One burning question facing every AL team
Spring Training has finally arrived as pitchers and catchers report for workouts in Florida and Arizona.
Teams are starting to prepare for the long grind of the regular season. While Opening Day is still several weeks away, there is still time for general managers to make last minute adjustments.
USA TODAY Sports looks at the burning question each AL team faces as the 2017 season begins.
Baltimore Orioles
Will Dan Duquette add a big-name starter to the five-man rotation?
It’s seems rather unlikely at this point. The market is rather bare. The five-man rotation appears to be set with right-handers Chris Tillman, Kevin Gausman, Dylan Bundy and Ubaldo Jimenez and left-hander Wade Miley. Tillman, who likely won't be ready for Openinig Day, and Gausman form a strong 1-2 punch, but the rotation falls flat after that. While Duquette, the executive vice president of baseball operations, seems content, he’s not closing the door on adding depth. “I always like to have veteran pitchers to start the season, and more than what you need,” he said at FanFest in January. The arrival of Roger McDowell, the club’s new pitching coach, also could pay dividends. Under his stewardship with the Atlanta Braves the last 11 seasons, veterans and young pitchers thrived. But while this rotation had its moments last season, its 4.72 ERA was third worst in the American League.
— Scott Boeck
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Boston Red Sox
Can the Red Sox replace the on-field and clubhouse void created by Ortiz’s retirement?
They didn’t pursue Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Bautista, Mike Napoli or any other sluggers in the offseason, believing they had enough in-house talent. The players include Hanley Ramirez, Sandoval, Jackie Bradley Jr., Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts and Benintendi. Dustin Pedroia is the longest-tenured team member. Not as vociferous as Ortiz, Pedroia has been the team’s leader by example for much of his 11-season career. With a roster full of young players, there is ample opportunity for other veterans to step into leadership roles.
— Maureen Mullen
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Chicago White Sox
When are other veterans going to be dealt?
It seems a matter of when, not if, for left-hander Jose Quintana, third baseman Todd Frazier and closer David Robertson. After trading Sale and Eaton, the White Sox are in a full-blown rebuild. Quintana, 28, is under team control through 2020 at a reasonable rate and figures to bring the biggest return, although he might not get moved until midseason. Frazier, who is a free agent next winter, and Robertson, who is signed through 2018, could draw interest in spring training once teams are confident they have fully recovered from routine offseason surgical procedures. Left fielder Melky Cabrera, also in the final year of his contract, and even first baseman Jose Abreu could be trade fodder.
— Peter Barzilai
Cleveland Indians
Can Michael Brantley be counted on?
The star left fielder was limited to 11 games in 2016 after having surgery on his right shoulder the previous November then experiencing complications that led to a second operation in August. The Indians will be careful this spring not to push Brantley, who was third in the AL MVP voting in 2014 behind Mike Trout and Victor Martinez.
This is an important season for the 29-year-old, as he can become a free agent if the Indians do not exercise their $11 million option in November.
Abraham Almonte, who sat out the first 80 regular-season games and the postseason last year while serving a suspension for testing positive for boldenone, an anabolic steroid, could see more playing time if Brantley is slow to recover. Almonte, 27, has never played more than 82 games in a big-league season.
-- John Perrotto
Detroit Tigers
Can the Tigers find a center fielder?
After trading Cameron Maybin, the team will host a competition of question marks in center field. The contestants: Tyler Collins, JaCoby Jones, Mikie Mahtook and maybe others. Jones, a rookie, has the most upside, but the front office would prefer for him to get more minor league time. Collins seems better suited as a fourth outfielder, and the spacious Comerica Park outfield will be a challenge.
Mahtook could be the odds-on favorite. The Tigers acquired him from the Tampa Bay Rays in late January, and they think he will contribute at the big-league level. Mahtook’s experience — though short — gives him the edge over Jones. None of the options provides any sense of stability, though, and Anthony Gose appears to be an afterthought in the minor leagues. With the help of utilityman Andrew Romine, the Tigers could be forced to patch things together in center unless someone wins the job outright in the spring.
— Anthony Fenech
Houston Astros
Will the rotation be ready to roll come opening day?
McCullers and Keuchel, because they are coming off injuries, will be “among the last guys to start games” this spring, according to general manager Jeff Luhnow. Until they start and ramp up their innings, there will be uncertainty about their stock entering 2017. Houston could have one of the best offenses in baseball — buoyed by the acquisitions of Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran this summer. But that can only take a team so far.
The health of the presumed 1-2 starters is paramount because the rest of the rotation lacks upside and is full of question marks. For instance, ground-baller Charlie Morton has a rotation spot to lose after signing a two-year deal after tearing his hamstring last April and pitching 171/3 innings for the Philadelphia Phillies last season.
— Jimmy Hascup
Kansas City Royals
Will an inexperienced bullpen find its identity?
Kansas City relied on a dominant bullpen when it made back-to-back World Series appearances in 2014-15, but this year’s group is inexperienced. Kelvin Herrera will assume the closer’s role, where he found success at the end of last season. Herrera can hit 100 mph with his fastball and will be the one arm the Royals can count on late in the game.
The Royals will need former closer Joakim Soria to get back to form in 2017, while 26-year-old left-hander Brian Flynn continues to impress after a 2016 that featured a 2.60 ERA in 551/3 innings. Matt Strahm, 25, most likely will begin the season in the bullpen, but the left-hander will assuredly get a chance to crack the rotation at some point this season. He struck out 12.3 hitters per nine innings in a brief major league stint last season. Don’t be surprised if the club acquires outside bullpen help before or during the season.
— Adam Woodard
Los Angeles Angels
Is there offense beyond Mike Trout?
Now a two-time American League MVP and three-time runner-up, Trout, 25, represents the surest bet in baseball. Heck, he boosted his on-base percentage to a career-best .441 last season, again led the majors in OPS+ (174), runs (123) and walks (116). Right fielder Kole Calhoun and slugger Albert Pujols, if healthy, give the Angels a reputable — potentially dynamic — top of the lineup.
General manager Billy Eppler was very busy this winter, tending to the other six spots. While the likes of third baseman Yunel Escobar, outfielder Cameron Maybin, second baseman Danny Espinosa and catcher Martin Maldonado bring various questions in regard to track record, health and career arc, they help form a deeper and more versatile group than past clubs. The hidden gem might be Luis Valbuena, who will likely play first base as Pujols recovers from another plantar fascia injury. He hit 35 homers in two seasons with the Astros and can play up to five defensive positions.
— Gabe Lacques
Minnesota Twins
Can the Twins’ young talent work out the kinks and find consistency?
The Twins appear far from postseason contention. However, if they can stay healthy and find consistency at the plate, they have the young talent and ability to at least climb out of the AL Central cellar.
While Kepler broke out last season, Twins fans also have been impatiently waiting for Byron Buxton, the projected starting center fielder, to act on his immense potential. The 23-year-old found his swing after being sent to the minors and finished with a .287/.357/.653 slash line (along with nine homers) in 101 at-bats after Aug. 31. The Twins also might have had their shortstop of the future emerge in 2016 with Jorge Polanco. The switch-hitting 22-year-old played in a big-league career high of 69 games, hitting .282 with 69 hits while also playing games at second and third base. Polanco slugged better in 78 major league games (.429) than in 592 in the minors (.411). His versatility to play multiple positions makes him valuable for a rebuilding organization, too.
— Adam Woodard
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New York Yankees
Can Aaron Judge win an everyday job?
Scouts have long salivated over the athleticism and raw power of the 6-7, 275-pounder, but the outfielder looked overmatched in his first experience against major league pitching in 2016, striking out 42 times in 84 big-league at-bats. Nonetheless, Judge appears to have the inside track at a starting job in right field for the Yankees come opening day.
Judge will spend the spring working to improve his pitch recognition to beat out right-field candidates that include veteran Aaron Hicks and less-heralded Yankees prospects. Judge’s Grapefruit League opportunities against major league-caliber opponents could determine if he starts the season casting a giant shadow over the bleacher creatures in the Bronx.
— Ted Berg
Oakland Athletics
How quickly will the young pitchers develop?
The A’s are hanging their hopes for this season and the near future on a group of pitchers in the 25-year-old range who are still establishing their credentials in the majors but have shown the ability to succeed at this level.
The most prominent among them are Kendall Graveman — who turned 26 in December and has the most experience with 52 starts in the big leagues — followed by lefty Sean Manaea (7-9, 3.86 ERA as a rookie) and Jharel Cotton (2.15 ERA in five starts as a rookie).
If at least two of them enjoy strong seasons and staff ace Sonny Gray returns to form, the A’s could return to respectability.
— Jorge L. Ortiz
Seattle Mariners
Can anyone not named Cruz, Cano or Seager hit for power?
The middle of Seattle’s lineup can mash with anyone — Nelson Cruz, Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager combined for 112 home runs last season, and the Mariners finished third in the American League with 768 runs scored. After a significant offseason makeover, the Mariners look more balanced but have question marks.
Can Dan Vogelbach and Danny Valencia provide power as a first-base platoon? Will Jarrod Dyson reach base often enough to exploit his speed and pair a strong offensive game with his elite defense? And will a second change of scenery in as many years disrupt the offensive revival Jean Segura enjoyed in hitter-friendly Arizona in 2016? (He hit .319 with a .867 on-base-plus-slugging percentage, 20 homers and 64 RBI.) Seattle doesn’t need all of the scenarios to pan out — just enough of them to provide sufficient support for their slugging trio.
— Gabe Lacques
Tampa Bay Rays
Is Matt Duffy a full-time shortstop?
Tampa Bay acquired Duffy in the trade that sent starting pitcher Matt Moore to the San Francisco Giants last summer with the intention of deploying him at shortstop. Nearly all of Duffy’s time in the minors was spent there, but he played only three games at shortstop above Class AA — all of them after joining the Rays.
Duffy was an elite defensive third baseman, but the 26-year-old might take time to adjust to playing shortstop at the major league level. Durability is also going to be a concern. Duffy was hampered by an Achilles tendon injury in 2016 and played in just 91 games. If he can man the position well and provide offense anywhere near the level of his rookie year (.295, 12 homers, 77 RBI for the Giants), Duffy is going to be a major asset for the team.
— Jesse Yomtov
Texas Rangers
Did they get worse?
Even after back-to-back American League West titles, the Rangers faced a lot of offseason needs. The club lost key veteran outfielders Ian Desmond and Carlos Beltran, pitchers Colby Lewis and Derek Holland and Moreland to free agency. The rotation, after Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish, drops off significantly.
Texas added free agents A.J. Griffin, Andrew Cashner and Tyson Ross, but all have had up-and-down careers. Outfielder Carlos Gomez re-signed with the club and returns to his natural center-field position. Napoli’s reunion helps. And the club will have a full season with catcher Jonathan Lucroy.
Also, lurking on a minor league contract is Josh Hamilton. After missing all of last season with a knee injury, the 2010 AL MVP will be fighting for a job in the outfield.
— Scott Boeck
Toronto Blue Jays
Can the bullpen repeat its success?
The pitching staff led the Blue Jays back to the playoffs in 2016, but early on their bullpen looked like an Achilles’ heel. To avoid a repeat of those first-half relief issues, they’ll spend much of spring training searching for bullpen answers.
The departure of Brett Cecil means manager John Gibbons will have an especially close eye on J.P. Howell, who’s expected to take on a prominent role. From the right side the Blue Jays look more stable with Roberto Osuna, Jason Grilli and Joe Biagini in place for the late innings. Still, 19 Toronto pitchers made multiple relief appearances in 2016, so the Blue Jays must make the most of their Grapefruit League schedule and identify a wide array of relievers capable of helping the 2017 team.
— Ben Nicholson-Smith