IN MY OPINION: Best in the AL East
Note: This is 100% opinion based on who I see as the best players in the AL Central and who I can see having a legit shot at the HOF.
The kind of explain how I get these categories for Honorable Mentions I feel like they aren't the most exciting player, but one who should be paid attention to at this point in their career where they are now and where I think they are going
Most Exciting players are the guys you have to watch that are just electric and going to be around for a while and making noise.
HOF candidates are guys who I can see when their careers are over are likely to be considered for the HOF.
Honorable Mentions
Aaron Judge- OF Yankees- Judge has had too many injuries already in his young career up to this point for me to put him into the mix for these conversations. But if he can stay healthy and have a long career in NY, which I think he can. Then I can see him 100% being in for a massive deal and will lead to HOF talks. He is only 27 and power can age well in the MLB. He has a cover on MLB the Show and a great fan section in NY. Health is the key for Judge.
Jackie Bradley Jr- OF Redsox- JBJ, yes I know he is the face of the Redsox without Mookie now. BUT being a great defender and not really standing out anywhere else on the stat sheet doesn't get you too far in my book. Great defender average at best everywhere else.
Most Exciting Players- Position Players
Vald Guerro Jr- 3B Blue Jays- What is there not to like about Vlad G Jr. He plays a good 3B but that bat in his hands is a thing of beauty. There is no wasted motion in his swing and how far the ball carriers off it, it's awesome. I love seeing him hit that HR and I know he has a long career full of them.
Bo Bichette- SS Blue Jays- Great defensive, solid bat. Hard to not see why Bichette next to Vald Jr are taking the Blue Jays places faster than expected. This kid is a highlight reel play, waiting to happen.
Andrew Benintendi- OF Redsox- Benintendi is a solid, very solid defender. Very good with the bat and has the opportunity before him to show why the Redsox don't need Mookie when they have Benintendi. I fully expect the 25yo OF to show why he was a top 10 pick now more than ever. I am rooting for this kid and the future is bright for him.
Austin Meadows-OF Rays- I mean what can do you say about Meadows that wasn't great in 2019. 33HR, 291BA and only 24. Man, if I was the Pirates GM I would be kicking myself for trading this guy. Meadows has a long, long career ahead of him. As he develops more as a player I fully expect him to keep making waves and becoming a household name to MLB fans!
Hall of Fame Outlook- Position Players
J.D Martinez- DH Redsox-Looking at all the players in the AL East Martinez had something not a lot of the other guys did. an age of 32, a solid track record of consistency going back to 2015, a solid spot as a DH so his power can age well. 231 Career HR and a 294 career BA. Let's say Martinez plays through age 36 and hits at least 30HR a year that gives him another 120 to put him at 360 and possibly closer to 400 and he can maintain he BA and RBI production. I think there's a case here.
D.J. LeMahieu- 2B Yankees- Consistency since 2014 he has never had less than 132H or worse than a 267BA. Now since being on the Yankees, we see him starting to get a little more power and more hits. He is 31, he has a few prime years left. Saw he gets another 175hits each of the next 4 years that another 700 hits to his 1223 career. Then if he stays up with his average. His consistency and the high average for that span make a case for me.
Giancarlo Stanton OF Yankees- It feels like Stanton is always hurt, which he is. If this guy could stay on the field for more full seasons. He would have more than 308 career HR at age 30. Stanton has the profile to be a HOF kind of player but the injuries are the only thing that holds him back to me. But if he can get healthy and mash for the next 5 years and hit 40HR then yeah, going to be hard to deny that.
Most Exciting Players- Pitchers
Blake Snell- LHP Rays- Snell to me is a rebound candidate, but if he is healthy this is CY Young contender. He is 27 and won the AL CY Young in 2018 before being limited to an injury in 2019. A fully healthy Snell going into the next 5 years of his prime at this level. I would not want to face him as a hitter.
Tyler Glasnow -RHP Rays in 12 games started last season he pitched to a 1.78ERA with 76SO over 60.2IP and he is only 26. Still yet to hit his prime and he is going to create one heck of a 1/2 punch with Snell for the next few years in Tampa.
Hall of Fame Outlook- Pitchers
Chris Sale- LHP Boston Redsox- He is going to be missing all his age 31 seasons to TJ surgery but lets recap real fast what he has done so far in his career. 1629IP, a 3.03ERA 2007SO career 109-73 career 45WAR. My Goodness what a career so far. And the Redsox have him through 2024. Sale is one of the most dominant arms we have seen over the last 10 years and just based on his career so far. I can see him without a doubt being the conversation for the HOF
Gerrit Cole- RHP Yankees- 29YO, mega-contract from the Yankees. Already though his career 1195IP, a 94-52 record, 3.22ERA 1336SO. This guy was a Number 1 pick, go to the MLB in two seasons and has been one of THE best since. a 3x All-star and he has a long way to go still. Cole is on my HOF radar and looks to be trending in that direction.
Aroldis Chapman RHP Yankees- Let's just start with the Carrer awards first a Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year and Delivery Man of the Year, 6x All-star, 1 WS and the guy is only 32. He holds a career 2.23ERA, 273Saves, 883SO. Just incredible for Chapman at this stage in his career and he is still lighting up the gun with high 90's stuff. No doubt in mind at all Chapman will be in Cooperstown.
The kind of explain how I get these categories for Honorable Mentions I feel like they aren't the most exciting player, but one who should be paid attention to at this point in their career where they are now and where I think they are going
Most Exciting players are the guys you have to watch that are just electric and going to be around for a while and making noise.
HOF candidates are guys who I can see when their careers are over are likely to be considered for the HOF.
Honorable Mentions
Aaron Judge- OF Yankees- Judge has had too many injuries already in his young career up to this point for me to put him into the mix for these conversations. But if he can stay healthy and have a long career in NY, which I think he can. Then I can see him 100% being in for a massive deal and will lead to HOF talks. He is only 27 and power can age well in the MLB. He has a cover on MLB the Show and a great fan section in NY. Health is the key for Judge.
Jackie Bradley Jr- OF Redsox- JBJ, yes I know he is the face of the Redsox without Mookie now. BUT being a great defender and not really standing out anywhere else on the stat sheet doesn't get you too far in my book. Great defender average at best everywhere else.
Most Exciting Players- Position Players
Vald Guerro Jr- 3B Blue Jays- What is there not to like about Vlad G Jr. He plays a good 3B but that bat in his hands is a thing of beauty. There is no wasted motion in his swing and how far the ball carriers off it, it's awesome. I love seeing him hit that HR and I know he has a long career full of them.
Bo Bichette- SS Blue Jays- Great defensive, solid bat. Hard to not see why Bichette next to Vald Jr are taking the Blue Jays places faster than expected. This kid is a highlight reel play, waiting to happen.
Andrew Benintendi- OF Redsox- Benintendi is a solid, very solid defender. Very good with the bat and has the opportunity before him to show why the Redsox don't need Mookie when they have Benintendi. I fully expect the 25yo OF to show why he was a top 10 pick now more than ever. I am rooting for this kid and the future is bright for him.
Austin Meadows-OF Rays- I mean what can do you say about Meadows that wasn't great in 2019. 33HR, 291BA and only 24. Man, if I was the Pirates GM I would be kicking myself for trading this guy. Meadows has a long, long career ahead of him. As he develops more as a player I fully expect him to keep making waves and becoming a household name to MLB fans!
Hall of Fame Outlook- Position Players
J.D Martinez- DH Redsox-Looking at all the players in the AL East Martinez had something not a lot of the other guys did. an age of 32, a solid track record of consistency going back to 2015, a solid spot as a DH so his power can age well. 231 Career HR and a 294 career BA. Let's say Martinez plays through age 36 and hits at least 30HR a year that gives him another 120 to put him at 360 and possibly closer to 400 and he can maintain he BA and RBI production. I think there's a case here.
D.J. LeMahieu- 2B Yankees- Consistency since 2014 he has never had less than 132H or worse than a 267BA. Now since being on the Yankees, we see him starting to get a little more power and more hits. He is 31, he has a few prime years left. Saw he gets another 175hits each of the next 4 years that another 700 hits to his 1223 career. Then if he stays up with his average. His consistency and the high average for that span make a case for me.
Giancarlo Stanton OF Yankees- It feels like Stanton is always hurt, which he is. If this guy could stay on the field for more full seasons. He would have more than 308 career HR at age 30. Stanton has the profile to be a HOF kind of player but the injuries are the only thing that holds him back to me. But if he can get healthy and mash for the next 5 years and hit 40HR then yeah, going to be hard to deny that.
Most Exciting Players- Pitchers
Blake Snell- LHP Rays- Snell to me is a rebound candidate, but if he is healthy this is CY Young contender. He is 27 and won the AL CY Young in 2018 before being limited to an injury in 2019. A fully healthy Snell going into the next 5 years of his prime at this level. I would not want to face him as a hitter.
Tyler Glasnow -RHP Rays in 12 games started last season he pitched to a 1.78ERA with 76SO over 60.2IP and he is only 26. Still yet to hit his prime and he is going to create one heck of a 1/2 punch with Snell for the next few years in Tampa.
Hall of Fame Outlook- Pitchers
Chris Sale- LHP Boston Redsox- He is going to be missing all his age 31 seasons to TJ surgery but lets recap real fast what he has done so far in his career. 1629IP, a 3.03ERA 2007SO career 109-73 career 45WAR. My Goodness what a career so far. And the Redsox have him through 2024. Sale is one of the most dominant arms we have seen over the last 10 years and just based on his career so far. I can see him without a doubt being the conversation for the HOF
Gerrit Cole- RHP Yankees- 29YO, mega-contract from the Yankees. Already though his career 1195IP, a 94-52 record, 3.22ERA 1336SO. This guy was a Number 1 pick, go to the MLB in two seasons and has been one of THE best since. a 3x All-star and he has a long way to go still. Cole is on my HOF radar and looks to be trending in that direction.
Aroldis Chapman RHP Yankees- Let's just start with the Carrer awards first a Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year and Delivery Man of the Year, 6x All-star, 1 WS and the guy is only 32. He holds a career 2.23ERA, 273Saves, 883SO. Just incredible for Chapman at this stage in his career and he is still lighting up the gun with high 90's stuff. No doubt in mind at all Chapman will be in Cooperstown.
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