AL Central report cards: Grading offseason moves
With spring training fast approaching, theScore's MLB editors hand out their offseason grades for each division. We continue with the American League Central.
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The American League Central should remain almost identical to 2016 in 2017, barring any drastic developments. The Cleveland Indians are the most talented team, followed by two clubs - the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals - that appear to be on the cusp of potential rebuilds, yet still seem temporarily focused on competing.
Speaking of teams embracing youth movements, both the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins are destined to be at the bottom of the standings for the forseeable future due to an emphasis on drafting and developing young, controllable talent.
With the Indians poised to have similar success thanks to the savvy, yet unexpected, addition of Edwin Encarnacion and the Tigers and Royals keeping most of their cores intact for one more go at it, here's a full offseason breakdown of the AL Central:
Chicago White Sox
Trades: 3
Signings: 1
Money spent on FA: $6 million
Projected 2017 payroll: $90,467,500
2016 Record: 78-84 (4th)
Key Arrivals: Derek Holland (free agent), Yoan Moncada (trade), Lucas Giolito (trade), Michael Kopech (trade), Reynaldo Lopez (trade), Dane Dunning (trade), Luis Alexander Basabe (trade)
Key minor-league signings: Peter Bourjos, Geovany Soto, Cody Asche, Everth Cabrera
Key Departures: Chris Sale (BOS), Adam Eaton (WSH), Alex Avila (DET), Austin Jackson (CLE), Jimmy Rollins (SFG), John Danks (ATL), Matt Albers (WSH)
Takeaway: If anything was made clear this offseason, it's that the White Sox are committed to a full rebuild. General manager Rick Hahn deserves immense credit for getting huge returns in the Sale and Eaton trades.
Grade: B+
Cleveland Indians
Trades: 1
Signings: 2
Money spent on FA: $65.5 million
Projected 2017 payroll: $117,071,666
2016 Record: 94-67 (1st)
Key Arrivals: Edwin Encarnacion (free agent), Carlos Frias (trade), Boone Logan (free agent)
Key minor-league signings: Chris Colabello, Steve Delabar, Austin Jackson, Erik Kratz, Michael Martinez, Wily Mo Pena
Key Departures: Mike Napoli (FA), Rajai Davis (OAK), Coco Crisp (FA), Chris Gimenez (MIN), Tommy Hunter (FA)
Takeaway: Fresh off their first World Series appearance in 21 years, the typically small-spending team from Cleveland went out and got Encarnacion - the best free-agent bat available - on a team-friendly deal. With one of the premier starting rotations in all of baseball and an improved lineup, the Indians should have no problem repeating as division champions.
Grade: A
Detroit Tigers
Trades: 2
Signings: 1
Money spent on FA: $2 million
Projected 2017 payroll: $194,300,000
2016 Record: 86-75 (2nd)
Key Arrivals: Alex Avila (free agent), Mikie Mahtook (trade)
Key minor-league signings: Omar Infante, Brendan Ryan, Alex Presley, Edward Mujica
Key Departures: Cameron Maybin (LAA), Casey McGehee (FA), Erick Aybar (FA)
Takeaway: The 86-win Tigers from last season remain almost completely untouched, despite rumors of a possible rebuild. Detroit is one of the teams over the luxury tax threshold and, according to general manager Al Avila, want to do its best to avoid that moving forward. Expect the club to compete for the postseason, but if things go south, a tear-down could be in the cards.
Grade: C+
Kansas City Royals
Trades: 4
Signings: 2
Money spent on FA: $28 million
Projected 2017 payroll: $133,141,667
2016 Record: 81-81 (3rd)
Key Arrivals: Jason Hammel (free agent), Brandon Moss (free agent), Jorge Soler (trade), Peter O'Brien (trade), Nathan Karns (trade)
Key minor-league signings: Al Alburquerque, Brandon League, Bobby Parnell, Chris Withrow
Key Departures: Wade Davis (CHC), Kendrys Morales (TOR), Jarrod Dyson (SEA), Edinson Volquez (MIA), Luke Hochevar (FA), Omar Infante (DET)
Takeaway: The Royals' window as World Series contenders is closing, but the team seems poised to give it one more go before some big names hit free agency next offseason. The tragic death of Yordano Ventura is a devastating loss, but expect the team to start 2017 determined and highly motivated in his honor.
Grade: C+
Minnesota Twins
Trades: 1
Signings: 2
Money spent on FA: $24.5 million
Projected 2017 payroll: $95,075,000
2016 Record: 59-103 (5th)
Key Arrivals: Jason Castro (free agent), Matt Belisle (free agent)
Key minor-league signings: Ben Paulsen, J.B. Shuck, Ryan Vogelsong, Chris Gimenez
Key Departures: Kurt Suzuki (ATL), Trevor Plouffe (OAK)
Takeaway: The Twins are coming off a season where they lost 103 games - the most since 1949. The team's best player, Brian Dozier, remains with the organization despite endless trade rumors, though it's still likely the Twins part with him either before or during the upcoming season to further enhance the rebuild.
Grade: C