The MLB offseason is in full swing and teams have started to improve their rosters. With this being done, we make our way too early 2017 American League predictions.
It seems like the Chicago Cubs won the 2016 World Series just weeks ago, but in reality, it was over a month ago. And it seems like baseball season is an eternity away, but pitchers and catchers report less than two months from now. So of course, it is time to make predictions, because that it what all MLB fans love to obsess over.
Some teams, like the Boston Red Sox and Washington Nationals, seem like they are completely going for it in 2017. While others, the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins, seem to be taking the rebuilding approach. Rosters have been tweaked and some farm systems have been completely blown up. The Winter Meetings featured plenty of big deals and a couple of blockbuster trades that knocked everyone off their seats.
There are still big name free agents, Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Bautista and Mark Trumbo, who have yet to be signed, but making predictions shouldn’t be drastically changed by the team that they sign with.
The AL East should be the most interesting in the AL. The Red Sox and Yankees are showing tendencies of their old ways, while the O’s and Blue Jays will have to fight to stay prominent. The Central seems like the Indians’ division to lose, but anything can happen (just ask the Royals). And in the West, there could be an in-state brawl between the Rangers and Astros (not literally, Rougned Odor).
It may be just December, but it’s never too early for 2017 American League predictions.