1 prediction for each AL team in 2020

Welcome to a new year and a new decade. Less than two months before pitchers and catchers report to spring training, theScore's MLB editors make one prediction for each American League team for 2020. Predictions for NL teams will be published Friday.

Angels: Finally make postseason

Mike Trout gets his wish. Thanks to the additions of third baseman Anthony Rendon and manager Joe Maddon, along with Shohei Ohtani's return to the starting rotation, the Angels make the playoffs as a wild-card team. Trout delivers another MVP-caliber campaign in helping the Angels reach the postseason for the first time since 2014.

Astros: Correa MVP candidate after playing full season

For the first time since 2016 and just the second time in his career, Carlos Correa manages to play an entire season for the Astros. The gifted shortstop, who's averaged 109 games a year, has a stellar campaign that springboards him into AL MVP consideration.

Athletics: Semien falls back to earth

Everything came together for Marcus Semien to become an AL MVP finalist last season. The 29-year-old suited up for all 162 games while posting a .892 OPS with 33 homers and played Gold Glove-caliber defense. That out-of-nowhere breakout campaign proves tough to replicate. Since becoming an everyday player in 2015, Semien's best offensive season outside of 2019 was 2016, when he posted a .735 OPS.

Blue Jays: Vlad Jr. leads team in WAR

Year 1 served as a learning experience for Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and he'll be better for it. After breaking into the majors, the 20-year-old struggled for what was effectively the first time in his career and realized he can't get by on talent alone. Expect a better-conditioned Guerrero who's more equipped to handle playing every day, and with additional talent around him, he should benefit from a smaller share of the spotlight and more realistic expectations. Improved play on both sides of the ball will make him Toronto's best overall player in 2020.

Indians: Lindor shipped to Los Angeles

After months of speculation, the Indians and Dodgers pull off a blockbuster trade before the 2020 campaign gets underway. All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor heads to Hollywood in exchange for a package that includes can't-miss prospect Gavin Lux. The deal immediately makes L.A. a World Series favorite, along with the Yankees.

Mariners: Dipoto, Servais fired after historically bad start

Jerry Dipoto's reimagining of the Mariners' roster has turned into more of a full-scale rebuild, and team ownership decides it's had enough of the veteran executive and manager Scott Servais after a disastrous April, firing both. Even though the Mariners twice won more than 86 games with Dipoto in their front office, Seattle never finished better than second in the division during his tenure and failed to reach the postseason.

Orioles: Finish 60 games back of 1st, set franchise record for losses

Baltimore enters the fourth year of a lengthy rebuild with the worst still yet to come. After losing 115 and 108 games over the last two seasons, respectively, the Orioles will be even worse in 2020, setting a new franchise mark for most losses in a season with 120. The departures of Dylan Bundy and Jonathan Villar and a division where every other team is competitive combine to leave Baltimore a staggering 60 games back of first place for the third time in franchise history.

Rangers: Gallo hits 50 homers

The juiced ball may not be a thing in 2020, but it still looks like one thanks to a 50-dinger campaign from Joey Gallo. The Rangers slugger becomes the second player in franchise history to reach the home-run mark, following in the footsteps of Alex Rodriguez, who did it twice. Along with clubbing 50, Gallo sets a new career high in strikeouts by whiffing 215 times.

Rays: Glasnow finishes top 3 in AL Cy Young

Tyler Glasnow was arguably the best pitcher in the majors last season before injuries limited him to 12 starts. The right-hander enters 2020 healthy and with a better understanding of the conditioning required for him to stay on the mound, allowing him to blow past his career-high mark of 111 2/3 innings in 2018. Those factors help Glasnow to a top-three finish in AL Cy Young voting - making it three consecutive years with a finalist from the Rays.

Red Sox: Mookie finishes season in Boston

Despite an offseason full of rumors, Chaim Bloom opts not to pull the trigger on a Mookie Betts trade and the star plays out the season in Boston. A number of factors shape the decision; the Red Sox are in the wild-card race at the deadline, and the front office decides to keep him for the second-half push rather than receive an unspectacular return. The former MVP ends up testing free agency and leaves Boston after seven seasons for the richest free-agent contract signed that winter.

Royals: Merrifield finally traded

After being mentioned in trade rumors over the past two years, All-Star second baseman Whit Merrifield finally fetches an offer that's too good for the rebuilding Royals to pass up. Merrifield finished first in baseball in hits in each of the last two seasons, led the majors in triples in 2019, and also led MLB in stolen bases in 2018. Kansas City's been reluctant to part with such a productive player on a team-friendly contract. Years away from competing for a playoff spot, however, the Royals admit they can't justify keeping Merrifield, who turns 31 in January.

Tigers: Mize arrives to offer hope

Detroit badly needs to wash away the taste of a 114-loss season. Enter 2018 first overall pick Casey Mize. The second-best pitching prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline, the 22-year-old possesses plus command and three different strikeout pitches. The future No. 1 starter's arrival will indicate to the organization and Tigers fans that brighter days are ahead.

Twins: Barely hold on for 2nd straight division title

Minnesota is going to be popping bubbly again at the end of the 2020 campaign. However, it won't come easy. In 2019, the Twins won 100-plus games for just the second time in franchise history thanks to a historic homer barrage. The club got career seasons from more than half of its everyday players. That same core returns to help Minny edge a much-improved Chicago White Sox team.

White Sox: Win 90 games, but miss playoffs

The long White Sox rebuild is finally over. After complementing an impressive young core with a few free-agent expenditures, the South Siders rattle off their first 90-win campaign since 2006. It isn't enough to snap a 12-year playoff drought, however, as the team falls short of both the division title and the second wild-card spot. Still, the growth of Yoan Moncada and Eloy Jimenez and the debut of Luis Robert provide the franchise with plenty of optimism.

Yankees: Stanton leads team with 40-plus homers

After missing all but 18 games last year, Stanton enjoys a healthy season in the Bronx and puts together an enormous campaign. The former NL MVP reaches the 40-homer plateau for his first time in pinstripes, pacing the team in slugging, OPS, and home runs. Stanton's renaissance helps restore his popularity among fans while giving the Yankees the most feared lineup in the majors.