With spring training in full swing, the Major League Baseball season is, once again, upon us. Key free agents have signed, blockbuster trades have taken place so it is only fitting to check out some teams that might surprise and disappoint in the upcoming season. Is the addition of David Price enough to fix the dismembered Red Sox's rotation, or does the return of Yoenis Cespedes guarantee the Mets' return to October? It is a bit too early to tell, but not too early to predict what will occur.
AL East.
Surprise: New York Yankees.
In an AL East full of question marks, the New York Yankees have a chance to return to October baseball, once more with 341 -- that is the number of the Yankee's new three-headed monster in the bullpen of Chapman, Betances, and Miller. The bullpen mystro, Joe Girardi, should have no problem utilizing these three to their potential. Add in the small confines of Yankee stadium and these aging Bronx Bombers infused with some young blood may have just enough power left in their bats to surprise many this upcoming season.
Disappointment: Boston Red Sox.
Plenty of big names and bright lights this offseason in Boston, but as history has shown that does not necessarily mean results. David Price provides a much needed ace that this rotation has needed since the departure of Jon lester, though after Price the rotation is certainly lacking and full of question marks. Not to mention the "extra weight" left over from last offseason (yes, talking about you, Pablo Sandoval). Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez must make strides defensively and at the plate if this team wants to be able to consistently score runs and put crooked numbers on the score board. Unless the majority of this team can bounce back from down seasons and injuries they are all but set to disappoint once again.
NL East.
Surprise: Miami Marlins.
Finishing third place in the division at 71-91 last season, the Marlins are poised for a turn around. Led by ace, Jose Fernandez -- who is now fully removed from his Tommy John surgery -- and Giancarlo Stanton, who is recovering from injury, these Marlins are on the rise. The very underrated addition of Wei-Yin Chen, from the Orioles, can pay huge dividends as he has pitched over 185+ innings in three of the past four seasons, and has shown he can be a solid number two in a rotation. Perhaps the biggest addition is of Manager Don Mattingly; now out of the limelight of Los Angeles, he can truly show his ability to manage under less scrutiny. With solid seasons by the talented outfield of Yelich, Ozuna, and Stanton and continued development of young players look out for the Marlins to surprise many this season.
Disappointment: Washington Nationals.
A rotation that is coming off a season in which it lost two key figures in recent years is never a good thing. For the most part, this offseason was a downgrade for the Nationals. Losing Jordan Zimmerman, Doug Fister and Dernard Span while replacing them with lesser players, Tanner Roark, Joe Ross, and Ben Revere is not the direction this team needed to go in. Though not re-signing Ian Desmond is a sound move defensively signing Daniel Murphy only negates that move as he is known for his bat, not so much his glove. Perhaps, if the Nationals can avoid fighting each other (ahem ,Jonathon Papelbon), and they all have exceptional seasons, they can reach the goals they have set for themselves. However, they already look like a disappointment.
AL Central.
Surprise: Minnesota Twins.
There is a youth movement in the Twin Cities. With a full season by the number two prospect in baseball, Byron Buxton, the Twins are primed to become one of the more exciting teams in baseball. As a team that was near the middle to end of the pack in most major hitting statistics, as a team they will look to improve in anyway possible and rely upon their pitching. Even as bad as they may have seemed last season, statistically, they still managed 83 wins -- good for second place in the division. Look for this team to overachieve again, and see the young prospects on this team take over the reigns of this franchise.
Disappointment: Kansas City Royals.
The Royals as disappointments, but they just won the World Series. Returning practically the same team as last year, these Royals are serious to make a run again this year. Though the few losses this team suffered in the offseason may prove costly, as the rotation has been seriously weakened by the loss of Johnny Cueto. They are led by Yordano Ventura, who bounced from the minors to the majors last season, and Ian Kennedy -- who was rewarded for having an era north of 4.00 by signing the largest contract ever for a Royal pitcher, at five years for $70 seventy million. Unless this team can acquire a real workhorse, again, then these Royals are bound to disappoint.
NL Central.
Surprise: St. Louis Cardinals.
It seems with all the young and exciting teams like the Cubs and Pirates in the NL central the Cardinals are an afterthought this offseason, even after a 100-win season. Losing John Lackey in the division to the Cubs will hurt, but replacing him with a younger Mike Leake was a step in the right direction. Where this team will really surprise this season is in their depth, as they appear to be one of the deepest teams in baseball after acquiring Jed Gyorko and signing Bryan Pena. The San Antonio Spurs of baseball, this team may not always be the most exciting, but they will get the job done and surprise some people, in the end.
Disappointment: Chicago Cubs.
These are not your father's Cubs. Their days of being the lovable losers appear to be behind them. With that being said, remember these are the Chicago Cubs and, at this point, with all the talent they have lined up for a stretch run anything short of a title will be a disappointment. After the return of Dexter Fowler to patrol centerfield, putting Jason Heyward back at his natural position of right field, there are no real holes on this team. If super rookies, Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber, suffer from sophomore slumps then this team will ultimately regress as it will only go as far as they lead them.
AL West.
Surprise: Houston Astros.
The Houston Astros took the baseball world by storm last season, marching their way all the way to a wildcard win over the New York Yankees. If the Astros have anything to say about it, they want to show the baseball world that last year was no fluke. With an improved bullpen now anchored by flame thrower, Ken Giles, and the addition of Doug Fister to the rotation -- who is only a few years removed from being one of the premier pitchers in the game -- this pitching staff can stack up with anyone. A full season from the next MLB sensation, Carlos Correa, can only help this team and his development.
Disappointment: Texas Rangers.
Surprising many in MLB last season the Texas Rangers vastly overachieved. Josh Hamilton is constantly injured with no real timetable as to when he will be 100 percent, and Yu Darvish is still recovering from Tommy John surgery. Cole Hamels followed by some league average pitchers does not sound like world series winning rotation. Do not expect these Rangers to have the same success as they did last season.
NL West.
Surprise: San Francisco Giants.
It is an even year, so you know what that means. If healthy this Giant's rotation has the potential to put up some huge numbers, even with the odd man out presumably being Chris Heston who threw a no-hitter last season. Although these Giants have no real power hitter outside of Buster Posey, they should be able to scrap together enough runs for this pitching rotation to come up with 90 plus wins at season's end.
Disappointment: Los Angeles Dodgers.
The drop off from one to two last season was 1A and 1B; that is no longer the case as Zack Greinke has left in the offseason, and his eventual replacement is Scott Kasmir. He is a good pitcher in his own right, but nowhere near the talent level that is Zack Greinke, and he overall weakens this rotation of four lefties. The real question mark for this team is in the outfield. Joc Pederson exhibited his power in his rookie season though his high strikeout rate must be fixed to help further his development. Then, there is Yasiel Puig. Coming off a down season, he must put up his usual big numbers while also keeping his composure on and off the field. With an overall stronger division, these Dodgers look to be slowly slipping and, ultimately, will disappoint.
