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MLB: Way Too Early 2017 American League Predictions

By Matthew Lively

Sep 17, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; General view of the scoreboard after the Los Angeles Angels won the American League West Division title against the Seattle Mariners at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; General view of the scoreboard after the Los Angeles Angels won the American League West Division title against the Seattle Mariners at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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American League East

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

 Standings Predictions:

  1. Boston Red Sox
  2. New York Yankees
  3. Toronto Blue Jays
  4. Baltimore Orioles
  5. Tampa Bay Rays

Overview:

At the beginning of the Winter Meetings, some Red Sox fans were wondering if Dave Dombrowski was even present. The answer to that mystery came in a major fashion when Dombrowski shipped superstar prospect Yoan Moncada to the White Sox for All-Star Chris Sale. The addition of Sale gives the Red Sox one of the strongest pitching rotations in the MLB. They have two Cy-Young winners, and a pitcher in Sale who has finished in the top five in voting four times. And don’t forget that Mookie Betts finished second in MVP-voting.

They finally have a superb rotation, they had the number one offense in the MLB last year and have a pretty good bullpen now. Brian Cashman thinks they’re a superteam, which will make it easy for them to win the division.

The Yankees did something they’ve never done and stockpiled an impressive farm system last season while still keeping good major league talent on the field. The offense, which will be lead by Gary Sanchez’s power, will have to sustain a weak pitching rotation until it can give way to Aroldis Chapman and Dellin Betances.

The Orioles are in the same situation, led by a powerful offense but ridiculed with a weak rotation. They might be losing Mark Trumbo which would be a huge blow. I think there will be some regression from both the O’s and the Blue Jays. Without Bautista and Encarnacion, the Jays won’t be as powerful, even with Kendrys Morales. It’s been a quiet winter for a team that has been very loud the past few offseasons.

In the basement, the Tampa Bay Rays sit all alone. They watched their former manager change an entire culture and bring home a trophy this past season, a pill that must have been tough to swallow. Their young and talented rotation did not live up to the hype last season, which means the Rays could become sellers before the season gets underway.

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