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It is that time of year again for prognosticators to present their picks for the upcoming MLB Season.  Perhaps 2014 was the best season of forecasting I ever have done, so 2015 may come with a slight regression, but then again ride the wave until it slams you into the sea.

As you will see in the coming weeks I will be high on teams like Seattle, Washington and Pittsburgh, mostly because of youth talent and pitching, but I also see some of the old dogs sticking around to put up a fight like Boston, St. Louis, Detroit, San Francisco, and the Dodgers are always scary, but flawed at the same time,

One of my new favorite themes to harp on is staying away from injury riddled teams.  For this reason alone I don’t like the Padres, Rockies and Blue Jays.

Having said that about Toronto, they may playoff bound if they can stay between the white lines off the playing surface with the majority of their playing roster.  If they fail to make the postseason, it has to be curtains time for the Manager, GM, and Paul Beeston is already in the last year of his front office career.

Here we go with the bold predictions.

#1 – Yoenis Cespedes Will Sign With Detroit Long – Term:  Having failed to secure Max Scherzer to pact that saw him lineup with the rest of the core Tigers, I fully expect them to be players on David Price and Cespedes.  I believe it will be easier to sign the Cuban OF slugger.

I am calling for a 6 YR deal that will reach between $126 and $138 MIL to get the job done.  I am not sure the franchise can afford to bring in David Price after, that – but can you imagine a 3 – 4 – 5 of Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez and Cespedes for the next 4 years?

It is not like the devoid of pitching talent either.  Justin Verlander is capable of throwing well still, and Anibal Sanchez has continued to evolve into a great starter.  Picking up Alfredo Simon was a key move in my view.  This club still has the foundation to win for 3 – 4 more years, and it is easier to find a pitcher to replace – than an offensive piece like Cespedes.

#2 – Josh Donaldson Wins AL MVP Trophy.  That’s right.  It will be a monster year for the new Jays 3B.  I am projecting this guy to terrorize pitchers at the Rogers Center, and flash his leather out in the field as well.  Look for a .280/.370/550 campaign – with 35 HRs and 100+ RBI.

This guy is the real deal. While I think Brett Lawrie and the package isn’t as egregious as some people claim in return. there is no doubt of Donaldson’ arsenal.  He has been on the periphery of greatness, and showing power in the AL West, were 67% games he played occurred at Angel Stadium, Safeco Field and O.co Coliseum.

In 2015, he will have the hitter friendly parks of Rogers Center, Fenway Park, Camden Yards and Yankee Stadium.  Look the hell out. Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion will be other horses in the stable, but with the overall game from Donaldson. he will emerge as the top guy on the team.

#3 – The San Diego Padres Win Less Games In 2015 Than 2014.  I won’t get into much here, but read the article I wrote about this topic yesterday here.  Talk about going against the grain of all the analysts.

#4 – Yankees Will Finish Under .500 – Again..  another chance to read my full disclosure on the State Of the Union Address.

#5 –  Bryce Harper Will Hit 30+ HR and add 100+ RBI.  The Nationals OF will finally put it all together and have a monster season.  Last year was just the start of it in the playoffs.  Look at his last 6 weeks of the 2014 campaign.  The best natural talent in the National League.

#6 – Either Ike Davis or Brett Lawrie will club 25+ HRs and add 80+ RBI.  That is about of a stretch right? Only that Davis did hit 32 HRs just a few years ago, and if the Canadian can stay healthy for a full year, he is fully capable of letting his power show.

I think the move to natural grass will totally help Lawrie.  I also think that the club is in decent shape long term with the moves that Billy Beane orchestrated.  I wouldn’t be surprised if a platoon of Davis and Nate Freiman pull off similar numbers to what Brandon Moss gave the club last year.  I will be writing a huge A’s piece in the coming week, so look for it.

#7 – Both A Starter And Position Player In Top 25 Salaries Will Be Hurt For The Year.

Whether it is Masahiro Tanaka, or any of the other recent top level salaried chuckers, someone big is going to be on the shelf for the whole year. and potentially via an AB or on the based.  A position player will also fall by the wayside, but that is not much of going out on a limb when you consider there are plenty of guys with injury trouble that yield big $.  Josh Hamilton is just one of them.

#8  – Alex Rodriguez Is Going To Be Released Before Memorial Day Weekend

I wouldn’t be surprised if he performs decently in Spring Training,but when the real competition sits in for the regular season, I fully expect the soon to be 40 year old, to have several problems putting the bat on the ball.  Once the Yanks realize he can’t play, than presto – he is boom!! Outta here (Brett Myers style).

#9. – A 1st Team World Series Champion To Be Crowned In 2015.

This means I like the clubs like the Mariners and Nationals to be the favorites to win the Fall Classic (despite neither franchise owning a League Pennant in their history as of yet), but I like the prognostication for sure.

Washington is hands down the favorite overall, but don’t count out the PAC NW boys.  Other clubs not to win a World Series are:  Tampa Bay. Houston, Texas, Colorado and San Diego.  I don’t think the latter 5 have a chance here, but how about we include them for the sake of the longshot.   The Cubs won’t win either for the 107th straight year.

#10.  David Ortiz Will Suspended For Pace Of Play Infractions.

Okay, I had to bring some levity to the slugger’s Spring Training pronouncements, but seriously, he will be the clubhouse leaders in fines, and the league will have its hands full all of. 2015.  Wait for the 1st ‘Big Papi” rant of retirement based on the new rules.

*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com and their partners***

A Big thanks goes out to our chief writer Hunter Stokes for preparing today’s feature post.

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