, as he played at the same levels as Lewis last season. He is another top prospect and hit .348 with 20 home runs in 130 games. Kirilloff will look to make the jump to Double-A this year and should be in Triple-A by the end of the season. The Twins drop off in their system with their next prospect at number 68 in Brusdar Graterol, a right-handed pitcher. He pitched to a 2.74 ERA through 19 starts and struck out 107 in 102 innings playing in Single and High-A. The Twins have two of the best prospects in the game and do not have much after that, but having two prospects in top 10 is only accomplished by one other team: the Houston Astros.
Record Prediction: 90-72
    The Twins will be able to compete with the Indians this season behind their solid pitching and great hitting. The Twins big names of Miguel Sanó and Byron Buxton will have to show their elite prospect status if the Twins want to achieve this record, but that is not out of the question at all. The Twins are also helped by playing in the AL Central meaning that they get to play the Royals, Tigers, and White Sox a lot giving them the potential for easy wins. The Twins will not have the depth or veteran presence to make a deep playoff run, but they will be able to compete for the second Wild Card and possibly the AL Central Crown.
Player to Watch: José Berríos
    José Berríos has been with the Twins for two full seasons now and has quickly become the ace of their staff. He had a solid 2018, pitching to a 3.84 ERA and a 3.89 xFIP while averaging over a strikeout every inning. His flyball tendencies (he only got grounders 41.5% of the time last year) can lead to some bad stretches when he gives up the long ball too often, and this happened to some extent last season. His HR/9 rose 24 points and his HR/FB jumped from 9.1% in 2017 to 12.8% in 2018. Berríos is unquestionably the Twins’ ace, and if he gets his homer problem under control he could be dominant.
Player to Watch: Royce Lewis
Royce Lewis is a top-five MLB prospect, the second best shortstop prospect, and the Twins number one prospect. Lewis played 121 games last season split between Single-A and High-A hitting .292/.352/.451. These are not numbers that destroy the competition, but Lewis is only 19 and has plenty of time to develop. Lewis will start the year in High-A, but with the offseason to develop he should be a good candidate for a Double-A call-up some point during the year.  
Player to Watch: Willians Astudillo
A late-season call-up for the Twins last year, Astudillo played in 29 games and did well, hitting .355/.371/.516 with three home runs. Incredibly, only slightly over five percent of Astudillo’s at-bats in the big leagues ended in a strikeout or a walk. This is par for the course for Astudillo, who has often ranked lowest in both K% and BB% during his time in the minor leagues. In an era dominated by the three true outcomes, Astudillo is a refreshing change of pace, the ultimate contact hitter. Astudillo also can provide positional flexibility. Although his first position is catcher, he’s played second base, third base, and the outfield. He even pitched an inning, allowing five earned runs on two homers. The Twins are probably hoping they won’t see him pitch again, but Astudillo could easily be the backup to Jason Castro and should continue to be a good asset for the Twins to have due to his positional flexibility.  
CLEVELAND INDIANS
2018 Record: 91-71 (1st in AL Central)
2018 Payroll: $111,778,751 (19th)

Projected 2019 Lineup
  1. SS Francisco Lindor, .286/.357/.505, 6.4 WAR
  2. 2B Jason Kipnis, .248/.322/.408, 1.4 WAR
  3. 3B Jose Ramirez, .284/.374/.513, 6.0 WAR
  4. DH Carlos Santana, .251/.367/.453, 2.0 WAR
  5. 1B Jake Bauers, .245/.339/.415, 1.2 WAR
  6. OF Greg Allen, .249/.314/.349, 0.0 WAR
  7. OF Tyler Naquin, .262/.322/.408, 0.5 WAR
  8. OF Leonys Martin, .248/.307/.388, 1.1 WAR
  9. C Roberto Perez, .213/.304/.355, 0.7 WAR
Projected 2019 Rotation
  1. Corey Kluber, 209.0 IP/3.47 ERA/1.12 WHIP, 4.8 WAR
  2. Trevor Bauer, 193.0 IP/3.56 ERA/1.20 WHIP, 4.0 WAR
  3. Carlos Carrasco, 197.0 IP/3.41 ERA/1.13 WHIP, 4.5 WAR
  4. Mike Clevenger, 170.0 IP/4.00 ERA/1.29 WHIP, 2.6 WAR
  5. Shane Bieber, 139.0 IP/3.86 ERA/1.19 WHIP, 2.4 WAR
OFFSEASON RECAP
This has been a very quiet season for the AL Central champion Cleveland Indians. Trade deadline acquisition Josh Donaldson departed for a one-year, $23 million contract with the Atlanta Braves. Former relief super-star Andrew Miller signed to a two-year, $25 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals and former closer Cody Allen signed a one-year, $8.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels. And most notably, outfielder Michael Brantley signed a two-year, $32 million contract with the Houston Astros after spending ten years in Cleveland. A few other players departed — outfielders Melky Cabrera, Lonnie Chisenhall, Rajai Davis, and Brandon Guyer, utility man Adam Rosales, and pitcher Josh Tomlin — but their absences won’t be felt nearly as the absence of players like Brantley and Donaldson.
So, with a clear path to the postseason in baseball’s weakest division, what did the Cleveland Indians do to bolster their roster? Well, they looked ahead and extended star pitcher Carlos Carrasco until 2022, which is a good start. From there, Cleveland sent catcher Yan Gomes to the Washington Nationals for prospects. Next, they brought Carlos Santana back to Progressive Field but gave up Edwin Encarnacion in the process. The team also acquired former high-end first base prospect Jake Bauers from the Tampa Bay Rays. Most recently, the team inked relief pitcher Tyler Clippard to a minor-league contract. There were a couple of other minor trades and signings in there — most notably, they re-signed Oliver Perez to a one-year contract with a 2020 option and signed former Tigers relief pitcher Alex Wilson to a minor-league contract — but overall, this was a very quiet and very disappointing offseason for a team in the midst of its competitive window.
2019 SEASON PREVIEW
In 1995, legendary band Radiohead released their second album, The Bends, to critical acclaim. The self-titled track opens with a plea from Thom Yorke:
24 years later, it is apparent that Yorke is a disgruntled Cleveland Indians fan and is appealing to the team’s principal owners, the Dolan family, and the team’s general manager, Mike Chernoff, to do something, anything to bolster their team. Sure, the Indians won the AL Central last year by 13 games, but the Astros absolutely embarrassed them in the postseason, sweeping Cleveland in three games while outscoring them 21-6. Houston then proceeded to steal Cleveland’s best outfielder, Michael Brantley, in the offseason on a very affordable contract.
So. Here we are. Two seasons have passed since Cleveland came inches within a world title and they have not come close since. How are their odds looking this year? Let’s break down the roster and see if it can compete with the other major forces in the American League, like the New York Yankees, the aforementioned Houston Astros, and the reigning champion Boston Red Sox.
Let’s start with what’s going right for the Indians. The left side of the infield and the rotation are elite. Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez are both arguably the best players in baseball at their positions and are both projected to post a 6+ WAR. The rotation, meanwhile, is led by three aces — Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer, and Carlos Carrasco — and has two high-upside pitchers rounding out the rotation in Mike Clevinger (who posted a 4.3 WAR in 2018) and Shane Bieber. Cleveland will receive plenty of strong starts from this rotation, and barring injury, Lindor and Ramirez will be an absolute force-of-nature in the middle of the lineup and on defense.
Next, let’s talk about the rest of the team. First: the rest of the infield. Jason Kipnis is not the player he used to be from 2012 to 2016, but he should still be decently reliable for the Indians in 2019. Jake Bauers was ranked as Fangraphs’ #43 prospect the last time he received a prospect ranking and was mediocre at best for the Rays in 96 games last season. Roberto Perez, meanwhile, has been the clear back-up catcher in Cleveland since 2014, yet will likely start around half of the team’s games in 2019 after posting a -0.7 WAR in 2018. The team also acquired Kevin Plawecki from the Mets to split time with Perez, but Plawecki, like Bauers, was mediocre at best in 2018, posting a 0.6 WAR in 79 games.
Cool!
We’ve hit the good and the bad, so it’s time for the ugly. First, the bullpen. This bullpen will be better than the team’s 2018 dumpster fire of a bullpen. 2018 deadline acquisition Brad Hand will lead the way. Although he is only projected by Steamer to post a 3.41 ERA, a 3.49 FIP, and a 0.8 WAR in 70 innings, that will be better than Cody Allen’s 4.70 ERA, 4.56 FIP, and 0.0 WAR in 67 innings last season. Setting up for Hand will be Adam Cimber, who came to Cleveland along with Hand in the Francisco Mejia deal, and Tyler Clippard, who was signed late in February. Former Tiger Alex Wilson will also eat a large chunk of innings, but with Dan Otero, Jefry Rodriguez, and guys like Neil Ramirez and Oliver Perez rounding out the bullpen, this is going to get pretty ugly pretty quickly.
Cool!
Finally, the outfield. Et tu, Chernoff? Leonys Martin will be the Indian’s best outfielder in 2019, and he was not the best outfielder for the Detroit Tigers in year one of their rebuild last season. Joining him will be Tyler Naquin, who hasn’t played 120 games in a season since debuting in 2016, and Greg Allen, who’s projected to post a WAR of zero. 
Cool!
So, can this team compete with the other big contenders in the American League? Absolutely not. This team is one or two starting pitcher or Jose Ramirez/Francisco Lindor injuries away from losing the division to the Minnesota Twins (who actually tried this offseason) or, in some bizarre alternate reality where Daniel Norris finishes top-five in Cy Young voting, the Detroit Tigers. That said, the pitching and the left side of the infield have been reliable for years now. This team should absolutely win the AL Central (and more than likely get swept in the American League Divisional Series again) this year!
Record Prediction: 87-75
PLAYERS TO WATCH
JOSE RAMIREZ
Jose Ramirez is very good at baseball. He posted 8 WAR in 2018. He hit 81 extra base hits. He stole 34 bases and knocked 39 home runs. He’s also a great fielder! In conclusion, you should watch Jose Ramirez play baseball this season.
MIKE CLEVINGER
Mike Clevinger’s breakout season was one of the primary reasons that the Indians posted a 91-71 record last year. Can he replicate it this year? Well, his .280 opponent BABIP last season was about in line with his .279 career opponent BABIP. He posted a 3.52 FIP and a 3.86 xFIP, but Fangraphs WAR is based on FIP, anyways. And his velocity last year was up across the board from 2017, and there’s no reason that it should go down this season, as Clevinger is only 28. There is no reason to expect Clevinger to regress in 2019.
DANNY SALAZAR
29-year-old Danny Salazar remains a wildcard for the Cleveland Indians. He has flashed brilliance when healthy — most recently, he posted a 2.2 WAR and an extremely impressive 33% strikeout percentage in 2017, but he hasn’t pitched since the 2017 postseason. If Salazar can bounce back, the Indians will have an excess of riches in the starting rotation, making Salazar an intriguing player who could save this team’s bullpen (whether he does it as a lights-out late innings reliever or as a trade chip for another reliever).
DETROIT TIGERS


2018 Record: 64-98 (3rd in AL Central)
2018 Payroll: $130,959,889 (17th)
Projected Lineup:
  1. 3B Jeimer Candelario, .233 AVG/.323 OBP/.399 SLG, 2.6 WAR
  2. DH Christin Stewart, .246 AVG/.328 OBP/.449 SLG, 1.6 WAR
  3. RF Nick Castellanos, .283 AVG/.347 OBP/.500 SLG, 3.1 WAR
  4. 1B Miguel Cabrera, .283 AVG/.368 OBP/.480 SLG, 2.8 WAR
  5. 2B Josh Harrison, .258 AVG/.310 OBP/.392 SLG, 1.2 WAR
  6. LF Mikie Mahtook, .244 AVG/.303 OBP/.411 SLG, 0.2 WAR
  7. C Grayson Greiner, .236 AVG/.307 OBP/.367 SLG, 1.7 WAR
  8. SS Jordy Mercer, .252 AVG/.320 OBP/.390 SLG, 1.2 WAR
  9. CF JaCoby Jones, .225 AVG/.284 OBP/.370 SLG, 0.8 WAR
Projected Rotation:
  1. Michael Fulmer, 175 IP/4.38 ERA/1.34 WHIP, 2.3 WAR
  2. Matt Boyd, 170 IP/4.82 ERA/1.35 WHIP, 1.3 WAR
  3. Jordan Zimmerman, 155 IP/5.09 ERA/1.38 WHIP, 0.9 WAR
  4. Tyson Ross, 146 IP/4.50ERA/1.39WHIP, 0.9 WAR
  5. Matt Moore, 90 IP/5.34 ERA/1.48 WHIP, 0.3 WAR
  6. Daniel Norris 105 IP/4.29 ERA/1.53 WHIP, 0.9 WAR
OFFSEASON RECAP
The Tigers made a few changes to the team this offseason that will hopefully help their rebuild. First, they switched things up at catcher by letting go of the homegrown James McCann. Although McCann is a well-liked guy and has a strong career 37% caught stealing rate, the Tigers decided to go with Grayson Greiner and John Hicks. They also signed Bobby Wilson to serve as depth as a bridge until prospect Jake Rogers is ready for the show. Rogers is a very similar player to McCann, as he is probably the best defensive catcher prospect in the minors, and the Tigers hope he can also develop with the bat.
Jose Iglesias was another player that the Tigers let go of this offseason. His highlight defensive plays will certainly be missed, but the Tigers signed his replacement Jordy Mercer to a 1 year/$5.25 million deal to man shortstop this year. Mercer has been an incredibly consistent, albeit slightly below average player throughout his career, and will afford prospects like the 19-year old Isaac Paredes the time to develop in the minors. Pete Kozma and Gordon Beckham were also signed to minor-league deals for depth in case Mercer gets hurt.
Victor Martinez, a long-time fan favorite, retired at the end of 2018 season, which should open the door for Christin Stewart to fill the designated hitter role. Stewart has a lot of power potential, and the Tigers certainly hope he can fill a spot in the middle of their lineup for years to come.
Alex Wilson, a surprisingly positive asset from the Yoenis Cespedes trade, was also let go this offseason. To replace Wilson, Louis Coleman was given a non-roster invite and the Tigers drafted right-handed reliever Reed Garrett in the Rule 5 draft. Garrett has a strong fastball and posted a sub-4 FIP at both AA and AAA in 2018, and the team certainly hopes he can develop into a useful major league asset.
With respect to the rotation, Tigers let Francisco Liriano walk in free agency. To replace him, the team signed two starters — Tyson Ross and Matt Moore. Ross was one of the more dominant pitchers in baseball for the Padres from 2013-2015 and put up solid numbers in 2018 with a 4.15 ERA, 4.39 FIP, and 4.25 xFIP. Many people within the Tigers organization hope he can post a strong first half of the season, before being flipped to a contender for prospects, much like the Mike Fiers in 2018. The other starter the Tigers signed was Matt Moore. Remember when he was supposed to be better than Bryce Harper? Well, he was signed before Harper this offseason, so maybe he’ll outperform him. Hopefully, he can eat some quality innings for the team in 2019.
Brandon Dixon, a utility player for the Reds last year, was claimed off of waivers this offseason and will compete with Ronny Rodriguez for a bench spot. The bench battle got a bit more crowded last week, however, after the Tigers signed 2-time All-Star Josh Harrison to hold down the fort at second base, reuniting Harrison with long-time Pirates teammate Jordy Mercer. Harrison is a solid base runner that should bring average production and help with infield depth.
SEASON PREVIEW
The Tigers came into Spring Training with a winning attitude. All the players and manager Ron Gardenhire have the World Series on their minds. In reality, with the current group of players, they are at best a .500 team and at worst, a 100 loss team that nets them another high draft pick and lots of new, young players with the potential to get promoted. It is nice to see that some of the younger players are hungry to improve, especially since they will be pressured to perform, such as Casey Mize, Matt Manning, Franklin Perez, Isaac Paredes, Daz Cameron, Beau Burrows, Jake Rogers, and many more.
On the major league roster, the current starting rotation is not super exciting. Maybe Michael Fulmer could return to his young stud form of sub 4 ERA and FIP. If he performs well, the Tigers could sell high and trade him for more young prospects. Maybe Matt Boyd improves and posts similar stats to Fulmer. Realistically, he will most likely pitch like he did last year — a back-end starting pitcher with a WAR hovering around 2.0. Ross, Moore, and Zimmerman are not the most exciting options at this stage of their careers. Zimmerman has been largely ineffective since joining the Tigers, and one can only hope something clicks next season. Meanwhile, the best case scenario for Ross and Moore is to perform well and get flipped for prospects at the deadline. The one starter that does intrigue me is Daniel Norris. The headline piece from the David Price trade, he is still just 25 and has yet to be given a chance to pitch a full and healthy season. He has bulked up since last year, and if he stays healthy, it is very possible he can perform at the same level or better than Matt Boyd did last year. In 2017 and 2018, his FIP was about 1 run lower than his ERA, so he has been getting criticized a lot more than he should have been.
Moving on to the bullpen, there are a couple of intriguing players to watch this year. If all goes well, the back end of the bullpen could be a strength for the Tigers this year. Shane Greene, with his electric slider, will open the season as the closer. His home run to fly ball ratio dramatically increased from 5.7% in 2016 to 10.7% in 2017, to 16.4% last year. Hopefully he can cut those numbers back to around the average of 10%. Joe Jimenez, the only Tigers All-Star last year, averaged a strong 11.20 K/9. His FIP was very good at 2.91, despite the bloated ERA. He is still only 24 and can be a lights out reliever for years to come. Drew VerHagen and Blaine Hardy aren’t going to put up mind-blowing numbers; however, they can certainly pitch at an above-average level for the team next year. After the top four relief arms, things get a bit hazy. Buck Farmer does not inspire a lot of confidence, but he should pitch a decent amount of innings. Victor Alcantara somehow had a 95.8% LOB percentage in 2018, which means he is probably due for some regression. Zac Houston excites me, but only has one good pitch as of now. If he develops a secondary pitch by the end of Spring Training, look for him to be a great reliever for the Tigers.
Now onto the position players. The lineup will not be deadly for the Tigers in 2019. The days of hitting tanks with Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, JD Martinez, Torii Hunter, and Victor Martinez are long gone, unfortunately. Jeimer Candelario provided solid production with 2.5 WAR and 19 home runs in his first full major league season. Staying healthy is essential, but the Tigers’ projected leadoff hitter has a lot of potential and should post a good season for the team.
The middle of the order could have some decent pop for the Tigers this year. Stewart, Castellanos, and Cabrera should all post around 25 home runs. Although Stewart is a bad defender, he projects to have above average hitting production with a WRC+ around 120, and a wOBA around .345. The same can be said about Castellanos. Despite being one of the worst outfielders in baseball in 2018, he still posted a high WAR thanks to great batting numbers. There is no reason he cannot do the same this year and be one of the Tigers most valuable players. Cabrera is one of the most feared hitters of the decade and if he stays healthy, he could easily post a 30 home run/100 RBI season. (My hot take for the 2019 season is Cabrera hits his 500th career home run and earns another trip to the All-Star game).
From there, the lineup goes downhill. The new Tigers (and former Pirates) middle infield of Josh Harrison and Jordy Mercer should provide average to below average production both at the plate and in the field. Harrison adds a solid element to the base paths, as he has had a positive BsR every single year of his career except 2011. Grayson Greiner, the tallest catcher in MLB history, will man the catcher’s spot while waiting for Jake Rogers to develop. Although he is not expected to be a future starter, there is hope that Greiner can eventually be a solid backup for the Tigers long-term.
Niko Goodrum was a surprising positive addition to the team, quickly earning the title of Tigers Rookie of the Year. Goodrum will get spot starts everywhere for the team and can be a great utility man. Dare I say the next Don Kelly? There will never be another Don, but Goodrum could possibly become a fan favorite bench player for us for years to come. Lastly, the player I am most excited for this year is JaCoby Jones. Arguably the best defender in the league last year, if he can become an average hitter, he will be a fantastic player for the rest of his prime.
All in all, the Tigers still have a lot of holes. Many of these, mostly pitching, can be fixed and filled by farm-grown talent in a year or two. When this occurs, the Tigers can be big spenders like they were in the Dombrowski era and fill in the other gaps that they have. Barring a ton of injuries, I can see this team winning 70-80 games in a weak central division due to increased depth and more potential on offense. Give it a couple more years and the Tigers will be roaring once again.
Predicted Record: 75-87
Player to Watch: OF/DH Christin Stewart
Tigers fans are praying that Stewart is not the next Steven Moya. In case you don’t remember, Moya hit 35 home runs in Erie in 2014 and people thought he would be the next all-star outfielder for the Tigers. Stewart has also flashed power in the minors as he has 93 career bombs in the minors. A career .363 OBP in the minors, he could be a solid addition to the offense for the Tigers this year. Fun fact: Stewart has had a WRC+ over 100 at every level of his career so hopefully this trend will continue in his first real MLB season.
Player to Watch: RP Zac Houston
Let me just write down Houston’s K/9 statistics at every level in the minors: 17.10, 13.73, 13.79, 15.43, 12.98, 13.03. Boasting a powerful fastball and standing at 6’5, 250 pounds, Houston is an absolute beast on the mound. Houston has never posted a FIP above 2.91! He has been virtually unhittable this far in his career. If Houston develops a secondary pitch, look for him to crack the major league roster and be a force in the Tigers bullpen for years to come.
Player to Watch: CF JaCoby Jones
JaCoby Jones had a WRC+ of 35 in 2017. 35. He was 65% worse than the average hitter. In 2018 he doubled that to 70… still 30% worse than an average player. With a 30.4% strikeout rate and terrible offensive stats, you wouldn’t expect his WAR to be even close to positive. He had a 2.0 WAR, due to his solid baserunning (13 steals in 2018) and elite defense (1 error all season and a ridiculous 21 DRS). With all his athleticism, if he can become an even league average hitter, he can easily be a 5 WAR player. It has been reported he has changed his swing and got rid of his uppercut so hopefully he improves.
KANSAS CITY ROYALS
2018 Record: 58-104 (5th AL Central)
2018 Payroll: $129,944,821 (20th)
Projected 2019 Lineup:
1. 2B Whit Merrifield, .295 AVG/.350 OBP/.439 SLG, 5.2 WAR
2. SS Adalberto Mondesi, .242 AVG/.276 OBP/.424 SLG, 2.8 WAR
3. OF Alex Gordon, .230 AVG/.312 OBP/.357 SLG, 1.6 WAR
4. C Salvador Pérez .252 AVG/.287 OBP/.463 SLG, 1.7 WAR
5. 1B Ryan O’Hearn, .227 AVG/.311 OBP/.424 SLG, 0.8 WAR
6. DH Jorge Soler, .238 AVG/.332 OBP/.422 SLG, 0.9 WAR
7. 3B Hunter Dozier, .229 AVG/.296 OBP/.370 SLG, -0.8 WAR
8. OF Chris Owings, .250 AVG/.294 OBP/.386 SLG, -0.8 WAR
9. OF Billy Hamilton, .245 AVG/.304 OBP/.336 SLG, 1.3 WAR
Projected Starting Rotation:
1. Danny Duffy, 185 IP/4.14 ERA/1.36 WHIP, 1.1 WAR
2. Brad Keller, 184 IP/3.54 ERA/1.31 WHIP, 2.5 WAR
3. Jakob Junis, 162 IP/4.40 ERA/1.28 WHIP, 1.3 WAR
4. Ian Kennedy, 126 IP/4.92 ERA/1.32 WHIP, 1.0 WAR
5. Heath Fillmyer, 86 IP/4.72 ERA/1.56 WHIP, 0.5 WAR
OFFSEASON RECAP
The Kansas City Royals were pretty active this offseason by acquiring the speedy Billy Hamilton to slot into their outfield and Brad Boxberger to close the door in the 9th inning. The Royals did pick up some other veterans, including Chris Owings, but all in all, there weren’t any acquisitions or resignings that put this Royals team over the edge. The Royals are very unlikely to sign Bryce Harper or Dallas Keuchel, as they don’t really have the funds necessary. Nor can I see these players signing a deal with them. The Royals could have done a better job this offseason, but they still addressed some needs on their team.
SEASON PREVIEW
The Royals are still in a rebuild mode after their World Series victory in 2015, but I really do think that this team has improved from last season. For a rebuilding team, the Royals lack a great farm system. They do have some young up and coming players, but they still don’t have much talent. Brady Singer, the club’s top draft pick in 2018, is their #1 prospect and could see major league action soon. During the leadup to the draft, there was a case to be made that he could go first overall. On the older side for prospects, Singer pitched in the College World Series for the Florida Gators, so he’s no stranger to high-pressure situations. Billy Hamilton was another nice signing for this team. He brings defense and speed to a team that already has a ton of it. His speed and defensive abilities remind me of what made the 2015 Royals such a good team, which prided themselves on their smallball-styled formula of defense and baserunning. Speed is also an important aspect of this Royals team, as they really don’t have a lot of power. Don’t sleep on the top of the batting order: Whit Merrifield and Adalberto Mondesi could be one of the best one-two hitting combos in the majors in 2019. Mondesi won’t hit for a great average, but he’s dangerous when he gets on base. With only a half of a season played last year, he managed to hit 14 home runs and steal 32 bases.
The middle of the lineup is definitely where things start to get shaky for this Royals team. Alex Gordon has been steadily declining, and I can’t see him hitting above .260 this year, yet he remains slotted into the three hole. At fourth is Salvador Pérez. Though a great defensive catcher, he doesn’t fit the typical cleanup hitter mold. Pérez has never hit more than 30 home runs in a season and has only eclipsed a .450 OPS once in a full season. Ryan O’Hearn is a young player hitting fifth, so we’re not exactly sure of his capabilities, but outside of OBP he isn’t great in any one category. A fringe .250 hitter throughout his minor league career, O’Hearn only displayed moderate power. Yes, O’Hearn is still young, but he doesn’t come off as a power hitter but rather an OBP maven.
There’s some pretty solid talent in the Royals lineup, but their pitching staff is another question. The only significant addition they made in terms of pitching was Brad Boxberger, which isn’t saying much. He is projected to be the teams closer entering 2019, but has been inconsistent from year to year. He has strong strikeout rates, but couples this with a not so great HR/9 figure. It makes you wonder if it’s perhaps better for a closer to just generate ground ball outs. The worst part about this situation is that the dearth of quality bullpen arms on the team means that Boxberger is pretty clearly their best reliever, and likely won’t have much competition for the closer job. The Royals’ starters also do not have much to brag about. Jakob Junis had a somewhat upstart year, but didn’t really end up contributing that much towards the end. Pitching in general is definitely a position that the Royals are lacking in. Thankfully, they have Singer developing in their farm system and he should get a call up sooner rather than later.
Record Prediction: 77-85
I think this Royals team will be around five games below .500 when all is said and done. They have a great pair of up and coming stars in Merrifield and Mondesi, but outside of that, they really don’t have much else to offer. Sure, Salvador Pérez is one of the top catchers in baseball, but he has been battling injuries these past two seasons. The team is still very interesting, though, mainly because of Mondesi’s potential. If Mondesi were to have played a full season last year, he was projected to hit well over 30 home runs and steal 60 bases. I really do like the signing of Billy Hamilton and can see him having an impact on this team early on. He will be getting everyday playing time in center field, and unlike in Cincinnati, he now has Mondesi and Merrifield hitting at the top of the lineup to relieve pressure off of him.
Player to Watch: Whit Merrifield
Whit Merrifield is still getting better every year and he just signed a contract extension, so the Royals are banking on him to be a leader of this team. Merrifield will be hitting right next to Adalberto Mondesi and should be given many opportunities to run. These two players will be very fun to watch and I think Merrifield could be a possible all-star participant. Stealing bases is one of the most intense parts of baseball and this lineup showcases that. Mondesi and Merrifield sure know how to steal and will get several chances.  
Player to Watch: Adalberto Mondesi
How can you not want to watch Mondesi, a guy who might join the 30/60 club when all is said and done? In all seriousness though, Mondessi has that sort of potential from his playing time last year. He has lethal speed that puts the opposing defense on edge whenever he gets on. His power is legit, as he worked on his swing last season and made major improvements in his statistics in power categories. I’m really going all in for Mondesi this year, but he really does need to improve on his eye after walking in a measly 3.8% of plate appearances.
Player to Watch: Brady Singer
Hailing from the University of Florida in a long line of Gator starters taken in the first round (Alex Faedo, A.J. Puk, and Dane Dunning) is Brady Singer. Singer had a great career at the University of Florida and was taken 18th overall in the 2018 draft. He has experience thriving in pressure filled situations and was thought of as a potential top pick. In terms of his pitching arsenal, he pairs a fastball topping at 97 MPH with a decent slider and changeup. Singer is also 21 years old, making him a candidate for getting his call to the big leagues soon. It will be interesting to see what happens next for Singer. He actually doesn’t have a single start in the minor leagues due to an innings limit from playing during College Baseball last season. Brady Singer is looking like he can help this rebuilding Royals right away. I really don’t see a scenario where it makes sense for the Royals to keep him in the minors for an extended amount of time.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX


2018 Record: 62-100 (4th AL Central)
2018 Payroll: $71,839,808 (29th)
2019 Projected Record: 69-93
All projections from Steamer
2019 Projected Lineup:
1.  LF Jon Jay .252 AVG/.316 OBP/.340 SLG, 0.1 WAR
2. 2B Yoan Moncada, .236 AVG/.324 OBP/.398 SLG, 2.4 WAR
3. DH Jose Abreu, .280 AVG/.339 OBP/.495 SLG, 2.2 WAR
4. 1B Yonder Alonso, .240 AVG/.322 OBP/.416 SLG, 0.5 WAR
5. RF Daniel Palka, .231 AVG/.294 OBP/.445 SLG, 0.5 WAR
6. C Wellington Castillo, .241 AVG/.297 OBP/.410 SLG, 1.5 WAR
7. SS Tim Anderson, .253 AVG/.287 OBP/.398 SLG, 1.3 WAR
8. 3B Yolmer Sanchez, .244 AVG/.302 OBP/.377 SLG, 1.2 WAR
9. CF Adam Engel, .218 AVG/.278 OBP/.338 SLG, 0.1 WAR
2019 Projected Rotation:
1. Carlos Rodon, 169.0 IP/ 4.68 ERA/1.42 WHIP, 1.4 WAR
2. Reynaldo Lopez, 175.0 IP/5.02 ERA/1.41 WHIP, 0.9 WAR
3. Lucas Giolito, 136.0 IP/5.32 ERA/1.54 WHIP, 0.2 WAR
4. Ivan Nova, 150.0 IP/5.01 ERA/1.38 WHIP, 0.8 WAR
5. Ervin Santana, 104.0 IP/5.44 ERA/1.46 WHIP, 0.2 WAR
OFFSEASON RECAP
The offseason on the south side has been one of rumors rather than blockbuster acquisitions. The stagnant, anti-climactic, and seemingly never-ending mind game that is this year’s free agent market has proven perhaps to have affected no fanbase more than the Chicago White Sox.
A grueling cycle of social media reports and speculation have enthralled anxious Sox fans who, like many across baseball, believe that the acquisition of Manny Machado and/or Bryce Harper is a necessity at this juncture of the team’s rebuilding effort.
After months of agonizing waiting and hope, Manny Machado signed a 10-year, $300 million deal with the San Diego Padres. The White Sox lost out with an offer of 8 years for $250 million with additional incentives worth approximately $100 million. While the Sox presented higher AAV, the omission of opt-outs and a smaller guaranteed value likely pushed the superstar infielder westward.
Devastating, to say the least. While not necessarily the most practical or beneficial move for the organization financially, Machado would have worked wonders from the perspective of morale, on-field talent, and future prospects. With a relatively barren roster shaping up for 2019 and a new TV deal on the way in the coming seasons, Machado would have certainly flipped some expectations of a fanbase that is starving for success. The White Sox administration continues to assert that money will be spent, but it is hard to justify a better place to spend it than on a 26-year-old infielder on a hall of fame track. Machado ranked highly in nearly every offensive Statcast metric in 2018, as well as excelling at 3B throughout his career. His acquisition would have been unprecedented for the often second fiddle Chicago franchise. In the end, Machado chose the guarantee rather than betting on himself; few can fault him for that.
Big names aside, the last few months have certainly not been silent at 35th and Shields. The Sox have diligently and economically addressed holes on the roster while simultaneously courting the aforementioned free agents. Bullpen pieces Alex Colomè and Kelvin Herrera are both extremely solid acquisitions who can serve a variety of roles.
A healthy Herrera could see a return to the form that White Sox fans watched for years as he lit up the radar gun for Kansas City with a deadly fastball/sinker/slider arsenal. After an injury-plagued second half of 2018, health is the only thing standing between Herrera and elite form. Even while battling multiple ailments in his shoulder and foot, Herrera still managed a career-low xWOBA and WOBA off his fastball and a minuscule .181/.149 xWOBA/xSLG line off his slider. However, Herrera saw his spin rates dip to career lows on almost all of his pitches, likely the cause of a career-high solid contact percentage. A bounce-back year certainly seems in order for the once-dominant reliever as he looks to pair his health with a return to the high spin rates he saw just one season prior. Herrera will stand in along Nate Jones and likely Ian Hamilton as late-inning fireballer options for Rick Renteria.
Alex Colomè, dealt from the Rays to the Mariners midseason, is an effective juxtaposition to the power that Herrera will bring to the table. Acquired this offseason for late-blooming catcher Omar Narvaez, Colomè will get a plethora of save opportunities, possibly even as the team’s closer on opening day. With an average fastball velocity above 95, Colomè is no soft-tosser. But rather than fielding a diverse arsenal, the former AL saves champion brings a mastery of a fastball/cutter combination to the table. With 47 saves in 2017 and an elite, sub-2 ERA 2016 campaign, a return to a that 2016 cutter/fastball usage rate coupled with a likely regression to the mean in BABIP, Colomè is poised for an excellent upcoming season.
The additions to the lineup, while filling some holes, were clearly part of a greater goal, namely Manny Machado. Yonder Alonso and Jon Jay check boxes as productive veterans, positive clubhouse presences, and most importantly, Manny Machado’s closest friends. Alonso, Machado’s brother-in-law, will look to return to his 2017 form where he posted a 2.4 fWAR and a 133 wRC+, surpassing his previous highs. Alonso appears to be a diligent believer in the “launch angle revolution.” He saw his average launch angle jump from 10.4 to 19.4 degrees and proceeded to have, by far, his best season as a big leaguer. A ~4-degree drop in 2018 saw his numbers dip during his lone season in Cleveland, possibly a reason for his lower BABIP and hard-hit percentage. Coupled with a doubling of his barrel rate, Alonso has become a genuine power threat that will see extensive time at DH and 1B in 2019.
Jon Jay, a close personal friend of Machado, will slot in as a more offensive-minded CF option with gold-glove nominee Adam Engel as his platoon-mate. Jay is a noted positive clubhouse presence, bringing additional veteran leadership into a locker room that will only get younger as the bevy of Sox prospects begin their imminent matriculation into the majors. A heavy contact player, the Sox hope they can get heavy on-base production out of Jay, something they’ve sorely lacked over the past couple seasons.
Other moves of note this offseason included the acquisition of Ivan Nova for low-level minor league pitcher, Yordi Rosario. In a salary-shed move for the Pirates, Nova will fill the “James Shields” role of wise veteran innings eater for the Sox this season. Additionally, former Indians OF Brandon Guyer signed a minor league contract. His effectiveness against lefties will put him right into the thick of the fourth OF competition along with Ryan Cordell and Charlie Tilson, among others.
A true recap of this offseason will remain incomplete until the big fish are all reeled in, Bryce Harper included. Without a doubt, however, the White Sox certainly concentrated effort toward filling holes on the roster as well as positioning themselves for acquiring a star player as they attempt to bring validation to years of losing and rebuilding.
SEASON PREVIEW
After a mediocre offseason and with no Manny Machado on the left flank of the infield, the White Sox will, in fact, field a major league team in 2019 and in doing so hope to turn some heads. Beginning with the offense, the additions the team made cannot be overlooked. The aforementioned projected lineup features contact-extraordinaire Jon Jay at the top of the lineup. Jay began last season in KC, slashing an exceptional .307/.363/.374. While extra-base power has never been his strong-suit, Jay’s .352 career OBP provides the White Sox with a table-setter that they have yet to see throughout the rebuild. The Sox have struggled mightily to get men on base consistently, and with offensive juggernaut prospects waiting in the wings, giving them RBI opportunities will benefit the team greatly.
In the 2-hole comes perhaps the most intriguing player in the lineup today. Yoan Moncada is a freak, to put it lightly. A rare athlete with even rarer switch-hitting power at second base, Moncada was the centerpiece of the Chris Sale deal and has been labeled by many as a superstar in the making. Moncada’s first big-league season, however, was mediocre at best. Moncada proved his eye was major league ready, walking at a steady 10.3% clip. The key for a breakout in 2019 is simple: swing the bat. Moncada was one of two hitters out of 41 qualified players to have a Z-Swing% below 65% and Z-Contact% below 80 (WriteSox). The other hitter? Chris Davis; that’s not good company to be in. In order to reach his full potential, Moncada is going to have to learn to swing and make contact with pitches in his wheelhouse.
Moncada’s potential for a breakout is aided by his clear ability to recognize pitches. An impeccable eye at such a young age is an extremely rare trait to possess and something that raises his floor. Once he becomes a more adept pitch selector, I certainly see him able to fulfill the vast potential he entered his career with and still possesses today. He is my pick for a “wild card” player to watch who can vastly alter the direction of the rebuild with a breakout year.
The 3-4-5 hitters are likely going to be the area of greatest variance throughout the year. The White Sox used 142 different lineups in 2018, per Baseball Reference, and repeated the same lineup no more than four times during the season. This trend of variation looks to continue. Prospect graduation and a glut of similar players will keep the White Sox middle of the order in constant motion.
Following the big bat of star first baseman Jose Abreu will be the similar bats of Yonder Alonso and Daniel Palka. Two high-power guys who offer little versatility in the field, but massive big fly potential at the plate will protect Abreu and Moncada. Palka is a hard-hit monster, ranking in the top 5% in hard-hit% and exit velocity. While he struggles with contact and OBP, if Palka can find a way to decrease his K% and increase his BB%, he can become a very dangerous middle of the order asset.
Alonso, who will likely provide Jose Abreu a greater share of DH at-bats, will look to return to his 2017 where he posted career highs in nearly every major hitting category. Alonso could prove to be a valuable trade chip as the White Sox have a multitude of similar players who could fill his role if he proves moveable down the stretch.
A discussion of the middle of the lineup would be very much incomplete without speaking of the team’s likely top player, Eloy Jimenez. Acquired in the Jose Quintana deal along with reigning minor league pitcher of the year, Dylan Cease, Jimenez has the makings of a dominant hitter. After demolishing AAA pitching, Jimenez, compared to Babe Ruth by Michael Kopech, will likely be torturing major league pitching before the end of April. In doing so, Jimenez will likely insert himself right in the heart of a lineup that appears poised for little consistency.
The bottom of the lineup will likely be the key between an atrocious campaign and a mediocre one that bodes positively for the prime years of prospect matriculation and the “winning window.” Wellington Castillo, suspended for much of last year, has shown flashes of significant offensive production throughout his career. If he can return anywhere near his 2017 line of .282/.323/.490, he will be a more than satisfactory placeholder for the prospect duo of Seby Zavala and Zack Collins when they are major league ready later this season. Don’t be surprised if Yermin Mercedes, a Rule 5 pick from the Orioles organization, pushes for some plate appearances over the course of this season as well, although he has seen no action above High-A.
Tim Anderson will once again provide 25-25 potential with his crippling athleticism on defense. Continued growth in his pitch selection and walk rate will be key for him this year. Continuing his defensive improvement from last year will hopefully dampen the defensive weakness, albeit stunning athletic talent, of the White Sox middle infield. An adept baserunner, Anderson will likely pace the team in stolen bases once again as well as a second-place finish in BsR, just behind speedster and 9-hole hitter Adam Engel.
Before Engel comes utility man Yolmer Sanchez. A long-time member of the organization (relatively speaking), Sanchez can be inserted with above average defense at nearly every spot on the field. He will likely share playing time with another fixture in Leury Garcia but should see the majority of reps at the hot corner to begin the year.
Finally comes gold glove nominee Adam Engel. A non-impact with the bat, Engel’s top-tier speed leads to masterful work in CF. Although he has a below average arm, his ability to cover ground and make astounding plays keeps him at the major league level. Engel will swing from a more crouched position this year, hoping that a more athletic posture will raise his paltry contact rates.
Like the lineup, the rotation is mired in mediocrity and in desperate need of a prospect infusion. With little to be overly excited for in 2019, brevity is likely the best course of action. Carlos Rodon has continually shown flashes of ace-potential with a solid power fastball/slider combination. His inability to maintain consistent command and control leads him into trouble that he rarely can recover from. A client of Scott Boras, who rarely signs premature extensions, Rodon will look to prove whether he is worth the investment as he enters his final arbitration years.
The young duo of Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez come into this season with far different outlooks. Giolito had a horrific 2018, to put it generously. I am a massive fan of his and loved watching him develop as a young hurler. However, the Nationals decided some years ago to alter his mechanics to the point that some may label the damage irreparable. Giolito is a long, lanky pitcher whose should, in theory, have the ability to get a downward plane on the ball should generate high fastball velocity to couple with solid breaking offerings. However, his inability to generate this from his motion leads to a comparatively low fastball velocity that leads to an excess of similarity to his off-speed offerings. If Giolito can improve his command and control under reclamation wizard and pitching coach Don Cooper, as well as generate greater velocity variation between his pitches, he can set himself on the path toward significant productivity.
Finally, veteran additions Ervin Santana and Ivan Nova will both play similar roles on the staff as leaders and innings eaters. Both guys are aging and not likely to provide much in the way of significant production, but they will effectively hold spots until Michael Kopech and Dylan Cease, among others, are healthy and ready for the majors (likely 2020 for Cease and Kopech will be recovered from Tommy John by the start of next season).
Jordan Stephens, Manny Banuelos, and Dylan Covey will also likely see starts throughout the year. Carson Fulmer might feature as well but more likely in the bullpen.
As discussed above, the bullpen is a solid unit full of both young and experienced contributors who will likely comprise the best phase of the team. However, the mediocrity that comprises the rest of the team will keep the White Sox from truly competing in 2019. 2020 and beyond appear to be to be the team’s years for legitimate contention. That said, I like the chances of solid years out of the top half of the Sox lineup as well as similar performances from the Anderson/Castillo group toward the bottom. Performances aligning with potential for Moncada and Jimenez will likely be the ultimate decider of the team’s final win total. Since I expect a rookie of the year level campaign out of Jimenez and steady improvement for Moncada, I think the White Sox can turn a couple heads this season and win a few more contests than the season prior.
Predicted Record: 72-90
Player to Watch: Jose Abreu
Jose Abreu is a hitter, and few can dispute that. Even in a down 2018 season where Abreu battled injury and a crippling .294 BABIP, his Statcast metrics told another story. Abreu in the upper quartile or better in exit velocity, hard hit %, xwOBA, xSLG, and xBA. A return to BABIP form is certainly in order for Abreu as he looks to prove his worth despite his age as he enters free agency. Because of his past accomplishments, racking up numbers emulated only by Albert Pujols, among few others, Abreu is my star to watch on the 2019 Sox.
Player to Watch: Eloy Jimenez
Jimenez brings a legitimate MVP-caliber bat to the table; a rare prospect with (literal) light-tower-power and a special hit tool, Jimenez looks to be the fruit that fans have desperately waiting for the rebuild to bear. Because of his essentially limitless potential, Jimenez is without a doubt my pick for a young player to watch this year. Not only could he be the team’s top player but will likely contend for rookie of the year as well.
Player to Watch: Reynaldo Lopez
Lopez had a terrific season last year. With little run support and the unhelpful framing of Omar Narvaez, he also encountered some unfortunate luck along the way. With a blazing fastball and solid compliments, Lopez has the makings of a strong middle of the rotation arm. He will look to build on his first full season with a higher strikeout rate and some better luck.


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