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65 BAY AREA NEWS GROUP PLAY BALL 65 BAY AREA NEWS GROUP PLAY BALL THE LEAGUE RatingtheA.L.East Rating the A.L. Central 1.BostonRedSox Lastyear:93-69,firstplace(lostto Cleveland Indians in ALDS) Keylosses:DH David Ortiz, 3B Travis Shaw, RHP Koji Uehara Keynewcomers:LHP Chris Sale, 1B Mitch Moreland, RHP Tyler Thornburg Best-case scenario: Sale gives the Sox a third dominant starter (along with '16 Cy Young winner Rick Porcello and '12 winner David Price). Moreland fills the void of the retired Ortiz, an in-shape Pablo Sandoval bounces back, and Boston is one of the AL's top contenders. Worst-casescenario:The loss of Big Papi is felt on the field and in the clubhouse, Sandoval stinks it up again, and a super-talented roster underperforms and struggles to compete for a playoff spot. Hotprospect:3B Rafael Devers hasn't played above high-A ball yet, but is Baseball America's No. 18 overall prospect and could be the eventual answer at the hot corner if Sandoval doesn't revive his career. 2.TorontoBlueJays Lastyear:89-73, tie-second place (lost to Cleveland Indians in ALCS) Keylosses:1B/DH Edwin Encarnacion, RHP R.A. Dickey, LHP Brett Cecil, RHP Joaquin Benoit Keynewcomers:DH Kendrys Morales, OF/1B Steve Pearce Best-casescenario:A team that led the AL in ERA last year continues to pitch well, enjoys a boost from Morales and Pearce — along with the late re- signing of Jose Bautista — and makes a third straight trip to the ALCS. Worst-casescenario:Bautista has another injury-plagued year at 36 and the veteran additions struggle to adjust to a new team as their window to contend in the AL East gets smaller. Hotprospect:3B/OF Vladimir Guerrero Jr., a familiar name in Canada, played 62 games of rookie ball last year at age 17 (going .271/.359/.449 with 8 HRs and 46 RBIs). He's still a few years away, though. 3.NewYorkYankees Lastyear:84-78, fourth place Keylosses:1B Mark Teixeira, C Brian McCann, RHP Nathan Eovaldi Keynewcomers:LHP Aroldis Chapman, OF Matt Holliday, 1B/DH Chris Carter Best-casescenario:C Gary Sanchez is the next Yankees' superstar a er his dynamite two months last year, and a rebuilt younger New York squad posts its 25th straight winning season and returns to the playoffs. Worst-casescenario:The Yankees, with a projected five players under 27 in the everyday lineup, have to turn into sellers for a second straight year and that impressive streak of above .500 campaigns finally ends. Hotprospect:SS Gleyber Torres, the top player acquired from the Cubs in last year's Chapman trade, was the youngest MVP in the history of the Arizona Fall League when he hit .403 at 19. 4.BaltimoreOrioles Lastyear:89-73, tie-second place (lost to Toronto Blue Jays in Wild Card game) Keylosses:C Matt Wieters, DH Pedro Alvarez, RHP Vance Worley, RHP Yovani Gallardo Keynewcomers:C Welington Castillo, OF Seth Smith, RHP Logan Verrett, LHP Vidal Nuno Best-casescenario:One of baseball's top slugging lineups mashes again, and a strong bullpen,led by closer Zach Britton, puts them in the mix for a fourth playoff appearance in the past six seasons. Worst-casescenario:The O's recent trend of making the playoffs every other year continues, perhaps fueled by a hangover from last year's brutal Wild Card game loss when manager Buck Showalter didn't use his closer in the 11th inning of a tie game. Hotprospect:C Chance Sisco is a 21-year-old who has hit .323 over four minor-league seasons, although he's yet to show much power with just one homer per 71.7 career at-bats. 5.TampaBayRays Lastyear:68-94, fi h place Keylosses:LHP Drew Smyly, 2B Logan Forsythe Keynewcomers:OF Colby Rasmus, C Wilson Ramos Best-casescenario:The Rays typically pitch well, which made their middle of the pack ERA in the '16 season a surprise. If they return to form, led by ace Chris Archer, maybe they make some noise in the tough AL East. Worst-casescenario:A er losing 94 games last year and finishing in last place for the first time since '07, the Rays produce one of the league's worst offenses again and spend a second straight year in the cellar. Hotprospect:SS Willy Adames was the top player acquired in the David Price trade with the Tigers in '14 and could be ready for the big leagues sometime this season. 1.ClevelandIndians Lastyear:94-67, first place (lost to Chicago Cubs in World Series) Keylosses: 1B/DH Mike Napoli, OF Coco Crisp, OF Rajai Davis. Keynewcomers:1B/DH Edwin Encarnacion Best-casescenario:With OF Michael Brantley and pitchers Danny Salazar and Carlos Carrasco back from injury, the Indians are poised to follow up last year's World Series appearance with another run at their first title since 1948. Worst-casescenario: Since divisional play began in 1969, only two teams ('14 Royals, '92 Braves) have lost Game 7 of the World Series and won the pennant the next year. That fact leads to Cleveland falling short. Hotprospect:C Francisco Mejia is a 21-year-old who hit .342 in 102 games last season and rattled off an attention- grabbing 50-game hitting streak. 2.DetroitTigers Lastyear:86-75, second place Keyloss:OF Cameron Maybin Keynewcomer:OF JaCoby Jones Best-casescenario:Veterans like Miguel Cabrera, Justin Verlander, Ian Kinsler and Victor Martinez carry the club close enough into contention to keep the Tigers from an expected slash of the payroll. Worst-casescenario:Detroit falls into an early hole and GM Al Avila follows management orders to tighten up the spending, and the Tigers trade away some of their higher-priced talent. Hotprospect:RHP Matt Manning is a 6-foot-6 Sacramento native (and son of former NBA player Rich Manning) who was the No. 9 overall pick in 2016 and owns a mid-90s fastball. 3.KansasCityRoyals Lastyear:81-81, third place Keylosses:RHP Yordano Ventura, RHP Wade Davis, RHP Edinson Volquez, DH Kendrys Morales, OF Jarrod Dyson Keynewcomers:OF Jorge Soler, 1B/OF/ DH Brandon Moss, RHP Jason Hammel Best-case scenario: With some better health (four All-Stars spent time on the DL last year), the Royals look closer to the back-to-back pennant winners of 2014-15 and challenge the Indians. Worst-casescenario:The cut in payroll from their record amount a er winning the '15 title hampers them, and if they can't stay in contention early, it could turn them into sellers and lead to a rebuild of sorts. Hotprospect:3B Hunter Dozier hit .296 with 23 HR and 75 RBIs last year before playing eight games in the bigs. KC will need a fresh dose of prospects soon. 4.ChicagoWhiteSox Lastyear:78-84, fourth place Keylosses:LHP Chris Sale, DH Justin Morneau, OF Adam Eaton Keynewcomers: INF Yoan Moncada, LHP Derek Holland Best-casescenario:Moncada, one of the game's top prospects who was acquired from Boston in the Sale deal, is ready to go, and is an instant star. Some of the young pitching acquired in the offseason also shows promise. Worst-casescenario:The crop acquired both in the Sale deal and Adam Eaton's trade to Washington doesn't provide hope for a better future, and the Sox remain stuck in the doldrums. Hotprospect:RHP Lucas Giolito, the top haul from the Eaton trade, had a 6.75 ERA in 21.1 IP with the Nationals last year, but has the tools to be a front line starter. 5.MinnesotaTwins Lastyear:59-103, fi h place Keylosses:C Kurt Suzuki, LHP Tommy Milone Keynewcomers: C Jason Castro Best-casescenario:A pitching staff that had a 5.09 ERA last year and just 26 saves turns it around, Byron Buxton finally becomes the star he was ticketed to be, and the Twins chase a .500 record. Worst-casescenario:Minnesota decides to part with slugging second baseman Brian Dozier to add a few more pieces. The Twins,with a renewed focus on analytics, continue a rebuild. Hotprospect:SS Nick Gordon, a 2014 first-round pick and the brother of Marlins INF Dee Gordon, is a plus defender with a solid bat.