SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Back East, Toronto is stacked, the Red Sox have retooled, the Yankees always think they can make a run and Tampa Bay might surprise.
Out West, the Astros have emerged as a powerhouse and a healthy Rangers team can be dangerous.
But it’s the Royals, the kings of the Midwest, who remain the American League’s best team. Pennant winners in 2014 and World Series champions last year, Kansas City is primed for another run.
Yes, the Royals have some holes in their rotation. But re-signing outfielder Alex Gordon to a $72 million, four-year contract ensured that baseball’s most versatile lineup is back, virtually in tack. And players such as catcher Salvador Perez, first baseman Eric Hosmer, third baseman Mike Moustakas and center fielder Lorenzo Cain, in addition to Gordon, are entering their prime.
The Royals’ ironclad bullpen has become the template for a lot of teams, and their ability to score runs in a variety of ways makes them formidable.
All of that makes the Royals a clear-cut favorite in the AL Central and gives them a realistic chance to become the first club to repeat as World Series champion since the Yankees, in 1998-2000.
Central
The race is for second place behind the Royals. Perhaps the Twins or the Indians can improve enough to grab a wild-card spot. Minnesota, under the stewardship of rookie manager Paul Molitor, was a nice surprise last year, especially with an improved starting rotation that posted a 4.14 ERA (16th in the majors). The pitching-rich Indians could become a team to be reckoned with, but only if their sleepy offense wakes up. Cleveland ranked 11th in the AL in runs and 13th in homers. The dysfunctional White Sox are years away from contending.
1. Kansas City Royals
2015: 95-67, first place, World Series champions
The only thing the Royals lack is a deep starting rotation. Edinson Volquez (13-9, 3.55 ERA) proved to be a tough, durable starter, but K.C. needs more out of right-hander Yordano Ventura and a quality season out of former Padres right-hander Ian Kennedy.
The bullpen, featuring closer Wade Davis (8-1, 0.94 ERA 17-of-18 saves), Kelvin Herrera, Joakim Soria and Luke Hochevar is tough to crack. The offense scores runs with a combination of speed, power and aggressive at-bats.
2. Minnesota Twins
2015: 83-79, second place
For the Twins to make a playoff run, they must stay healthy, because their one major offseason move was giving a four-year, $12 million contract to Korean slugger Byung Ho Park, who produced back-to-back 50-homer seasons for Nexen of the Korea Baseball Organization. Centerfielder Byron Buxton, a five-tool player, is one of baseball’s top prospects and should be a contender for rookie of the year.
3. Cleveland Indians
2015: 81-80, third place
Manager Terry Francona appears to have Cleveland on the right track, thanks in large part to one of the best rotations in baseball, featuring right-handers Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar.
What the Indians need is more offense and better defense. The Indians are betting that first baseman Mike Napoli and designated hitter Carlos Santana provide a boost at the plate.
4. Detroit Tigers
2015: 74-87, fifth place
After four consecutive division crowns, the Tigers tumbled to last place in 2015, prompting new general manager Al Avila to go on a spending spree. He acquired outfielder Justin Upton, right-hander Jordan Zimmermann and catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, among others.
Still, the Tigers will be in big trouble if 1B Miguel Cabrerra, DH Victor Martinez and SP Justin Verlander can’t stay healthy.
5. Chicago White Sox
2015: 76-86, fourth place
There is a divide in Chicago’s clubhouse between some players and management in the wake of Adam LaRoche’s retirement after being told by executive Ken Williams to cut back on his 14-year-old son’s access around the team.
The addition of steady veterans Brett Lawrie at second and Todd Frazier at third base should help a woeful defense, but the White Sox won’t contend.
East
The Blue Jays are loaded (again), the Red Sox have exciting young talent to mix with aging veterans, the Yankees will contend (if they can pitch), and even the Rays look to be much improved (if they can score runs).
Only the Orioles look like losers. They can smack the ball out of the park, but their poor pitching will prevent them from sniffing .500.
1. Toronto Blue Jays
2015: 93-69, first place, lost to Kansas City in ALCS
Toronto’s offense — with AL MVP Josh Donaldson, sluggers Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion and former Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki — was historically good in 2015, outscoring the next closest team by 127 runs.
The Blue Jays can make another run at the World Series, but only if their pitching holds up. David Price is now in Boston, but a full season from homegrown ace Marcus Stroman, who made only four regular-season starts after blowing out his knee in spring training, could help make up for losing Price.
2. Boston Red Sox
2015: 78-84, fifth place
Acquiring Price gives Boston a legitimate ace. That helps immeasurably for a team that features future stars such as center fielder Mookie Betts and shortstop Xander Bogaerts.
It’s David Ortiz’s last hurrah, and while he should produce, there are huge questions surrounding what aging veterans Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval have left.
3. New York Yankees
2015: 87-75, second place, lost to Houston in wild card
Yes, the Yankees still have veterans Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira and Carlos Beltran. But for the first time in a long time, they have an infusion of young talent, including improving Didi Gregorius at shortstop and right-hander Luis Severino in the starting rotation.
The Yankees’ greatest strength is the bullpen, with strikeout artists Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances. Miller, however, is now a question mark after chipping a bone in his right, non-throwing hand.
4. Tampa Bay Rays
2015: 80-82, fourth place
Right-hander Chris Archer leads a talented rotation of young starters that should be bolstered with the arrival of prospect Blake Snell and a midseason return of veteran Alex Cobb. Archer was excellent in the last three months of 2015, posting nine wins and a 2.31 ERA in his final 17 starts. The Rays could be dangerous if the offense gets a jump-start from a new group of hitters, led by former Rockies left fielder Corey Dickerson.
5. Baltimore Orioles
2015: 81-81, third place
The Orioles play power ball, but can their starters pitch? The answer is no.
Reigning home-run champ Chris Davis returns and he is one of five Orioles with 30-homer seasons on their résumé. The Birds’ bullpen, anchored by all-stars Zach Britton and Darren O’Day, is solid. Their defense is excellent.
But Baltimore’s starters were bad last season, posting a 4.53 ERA, second-highest in the AL. Worse, Wei-Yin Chen is now in Miami, leaving newcomer Yovani Gallardo as an unlikely ace.
West
This division is shaping up to be a Texas two-step with Houston and the Rangers competing for the title. The Astros, built on years of high draft picks, blossomed a year before most expected and are the heavy favorites. The Astros are an entertaining team, as exemplified by 21-year-old shortstop Carlos Correa, who hit .279/.345/.512 with 22 home runs and 68 RBIs in just 99 games.
The Rangers are starting to age, but if their pitching holds up — they added veteran Cole Hamels at last summer’s trade deadline — they could contend.
1. Houston Astros
2015: 86-76, second place, wild card, lost to Kansas City in division series
The starting trio of Dallas Keuchel, Collin McHugh and Lance McCullers is one of the best in the AL, and the acquisition of Ken Giles heads a bullpen that is solid in innings 7-9.
If Correa fulfills his potential and George Springer mashes for 30-plus home runs, Houston could run away with the division.
2. Texas Rangers
2015: 88-74, first place, lost to Toronto in division series
Texas should have a decent rotation, and getting back ace Yu Darvish from Tommy John surgery in early June would be a huge boost. Derek Holland can be a solid No. 3 starter, but the back end of the rotation — Colby Lewis and Martin Perez — is not as imposing.
The Rangers are counting on big years from aging position players: third baseman Adrian Beltre (36), first baseman/designated hitter Prince Fielder (31) and outfielder Shin-Soo Choo (33). That’s risky.
3. Seattle Mariners
2015: 76-86, fourth place
The Mariners own the longest playoff drought in baseball, with their last appearance coming in 2001. The drought will continue despite the wheeling and dealing of new general manager Jerry Dipoto.
The starting rotation — featuring Felix Hernandez, Hisashi Iwakuma, Wade Miley, Taijuan Walker and James Paxton — looks solid.
The bullpen is porous and the offense iffy. In 2015, Robinson Cano drove in just 79 runs, a seven-year low, and the 33-year-old looks to be in a steep decline.
4. Los Angeles Angels
2015: 85-77, third place
With Mike Trout’s heroics and Albert Pujols’ 40 home runs, one would think the Angels were an offensive powerhouse. Think again. The team’s 2015 slash line of .246/.307/.396 was last in the AL.
The front office did little to solve the problem, bringing in only Daniel Nava, Craig Gentry and Yunel Escobar. They did acquire slick-fielding shortstop Andrelton Simmons, but his .304 career on-base percentage does nothing to bolster the offense.
5. Oakland A’s
2015: 68-94, fifth place
Oakland usually finds a way to bounce back after a bad season. It’s doubtful that will happen this year. The A’s bullpen ERA of 4.63 was third-worst in the majors last year, and while right-handers Ryan Madson and Liam Hendriks were solid additions, they can’t fix what’s so badly broken.
Ace Sonny Gray provides some hope on the hill, but the lineup was lackluster last year and doesn’t look much better .
