Post by aaron_commissioner on Jan 12, 2018 18:31:22 GMT -8
New York Yankees (2019: 96-66, 2nd AL East, World Champions)
2019 in review: With so many dominant, 100+ win teams in the ABL in 2019, the Yankees quietly pulled off a stunner. However, those familiar with the team were perhaps not surprised. Plagued by injuries in years past, New York still struggled with some but was able to push through in 2019. They came up a game short of the division crown, but plowed through the playoffs en route to their first ABL championship. Austin Meadows established himself as an ABL superstar, and the Yanks made a huge deadline trade for Carlos Martinez.
Offseason summary: The MEGA-deal everyone is talking about was the acquisition of Kris Bryant from the Cubs. New York gave up a lot of make that happen, but they also continued to build up their team by trading for Carlos Carrasco (SF), and signing free agent George Springer.
What’s the best that could happen? A better regular season record and another World Series win. It’s debatable if this team is better, but they definitely aren’t worse than 2019.
What’s the worst that could happen? People forget that the Yankees struggled at times during the regular season in 2019. Ace Jameson Taillon is certainly what would be considered “injury prone”. If he misses a substantial amount of time this season, the Yankees could lose their hold on the division. Then, anything can happen.
Player spotlight:
SP Miguel Diaz: Acquired at the trade deadline in 2019, Diaz spent some time in AAA for more seasoning. Now that Carlos Martinez is gone, he will get first crack at the 5th spot in the rotation and could provide a spark to an already strong unit.
CF Austin Meadows: Meadows burst on to the scene in 2019 more than perhaps any other player. He seems to be set at the top of the Yankees’ lineup and will contend for MVP this year.
Questions:
1) Talk us through the decision to sign George Springer this offseason. With an already crowded OF, it seems you are content to let A.J. Pollock play more of a bench role? What are your plans for the outfield in 2020?
2) Your playoff performance was outstanding last year, but the regular season probably did not satisfy all of your goals. Where do you see room for improvement and how have you improved in those areas this offseason?
Toronto Blue Jays (2019: 85-77, 3rd AL East)
2019 in review: Quite honestly, I overlooked the Blue Jays heading in to 2019. I did not think they were a team likely to make the playoffs, but if it wasn’t for a horrendous September, they would have. Unfortunately, the 2019 squad will probably be remembered for their collapse in the final month of the season, squandering an AL East lead and ultimately a playoff spot.
Offseason summary: The Blue Jays were also busy this offseason, but most of the moves were depth building. Two acquisitions were notable, however: both SP Trevor Bauer (CLE) and CF Desmond Lindsay (MIA) were brought in via trade and will have big roles in 2020.
What’s the best that could happen? Toronto had a playoff spot locked up in 2019 before a historic collapse. In 2020, best case scenario would be ensuring a role in October, preferably with the division crown. Particularly, the new acquisition of Bauer helps this cause.
What’s the worst that could happen? Toronto is threatening to be in that “limbo” zone of contention with teams like St. Louis and Houston. They have some aging veterans that could decline at any time, most of their “prime” players are good but not elite, and they don’t really have the resources to make huge improvements. Worst case scenario would be this team finishing around .500 for the next 3 years and missing the playoffs.
Player spotlight:
SP Aaron Sanchez: Sanchez could be a top 5 pitcher in the ABL based on his ratings. Unfortunately, injuries have piled up for this big arm. He received a decent value extension this past offseason, but not without its own risk: Sanchez simply needs to stay healthy.
SS Richard Urena: Urena might be only 24, but it doesn’t seem like it. He posted two near-4 WAR seasons at the major league level already, and has a unique blend of power, speed, and consistency. Quality young shortstops are easier than many think to find, but Urena is certainly an asset to Toronto.
Questions:
1) You made a big move to acquire Desmond Lindsay from Miami this offseason. Walk us through that transaction. Was Lindsay a target of yours for a while? What do you expect from him in 2020?
2) To what can you contribute your 2019 collapse? How will you ensure that something like it doesn’t happen in 2020?
Boston Red Sox (2019: 97-65, 1st AL East, eliminated in ALCS)
2019 in review: In what was the most competitive division in 2019, the Red Sox pulled off quite the feat by claiming the division crown for the third straight year. New acquisition Josh Donaldson made his presence felt, propelling the team with over 8 WAR. Chris Sale was the team ace and Cy-Young hopeful, earning another 8 WAR himself. If it wasn’t for a fateful Donaldson injury and untimely pitching in the playoffs, this team could have been heading towards another World Series.
Offseason summary: The Red Sox were particularly busy this offseason. Their rotation especially has a different look to it. They acquired Stephen Strasburg (WAS), Julio Teheran (ATL), and Yoshiya Taniguchi (ANA) via trade, and shipped Eduardo Rodriguez to Atlanta. Furthermore, they traded Mookie Betts to Atlanta, and Josh Donaldson to Los Angeles, ultimately ending up with a few more prospects.
What’s the best that could happen? Boston has a good blend of talent, youth, and potential. They have won three straight division titles among a very competitive group, and they will be in the running for 1st place again this year. Best case scenario for this team is a deep playoff run.
What’s the worst that could happen? Injuries hurt the Red Sox in 2019, and they could do the same in 2020. Strasburg is not an “iron man” by any means. An injury to him and the loss of Josh Donaldson could keep the Red Sox out of the postseason.
Player spotlight:
SP Rick Porcello: Porcello could be an ace on may teams. He is paid like it for the big-budget Red Sox, after all. He has consistently posted near-4 WAR seasons and will occupy the #3 rotation spot for the deep Red Sox.
LF Andrew Benintendi: Benintendi may have established himself as the best hitter in the ABL not named Bryce Harper. Only 25 years old, he will continue to improve and will likely be an MVP candidate for many years to come.
Questions:
1) Walk us through the Josh Donaldson/Josh Morgan trade. How will you replace Donaldson’s leadership and power, and what are your future plans at the hot corner?
2) Despite a large budget, you have some salary challenges currently. How do you plan to address some of the challenging contracts on your ledger?
Detroit Tigers (2019: 63-99, 5th AL East)
2019 in review: Detroit made a big splash heading into the 2019 season by acquiring Manny Machado and attempting to shore up their pitching. While Machado produced MVP-caliber numbers, the pitching was still an anchor for the team. The Tigers were dead last in the AL in runs allowed. Because of that, they finished dead last in the AL East, as well.
Offseason summary: Detroit acquired Ian Happ early in free agency. Since then, they have focused on continuing to rebuild and add depth to their pitching staff. Robun Uchida was certainly one of the biggest signings of the offseason, but Drew Pomeranz (FA), Duane Underwood Jr. (trade), and Erasmo Ramirez (FA) may also contribute this year.
What’s the best that could happen? Honestly, I thought Detroit would be better than they were last year, and I still have some belief in them. I think it’s not entirely possible that they approach the .500 mark this year and are in the conversation for a wildcard in 2020 or 2021.
What’s the worst that could happen? Another year like last year would be pretty devastating to this team, especially when wasting money on the talents of Machado, Freeman, and Uchida.
Player spotlight:
SP Barrett Astin: Uchida may get all of the attention as a new, young, and flash signing, but Astin needs to be better if this team wants to improve. Astin has the makings of a quality starter, but struggles the 3rd time through the lineup and hasn’t proven that he has the stamina to produce deep into games.
CF Blake Rutherford: Although Rutherford’s ratings aren’t eye-popping, he produced excellent numbers upon promotion last year. If he can continue to produce and grow from his 2019, he should be a mainstay in Detroit’s lineup for the long run.
Questions:
1) You had big aspirations for 2019, but fell flat. What are your expectations for this year, and who do you really need to pull their weight?
2) Elephant in the room: Robun Uchida. Explain the big contract you gave him. What is your plan with him, and how do you feel about the fact that he only has two pitches?
Baltimore Orioles (2019: 68-94, 4th AL East)
2019 in review: The Orioles entered into 2019 in rebuild mode, trying to shed salary and trading Manny Machado to division rival Detroit the offseason prior. The team continued to hit a decent amount of home runs, but the overall value of batters started to wane. With players such as Chris Davis and Adam Jones, the O’s are suddenly paying older stars more than they may be worth. Worse yet, the team pitching was near the bottom of the league, leading them to a season to forget.
Offseason summary: The O’s were mostly quiet this offseason, likely due to budget challenges. Their biggest move was trading away Zach Britton to Chicago (NL).
What’s the best that could happen? Baltimore has some good veteran pieces, but they seem to be more turned towards the future. I’m sure the Orioles would love to see some of their higher-priced names start off the year hot and be able to be traded this season.
What’s the worst that could happen? The financial situation in Baltimore is not good. Worst case scenario would be these high-priced players not producing, clogging up the top levels of the organization, and weighing this team down for this year and the few to come.
Player spotlight:
SP Kyle Freeland: Freeland may be the most valuable pitcher in Baltimore’s shallow group. He is still young, has demonstrated good peripherals at Camden Yards, and could end the year as the team’s “ace”.
3B Kirven Moesquit: Moesquit quietly had a very impressive ABL debut in 2019, and could become a mainstay at the top of the Orioles lineup if his success continues. One of the rare non-power 3B in the game, Moesquit still posted 0.5 WAR in only 109 plate appearances in 2019.
Questions:
1) You seem to realize that you are in need of dumping salary. You haven’t been able to move many contracts so far, but walk us through some plans or strategies towards making budget room in the future.
2) Baltimore seems to be a really difficult place to develop starting pitchers. You attempted to make a trade for Joe Ross this offseason. How else do you plan to improve this area of your team?
2019 in review: With so many dominant, 100+ win teams in the ABL in 2019, the Yankees quietly pulled off a stunner. However, those familiar with the team were perhaps not surprised. Plagued by injuries in years past, New York still struggled with some but was able to push through in 2019. They came up a game short of the division crown, but plowed through the playoffs en route to their first ABL championship. Austin Meadows established himself as an ABL superstar, and the Yanks made a huge deadline trade for Carlos Martinez.
Offseason summary: The MEGA-deal everyone is talking about was the acquisition of Kris Bryant from the Cubs. New York gave up a lot of make that happen, but they also continued to build up their team by trading for Carlos Carrasco (SF), and signing free agent George Springer.
What’s the best that could happen? A better regular season record and another World Series win. It’s debatable if this team is better, but they definitely aren’t worse than 2019.
What’s the worst that could happen? People forget that the Yankees struggled at times during the regular season in 2019. Ace Jameson Taillon is certainly what would be considered “injury prone”. If he misses a substantial amount of time this season, the Yankees could lose their hold on the division. Then, anything can happen.
Player spotlight:
SP Miguel Diaz: Acquired at the trade deadline in 2019, Diaz spent some time in AAA for more seasoning. Now that Carlos Martinez is gone, he will get first crack at the 5th spot in the rotation and could provide a spark to an already strong unit.
CF Austin Meadows: Meadows burst on to the scene in 2019 more than perhaps any other player. He seems to be set at the top of the Yankees’ lineup and will contend for MVP this year.
Questions:
1) Talk us through the decision to sign George Springer this offseason. With an already crowded OF, it seems you are content to let A.J. Pollock play more of a bench role? What are your plans for the outfield in 2020?
2) Your playoff performance was outstanding last year, but the regular season probably did not satisfy all of your goals. Where do you see room for improvement and how have you improved in those areas this offseason?
Toronto Blue Jays (2019: 85-77, 3rd AL East)
2019 in review: Quite honestly, I overlooked the Blue Jays heading in to 2019. I did not think they were a team likely to make the playoffs, but if it wasn’t for a horrendous September, they would have. Unfortunately, the 2019 squad will probably be remembered for their collapse in the final month of the season, squandering an AL East lead and ultimately a playoff spot.
Offseason summary: The Blue Jays were also busy this offseason, but most of the moves were depth building. Two acquisitions were notable, however: both SP Trevor Bauer (CLE) and CF Desmond Lindsay (MIA) were brought in via trade and will have big roles in 2020.
What’s the best that could happen? Toronto had a playoff spot locked up in 2019 before a historic collapse. In 2020, best case scenario would be ensuring a role in October, preferably with the division crown. Particularly, the new acquisition of Bauer helps this cause.
What’s the worst that could happen? Toronto is threatening to be in that “limbo” zone of contention with teams like St. Louis and Houston. They have some aging veterans that could decline at any time, most of their “prime” players are good but not elite, and they don’t really have the resources to make huge improvements. Worst case scenario would be this team finishing around .500 for the next 3 years and missing the playoffs.
Player spotlight:
SP Aaron Sanchez: Sanchez could be a top 5 pitcher in the ABL based on his ratings. Unfortunately, injuries have piled up for this big arm. He received a decent value extension this past offseason, but not without its own risk: Sanchez simply needs to stay healthy.
SS Richard Urena: Urena might be only 24, but it doesn’t seem like it. He posted two near-4 WAR seasons at the major league level already, and has a unique blend of power, speed, and consistency. Quality young shortstops are easier than many think to find, but Urena is certainly an asset to Toronto.
Questions:
1) You made a big move to acquire Desmond Lindsay from Miami this offseason. Walk us through that transaction. Was Lindsay a target of yours for a while? What do you expect from him in 2020?
2) To what can you contribute your 2019 collapse? How will you ensure that something like it doesn’t happen in 2020?
Boston Red Sox (2019: 97-65, 1st AL East, eliminated in ALCS)
2019 in review: In what was the most competitive division in 2019, the Red Sox pulled off quite the feat by claiming the division crown for the third straight year. New acquisition Josh Donaldson made his presence felt, propelling the team with over 8 WAR. Chris Sale was the team ace and Cy-Young hopeful, earning another 8 WAR himself. If it wasn’t for a fateful Donaldson injury and untimely pitching in the playoffs, this team could have been heading towards another World Series.
Offseason summary: The Red Sox were particularly busy this offseason. Their rotation especially has a different look to it. They acquired Stephen Strasburg (WAS), Julio Teheran (ATL), and Yoshiya Taniguchi (ANA) via trade, and shipped Eduardo Rodriguez to Atlanta. Furthermore, they traded Mookie Betts to Atlanta, and Josh Donaldson to Los Angeles, ultimately ending up with a few more prospects.
What’s the best that could happen? Boston has a good blend of talent, youth, and potential. They have won three straight division titles among a very competitive group, and they will be in the running for 1st place again this year. Best case scenario for this team is a deep playoff run.
What’s the worst that could happen? Injuries hurt the Red Sox in 2019, and they could do the same in 2020. Strasburg is not an “iron man” by any means. An injury to him and the loss of Josh Donaldson could keep the Red Sox out of the postseason.
Player spotlight:
SP Rick Porcello: Porcello could be an ace on may teams. He is paid like it for the big-budget Red Sox, after all. He has consistently posted near-4 WAR seasons and will occupy the #3 rotation spot for the deep Red Sox.
LF Andrew Benintendi: Benintendi may have established himself as the best hitter in the ABL not named Bryce Harper. Only 25 years old, he will continue to improve and will likely be an MVP candidate for many years to come.
Questions:
1) Walk us through the Josh Donaldson/Josh Morgan trade. How will you replace Donaldson’s leadership and power, and what are your future plans at the hot corner?
2) Despite a large budget, you have some salary challenges currently. How do you plan to address some of the challenging contracts on your ledger?
Detroit Tigers (2019: 63-99, 5th AL East)
2019 in review: Detroit made a big splash heading into the 2019 season by acquiring Manny Machado and attempting to shore up their pitching. While Machado produced MVP-caliber numbers, the pitching was still an anchor for the team. The Tigers were dead last in the AL in runs allowed. Because of that, they finished dead last in the AL East, as well.
Offseason summary: Detroit acquired Ian Happ early in free agency. Since then, they have focused on continuing to rebuild and add depth to their pitching staff. Robun Uchida was certainly one of the biggest signings of the offseason, but Drew Pomeranz (FA), Duane Underwood Jr. (trade), and Erasmo Ramirez (FA) may also contribute this year.
What’s the best that could happen? Honestly, I thought Detroit would be better than they were last year, and I still have some belief in them. I think it’s not entirely possible that they approach the .500 mark this year and are in the conversation for a wildcard in 2020 or 2021.
What’s the worst that could happen? Another year like last year would be pretty devastating to this team, especially when wasting money on the talents of Machado, Freeman, and Uchida.
Player spotlight:
SP Barrett Astin: Uchida may get all of the attention as a new, young, and flash signing, but Astin needs to be better if this team wants to improve. Astin has the makings of a quality starter, but struggles the 3rd time through the lineup and hasn’t proven that he has the stamina to produce deep into games.
CF Blake Rutherford: Although Rutherford’s ratings aren’t eye-popping, he produced excellent numbers upon promotion last year. If he can continue to produce and grow from his 2019, he should be a mainstay in Detroit’s lineup for the long run.
Questions:
1) You had big aspirations for 2019, but fell flat. What are your expectations for this year, and who do you really need to pull their weight?
2) Elephant in the room: Robun Uchida. Explain the big contract you gave him. What is your plan with him, and how do you feel about the fact that he only has two pitches?
Baltimore Orioles (2019: 68-94, 4th AL East)
2019 in review: The Orioles entered into 2019 in rebuild mode, trying to shed salary and trading Manny Machado to division rival Detroit the offseason prior. The team continued to hit a decent amount of home runs, but the overall value of batters started to wane. With players such as Chris Davis and Adam Jones, the O’s are suddenly paying older stars more than they may be worth. Worse yet, the team pitching was near the bottom of the league, leading them to a season to forget.
Offseason summary: The O’s were mostly quiet this offseason, likely due to budget challenges. Their biggest move was trading away Zach Britton to Chicago (NL).
What’s the best that could happen? Baltimore has some good veteran pieces, but they seem to be more turned towards the future. I’m sure the Orioles would love to see some of their higher-priced names start off the year hot and be able to be traded this season.
What’s the worst that could happen? The financial situation in Baltimore is not good. Worst case scenario would be these high-priced players not producing, clogging up the top levels of the organization, and weighing this team down for this year and the few to come.
Player spotlight:
SP Kyle Freeland: Freeland may be the most valuable pitcher in Baltimore’s shallow group. He is still young, has demonstrated good peripherals at Camden Yards, and could end the year as the team’s “ace”.
3B Kirven Moesquit: Moesquit quietly had a very impressive ABL debut in 2019, and could become a mainstay at the top of the Orioles lineup if his success continues. One of the rare non-power 3B in the game, Moesquit still posted 0.5 WAR in only 109 plate appearances in 2019.
Questions:
1) You seem to realize that you are in need of dumping salary. You haven’t been able to move many contracts so far, but walk us through some plans or strategies towards making budget room in the future.
2) Baltimore seems to be a really difficult place to develop starting pitchers. You attempted to make a trade for Joe Ross this offseason. How else do you plan to improve this area of your team?
