MLB milestones: 16 moments to watch for in 2016
The new year is upon us, spring training is around the corner, and the beginning of the 2016 major-league baseball season is inching closer and closer.
After a season full of monumental moments - including David Ortiz's 500th home run and Alex Rodriguez's 3,000th hit - 2015 may be tough to beat, but here are 16 milestones to watch for in 2016:
Ichiro Suzuki
Milestone: 3,000 hits (needs 65)
Prediction: August
Milestone: 500 stolen bases (needs 2)
Prediction: Before All-Star break
Milestone: 2,500 MLB games played (needs 143)
Prediction: September
Suzuki, 41, has never recorded less than 91 hits or stolen less than 11 bases in a season, so he should reach two of the three milestones above unless something drastic happens. Playing in 2,500 career MLB games could be a reach, but he's got a shot after appearing in 153 games last season.
Miguel Cabrera
Milestone: 500 doubles (needs 8)
Prediction: Before All-Star break
Despite missing 43 games last season, Cabrera still hit 28 doubles. The four-time batting champ has a chance to join the 400-home run and 500-doubles club, which features only four active players: Ortiz, Rodriguez, Albert Pujols, and Adrian Beltre.
Francisco Rodriguez
Milestone: 400 saves (needs 14)
Prediction: Before All-Star break
Milestone: 4th all time in saves (needs 39)
Prediction: September
A November trade to the Detroit Tigers returned "K-Rod" to the AL, where he notched 208 of his 386 career saves. If he can shut down 39 games for his new club, he'll pass Dennis Eckersley, Billy Wagner, and John Franco on the all-time saves list.
Bartolo Colon
Milestone: 3,000 innings pitched (needs 19.1)
Prediction: Before All-Star break
The lovable Colon is back at it for another year and when he passes the 3,000-innings mark, he'll join a club boasting only 134 players in baseball history. That may not sound like the most exclusive bunch but, of current active players, only Mark Buehrle has reached the total.
John Lackey
Milestone: 2,000 strikeouts (needs 35)
Prediction: Before All-Star break
Lackey has never reached 200 strikeouts in a single season, but the right-hander is closing in on the 2,000-strikeout mark, which he'll likely achieve in 2016 in his first campaign with the Chicago Cubs after signing a two-year deal.
Alex Rodriguez
Milestone: 3rd all time in home runs (needs 28)
Prediction: September
Milestone: 3rd all time in RBIs (needs 21)
Prediction: Before All-Star break
Milestone: 20th all time in hits (needs 41)
Prediction: Before All-Star break
A-Rod reached several big milestones after a rejuvenating 2015 season and can climb higher up the leader boards. The 40-year-old slugger could pass Babe Ruth on the all-time home runs list and Cap Anson on the RBIs list in 2016.
Adrian Beltre
Milestone: 1,500 RBIs (needs 33)
Prediction: Before All-Star break
Beltre has done a lot of damage on both sides of the field, with 413 home runs, 560 doubles, and a career batting average of .285 to go along with four Gold Gloves. Next up is a run at 1,500 RBIs. Beltre currently sits behind only A-Rod, Pujols, and Big Papi among active RBI leaders.
CC Sabathia
Milestone: 25th all time in strikeouts (needs 10)
Prediction: Before All-Star break
Milestone: 3,000 innings pitched (needs 11.1)
Prediction: Before All-Star break
Sabathia's 2015 season ended with a trip to rehab, which supposedly changed his personality. The 35-year-old southpaw is set to return to the New York Yankees' rotation to begin 2016 and is close to a couple of milestones in both innings pitched and strikeouts.
Carlos Beltran
Milestone: 2,500 hits (needs 46)
Prediction: Before All-Star break
Milestone: 1,500 runs (needs 51)
Prediction: August
Next season could be Beltran's last in the bigs, although he said in November he might play another season after if he's healthy and can produce. No matter what he decides, the eight-time All-Star can reach milestones in both all-time hits and runs.