There's certainly lots of hardware in right field in the
American League West.
The Seattle Mariners have a future Hall of Famer in Ichiro Suzuki. The Los
Angeles Angels have a perennial Gold Glover in Torii Hunter and the Texas
Rangers have the reigning American League Championship Series Most Valuable Player
in Nelson Cruz.
Cruz has the potential to be the best of the three in this season as he has the
best combination of tools if he's able to stay healthy. The guess here is he
finally stays healthy in 2012, giving the Rangers the best right fielder in the
West.
Here are the division rankings.
1. Texas — Give Nelson Cruz 150 games in right field and Texas manager
Ron Washington believes Cruz can have an MVP-caliber season. That's been a huge
issue though as Cruz hasn't been able to stay healthy for an entire season in
his career with Texas. Leg injuries have hampered him throughout as he
has never played more than 128 games in a season. Cruz changed up his offseason
workout to try and gain more flexibility in his legs. He's also lost about 15
pounds in hopes that less weight means less stress on his legs. His ALCS
exploits could serve as a springboard for a big season, and he has a chance to
surpass his career-best homer total of 33 and his RBI total of 87, which he set
last season. Cruz also is a threat on the basepaths when healthy, as he had 20
steals in his All-Star 2009 season. The versatile David Murphy is a great
security blanket if Cruz gets hurt again.
Team production in 2011: .298 average, 39 HR, 110 RBI, .909 OPS
Expected production in 2012: .280 average, 40 HR, 110 RBI, .920 OPS
2. Seattle — Even though the 200-hit season streak for Ichiro Suzuki
ended at 10, there's no reason to think Suzuki won't be able to bounce back in
2012. Suzuki will have to adjust to a new role, as he's no longer going to lead
off for the Mariners. Hitting third figures to allow him to improve his power
numbers. Suzuki has never had a season in which he had more than 69 RBI, which came
in his rookie campagin in 2001. Even though he's 38, Suzuki is always a threat
on the basepaths. He had 40 steals last season, which was third in the AL. He's
also got a plus arm in right even though his Gold Glove streak came to an end
at 10. One thing working in Suzuki's favor is his durability. The future Hall
of Famer has played in at least 146 games in every season.
Team production in 2011: .264 average, 6 HR, 51 RBI, .639 OPS
Expected production in 2012: .300 average, 10 HR, 80 RBI, .775 OPS
3. Los Angeles — Like Suzuki, Torii Hunter is on the downside of his
career. Still Hunter still is a threat at the plate and can still make the
highlight plays in the outfield. Hunter's average dipped to .262 in 2011, his
lowest mark since 2003 (.250). Hunter also matched his career high with 125
strikeouts. Despite those negatives he still posted his sixth consecutive
season with at least 20 home runs (23) and also had 82 RBI. This will be
Hunter's second full season in right field. He made just three errors in right
in 2011 and his 15 assists ranked second among AL right fielders. A big season
certainly would come at a good time for Hunter as the 36-year-old will be a
free agent following the season.
Team production in 2011: .258 average, 22 HR, 78 RBI, .736 OPS
Expected production in 2012: .260 average, 25 HR, 75 RBI, .775 OPS
4. Oakland — The Athletics made a big splash by signing Cuban outfielder
Yoenis Cespedes. They may have made another splash, although a smaller one,
when they acquired outfielder Josh Reddick as part of the Andrew Bailey trade
with Boston. The Cespedes move will have no impact on Reddick. The Athletics
plan on giving him a chance to be an everyday player in right. Reddick hit .280
in 254 at-bats with the Red Sox last season with seven home runs and 28 RBI. He
also had 14 homers in the minors. A 20-homer season from a right fielder would
be huge for the Athletics. The duo of Ryan Sweeney and David DeJesus accounted
for 11 homers last season for the Athletics. Neither of them are with the team
now, leaving the door wide open for Reddick.
Team production in 2011: .234 average, 13 HR, 63 RBI, .677 OPS
Expected production in 2012: .250 average, 20 HR, 70 RBI, .750 OPS
