[Griever20]

Preseason Prediction:
87-75, 2nd in AL East, 4G behind Tampa Bay Rays

Predicted Top Players:
none

That would be a five game improvement over 2013, albeit with no top player on the roster. We added some WAR by replacing the dead wood of Cooper and Thames and hopefully an improvement by having Castellanos over Snider. Not sure if Norris will be better than Carrasco but I would take a 87 game season.

The huge questions going into 2014 are:
How will the kids develop and our minor league system fare?
How will our rookies in Suárez, Castellanos and Norris fare?
Is the second half of 2013 really the true potential of this team?
Can we capture a Wild Card?
Will we call up some of our bullpen arms in order to help a playoff push?

The Division:
Tampa Bay(88-74) is looking to defend their division crown with a 91 win season with their usual group of talented players in 3B Evan Longoria(28, 3.5*, .263-26-75 .837OPS 4.1WAR) and 1B Edwin Encarnacion(31, 3*, .265-47-113 .893OPS 4.3WAR) leading the mashing with the pitching of ace LHSP David Price(28, 3*, 13-7 2.94 202K 3.7WAR) helping out… while their closer Jake McGee(27, 5*, 3-3 2SV 2.43 91K 1.9WAR) is looking for another strong year. Also, young phenon RHRP Bill Gray(24, 2.5/5*) will make his MLB debut.

As for the Baltimore Orioles(76-86), Vegas likes them for 85 wins and a third place finish… I don’t believe this. They got SP Ricky Nolasco(31, 2.5*, 11-13 5.13 160K 3.1WAR) at a 2.78ERA… the 21-year old sophomore 3B Manny Machado(21, 3/3.5*, .257-8-33 .705OPS 2.1WAR) will be the most important asset for them.

The New York Yankees(71-91) need to rebuild and are predicted a 79 win season. With Derek Jeter retired and Alex Rodriguez(38, 2.5*, .262-13-41 .778OPS 1.6WAR) limited to bench duties according to several news outlets, they rely heavily on 2B Robinson Cano(31, 3.5*, .294-26-106 .863OPS 3.3WAR)… and luck. RHSP CC Sabathia(33, 2.5*, 5-2 2.96 50K 1.3WAR) returns from injury, but is not the same pitcher he was two years ago.

For the Boston Red Sox(80-82), the rebuilding process shall continue with 77 wins. The rookie year of 2B Xander Bogaerts(21, 2/3*) and a second season of 2B/OF Mookie Betts(21, 2.5/5*, .230-5-30 .636OPS 2.0WAR) may generate excitement, but the desperation of bringing in OF Ichiro Suzuki(40, 2*, .271-9-61 .674OPS -0.2WAR) and OF Travis Snider(26, 2.5*, .222-20-63 .654 0.6WAR)…

Baseball America announced their Top 100 prospect list:
#1 2B Victor Adan, 17, New York Mets(INT)(NEW) (IFA signing)
#2 3B Jimmy Harrell, 22, Kansas City Royals(AA)(NEW) (2nd overall 2013)
#4 LHSP Jeremy Komosinski, 22, Toronto Blue Jays(AAA)(NEW) (3rd overall 2013)
#4 RHSP Brian Fox, 20, Seattle Mariners(AA)(+3) (3rd overall 2012)
#5 CF Shawn Buie, 22, Houston Astros(MLB)(NEW)(1st Overall 2013)
#6 LHSP Justin Walker, 23, Pittsburgh Pirates(AA)(NEW)( 7th overall 2013)
#7 RHSP Bryan Graham, 20, Los Angeles Dodgers(AA)(NEW)(11th overall 2013)
#8 2B Justin Rimmele, 23, Minnesota Twins(MLB)(-7)(2nd overall 2012)
#9 SS Ketel Marte, 20, Seattle Mariners(MLB)(+10)
#10 RHSP Jason Behrendt, 19, Colorado Rockies(AA)(+-0) (9th overall 2013)

Notable Toronto Blue Jays on the list:
#15 RHSP Victor Torres(5*), 18, AA ,IFA signing (-1)
#28 RHSP Noah Syndergaard(4*), 20, AAA (-3)
#32 SS Jim Hatfield(3.5*), 22, AAA, 1st Round 2012 (-26)
#36 LF Nick Castellanos(4*), 21, AAA, Trade DET (-13)
#56 RHRP Joe Szczygiel(4.5*), 23, AAA, 2nd round 2013
#61 CF Jake Harris(3.5*), 20, R, 4th round 2012 (+11)
#65 3B Eugenio Suárez(3.5*), 22, MLB, Trade DET (-14)
#72 LF Jesse Winker(3.5*), 20, AAA, Trade CIN (+21)
#123 SP Lucas Giolito(3*),19, AAA, Trade WSH (-20)
#132 RF Avsail Garcia(3.5*),22, AAA, Trade DET (-25)
#141 RHRP Ricardo Maurer(4*), 19, AAA, 2nd round 2012 (-32)
#144 RHRP Roberto Osuna(4*) 19, AA (+24)
#162 RHRP Felipe Vazquez(4*), 22, AAA, Trade TBR (-39)
#177 LHSP Daniel Norris(3*), 20, MLB
#290 1B Joe Sokolow(4*), 21, A, 7th round 2013
#291 LHRP Mike Cosens(3.5*), 23, AAA, 5th round 2012 (-119)
#378 RHRP Jorge Diaz(4*) 18, S A, Scouting Discovery CWS, (-8)

A good group of guys, the only sad one is Jim Hatfield. Him regressing surely does throw a wrench into our plans. That being said, our AAA team could be a monster.