Was the Royals' reign over the junior circuit a fluke? What kind of dent does Max Scerzer's absence leave in the Tigers' rotation? TSN.ca previews the American League Central.

Detroit Tigers (90-72, 1st in AL Central)

Motown fans had to see the end of the Max Scherzer era coming. He turned down an offer that reportedly would have made him one of the highest-paid pitchers in the game prior to last season and instead wound up in the District, getting number-one money to be a number-two (some would argue a number-three) in an already-deep Nationals rotation.

So, where do the Tigers pick up?

Well, they started by adding yet another elite bat to one of the MLB’s most potent orders. The enigmatic Yoenis Cespedes will nestle somewhere into the ridiculous 90-plus RBI production corridor of newly-re-signed Victor Martinez, perennial Triple-Crown threat Miguel Cabrera and Ian Kinsler.

David PriceHowever, the cost of adding Cespedes was a lot of innings out of the starting rotation in the form of Rick Porcello. David Price now slides in comfortably to the number-two position (let’s just let that sink in again) with Anibal Sanchez providing a capable number three ahead of newly-acquired Alfredo Simon.

Losing Phil Coke removes a lot of lefty innings out of the ‘pen but this is a Tigers team clearly built to out-slug the opposition. If pre-2013 Justin Verlander can make his way back into the Tigers’ rotation, they should compete for a fifth-straight Central crown.

In: OF Yoenis Cespedes (trade – Boston), RP Tom Gorzelanny (free agent – MIL), OF Anthony Gose (trade – TOR), SP Alfredo Simon (trade – CIN), RP Alex Wilson (trade – BOS).

Out: OF Ezequiel Carrera (free agent – TOR), RP Phil Coke (free agent – CHC), OF Torii Hunter (free agent – MIN), RP Jim Johnson (free agent – ATL), IF Don Kelly (free agent – MIA), SP Rick Porcello (trade – BOS), RP Evan Reed (free agent – still unsigned), SP Max Scherzer (free agent – WSH), SS Eugenio Suarez (trade – CIN).

Kansas City Royals (89-73, 2nd in AL Central)

How do you follow-up a small-scale miracle?

Kansas City Royals CelebrateThe Royals broke a nearly-30-year playoff drought with a late-season surge, a thrilling Wild Card game comeback, emphatic ALDS and ALCS sweeps and a World Series charge that came within 90-feet of potentially ending in triumph.

The problem with being upstarts, though, is that everyone looks at the pieces you’ve assembled and starts targeting them when they’re up for grabs.

The Royals bid farewell to one of their longest-standing stars in Billy Butler, a key outfield piece in Nori Aoki and staff ace James Shields through the free agent market.

KC took some chances (as they often do) on a pair of fading power bats, Kendrys Morales and Alex Rios, to support a core roster that is growing together through years of shrewd drafting and development. They’ve also patched the rotation void with Edinson Volquez, Chris Young and an incentive-laden stab at re-harnessing the once-awesome Kris Medlen.

The upside for the Royals? That magnificent bullpen – though costly to maintain  - is back. The 24-year-old Kelvin Herrera is still under club control,  but Greg Holland and Wade Davis cost the small-market Royals $15.25 to keep this season, with the former due for arbitration again next year and the latter looking at potentially $18 million over the following two years. That’s a lot of money, but if that’s two more years of their 2014 output, the blue faithful will like it.

It’s impossible to answer the question of whether the Royals can repeat the feat, but the young core does provide hope that a perennial contender is definitely a possibility.

In: SP Kris Medlen (free agent – ATL), RP Franklin Morales (free agent – COL), 1B Kendrys Morales (free agent – SEA), SP Yohan Pino (free agent – MIN), OF Alex Rios (free agent – TEX), SP Edinson Volquez (free agent – PIT), SP Chris Young (free agent, SEA).

Out: OF Nori Aoki (free agent – SF), RP Francisley Vueno (free agent – CHC), DH Billy Butler (free agent – OAK), SP Bruce Chen (free agent – CLE), IF Pedro Ciriaco (free agent – ATL), RP Aaron Crow (trade – MIA), RP Scott Downs (free agent – CLE), C Brett Hayes (free agent – CLE), OF Raul Ibanez (free agent – still unsigned), SP James Shields (free agent – SD), OF Josh Willingham (retired).

Cleveland Indians (85-77, 3rd in AL Central)

The Tribe came pretty close to making the playoffs for a second time in the Tito Francona era. Third in the Central behind the upstart Royals, the Indians fell three games shy of a Wild Card berth.

Corey KluberIt might have helped if the team had anyone of substance to back up Cy Young-winner Corey Kluber, but the next-best thing to the 18-win 2.44-ERA’ed righty was … well, we don’t rightly know. Trevor Bauer and Danny Salazar were the only others to hit 20 starts and Carlos Carrasco didn’t hammer down a rotation spot until August.

The Tribe’s gonna take another stab at a largely under-25 rotation this season, with newly-acquired Gavin Floyd out for most of the season with a bum elbow. The team had the fourth-best bullpen ERA in the AL last season, but also saw more innings than all but four MLB teams. They added a veteran to that ‘pen in Anthony Swarzak, but is preparing for the busiest bullpen in the majors the best path to success?

Added thump can be expected out of the line-up, though, with A’s All-Star Brandon Moss expected to slot in somewhere between top run-producers Michael Brantley, Carlos Santana and Yan Gomes. 

In: SP Bruce Chen (free agent – KC), SP Gavin Floyd (free agent – ATL), RP Jeff Manship (free agent – PHI), 1B Brandon Moss (trade – OAK), RP Anthony Swarzak (free agent – MIN).

Out: OF Chris Dickerson (free agent – TOR), OF Nyjer Morgan (released).

Chicago White Sox (73-89, 4th in AL Central)

Jeff SamardzijaFor a brief moment, it looked like the Sox had stolen the off-season. There were the Southsiders, beaming on Dec. 14, unveiling the trio of fish they’d landed in Melky Cabrera, David Robertson and Jeff Samardzija.

Who could imagine a bigger off-season? Turns out … the San Diego Padres.

But still, the Sox’ coup should not be undercut. A team that had talent, but not enough to win the uber-competitive Central, the additions make the Sox a much tougher beat this season.

Cabrera will provide a nice table-setting option for the big bat of Jose Abreu. If the 28-year-old Cuban can come anywhere near his Rookie of the Year-form, the team may comfortably be able to move into the post-Konerko era.

If the Sox can keep Chris Sale healthy – and the injury concerns are already mounting with the ace lefty – Samardzija, will slot in as one of the AL’s premier number-two starters. Like Abreu in the order, the team will also benefit from another strong season out of Jose Quintana.

The real get for the Sox, though, is in the ‘pen. Robertson brings elite talent to the closing role, which was scatter-shot in 2014, led (one supposes) by Jake Petricka. He’s still in the mix, but slides back into depth relief thanks to the free agent additions of Zach Duke and Matt Albers.

It may be a tough ask to compete in such a deep division, but that was probably said of last year’s Royals, so anything’s possible. 

In: RP Matt Albers (free agent – HOU), 2B Gordon Beckham (free agent – LAA), 2B Emilio Bonifacio (free agent – ATL), OF Melky Cabrera (free agent – TOR), RP Jesse Crain (free agent – HOU), RP Zach Duke (free agent – MIL), RP Dan Jennings (trade – MIA), 1B Adam LaRoche (free agent – WSH), RP Brad Penny (free agent – MIA), RP David Robertson (free agent – NYY), SP Jeff Samardzija (trade – OAK), C Geovany Soto (free agent – OAK).

Out: RP Ronald Belisario (free agent – TB), OF Jordan Danks (waived – PHI), 1B Paul Konerko (retired), RP Matt Lindstrom (free agent – LAA), IF Marcus Semien (traded – OAK), OF Dayan Viciedo (free agent – TOR).

Minnesota Twins (70-92, 5th in AL Central)

Hey! The Twins posted their best season since 2010 last year!

Unfortunately, that showing was still good for last in the AL Central, fifth-worst in the Majors and their attendance hit a Target Field-low.

Here’s the upside for the Twins: They have two of MLB.com’s top dozen prospects and six in the Top 40. Oh yeah, and Byron Buxton’s at number one. The system is stocked and they’ve got the sixth overall pick to work with in the coming draft.

Phil HughesThere’s also the matter of Phil Hughes, who – in his first year in the Mini Apple – put up control for the ages. Hughes struck out 11.63 batters for every one he walked. Sound high? Well, it should, because it’s now the All-Time Major League record.

But that’s little consolation to a team that hasn’t won a playoff game since 2004.

The Twins went for familiarity in the off-season, bringing back former Twins star Torii Hunter to man centre. He’s 39, but it’s hard not to like a friendly face that’s coming off six straight 80-plus RBI season.

They also gave Ervin Santana that long-term deal he had been looking for during the 2013-14 off-season, handing him a four-year deal with an option worth $13.5 million average. That’s decent coin for the small-market Twins, but Santana’s still only 32 and has been a 30-plus start arm five years running, with an average of 207 innings over that span.

And Hall-of-Famer and home-town boy Paul Molitor is the new manager.

But, yeah … the future, Twins fans!

In: RP Blaine Boyer (free agent – SD), OF Torii Hunter (free agent – DET), OF Shane Robinson (free agent – STL), SP Ervin Santana (free agent – ATL), RP Tim Stauffer (free agent – SD).

Out: RP Jared Burton (free agent – NYY), 1B Chris Colabello (waivers – TOR), RP Matt Guerrier (free agent – still unsigned), OF Jason Kubel (released), OF Chris Parmelee (free agent – BAL), SP Yohan Pino (free agent – KC), RP Anthony Swarzak (outrighted – CLE).