Moving to the outfield, we start off with the, ahem, power position, left field. And as any die hard sabermetric type or casual Tribe fan can tell you, the Indians had the worst collection of left fielders last year. An over-the-hill Damon and never-was Duncan both were released. Cunningham was only good for late inning defense. Zeke is strictly a backup, Rottino was a stop-gap and Canzler didn't make it through waivers (twice!). Brantley should settle back into left, and his 750 OPS would bring him up to par with Viciedo, although Dayan has a bit more power. Gordon is very solid for the Royals and we shall see if Dirks can do it for a whole season. But no one was close to Willingham last season. He definitely was worth the dough last year, 2013 he should be fine as well, the trick will be to see if that last year pays off for him and the Twins. Doumit is a fine backup for the Twins as well. DeWayne Wise and Ruben Sierra will battle out for the White Sox backup spot. Xavier Nady was recently signed to backup for the Royals. Berry and Brendan Boesch will likely be the backup for the Tigers.
Level |
Status |
Age |
PA |
HR |
RBI |
OBP |
SLG |
OPS |
|
Cleveland |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shelley Duncan |
MLB |
Arb-1 |
32 |
264 |
11 |
31 |
288 |
388 |
676 |
Johnny Damon |
MLB |
FA |
38 |
224 |
4 |
19 |
281 |
329 |
610 |
Ezequiel Carrera |
MLB:AAA |
Pre-Arb-3 |
25 |
438 |
6 |
42 |
345 |
419 |
764 |
Aaron Cunningham |
MLB:AAA |
TEX |
26 |
109 |
1 |
7 |
245 |
247 |
493 |
Russ Canzler |
MLB:AAA |
NYY |
26 |
539 |
22 |
79 |
328 |
487 |
815 |
Vinny Rottino |
MLB:AAA |
FA |
32 |
265 |
5 |
41 |
351 |
440 |
791 |
Chicago |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dayan Viciedo |
MLB |
Pre-Arb 2 |
23 |
543 |
25 |
78 |
300 |
444 |
744 |
Kosuke Fukudome |
MLB |
NYY |
35 |
51 |
0 |
4 |
294 |
195 |
489 |
Brent Lillibridge |
MLB |
CHC |
28 |
70 |
0 |
2 |
232 |
190 |
422 |
Detroit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Andy Dirks |
MLB |
Pre-Arb-2 |
26 |
344 |
8 |
35 |
370 |
487 |
857 |
Quintin Berry |
MLB:AAA |
Pre-Arb-1 |
27 |
330 |
2 |
29 |
330 |
354 |
684 |
Delmon Young |
MLB |
FA |
26 |
608 |
18 |
74 |
296 |
411 |
707 |
Ryan Raburn |
MLB:AAA |
FA |
31 |
222 |
1 |
12 |
226 |
254 |
480 |
Don Kelly |
MLB:AAA |
DET |
32 |
127 |
1 |
7 |
276 |
248 |
523 |
Kansas City |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alex Gordon |
MLB |
2015, 2016 team option |
28 |
721 |
14 |
72 |
368 |
455 |
822 |
Jason Bourgeois |
MLB:AAA |
FA/TB |
30 |
247 |
3 |
8 |
314 |
324 |
639 |
Minnesota |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Josh Willingham |
MLB |
2014 |
33 |
615 |
35 |
110 |
366 |
524 |
890 |
Ryan Doumit |
MLB |
2014 |
31 |
528 |
18 |
75 |
320 |
461 |
781 |
Onto the minor league assessments ...
Cleveland |
Level |
Status |
Age |
PA |
HR |
RBI |
OBP |
SLG |
OPS |
Thomas Neal |
MLB:AAA:AA |
FA |
24 |
470 |
12 |
51 |
400 |
467 |
867 |
Tim Fedroff |
AAA:AA |
2008-7 |
25 |
543 |
12 |
54 |
394 |
485 |
879 |
Ryan Spilborghs |
AAA |
FA/TEX |
32 |
85 |
1 |
13 |
341 |
333 |
675 |
Jared Goedert |
AAA:AA |
PIT |
27 |
504 |
19 |
77 |
373 |
502 |
875 |
Nick Weglarz |
AA |
TB |
24 |
436 |
14 |
58 |
349 |
413 |
762 |
Jeremie Tice |
AA:A+ |
2008-6 |
25 |
280 |
13 |
58 |
357 |
528 |
886 |
Jordan Casas |
AA:A |
2010-40 |
24 |
128 |
0 |
6 |
278 |
272 |
550 |
Anthony Gallas |
AAA:A+ |
2010 aFA |
24 |
425 |
8 |
53 |
308 |
414 |
722 |
Delvi Cid |
A+ |
2007 aFA |
22 |
308 |
5 |
29 |
343 |
431 |
774 |
Todd Hankins |
A+:A |
2011-15 |
21 |
397 |
5 |
37 |
328 |
358 |
687 |
Marcus Bradley |
A+:A:A- |
2010-49 |
21 |
137 |
0 |
3 |
336 |
244 |
579 |
Bryson Myles |
A |
2011-6 |
22 |
418 |
3 |
59 |
355 |
379 |
734 |
Zach MacPhee |
A |
2011-13 |
22 |
281 |
2 |
26 |
319 |
297 |
616 |
Neal finally got his cup of coffee last year but was recently DFA'd. Fedroff looks ready to get a peek at some point in 2013, although he is a year older but can also play center. Quincy Latimore ws acquired for Jeanmar Gomez and should play at AA or AAA. With Spilborghs, Goedert and Weglarz all gone, I expect some of the 1B logjam to get some play in left as Tice might not move up. I don't see anything else resembling an option going forward.
Chicago |
Level |
Status |
Age |
PA |
HR |
RBI |
OBP |
SLG |
OPS |
Tyler Kuhn |
AAA |
ARI |
25 |
449 |
4 |
36 |
309 |
384 |
692 |
Jim Gallagher |
AAA:AA |
2007-7 |
26 |
363 |
2 |
32 |
312 |
316 |
628 |
Justin Greene |
AAA:AA |
2008-20 |
26 |
363 |
8 |
38 |
227 |
406 |
743 |
Jared Mitchell |
AAA:AA |
2009-1 |
23 |
549 |
11 |
67 |
358 |
420 |
778 |
Brady Shoemaker |
AA:A+ |
2009-19 |
25 |
572 |
17 |
85 |
416 |
486 |
902 |
Kenneth Williams |
AA |
2008-6 |
26 |
293 |
4 |
30 |
321 |
388 |
709 |
Jon Gilmore |
AA |
2009 mFA |
23 |
136 |
0 |
10 |
252 |
230 |
481 |
Jon Gaston |
AA |
2008-7 |
25 |
57 |
2 |
5 |
298 |
367 |
666 |
Brandon Short |
AAA:AA:A+ |
2008-28 |
23 |
100 |
0 |
10 |
343 |
306 |
649 |
Cyle Hankerd |
A+:A |
2012 mFA |
27 |
350 |
20 |
65 |
426 |
657 |
1082 |
Ross Wilson |
A+:A |
2010-10 |
23 |
399 |
7 |
39 |
382 |
393 |
775 |
Grant Buckner |
A |
2011-26 |
24 |
474 |
6 |
59 |
330 |
348 |
678 |
Bill Rice |
A+:A |
2012 mFA |
23 |
262 |
2 |
15 |
349 |
378 |
727 |
Dusty Harvard |
A |
2010-34 |
24 |
87 |
1 |
10 |
230 |
266 |
496 |
Collin Kuhn |
A |
2011-17 |
23 |
81 |
0 |
0 |
321 |
188 |
508 |
Andrew Douglas |
A:Rk |
2011 aFA |
23 |
148 |
1 |
11 |
345 |
303 |
647 |
Michael Johnson |
A+:A:Rk |
2011-31 |
23 |
293 |
2 |
19 |
322 |
293 |
614 |
Shoemaker looks to be the best of the bunch by stats, but is going to be 26 this season. Hankerd had great numbers, but was a 27 year old in A+. Mitchell has the first round pedigree and will only be 24 this year, but played more CF last year.
Detroit |
Level |
Status |
Age |
PA |
HR |
RBI |
OBP |
SLG |
OPS |
Jeff Baker |
MLB |
FA/ATL |
31 |
37 |
0 |
4 |
243 |
257 |
500 |
Jerad Head |
AAA |
FA |
29 |
257 |
12 |
38 |
353 |
451 |
804 |
Eric Patterson |
AAA |
FA |
29 |
267 |
2 |
23 |
365 |
317 |
681 |
Jeff Frazier |
AAA |
FA/CHC |
29 |
80 |
1 |
5 |
200 |
278 |
478 |
Rawley Bishop |
AAA:AA |
2009-19 |
26 |
491 |
8 |
52 |
319 |
357 |
676 |
Tony Plagman |
AA |
2010-9 |
24 |
438 |
13 |
56 |
295 |
410 |
705 |
Daniel Fields |
AA:A+ |
2009-6 |
21 |
389 |
3 |
33 |
329 |
357 |
686 |
Wade Gaynor |
AA:A+ |
2009-3 |
24 |
475 |
16 |
74 |
352 |
442 |
794 |
Tyler Collins |
A+ |
2011-6 |
22 |
542 |
7 |
66 |
371 |
429 |
800 |
Marcus Lemon |
A+ |
2012 mFA |
24 |
319 |
3 |
29 |
388 |
445 |
833 |
Jeff Holm |
A+:A |
2011-12 |
23 |
160 |
1 |
11 |
367 |
331 |
698 |
Jason Krizan |
A |
2011-8 |
23 |
426 |
4 |
40 |
333 |
337 |
670 |
Danry Vasquez |
A:A- |
2011 aFA |
18 |
423 |
3 |
42 |
308 |
356 |
664 |
Whichever of Berry or Boesch loses the spring battle for backup OF should land in AAA for 2013. Michael Hernandez was recently signed as ell and will likely be in AAA. Collins might be the best prospect, but will have to move up quickly to stay there. Gaynor and Lemon had good stats but both are 24 already.
Kansas City |
Level |
Status |
Age |
PA |
HR |
RBI |
OBP |
SLG |
OPS |
David Lough |
MLB:AAA |
Pre-Arb-1 |
26 |
544 |
10 |
69 |
317 |
420 |
737 |
Derrick Robinson |
AAA |
FA |
24 |
488 |
2 |
28 |
344 |
325 |
668 |
Terry Evans |
AAA:AA |
2012 mFA |
30 |
91 |
3 |
12 |
330 |
432 |
762 |
Carlo Testa |
AA |
2008-18 |
25 |
415 |
15 |
54 |
320 |
434 |
754 |
Brian Fletcher |
AA:A+ |
2010 aFA |
23 |
552 |
15 |
59 |
335 |
422 |
757 |
Nick Van Stratten |
AA:A+ |
2006-10 |
27 |
226 |
1 |
27 |
362 |
405 |
767 |
Roman Hernandez |
A+ |
2012 mFA |
24 |
282 |
0 |
15 |
281 |
270 |
550 |
Geulin Beltre |
A+ |
2008 aFA |
21 |
461 |
5 |
37 |
303 |
337 |
640 |
Whit Merrifield |
AA:A+ |
2010-9 |
23 |
546 |
9 |
44 |
329 |
378 |
707 |
Chris Elder |
A+:A:Rk |
2011 aFA |
23 |
176 |
2 |
22 |
352 |
421 |
773 |
Tim Ferguson |
A |
2010-10 |
23 |
416 |
5 |
40 |
346 |
392 |
738 |
Julio Aparicio |
A:Rk |
2007 aFA |
22 |
223 |
4 |
23 |
341 |
383 |
724 |
Runey Davis |
A |
2011 mFA |
23 |
72 |
2 |
10 |
366 |
448 |
814 |
Recent signee Luis Durango should play LF in AAA this year. Lough looks decent, but won't get much chance unless injuries occur. Based on the stats and age, Fletcher might be the best but at 23 and in AA, still has a ways to go.
Minnesota |
Level |
Status |
Age |
PA |
HR |
RBI |
OBP |
SLG |
OPS |
Darin Mastroianni |
MLB:AAA:AA |
Pre-Arb-1 |
26 |
186 |
3 |
17 |
328 |
350 |
678 |
Chris Herrmann |
MLB:AA |
Pre-Arb-1 |
24 |
558 |
10 |
61 |
350 |
392 |
741 |
Wilkin Ramirez |
AAA:AA:A+ |
2012 mFA |
26 |
463 |
19 |
61 |
326 |
486 |
812 |
Brian Dinkelman |
AAA |
2006-8 |
28 |
279 |
4 |
32 |
336 |
378 |
714 |
Michael Hollimon |
AAA |
FA |
30 |
191 |
5 |
14 |
305 |
380 |
685 |
Rene Tosoni |
AAA:AA:A+:Rk |
FA |
25 |
355 |
4 |
23 |
293 |
315 |
607 |
Evan Bigley |
AAA:AA |
2008-10 |
25 |
521 |
15 |
86 |
289 |
409 |
698 |
Mark Dolenc |
AA |
2006-15 |
27 |
113 |
1 |
3 |
203 |
204 |
407 |
Dan Rohlfing |
AA:A+ |
2007-14 |
23 |
360 |
1 |
27 |
295 |
311 |
606 |
Daniel Ortiz |
A+:A |
2008-4 |
22 |
499 |
10 |
48 |
318 |
422 |
740 |
Danny Rams |
A+ |
2007-2 |
23 |
270 |
6 |
32 |
338 |
358 |
696 |
Lance Ray |
A+ |
2010-8 |
22 |
426 |
13 |
66 |
327 |
403 |
730 |
Drew Leachman |
A |
2011-37 |
23 |
468 |
5 |
46 |
349 |
359 |
708 |
Nate Roberts |
A |
2010-5 |
23 |
352 |
4 |
33 |
433 |
427 |
860 |
JaDamion Williams |
A |
2010-10 |
21 |
407 |
6 |
39 |
311 |
340 |
651 |
Wang-Wei Lin |
A |
2007 aFA |
24 |
426 |
4 |
30 |
343 |
334 |
677 |
Adam Pettersen |
A |
2011-25 |
23 |
368 |
2 |
35 |
312 |
320 |
632 |
With LF in Minnesota locked for a few years, no real rush here and that is pretty evident. Wilkin Ramirez had good AAA stats for a 26 year old, but might only be a classic AAAA guy. Danny Rams is the highest draft pick on the board but is already 23. Lance Ray might have a shot at developing as well.
The Twins have the top LF in the division while our Tribe will be lucky to move into third, and that is only dependent if Bradley lengthens his power stroke some more this year. I could not make real heads or tails of the other minor league left fielders. All five teams look fairly benign at this point in time.
This series attempts to review how each position fared within the AL Central last year and what holds for the future. The first chart reviews how the position fared in the majors between the five teams. The subsequent charts track each position through each team's farm system. Status is not always correct as some of the info was culled a few weeks ago. For players not on the 40-man roster, I have taken my best guess as when/how they were acquired. Not every player who played the position in the minors has been identified as again, I have tried to identify core players at the position only. Some identified as minor league free agents, could have been trade acquisitions. I also only reviewed down to the A level as players at A- or in the rookie leagues are still quite volatile.