MLB Offseason Preview Part Two: Trades

By Brian Borders

Now that the World Series is over, the baseball world can prepare itself for roughly 14 weeks of craziness before spring training starts up. With the ongoing biogenesis scandal, this could be the most fascinating offseason that baseball has seen in a long time. With the annual winter meetings just around the corner, we could be in for an offseason of many major trades. Here are a few big named players that could be dealt before the start of the 2014 season.

1. David Price: Let’s face it, there is simply no way that the Rays will be able to afford Price when he is up for free agency in two seasons. The Rays are smart, and they know that his value will never be higher than it is now, because the team that trades for him will have control of him for two more years. Price’s situation is eerily similar to that of James Shields’ last offseason, but the price for Price will be much higher than it was for Shields. Luckily for the Rays, there are a few teams that have the assets to pull the trigger.

Possible Suitors: Washington Nationals, Chicago Cubs, Seattle Mariners

2. Troy Tulowitzki: To be honest, Troy Tulowitzki is the franchise center piece in Colorado, and he likely won’t be dealt. However, that doesn’t mean that he is untradeable. If someone can wow the Rockies with enough quality prospects, they’d be crazy not to listen.

Possible Suitors: St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees

3. Giancarlo Stanton: According to new General Manager Dan Jennings, the Marlins will not be trading Stanton. But, all reports out of Miami last season had Stanton being unhappy on a team which gave him no offensive support. Well, the Marlins still have no offensive support to provide him. If a team offers the Marlins a group of high quality prospects, the Marlins shouldn’t hesitate to trade the 24 year old right fielder. Especially if some of those prospects are Major League ready.

Possible Suitors: Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates

4. Andre Ethier: It seems unlikely that someone with Ethier’s talent would actually be traded off a good team, but there simply isn’t enough room for him in the Dodgers outfield. The emergence of Yasiel Puig last season probably would have resulted in Ethier being dealt at the July 31 trade deadline, had Matt Kemp not been injured.

Possible Suitors: Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles

5. Brandon Phillips: For teams that lose out on Robinson Cano (probably all of them, I don’t see him leaving New York), Phillips is the second best second baseman available this offseason. And he is surprisingly available, given the huge contract extension he signed in April. But Phillips had a down season this year, and with super prospect Billy Hamilton ready for the show, Phillips becomes expendable.

Possible Suitors: New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, Atlanta Braves

6. Ian Kinsler: Kinsler is the third best second baseman on the market, behind Cano and Phillips. Kinsler is another player that doesn’t really belong on the trade market, but the Rangers have to choose what they want their infield to look like in the future. That being said, a double play combination of Elvis Andrus and Jurickson Profar sounds much more promising than any scenario involving Kinsler.

Possible Suitors: New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers

7. John Lackey: Coming off a Game 6 win in the World Series, and a very strong season, the value for John Lackey has seemingly never been higher. The Red Sox have a surplus of starting pitching, and given that Lackey has just one year left on his contract, he seems the most likely of the Sox pitchers to be dealt. Plus, how perfect with a reunion with the Angels be?

Possible Suitors: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Chicago Cubs

8. Drew Storen: Storen is an incredibly talented relief pitcher. However, with the log jam at the back of the Nationals bullpen, it seems unlikely that he will get the chance to be a closer anytime soon. Rafael Soriano has that job under control, and Tyler Clippard seems to be the preferred setup option, which makes Storen expendable.

Possible Suitors: Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, Colorado Rockies

9. David Freese: Freese has struggled to find consistency since his incredible 2011 postseason. With the emergence of both Matt Carpenter and Kolten Wong, Freese’s run in St. Louis looks to be over. The St. Louis native has had a nice run, but for a team loaded with young talent, he doesn’t quite fit into the plan anymore. Plus, due to the Alex Rodriguez situation, the Yankees will certainly be looking for a third baseman.

Possible Suitors: New York Yankees, Miami Marlins

10. Nick Markakis: For several years now, the Orioles have been hitting Markakis in the 3^rd spot in the batting order. However, the Orioles are now a solid team, and there is no way that Markakis deserves to hit in that spot anymore. Baltimore is looking for an upgrade in right field, and they seem like a good fit for Shin-Soo Choo. If the Orioles can land Choo in free agency, I expect to see Markakis dealt.

Possible Suitors: Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Mets

MLB Offseason Preview Part One: Free Agency

By Brandon Lebensfeld 

With the conclusion of the World Series, baseball officially moves into what is possibly the craziest, busiest, and unpredictable portion of the sport. That is of course the offseason. GMs from the 30 major league baseball clubs will be working around the clock, trying to make moves to help their teams improve. While there is no telling exactly what decisions these executives will make over the offseason, I’ve done my best to try and predict them.

Here’s where a think a few of the big name free agents in baseball will sign over the offseason.

Free Agent Signing:              Old Team:                New Team:                 Contract:

RF-Carlos Beltran:                    STL                          TEX                           3yrs-$33mil

2B-Robinson Cano:                  NYY                         DET                          7yrs-$227mil

CF- Jacoby Ellsbury                 BOS                         SF                             6yrs-$110mil

CF-Shin Soo-Choo                   CIN                           SEA                         5yrs-$72mil

1B-Mike Napoli                       BOS                           BOS                          2yrs-28mil

C-Brian McCann                    ATL                             NYY                           4yrs-56mil

Carlos Beltran– Despite coming off of a season in which he hit almost .300, there should be some concern with signing the Cardinals right fielder to a multi-year deal. The 36 year old has a history of injuries and has shown some signs of slowing down. While he can still play 85-100 games in the outfield, he will need some days off. That is why the Rangers would be the best fit for Beltran. He can rotate between playing right field and DH, and will have the luxury of playing 81 games a year in a very hitter-friendly ballpark in Arlington.

While the Cardinals would love to have Beltran back, I doubt they will offer as much money as American League teams will, as he is not worth the money if he can only play in 60 percent of the teams games. The Mariners could also make a play for Beltran, but I see him signing with the Rangers. They give him the best chance at winning that elusive World Series ring.

Robinson Cano– While as a Yankees fan I would love to see Cano spend the rest of his career in pinstripes, I don’t see a long term deal with him and the Yankees working out. Offering Cano a contract in the neighborhood $300 million dollars would be outright ridiculous. At age 31, he isn’t going to get any better than he is now, nor will he out-do his stats from his past 5 seasons. If Cano continues to demand “A-Rod money,” the Yankees will be forced to let him go elsewhere.

Once Cano realizes that it just won’t work out in New York, I see him taking his talents to Detroit. The Tigers have a great shot at capturing a championship, and are built for both the present and the future. While Johnny Peralta played very well for Detroit at 2^nd base until being suspended because of the Biogenesis scandal, I doubt that the team will resign him. The Tigers should be hesitant to pull the trigger on this deal. That being said, having the chance to pair Cano with Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder could be just what Detroit needs to get over the hump and win their first championship since 1984.

Jacoby Ellsbury– Despite having a very lackluster postseason, Jacoby Ellsbury is still an elite centerfielder and leadoff man. He was the table-setter for the Red Sox, and played a major role in the team having the best regular season record in baseball. The Red Sox will definitely try to re-sign Ellsbury, but I don’t think that they will offer him the type of contract that he is looking for. The Yankees might also try to lure in Ellsbury, but I don’t see him as the type of guy that would switch from his former team’s arch nemesis.

That is why San Francisco will be a great fit for Jacoby Ellsbury. The Giants have a very talented team that could very well be back in the swing of things next season. While Ellsbury is looking for a hefty contract, the Giants should be willing to give it to him, as he would fit well in a lineup with Hunter Pence, Buster Posey, and Pablo Sandoval. This combionation of great hitting and solid pitching could make the Giants contenders once again in 2014.

Shin-Soo Choo– Expect Choo to wait until Jacoby Ellsbury signs his deal until he makes a decision on where to go. The Red’s outfielder could elevate his value based on how much Ellsbury signs for. Plenty of teams will be interested in Choo though. He is coming off of a season in which he hit .285, hit 21 homers, and stole 20 bases. Many teams could use an outfielder that can put up those types of numbers. While the Reds could potentially resign Choo, I don’t see them as a team that is willing to commit to the type of long term contract that Choo desires.

I feel that the Seattle Mariners will be the team that ends up landing Choo. While Seattle has had its struggles, they are a team on the rise. They have one of the best pitchers in the game in Felix Hernandez, as well as a ton of young prospects all around the board. Choo would be a nice fit on this team, and could enjoy a return to the Pacific Northwest, as he started his career with the Mariners back in 2005. Seattle has the money to spend, so I expect them to sign Shin-Soo Choo.

Mike Napoli– While there are a few teams out their that could use the services of Mike Napoli, I expect the Red Sox slugger to stay put in Beantown. The Sox originally signed him to a 3 year $39 million deal last season, but had to restructure the deal after a hip issue popped up during his physical.

Now that Napoli has proved himself in Boston, the Sox will definitely want to resign him. They already offered him a qualifying offer for 1 year $14.1 million, but Napoli probably wants a longer term deal than that. While I think Napoli will test the waters of free agency, I’d be shocked to see him leave the Red Sox. After his success this season, Napoli has essentially become a cult hero in Boston. Napoli will get this all sorted out very early in the free agency process, as he will remain in Boston.

Brian McCann– McCann is by far the best catcher available this offseason, and he could see a very hefty contract thrown his way because of it. When healthy, he can consistently hit for at least 20 homer runs every year. The problem is that many teams could be put off by the injury problems he has had in recent years. He has played his entire 9-year career in Atlanta but that could change after this offseason. Especially now since is coming off of shoulder surgery, I see him going to an AL team, where he will be able to settle into the DH slot in a few years.

That is where the Yankees come in. One of the major reasons for the Yankees’ struggles last season was the fact that they had no reliable catchers to choose from. Quite frankly, they cannot rely on the duo of Austin Romine and Chris Stewart to get the job done behind the plate. I don’t think the Yankees will end up waiting for Gary Sanchez to develop, as they could very well deal him for a second basemen if Cano leaves (Dustin Ackley and Jason Kipnis come to mind). McCann would be a great fit in New York, with the short right-field porch in Yankee stadium. The Yanks have no problem dishing out money, so expect them to out-bid the Red Sox for Brian McCann.

Check back soon as Brian will let you know who he expects to see traded in part two of our MLB Offseason Preview.

MLB Season Recap (Part 3: Playoff Preview)

By Brian Borders

ALDS 1: Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox à Season Series, 12-7 Red Sox

The Red Sox finished the regular season 97-65, good for the best record in baseball, while the Rays finished the 162 game regular season at 91-71. The Rays have since won two elimination games, and come into the series red hot. The Red Sox have the clear advantage on offense, as they were the highest scoring team in baseball this season. While the popular belief is that the Rays have a huge advantage in terms of pitching, the overall matchup is actually much closer, as both teams feature a pair of aces.

PICK: Red Sox in 4

ALDS 2: Detroit Tigers vs. Oakland Athletics à Season series, 4-3 A’s

The Tigers finished the season 93-69, while the A’s finished the season 96-66. The offensive matchup in this series is extremely close, and a lot could depend on the health of Miguel Cabrera. Of course Cabrera will play, but he has been bothered by nagging injuries since late August. The pitching matchup is also very close, but I’ll have to give the advantage to the Tigers. The trio of Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, and Anibal Sanchez is stronger than the A’s trio of Bartolo Colon, Sonny Gray, and Jarrod Parker.

PICK: A’s in 5

NLDS 1: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. St. Louis Cardinals à Season series, 10-9 Pirates

The Cardinals finished tied with the Red Sox for the best record in baseball, at 97-65, while the Pirates had a record of 94-68. The offensive advantage clearly belongs to the Cardinals, especially with runners in scoring position, where the Cardinals are lights out. But the pitching matchup is a little closer, despite the fact that the statistics say I should side with Pirates. It’s just impossible not to take into consideration how much Yadier Molina will mean in this series.

PICK: Cardinals in 4

NLDS 2: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Atlanta Braves à Season series, 5-2 Braves

The Braves come into this series with a regular season record of 96-66, while the Dodgers finished 92-70. The Braves offense may be more talented, top to bottom than the Dodgers, but the middle of the Dodgers lineup has been tearing it up since late June. The Dodgers should have the clear advantage in terms of the pitching matchup, as Clayton Kershaw may be the best pitcher in baseball right now, who forms a dynamic duo with Zack Greinke.

PICK: Dodgers in 4

ALCS: Boston Red Sox vs. Oakland A’s à Season series, 3-3 split

The Red Sox and A’s matchup very well, but I think the Sox have the advantage based on the fact that they have home field advantage, and the Red Sox seem to never lose big games at Fenway Park.

PICK: Red Sox in 6

MVP: David Ortiz. The leader of the Sox offense has to have a huge series for them to win it.

NLCS: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers à Season series, 3-3 split

The Dodgers and the Cardinals also matchup very well, but in Adam Wainwright, the Cardinals have a big game pitcher that can match up well with Clayton Kershaw. The Cardinals always seem to come through big in the playoffs, while the Dodgers are a little more unproven.

PICK: Cardinals in 7

MVP: Trevor Rosenthal. The lights out Cardinals closer should have several appearances in this series

WORLD SERIES: Boston Red Sox vs. St. Louis Cardinals àDidn’t play during the regular season

The Red Sox and Cardinals, the two best teams in baseball during the regular season, both have electric offenses. The Red Sox have pitchers that can match up with Cardinals pitchers. The Red Sox have home field advantage due to the fact that the American League won the All-Star game.

PICK: Red Sox in 6

MVP: Jacoby Ellsbury. If the Red Sox want to win the World Series, they’ll  need to have their table setter get on base, and maybe even steal bases as well.

MLB Season Recap (Part 2: NL)

By Brian Borders

NL EAST

Atlanta Braves (96-66): The Braves made it loud and clear that they were the best team in the NL East this year, starting the season 12-1. The Braves seasoned ended in disappointment, and after a questionable call in the NL Wild Card game, they made sure that they would not be in that same situation this season.

What we saw: Coming into the season, the popular belief was that BJ and Justin Upton would be the biggest offseason acquisitions the Braves made. However, Chris Johnson, a throw-in in the Justin Upton trade, wound up hitting .321 and playing a lockdown third base. The Braves pitching staff was also great this season, carried by Tim Hudson in the first half, and Kris Medlen in the second.

Washington Nationals (86-76): Guess the Nats should have gone for it last year, huh? Despite perhaps the most talented roster in all of baseball, the Nats struggled to put it all together again this year. They finished the season strong, making a run at the second NL Wild Card spot, but for the majority of the season the Nats played subpar baseball.

What we saw: Yes, Bryce Harper suffered an injury during the season, and Stephen Strasburg wasn’t as dominant as last year, but the Nationals still but together a decent season. With a full array of healthy talent next years, including Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmerman, Ryan Zimmermann, and Ian Desmond, the Nats should be back competing for the division next year.

New York Mets (74-88): Another rough year for the Mets, but at least they got to host the All-Star game. The future appears to be bright in New York, as David Wright will be there to help mentor all the young talent that the Mets have. Wright knows how to win, and his presence will only help to bolster the team.

What we saw: Matt Harvey exploded onto the scene this year. He has some of the best stuff in baseball, and with Harvey and Zack Wheeler at the top of the Mets rotation, they have a dominant 1-2 punch for years to come. David Wright continued to shine for the Mets.

Philadelphia Phillies (73-89): There was a time not too long ago when the Phillies were widely considered the best team in baseball. In the few years since then, the team has gotten older, and thus more injury prone. It was a rough year in Philadelphia in 2013, but if everyone comes back healthy, the Phillies could be much improved next year.

What we saw: Dominic Brown was a bright spot offensively. Cliff Lee had a phenomenal season in 2013, butCole Hamels had a down 2013. Hopefully, Roy Halladay will be able to come back healthy next season.

Miami Marlins (62-100): After the fire-sale of the offseason, the Marlins were expected to have a poor season. They are loaded with young talent, and hopefully it will all come together for a fan base that really deserves it.

What we saw: The Marlins have great young pitching, in Jose Fernandez, Henderson Alvarez, and Jacob Turner. As long as the Marlins don’t trade Giancarlo Stanton, the Marlins will have a good building block on offensive moving forward. If the Marlins get a lead, they also have one of baseball’s best closer in Steve Cishek.

St. Louis Cardinals (97-65): A wild card team in 2012, the Cardinals continued to improve without Albert Pujols. A very complete, all-around team that but together the best record in the National League, tying with the Red Sox for the best record in all of baseball.

What we saw: An explosive offense, which got even better in 2013 with the emergence of Matt Carpenter and Matt Adams. Allen Craig and Carlos Beltran continued to shine, while Yadier Molina had one of the best seasons in all of baseball. The pitching staff was also phenomenal, as they finished 5^th in baseball statistically speaking.

Pittsburgh Pirates (94-68): Raise the Jolly Roger! It took 21 years, but one of the most talented teams in baseball finally earned its way back into the playoffs. One of the best stories in all of baseball, the Pirates earned the first NL Wild Card spot. The Pirates are loaded, and it should come as no surprise that the team has found itself in this position.

What we saw: Posting a combined ERA of 3.26, the Pirates pitching staff truly carried the team this year. They were phenomenal, including the rebirth of Francisco Liriano, and the emergence of young Jeff Locke (New Hampshire baby!). The offense, which ranked 20^th in baseball, has very good talent with Andrew McCutchen , and midseason acquisition Justin Morneau.

Cincinnati Reds (90-72): The Reds are a very talented team, and they played like it for most of the season, earning the second NL Wild Card spot. The 2012 Central Division winners only got better during the offseason, as they acquired both Shin Soo Choo and Mat Latos.

What we saw: A talented offense with Shin Soo Choo, Brandon Phillips, Joey Votto and Jay Bruce. The pitching staff was much improved, despite the frustrations brought by Homer Bailey, perhaps the most talented Reds starter. Aroldis Chapman , the flame throwing closer, continued to shine in that role during the 2013 season.

Milwaukee Brewers (74-88): There was some optimism for the Brewers coming into the season, but first Ryan Braun was injured, and then suspended for the final 61 games of the season. With Braun back in 2014, the Brewers could be better, but they seem to have a lack of talent.

What we saw: Finally, after much waiting, Carlos Gomez emerged into the fantastic all-around player that many people expected him to be. The Brewers put together a strong season pitching the baseball, as Yovani Gallardo improved throughout the season.

Chicago Cubs (66-96): It’s going to take time, but eventually the Chicago Cubs will get there. Cubs’ fans have to trust Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer, and know that they have an incredible farm system, which will eventually translate into major league talent.

What we saw: Despite Starlin Castro regressing, and Matt Garza being traded, the Cubs young talent still showed promise. Junior Lake emerged, and seemed to lock down an outfield spot in the coming seasons. Edwin Jackson, a big money signee, was disappointing, but with a better offensive production, he should be the ace of this team.

Los Angeles Dodgers (92-70): Remember when the Dodgers were 30-42 in last place, and manager Don Mattingly was coming under fire? Yeah, me neither. As soon as Hanley Ramirez came off the DL, and Yasiel Puig arrived on the scene, the Dodgers ripped off a 37-8 stretch which helped them easily run away with a weak NL West.

What we saw: Surprisingly the Dodgers only scored 649 runs, and finished 17^th in total offense. But when you have Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke, plus a dominant bullpen, you don’t really need to score that many runs to win a game. The Dodgers were led offensively by Puig, Ramirez, and Adrian Gonzalez. If Matt Kemp had played an entire season, the Dodgers would have been ever more dangerous.

Arizona Diamondbacks (81-81): For a while, it looked like the Diamondbacks might actually win the NL West. The Diamondbacks knew what they were doing in trading Justin Upton, freeing up Paul Goldschmidt to become one of the best players in baseball. It was a solid overall season for a team that finished with the same record as last season.

What we saw: The aforementioned Goldschmidt has a phenomenal season, and solidly put himself in the MVP conversation. The D-backs featured a middle of the back offense, which should improve next season, as young star Didi Gregorius has a full season under his belt. Arizona was had a solid pitching staff, led by Patrick Corbin and Wade Miley. The team should be even better next season with Daniel Hudson returning to the rotation.

San Francisco Giants (76-86): The defending World Champions struggled to remain consistent this season, as they ranked in the bottom half of baseball in both hitting, and surprisingly pitching. The Giants looked like a solid team coming into the season, and were certainly expected to contend in a weak NL West.

What we saw: Matt Cain wasn’t the same in 2013, and Tim Lincecum’s fall from Cy Young caliber continued during the season. There were flashes of brilliance from both pitchers, but as has been the recent problem in San Francisco, there simply wasn’t enough offense to go around. Although Pablo Sandoval, Buster Posey and Hunter Pence were good, there isn’t enough depth in the Giants lineup.

San Diego Padres (76-86): It was expected that the Padres would again struggle this season, and that is exactly what happened. The Padres have the sixth best farm system according to ESPN’s Keith Law, which is a good sign for a struggling franchise. Let’s hope the Padres can turn it around it the coming seasons.

What we saw: The Padres weren’t very good at much of anything this season, as they struggled to hit in the enormous PETCO Park. Surprisingly, the stadium didn’t helping the pitching very much, as they finished ranked 20^th overall. The Padres last had a winning season in 2010, but that could be changing shortly, as their prospects get more and more major league ready.

Colorado Rockies (74-88): What a career for Todd Helton! It’ll certainly be weird to see someone else consistently penciled in at first base in Colorado. Nonetheless, the Rockies were a team that suffered big time injuries, as Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki missed a combined 88 games. The Rockies faded late in the season, but they do have good young talent that shows promise for the future.

What we saw: A depleted offense, coupled with a horrendous pitching staff is not a good way to try and win baseball games. The Rockies seemingly lack talent in the pitching rotation, and until Jonathan Gray, their first round draft pick, appears on the scene, the team will be looking for an ace.

AWARD PICKS

MVP – Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates (.317, 21 HR, 84 RBI) à 27 steals

Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers (16-9, 1.83 ERA, 232 K) à 236 innings

Almost too close to call, but for now I’ll go with McCutchen because he carried the Pirates

Cy Young – Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers (16-9, 1.83 ERA, 232 K)

Rookie of the Year – Jose Fernandez, Miami Marlins (12-6, 2.19 ERA, 187 K)

Manager of the Year – Clint Hurdle, Pittsburgh Pirates (94-68) à team went 79-83 in 2012

MLB Season Recap (Part 1: AL)

By Brian Borders

AL EAST

Boston Red Sox (97-65): If John Farrell wins Manager of the Year, Ben Cherington should win Executive of the Year. No one saw this coming, especially with the Red Sox coming off their worst season since 1965. Sure the Red Sox had the talent to compete for one of the 2 wild card spots in the American League, but to finish with the best record in all of baseball? Insane.

What we saw: Proof that chemistry is extremely important in baseball, as we saw a team that was united by a dismal season in 2012, and the Boston Marathon bombing. The Red Sox offense, carried by David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia, was explosive, leading the majors in both runs scored and OPS.

Tampa Bay Rays (92-71): Despite a slow start to the season, and several injuries to key pitchers, the Rays caught fire in early July and were able to propel themselves into a tiebreaker for a Wild Card spot. In late July the Rays took the lead in the AL East, and proved themselves to be one of the best teams in the game for the remainder of the season.

What we saw: The Rays have always had great pitching, and this year was no different. Led by David Price and Alex Cobb, the pitching carried the Rays into the playoffs. The Rays finally added some much needed offense in the off season, as they traded for super prospect Wil Myers, who along with Evan Longoria helped carry Tampa’s offense.

New York Yankees (85-77): What a phenomenal job Joe Girardi did with this Yankee team. In a season dedicated to Mariano Rivera, it’s a shame the Yankees couldn’t find their way into the playoffs. But on a team depleted with injuries, it’s amazing they lasted as long as they did.

What we saw: A Yankee team that was a shell of its former self. Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson, Mark Teixeira, Kevin Youkilis, and Brett Gardner all missed significant time with injuries. There was a major controversy surrounding Alex Rodriguez all season. And even without those key offensive players, the Yankees still found a way to rank 17^th in runs scored.

Baltimore Orioles (85-77): A team loaded with talent that just didn’t catch the same breaks as they did a year ago. In 2012 the Orioles posted a 29-9 record in one-run games. Had they come close to repeating that this year, they would have found themselves in the playoffs.

What we saw: An explosive offense, led by Chris Davis and Manny Machado. However, the Orioles simply didn’t have enough pitching to be able to make a return trip to the playoffs. The Orioles also featured a supremely talented defense, which ranked first in the majors in fielding percentage, and committed just 52 errors all season.

Toronto Blue Jays (74-88): An extremely talented team that struggled all season long with production. Like the Angels last season, the preseason favorite proved again why baseball isn’t played on paper. The Blue Jays were able to get hot at times, but they were only able to run off one long win streak.

What we saw: The team picked by many to win this division, but the pitching struggled from the very beginning. The offense did its best to carry this team, but Jose Reyes missed significant team with an ankle injury, and the Blue Jays were unable to replace his production from the leadoff spot.

Detroit Tigers (93-69): An extremely talented team that this year lived up to its promise by putting together one of the best seasons in the American League. When you have Miguel Cabrera and Justin Verlander on the same team, it almost goes without saying that you’ll win your division. Oh yeah, and it doesn’t hurt to have Prince Fielder and Max Scherzer on the same team.

What we saw: The second best offense in all of baseball, and the tenth best pitching staff in all of baseball makes for a fantastic season. The offense was carried by Miguel Cabrera, the batting champion, and Prince Fielder, who formed a formidable 3-4 punch in the middle of the lineup. The pitching was carried by Max Scherzer, the only 20 game winner in the MLB.

Cleveland Indians (92-70): The Cleveland Indians finished just one game behind the Tigers for the AL Central title, an immaculate turn-around from last season, when the Indians finished 68-94. The Indians finished the season with a 21-6 September, which helped them clinch the first AL Wild Card spot. As Terry Francona said, “We stayed away from fried chicken and beer.”

What we saw: The sixth best offense in baseball, coupled with a 3.82 team ERA led the Indians into the playoffs for the first time since 2007. The Indians were led offensively by new signees Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher, as well as the emergence of budding superstar Jason Kipnis. Another big storyline for the Indians was the re-emergence of Ubaldo Jimenez, who has number one type stuff, but had been in a deep struggle.

Kansas City Royals (86-76): If you had told me at the beginning of the season that the Kansas City Royals would finish with a better record than the Yankees or the Orioles, I would have laughed at you. But that’s exactly what the Royals did, and with a great young core of offensive players, along with the addition of an ace, in James Shields, the future looks very bright for the Royals.

What we saw: There was a time at the beginning of the season when the Royals couldn’t hit. Then George Brett took over as an interim hitting coach. Then Eric Hosmer regained his 2011 form, and along with Alex Gordon, sparked an offense that ultimately finished 18^th in baseball. With a strong rotation, and an electric bullpen, the Royals finished the season with a combined ERA of 3.45, 6^th best in baseball.

Minnesota Twins (66-96): A team that is clearly in the rebuilding process, waiting for super prospects Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano to become major league ready. The Twins weren’t very good at anything this season, and ultimately traded one of their fixtures Justin Morneau to the Pirates. With a team in rebuild mode for the foreseeable future, it will be interesting to see what the Twins choose to do with Joe Mauer.

What we saw: A team that lacked talent, and finished near the bottom of the league in all statistical categories. One can only that the Twins young prospects emerge next season, because if they don’t, it’s a good thing Adrian Peterson wears a Vikings uniform.

Chicago White Sox (63-99): While Boston and Cleveland each made a dramatic turn around, the White Sox went the exact opposite direction. Finishing last season 85-77 and just 3 games behind the Tigers, 2013 looked to be a promising season for the White Sox and manager Robin Ventura. Oops.

What we saw: Even though the White Sox finished with a top 20 team ERA, it’s very difficult to win baseball games when you can’t score. The White Sox were the 29^th ranked offense in baseball, ranking behind even the Astros. Yes Adam Dunn had a bad year, and Alex Rios was eventually traded, but it could be a long next few seasons in Chicago’s south side.

Oakland Athletics (96-66): Billy Beane has done a fantastic job of rebuilding this A’s team. All those trades that were questioned at the time they were made, like the Andrew Bailey trade to Boston, have worked out wonderfully for Oakland. This team is loaded, and for the second straight season, they won the AL West. Watch out for the A’s in the playoffs, and for years to come. Maybe Billy Beane can finally win that last game.

What we saw: This team is loaded with talent, from top to bottom. They had the 7^th best pitching staff in all of baseball, along with the 4^th best offense in baseball. Jarrod Parker continued to show us that he is an ace, and Bartolo Colon continued to defy his age. The A’s only hit .254 as a team, but they hit 186 homeruns good for 3^rd in the majors. Yoenis Cespedes continued to shine, well role players like Coco Crisp, Josh Reddick and Brandon Moss all put together strong seasons.

Texas Rangers (91-72): The Rangers are a very talented team, so talented in fact that super prospect Jurickson Profar can’t consistently get on the field. They had a rough September, but still found a way to play in a tiebreaker with the Rays. The Rangers look to be in a good position for the next few seasons, so long as they can stay healthy.

What we saw: The Rangers took a big hit when Nelson Cruz was suspended 50 games for PED use, but they found a way around it, acquiring Alex Rios in August. Adrian Beltre continued to carry the offense, and when the Rangers can successfully find playing time for Ian Kinsler, Elvis Andrus, and Jurickson Profar, they will have one of the best infields in baseball. Yu Darvish shined for the Rangers pitching staff, a unit that struggled off and on throughout the season.

Los Angeles Angels (78-84): A team loaded with talent that just couldn’t but it all together, for the second straight season. One has to wonder about the safety of Mike Scioscia’s job. The big signings for the Angels are yet to pay off, with the exception of CJ Wilson. You have to think that at some point, Albert Pujols will become Albert Pujols again, and Josh Hamilton can’t possibly suffer through another season as poor as his 2013.

What we saw: An explosive offense led by Mike Trout for the majority of the season, but that was joined at times by Howie Kendrick, Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols. If the Angels can get there pitching situation figured out, there is almost no chance of this being a poor team next season.

Seattle Mariners (71-91): The Mariners long streak of futility may finally end next season, as this team has a surplus of young talent, and a minor league system that is loaded with future major league players. Hang in there Seattle, good times are coming.

What we saw: A typical Mariners season of late, and by typical I mean great pitching and very poor offensive production. Felix Hernandez and Hisahsi Iwakuma looked like a dominant one-two punch. There are some talented offensive pieces on this roster, it’s just a matter of development,

Houston Astros (51-111): Yikes. There were individual players that made a higher salary than the entire Astros roster in 2013. 12 of them to be exact. The Astros were expected to have this kind of season, but you still have to feel bad for Bo Porter. Let’s just hope that the Astros give him the chance to manage the phenomenal core of young talent they have in their system.

What we saw: When you couple a poor offense and the worst pitching staff in all of baseball, statistically speaking, this is what happens. There were bright spots though, as Brandon Barnes, Jonathan Villar and Brett Oberholtzer all look like promising young pieces.

AWARD PICKS

MVP – Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers (.348, 44 HR, 137 RBI)

Cy Young – Max Scherzer, Detroit Tigers (21-3 2.90 ERA, 240 K)

Rookie of the Year – Wil Myers, Tampa Bay Rays (.293, 13 HR, 53 RBI) à 88 games

Manager of the Year – John Farrell, Boston Red Sox (97-65) à team went 69-93 in 2012