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| Kyle Seager (Sea - 3B) |
Offense: Led by former-MVP and top catcher Buster Posey (SF - C), JT 's offense looks pretty good on paper. Along with Posey, JT features Top 5 talents their positions in slugger Jose Abreu (ChW - 1B) and the ever-improving Kyle Seager (Sea - 3B), who may be this team's most important piece before too long. Other keystone look to be World Series champ Eric Hosmer (KC - 1B), junior Mookie Betts (Bos - OF) and Carlos Gomez (Hou - OF), who finds himself in a better offensive home for a full season. Surprises from last season include Justin Bour (Mia - 1B), who finished 5th in NL ROY voting, Kole Calhoun (LAA - OF), who still needs to improve against lefties, Matt Carpenter (Stl - 2B,3B), who traded in his contact approach for power while teammates Kolton Wong (Stl - 2B) and Stephen Piscotty (Stl - OF,1B) both had a late surges. Infielders Brett Lawrie (ChW - 2B,3B) had his best season yet in 2015, Jason Kipnis (Cle - 2B) had a decent bounce back season and now-Yankee Starlin Castro (NYY - 2B,SS) looks to be placeholder at this point as he has yet to capture his potential. Prospect Mitch Nay (Tor - 3B) is still young and posses sure power at the next level. This is a nice group of bats with valuable versatility that should improve with proper pick-ups and drafting. Adding a shortstop for the future will be one of the only moves this team needs to make.
Pitching: While JT has never been the greatest pitching staff in the league, it has always been serviceable and that trend will continue with the gutsy Adam Wainwright (Stl - SP) recovering from TJ surgery as the team's main ace when healthy. Joining Waino atop the rotation will be Jeff Samardzija (ChW - SP) and the SD duo Tyson Ross (SD - SP) and James Shields (SD - SP), both of whom had more than 200Ks in 2015. Oft-injured starters Homer Bailey (Cin - SP), projected to return in May, and Jamie Garcia (Stl - SP), who rebounded last season, will look to capitalize on opportunity while Doug Fister (Hou - SP,RP) experiences a downgrade moving to Houston and Brandon Beachy (LAD - SP) looks replaceable at this point. Relievers Hector Rodon (ChC - RP) will be counted on a lot especially with Greg Holland (KC - RP) basically taking a mulligan as he recovers from TJ surgery and Andrew Miller (NYY - RP) being passed over as a closer. Selecting Rangers closer Shawn Tolleson (Tex - RP) in the Rule-5 draft helps temper the losses of Holland and Miller. Finding more talent for the rotation will be helpful but it should be possible and potentially adding another closer might work as well.
Draft: With Rodgers and Swanson potentially already selected, LSU alum Alex Bregman (Hou - SS) becomes a logical selection here with the uncertainty of Castro's future. Gleyber Torres (ChC - 2B,SS) might also be a nice pickup here as could be Japanese import Kenta Meada (LAD - SP) as well as 2015 college MLB draftees Dillon Tate (Tex - SP) and Carson Fulmer (ChW - SP).
Prediction:
RD 1: Alex Bregman (Hou - SS) - The next best shortstop selection and a nice replacement for Castro
RD 2: Anthony Alford (Tor - OF) - One of the highest prospect risers with some of the best tools
RD 3: Khris Davis (Oak - OF) - New ballpark and better team should make him more valuable
RD 4: Drew Storen (Tor - RP) - Reports say he may be the front runner in Toronto to close
RD 5: Shawn Tolleson (Tex - RP) - R5 Keeper
RD 6: Mitch Nay (Tor - 3B) - Keeper
Prospect Draft:
RD 1: Lazaro Armentaros (FA - OF) - Yet to sign but would be a amongst top prospect OFs where he does
RD 2: Jermaine Palacios (Min - 3B) - Hit over .400 in rookie ball, many believe he could be next best 3B prospect
RD 3: Adam Walker (Min - OF) - Keeper
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