We are coming off one of the best postseasons of all time. It was probably the best I have ever seen (I have been following baseball since 2003). I am still excited about baseball that I am writing this post about my predictions for where the top free agents will land along with my early predictions for the 2012 season.
Albert Pujols, 1B St. Louis
Landing Odds
St. Louis- 75%
Chicago- 25%
Prediction: St. Louis
Prince Fielder, 1B Milwaukee
Landing Odds
Chicago- 60%
LA Angels- 20%
Milwaukee- 10%
Washington- 5%
St. Louis- 5%
Prediction: Chicago
Jose Reyes, SS New York
Landing Odds
San Francisco- 50%
Washington- 30%
LA Angels- 10%
New York- 10%
Prediction: San Francisco
C.C. Sabathia, P New York
Prediction: New York
C.J. Wilson, P Texas
Prediction: Texas
Jonathan Papelbon, P Boston
Prediction: New York
Aramis Ramirez, 3B Chicago
Prediction: Florida
David Ortiz, DH Boston
Prediction: New York
Carlos Beltran, OF San Francisco
Prediction: Philadelphia
Roy Oswalt, P Philadelphia
Prediction: Washington
American League
East
1 Tampa Bay Rays 95-67
The Rays have the pitching in place. They will need some more offense and they will need to decide whether or not they will stick with B.J. Upton.
2 Boston Red Sox 92-70
The Red Sox have many questions they will have to answer, but the talent still remains. They have three of the best players in the American League and a solid pitching staff when healthy.
3 Toronto Blue Jays 90-72
The Blue Jays are up and coming and I think Jose Bautista's bat can carry them into a potential playoff berth.
4 New York Yankees 89-73
The Yankees lack of depth in the pitching staff will be the reason why they miss the playoffs. Unless of course they have a big free agent spending spree.
5 Baltimore Orioles 78-84
The Orioles just don't have enough to compete in the AL East but it doesn't mean they won't take their strides.
Central
1 Detroit Tigers 86-76
The Tigers have arguably the best pitcher and hitter in the American League, but they will need to fill some holes if they want to have similar success in 2012.
2 Kansas City Royals 78-84
The Royals might be able to piece it together in 2012. They have the young guns, but will they have the pitching?
3 Minnesota Twins 76-86
The Twins should be able to get healthy in 2012. They can't be as bad as they were this past year.
4 Cleveland Indians 72-90
I still don't understand how the Indians had a surprise 2011, but they will come back to earth in 2012.
5 Chicago White Sox 71-91
Year one in the post Ozzie era won't be a good one. The White Sox do not have an identity and do not have the talent.
West
1 Los Angeles Angels 94-68
The Angels have the pitching already in place. They are a piece or two away from contending for the World Series.
2 Texas Rangers 93-69
The Rangers, if they can get everyone to return, are poised to be a dangerous team. Their season will come down to how well they recover from this disappointing World Series loss?
3 Oakland Athletics 84-78
The A's were my sleeper team this year, but I think if they can get healthy, they could be a team that is over .500.
4 Seattle Mariners 71-91
Until the Mariners start scoring runs, they just won't be a good baseball team.
ALDS
Tampa Bay Rays v.s. Texas Rangers
They'll meet for the third year in a row in the Division Series. This time, I think Tampa will avenge their postseason woes of late and defeat Texas, squashing Texas' hopes of going back to the World Series.
Tampa Bay in Four
Los Angeles Angels v.s. Detroit Tigers
The Angels are a team that are built for the postseason. With Jered Weaver, Dan Haren and Ervin Santana, the trio will out-duel Justin Verlander and defeat the Angels.
Los Angeles in Five
ALCS
Tampa Bay Rays v.s. Los Angeles Angels
This matchup will come down to what offense gets the clutch hits. I think the Angels have the speed and the power to be a dangerous postseason team. I like the Angels to get back to the World Series.
Los Angeles in Six
National League
East
1 Philadelphia Phillies 99-63
With or without Ryan Howard, the Phillies need to add one more big bat to their lineup. The pitching is there of course, but the bullpen must improve if the Phillies want to win a World Series.
2 Atlanta Braves 93-69
If the Braves didn't have an epic collapse, they could've easily went to the World Series this year. They have the starting pitching, the bullpen and the hitting. Throw in a good offseason addition or two and the Braves will be a playoff team in 2012.
3 Washington Nationals 87-75
The Nationals are starting to put it together. If Strasburg is healthy and maybe if Harper can reach the pro level, the Nationals will have the youth and the talent to be over .500.
4 New York Mets 78-84
I understand that the Mets still do not have much pitching and will most likely lose Jose Reyes, but I expect bounce back seasons from Johan Santana and David Wright.
5 Miami Marlins 77-85
The Marlins will officially become the Miami Marlins and they will have plenty of hype because of their move to a new stadium. That being said, the Marlins are far away from contending.
Central
1 St. Louis Cardinals 91-71
The Cardinals must sign Pujols of course. If they do, they will get back their real ace in Adam Wainwright and be contenders again.
2 Milwaukee Brewers 85-77
Milwaukee still has the pitching with or without Fielder to win the NL Central, but it won't be easy after a disappointing finish this past season.
3 Cincinnati Reds 83-79
The Reds had a major drop off after winning the Central in 2011. They need to sure up their pitching and add another bat or two.
4 Chicago Cubs 83-79
You know that the Cubs are going to sign at least one marquee free agent. The Cubs still don't have enough pieces to make a ton of noise next year.
5 Pittsburgh Pirates 82-80
Next year is the year the Pirates will finish over .500. I don't know how, but they will find a way to do it.
6 Houston Astros 49-113
The Astros are really bad and I can't see what they can do in free agency to improve this squad.
West
1 San Francisco Giants 88-74
The Giants didn't have things go right like they did in 2010 last year. But they'll get back Buster Posey, the pitching will remain in tact and an addition or two in free agency could mean that the Giants return to the postseason.
2 Arizona Diamondbacks 85-77
I fear that the Diamondbacks could be this years Cincinnati Reds. But the Diamondbacks have an underrated pitching staff along with one of the best players in the NL, so the let down won't be drastic.
3 Los Angeles Dodgers 84-78
What the Dodgers need is a playoff berth to restore some hope in LA. They will need someone other than Clayton Kershaw and Matt Kemp to step up.
4 Colorado Rockies 77-85
The Rockies need more quality pitching to stand up with their solid offense.
5 San Diego Padres 74-88
The Padres could be a surprise if some of their young prospects can step into big roles.
NLDS
Philadelphia Phillies v.s. San Francisco Giants
A rematch of the 2010 NLCS, the Giants pose problems for the Phillies. But I don't see a third consecutive disappointing finish from the Phillies, at least not in this round.
Philadelphia in Four
St. Louis Cardinals v.s. Atlanta Braves
The Cardinals could thank the Braves for pretty much handing them a playoff spot, but they won't be thanking them next year when the Braves squash the Cardinals hopes of repeating.
Atlanta in Three
NLCS
Philadelphia Phillies v.s. Atlanta Braves
It's about time for the Phillies to go back to the World Series. But the Braves could be another spoiler because they have the pitching in place to match the Phillies. But after a while, the Phillies starters will wear down the Braves offense and head back to the World Series.
Philadelphia in Seven
World Series
Los Angeles Angels v.s. Philadelphia Phillies
This is an unbelievable matchup that features great pitchers from both sides. It will come down to the bullpens where the Phillies have the edge due to the Angels youth. Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee win their first titles as the Phillies get past the Angels.
Philadelphia in Six
Awards
AL MVP: Adrian Gonzalez, 1B Boston
NL MVP: Albert Pujols, 1B St. Louis
AL Cy Young: Dan Haren, P Los Angeles
NL Cy Young: Cliff Lee, P Philadelphia
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