Here’s my Power Rankings (15-11)
Kicking it off is-
#15) Milwaukee Brewers
Outside of trading for Adam Lind to replace the platoon of Mark Reynolds and Lyle Overbay at first base, the Milwaukee Brewers have had a quiet Free Agency to start the beginning of the offseason. But they really didn’t lose much from a team that led the NL Central for most of the 2014 season.
Guys like Kyle Lohse and Aramis Ramirez all headed for free agency at the end of the season, and if they start to fall behind in the division, look to see them part ways with these guys and send them to a contenting team for the playoffs.
It will be a different scenery to see a new #1 guy on the mound to start the season for the Brewers. They were used to seeing Yovani Gallardo on the mound but this year it will be Matt Garza leading the pack.
Projected 2015 Lineup
CF Carlos Gomez
2B Scooter Gennett
C Jonathan Lucroy
3B Aramis Ramirez
1B Adam Lind
RF Ryan Braun
LF Khris Davis
SS Jean Segura
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation
SP Matt Garza
SP Kyle Lohse
SP Wily Peralta
SP Mike Fiers
SP Jimmy Nelson
MR Jeremy Jeffress
MR Brandon Kintzler
MR Neal Cotts
MR Will Smith
SU Jim Henderson
CL Jonathan Broxton
#14) Kansas City Royals
Ned Yost had a difficult challenge this offseason after losing James Shields, Billy Butler and Nori Aoki to free agency. But they hope they filled the spots with the right players, by adding Edinson Volquez, Kendrys Morales and Alex Rios in free agency.
Will they be able to repeat in the AL central and keep up with the Tigers, Twins, White Sox and the Indians? Every team in the AL Central has made some big moves in the offseason and are hoping they can stop the Tigers from repeating again for the third time in a row.
Up and comer and soon to be new Ace for the Royals, Yordano Ventura has a new challenge in front of him this season. Will he be able to take over James Shields spot in the Rotation and lead this pitching staff to victory? This team is still build for speed and still trying to win games with the small ball approach.
Projected 2015 Lineup
SS Alcides Escobar
LF Alex Gordon
CF Lorenzo Cain
1B Eric Hosmer
C Salvador Perez
DH Kendrys Morales
RF Alex Rios
3B Mike Moustakas
2B Omar Infante
Projected 2015 Rotation
SP Yordano Ventura
SP Jason Vargas
SP Jeremy Guthrie
SP Edinson Volquez
SP Danny Duffy
MR Tim Collins
MR Jason Frasor
MR Brandon Finnegan
MR Kelvin Herrera
SU Wade Davis
CL Greg Holland
#13) Chicago Cubs
This team has made some big moves this offseason my adding Jon Lester, Miguel Montero and Dexter Fowler to the team to boost up the offense and Pitching rotation.
They have been said to be the favorites to win the World Series this season. If it does come through and they win the W.S. then director and writer Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale predicted the future in 1989 when they wrote and created the movie “Back to the Future 2” staring Michael J. Fox.
Projected 2015 Lineup
LF Chris Coghlan
2B Javier Baez
1B Anthony Rizzo
SS Starlin Castro
C Miguel Montero
CF Dexter Fowler
RF Jorge Soler
3B Tommy La Stella
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation
SP Jon Lester
SP Jake Arrieta
SP Travis Wood
SP Kyle Hendricks
SP Jason Hammel
MR Edwin Jackson
MR Felix Doubront
MR Justin Turner
MR Neil Ramirez
SU Pedro Strop
CL Hector Rondon
#12) Chicago White Sox
Going into the 2015 season, The Chicago White Sox looks like the most improved team from the previous year.
Adding Adam LaRoche and Melky Cabrera to their offense will help protect Jose Abreu. Adding Jeff Samardzija and David Robertson to the rotation and bullpen helps with depth to the roster and hope to start contending again in the AL Central.
Having Samardzija, Sale and Quintana as their 1,2 and 3 starting pitchers could become one of the best trio in the American League.
The White Sox are hoping to keep youngster Avisal Garcia (Age 23) healthy this year aand play for a full season. They lost him to a shoulder injury last season and only played in 46 games. (Avg- .244, 7 HR, 29 RBIs, OBP- .305)
Projected 2015 Lineup
CF Adam Eaton
LF Melky Cabrera
1B Jose Abreu
DH Adam LaRoche
RF Avisail Garcia
SS Alexei Ramirez
3B Conor Gillaspie
C Tyler Flowers
2B Carlos Sanchez
Projected 2015 Rotation
SP Chris Sale
SP Jeff Samardzija
SP Jose Quintana
SP Hector Noesi
SP John Danks
MR Daniel Webb
MR Jake Petricka
MR Javy Guerra
MR Zach Duke
SU Zach Putnam
CL David Robertson
#11) Pittsburgh Pirates
This team is just full off young great players. Cole, Polanco, Marte, Harrison and McCutchen. This team is leaning towards another good season.
The Pirates are hoping to have Cole come back out and repeat anything he did last season. (11-5, ERA- 3.65, 138 Ks, 138.0 innings) Averaged a strike out per inning last season. Only pitched in 22 games. I would say thats a pretty solid performance on the year.
Bringing back Francisco Liriano was a good choice and got him pretty cheap, compared to all the other FA signings. (three-year, $39 million) The only bad of this rotation is the corpse of A.J. Burnett. Can he bounce back from the 8-18 season he had in 2014?
The loss of Russell Martin is a big blow to the offense and defense. Having Francisco Cervelli as their everyday catcher will be a difference than what your’e used to seeing.
Projected 2015 Lineup
3B Josh Harrison
RF Gregory Polanco
CF Andrew McCutchen
2B Neil Walker
LF Starling Marte
1B Pedro Alvarez
SS Jordy Mercer
C Francisco Cervelli
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation
SP Francisco Liriano
SP Gerrit Cole
SP A.J. Burnett
SP Jeff Locke
SP Vance Worley
MR Antonio Bastardo
MR Stolmy Pimentel
MR John Holdzkom
MR Jared Hughes
SU Tony Watson
CL Mark Melancon