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With spring training beginning this week for most teams in the Major Leagues, there are several story lines to follow for this upcoming season.
The biggest move this offseason came when the Los Angeles Angels snuck in at the last minute and signed Albert Pujols away from the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals. Pujols was signed to a ten year $250 million contract to take his talents to Southern California. With the signing of Pujols, the Angels have created a logjam at the first base position. The Angels will be looking to split time at first base between Pujols, second year man Mark Trumbo and Kendrys Morales. Trumbo may get the chance to prove himself at third base and if he wins the position will see more playing time. Morales missed last season due to injury.
Not only do the Angels have the logjam at first base, they also have more players for the outfield than they have positions. Rookie sensation Mike Trout is likely to make the roster right out of spring training. He will be looking to compete with Bobby Abreu, Peter Bourjos, Torii Hunter and Vernon Wells for playing time. The Angels have plenty of options for the designated hitter position and the flexibility to make a trade if they see fit.
After the signing of Pujols, the next biggest signing went to the Detroit Tigers with first baseman Prince Fielder. The Tigers needed to make a move after learning that DH Victor Martinez could miss the entire 2012 season after tearing his ACL. The Tigers made a splash signing Fielder to a nine year $214 million contract to play first base, but the Tigers already have a first baseman in Miguel Cabrera. Cabrera hasn’t played third base since 2008 and hasn’t played third base on a regular basis since the 2007 season. As a first baseman, Cabrera has blossomed to 240 pounds. With Cabrera at third and Fielder at first, the Tigers look to be a below average defensive team, but they will have good fire power batting in the three and four spots of the lineup. In 2011, Fielder and Cabrera hit a combined 68 homeruns and drove in 225 RBI’s.
Fielder is leaving Miller Park in Milwaukee for Tiger Stadium in Detroit. Fielder left behind a Brewers team that is entering the 2012 season with uncertainty. Last year’s National League MVP Ryan Braun tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. Braun received a 50 game suspension for his violations which he has appealed. Braun could be entering spring training without knowing whether or not his suspension will be upheld or reversed because he has yet to hear the final verdict. If the suspension is upheld, there are rumblings that the MLB could also strip Braun of his MVP award.
Other minor moves to keep an eye on this season are the signing of Manny Ramirez by the Oakland Athletics. Ramirez was signed to a one year $500,000 contract. If he makes the team out of spring training, he will also have to serve a 50 game suspension for performance enhancing drugs.
The Red Sox will be an intriguing story all season long after the historic collapse the team had last September. After the season, reports came out that several members of the team ate food and drank beer during games while playing video games in the club house. This all came out after the Red Sox were considered to be one of the better teams all year only to see the playoffs slip away to the Tampa Bay Rays on the final day of the season. The Red Sox now have a new General Manager in Ben Cherington after Theo Epstein left to take a job with the Chicago Cubs. The Red Sox also hired a new manager in Bobby Valentine, who last managed in the MLB in 2002 with the New York Mets. In 2009, Valentine completed his second stint as the manager of the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan.
In Colorado, pitcher Jamie Moyer is looking to make a comeback at 49-years old after missing the 2011 season because of Tommy John surgery. Moyer signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Rockies. If Moyer makes the Rockies team, he will be the oldest player in the Majors.
These are the stories to keep an eye on before the season starts. There are sure to be many other story lines to follow after the season begins.
