2015 projected lineups/rotation: AL East
The American League East is always one of the most powerful divisions in baseball, and this year will be no exception.
Several big bats have moved into the already heavy-hitting division this offseason, including Russell Martin, Josh Donaldson, Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez.
General managers across the bigs still have plenty of work to do before hitting the field this spring, but here are some early projected lineups based on the moves to this point:
Related: 2015 projected lineups/rotations: AL Central
Related: 2015 projected lineups/rotations: NL Central
Related: 2015 projected lineups/rotations: NL East
Baltimore Orioles
Projected lineup:
The Orioles slugged their way to the American League Championship Series, but the departures of Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis could hamper the squad in 2015. Catcher Matt Wieters is still rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and is a long shot to be ready by Opening Day.
# | POS | PLAYER | AVG/OBP/SLG |
---|---|---|---|
1 | LF | Alejandro De Aza (L) | .252/.314/.386 |
2 | 3B | Manny Machado | .278/.324/.431 |
3 | CF | Adam Jones | .281/.311/.469 |
4 | DH | Chris Davis (L) | .196/.300/.404 |
5 | RF | Steve Pearce | .293/.373/.556 |
6 | SS | J.J. Hardy | .268/.309/.372 |
7 | 1B | Christian Walker | .167/.211/.389 |
8 | C | Caleb Jospeh | .207/.264/.354 |
9 | 2B | Jonathan Schoop | .209/.244/.354 |
Projected rotation:
The Orioles have kept their entire rotation intact from a year ago, which should bode well for one of the most underrated pitching staffs in the majors. Baltimore is hoping Kevin Gausman, selected fourth overall in the 2012 draft, takes a big step forward and matures into a front-end starter. Veteran righty Ubaldo Jimenez should start the campaign in the bullpen, if he's not traded.
ROLE | PLAYER | IP | ERA | K |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Chris Tillman | 207.1 | 3.34 | 150 |
2 | Wei-Yin Chen (L) | 185.2 | 3.54 | 136 |
3 | Bud Norris | 165.1 | 3.65 | 139 |
4 | Miguel Gonzalez | 159 | 3.23 | 111 |
5 | Kevin Gausman | 113.1 | 3.57 | 88 |
CL | Zach Britton (L) | 76.1 | 1.65 | 62 |
New York Yankees
Projected lineup:
The Bronx Bombers will roll out a lineup littered with injury-prone players. Carlos Beltran (elbow) and Mark Teixeira (wrist) are huge question marks heading into 2015, but the uncertainty surrounding them pales in comparison to that of Alex Rodriguez, who was suspended for the entire 2014 season. All eyes will be on A-Rod this spring as he attempts a comeback while turning 40.
# | POS | PLAYER | AVG/OBP/SLG |
---|---|---|---|
1 | LF | Brett Gardner (L) | .256/.327/.422 |
2 | 3B | Chase Headley | .243/.328/.372 |
3 | CF | Jacoby Ellsbury (L) | .271/.328/.419 |
4 | C | Brian McCann (L) | .232/.286/.406 |
5 | RF | Carlos Beltran | .233/.301/.402 |
6 | 1B | Mark Teixeira | .216/.313/.398 |
7 | DH | Alex Rodriguez | DNP |
8 | SS | Didi Gregorius * (L) | .226/.290/.363 |
9 | 2B | Stephen Drew* (L) | .150/.219/.271 |
Projected rotation:
Much like the lineup, the rotation has major injury concerns. Will CC Sabathia's degenerative knee hold out? Will Michael Pineda remain healthy the entire season for the first time since 2011? How will Nathan Eovaldi adjust to pitching in the AL East? At least you can rely on Masahiro Tanaka, Yankee fans.
ROLE | PLAYER | IP | ERA | K |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | CC Sabathia (L) | 46 | 5.28 | 48 |
2 | Masahiro Tanaka | 136.1 | 2.77 | 141 |
3 | Michael Pineda | 76.1 | 1.89 | 59 |
4 | Chris Capuano (L) | 97.1 | 4.35 | 84 |
5 | Nathan Eovaldi* | 199.2 | 4.37 | 142 |
CL | Dellin Betances | 90 | 1.40 | 135 |
* added this offseason
Boston Red Sox
Projected lineup:
The Red Sox added two of the best hitters on the free-agent market - Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval. John Farrell's lineup should be one of the most potent in the majors if David Ortiz can stay healthy and produce another 30-homer, 100-RBI season.
# | POS | PLAYER | AVG/OBP/SLG |
---|---|---|---|
1 | CF | Rusney Castillo | .333/.400/.528 |
2 | 2B | Dustin Pedroia | .278/.337/.376 |
3 | DH | David Ortiz (L) | .263/.355/.517 |
4 | LF | Hanley Ramirez* | .283/.369/.448 |
5 | 3B | Pablo Sandoval* | .279/.324/.415 |
6 | 1B | Mike Napoli | .248/.370/.419 |
7 | RF | Shane Victorino | .268/.303/.382 |
8 | SS | Xander Bogaerts | .240/.297/.362 |
9 | C | Christian Vazquez | .240/.308/.309 |
Projected rotation:
Ben Cherington has been busy rebuilding his rotation after trading ace Jon Lester at the non-waiver trade deadline. Three new arms - Rick Porcello, Wade Miley and Justin Masterson - will be counted on to get this team back into the playoffs. The Red Sox also need a bounce-back campaign from righty Clay Buchholz to be competitive.
ROLE | PLAYER | IP | ERA | K |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Rick Porcello* | 204.2 | 3.43 | 129 |
2 | Wade Miley* (L) | 201.1 | 4.34 | 183 |
3 | Justin Masterson* | 128.2 | 5.88 | 116 |
4 | Clay Buchholz | 170.1 | 5.34 | 132 |
5 | Joe Kelly | 96.1 | 4.20 | 66 |
CL | Koji Uehara | 64.1 | 2.52 | 80 |
* added this offseason
Toronto Blue Jays
Projected lineup:
The addition of Russell Martin and Josh Donaldson gives the Blue Jays a downright scary lineup from one through five in the order. How the bottom of the order produces, however, could very well determine whether Toronto gets back to the playoffs for the first time since 1993.
# | POS | PLAYER | AVG/OBP/SLG |
---|---|---|---|
1 | SS | Jose Reyes | .287/.328/.398 |
2 | C | Russell Martin* | .290/.402/.430 |
3 | RF | Jose Bautista | .286/.403/.524 |
4 | 1B | Edwin Encarnacion | .268/.354/.547 |
5 | 3B | Josh Donaldson* | .255/.342/.456 |
6 | DH | Dioner Navarro | .274/.317/.395 |
7 | LF | Michael Saunders* (L) | .273/.341/.450 |
8 | 2B | Maicer Izturis | .286/.324/.314 |
9 | CF | Dalton Pompey | .231/.302/.436 |
Projected rotation:
The Blue Jays will continue to rely on veterans Mark Buehrle and R.A. Dickey to eat innings, and hope Marcus Stroman doesn't experience the dreaded sophomore slump. Alex Anthopoulos also needs a closer before his team takes the field in April.
ROLE | PLAYER | IP | ERA | K |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mark Buehrle (L) | 202 | 3.39 | 119 |
2 | R.A. Dickey | 215.2 | 3.71 | 173 |
3 | Marcus Stroman | 130.2 | 3.65 | 111 |
4 | Drew Hutchison | 184.2 | 4.48 | 184 |
5 | Aaron Sanchez | 33 | 1.09 | 27 |
CL | Brett Cecil (L) | 53.1 | 2.7 | 76 |
* added this offseason
Tampa Bay Rays
Projected lineup:
The Rays, who struggled to produce runs last year, will have the added challenge of putting runs on the board without up-and-comer Wil Myers and mastermind Joe Maddon pulling the strings. Evan Longoria will once again be counted on as the lone power source.
# | POS | PLAYER | AVG/OBP/SLG |
---|---|---|---|
1 | CF | Desmond Jennings | .244/.319/.378 |
2 | LF | Ben Zobrist | .272/.354/.395 |
3 | 3B | Evan Longoria | .253/.320/.404 |
4 | 1B | James Loney (L) | .290/.336/.380 |
5 | DH | Steven Souza* | .130/.231/.391 |
6 | RF | Kevin Kiermaier (L) | .263/.315/.450 |
7 | 2B | Asdrubal Cabrera* (S) | .241/.308/.387 |
8 | SS | Yunel Escobar | .258/.324/.340 |
9 | C | Rene Rivera* | .252/.319/.432 |
Projected rotation:
Not having David Price on the mound for Opening Day will be strange for Rays fans, but this rotation is still loaded with young arms, and will be reinforced by lefty Matt Moore (Tommy John) at some point during the season. Ernesto Frieri, Grant Balfour and Kevin Jepsen will compete in the spring for the closer's job.
ROLE | PLAYER | IP | ERA | K |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Alex Cobb | 166.1 | 2.87 | 149 |
2 | Drew Smyly (L) | 153 | 3.24 | 133 |
3 | Chris Archer | 194.2 | 3.33 | 173 |
4 | Jake Odorizzi | 168 | 4.13 | 174 |
5 | Alex Colome | 23.2 | 2.66 | 13 |
CL | Kevin Jepsen* | 65 | 2.63 | 75 |
* added this offseason