AL Central preview: Once again, Indians are best of baseball's worst division
Baseball's power rankings are already out, even though the Mariners and Athletics are the only major-league teams that have played regular season games.
Even before spring training started, it was pretty clear the AL Central is again destined to be the worst division in the game.
Last year, the Indians were the only team in the Central to finish with a winning record.
The White Sox lost 100 games for the first time since 1970 and still managed to avoid finishing in last place. That dubious honor went to the Royals (58-104).
In time, the AL Central might regroup and become a formidable bunch. The 2019 season is not that time.
Here is the predicted order of finish:
Indians:
They should finish first for the fourth straight year, but it's more by default.
In a word, Cleveland is a mess.
Instead of adding more talent during the offseason and making a push toward winning their first World Series since 1948, the Indians shed key players like Michael Brantley, Edwin Encarnacion, Josh Donaldson, Andrew Miller, Cody Allen, Yonder Alonso and Yan Gomes.
Why are they still favored to run away in the Central?
The starting rotation is back, and Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer, Carlos Carrasco, Mike Clevinger and Shane Bieber are one of baseball's best units.
Cleveland was rumored to be trading Kluber and Bauer throughout the winter, and star shortstop Francisco Lindor has already turned down a contract extension to stay with the Indians.
Winning covers most holes, but the Cleveland's lid is eventually going to blow.
Twins:
In 2017, Paul Molitor guided Minnesota to an 85-77 record and the club's first playoff appearance in seven years.
Last season, the Twins dipped to 78-84 and Molitor was fired.
The front office wanted a manager that could relate better with younger players, so 37-year-old Rocco Baldelli replaces Molitor, a 62-year-old Hall of Famer.
Baldelli has plenty of talent on offense, and newcomers Nelson Cruz, C.J. Cron and Jonathan Schoop bolster a strong lineup.
Minnesota is going to need to score runs in bunches to support a shaky starting rotation headed by Jose Berrios and Jake Odorizzi.
White Sox:
After five straight fourth-place finishes, the Sox should be able to move up to third this season.
That is what you call a baby step.
The Sox have their sights set much higher in the future, but this is another key season for development.
It starts with new left fielder Eloy Jimenez, a bona fide Rookie of the Year candidate. It continues when starting pitcher Dylan Cease arrives from Class AAA Charlotte, likely after the all-star break.
Young players already on the roster, notably Yoan Moncada, Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Tim Anderson, have to take the next steps forward if the White Sox hope to start contending in 2020.
Royals:
They won the World Series in 2015, but Alex Gordon and Salvador Perez are the only notable names still left on the roster.
Gordon is a shell of his former self, and Perez is out for the season with an elbow injury.
Kansas City has little choice but to try another rebuild, and the Royals will lean on young players like Whit Merrifield, Adalberto Mondesi and Brad Keller.
Tigers:
This winter, Detroit general manager Al Avila sounded much like White Sox counterpart Rick Hahn in recent winters past.
"I don't think anybody likes a rebuild," Avila told reporters, "I think everybody would rather have a team that's prepared to win 100 games and get into the playoffs, as we would. But it is a painful process."
Speaking of painful, Miguel Cabrera is back after playing only 38 games last season before having biceps surgery.
There's not much else to see in Motown this year, or for the foreseeable future.