Cleveland Indians: Analyzing the Rest of the AL Central

The Cleveland Indians continue to improve while the rest of the American League Central is fading fast. Here is a breakdown of every team’s situation.

The Cleveland Indians made a major splash on December 22 with the signing of free-agent slugger Edwin Encarnacion. This is the second blockbuster addition to the team within the past five months, as the Indians acquired reliever Andrew Miller at the trade deadline this past season.

While the Indians continue to build around their controllable, young core of talent, the level of competition in the AL Central is rapidly diminishing.

Whether it be the fire sale the Chicago White Sox had or the rapidly increasing age of the Detroit Tigers, the AL Central is looking like more of a weak division rather than the strong one it has looked like in recent history.

This plays right into the Indians’ game plan, as their rebuilding process shows its fruit. The Indians’ dominant pitching rotation and strong lineup should have little problem tearing through the AL Central en route to its second straight Central crown.

Outside of Encarnacion, the Indians will be seeing the return of starters Carlos Carrasco – who missed the entire playoffs with a broken hand – and Danny Salazar – who was limited throughout the playoffs with an elbow issue. Even more notable, outfielder Michael Brantley should be making his long-awaited return after missing nearly all of 2016 with shoulder issues. Also, catcher Yan Gomes will look to rebound after a dismal 2016 which was riddled with injuries and lingering effects of past injuries.

With these additions, the Indians 2017 Opening Day lineup could look something like this:

1. Carlos Santana – 1B
2. Jason Kipnis – 2B
3. Francisco Lindor – SS
4. Edwin Encarnacion – DH
5. Michael Brantley – LF
6. Jose Ramirez – 3B
7. Yan Gomes – C
8. Lonnie Chisenhall – RF
9. Abraham Almonte – CF

There is no arguing that this lineup will be the strongest in the AL Central.

Many members of the national media are saying that the Indians will be the team to beat in the AL, as only the Boston Red Sox, who added Mitch Moreland and Chris Sale, seem to measure up to them. The Texas Rangers and New York Yankees could also be in the conversation.

The Indians could eclipse 100 wins for the first time since 1995 with the weakening of the AL Central. Each team has suffered at least one key loss, and there has been only one big addition.

Chicago White Sox

After a red-hot start to the 2016 season, the Chicago White Sox quickly faded into the background of the AL Central en route to a 78-84 record. It appears that the White Sox will be entering a full rebuild as they head toward the turn of the calendar.

The team dealt away two of its top players from a year ago – Chris Sale and Adam Eaton. They are also actively shopping starting pitcher Jose Quintana, however a deal does not seem imminent.

Even if Quintana is in a White Sox uniform in 2017, the starting rotation is going to be hurting. Carlos Rodon, Derek Holland and James Shields will also be there, but it is yet to be seen if they can bring upper-end stuff to the rotation.

The White Sox finished 20th in MLB with 686 runs scored in 2016. Losing Adam Eaton will not help that cause. Remaining notable bats include Jose Abreu, Melky Cabrera, Todd Frazier and Brett Lawrie.

The Sox are going to be in for a long season and figure to finish toward the bottom of the division.

Detroit Tigers

Sooner or later, the Detroit Tigers are going to have to break down and rebuild.

Missing the playoffs in both of the past two seasons and having a core of players that are only getting older, the Tigers only going to continue to see their success diminish.

While only losing one notable player in Cameron Maybin, the team still has a huge question mark at catcher and in the outfield. The starting rotation could also pose issues, as only Justin Verlander and Michael Fulmer turned in successful 2016 seasons.

The Tigers will still thrive on the long ball with Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, J.D. Martinez and Justin Upton in the middle of their lineup. Ian Kinsler will also likely be a solid producer at the top of the lineup.

The Tigers would have made the playoffs last season if it were not for a 4-14 record against the Indians. With the additions the Indians have made this offseason, the Tigers will once again have issues with their intra-division foes.

Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals are the one team in the AL Central that could give the Indians issues. However, they too have seen the departure of key talent.

Reliever Wade Davis being dealt to the Chicago Cubs leaves a huge hole in what is a normally dominant Royals bullpen. DH Kendrys Morales was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays, leaving a gap in the middle of the lineup. Also, an already mediocre starting rotation was dealt a blow in the Edinson Volquez departure.

Davis has been a stalwart in the Royals bullpen since their emergence as a World Series contender in 2014. He has been relied on to get the Royals out of tight spots late in games, and not having that arm anymore will certainly hurt the Royals in 2017.

The Royals did add a key player in the Wade Davis deal. Outfielder Jorge Soler will fit nicely into the Royals outfield and help in the Royals lineup.

I would expect the Royals to compete with the Indians throughout the year, but ultimately settle for a wildcard spot, if they can keep their starting rotation in check.

Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins are not likely to compete for a playoff spot this year. They finished last in the AL Central in 2016 and will likely be staring that same reality in the face again in 2016.

The Twins have already lost starting pitcher Tommy Milone, and could be looking at similar situations for starter Andrew Albers, catcher Kurt Suzuki and third baseman Trevor Plouffe.

The Twins have been actively shopping their best player – second baseman Brian Dozier. The St. Louis Cardinals seem to be the front-runner to land the power-hitting Dozier, so his departure from the AL Central will benefit the Indians even more.

With their two acquisitions thus far being catcher Jason Castro and outfielder J.B. Shuck, it does not appear that the Twins are planning on making any kind of run in 2017.

Next: Encarnacion a Clear Upgrade in 2017

For reasons that go beyond statistics, the Indians struggled against the lowly Twins in 2016, posting just a 10-9 record, which was their worst record against a division opponent. Improvement against the Twins will give the Indians more cushion against better teams like the Royals and Tigers.