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MLB Team X-factors for 2017, Part I: AL East

By Jim Turvey

Mar 6, 2017; West Palm Beach, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (41) delivers a pitch against the Houston Astros at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2017; West Palm Beach, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (41) delivers a pitch against the Houston Astros at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 24, 2017; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Hanley Ramirez (13) looks on while at bat during the first inning against the New York Mets at JetBlue Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports. MLB.
Feb 24, 2017; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Hanley Ramirez (13) looks on while at bat during the first inning against the New York Mets at JetBlue Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports. MLB. /

Boston Red Sox – Hanley Ramirez

Right now you’d be hardpressed to find any MLB fans who don’t have the Boston Red Sox in their top tier of contenders in the American League for 2017. Of course the same was said before the 2012 and 2014 seasons. The Sox have been a bit all over the map since 2012, with two division titles and three finishes in the AL East cellar.

If there is a path to disappointment in 2017, a drop-off in offense could well be the reason. Most Sox followers have bigger questions about the rotation, but with the loss of David Ortiz, the Sox lineup could lose a lot of its pop if Hanley Ramirez is unable to repeat his 2016 campaign. Ramirez is nursing a shoulder injury right now and we all know his history with injuries sapping his production.

If Betts goes from 31 home runs down to the 25 range he seems more likely to settle into and Mitch Moreland does his typical Moreland thing, the Sox offense could definitely drop from its absurd 2016 level (team wRC+: 113) to simply above average. That could be the difference between 95 wins and 90 and a division title versus a wild card spot. The health of Ramirez may well be the most important factor in just how good the Sox offense will be in 2017.

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