2010 Major League Baseball Preview and Predictions: American League Edition

American League East
1. New York Yankees: Fresh off 103 wins and a World Series Championship, the Yankees' dominant lineup and depth in the rotation should secure a repeat performance of 100+ victories and an outright AL East Division Championship. The performance of the newest Yankee additions, Nick Johnson and Curtis Granderson, will prove critical after the team chose not to re-sign pinstripe stalwarts, Matsui, Damon, and Melky Cabrera. The Yankees impressively led MLB in runs scored, home runs, and on-base percentage in 2009.

2. Boston Red Sox (Wild Card): Expect the Rays to apply a tremendous amount of pressure on the Sox in the Wild Card race in 2010. However, a veteran-laden lineup, superior bullpen, and the addition of Lackey should make the difference down the stretch. The new Sox, Cameron, Beltre, and Scutaro, will ultimately serve as offensive catalysts or aging liabilities towards Boston's postseason aspirations.

3. Tampa Bay Rays: The Rays remain only two seasons removed from a World Series appearance. Expect the Rays' stable of rising superstars to rebound in 2010, but succumb to the Red Sox in a heated Wild Card race. Tampa's lineup, led by Longoria, Zobrist, and Crawford, is simply too talented to not compete for another postseason berth. The continued development of former first-round picks, David Price and Jeff Niemann, may inevitably determine the Rays' success in 2010.

4. Toronto Blue Jays: For better or worse, the post-Halladay era will commence in 2010. Expect a slight improvement from 2009, (the team finished 28 games behind NY) but the Jays' young rotation remains a year or two away from posing a serious threat to the Division's top three ballclubs. Keep an eye on rising stars Aaron Hill and Adam Lind. Each player stunningly posted 35+ home run, 105+ RBI seasons in '09.

5. Baltimore Orioles: The O's finished last in the division for the second consecutive season in 2009. If the team's promising young nucleus of Wieters, Markakis, Jones, and Reimold gels, the Orioles could secure its first 75-win season since 2004. Until the Orioles' talent translates into victories, expect the team's struggles as the division's cellar dwellers to continue. Glaringly, the team's pitching remains suspect, after ranking dead-last in MLB in ERA in 2009.

American League Central
1. Minnesota Twins: Minnesota assembles its most potent lineup of the past decade, led by a hopefully healthy Justin Morneau, the league's reigning MVP in Mauer, and the Twins' "Mr. Clutch" in '09, Michael Cuddyer. The new additions, Jim Thome, J.J. Hardy, and Orlando Hudson, should contribute significantly to Minnesota's repeat bid as AL Central Champions. The team desperately needs greater consistency from its rotation and Liriano to re-emerge as the dominant ace of the staff in 2010. Minnesota's starting pitching will ultimately determine if the team will become contender or pretender, come October.

2. Detroit Tigers: To surpass the Twins, the Tigers will need the "Big Three" of Verlander, Porcello, and Scherzer to dominate in 2010. The team's lineup appears considerably less formidable compared to recent years, after losing productive performers, Granderson, Polanco, and Aubrey Huff, during the off-season. Inevitably, the Tigers' lineup may be a year or two away from knocking the Twins from the division pedestal.

3. Chicago White Sox: The White Sox have the talent to win the Central, but likely do not possess the rotation of the Tigers or depth of the Twins. Rising stars Ramirez and Beckham rank as one of baseball's most promising middle-infield duos, while expectations abound for Peavy's first full season as the Sox's ace. Jenks must assume the role of dominant closer again, after posting relatively disappointing save and ERA totals in 2009.

4. Kansas City Royals: Expect the Royals to shed the role of division doormat in 2010, by slightly outperforming the similarly inept Indians. The new additions of Ankiel, Podsednik, and Kendall, combined with Butler and Gordon, should allow the Royals to field the franchise's most competitive lineup in recent years. The team ranked second-to-last in runs scored and on-base percentage in the American League in '09. The Royals desperately desire greater production from the rest of the rotation, outside of '09 Cy Young winner, Greinke.

5. Cleveland Indians: After tying the Royals with 65 wins in '09, expect a similar performance in 2010. The team's pitchers disappointingly ranked No. 29 in ERA, last in saves, and No. 27 in strikeouts in 2009. If the Indians manage to right the ship in 2010, the talented bats of Sizemore, Choo, and Cabrera will likely emerge as the catalysts.

American League West
1. Los Angeles Angels: The Angels secured the division by a remarkable 10 games in 2009. Undoubtedly, the team's overall depth, talented rotation, and steady bullpen still warrant the Angels as the team to beat in the West. However, expect the division to emerge the most competitive in baseball in 2010, after the team parted ways with longtime LA fixtures, Vladimir Guerrero, Chone Figgins, and John Lackey. Los Angeles remarkably ranked No. 1 in 2009 in team batting average, with a gaudy .285 collective clip.

2. Seattle Mariners: The Mariners should battle for a Division crown in 2010, behind the 1-2 punch of "King Felix" and off-season acquisition, Cliff Lee. Expect Seattle to repeat as American League ERA Champions in 2010.
Additionally, the infusion of Figgins should provide instant impact to the Mariners' offense, teamed with the production of Ichiro and Jose Lopez, after the team finished last in the American League in runs scored and on-base percentage in 2009. Additionally, the Mariner's bullpen must improve significantly, if the franchise hopes to seriously contend for its first postseason berth since 2001.

3. Texas Rangers: Texas should continue its recent history of improvement to pose a serious threat to the Angels this season. However, the Angels and Mariners still hold the edge in pitching, but the Rangers could balance the scales if Kinsler, Hamilton, and Francisco can remain healthy in 2010. The team's potent lineup produced the second most home runs in baseball in '09, with 224, as six players impressively reached the 20 home-run plateau. If Neftali Feliz dominates down the stretch, the Rangers' could finally end a decade-long playoff drought.

4. Oakland Athletics: Expect Oakland to repeat as the AL West's worst team. Disappointingly, Jack Cust emerged as the only A's player to record 15+ home runs in 2009. Oakland's lineup lacks the experience to compete this season with the West's seasoned contenders. If the A's new ace Ben Sheets can keep healthy, the team could field a respectable rotation, along with promising young starters, Dallas Braden and Trevor Cahill.

2010 American League Individual Season Predictions
MVP: Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins.
Runner-Up: Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees.
Cy Young: Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners.
Runner-Up: C.C. Sabathia, New York Yankees.
Rookie of the Year: Neftali Feliz, Texas Rangers.
Runner-Up: Brian Matusz, Baltimore Orioles.
Batting Champion: Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins.
Runs Leader: Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox.
Home Run King: Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees.
RBI Leader: Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees.
Stolen Bases King: Carl Crawford, Tampa Bay Rays.
Wins Leader: C.C. Sabathia, New York Yankees.
ERA Leader: Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners.
Strikeouts Leader: Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers.
Saves Leader: Joe Nathan, Minnesota Twins.

Reference: All statistics, standings, roster information as reflected on MLB.com.