2013 MLB Preview: Teams and Prospects

Chicago While Sox, Cleveland Indians, and Kansas City Royals

Dayan Viciedo
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These three teams above will be fighting for the second spot in the AL Central. All three teams have the potential to make a surprise playoff run. The team that will get the second spot will need a good balance on offense and have solid pitching. For Chicago to take the spot, they will need three major things to happen. Adam Dunn will need to have another season like 2012 with 17+ wins from Chris Sale and 12+ from two the starters (most likely Jake Peavy and Gavin Floyd), and a big season from Dayan Viciedo. Viciedo, a Cuban defector, hit 25 homers and drove in 78 ribbies in 2012, his first full season. I believe he will have even better numbers this year. For the Indians to succeed, they will need to play well in the second half of the season. They were 47-42 and 44-41 before the All-Star Break in 2011 and 2012 respectively. Then, they dropped off and finished the season at 80-82 in 2011 and 68-94 in 2012. This year, they have the team to do it. They have a nice blend of contact and power hitters. The additions of Michael Bourn, Mark Reynolds, and Nick Swisher will help the team tremendously. The rotation is sketchy and will hurt them in the long run. The Royals are an intriguing team. The last few years always seemed to mark the return of the Royals. This year, the key to make this their "return" year will depend if the young hitters have improved and the pitchers can throw strikes. It seems simple, but it never is.


Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays have high expectations. Their lineup is stacked and their pitching rotation is strong. In the past few years, they have been one of the best power hitting teams. This year, they will also have many contact hitters. Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion will be two of the leaders in homers in the MLB, while Jose Reyes and Melky Cabrera will set them up. I would also expect very good seasons from Brett Lawrie and J.P. Arencibia. All five starting pitchers are very good front of the rotation pitchers. I wouldn't be surprised if all five have 13+ win seasons. The only question I have is their bullpen. They don't have a true closer or top notch set-up men.

Pittsburgh Pirates

The last few seasons the Pirates have come very close to going over .500.  Something they have not achieved in over twenty years. This year may be the year they get over the hump and have a winning record. The team is led by MVP candidate Andrew McCutchen. Looking to improve on an impressive 2012 season is 3B Pedro Alvarez. Alvarez, the second pick in the 2008 MLB Draft, hit 30 homers and 25 doubles last season. However, he needs to improve his batting average and cut down on his strikeouts. McCutchen, Alvarez, and Garrett Jones will need some other players to contribute for a successful season. 

Texas Rangers

Jurickson Profar asnd Elvis Andrus
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The Rangers lost some of their most important players in the off-season. However, it was time for them to move on from the club. Even with the losses, the Rangers are still a playoff team. With that said, there will be a lot of drama down in Arlington. The reason for the problems will be because of a limited amount of spots in the line-up. Their infield of Mitch Moreland (1B), Ian Kinsler (2B), Elvis Andrus (SS), and Adrian Beltre (3B) is very good. But, they have two top prospects on the cusp of the majors. Jurickson Profar and Mike Olt are two of the best young players in baseball. However, their natural positions are short for Profar and the hot corner for Olt. Up until last season, those two positions are the only one they had played in the minors. Olt will end up moving to first base if he wants to play. Beltre is an All-Star and Gold Glover at third. The middle infield situation is much more complicated then the third base dilemma. Luckly, the dilemma won't begin at the start of the season due to Profar being sent down to Triple-A. They have put Profar at second, but Kinsler is an All-Star at the position. Andrus is also and All-Star at short. Profar is a can't miss prospect who is MLB ready now. It is unlikely they have any of them DH because Lance Berkman is slotted to DH and is being payed ten million. You can't put ten million on the bench. I see no good result coming from the situation

This is like the Michael Young situation they had for the last few years. Young first moved from second base to shortstop for Alfonso Soriano at the start of the 2004 season, then from short to third for Andrus in 2009, followed by a move to DH/Utility Infield in 2011 for Beltre. The result of all these moves, he became unhappy and was traded before the season. He had every right to be unhappy.  He was an All-Star and was treated like a bench player. Like Michael Young, someone will be dealt away, and I expect this to happen sooner rather then later.

Prospects

Last year, the league was swept up with excitement by highly anticipated rookie All-Stars Bryce Harper and Mike Trout. Not only did they make a big impact, other rookies such as Yoneis Cespedies and Wade Miley also made names for themselves. This year, there are many impressive prospects, including the aforementioned Jurickson Profar, OF Oscar Taveras, P Dylan Bundy, P Gerrit Cole, and OF Wil Myers. These players, among many others, can make a big impact this year, whether they are on the Opening Day roster or come in June.