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Fantasy Baseball has become one of the most popular ways to enjoy the 162-game MLB season. In this second of six installments, we will discuss the American League central Division. In this division, we find the Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Guardians, Chicago White Sox, and Kansas City Royals. 

This division is complicated to analyze because of how mediocre it has been, especially after the pandemic. In 2021 only Chicago had a positive record, in 2022 Cleveland was the champion with a 92-70 record and Chicago second with a level record and in 2023 the champion and only team with a winning record was the Twins. As you will see, there have been three different champion teams in the last three years. To pick a champion in such a disparate division is a long shot. Tough call.

Minnesota Twins

 

The reigning division champion has signed three free agents this winter (Carlos Santana 23 Home Runs 86 RBIs and a 240 average last season with the Brewers and Pirates, Jay Jackson reliever 3-1 2.12 ERA and Josh Staumont reliever 1-0 5.40 ERA). The Twins did lose Sonny Gray, who finished second in the American Cy Young voting and left for St. Louis. Carlos Correa Who had a line of 18 home runs, 65 RBIs, and 230 average last season should complement Santana on offense. The doubts fall on the starters, to see if Pablo Lopez 11-8 3.66 ERA and Bailey Orber 8-6 3.43 ERA can stay healthy and fill the void left by Gray.

 

 

Detroit Tigers

 

Inaugurating a new era without Miguel Cabrera for the first time in 16 seasons and hoping to surprise and reach the postseason for only the second time in 10 years, we find the Tigers. Although it seems that they will not be on the team since opening day, it is important to take into account their two main prospects Jackson Jobe and Tyler Madden. The team seems to want Jobe and Madden to continue to gain experience in the minor leagues before making the jump to the majors, but do not rule out that it will be during the season. 

With Gio Urshela there is doubt because of his shortened last season. The Tigers will continue to count on the offensive help of Spencer Torkelson with a line of 31 home runs, 94 RBIs and 233 average and it is expected that at last Javier Baez will return to his 2018 self. 2023 was very poor offensively leaving numbers of 9 home runs 59RBIs and 222 average. The starting pitching will be in the hands mainly of Japanese Kenta Maeda (6-8 / 4. 23 ERA) signed as a free agent in the winter break and especially Tarik Skubal who finished last season in great shape (7-3 / 2.80 ERA).

 

 

 

 

Cleveland Guardians

 

One of the teams that have strengthened the least in this winter break is the Cleveland Guardians. Finishing third in their division last season, there is no substantial improvement for this season, a fact that defines how poor their 2023 was offensively is that only 18 home runs were hit by the 8 outfielders that had game action last season. 

Again their offensive lighthouse will be Dominican third baseman Jose Ramirez who had 24 home runs/ 80 RBIs/.282 Average although in the last two seasons, he has decreased his amount of home runs, hitting 36(2021), and 29(2022). Their backup will be 23-year-old rookie 1B/DH Kyle Manzardo acquired at the late deadline last season from Tampa and who they have high hopes for as the future of the organization. Pitching will again feature Shane Bieber Cy Young in the shortened 2020 season but last season he put up poor numbers (6-6/ 3.80 ERA) in 19 starts hampered by elbow inflammation that caused him to miss two months of the season.

 

 

 

Chicago White Sox

 

The Chicago White Sox have experienced ups and downs in recent years. After winning the American League Central Division in 2021, the White Sox had a marked decline in performance over the past two seasons. In 2023, the White Sox finished with a 61-101 record, giving up 200 more runs than they scored. Their offense was problematic, ranking 29th in runs scored (641), 20th in home runs (171), and 29th in RBIs (617). They also had the worst fielding percentage (.291) in the league. Despite these struggles, White Sox base runners managed 86 stolen bases in 108 attempts.

 In the offseason, the White Sox made several moves. They signed catcher Martin Maldonado (15 home runs/36RBIs/.191 with Astros), shortstop Paul DeJong, and pitchers Erick Fedde (6-13 5.81ERA), Chris Flexen and Tim Hill. They also acquired infielders Braden Shewmake, Nicky Lopez, Michael Soroka, and Jared Shuster in a trade with the Braves. However, they did not renew the contracts of key players such as Yasmani Grandal, Elvis Andrews, Tim Anderson, Mike Clevinger, and Liam Hendriks.

 The base of the White Sox offense has potential at five positions in their lineup: 1B Andrew Vaughn (21 home runs, 80RBIs, .258 average) 3B Yoan Moncada (11 home runs, 40RBIs, .260 average) Luis Robert (38 home runs, 80RBIs, .264 average) Eloy Jimenez (18 home runs, 64 RBIs, .272 average) and outfielder Oscar Colas. In short, the White Sox face challenges, but if their key players perform at their best, they could make a positive turnaround in their 2024 Major League Fantasy performance.

 

 

 

Kansas City Royals

 

5.23 ERA. This was the collective effectiveness of the Royals bullpen. Only the Rockies had a worse ERA last season. To try to reverse this dismal statistic, they acquired the services of reliever Will Smith (2-7/4.40 ERA) who made his major league debut with the Royals in 2012, and Chris Stratton (1-0/3.41 ERA) from Texas like Smith. 

As starters they will have Mexican Luis Cessa (1-4/9.00 ERA with the Reds), Cole Ragans who appears to be the ace of the staff after tossing a 7-5 3.47 ERA in 96.0 innings last season, Seth Lugo, and Michael Wacha will be next in line in the rotation. Lugo is coming off a solid season in San Diego, where he had a 3.57 ERA in 146.1 innings. Wacha also had a great season in San Diego last season, posting a 3.22 ERA in 134.1 innings. 

 On offense the Royals will depend on the performance of Venezuelan Salvador Perez (23 home runs, 80RBIs, .255 average) entering his 13th MLB season, but mostly on the inspiration of Bobby Witt Jr. who signed the largest contract in annual terms for a player just two years old in the big leagues (288.8 MM for 11 years). On top of that Witt put up superstar numbers in 2023 (30 home runs/96 RBIs/ .276 average, with 49 stolen bases) and he played shortstop with gold glove quality.

 

 

 

 

Projections

 

1. Minnesota Twins

2. Kansas City Royals

3. Cleveland Guardians

4. Detroit Tigers

5. Chicago White Sox

 

STAR PLAYER: Bobby Witt Jr.

 

PLAYER TO WATCH: Kyle Manzardo