A.L. East
1. Toronto Blue Jays (94-68)
2. Boston Red Sox (89-73)
3. New York Yankees (87-75)
4. Tampa Bay Rays (81-81)
5. Baltimore Orioles (78-84)
I really like the Blue Jays offense to continue their mauling ways in 2016. It really is a toss up when it comes to those top three teams. None really boast a dominant rotation, but I like the Blue Jays offense to carry them late in the season and eventually pull away from the pack. Sure there's questions with a shaky bullpen, but i'll take my chances. The Sox I think will have a bounce back year with many of their top prospects on the verge of The Bigs. David Price is the ace they never truly had last season. However, for them to do anything Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez have to do SOMETHING. The Yankees have the best bullpen in baseball, but an aging offensive core is the question mark here. Do I believe that Teixeira, A-Rod, Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran can carry the load yet again in 2016? I'd bet against it. The Rays are one of my sleeper teams this season. A return to form of Evan Longoria would be nice to see at The Trop this season, but as always with the Rays, it starts with pitching. That rotation has the chance to be one of the best in baseball again. Don't sleep on the Rays. As far as the O's, an aging roster and a closing window, no rotation or farm system to speak of. it might get ugly in baltimore really quickly.
A.L. Central
1. Kansas City Royals (92-70)
2. Minnesota Twins (90-72) WC
3. Detroit Tigers (87-75)
4. Chicago White Sox (84-78)
5. Cleveland Indians (80-82)
Until they get knocked off the top, the Royals are still the favorites in this division. Their brand of baseball is so unique and successful that even with their lack of quality arms in their rotation, they'll still be fine. I'm thinking the Twins build off of their successful surprise season from 2015. Top prospects will start to reach the big leagues and we get a full season from Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano. Yes Please. The Tigers got better in the offseason, however pitching and their bullpen remain a question mark, could we be seeing the writing on the wall for Brad Ausmus in Detroit? The White Sox got a lot better too. The Todd Frazier trade was an interesting one, but it definitely helps adding a guy who still is in his prime, though on the wrong side of it. The rotation shouldn't be an issue, however its the bullpen that is still a question mark here. It was historically bad last season, here's to hoping it rebounds in 2016. The Indians are one of the most complete teams in this division. They just need to be able to hit and put it all together over a full season. Any of these teams can win the division, it should be the best race to see unfold in MLB this season. Opening day is when?
A.L. West
1. Houston Astros (93-69)
2. Texas Rangers (91-71) WC
3. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (84-78)
4. Seattle Mariners (81-81)
5. Oakland Athletics (73-89)
Last years Cinderella story should continue in 2016. The Astros lose Scott Kazmir from their rotation but they still have reigning Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel. Hopefully he proves not to be a one hit wonder for their sake. the Astros get a full season of Carlos Correa and we might be hearing MVP chants in Houston sooner rather than later for him. The Rangers should give them a run for their money and it'll be close. I just like the Astros a tad more. Yu Darvish comes back from Tommy John and they get Cole Hamels for a full season too. It'll be interesting at the top to say the least. Team Trout will win 80 games simply because that man will be roaming center field for 162 games. They'll need contributions from someone other than Mike Trout to have anything that resembles a chance. The Mariners have become one of the most frustrating teams in the league to watch over the past couple of seasons. A dearth of talent at the MLB level but always underwhelming. I expect more of the same despite a revamped roster. The A's will probably be the worst team in the A.L. this season, but they're soft rebuilding the right way. Moneyball will soon be reaping its reward in the Coliseum.
N.L. East
1. New York Mets (95-67)
2. Washington Nationals (87-75)
3. Miami Marlins (74-88)
4. Atlanta Braves (65-97)
5. Philadelphia Phillies (63-99)
Last years N.L. Pennant winners get a boost this season. They play in the weakest division in baseball and get a full season of Yoenis Cespedes. That rotation is still going to be the best in baseball without a doubt. They get to beat up upon the bottom three in this division and their only test will be from a Nats team with a new manager. I like their chances to get back to October. The Nationals should be better under Dusty Baker than they were under Matt Williams. A players coach, Baker has already seemed to have broken through to this clubhouse of chokers and such. Bryce Harper will carry this team at the end of the day, but they're getting old fast on offense. This window is closing soon. The Marlins should be the best out of the bottom three in this division because (hopefully) they get a full season of Giancarlo Stanton mashing baseballs and they'll have Jose Fernandez assuming they don't trade him. It's a mess in Miami but maybe they'll surprise us. The Braves and the Phillies will be duking it out for what looks like the #1 pick in the draft and last place in the division. The last season at Turner Field isn't going to be a pretty one for the Braves. The Phillies are in the same boat, good minor league system, bad major league team. Look for that to change in the coming seasons for both teams. But for 2016? Yikes.
N.L. Central
1. Chicago Cubs (102-60)
2. St. Louis Cardinals (91-61) WC
3. Pittsburgh Pirates (87-75)
4. Milwaukee Brewers (76-86)
5. Cincinnati Reds (67-95)
Could this be the year? The Cubs look dangerous folks, they have the chance to be the best team in baseball and end the longest drought in professional sports. Then again, they are the Cubs. This team got a lot better with the additions of Jason Heyward and Ben Zobrist. Not to mention a signing of a veteran starter in John Lackey. Those Cardinals and Cubs games should be joys to watch. The Cardinals do lose two big FA's to the Cubbies but not to worry in STL, the Cardinals have great organizational depth (shocker). They're not going to take us like surprise like they did last year and win 100+ games, but this team knows how to win and expect them to compete for the division. The Pirates will also be very good in 2016. They didn't make many changes to their overall roster, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Now they just need to get into the playoffs... and win. There's a major drop off from three to four in this division and the Brewers won't be anything special. However, they're rebuilding the right way and saw some impact in the rotation towards the end of last season. Look for that to continue. The Reds should be an atrocity. Anything above 70 wins for this club should be deemed a successful season. Look for Brandon Phillips and Jay Bruce to leave town via trade sooner rather than later.
N.L. West
1. San Francisco Giants (96-66)
2. Los Angeles Dodgers (94-68) WC
3. Arizona Diamondbacks (90-62)
4. San Diego Padres (78-84)
5. Colorado Rockies (66-96)
It's an even year. Watch out world, here come the Giants again. No, I didn't rank them at the top solely because it's an even year. They got much better in a great offseason by their management. Additions of Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija will greatly help their rotation woes from last season. The offense was great last season and it will continue to be this season. I like the Giants out west. The Dodgers are nipping at their heels though, along with the Dbacks. The Dodgers lose Zack Greinke but now have arguably more rotational depth than they did last season. Kenta Maeda is a big question mark as you never know how those Japanese pitchers will hold up in their first full 162 game season. Hyun-Jin-Ryu looks to be delayed coming back from shoulder surgery but the addition of another solid lefty in Scott Kazmir will help Clayton Kershaw for sure. Oh, did we mention the Dodgers have one of the best minor league systems? Corey Seager will play his first full season in the bigs and we might be seeing Julio Urias sooner rather than later. What a phenom this kid is. The Diamondbacks possessed the best offense outside of Coors Field last season and now they have the pitching staff to compete for a division crown. But can they? Zack Greinke is a bonafide ace and a student of the game. Shelby Miller is a young stud coming off a great statistical season with the Braves. Paul Goldschmidt is the MVP candidate no one is talking about (or no one ever talks about). The pieces are the for the Diamondbacks to go for it in 2016. Now we just have to wait and see how it all unfolds. The Padres will take a step back from the hype train that surrounded them leading up to last season. After another disappointing campaign in SD, the Padres now lack depth in their minor league system and lack talent with their major league system. They do however have a heap of bad contacts. This might not be pretty in SD this season. Finally we have the Rockies who will have the same line they do going into seemingly every season in Denver: Best offense in baseball, bad rotation pitching at Coors Field. They'll score a lot of runs, but they'll give up more. Lets hope that top 10 minor league system brings up more pitching prospects.
Next week we take these predictions and make them even more exciting! Awards and Playoff predictions come next week on Hutch On Sports and we'll see you then!
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