The day after New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter has been forever immortalized, and with the Spring Training dates having now been finalized and announced, baseball truly is just around the corner. The Yankees team has been heralded by many — including myself — as the best in the league. However, naturally, upon putting together the idea that they’re the best, the first thing to do would be to look at the competition. With that, here are the 5 AL teams that I think are most threatening to the Yankees:
1. Houston Astros
2. Tampa Bay Rays
3. Minnesota Twins
4. Oakland Athletics
5. Chicago White Sox
On The Bubble: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
1. Houston Astros
Now, nobody wants to admit this, but the Astros are going to be — from a talent perspective — still amongst the best in baseball. While from a foundational perspective, they’re in chaos right now, having just elected to move on from both Hinch and Luhnow. With Manfred’s full report being delivered, and hearing just how involved the players were in regards to the cheating and sign stealing, that right there taints all players’ resume’s for the rest of their careers. However, the offense itself is still incredibly explosive top-to-bottom, and even with losing Cole, that rotation will still be reliable. The bullpen as well will be just good enough again, even with Harris going to the Nationals.
I hate to see Houston do well, especially after they cheated the Yankees out of a potential World Series ring, but to deny the team’s talent and abilities is being ignorant to the highest degree. I expect the Astros to be very good, specifically offensively. Even with the massive amount of hatred and negative publicity toward them, they have too much talent to just “go away.” Look for Houston, led by Bregman, to keep their foot on the gas pedal even with the public slander. The only thing that could potentially derail this season is if the MLB and MLBPA, for that matter, do ultimately decide to punish the players involved. With that, I don’t expect there to be any individual suspensions or fines, which is unfortunate, of course.
If there are to be Astros players suspended, especially if it is one of Correa, Altuve, Springer, or Bregman, that will be a significant loss to their team.
2. Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays are no joke, and each year they find a way to field a competitive team that gives the high market teams a run for their money. This year looks to be no different, as Tampa has reworked that roster — again — and may have found some more diamonds in the rough. When they snagged Hunter Renfroe and Xavier Edwards, in exchange for Tommy Pham, I viewed it as an even trade. Renfroe has his glaring problems, but if there’s a team that can continue to develop him and splash a little bit of individual attention his way, it’s the Rays. Next, they traded for Jose Martinez and Randy Arozarena, and immediately got one of the best pure hitters in baseball, in Martinez. Tampa makes sneaky moves that are about as balanced as they can seem, and the Rays find a way to maximize the most out of their “little guys” on the roster.
Their front three of Morton, Snell, and Glasnow is one of the best front threes in the league, with the Yankees just ahead. The Rays as a team are always well-coached, especially with Cash as their manager, and they play excellent team baseball. That bullpen is lethal, and I expect that even if Tampa only sells 40% of their seats again this year, that team is going to be very good.
3. Minnesota Twins
In an article I published a week or two ago, I said I believed that the Twins had been faltering a bit and that they had failed to bring in any upgrades over the players that they lost. However, they since signed Donaldson to a four year, $92,000,000 deal and secured the best free agents available, for far less than his asking price. I still think the Twins have some issues, and that their rotation and bullpen are both not complete, but that offense is very talented. It’ll be interesting to see if they take a massive step down with the juiced ball likely being tossed aside, and I am also eager to see how Cruz does coming into his year 39 season.
The Twins have an incredibly exciting offense; Rosario, Kepler, Polanco, amongst a few, and I expect them to be competitive, but also within their division, I expect a bloodbath versus the White Sox. Chicago has made some excellent moves this offseason, and I expect them and Minnesota — with Cleveland hanging on their coattails — to battle all year long. I am a fan of Odorizzi and Berrios as a one-two punch, but I don’t believe that they’re going to be able to carry a sub-par rotation from there on out. I see Minnesota and Oakland as very similar teams in terms of their talent and potential, but I think the Twins are just above them — especially with the addition of Donaldson.
4. Oakland Athletics
The A’s may seem like a surprising one, but it is no secret that Oakland finds a way to exceed expectations and do so yearly. Oakland doesn’t spend any real money, similar to Tampa, but they put together a talented roster and find contributors from all corners of their team’s foundation. I expect Manaea to come back healthy, and to be a pivotal piece to their 2020 season. Oakland’s problem seems to primarily lack starting pitching, as has been the case for a few seasons now, but I think that their offense and a few of their bullpen guys can get them to a high 80’s, low 90’s win season without failure.
What Oakland has is grit and a great offense. The evolution and development of Marcus Semien give them a Top 3 MVP candidate from the 2019 season already, and I expect a bounce-back year for Kris Davis and another outstanding showing from Laureano. Assuming both those guys can get back to their expected levels of play, and pairing that with Semien, the defensive wizard Matt Chapman, and his counterpart across the diamond, Matt Olson, that’s a lethal core to have.
5. Chicago White Sox
As mentioned earlier, I think that the White Sox team is most definitely going to be one of the more exciting teams to watch this upcoming season. Giolito is a borderline ace, and his 2019 season was no fluke and should show what’s to come from their young stud. The hype around Giolito has been going on for years now, so it’s nice to see him excel. Add to that the return of both Kopech and Rodon, plus the hopeful improvement of Reynaldo Lopez, and their rotation has a ton of upside, but with a ton of risk as well. Their offense is incredible, and the additions of Encarnacion, Grandal, and Mazara should bode well for them this next season.
I think the White Sox have reloaded amidst the “rebuild” process, and being able to plug in guys like Grandal with the young studs like Jimenez and Luis Robert will be beneficial for all of their careers. Gaining that guidance and leadership, as a younger player, is crucial and pivotal to team chemistry and individual confidence. I expect that even with a meh bullpen — they did get Cishek to help — and that unsure rotation, that the White Sox will be competitive, but likely may falter throughout the year. I consider them on the same tier as the A’s, and maybe even along the same expectations as the Angels. With that, the team has nothing but talent and upside, and those two form a deadly combination.
Bubble: Los Angeles Angels
The Angels have been massively involved this offseason, as they’ve been frantically trying to assemble a team fit for a King — ie. Mike Trout. The Angels of Anaheim seem like they’re sick and tired of wasting Trout’s years in this league with below-average seasons, and they broke the bank to get him the help he may need. Signing Rendon, bringing in Teheran and trading for Bundy, the Angels are trying to keep their hands active until Opening Day. I think LAA may still be in the running for Castellanos and potentially move him to the infield, but that may not even be their best option. The Angels are still actively shopping for starters & even bullpen help, and I think until they have another capable man in their rotation, they’ll be around 90 wins if it all works out.
The most significant question mark isn’t anyone in the rotation, as I expect mediocrity from all of their starters, a below-average bullpen, and an offense that has all the talent to be excellent. A 2/3/4 of Trout, Rendon, and Upton — assuming Justin Upton is healthy this year — is one of the best in all of baseball. The Angels have a core to build around, and the question is, when will they be competitive?