By re-signing Alex Gordon – and then providing depth at the Starting Rotation, KC has cemented itself on a playoff spot in 2016. They are still 4 or 5 wins better than Detroit – but health could play a factor there. Still like them better than the AL East clubs cannibalizing each other at the top, and the AL West is a little up in the air between Houston and Texas. +1200 is still a fantastic odd for the team to repeat as World Series Champs.

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Since we last chatted on these odds, the KC Royals have signed Alex Gordon and Ian Kennedy, the Baltimore Orioles have inked Chris Davis – and Detroit settled on a 6 year pact with Justin Upton.

The only club that budged on the odds were the Tigers going from +2500 to +2200.  For the record, I believe that both the Tigers and Royals are great value picks right now.

In doing these deals, both franchises have set themselves up nicely for a postseason berth in this forthcoming year.

I believe with the Upton deal that Detroit is now and 86 – 87 win team.  I firmly think that KC will be the only club in the American League to top 90.

Detroit’s owner Mike Ilitch has opened up his pocketbook to extend the Tigers team salary to the tune of $200 MIL in the upcoming season. By inking Justin Upton to this overall offensive powerhouse – it will mean Detroit has a chance to contend this season.

No doubt that Detroit has inched closer to KC in this offseason.  It will come at a cost though.  The Motown Boys team salary is near the $200 MIL barrier, which will put them into a Luxury Tax Penalty.

I have no problem with Mr. Illtch realizing that the time to win is now.  Detroit has a superior offense to any AL Central club, and could see rebound campaigns coming from Justin Verlander and Anibal Sanchez.  At +2200 this week they are the best odd on the board.

In terms of winter transactions, I am still really down on the Pirates, the Rangers and the Padres.

Texas should be sitting idly by with the roster they have right now.  Houston is going to see some serious internal improvement, while the Rangers squad had a lot of good years from players that may not be able to duplicate the numbers again in 2016.

I did finally take the Marlins off the bad odd list.  The Wei-Yin Chen signing is a good one, and it seems to have solidified the brass’s resolve to at least try to keep Marcell Ozuna as well.

The Marlins and the Diamondbacks are that next tier of clubs that compete behind the Mets, Nats, Cubs, Cards, Bucs, Giants and Dodgers – who should all top 90 wins in 2016.

All of these aforementioned clubs should feast on the bottom 6 teams – Phillies, Braves, Reds, Brewers, Padres and Rockies who all could lose nearly 100 games this year.

Washington and New York still have the best odds in the NL because they are the longest.  I don’t mind the Cards at +1200, but I think they will have to play in the Wild Card Game if they can’t catch Chicago.

This is troublesome if they faced all the aces of Giants, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Marlins, Mets or Nats – who all have better #1 Starters than the best St. Louis pitcher.

I would only give the Redbirds an advantage over the Pittsburgh Pirates in a one game playoff. You are looking at any of the Mets top 3 pitchers, Max Scherzer or Stephen Strasburg, Madison Bumgarner or Johnny Cueto, Jose Fernandez, Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw as potential pitcher to face in a one game elimination.

Despite having Michael Wacha and Adam Wainwright, I give the edge to other club.

ODDS courtesy of bet365.com

Odds To Win 2016 World Championship

Blue – Good Value

Red – Bad Value

Chicago Cubs +700

SF Giants +900

Toronto Blue Jays  +1000

Boston Red Sox +1000

NY Mets +1100

Washington Nationals +1100

KC Royals +1200

St. Louis Cards +1200

Houston Astros +1300

Texas Rangers +1500

Pittsburgh Pirates +1500

Arizona Diamondbacks +1500

LA Dodgers +1500

NY Yankees +1500

LA Angels +2200

Detroit Tigers +2200

Cleveland Indians +2500

Seattle Mariners +2500

Miami Marlins +3000

Minnesota Twins +3300

Chicago White Sox +3300

TB Rays +5000

Baltimore Orioles +5000

Oakland A’s +6600

SD Padres +7500

Milwaukee Brewers +10000

Cincinnati Reds +12500

Atlanta Braves +17500

Colorado Rockies +20000

Philadelphia Phillies +35000

*** 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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