AL Central preview: Look out for Cleveland again
On Thursday afternoon, the Chicago White Sox open the 2018 season against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
Let the battle begin for last place in the AL Central.
It's not going to be a two-team race to the bottom between the Sox and Royals. The Detroit Tigers went 64-98 last year, tying them with the San Francisco Giants for the worst record in baseball.
The White Sox are in full-blown rebuild mode, so they are looking for much better days in 2019 and beyond rather than the upcoming season.
The Royals and Tigers are what the Sox used to be - ineffective veteran teams in the process of shedding salary and building productive minor-league systems.
While the White Sox clearly have the brightest future of the three, the Cleveland Indians remain the Central's present team, followed by the Minnesota Twins.
Let's take a closer look at the division, in predicted order of finish:
Cleveland Indians
A third straight Central title is well within reach, but that's not going to spell success for Cleveland.
The Indians are reeling from their last two playoff appearances and won't be satisfied until they win the World Series for the first time since 1948.
Cleveland came agonizingly close in 2016, taking a 3-1 lead over the Cubs in the Fall Classic before dropping three straight.
Last season, the Indians jumped out to a 2-0 lead over the Yankees in the AL division series and were eliminated after losing three straight again.
Cleveland still has the most talent in the division, headed by starting pitcher Corey Kluber, who won his second Cy Young Award in four years last season, shortstop Francisco Lindor and breakout third baseman Jose Ramirez.
Minnesota Twins
A big surprise last year with an 85-77 record and wild-card appearance after going 59-103 in 2016, Minnesota worked to get even better in the off-season.
Lance Lynn and Jake Odorizzi join a starting rotation that returns Jose Berrios, Kyle Gibson and Phil Hughes.
Another new starter, Michael Pineda, could be ready for the stretch run after having Tommy John surgery last July when he was with the Yankees.
Still going strong at 34, first baseman Joe Mauer is the offensive catalyst, and he will get plenty of help from second baseman Brian Dozier and center fielder Byron Buxton.
Shortstop Jorge Polanco is out for the first half of the season after failing a drug test, but slugging third baseman Miguel Sano has been cleared of assault charges and is back in the lineup.
Kansas City Royals
Eric Hosmer is gone. Lorenzo Cain is gone.
After lingering on the free-agent market this winter, Mike Moustakas is back on a one-year contract, as is Alcides Escobar.
It is difficult to see a direction with Kansas City, but the window that welcomed in back-to-back trips to the World Series in 2014-15 is definitely closed.
If the Royals are out of the race in July, and that's a likely possibility, general manager Dayton Moore likely will try unloading every veteran on the roster and building up a decimated farm system.
White Sox
It has been nine years since the team's last playoff appearance. This season will make it an even decade.
On the bright side, at least there finally is hope on the South Side.
Starters Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez and second baseman Yoan Moncada joined the roster last year, and Eloy Jimenez and Michael Kopech are expected to play for the White Sox at some point this season.
Luis Robert, Alec Hansen, Dylan Cease and Zack Collins headline the next wave, so it's all about continuing development, staying healthy and being ready when the phone rings.
Detroit Tigers
After finishing first in the AL Central from 2011-14, age caught up to Detroit and resulted in a rapid slide in the standings.
The Tigers hit rock bottom last season, finishing with their worst record (64-98) since 2003's 43-119 disaster.
Detroit officially launched a rebuild last summer, trading J.D. Martinez to the Diamondbacks and Justin Verlander to Houston.
New manager Ron Gardenhire still has Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez on the roster, but the Tigers are in terrible shape.
• Twitter: @scotgregor