TORONTO – Felipe Alou was right, as usual. From the time pitchers and catchers report to the first pitch of Opening Day, nothing good happens during the spring. Just ask Alex Reyes and the St. Louis Cardinals, who on Tuesday found themselves dealing with an unwanted MRI and, by extension, storyline.
We’ve got your Toronto Blue Jays covered all over this site, but in the meantime there are plenty of other storylines to watch as managers, players and general managers keep their fingers crossed for the next six weeks.
Today, we look at the American League:
AL EAST
Baltimore Orioles
Two things Orioles fans are still awaiting: A big off-season move and Buck Showalter to summon Zach Britton from the bullpen. Catcher Welington Castillo, signed as a free agent to replace Matt Wieters, reported to his new team and told Showalter he would be away for, oh, 18 days while playing for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. Nice.
Boston Red Sox
The post-Big Papi era begins with the No. 1 prospect in the game – outfielder Andrew Benintendi – expected to make the roster and a new ace on the staff in Chris Sale, but the most intriguing story might be reformed fatty Pablo Sandoval’s bid to regain third base. Sandoval’s .298 career average as a left-hander would be a boon to a righty-laden lineup.
New York Yankees
The Yankees are laying the base for a big splash in the free-agent class of 2018 and are going young, with 6-foot-7 Aaron Judge the next in line after Gary Sanchez following an off-season overhaul of his batting stance that has seen him eliminate his leg kick. Judge struck out 42 times in 95 plate appearances after his call-up in August, and he and Aaron Hicks will fight it out for right field.
Storyline bubbling under the surface: General manager Brian Cashman and manager Joe Girardi and his coaches are all in the last year of their contracts. In the old days of George Steinbrenner, that would be good for a story a day. Now? Not so much.
Tampa Bay Rays
Did Joe Maddon and Andrew Freidman take the Rays magic with them when they left town? A team with a reputation for keeping its pitchers healthy – and knowing when to trade them before they broke down – will cross its fingers that Alex Cobb’s performance late in the year after rehabilitating from Tommy John surgery was simply a blip. If Chris Archer can avoid another first half of fastball command issues those two plus Jake Odorizzi increases the Rays’ razor-thin margin for error.
Most intriguing position story is second base where the trade of Logan Forsythe means a position switch for Brad Miller, who was moved from shortstop to first because of poor defence. Baseball people believe the Rays might make a play for one of the available free agents, such as Wieters.
AL CENTRAL
Chicago White Sox
They’re still open for business after trading Sale and Adam Eaton for prospects so don’t invest in any Jose Quintana, Jose Abreu or Todd Frazier jerseys this spring. Former Washington Nationals pitching prospect Lucas Giolito and Red Sox prospect Yoan Moncada will be fun to watch, although Moncada might start at triple-A.
Cleveland Indians
Nice post-season run for the Indians considering they were without a starting outfielder (Michael Brantley) and two starting pitchers (Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar), all of whom will be healthy this spring. Best position battle could be behind the plate, where Yan Gomes will attempt to wrest his job back from Roberto Perez.
Detroit Tigers
Hear that noise? It’s the Tigers’ window of opportunity closing, and with Ian Kinsler and J.D. Martinez both free agents this winter, getting a read on kids like JaCoby Jones will be a major part of what goes on in Lakeland.
Kansas City Royals
And there goes another window slamming shut. Alcides Escobar, Mike Moustakas, Eric Hosmer and Lorenzo Cain are going into a walk year. The fact the team signed Jason Hammel after the death of Yordano Ventura and committed $12 million over two years to reliever Travis Wood on the eve of spring training suggests this is one last chance at a post-season run before the team re-tools.
Minnesota Twins
An optimist would say the Twins got a two-year rebuilding jump on every other team in this division, and that this spring will be just another step in the acclimation of Byron Buxton, Miguel Sano (now a full-time third baseman), Max Kepler, Jorge Polanco and Jose Berrios. Catcher Jason Castro was a nice, under-the-radar get this winter, and will assume a key leadership role.
AL WEST
Houston Astros
They’ll move into a new shared facility with the Nationals in West Palm Beach and much of the Astros’ attention will be focused on centre field, where George Springer has been moved following the acquisition of Josh Reddick. Starters Lance McCullers and Dallas Kuechel will be closely monitored after premature ends to their 2016 season – and there will be White Sox scouts a-plenty at their games since trading for the aforementioned Quintana makes too much sense.
Los Angeles Angels
If Garrett Richards stays healthy this spring they’ll be good enough to be mediocre. A clueless, directionless team that has once again delayed the inevitable. Mike Trout, though!
Oakland Athletics
Fun fact: More than half of the Athletics’ top 30 prospects will be in Major League camp. Other than that, there’s not much else to see here. Move on, folks.
Seattle Mariners
They will be the American League’s dark horse team, with a strong core augmented by GM Jerry DiPoto’s 13 off-season trades and two free-agent signings. Twenty of 42 pitchers and catchers who will report to Peoria, Ariz., will be newcomers. Arizona snowbirds would be wise to keep an eye on Tyler O’Neill from Larry Walker’s hometown of Maple Ridge, B.C., he’s the organization’s No. 2 prospect and will be kicking around when he isn’t playing for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic.
Texas Rangers
Almost every pitcher on this team was/is/could be hurt. A smart club would look to offload failed prospects Joey Gallo and Jurickson Profar.
