Cleveland Indians - Perhaps the best pitching staff in all the American League, if not baseball, the Tribe is in great position to maintain their claim as AL champs. Corey Kluber is going to deliver but to me, the key for Cleveland is what they get out of Danny Salazar and Carlos Carasco. If they can get 25-30 starts from each, there's no reason the Indians shouldn't get back to the World Series.
Bold prediction: Andrew Miller will win the American League Cy Young award.
Breakout player: Yandy Diaz 3B/OF
Detroit Tigers - For five years, we've been saying the window is closing on the Tigers championship aspirations, but it never fails, Detroit always finds themselves in the middle of a pennant race. The emergence of Micheal Fulmer has helped the Tigers solidify their rotation. If JD and Victor Martinez can stay healthy, the Tigers should have just enough offense to stay in contention again this year.
Bold prediction: If, for any reason, Andrew Benintendi isn't the superstar everyone says, Jacoby Jones could be a sneaky candidate for rookie of the year in the American League.
Breakout player: Jacoby Jones CF/SS/3B
Kansas City Royals - You just get the feeling the Royals went all in to win the World Series in 2015 and since things just haven't been the same. Despite losing ace pitcher Yordano Ventura to a tragic offseason accident that claimed his life far too early, the Royals have enough talent to compete. To me, I still wonder how far the pitching will take them. I really think some young pitchers are going to have to come to the big leagues and give major contributions if the Royals are to return to the postseason.
Bold prediction: Jorge Soler goes for 30 HR in his first full time gig.
Breakout player: Jorge Soler OF
Minnesota Twins - The Twins have just about all the young talent they've been waiting on up at the big leagues. The Twins will score a lot of runs. An offense like Baltimore comes to mind for me when thinking about Minnesota, but like Baltimore, they're going to have a real hard time keeping teams off the scoreboard at the same pace. With much better pitching in the Central than there is in the East, Minnesota could find it hard to score with efficiency.
Bold prediction: The Twins possess enough talent, they can get a top of the rotation arm if they're close in July. Don't be surprised if they try to keep pace by targeting a top available arm at the deadline.
Breakout player: Jorge Polanco SS
Chicago White Sox - The rebuild is on on the southside of Chicago. Big seasons from Jose Abreu and Melky Cabrera and Todd Frazier could return even more talent to the ChiSox. Besides the potential trades for those guys and the up and the coming talent from recent trades, there's very little to look forward to for Sox fans this year.
Bold prediction: The fruits of some exceptional drafts will start to be on display this year. Zach Collins and Carson Fulmer are just a few of the names you should know by the end of the summer.
Breakout player: Jacob May OF
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