2015 American League Central Preview

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Oct 15, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals players celebrate on the field after defeating the Baltimore Orioles in game four of the 2014 ALCS playoff baseball game at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals swept the Orioles to advance to the World Series. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

This offseason was one of the busiest of MLB’s history.

Bleacher Report’s Jason Catania ranks the 2014-2015 off-season near the top in baseball history in terms of both the amount of moves made and money spent.

One of the teams at the forefront of this zany winter resides in the American League Central, the Chicago White Sox. They were seen as spenders heading into the winter and certainly did not disappoint (more on that later) and closed the gap in the division.

Everyone has been looking up at the Detroit Tigers over the past four years, yet it was the out-of-nowhere Kansas City Royals who clinched the AL pennant in 2014. The Cleveland Indians have the Junior Circuit’s reigning Cy Young Award winner, and the Minnesota Twins made some nice acquisitions.

Here are my thoughts on how the AL Central will shake out in 2015.

Sep 27, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Minnesota Twins second baseman

Brian Dozier

(2) receives congratulations from first baseman

Joe Mauer

(7) after he hits a home run in the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

5: Minnesota Twins (68-94)

The Minnesota Twins will retain their spot in the AL Central cellar next year, but make no mistake about it, they are an improved team. A new manager in Hall of Famer Paul Molitor takes over the team from Ron Gardenhire, who was at the helm since 2002 could infuse new life into the players.

The signings of starting pitcher Ervin Santana and former Twins player and fan favorite outfielder Torii Hunter, combined with a strong farm system and pieces like former MVP Joe Mauer, home run derby participant Brian Dozier and all-star closer Glen Perkins, the Twins have good pieces in place.

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However, they have not won more than 70 games since 2010, their first year at Target Field. The rotation behind Santana and last year’s ace Phil Hughes is shaky. It is worth noting, however, the last time they dipped into the big-market starting pitching free agent pool it did not go well, with Ricky Nolasco flopping in the Twin Cities.

With a good young core of players such as Kennys Vargas, Danny Santana and Oswaldo Arcia with top prospects Miguel Sano, Alex Meyer and Byron Buxton, the Twins are still a couple years away from contention.

Sep 21, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher

Corey Kluber

(28) pitches in the second inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

4: Cleveland Indians (80-82)

I know … how can a team with the reigning American League Cy Young winner in Corey Kluber and Top-3 MVP finisher Michael Brantley, being run by manager Terry Francona, finish this low in the division?

Well, the bullpen is a bit unsettled (and White Sox fans know how that goes), although Cody Allen had a nice run as the team’s closer following John Axford‘s implosion that cost him his tenure in Cleveland.

Jason Kipnis has regressed, Nick Swisher was having a poor season before having surgery on both knees and they are looking to strike lightning in a bottle in the bottom half of their admittedly underrated rotation.

Next: White Sox prospect Micker Adolfo has potential

(Did you SEE Carlos Carrasco‘s post all-star break numbers?!)

White Sox fans do not need to be reminded of the ups and downs of Gavin Floyd, who is most likely to be the club’s fourth starter. Brandon Moss may as well have been gifted to the Tribe since Cleveland did not need a 24-year-old second base prospect behind the aforementioned Kipnis, who is only 27 and already had one All-Star effort in 2013.

The Indians would be in a better position if not for their being in arguably the most improved division in baseball.

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Sep 27, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Fans cheer as Chicago White Sox designated hitter

Paul Konerko

bats during the third inning of their game against the Kansas City Royals at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

3: Chicago White Sox (85-77)

The White Sox were certainly expected to be “buyers” following a dismal two-year stretch where the club went 136-188 (.419) because they were shedding some big salaries following the 2014 season in retiring captain Paul Konerko and trading slugger Adam Dunn in the month of August.

A burgeoning youth movement highlighted by Adam Eaton, Avisail Garcia and Chris Sale, and an owner willing to open the checkbook, gave way to a very optimistic fan base for 2015. The team’s massive overhaul in the offseason included adding David Robertson, Jeff Samardzija, Zach Duke, Adam LaRoche, Melky Cabrera and others.

Next: White Sox: Can Erik Johnson rebound in 2015?

A projected rotation of Sale, Samardzija and Jose Quintana give the White Sox a top-three that ranks up near the top of the American League. Robertson and Duke add reliability to the bullpen. LaRoche and Cabrera complement a lineup with reigning Rookie of the Year and MVP candidate Jose Abreu and Silver Slugger Alexei Ramirez, who will improve the offense.

This is arguably the most improved team in baseball (the San Diego Padres can make that same claim), but no one knows how this collection of talent will play together. That, in addition to the question marks at the back end of the rotation, lead the White Sox to finish in the middle of the division.

Oct 5, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers first gameeman

Miguel Cabrera

(24) during player introductions before game three of the 2014 ALDS baseball playoff game against the Baltimore Orioles at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

2: Detroit Tigers (87-75)

For the first time in four years, the Detroit Tigers will not win the American League Central Division.

The offense is still near the top in the league, but with word that MVP-runner up Victor Martinez needs surgery to repair torn meniscus in his left knee (the same knee he injured when he missed the entire 2012 season), there is some reason to be worried.

Yoenis Cespedes should help recoup some of those numbers, but no one can replace Martinez’s exceptional 2014 season in Motown.

The reason they lose out on their fifth straight divisional crown is because of the pitching. Max Scherzer has left for the Washington Nationals, and Justin Verlander is another year removed from his MVP year of 2011. David Price struggled in his half-season in Detroit (extrapolated over a full year, it would have been his worst since his rookie year), and Anibal Sanchez is one of the best No. 3 pitchers in baseball.

Let’s not forget Alfredo Simon and Shane Greene/Kyle Lobstein, but they scare no one at the end of that rotation.

All this without regarding they lost a clubhouse figure in Torii Hunterthey have a bullpen that struggled mightily in recent years despite big name and the declining health of former Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera paves the way for another team to win the division for the first time in nearly half a decade.

Oct 28, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals third baseman

Mike Moustakas

(8) celebrates with teammates after hitting a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants in the 7th inning during game six of the 2014 World Series at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

1: Kansas City Royals (90-72)

How can you go against the club that came within one run of a World Series title?

Their historically good bullpen remains intact with Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland. Plus, they feature a lineup that returns Alex Gordon, Eric Hosmer, ALCS MVP Lorenzo Cain and one of the game’s best young catchers in Salvador Perez.

Longtime Royals fan favorite and face of the franchise Billy Butler is gone, signing with the Oakland Athletics, but he was replaced by Kendrys Morales and the club added Alex Rios, who was a 20/20 player in 2012 and quietly swiped 42 bases in 2013.

(No, seriously, did anyone know he had 40+ bags two years ago?!)

The likely departure of starting pitcher James Shields certainly hurts the rotation, but “Big Game James” was anything but in the Royals pennant run, and Yordano Ventura seems poised to take over that ace spot in the rotation.

I think Kris Medlen could be the best under-the-radar signing across the bigs this winter. The Royals made the postseason as a wild card team a year ago; this year, they get there on the heels of a divisional title.

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