2013 Wish List For The American League

Hello all, In case you missed it, here is part one looking at the NL.

In part two, the American League

Baltimore Orioles: 93-69, AL Wild Card

2013 Wish: That you can be that lucky two years in a row. The Orioles were a big surprise last year, earning one of the wild-card sports and making its first postseason since 1996. However there were a lot of smoke and mirrors getting to October as the O's were 29-9 in one-run games, including 16(!) extra inning wins in a row. That would equate to a 123-39 record for a whole season. Think about that. Regression is inevitable in 2013, but with Adam Jones, Matt Weiters, and Manny Machado in the lineup the future still looks wonderful. Oh and there is baseball's top pitching prospect Dylan Bundy on the way.

Boston Red Sox: 69-93

 2013 Wish: That Toronto hasn't leap frogged us. It is astonishing that this is even for real, but after a last-place finish in the AL East and Toronto's splurge this offseason, the Red Sox are kind of in a no man's land. No superstar acquisitions this offseason is not necessarily a bad thing. They cleared a ton of salary by unloading Josh Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez, and Carl Crawford last summer, but if you are going to keep the payroll lower top prospects like Xander Bogaerts and Jackie Bradley need to pan out. Third baseman Will Middlebrooks cannot have a sophomore slump. Is ESPN's Bill Simmons correct in his numerous predictions that the team will soon be for sale?

Chicago White Sox: 85-77

2013 Wish: That lineup questions will be resolved quickly. I like the White Sox rotation with young ace Chris Sale, Jake Peavy, and Gavin Floyd at the top. After a career year A.J. Pierzynski has left for Texas and Kevin Youkilis is in New York. Are they set to begin the season replacing them with Tyler Flowers and Brent Morel? If so players like Alex Rios, Paul Konerko, Adam Dunn, and Dayan Vicido need to produce at peak level. They should still be in the hunt in the division, but an injury could cripple them.

Cleveland Indians: 68-94

2013 Wish: That Terry Francona can still get the job done. A bitter end to his tenure in Boston, the new Tribe manager has taken a much lower profile job in Cleveland. In a three team trade outfielder Shin-Soo Choo went to Cincinnati and brought back center fielder Drew Stubbs from the Reds and young right-hander Trevor Bauer from Arizona. Bauer, once a top prospect has the potential to be a top of the rotation arm. The team also signed infielder/slugger Mark Reynolds and Columbus, OH native Nick Swisher to a four-year deal. Personally getting Francona, Bauer, and Stubbs would make it a great offseason for the team, Swisher's signing for four years? No comment.

Detroit Tigers: 88-74, AL Central Chapions, AL Champions

2013 Wish: That Victor Martinez can comeback from a knee injury. Detroit is in great shape. Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera, and Prince Fielder are all about as good as one can be at what you ask them to do. After shredding his knee before last year, conventional wisdom says getting Martinez to hit behind the monsters in the middle should make opposing pitchers knees shake. But I don't think it is that slam of a dunk. He is 34 and didn't really have a position before he tore ligaments. A platoon at first with Fielder and a rotation at DH between them and Cabrera makes sense. Martinez should still drive in a ton of runs and Detroit should be knocking on the door come October.

Houston Astros: 55-107

2013 Wish: That we all wake up on February 1st and it is 2016. New ownership, new league, and a new logo cannot mask the fact that Houston will have a payroll around $30 million next season. Going to be a long summer deep in the heart of Texas.

Kansas City Royals: 72-90

2013 Wish: That they make the playoffs. It's been 27 years since the Royals played a postseason game. They have had one of baseball's top farm systems over the last few years and with players like Alcides Escobar, Lorenzo Cain, Eric Hosmer, and Mike Moustakas all coming up we've started to see some of the promise bear fruit. Finally KC general manager Dayton Moore pulled the trigger this offseason acquiring Tampa Bay starters James Shields and Wade Davis. In return they gave up top hitting prospect Wil Myers and pitcher Jake Odorizzi (as well as two other minor leaguers). This is a huge gamble that probably puts Moore's job on the line. In the end can a top three rotation of Shields, newly acquired Ervin Santana, and Jeremy Guthrie get you in? Not too sure. But if Hosmer and Moustakas reach their potential it will be a lot easier. Myers could be a coup for the Rays.

Los Angeles Angels: 89-73

2013 Wish: That aggressive  moves this offseason will get LA back in the playoffs. Well if there is anything we know about Halos owner Artie Moreno it is that he does not like keeping quiet. One of the biggest splashes this offseason was signing outfielder Josh Hamilton to a five-year, $125 million deal. With Mike Trout, Mark Trumbo, Vernon Wells, and Peter Bourjos already outfielders on the roster this was a curious move, but on the other hand in sticks a thorn in the side of division rival Texas. Five years for an oft-injured talent with the most checkered past of any current professional athlete? Risky, but with Hamilton, Trout, Albert Pujols, and Trumbo in the lineup and Jered Weaver, C.J. Wilson, and offseason trade acquisitions Tommy Hanson and Jason Vargas in the rotation, games could easily be played late in October in Orange County.

 Minnesota Twins: 66-96

2013 Wish: That there is stability in the starting rotation. The Twins had 11 pitchers who made at least five starts last season. With offseason moves that have brought in Vance Worley, Kevin Correia, and Mike Pelfrey from the National League to start alongside holdover Scott Diamond, the fifth spot will be wide open in Ft. Myers with no less than about 10 candidates vying for it. Without significant improvement Justin Morneau, Josh Willingham, and Ron Gardenhire might not be around August 1st.

New York Yankees: 95-67, American League East Champions

2013 Wish: That age is nothing but a number. Here are the most important players on the Yankees roster and their corresponding age on Opening Day. Andy Pettitte (40), Robinson Cano (30), Hiroki Kuroda (38), Curtis Granderson (32), Derek Jeter (38), Kevin Youkilis (33), Mariano Rivera (43), CC Sabathia (32), injured Alex Rodriguez (37), Mark Teixeira (32), and Ichiro (39). Could this team make the World Series? Absolutely, could they finish 4th in the division? Probably not, but a healthy Michael Pineda sure would be nice.

Oakland Athletics: 94-68, American League West Champions

2013 Wish: That the magic continues. My favorite story of last year was the small market A's taking down the high payroll Angels and Rangers to win its division. With young starters like Brett Anderson, Jarrod Parker, and Tommy Milone they'll always be in the hunt. An offseason trade brings former Diamondbacks outfielder Chris Young to the east bay to help the lineup which needs to scratch and claw to stay competitive. A key will be keeping Cuban Yoenis Cespedes healthy, Oakland was 82-46 with him in the lineup.

 Seattle Mariners: 75-87

2013 Wish: That top prospect pitchers are ready to step up. With the recent trade sending Jason Vargas to LA, starters like Hector Noesi, Erasmo Ramirez, and Blake Beaven need to produce behind Felix Hernandez in Seattle. Top pitching prospects Taijuan Walker, Danny Hultzen, and James Paxton are all knocking on the door as well. There might be more offense this Season, not just because first baseman/DH Kendrys Morales came in the Vargas trade, but like San Diego, Safeco Field is having its fences moved in. Slowly but surely Seattle is moving in the right direction.

Tamps Bay Rays: 91-71

2013 Wish: That Evan Longoria is healthy and productive. Longo missed 13 weeks last season and while he was out for 85 games, the Rays went 41-44. They are loaded with young talent, but because of budget constraints there is no room for error. After signing a $100 million extension this offseason, the all-star third baseman is under team control until 2023 and might be the most indispensable player in baseball.

Texas Rangers: 93-69, AL Wild Card

2013 Wish: That the regular season will be better than the offseason. They were a juggernaut for most of last season until a September collapse and a dropped Josh Hamilton fly ball lost the Rangers the division. Things have not gone much better this winter. Gone are lineup sluggers Hamilton and Mike Napoli, ace reliever Koji Uehara, and Texas-lifer/clubhouse leader Michael Young. They have missed out on top free agent pitcher Zack Grienke and were not able to acquire outfielder Justin Upton (yet) or starter James Shields. They still have a really good club, but they might have to rely on infielders Mike Olt infielder Jurickson Profar more than they would like. Those kids are studs and Nolan Ryan will make a move midseason. If they are not in the thick of things manager Ron Washington might be out of a job.

Toronto Blue Jays: 73-89

2013 Wish: HEALTH, HEALTH, HEALTH! We save the best for last. Outfielder Jose Bautista and designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion are grinning ear to ear as the biggest news this offseason has been out of Canada. The Blue Jays have completely revamped their squad and upped payroll. Welcome reigning NL Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey and starters Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle. Shortstop Jose Reyes and outfielder Melky Cabrera will solidify the top of the order. If this team is healthy and third baseman Brett Lawrie can live up to his potential the AL Eastern crown could find its way north of the border. Vegas has the Jays as the American League favorite right now at 15-2, that's a little much, but since the back-to-back championships in 1992-93, the Maple Leafs might not be on the front page next summer/fall. Ohh who am I kidding? They should be really, really good though.

There you have it. I hope you enjoyed my wish lists, we will be back in the coming weeks and months with more thoughts. Thanks for reading and a happy new year.