New American League Powerhouses: Anaheim and Toronto?

When people think about the best teams in the American League, they think Yankees and Red Sox.  Recently Detroit and Texas have been thrown in the mix as World Series contenders, but the whole landscape of the AL has changed drastically so far this offseason.  Josh Hamilton has left the Rangers to join up with the LA Angels of Anaheim, and Toronto has been making some big trade splashes of their own.  Could the Angels and Jays become the new powerhouses of the AL?

The Angels landed Pujols last year and were expected to be right there with Texas on top of the division.  As it turned out, the Oakland Athletics surprised everyone to take the AL West.  While I like their young pitching, I do not see Oakland stealing the division again.  Meanwhile, the Rangers have just lost arguably their 3 best players in Josh Hamilton, Mike Napoli, and Michael Young.  Throw in the fact that their pitching staff is suspect, and you have a team going from AL's best to seeking help.  Then there is the Angels.  Last year they made a big splash adding Albert Pujols and CJ Wilson.  This year they added Josh Hamilton.  Throw in the fact that you have rookie of the year and MVP runner up Mike Trout and another promising youngster in Mark Trumbo and you have a recipe for success.

Despite my disdain for Hamilton, Pujols, and Wilson, I cannot find any holes in their lineup.  They quietly addressed their pitching by adding Tommy Hanson, although they will probably look to add another quality starter before the trade deadline hits down the road.  Behind their big bats and perennial Cy Young candidate Jered Weaver, I see the Angels winning the AL West and really being a dominate team for years to come.  It seems the only thing stopping this from happening is injury problems, which Hamilton and the aging Pujols are susceptible to.

Meanwhile in the AL East, the Yankees and Red Sox are maybe on the outside looking in for the first time in a long time.  The yankees are still good, there is no questioning that.  But A-Rod and Jeter are already hurt and the season has not even started yet!  Kevin Youkilis will do a good job holding down the fort at 3rd base, and the Yanks will definitely be in contention for a playoff spot when the year is coming to a close.  However, the road will not be easy for the Yankees.  The Orioles were on their tail until the last day of the season last year, and very well could have won the playoff series between the two teams.  The Rays are always developing stars only to have them go elsewhere.  Evan Longoria broke this trend by signing one of the most generous contracts a star player will sign.  This is why I love Evan and hope he wins many games in his tenure in Tampa.  BJ Upton kept the trend going though, as he walked away from the team.  No problem though, Tampa added Wil Myers in a trade with the Royals.  He is a top prospect and early favorite for American League rookie of the year.  If any team knows how to develop and use young talent, it is Tampa, so look for them to be right at the top as well.  Boston spent some money on Napoli and Victorino, and while they are still a good team, there is clear locker room problems and their pitching staff is still brutal.  Boston is not bad, but I see them finishing last in the AL East as the teams stand now.

That only leaves the Toronto Blue Jays.  Since winning back to back World Series in the early 90's, this team has yet to make the playoffs.  Apparently ownership is not having this anymore, making 2 HUGE trade splashes this offseason.  The first was when they were the benefactors of the Miami Marlins cleaning house.  They gave up very little in a trade that sent Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson, Emilio Bonifacio, and Mark Buehrle to Canada.  They did not stop there, trading with the New York Mets for NL Cy Young winner RA Dickey.  They also took a risk on Melky Cabrera who was on a tear last year before being busted for steroids.  They are hoping to see the high level of production he had in San Francisco prior to his suspension.

When these trades are added to an already solid lineup of Brett Lawrie, Jose Bautista, and Edwin Encarnacion you again have a recipe for success.  The 3 pitchers they traded for will be on top of a rotation featuring Ricky Romero, who will hope to bounce back from a terrible year, and Brandon Morrow.  Throw in the young close Casey Janssen who had a great year last year and their pitching looks solid too.

Here is a quick look at their potential opening day lineup as it stands now:

1. SS-Jose Reyes
2. OF-Melky Cabrera
3. OF-Jose Bautista
4. DH-Edwin Encarnacion
5. 3B-Brett Lawrie
6. 1B-Adam Lind
7. OF-Colby Rasmus
8. C-JP Arencibia
9. 2B-Emilio Bonifacio

Meanwhile their pitching staff is just as strong:

• SP-Josh Johnson
• SP-RA Dickey
• SP-Brandon Morrow
• SP-Mark Buehrle
• SP-Ricky Romero
• CL-Casey Janssen
• RP-JA Happ
• RP-Darren Oliver
• RP-Brandon Lincoln
• RP-Sergio Santos

The only reason I am not sold on this team is because of the ridiculously stacked division that is the AL East, but if they make playoffs they are as dangerous a team as anyone in baseball.