AL Central mostly slow to take shape this winter

Unlike 2008 where the Tigers and White Sox pulled off some spectacular trades the 2009 Hot Stove season has proven to be a generally quiet time for most of the teams in the AL Central…but there have been a few noteworthy additions – and subtractions as well. Let’s recap 2008 as quickly as we can first though.

Last season neither the Twins or the White Sox were figured to be part of the winners circle but it came down to a playoff game where the victor took the division crown home. Before the season began most every baseball beat writer, analyst and fan were not only predicting Detroit to win the AL Central but also christening them World Series champs. Cleveland figured to be the only serious contender with Chicago passing the Twins by for a third place finish and Kansas City in the cellar as usual. Instead Detroit was a bona fide first class flop and Cleveland suffered injuries to key players that had them limping to a .500 finish. The White Sox off-season trade acquisitions of Carlos Quentin (Arizona) and Orlando Cabrera (Los Angeles Angels) and especially the signing of former Cuban professional Alexei Ramírez helped make them competitive keeping up with the overachieving Twins. Kansas City actually stayed out of the cellar by squeaking past Detroit at season’s end. Nobody can say they saw anything like this coming!

I don’t look for a finish resembling anything close to that this year. Cleveland made some key acquisitions to clear up an ugly problem at closer and an unexpected hole at third base and will look to get full seasons from Travis Hafner & Victor Martinez after each of them lost significant amounts of playing time last season. Detroit has improved ever so slightly but will most definitely rebound after a completely unexpected flop. Minnesota has been slow to make any changes or additions to their lineup but return with all their major contributors and will push for the division title. Chicago lost several starters from last year due to trades or free agency and appears to be settling for a rebuilding year. Kansas City just doesn’t do anything to ever make anyone take them too seriously.

For each of the next five days my blog will be dedicated to one of the teams in the AL Central. I’ll publish each entry in the order I predict the teams to finish this season. Yeah, I know it’s a little early but I’m getting anxious for any baseball activity to start and this will help pass that time. Of course I reserve the right to change my mind should one or more of the teams make an earth shattering trade or free agent signing…not there’s much left out there. But I’ll worry about that when the time comes.