AL EAST PREDICTION

American League East

New York Mud Sharks

Prediction – 87-75

Offensive Rank – 27th   Defensive Rank – 7th   Pitching Rank – 5th

Best Position Player – Hipolito Paniagua – 2B – 3rd overall position player – 1st overall second basemen

Best Pitcher – Yonder Mercedes – RP – 4th overall pitcher – 1st overall relieve pitcher

Added Players - Joshua Phillips – 1B – Traded from Milwaukee

Flip Hernandez – 1B – Claimed off Waivers

Departed Players – Alexei Manzanillo – P – Traded to Milwaukee

Andrea Thompson – 1B – Left for free agency

Ron Beck – 1B – Option declined

Louisville Sluggers

Prediction – 79-83

Offensive Rank – 21st Defensive Rank – 13th   Pitching Rank – 17th

Best Position Player – Yonder Zurbaran – 3B – 27th overall position player – 5th overall third basemen

Best Pitcher – Eduardo Johnson  – SP – 47th overall pitcher – 30th overall starting pitcher

Added Players – Wiki Flores -1B – 2 years 10.1 million

Al Polanco – P – 2 years 8.2 million (trade veto)

Reid Cassidy – 2B – 2 years 6.6 million

Reginald Weems – P – Rule 5 Draft

Departed Players – Carlos Machado – CF – Left for free agency

Malik Carpenter – 1B – Left for free agency

Allan Salmon – P – Left for free agency

Justin Upton – C – Left for free agency

Richie Rivera – 1B – Released

Julius Evans – LF – Released

R.J. Diaz – 2B – Released

Deivi Espinosa – P – Released

Zeus Bottenfield – RF – Released

Polin Salinas – 1B – Released

Nigel Lowery – LF – Released

Indianapolis Indians

Prediction – 75-87

Offensive Rank – 6th   Defensive Rank – 24th   Pitching Rank – 31st

Best Position Player – Dale Rolle – DH – 13th overall position player – 3rd overall designated hitter

Best Pitcher – Yunel Gonzales – SP – 55th overall pitcher – 35th overall starting pitcher

Added Players - Juan Prieto – P – 1 year 700K

Albert Marmol – P – 1 year 1 million

Departed Players – Del Blowers – P – Left for free agency

George Blackburn – P – Left for free agency

Everth Lugo – P – Left for free agency

Morrie Brownson – P – Left for free agency

St. Louis Buschwackers

Prediction – 59-103

Offensive Rank – 32nd   Defensive Rank – 25th   Pitching Rank – 29th

Best Position Player – Justin Waters – LF – 138th overall position player – 19th overall left fielder

Best Pitcher – Harry Dunham – SP – 73rd overall pitcher – 45th overall starting pitcher

Added Players - Eli Flores – P – 5 years 33.5 million [6.7 million bonus] (mutual option)

Buck Ward – C – 1 year 1.6 million

Andrew Young – C- 1 year 1.2 million

Troy Mahomes – P – Rule 5 Draft

Departed Players – Armando Pelaez – 2B – Option declined

Slim Leary – RF – Left for free agency

Pat Bush – 2B – Left for free agency

Geronimo Rios – 1B – Option declined

Max Aramboles – SS – Left for free agency

Cesar Matos – DH – Left for free agency

Russell McFeely – SS – Left for free agency

Andrew Young – C – Left for free agency

Bernie Espinosa – SS – Option declined

Del Pinzon – P – Released

Jerry Phillips – DH – Released