There really hasn't been a lot of offseason movement by the top teams in what I think is going to be the toughest division in baseball next year, the American League Central. The two teams at the bottom of the division in 2006, the Indians and the Royals, have made a lot of moves to catch up, and I really think one team has made a big jump in talent and could actually take the crown in 2007! Betting odds on the World Series are now available at WagerWeb.com!
Here is a recap and brief analysis of each AL Central team's offseason moves:
Chicago White Sox: White Sox GM Kenny Williams did a masterful job two years ago during the offseason when he put together the team that dominated the AL in 2005. Last year was not as great a year for the Pale Hose, and Williams has made a couple of curious moves that I guess he's hoping will upgrade the rotation, but frankly I don't see it. The two trades the White Sox made this offseason have reshaped the starting staff. In the first deal, the Sox sent reliable workhorse Freddy Garcia to the Phillies for pitchers Gavin Floyd and Gio Gonzalez. Floyd has a very live arm but hasn't yet been able to harness the control needed to be successful. Gonzalez is a pretty good pitching prospect but is at least a year away from the majors. If the Sox's goal was to win a title in 2007, then I don't see how trading away one of your stalwarts for a couple of guys who might be good in 2008 and beyond is helping. Garcia makes millions more than the other two combined, so I guess Williams is thinking he can spend that money better somewhere else. The second deal was odd to me as well. Originally, the thinking was that by trading Garcia, it would open up a spot for Brandon McCarthy, who has been a top starting prospect and has done well as a reliever in his 2 years in the majors. Well, what does Williams do? He trades McCarthy to Texas for one of the Rangers' top pitching prospects, John Danks, and Nick Masset, who is a lower-level starting prospect. I guess Williams thinks Danks has a higher ceiling than McCarthy, but now the Sox only have 4 starters who have pitched in the bigs. We'll have to see how that plays out. The rest of the team is basically the same as last year. SS Juan Uribe has legal troubles plaguing him but should be around for when camp opens. The other move Williams might make is to deal 3B Joe Crede for that starting pitcher he needs. Crede is coming off a career year, but the Sox have a great 3B prospect in Josh Fields, who is ready for MLB action.
Cleveland Indians: This is the team that is going to look a lot different in 2007, and in my opinion could be the most improved team in baseball next year. I haven't disagreed with one move the Tribe have made, and they have addressed all the problems they had a year ago. The Indians' primary problem a year ago was their horrible bullpen. The starters for the club were actually pretty good, but they continued to lose games because the game would get blown in the late innings. Four relievers who've been solid in the past have been signed to hopefully stop the bleeding: Joe Borowski, Keith Foulke, Roberto Hernandez and Aaron Fultz. Borowski, Foulke and Hernandez have all been closers in the past, but I think Borowski will get the first shot at the job this year. He saved 36 games last year for the Marlins and has always been fairly reliable. Foulke was the star closer for the Red Sox when they won the World Series in 2004, so if he can overcome the arm injuries he has had the last two years, he's a good low-priced gamble to take. Hernandez and Fultz are both excellent middle relievers, so the club's ERA should take a real nosedive this season. The Tribe made one good deal this offseason and picked up a much-needed 2B in Josh Barfield from San Diego. The deal cost the Indians a good 3B prospect in Kevin Kouzmanoff, but they already have a better 3B prospect in Andy Marte to play the hot corner, so it was really a no-lose proposition for them. Barfield has a nice power-speed combo and should be good for 15 HRs and 25 SBs this season. The other nice signing the Indians made was to pick up OF David Dellucci. Dellucci hit 29 HRs in 2005 for Texas, but was woefully under-used by the Phillies last year. Look for a return to that 2005 level from him, as he has a super young lineup around him and guaranteed at-bats. Cleveland also added former Red Sox OF Trot Nixon. The Indians will be much better this season, bank on it.
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Detroit Tigers: Apparently the Tigers think that they shouldn't be messing with a good thing after their 2006 World Series appearance. The only offseason move the Tigers have made was to acquire Gary Sheffield from the Yankees for a couple of good minor-league pitching prospects. Sheffield should help the offense if he can stay on the field. At 38, that's no sure thing, but if he should go down Marcus Thames should ably fill in for him. Almost the entire rest of the Tigers team returns from last season, and I guess Manager Jim Leyland thinks he can get better performances from his young pitchers while hoping old man Kenny Rogers has one more good season left in that 42-year-old arm. Personally, I think it's a little much to ask, but we shall see.
Kansas City Royals: Royals GM Dayton Moore spent a lot of years as the protégé of Atlanta GM John Schuerholz, who is regarded as one of the best in the game. Moore has definitely produced a lot more action in his first offseason as the main man than the Royals' faithful are used to seeing. I'm not sure how much of it will add up to success on the field, but at least he's trying, which is more than can be said for his predecessors. Moore has picked up two new starters for his rotation, Gil Meche and Brian Bannister. Meche had his best season as a pro last year and at the age of 28, I guess Moore is hoping he'll be a solid contributor for years to come. Don't get me wrong, Meche is at best a league-average starter, but that's better than the Royals have had in years. They did overpay to get him, but I think this signing was more about showing the Royals are serious about getting better. After signing Meche, the Royals traded their closer from last year, Ambiorix Burgos, to the Mets for Bannister, who was solid before he got injured last year. It was a risk to trade a 22-year-old guy who throws 100 mph like Burgos does, but he hasn't shown any signs that he could control that heater. The Royals signed a couple of live arms to take Burgos' place in the bullpen in Octavio Dotel and David Riske. Dotel is coming off Tommy John surgery and was a successful closer before he got hurt. Riske has always thrown hard and has pretty good control, so if given a shot, he could do a nice job for them. The other major-league acquisition the Royals made was to pick up C Jason LaRue from the Reds. He should be the starter going into the season, but he's nothing more than an average backstop.
Minnesota Twins: The Twins are a low-budget team that rarely makes a big splash in the offseason, and this year is no exception. After winning the division a year ago, they have basically decided to stand pat and hope that all the young talent they have (Joe Mauer, Johan Santana, Justin Morneau, Michael Cuddyer, Boof Bonser) continues to improve and they can repeat. The only addition to the roster is utility-man Jeff Cirillo, who should provide some nice relief at the infield positions. The only other move I can see the Twins making is to maybe pick up another starting pitcher. With uber-talent Francisco Liriano on the shelf for 2007 after Tommy John surgery, the Twins are a little light in the reliable starter department. They will be counting on young arms like Bonser, Matt Garza and Scott Baker to come through, and the odds are against them that all of them will. Carlos Silva is also part of the rotation, but he's nothing more than ordinary.
