AMERICAN LEAGUE NORTH PREDICTION

American League North

Milwaukee Bears

Prediction – 89-73

Offensive Rank – 20th             Defensive Rank – 2nd           Pitching Rank – 14th

Best Position Player –

Rafael Brogna (3B) 38th overall position player – 4th overall Third Basemen

Best Pitcher –

Dann Stevenson (SP) 42nd overall pitcher – 26th overall Starting Pitcher

Added Players -

Departed Players –

Eduardo Tarraga (1B) Left for Free Agency, Merkin Hogan (C) Left for Free Agency

Pawtucket Marathon Men

Prediction – 85-77

Offensive Rank – 27th                Defensive Rank – 1st               Pitching Rank – 15th

Best Position Player –

Wayne Walden (SS) 43rd overall position player – 9th overall Shortstop

Best Pitcher –

Trent McElroy (RP) 9th overall pitcher – 2nd overall Relief Pitcher

Added Players -

Departed Players –

Minnesota Twins

Prediction – 82-80

Offensive Rank – 12th                Defensive Rank – 16th           Pitching Rank – 25th

Best Position Player –

Ichiro Yang (1B) 46th overall position player – 8th overall First Basemen

Best Pitcher –

George Blackburn (RP) 28th overall pitcher – 14th overall Relief Pitcher

Added Players -

Eduardo Johnson (P) 4 years 33 million

Miguel Canseco (P) 2 years 4.1 million

Victor Pizzaro (DH) 1 year 425K

John Huson (CF) Rule 5 Draftee

Departed Players –

Quentin Skinner (P) Released, Ismael Jacquez (P) Released

Ivan Miranda (RF) Declined Option, Herman Pagnozzi (P) Declined Option, Charley Hunter (SS) Declined Option

Arthur McIntyre (LF) Left for Free Agency, Danys Suarez (P) Left for Free Agency, Matthew Earley (1B) Left for Free Agency

Jhoulys Miranda (2B) Retired

Columbus Giraffes

Prediction – 81-81

Offensive Rank – 24th      Defensive Rank – 4th        Pitching Rank – 21st

Best Position Player –

Jose Tejada (1B) 8th overall position player – 2nd overall First Basemen

Best Pitcher –

Felipe Villanueva (RP) 79th overall pitcher – 35th overall Relief Pitcher

Added Players -

Harry Jacquez (P) 2 years 8.4 million

Don Wagner (P) 1 year 5 million [3 million signing bonus]

Juan Rosales (P) 1 year 4.8 million

Humberto Petit (P) 1 year 4 million

Ebenezer Karl (P) 1 year 2.4 million

Brian Randolph (C) 2 years 4.4 million [3 million signing bonus]

Marlon Gutierrez (P)

Departed Players –

Hideo Takada (P) Released, Seth Sierra (P) Released, Domingo Park (P) Released

Jaret Little (P) Left for Free Agency, Willie Minor (P) Left for Free Agency, Ron Beck (1B) Left for Free Agency, Allan Salmon (P) Left for Free Agency, Louie Hernandez (P) Left for Free Agency

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST PREDICTION

American League East

Louisville Sluggers

Prediction – 82-80

Offensive Rank – 18th      Defensive Rank – 14th        Pitching Rank – 23rd

Best Position Player –

Yonder Zurbaran (CF) 26th overall position player – 1st overall Centerfielder

Best Pitcher –

Benito Olivares (SP) 38th overall pitcher – 24th overall starting pitcher

Added Players –

Anthony Scott (LF) 2 years 5.6 million

Roger Shiell (P) 2 years 4.7 million (mutual option) (trade veto)

Ozzie Patton (P) 2 years 5.1 million (mutual option)

Benito Olivares (P) 2 years 12.2 million [6 million signing bonus] (trade veto)

Patrick Justice (P) Rule 5 Draftee

Ron Spangenberg (2B) Rule 5 Draftee

Departed Players –

Otis Francoeur (1B) Released, Walt Garcia (RF) Released, Kiki Perez (P) Released

Hideki Cheng (CF) – Option Declined

Miguel Canseco (P) Left for Free Agency, Luke Jackson (P) Left for Free Agency, Ruben Franco (CF) Left for Free Agency, Eduardo Johnson (P) Left for Free Agency, Julio Domingo (3B) Left for Free Agency

New Yoarrk Mud Shks

Prediction – 80-82

Offensive Rank – 22nd         Defensive Rank – 21st           Pitching Rank – 10th

Best Position Player –

Hipolito Paniagua (2B) 3rd overall position player – 1st overall second basemen

Best Pitcher –

J.P. Hutch (SP) 4th overall pitcher – 4th overall starting pitcher

Added Players -

Danys Suarez (P) 2 years 7.6 Million (mutual option)

Seth Sierra (P) 2 years 5.8 Million (mutual option)

Carlos Calles (P) 2 years 4.6 Million (mutual option)

Alex Neruda (P) 2 years 4.6 Million (mutual option)

Herman Maier (2B) Claimed off Waivers

Departed Players –

Joshua Phillips (LF) Released, Jesus Beltre (P) Released, Zephyr Thomas (P) Released

Don Wagner (P) Declined Option

Brian Randolph (C) Left for Free Agency, Kent Shields (P) Left for Free Agency, Victor Pizzaro (DH) Left for Free Agency, Freddy McMichael (P) Left for Free Agency, Bey Wright (P) Left for Free Agency, Alfredo Astacio (P) Left for Free Agency

Indianapolis Indians

Prediction – 64-98

Offensive Rank – 14th            Defensive Rank – 30th              Pitching Rank – 31st

Best Position Player –

Dale Rolle (DH) 9th overall position player – 2nd overall Designated Hitter

Best Pitcher –

Ryne Crow (RP) 33rd overall pitcher – 19th overall Relief Pitcher

Added Players -

Esmerling Encarnacion (P) 2 years 2.4 Million

Fritz Burks (P) 1 year 625K

Zephyr Thomas (P) 1 year 1.1 Million

Departed Players –

Francis Robinson (P) Released

Thomas Cooper (1B) Left for Free Agency, Harry Jacquez (P) Left for Free Agency, Darin Hobbes (P) Left for Free Agency, Albert Marmol (P) Left for Free Agency, Howard Feliciano (P) Left for Free Agency, Juan Prieto (P) Left for Free Agency

St. Louis Buschwackers

Prediction – 62-100

Offensive Rank – 32nd           Defensive Rank – 15th          Pitching Rank – 30th

Best Position Player –

Midre Castillo (LF) 144th overall position player – 19th overall Leftfielder

Best Pitcher –

Ken O'Neil (RP) 56th overall pitcher – 25th overall Relief Pitcher

Added Players -

Ned Kashmir (RF) 2 years 9 million (mutual option)

Jesse Owens (RF) 2 years 2.8 million (mutual option)

Carson Raines (P) 5 years 69 million (mutual option)

Joshua Phillips (LF) 2 years 7.2 million (mutual option)

Lon Burch (LF) 1 year 3.3 million

Midre Castillo (LF) 1 year 2.2 million

Nate Bechler (LF) 1 year 327K

Max Aguilar (3B) 1 year 1.9 million

Milton Guerrero (2B) 1 year 3.1 million

Eduardo Tarraga (1B) 2 years 2.6 million

Miguel Valbuena (P) Rule 5 Draftee

Departed Players –

Adam Richardson (2B) Released, Tim Ford (2B) Released

Justin Waters (LF) Left for Free Agency

Justin Wells (RF) Traded to Fresno, Eli Flores (P) Traded to New Orleans