With the MLB kicking off this week, what better time to put together my full season predictions. Spring training is always such a swell barometer to regular season success... Right?
(No, but it's fun to put some predictions to fruition and see how they turn out come October.)
Will the Giants streak of even-year Championships continue?
Will Harper repeat at MVP?
What teams will surprise, and disappoint?
Here is my full list of 2016 MLB predictions!
AL MVP: Carlos Correa
This kid burst onto the scene last year, sporting a full five-tool arsenal and before any of us could realize his potential super-stardom, he was already batting third in the playoffs. Now, with a playoff run, and an offseason under his belt, look for Correa to rake. Sure, players like Trout and Machado will put up otherworldly numbers, but where Correa will hold court is the simple fact that his team will finish with a better record, and find post season success.
Runner-Up–Mike Trout
AL Cy Young: Chris Archer
A player who was a little bit of a late bloomer, not really making a name for himself until he was in his later 20s. That simply doesn't matter, Archer is already a premier ace in the league, and he's just getting better. His repertoire is almost unmatched in the American League. This will be a race to remember, however, and you really can't go wrong with picking any of the following; Price, Gray, Keuchel, Sale and Stroman. I'll go with Archer.
Runner Up- David Price
NL MVP: Bryce Harper
Yes. The repeat. This kid might be the most talented player I've seen in years. Over Trout. The only thing that ever got in the way was his health, which just so happens to be the same thing that would hinder him from repeating as NL MVP. Look for him to be hoisting the award when it's all said and done.
Runner Up- Andrew McCutchen
NL Cy Young: Jacob deGrom
Another young gun, and just another player on the cusp of super-stardom. He showed how dominant he could be last year, finishing with a 2.54 ERA, and 205 Ks. I can see him winning 20 games this year, with a low 2 ERA, and striking out upwards of 240 batters. That should be more than enough to fend off the likes of Kershaw, Arrieta and Greinke.
Runner Up- Clayton Kershaw
AL East Champion: New York Yankees
If this team and its aging vets can stay healthy, they will be a force. The small additions of Starlin Castro and Aroldis Chapman will end up paying huge dividends down the stretch. This division will be a dogfight, with any team being able to to take the crown. I'll put my eggs in the Yanks basket, after going 87-75 last year and only getting healthier and improving in some key areas this year, look for them to grab the East.
AL West Champion: Houston Astros
A team pretty loaded from top to bottom, with Correa leading the charge. A young lineup to go hand in hand with a young rotation led by reigning AL Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel could spell dominance for years to come. An AL West crown in 2016 could just be the start.
AL Central Champion: Kansas City Royals
Not too hard here. No one in this division did enough in the offseason to knock off the champs. Rinse and repeat for the Central, the Royals are taking the division again this year. Don't be surprised if Kansas City is in store for another deep playoff run.
AL Wild Card Winners: Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers
The addition of David price and the evolution and even further improvement of players like Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts, the Sox could find themselves back in October.
The Rangers are my sleeper team this year, after a year where they lost their ace in Yu Darvish but still made a nice playoff run. Now, they'll be getting Darvish back, to add to fellow ace Cole Hamels, and the addition of slugger Ian Desmond into an already daunting lineup. This will be an interesting wild card game, to say the least.
NL East Champion: New York Mets
They pulled it off and achieved the impossible. They resigned Cespedes. Is that enough to win the World Series? Potentially. No one can write off this team for the next few years, at least, with the presence of that absolutely dominant rotation. With two bonafide aces leading the pack in legroom and Harvey, and two more in the making in Syndergaard and Matz, this team is primed for another deep playoff run.
NL West Champion: San Francisco Giants
It's an even year, could it spell another championship for the Giants? They certainly retooled in preparation for a playoff run, landing needed leadoff hitter Denard Span and ace Johnny Cueto as well as Jeff Samardzija to bolster a rotation already led by Madison Bumgarner. This team has all the makings to bring another ship to the city of San Francisco.
NL Central Champion: Pittsburgh Pirates
Andrew McCutchen is saying he hasn't felt this healthy or comfortable in years. Simply put, that spells trouble for the rest of the division. This may be your only 100 game winner in the NL, yes they're that good.
NL Wild Card Winners: St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs
I've come to the conclusion that the Cardinals might always be good. 2016 is no exception.
This team is going to be good for so, so many years to come. Schwarber, Bryant, Russell, Arrieta, Lester, and Rizzo to name a few. The talent is just bursting at the seams, this team will be a staple in the playoffs for years.
World Series: San Francisco Giants def. Houston Astros
Yes, the even year superstition holds true. The Giants had a quiet, phenomenal offseason. The additions of Cueto, Span and Samardzija will be enough to bring San Francisco another Championship.
(Boy does San Fran look smart for not paying Pablo...)
