After growing increasingly impatient while waiting for the last few big-name free agents to sign contracts, I realized I cannot wait any longer on my 2019 MLB predictions.
This year's Opening Day for all 30 teams is in just over 2 weeks, and I intend to go about my predictions the same way as last year; division by division.
In order to avoid becoming repetitive with my posting, I'll be forming my MLB predictions, by division, on-and-off up until a few days before Opening Day. Then, I'll make my picks for the awards and the playoffs before the 2019 MLB regular season officially begins on March 28th.
Last year's divisional predictions, although entertaining to write, were quite far off from the actual results. I have merely one hope for my picks this time around; to be more accurate than I was in 2018. Then again, Baseball's unpredictability may come back to haunt me for the 2nd year in a row.
First up in a series of divisional predictions is the AL East, home to the 2018 World Champions, the Boston Red Sox. For over a decade, this division has vigorous in terms of competition, with all 5 teams posing as a threat at some point or another.
Last year, there were 3 90-win teams in the AL East with 2 teams reaching the 100-win mark as well. The race for the #1 spot in this division, like 2018, is likely going to be a nail-biter.
I wasn't correct in my predictions last year, so let's hope I have more success with my 2019 picks for the AL East division.
1st Place; Boston Red Sox
Coming off of a historic season in which the Sox won 108 games, all eyes will be on Boston in 2019 with many teams hoping that they crash and burn. However, the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros have taught us that, in recent years, World Series Champions can go on to take the division crown 2 years in a row.
Other than the departure of Joe Kelly and the unlikeliness for Craig Kimbrel to return, the Red Sox will be bringing back virtually everyone on their roster from 2018. A notable addition will also be Dustin Pedroia, a dependable option at 2nd base when healthy.
Additionally, Betts, Benintendi, and Bogaerts are all coming off their best season yet, and the Sox's rotation is the best its been in years. Repeating as World Series Champions will be a challenge, but I have confidence that the Sox will be able to repeat as winners of the AL East.
2nd Place; New York Yankees
The Yankees took multiple steps last offseason to improve going into the 2019 season. The 100-win team traded for James Paxton, signed Adam Ottovino, and extended 2 of its stars, Aaron Hicks and Luis Severino. Clearly, the Yankees are coming for the Red Sox with a vengeance and eyes on recapturing the AL East crown.
New York has a balance of hitting and pitching going for them in 2019, something they lacked last season. Injuries aside, batting average was a notable concern for the Yankees who finished 16th in Baseball with a team batting average of .249.
I don't expect sluggers like Hicks and Stanton to make vast strides to improve their batting average which could prove to be the sole thing holding the Yankees back in 2019.
3rd Place; Tampa Bay Rays
The most surprising team of 2018, the Tampa Bay Rays won 90 games almost in spite of themselves. They designated Corey Dickerson, a 2018 All-Star, for assignment before the season started and traded away Chris Archer and Alex Colome at the deadline.
Somehow, this club was a top-6 American League team last season. It's just a shame that management doesn't work with the talented players that the Rays have. Instead, Dickerson's replacement, C.J. Cron, fell victim to the same fate this offseason. After hitting .253 with 30 homers, he too was designated for assignment.
Unfortunately for the talented players in Tampa, including Cy Young award winner Blake Snell, the Rays don't have the money or the market that heavyweights Boston and New York do. To compensate, smarter moves have to be made, or the Rays will be a 3rd place team forever.
4th Place; Toronto Blue Jays
Franchise player and 2015 AL MVP award winner, Josh Donaldson, is gone. Troy Tulowitzki was released after an injury-plagued few seasons north of the border. Roberto Osuna is now a member of the Houston Astros.
Clearly, the Blue Jays team that made the ALCS 2 years in a row is no more. Therefore, it's time to completely start over and rebuild. The only problem is, that rebuild won't be ready until at least 2020 when Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. are playing full-time.
Until then, Canada's only Baseball team will have to struggle through 2019 with hopes of rising to the top of the AL East in years to come.
5th Place; Baltimore Orioles
I can't foresee it getting much worse for the Baltimore Orioles team that lost 115 games in 2018, but I also can't imagine things getting all that much better. With a first-year manager at the helm and their starting lineup being weaker than its been in over a decade, I wouldn't expect the Orioles to rise out of the cellar of the AL East.
Trey Mancini, a finalist for 2017 AL Rookie of the Year, provides some hope for an Orioles team that has seen Manny Machado, Zach Britton, Jonathan Schoop traded. They're grossly overpaying Chris Davis and Alex Cobb while still not having that 1 franchise player they so desperately need.
Considering that their farm system doesn't appear to have that impact player either, expect the Orioles to struggle for years to come, not just in 2019.
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