2024 MLB Division Preview: AL Central

Baseball is back. Spring training games are underway and we are just about a month away from the Dodgers and Padres kicking off the 2024 season with the Seoul series in Korea. With that being said, I am back with 2024 division preview seasons for the second straight season.

We're gonna kick off this series in the same manner I did a year ago and start off with the American League Central. I feel safe in saying I believe this division will be more competitive than it was in 2023 with the Royals and Tigers improving, but time will tell. Let's not waste any more time and preview the 2024 American League Central.

Chicago White Sox

Key Additions
- RHP Jesse Chavez
- SS Paul DeJong
- OF Kevin Pillar
- RHP John Brebbia
- LHP Tim Hill
- RHP Chris Flexen
- RHP Chad Kuhl
- C Martin Maldonado
- RHP Erick Fedde
- OF Dominic Fletcher
- C Max Stassi
- RHP Mike Soroka
- LHP Jared Shuster
- INF Braden Shewmake

Key Loses
- SS Tim Anderson
- RHP Liam Hendriks
- RHP Gregory Santos
- C Yasmani Grandal
- LHP Aaron Bummer
- RHP Mike Clevinger

After being the definition of average and finishing 81-81 in 2022, the White Sox took a massive step backwards in 2023, ending the season 61-101. Pedro Grifol's inaugural season as the Chicago manger was plagued by injuries and an underperforming roster with very few bright spots. Their offseason included a range of minor league additions, with a few major league signings sprinkled in. It isn't a secret they won't be a competitive squad in 2023, but they could still have some interesting names to follow and see how they perform. Their lone all star last season was Luis Robert Jr., who accumulated 5.0 fWAR and a 128 wRC+, and will be the main show for the White Sox in 2024. Eloy Jimenez, Yoan Moncada, and Andrew Vaughn are going to surround Robert as the core of the lineup, but they are a trio of former top prospects who have either struggled with injuries or not panned out offensively the way Chiago would have liked.

On the pitching side, Dylan Cease will be the main guy to watch. He finished as the runner-up in the 2022 Cy Young voting, took a step back in 2023, and now finds his name consistently in trade rumors. Erick Fedde is making his return from the KBO, and will join Michael Kopech and Michael Soroka as pitchers trying to reestablish themselves in the major league scene. The potential talent is there for team from the South Side, but we are still waiting to see that potential turn into success on the diamond.

Team MVP: Luis Robert Jr.

Team Cy Young: Dylan Cease

Team X-Factor: Eloy Jimenez

The Nationals will travel to the South Side and face off against the White Sox for a three game set from May 13-15.

Cleveland Guardians

Key Additions
- RHP Scott Barlow
- RHP Carlos Carrasco
- RHP Austin Heges
- OF Esteven Florial

Key Loses
- RHP Enyel De Los Santos
- OF Oscar Gonzalez
- RHP Cal Quantrill

The Guardians had a pretty quiet offseason, especially in comparison to the previously previewed White Sox. The most impactful change in the Guardians organization very may well be from the manager position, after Terry Francona stepped away. Replacing him will be Stephen Vogt, a change that will be very interesting to watch. Cleveland seems to be following the same mold they have been for years now, maintaining a strong pitching staff with an offense that leaves a lot to be desired. The main cog of their offense will once again be Jose Ramirez, who arguably had Cleveland's biggest highlight last season.

With Jose Ramirez continuing to put up MVP-like numbers as the center piece of Cleveland's lineup, it will be up to those around him to help in making a more well rounded lineup. Steven Kwan and Andres Gimenez will be looked at as two major bounce-back candidates for Vogt's squad this year. Cleveland's lineup does provide a unique opportunity for two guys specifically, as brothers Josh and Bo Naylor will most likely get to be starters in the same major league lineup. Josh has established himself as a power source in the middle of their lineup, and hopefully his younger brother Bo can follow along.

2020 AL Cy Young winner Shane Bieber headlines their rotation, alongside Triston McKenzie, Tanner Bibee, Logan Allen, and Gavin Williams. McKenzie will look to remain healthy this year, after being sidelined for the majority of the 2023 season, while the latter three look to improve upon rookie flashes shown last year and establish themselves as major league arms. The Guardains also have one of the best closers in baseball in Emmanuel Clase, with his lethal cutter and slider duo. As of right now, I don't see the Guardians as a playoff squad, but more like one of the first teams looking on from the outside. Baseball is hard to predict and Cleveland may very well be the biggest competitors to Minnesota's quest to repeat.

Team MVP: Jose Ramirez

Team Cy Young: Shane Bieber

Team X-Factor: Andres Gimenez

The Nationals will travel to Cleveland and play the Guardians for a three game set from May 31-June 2.

Detroit Tigers

Key Additions
- RHP Jack Flaherty
- RHP Kenta Maeda
- LHP Andrew Chafin
- 3B Gio Urshela

Key Loses
- DH Miguel Cabrera
- LHP Eduardo Rodriguez

After a 12 win jump from 2022 to 2023, the Tigers are looking to take after their NFL counterpart and continue to improve and work their way into contention. While that last part might not come into fruition this year, I think they have the young core that can continue to improve and be the center of their future success. The two main pieces of that core is Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene, who were selected by Detroit as the 1st and 5th overall picks in the 2019 and 2020 drafts, respectively. Both have had their fair share of struggles, but both took steps forward in 2023 and look to continue upon those improvements and be more consistent contributors. A major bright spot of 2023 was the breakout of Kerry Carpenter, who accumulated 2.2 fWAR in only 118 games, picking up a 121 wRC+ along the way. Expect those three to lead the way for A.J. Hinch's squad, with prospect Colt Keith making his MLB debut somewhere along the way. Whether or not the Tigers will be able to compete any time soon relies heavily on their $140 million man - Javier Baez. To put it lightly, Baez has been a letdown since inking a 6 year, $140 million contract with Detroit before the 2022 season. Last year, he put up an abysmal 61 wRC+ and even got benched at one point for low effort and numerous mental errors. If Baez can play like the player that got the Tigers to pay him $140 million, that kind of All Star player can be a difference maker in excelling the Tigers path to success.

The bright spot on the pitching side will be Tarik Skubal, who was only able to start 15 games last season due to injury, but pitched like an Cy Young candidate. Despite only 15 starts, Skubal racked up 3.3 fWAR with a 2.00 FIP and 11.43 K/9, two very impressive numbers. Free agent acquisitions Jack Flaherty and Kenta Maeda will hopefully provide some consistent veteran depth behind them, with a mix of young guys like Matt Manning, Reese Olson, and Casey Mize taking forward strides to the future. Detroit can make some noise and play spoiler come crunch time, but I don't think they are quite ready to take the next step and fight for a playoff spot.

Team MVP: Spencer Torkelson

Team Cy Young: Tarik Skubal

Team X-Factor: Javier Baez

The Nationals will travel up north to play the Tigers for three games from June 11-13.

Kansas City Royals

Key Additions
- RHP Michael Wacha
- LHP Will Smith
- RHP Seth Lugo
- OF Hunter Renfroe
- UTIL Adam Frazier
- UTIL Garret Hampson
- RHP Nick Anderson

Key Loses
- RHP Zack Greinke

The Royals offseason was impressive and quite frankly was the kind of offseason I would have preferred to see from the Nationals. Kansas City added a mixture of different veterans that can help provide some level of success, lead the younger core, and be potential trade pieces for the trade deadline. Despite these additions and some players taking massive steps forward last year, the Royals are still a few pieces away from being a contending team. The offensive attack is lead by the incendiary Bobby Witt Jr., who blew up last year to the tune of a 115 wRC+ and 5.7 fWAR. The Royals took that as a sign of the former top prospect and young shortstop's talent and inked him to a long-term deal. Other names to keep an eye on include MJ Melendez, Vinnie Pasquantino, Hunter Renfroe, and Salvador Perez.

On the pitching side of things, Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha are reaping the benefits of their resurgent seasons last year with the Padres, with each of them inking respectable deals with the Royals. The two veterans back up their young ace Cole Ragans, who has one of the nastiest fastballs in baseball and might be the most underrated Cy Young award nominee this year. Brady Singer and the everlasting inning-eater Jordan Lyles round things out for their rotation.

Team MVP: Bobby Witt Jr.

Team Cy Young: Cole Ragans

Team X-Factor: Brady Singer

The Nationals will play host to Kansas City for a three game set from Sep 24-26.