These are my way-too-early picks for the 2017 MLB Season. Now, of course, there is always injuries, slumps, and other factors, but if everything goes right this is how the season should play out.
AL East: Boston Red Sox
Picking up Sale might have been the biggest signing in the whole league, and for good reason. With a loaded pitching staff, especially with the pressure off David Price to be the ace, the Sox are poised for dominance. Of course, Ortiz is gone and there are still injury questions about the back end of the bullpen but they should be able to fix them before the end of the year. The offense will still have enough firepower along with pitching to take the division. Not to mention the division has gotten significantly weaker with departures of many players headlined by Edwin Encarnacion.
AL Central: Cleveland Indians
The World Series losers will start the season with a major chip on their shoulder. Without major pieces such as Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazer and Michael Brantley they still managed to come one game away from a championship. With all of those players returning along with the signing of Encarnacion, the Indians will win this division easier they many experts may think. In Detroit, their stars are getting another year older. Justin Verlander had a year of resurgence, but will not continue that in the upcoming year. Michael Fulmer had an amazing rookie year, but even if he continues it will not be enough to jump the Indians. The Royals are back to their small market team and will once again start to rebuild if they start the season slow. The White Sox by trading Sale have officially entered rebuild mode and will be in the cellar for at least one season.
AL West: Houston Astros
Coming off a very disappointing season, the Astros will bounce back. Finally now with Veteran leadership in the clubhouse with Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran, along with Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve, this seems like a year poised for a deep run. Dallas Keuchel will bounce back from a sophomore slump and be the ace his team thought he was going to be. The Mariners do still have Cano and Felix, but both at another year older and not much other help besides Kyle Seager, they don't pose a big threat. The Rangers pose the biggest threat with young players such as Nomar Mazara, Martin Perez, and Rougned Odor as well as a few veterans, however, the Astros have the firepower to overthrow them. The Angles and A’s are in rebuild mode and will look to trade off their veterans before the deadline.
NL East: Washington Nationals
I want to pick the Mets, I really do. The problem is there is simply too much injury history. Four of the five Mets starters found themselves on the DL by the end of the season, all with arm/shoulder injuries. This scares me way too much to consider them the favorite. Their offense is good, but not enough to win the division. The Nationals seem loaded on Both offense and pitching. With Scherzer, Strasburg, Gonzalez and Roark, the pitching staff is dominant. Harper leading the offense if he can keep his head on straight is scary to think about. The Marlins still have no offense and tragically have lost their ace pitcher. Along with the Phillies and Braves, it seems all three will be in rebuild mode yet again.
NL Central: Chicago Cubs
Once again in the Central, it is not going to very close. With a loaded roster and the addition of Wade Davis to replace Chapman, once again the Cubs will be the team to beat in 2017. The Cardinals and Pirates seem to be in similar positions. Very average teams in very tough divisions. Both will fight for Wild Card spots, but neither will touch the Cubs. The Brewers and Reds are not completely hopeless, as both are coming up from rebuilds, however, the talent in not close to being a serious contender.
NL West: LA Dodgers
I have always had faith in the Dodgers, even in a tough division with the Giants. If Kershaw remains healthy, which was an issue in 2016 the Dodgers will take the division. I do not think Cueto repeats the year he had last year, along with the Giants offense. AT&T Park is considered the most pitcher friendly park in baseball, which could be a big factor in Cueto’s success. With the Padres, D-Backs, and Rockies all not serious contenders it will be a two-team race for the division crown. However, second place will get a wild care birth.
