Tigers the team to beat in AL Central

Tigers the team to beat in AL Central
By Mitch Williams | MLB.com Columnist

The American League Central should be very competitive -- not to mention a lot of fun -- this season. Minnesota is the defending champion, but I think Detroit is the favorite to win the division in 2011.

In acquiring Victor Martinez, the Tigers have added a big bat to hit behind Miguel Cabrera. They also added Joaquin Benoit to their relief corps, making an already good bullpen even better. The starting rotation has overpowering arms in ace Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer. Rick Porcello will bounce back from his sophomore slump and have a year more like his rookie campaign. Phil Coke is moving from the bullpen to the rotation, and Brad Penny will round out this quintet.

If the Tigers stay healthy and Coke can make the transition to starter, this team will be very solid. Detroit found a legitimate leadoff hitter in Austin Jackson, who was acquired last season in the deal that sent Curtis Granderson to the Yankees. Their defense isn't loaded with speed or range, but they catch the ball.

The White Sox will be in the mix too, having added a potential 40 home runs and 120 RBIs in Adam Dunn. They also bolstered the bullpen with the additions of Jesse Crain and Will Ohman, in addition to re-signing Paul Konerko. Offensively, this is going to be as strong of a team as any. And the starting rotation is in good shape with Mark Buehrle, Gavin Floyd, John Danks, Jake Peavy and Edwin Jackson. If Peavy comes back healthy from right shoulder surgery -- indications so far this spring suggest he will -- this is a good rotation.

Gone from the bullpen are J.J. Putz, Bobby Jenks and Scott Linebrink, but they still have overpowering left-handers Chris Sale and Matt Thornton. And don't underestimate Sergio Santos and Crain from the right side. Ohman likely will be the middle guy from the left side, giving the White Sox five quality guys in their bullpen. That is why, if they stay healthy, I see Chicago finishing second in this division.

The Twins have added infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka from Japan and left-hander Dusty Hughes. They also re-signed designated hitter Jim Thome. The team's season rests on the health of two players: first baseman Justin Morneau and closer Joe Nathan. If both of them remain healthy, the Twins will stay in the race.

But I think the loss of four guys -- Jon Rauch, Crain, Matt Guerrier, and Brian Fuentes -- from a bullpen that threw a total of 206 1/3 innings last year is going to prove too much for Minnesota to overcome. That's quite a bit of talent to lose all at once. That's why I'm predicting a third-place finish for the Twins.

The Indians had a relatively quiet offseason in terms of roster turnover. Fausto Carmona had a pretty good bounce-back year last season, but the Tribe must surround him with some more pieces. There are two players who I feel could make a big difference on this team. The Indians need outfielder Grady Sizemore to come back healthy from microfracture surgery on his left knee and play on a regular basis. The other potential difference-maker is Carlos Santana, who I feel is one of the best young catchers to come along in a long time. He is a switch-hitter with power from both sides of the plate. He, too, is coming off a bad knee injury.

If those two are healthy, they will definitely add to the Indians' win total. Still, I have them picked fourth in this division.

The Royals have one of the best farm systems in the Majors, but that won't help them enough in 2011 after trading former Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke during the offseason. They added some veteran players who will be stopgaps until their Minor League prospects are ready.

Two of the pieces they got back from Milwaukee in the Greinke trade are very good players, albeit young. Shortstop Alcides Escobar has the potential to be a great defensive player, but his career average is .250 through 192 games. Outfielder Lorenzo Cain, also acquired in the deal, is another very talented player. He has great range in center field and has a .306 average in 147 career at-bats.

The Royals also have two guys in camp right now who aren't on the 40-man roster but could make an impact at some point this year. Mike Moustakas is a third baseman who can really hit for average and power. Mike Montgomery is a left-hander who has front-of-the-rotation stuff.

It remains to be seen if the Royals will give these guys a chance out of Spring Training or wait to bring them up at midseason. I have Kansas City finishing last in this division, but it is within a couple years of being very competitive.

Mitch Williams is a studio analyst for MLB Network This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.