American League Contenders

[The Analyst]

Going into last season, there were six defined “power teams” in the AL (we all know who they were) that looked like they would contend for the five playoff spots. As of right now, who would you say are the contenders for next season? Here’s my list:

Contenders: NYY, DET, LAA, TEX
Fringe: TAM, OAK, TOR, BAL
Pretenders: BOS, CHW

[lajoie]

I would have thought from last year that people would have learned that with the new format, almost any teams has a shot at the playoffs.

[mozartjune]

I don't see Baltimore doing well at all.

[Farsight]

Yeah, Baltimore had a great year... I will give them that, but unless they make some changes, i believe it will be nearly impossible for them to repeat what they did in 2012.

28th in fielding according to UZR, 11th in wOBA and 15th in wRC+ (so they are middle of the pact offensively), 23rd in FIP, 20th in xFIP, and 13th in ERA. There pitching was average at best... There bullpen was amazing, and they are the reason why they did so well. However, Bullpens are bi-polar on average, more than likely they will regress a bit.

Baltimore's 2012 performance was a rare occurrence. I just dont see it happening again if they keep the exact same team. They will be in for a big shock if they make little to no changes

[Sanyo]

Detroit is still the king, especially if they re-sign Sanchez and have Hunter now.

Yanks are the decline. Obviously we still have to wait and see what they do, but Cano and Granderson re-signings are coming up and they dont have the wiggle room to get a big contract.

Sox still have a huge amount to improve. I think they are now easily a step or two behind the Jays.

The O's still have their issues, but Machado and Bundy are up, they will make that team much better in a year or two, along with strategic acquisitions. I'm not writing them off just yet.

Jays will make it close. If they can close the LF and DH gap, I think they become my 3rd fav team behind LAA (if they re-sign Greinke and get another bat to replace Hunter) and Detroit.

I think Toronto wins the AL east this year (health issues aside).

[MrForever]

I think the Jays and Orioles will be the top teams in the AL east when it's all said and done. Tampa will stick around, and the Yankees could be either great or horrible, nobody knows.

[wagnall]

Detroit is still the king, especially if they re-sign Sanchez and have Hunter now.
Yanks are the decline. Obviously we still have to wait and see what they do, but Cano and Granderson re-signings are coming up and they dont have the wiggle room to get a big contract.

Sox still have a huge amount to improve. I think they are now easily a step or two behind the Jays.

The O's still have their issues, but Machado and Bundy are up, they will make that team much better in a year or two, along with strategic acquisitions. I'm not writing them off just yet.

Jays will make it close. If they can close the LF and DH gap, I think they become my 3rd fav team behind LAA (if they re-sign Greinke and get another bat to replace Hunter) and Detroit.

I think Toronto wins the AL east this year (health issues aside).

Detroit also gets VMart back next year as well. They are pretty loaded.

As much as I love our pitching now, we added 1 bat, as good as it is, other than who replaces Johnson, if Davis is in left and Lind is at 1st, its basically the same 8 man unit as last year, plus Reyes. I think we still need a good lefty bat between Joey and EE. JMHO.

[Sanyo]

Detroit also gets VMart back next year as well. They are pretty loaded.

As much as I love our pitching now, we added 1 bat, as good as it is, other than who replaces Johnson, if Davis is in left and Lind is at 1st, its basically the same 8 man unit as last year, plus Reyes. I think we still need a good lefty bat between Joey and EE. JMHO.

Berkman and LaRoche are available.

[Farsight]

Berkman and LaRoche are available.

Berkman as DH makes a lot of sense as you preserve him. Moreover, he can play 1B or outfield if need be

[fmradioguy]

Berkman as DH makes a lot of sense as you preserve him. Moreover, he can play 1B or outfield if need be

Although with his knees, wouldn't be worth the risk. Keep him at DH. He's also a switch hitter. But he's right in the mold of a Winfield and Molitor. A veteran, clubhouse leader type with playoff experience. He's exactly what the team needs at DH.

[mtf]

The power rankings of contenders, as I see them right now, are

1. Detroit
2. Texas
3. New York
4. Toronto
5. Los Angeles
6. Tampa Bay
7. Oakland

There's still lots of interesting free agents and trade targets out there that could really alter the landscape of the American League. Greinke, Hamilton, Sanchez, Jackson, Upton(s), Lincecum(?).

I hate when people throw cold water on speculative conversations with comments like "it's too early to tell" but in this case I expect several changes to teams liek Detroit, Texas and Los Angeles. I also think Tampa Bay will be trying their addition by subtraction gambles again (and someday it won't work out).

[jaysfan4ever]

The Angels will be king in 2013. Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, Jered Weaver, CJ Wilson, Ernesto Frieri and probably Zack Greinke. I also think that AA is far from done this offseason, and that once the dust settles, the Jays will be close behind the Yankees for 4th.

1. LA Angels
2. Detroit
3. NYY
4. Toronto
5. Texas
6. Tampa
7. Boston
8. Oakland

[2009mvp]

Detroit won 88 games in a dreadful division, what's everyone so scared of them for?

[JaysFan87]

Detroit also gets VMart back next year as well. They are pretty loaded.

As much as I love our pitching now, we added 1 bat, as good as it is, other than who replaces Johnson, if Davis is in left and Lind is at 1st, its basically the same 8 man unit as last year, plus Reyes. I think we still need a good lefty bat between Joey and EE. JMHO.

Not quite presumable you get a full year out of Bautista and even with Lawrie not not reach full potential last year he has still an average bat that can improve. Essentially with Reyes, EE, Bautista then Lawrie you ahve a pretty good core. YOu platoon Davis/Bonifacio in LF (there splits dictate they would be an awesome pair) and you have a pretty good core with 1B/DH being a hole. Obviously its not APril yet and I fully assume that JPA is gone by then for either a LF/1B or SP.

[jaysfan4ever]

Detroit won 88 games in a dreadful division, what's everyone so scared of them for?

Kinda agree, but they'll still be solid. They'll replace Delmon Young's .707OPS and Brennan Boesch's .659OPS with Torii Hunter and Victor Martinez. Plus, the ~100 games of Ramon Santiago (.555OPS) and Ryan Raburn (.480OPS) will be replaced by Omar Infante's ~.715OPS. And Avila should have a better season.