A new year is a new beginning, and for teams that endured losing important pieces to injury last season, it can be like trading for an All Star without losing anyone in return. Here are the key players coming back to the AL East that missed significant time in 2012 on the DL and can make a big difference in 2013.
Toronto Blue Jays: Jose Bautista
The Blue Jays were 45-44 on July 16 when Jose Bautista injured his wrist. He played just two games the rest of the season and the Jays floundered down the stretch, going 28-45. Bautista hit 97 home runs in 2010-11 and was on pace for close to 50 again before going down. A wrist injury can impact a batter’s power even a year later but if he can regain that stroke it will a big boost for Canada’s team. After taking batting practice earlier this week he says his wrist feels great following September’s surgery, a good sign for the upcoming season
Nobody will be happier with the new moves the Jays made than Joey Bats. In 2012 Toronto’s leadoff hitters hit a pathetic .237 and batters in the 2 hole hit .247. Those two spots will be taken by Jose Reyes (2011 NL batting champ) and Melky Cabrera (.346 in 2012). Think of that incredible increase in meaningful at-bats for Bautista, who led the league in bases on balls in 2011 (by a wide margin). If his wrist holds up then Joey Bats will be set for an MVP campaign.
New York Yankees: Mariano Rivera
Honestly, The Yankees held up fine without Mo since Rafael Soriano was there to fill the void. But Soriano is now in Washington with a $28M contract. If the 43 year old future-first-ballot-Hall-of-Famer is his usual self the Yankees’ bullpen will be in great shape. If Father Time finally catches up, there isn’t anyone dependable to take his place. For the first time in Rivera’s career, the Yankees will not be those same Bronx Bombers that stayed among the tops in homers without Swisher, Martin, A-Rod and Ibanez so those ninth innings will be much tighter and save opportunities much more frequent. Mariano will be depended upon much more than ever.
Tampa Bay Rays: Evan Longoria
Evan Longoria missed over half the season with a hamstring injury and was limited when he did play. As a result the Rays had their lowest-scoring output since 2006 and missed the playoffs for just the second time in five seasons. With B.J. Upton and Carlos Pena out of town (and nobody brought in to adequately replace them) the Rays are depending on their star at the hot corner to carry them offensively, and they rewarded him with a $100M contract to demonstrate. Longoria was an All Star his first three seasons from ’08-’10 and he will have to regain that form for the Rays to compete in the AL East.
Baltimore Orioles: Brian Roberts
Buck Showalter did an absolutely amazing job last year keeping the Orioles around the top of the standings despite a ton of injuries and other disappointments (Jake Arrieta, Brian Matusz, Zach Britton). When important bats went down early (leadoff hitter Nolan Reimold, the next leadoff man Endy Chavez, and his replacement Nick Markakis), there was always somebody to pick up the slack (Nate McLouth). No team was as surprisingly deep as the Orioles.
The one position the Orioles struggled replacing was second base, where they tallied an MLB-worst .273 on-base percentage. Brian Roberts, remember him? Roberts was one of the most productive second basemen in the last decade, leading the league in doubles from 2004-09 and averaged 35 stolen bases and 100 runs scored during that time. The 35 year-old former All-Star has been oft-injured the last three years and hardly played, but he’s still around. His injuries were back, groin, hernia and concussion related, so his legs are still fresh. Roberts is healthier now than he’s been in a long time and if he can remain so, he adds veteran leadership and production to the one weak position on the team, as well as provide a legitimate and proven leadoff hitter. The O’s made virtually no moves this offseason (gains or losses), but a healthy Brian Roberts makes the Orioles strong all the way around.
Boston Red Sox: John Lackey
I played baseball with a kid who got Tommy John surgery. After being great forever he suddenly seemed to fall off a cliff and pitched horribly. He finally discovered he needed serious elbow surgery. Similarly, it shouldn’t be a shock that Lackey pitched so bad before discovering he needed that work done.
It has been a rocky road for Red Sox fans ever since John Lackey put on a “B” hat. After two terrible seasons and Tommy John, Lackey reported to camp early, healthy, and 15 pounds lighter and will be ready to go this Spring Training. Opening Day will be 18 months since he went under the knife. Bostonians want nothing to do with him but hey, he’s paid like an ace; he can at least be a serviceable #4-5 starter. And that would be a welcome addition to a Red Sox club that finished among the league’s worst in pitching.
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