|
2009 MLB American League East - 09 Season Preview
Baltimore Orioles
2008 Record: 68-93
Pythagorean W/L: 73-88
Key Additions
Ryan Freel, UTL
Mark Hendrickson, LHP
Rich Hill, LHP
Cesar Izturis, SS
Felix Pie, CF
Ty Wigginton, 3b
Gregg Zaun, C
Key Losses
Daniel Cabrera, RHP
Rocky Cherry, RHP (Rule 5 Draft)
Ramon Hernandez, C
Garrett Olson, LHP
The Orioles had a pretty big offseason. They are over-stocked with young talented outfielders, after acquiring Felix Pie from the Cubs. The team still has Adam Jones and Nick Markakis, two of baseball’s top outfield prospects.
Rich Hill, who came from the Cubs in a deal separate from the Garrett Olson-Pie swap, will probably spend most of 2009 in the team’s starting rotation.
Daniel Cabrera ended his tenure with the team. Cabrera, who is built more like a left tackle in the NFL than an MLB pitcher, has never realized his immense potential.
The Orioles are a team built well for the future, but one that will need a few more years of development.
Perhaps the most promising addition the team made wasn’t in the offseason. Pedro Alvarez, the team’s top pick in the 2008 June Amateur draft is one of the best third-basemen prospects to come around in quite some time.
Prediction: 71-91
Boston Red Sox
2008 Record: 95-67
Pythagorean W/L: 95-67
Key Additions
Rocco Baldelli, OF
Josh Bard, C
Brad Penny, RHP
Takashi Saito, RHP
John Smoltz, RHP
Key Losses
Alex Cora, SS
Bartolo Colon, RHP
Coco Crisp, CF
Curt Shilling, RHP
Dave Ross, C
While the Yankees opened their wallets, the Red Sox had a much quieter offseason. The team picked up several potential contributors, but didn’t match the Yankees star-power laden offseason haul.
The Sox were able to keep Jason Varitek at a greatly reduced price. A price that was a fraction of the arbitration offer the Sox made to the aging catcher, but one that spinmaster Scott Boras was still somehow able to characterize as a victory. So – I guess everyone’s happy?
Takashi Saito suffered injuries in 2008, but should add depth to the BoSox bullpen. However, barring an unforeseen injury to Jonathan Papelbon and a complete loss in John Smoltz, Saito’s closing days are likely over.
Brad Penny has a top-of-the-rotation arm, but has also been injured in recent years. The potential reward from signing Penny is well worth the price tag.
Smoltz, similarly, is a low-risk, potentially high-reward signing. He’s got extensive experience in the bullpen, and could be a great addition around the trade deadline whether it’s in the bullpen or starting rotation.
Prediction: 97-65
New York Yankees
2008 Record: 89-73
Pythagorean W/L: 87-75
Key Additions
A.J. Burnett, RHP
CC Sabathia, LHP
Nick Swisher, OF/1b
Mark Teixeira, 1b
Key Losses
Bobby Abreu, OF
Wilson Betemit, INF
Jason Giambi, 1b
Carl Pavano, RHP
Darrell Rasner, RHP
Ivan Rodriguez, C
The Yankees had the best offseason of any team this offseason. They signed three of the top talents on the free agent market this offseason, and managed to get rid of most of the bad contracts they’d signed in recent years all in the same offseason.
All this comes the same offseason that “the house that George built” opens. The new Yankee Stadium, complete with better sight lines and inflated ticket prices, will help the Yankees feel the opposite economic impact of the rest of the league is facing.
CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, at any level of production they’ve produced in any year of their career, upgrade the Yankees rotation.
Even though Jason Giambi was able to rebound from steroid-allegation-caused drop-offs in his game, Mark Teixeira is an immense upgrade. Nick Swisher adds depth in the outfield, first base and DH if the team suffers any injuries, and is probably ultimately a more favorable candidate to stay in New York than Xavier Nady.
Barring major injuries, the Yankees had very little to replace and upgraded at almost every spot where they needed to. Look for the Yanks to try to snag a young catcher early in the season.
Prediction: 101-61
Tampa Bay Rays
2008 Record: 97-65
Pythagorean W/L: 92-70
Key Additions
Pat Burrell, OF/DH
Gabe Kapler, OF
Joe Nelson, RHP
Brian Shouse, LHP
Key Losses
Rocco Baldelli, OF
Mike DeFelice, C
Cliff Floyd, OF
Eric Hinske, OF
Edwin Jackson, RHP
Dan Johnson, 1b
Trever Miller, LHP
The AL Champs had a modest offseason. They picked up Pat Burrell for a bargain price, and managed to fill a few other needs, all while losing unused parts.
Unfortunately for the Rays, the AL East got very top-heavy recently. The Blue Jays ended up surrendering A.J. Burnett to the Yankees, and the Red Sox made a lot of savvy moves.
The Rays succeeded, at least in part, because several of their players over-achieved last year. The team will not really miss Rocco Baldelli, who only played a portion of the season with the big club, but had a few huge moments in the postseason.
The Rays were last year’s Cinderella team. However, the top of the division got better and the Rays can’t count on similar luck and unprecedented success.
Prediction: 89-73
Toronto Blue Jays
2008 Record: 86-76
Pythagorean W/L: 93-69
Key Additions
(No players signed to major-league deals)
Key Losses
A.J. Burnett, RHP
Kevin Mench, OF
Gregg Zaun, C
The Blue Jays have probably been hurt the most by a slumping global economy. The team was already facing the exchange-rate concerns of potential free agents as the Canadian dollar has been fluid in recent years in comparison to the American dollar, but is traditionally worth less.
The Jays, general managed by Moneyball star J.P. Ricciardi, have been generally frugal in recent years anyways, only signing free agents that fit the team’s personnel philosophy.
The Jays kicked the tires on a few free agents, but didn’t sign any big names. The team will probably have a down year, with the economy, and not their front-office shouldering the blame.
Prediction: 82-80
Home 09 MLB Season Preview
|
