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2009 MLB American League Central - 09 Season Preview
Chicago White Sox
2008 Record: 89-74
Pythagorean W/L: 89-74
Key Additions
Wilson Betemit, INF
Bartolo Colon, RHP
Tyler Flowers, RHP
Brent Lillibridge, INF
Jayson Nix, 2b
Key Losses
Orlando Cabrera, SS
Joe Crede, 3b
Ken Griffey Jr., OF
Nick Swisher, 1b/OF
Javier Vazquez, RHP
The South Siders made a lot of cost-cutting moves leading up to the 2009 season. After letting Ken Griffey Jr. walk, trading Javier Vazquez, and letting Joe Crede and Orlando Cabrera leave, albeit at discount prices, the team is set up well for a poor economy.
The team traded Nick Swisher to the Yankees after the once highly-rated prospect had a disappointing 2008 season. If he remains in a Yankee uniform he could make the White Sox regret the move, but he’s another salary-dump at this point.
The Sox did well in both trades, those of Swisher and Vazquez, but apart from Wilson Betemit the team acquired mostly players with potential. Betemit can play pretty much anywhere in the infield, but won’t be a tremendous offensive threat.
The White Sox will remain competitive by virtue of the weak division they play in, and could still contend for the Central title in 2009, unless another team ups the proverbial ante.
Prediction: 81-81
Cleveland Indians
2008 Record: 81-81
Pythagorean W/L: 85-77
Key Additions
Mark DeRosa, UTL
Joe Smith, RHP
Luis Valbuena, 2b
Kerry Wood, RHP
Key Losses
Joe Borowski, RHP
Franklin Gutierrez, CF
The Indians not only under-achieved last season because the team had a better Pythagorean ratio than the 81-81 record they posted, but also the team is also far more talented than the .500 record.
The Tribe traded Franklin Gutierrez for yet another Mariners send-off. The team has acquired Asdrubal Cabrera and Shin-shoo Choo in exchange for Eduardo Perez and Ben Broussard.
Kerry Wood will solidify the team’s closer role, which was vacated by the retired Joe Borowski. Wood has shown the ability to stay healthy in relief.
The Indians managed to pick up Mark DeRosa from the Cubs. DeRosa’s a do-anything player, one who can hold down either corner-outfield spot, or play every infield spot. He had his best offensive season to date in 2008, and will look to build on that in Cleveland.
Though the Indians will be starting the 2009 season without CC Sabathia, the team could get a full season from Fausto Carmona. Last season I explained that the talented Dominican has the type of repertoire that seems to be asking for an arm injury, instead, he suffered a hip strain that sidelined him for much of 2008.
Cliff Lee needs to prove that his 2008 Cy Young Award winning-campaign was one of ability, and not an anomaly. He’s always had the stuff to be successful, and finally combined an elite skillset and pitch repertoire with control in 2008.
Prediction: 87-75
Detroit Tigers
2008 Record: 74-88
Pythagorean W/L: 78-84
Key Additions
Edwin Jackson, RHP
Gerald Laird, C
Adam Everett, INF
Brandon Lyon, RHP
Matt Treanor, C
Key Losses
Kyle Farnsworth, RHP
Matt Joyce, LF
Edgar Renteria, SS
The Tigers enter 2009 without the star-studded “acquired” column that they had last year after a blockbuster Miguel Cabrera-Dontrelle Willis trade. The team did however, fill a lot of needs, and several players could have better seasons than the 2008 campaigns they posted.
The team was able to acquired Gerald Laird, who will replace Ivan Rodriguez, who was traded to the Yankees during the 2008 season. Laird is likely an upgrade at this point of the season.
Edwin Jackson has all kinds of ability, but has yet to put together a full season where he displayed it consistently.
Losing Edgar Renteria could hurt the team, however, his replacement Adam Everett has equaled Renteria’s .270/.317/.382 line from 2008, though Everett did so in 2004, when he was 27 years old.
If the Tigers see a return-to-form from Justin Verlander and Jeremy Bonderman, the team could have a resurgence in the AL Central, but the chances of that happening are slim.
Prediction: 80-82
Kansas City Royals
2008 Record: 75-87
Pythagorean W/L: 72-90
Key Additions
Mike Jacobs, 1b
Willie Bloomquist, UTL
Coco Crisp, CF
Kyle Farnsworth, RHP
Horacio Ramirez, LHP
Key Losses
Joey Gathright, OF
Leo Nunez, RHP
Ramon Ramirez, RHP
The Royals are one of the most poorly run franchises in all of sports. The team has had access to elite talent for what seems like an eternity, with top-10 picks in almost every draft in recent history.
After failing to rebuild a once competitive franchise in a baseball economy that was flawed long before recent nation-wide economic woes, the team has recently begun to spend exorbitant sums of money on overrated free agents.
Willie Bloomquist probably would have gotten a minor-league deal in any other city. Kyle Farnsworth has never posted a season worth being among the top-paid relief pitching free agents in any offseason, though the contract he signed was early in the offseason, before the true scope of the economic impact that baseball would face was clear.
Coco Crisp is a nice addition, but makes more money than the Royals can really afford, and if he struggles in a weak lineup, his trade value will be depleted by the time the trade deadline rolls around.
The Royals will be bad again, though in the weak AL Central they could post a respectable record.
Prediction: 72-90
Minnesota Twins
2008 Record: 88-75
Pythagorean W/L: 89-74
Key Additions
Joe Crede, 3b
Luis Ayala, RHP
Key Losses
Adam Everett, SS
The Twins managed to tie the White Sox for first place in the AL Central last season despite losing Johan Santana in free agency. The team also was victimized by an injury to Francisco Liriano, who pitched at a diminished capacity upon his return to the big leagues.
If Joe Crede can remain healthy, he’ll be a major upgrade at the biggest position of weakness the Twins had last year. Crede’s got 30+ homerun potential and plays solid defense.
The Twins, as per usual, had a pretty modest offseason. However, with an upgrade at third base, the progression of the players acquired in the Johan Santana trade, and the addition of Luis Ayala, the team quietly filled all its needs.
Prediction: 91-71
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