MLB 2017: American League Central Rankings
By Jason Evans
Over the next six weeks, I will be taking a look at every team in baseball by evaluating each team’s rotation, infield, outfield, lineup and bullpen to figure out who will win each division in our MLB 2017 preview. Today, we take a look at the American League Central.
Welcome to part two of our MLB 2017 preview. If you missed it last week, I took a look at the AL East. Today, we will take a look at the American League Central.
The AL Central has had the past three AL pennant winners. The Minnesota Twins are going through another rebuilding process. After finishing second in 2015, the team cratered to 59 wins and now has a new front office. The Chicago White Sox finally are out of the middle. They traded Chris Sale and Adam Eaton so far and added the top-rated pitching and hitting prospects in the game in Lucas Giolito and Yoan Moncada.
The Detroit Tigers were supposed to go down a similar path as the White Sox, but have only given up Cameron Maybin and should bring back mainly the same cast of characters that almost made the postseason in 2016.
What are the Kansas City Royals? That’s what Dayton Moore has to figure out with so many core players going into their free agent season. The death of Yordano Ventura threw an unfortunate wrench into their plans.
The Cleveland Indians are ready to get back to the World Series and break baseball’s longest drought of a World Series title. With Andrew Miller for a full season and Edwin Encarnacion now on board, this could be a reality.
So where will they finish? Let’s take a look. Remember, the lower the score the better.