The Red Sox had the best offseason in the AL, picking up 2 elite players. Carl Crawford easily hits .300 with 30+ steals every year, and his defense is stellar. Adrian Gonzalez is a 40 homer guy, and bringing him to Fenway boosts him over 50. The Division is more balenced than usual, and there is not another dominant team to challenge them each series.
2. Toronto Blue Jays - 90-72 (AL Wild Card)
A shocker! The team from Canada who has done nothing in a long time makes the playoffs? Let me explain. The Blue Jays were not bad at all last year. In fact, they were good. 85-77 in the first year removed from the Halladay era. Now the prospects from that trade can break in. Jose Bautista is a solid player now, and dealing Marcum to the Brewers was a win-win, for the Jays got solid 2B prospect Brett Lawrie.
3. Tampa Bay
Solid staff. Terrible offense. Great farm. Those are words that the Milwaukee Brewers don't know. But the Rays sure know them. Crawford is gone but the prospects are high. Manager Joe Maddon is, in my opinion, the best of the best, and he will be able to raise them well. Look for the Rays to be fantastic - next year.
4. New York Yankees - 78-84
The simple explanation for this is that the Yankees just aren't that good. They have a very good offense, but their staff is not good at all. C.C. and Hughes, studs. Burnett? Not so much. That's it. The Yankees don't have a 4 or 5 pitcher, so they may have to use washed up veterans like Bartolo Colon, or failed prospects like Ivan Nova. In a tough division, you can't have Ivan Nova.
5. Baltimore Orioles - 70-92
Great offseason - I mean really great. They picked up veteran Vlad Guererro, who adds leadership and a fine bat. J.J. Hardy can't hurt when your the Orioles. Derek Lee adds even more leadership. Mark Reynolds adds 40 HR. That's not a bad offseason, but they need to do something about their pitching. Maybe, just maybe, Buck Showalter can make the Orioles great again.
Great post. Agree on Red Sox and Rays. Blue Jays - a bit wishful.
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