Friday, January 26th, 2007
1. New York
Yankees GM Brian Cashman looked good this winter. While the Red Sox owned the headlines with their mind boggling spending, the Yankees shed payroll, avoided the inflated free agency market, and ultimately got better through the lost art of trading.
By taking advantage of a Detroit team eager to finish what they started in 2006, they were able to trade veteran pariah Gary Sheffield for three top-notch prospects in Anthony Clagget, Kevin Whelan, and Humberto Sanchez. Sheffieldís bat will be missed, but no team could miss it less than the Yankees. They have plenty of offense to fill the hole, and the trade helped make great strides in the organizations mission to improve their farm system.
Also getting dealt was Randy Johnson. In a deal that sent Johnson home to Arizona, the Yankees succeeded in dumping his $16 million contract (agreeing to pay just $2 million of it), further improve their farm with pitching prospects Ross Ohlendorf and Steven Jackson, along with shortstop Alberto Gonzalez. For near term improvement, the Yanks also added right-handed reliever Luis Vizcaino to their rocky bull pen.
Also making New York look sharp was shipping Jaret Wright to Baltimore for right-handed reliever Chris Britton. They saved $3 million in doing so, and Wrightís inconsistency will not be missed in the rotation.
As for the rotation, by adding Andy Pettitte and Kei Igawa to an outfit already sporting Mike Mussina and Chien-Ming Wang, the Yankees will go into 2007 better than in 2006. Also, rumors that Roger Clemens may wear pinstripes would not hurt their cause.
As for the Yankeesí offense, the lineup is borderline comical it is so talented. And now with a solid rotation to back up the bats of Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Bobby Abreu, Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui and Jason Giambi, the Yankees look poised to run away with at least the east.
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2. Boston
While the Yankees tried to remedy their big-spending ways, the Red Sox, a team worth in the area of $1.5 billion, flexed monetary muscle seldom seem in any sport.
Daisuke Matsuzaka was the primary symptom of Theo Eptsienís Napoleon Complex, and when it was all said and done, the team had in the vicinity of $100 million invested in the unproven arm. Not far off in the mind-blowing department was signing ever-fragile JD Drew for five years at $70 million.
But the real improvements came in the way of bullpen help from Brendan Donnelly and top-of-the-order improvement from shortstop Julio Lugo. Lugo is at home in the east, and thereís no reason to think he will perform far better than his limited-playing role allowed in Los Angeles.
And though their bullpen is without a closer, the Sox rotation can hold itís own anywhere. Curt Schilling, Josh Becket and Tim Wakefield all have the ability to win 15 or more games when backed by the Sox potent offense, and with Jonathan Papelbon moving into a starterís role, things seem to only be getting better. Not to mention that if Matsuzaka pitches the way this organization seems to think he can, the east could be in trouble.
But the real rule of thumb for the Sox is this: As long as the lineup has David Ortiz batting in front of Manny Ramirez, they will win more than they lose.
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3. Toronto
If Blue Jayís GM J.P. Ricciardi can be given credit for anything, itís the formation of a well balanced offense. They have their genuine AL ball crushers in Troy Glaus and freshly acquired Frank Thomas; they have 5-tool fast guys in Vernon Wells and Alex Rios, and somewhere, somehow, right now, Lyle Overbay is on base.
This offense, with Roy Halladay, A.J. Burnett and Gustavo Chacin on the mound seems to follow the model of balance that has seen the AL central become such a competitive division. Also, BJ Ryan has been one of the few examples of a high-priced closer being worth every penny.
This balance, along with a free flowing wallet hell-bent on getting better, ensures the Blue Jays will begin being a major player in the east. And though they did beat out Boston for second in the east last year, it is difficult to imagine the Sox will crumble so drastically down the stretch two years in a row.
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4. Baltimore
The last remaining member of the AL east school of ìGood Offense Can Compensate for Poor Pitching,î the Orioles are an organization with a lot of work to be done.
They have plenty of offense in Miguel Tejada, Brian Roberts, Melvin Mora, Corey Patterson, Aubrey Huff and the emerging Nick Markakis, but very little help from the mound.
They have a legitimate number one in Erik Bedard, and 2007 could be the leftyís official coming out party. They also have a legitimate lights-out closer in Chris Ray, but thatís about it.
In acquiring Jaret Wright, the Oís are hoping Leo Mazzone can remind him how to pitch. It was under Mazzone that Wright went 15-8 with a 3.38 ERA for Atlanta in 2004.
They did undergo an expensive bullpen overhaul with the additions of Danys Baez and Chad Bradford, among others. But unless major improvements are made for the long term picture, such moves will keep them out of the cellar for only the very near-term.
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5. Tampa Bay
The Devil Rays go into 2007 with a lot of questions and very few answers. You can count on Crawford, Baldelli, Young and Kazmir; but thatís where the counting stops.
In an off season lacking any major short-term improvements, 2007, barring any surprise moves, looks to be shaping up as a continuation of the weed-out course that was 2006. Still, as Sternberg and Co. have said so many times, this may be a necessary evil in the development of sustainable winning in the future. But it wonít make losing any more fun.
The rotation is in shambles, and the bullpen is a mess. In the event that the Devil Rays become competitors in 2007, the Rays will have to have breakout seasons by more than a couple pitchers. And the Hail Maryís that are veterans Al Reyes and Dan Miceli will have to exceed every expectation.
Also, in the unlikely event the Rays can compete in 2007, the Rays offense will have to improve exponentially from 2006. Gomes and Cantu must produce or their futures in Tampa Bay will come into question. Upton will have to step it up both offensively and defensively, or he may begin seeming like a true bust. And it would be nice to figure out who the club can count on to hold down first base full time.
It will be enjoyable to see Crawford and Baldelli continue on their path to join baseballís elite outfielders. It will be exciting to see Young chase Rookie of the Year and Kazmir should show the makings of a future Cy Young candidate. Iwamuraís transition into MLB will be interesting and hopefully impressive. Also, the season should reveal the emergence of the core of players this organization can build around for years. Still, with a fan base tired of losing, it shouldnít be too hard to find a seat at the Trop in 2007.
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