The 2020 Preseason All-AL Central Team

[Matthew Taylor]

Each year in college football, conferences release their “All-Conference” teams, assigning the best player at each position a spot on the team. On the eve of Opening Day for the Minnesota Twins, let’s do the same for the American League Central and see who figures to be the best of the best.For the All-American League Central team, we will form as close as we can to an actual starting baseball lineup. There will be 8 position players, 1 DH, 5 starting pitchers, and 5 relief pitchers. The spots will be awarded based on who figures to be the best player at each position in the 2020 season. Let’s get to it.

 

Catcher: Yasmani Grandal - Chicago White Sox

• 2019: .246/.380/.468 | 5.2 fWAR
• 2020 projected (via Fangraphs’ ZiPS): .235/.357/.440 | 1.8 fWAR

Also Considered: Mitch Garver - Minnesota Twins

 

While the Chicago White Sox made plenty of splashy moves this offseason, none was more impactful than adding Milwaukee’s Yasmani Grandal. Grandal has long been a star catcher in this league but has yet to receive the national recognition that he deserves. Thanks to his splendid work behind the plate as well as his propensity to always get on base, Grandal has amassed more than 4 fWAR in each of the past 5 seasons. The other part of Grandal’s game that makes him so valuable is his durability. Grandal has caught at least 115 games in each of the past four seasons.

 

Mitch Garver broke out last season and showed that he has the bat skills to be the best catcher in the American League Central (or MLB). If Garver can sustain anywhere near that level of play at the plate in 2020, he will surely be on this “All-AL Central” team by season's end.

 

First Base: Miguel Sanó - Minnesota Twins

• 2019: .247/.346/.576 | 2.7 fWAR
• 2020 projected: .239/.335/.548 | 1.0 fWAR

Also Considered: Carlos Santana - Cleveland Indians

 

Miguel Sanó finally became the player in 2019 that Twins fans had been hoping he would become since joining the big league club in 2015. Not only did Sanó produce eye-popping counting stats like 34 home runs, but his peripheral numbers back them up as he finished 2nd in the Majors in exit velocity and hard hit %. How he adjusts to playing a new position will be something to monitor in 2020, but early returns have shown promise and he has all the tools to be a serviceable first baseman. Now that he is starting the season healthy and heading into the prime years of his career, Sanó has earned a spot at first base on the “All-AL Central” team.

 

Carlos Santana had the best year of his career in 2019, amassing a .911 OPS and making the first all-star game of his career. Santana was average in the field, and figures to have another impactful year heading into his age 34 season.

 

Second Base: Luis Arráez - Minnesota Twins

• 2019: .334/.399/.439 | 2.1 fWAR
• 2020 projected: .309/.370/.403 | 1.1 fWAR

Also Considered: Nick Madrigal - Chicago White Sox

 

Heading into last season, Luis Arráez was the 15th ranked prospect in the Minnesota Twins’ system, preparing for a season with the AA Blue Wahoos. Fast forward 12 months and Arráez finds himself as the best second baseman in the American League Central. What happened? Arráez went out and hit .334 in 92 games with the Minnesota Twins, showing maturity, patients, and elite bat-to-ball skills. Arráez showed everything you look for in a top of the lineup bat, and figures to build on his outstanding 2019 in the 2020 season.

 

The other player who was considered for the second base spot is another young stud with elite bat-to-ball skills in Chicago’s Nick Madrigal. Madrigal won’t start the season with the White Sox, but should be called up within the first handful of games and make an impact. In 532 plate appearances in the minors in 2019, Madrigal posted a .377 OBP with just 16 strikeouts.

 

Shortstop: Francisco Lindor - Cleveland Indians

• 2019: .284/.335/.518 | 4.4 fWAR
• 2020 projected: .288/.351/.525 | 2.3 fWAR

Also Considered: Jorge Polanco - Minnesota Twins

 

The 2019 season was just another year at the office for Francisco Lindor who casually put up his 5th straight 4+ fWAR season and 3rd straight season with an OPS north of .840. Lindor has been as consistent a presence at the shortstop position as possible for the Cleveland Indians since breaking into the MLB in 2015. Whether its at the plate or with the glove, Lindor does it all. The thing to watch with Lindor in 2020 won’t be whether or not he can produce at the plate, but whether or not the Indians hang onto the superstar shortstop through the season.

 

Also considered for this position was Minnesota’s Jorge Polanco. Polanco got off to a hot start in the 2019 season, posting a .882 OPS and starting the all-star game for the American League. Although he cooled off a bit during the second half of the season (.788 OPS), Polanco provides elite value from the shortstop position and at just 27 years old will be a presence in the 6 hole for the Twins for a long time.

 

Third Base: Josh Donaldson - Minnesota Twins

• 2019: .259/.379/.521 | 4.9 fWAR
• 2020 projected: .253/.375/.488 | 1.5 fWAR

Also Considered: Yoan Moncada - Chicago White Sox

 

Moncada edged Donaldson in fWAR with the 5.7 wins above replacement that he contributed last season, but peripherals and defense give the Bringer of Rain the edge over Moncada on the “All-AL Central” team. In 2019, Moncada recorded the second highest BABIP in the expansion era with a .406 batting average on balls in play. While Moncada is a great young player, history will tell us that’s not sustainable.

 

In 2019, Josh Donaldson finished 8th in the Majors with an average exit velocity at the plate of 92.9 and finished 3rd among all 3rd baseman at the hot corner with 9 outs above average. Donaldson is heading into his age-34 season, but has the all-around game to remain an elite player at 3rd base.

 

Outfield: Max Kepler - Minnesota Twins

• 2019: .252/.336/.519 | 4.4 fWAR
• 2020 projected: .254/.337/.488 | 1.2 fWAR

Kepler was outstanding with the Minnesota Twins in the season following his contract extension. Kepler was able to add elevation to his swings and it paid dividends with his 36 home runs. Kepler is just entering his prime at 27 years old and if he continues on his current trajectory could wreak havoc on the American League Central this season.

 

Outfield: Eloy Jiménez - Chicago White Sox

• 2019: .267/.315/.513 | 1.9 fWAR
• 2020 projected: .281/.329/.532 | 2.2 fWAR

After struggling his way through the first few months of the 2019 season, Eloy Jiménez caught fire down the stretch of the season. From August 1 through the end of the season, the rookie posted a .917 OPS with 14 HR in 52 games. The talented outfielder should only build on those numbers in 2020 and earns a spot on the “All-AL Central” team.

 

Outfield: Luis Robert - Chicago White Sox

• 2019:
• 2020 projected: .263/.307/.509 | 2.1 fWAR

He may not be the “best player on the planet” like some have crowned him already, but Luis Robert is really, really good. From his minor league numbers in 2019 (1.001 OPS in 122 games), to his incredible first impressions in Summer Camp, there is so much to like about the rookie for the 2020 season. Robert is the type of 5-tool prospect that doesn’t come around too often. While it might seem a bit hasty, Robert has all the tools on offense and defense to be an outstanding player out of the gate, and deserves a spot on the All-AL Central team.

 

Also Considered: Whit Merrifield - Kansas City Royals

 

Designated Hitter: Nelson Cruz - Minnesota Twins

• 2019: .311/.392/.639 | 4.3 fWAR
• 2020 projected: .272/.353/.542 | 2.2 fWAR

Also Considered: Jorge Soler - Kansas City Royals

 

So much has been written about the season that Nelson Cruz had in 2019 and how he projects in 2020, that it didn’t even require a second thought to make Cruz the designated hitter on this team. Cruz led baseball in Brls/PA% and eclipsed the 1000 mark in OPS. Soler is no slouch as he casually led the American League in home runs in 2019, but as long as Cruz is still producing like the best hitter in baseball, he’s the best DH in this division.

 

SP: Shane Bieber - Cleveland Indians

• 2019: 3.28 ERA | 10.88 K/9 | 5.6 fWAR
• 2020 projected: 3.63 ERA | 9.88 K/9 | 1.8 fWAR

SP: Lucas Giolito - Chicago White Sox

• 2019: 3.41 ERA | 11.62 K/9 | 5.1 fWAR
• 2020 projected: 3.18 ERA | 12.05 K/9 | 1.9 fWAR

SP: Mike Clevinger - Cleveland Indians

• 2019: 2.71 ERA | 12.07 K/9 | 4.5 fWAR
• 2020 projected: 3.67 ERA | 10.83 K/9 | 1.2 fWAR

SP: Jose Berrios - Minnesota Twins

• 2019: 3.68 ERA | 8.76 K/9 | 4.4 fWAR
• 2020 projected: 4.24 ERA | 9.13 K/9 | 1.3 fWAR

SP: Jake Odorizzi - Minnesota Twins

• 2019: 3.51 ERA | 10.08 K/9 | 4.3 fWAR
• 2020 projected: 4.09 ERA | 9.65 K/9 | 1.1 fWAR

Also Considered: Rich Hill - Minnesota Twins

 

The American League might just have the best high end pitching talent in all of baseball with four potential, future aces under the age of 30 in Bieber, Giolito, Clevinger and Berrios. Any of these four pitchers could put it all together in 2020 and become one of baseball’s true aces, but all of them will be key contributors to their clubs in 2020.

 

While the first four pitchers in the “All-AL Central” rotation were easy, the final spot was truly a toss-up between a bunch of pitchers. Carlos Carrasco, Kenta Maeda or Rich Hill could have earned this spot, but in the end Jake Odorizzi nabbed the final spot in the rotation. Odorizzi was arguably the best pitcher on the Minnesota Twins from start to finish for the 2019 season, and in a contract season has all the motivation in the world to be great in 2020. Although Odorizzi’s back injury does present some concerns, the Twins are hopeful that he will only miss one run through the rotation and be ready to go in 2020.

 

RP: Taylor Rogers - Minnesota Twins

• 2019: 2.61 ERA | 11.74 K/9 | 2.1 fWAR
• 2020 projected: 3.24 ERA | 10.44 K/9 | 0.5 fWAR

RP: Brad Hand - Cleveland Indians

• 2019: 3.30 ERA | 13.19 K/9 | 1.6 fWAR
• 2020 projected: 3.38 ERA | 12.38 K/9 | 0.4 fWAR

RP: Aaron Bummer - Chicago White Sox

• 2019: 2.13 ERA | 7.98 K/9 | 1.3 fWAR
• 2020 projected: 3.81 ERA | 8.31 K/9 | 0.2 fWAR

RP: Tyler Duffey - Minnesota Twins

• 2019: 2.50 ERA | 12.80 K/9 | 1.2 fWAR
• 2020 projected: 4.15 ERA | 10.73 K/9 | 0.3 fWAR

RP: Alex Colomé - Chicago White Sox

• 2019: 2.80 ERA | 8.11 K/9 | 0.6 fWAR
• 2020 projected: 4.09 ERA | 8.59 K/9 | 0.1 fWAR

Also Considered: Trevor May - Minnesota Twins

 

Relief pitchers tend to be pretty volatile, but this class has separated themselves as the upper tier of relief pitchers in the American League Central. Taylor Rogers and Brad Hand as the elite closers of the division, Aaron Bummer and Tyler Duffey each had outstanding 2019 seasons with sub-2.50 ERAs, and Alex Colomé posted his fourth season in his 8-year career with an ERA under 3. Trevor May will be knocking at the door to be on this list by the end of the season with his upper-90s fastball, but for now this list is the top tier of relievers in this division.

 

From the 19 spots on our All-AL Central Team here is how many players each team in the AL Central contributed:

• Minnesota Twins - 9
• Chicago White Sox - 6
• Cleveland Indians - 4
• Kansas City Royals - 0
• Detroit Tigers - 0

Who would make your All-AL Central team? Which players were left off the list? Leave a comment below and start the conversation!

 

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[jkcarew]

So, 34 year old Josh Donaldson is going to have a better season than both 25 year old Yoan Moncada and 27 year old Jose Ramirez? I like what you’re thinking!! Although, I think I’d probably like what you’re drinking as well

[Danchat]

I was just reading that Brad Hand's velo is down a few ticks, and didn't he struggle at the end of the year? Hmmmm...

 

Boy, I'd be happy to see all those players hit and pitch so well. Nothing is for certain this year, though.

[TwinsFan268]

Anyone else realize that each position was either a Twins player, or if it wasn't, then the other player considered was a Twins player? 

[pcq]

3B is a really tough call. The ALC was an embarrassment last year at minus 64.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Anyone else realize that each position was either a Twins player, or if it wasn't, then the other player considered was a Twins player? 

 

Twins are loaded!

[Physics Guy]

Jose Ramirez should have at least earned a mention at 3B. He had a down first half last year but was en fuego after that. He is arguably the best 3B in the AL Central and finished 3rd in the MVP voting the past two years. The division has an embarrassment of riches at 3B and SS. The reigning batting champ (Tim Anderson) didn’t garner a mention either.

[Minny505]

It sounds like you took this strictly off projected WAR, so I'm surprised Moncada is projected as a better player than Jose Ramirez. Ramirez is a beast. As is Donaldson. Moncada doesn't even seem in the same tier as those two. 

A little surprised at Polanco over Adalberto Mondesi. 

While I am not surprised that Odo is projected to be better than Dick Mountain, I would bet even money that Hill finishes with a more impressive year...even before the Odo injury.

[Matthew Taylor]

 

It sounds like you took this strictly off projected WAR, so I'm surprised Moncada is projected as a better player than Jose Ramirez. Ramirez is a beast. As is Donaldson. Moncada doesn't even seem in the same tier as those two. 

A little surprised at Polanco over Adalberto Mondesi. 

While I am not surprised that Odo is projected to be better than Dick Mountain, I would bet even money that Hill finishes with a more impressive year...even before the Odo injury.

 

Projected WAR didn't play much of a role in how I determined the teams. Just to give an idea of how Fangraphs sees each player this year.

 

3rd base was definitely the toughest spot to pick a "winner" and a "runner-up". Ramirez definitely could have been the starter, runner-up or 3rd place and I wouldn't have a quibble. Moncada is definitely in the same tier though. His statcast numbers and upward trajectory point to him being a superstar in this league very, very soon.

 

Mondesi is a solid player, but needs to prove that he can stay healthy before being considered for this list. Same with Rich Hill.

[mikelink45]

the fwar projections seem strange to me.  every has such low pct. I understand that total numbers will be down, but pcts. should not be, if anything some will be quite high.  I do not mind the players, but not the projections.

 

I would take Garver over Grandal.  Sano has to prove it to be better than Santana.  

 

WYKC in Cleveland has 

Grandal

Santana

Arraez

Donaldson

Lindor

Buxton

Merrifield

Kepler

They only chose one SP - Bieber and one RP Rogers

 

Bleacher Report has the combined Central Teams

CF Whit Merrifield, KC
SS Francisco Lindor, CLE
LF Christian Yelich, MIL
DH Nelson Cruz, MIN
1B Anthony Rizzo, CHC
3B Kris Bryant, CHC
RF Max Kepler, MIN
2B Keston Hiura, MIL
C Yasmani Grandal, CWS

 

Pitchers in the combined Central

RHP Jack Flaherty, STL
RHP Shane Bieber, CLE
RHP Luis Castillo, CIN
RHP Mike Clevinger, CLE
RHP Lucas Giolito, CWS