Rating the A.L. Central

2.MinnesotaTwins

Last year: 85-77, second place (lost wild-card game to the Yankees)

Key losses: Glen Perkins, Bartolo Colon, Dillon Gee

Key newcomers: Addison Reed, Fernando Rodney, Zach Duke

Best-case scenario: Byron Buxton continues his evolution and makes his first-ever All-Star team, the additions to the pitching staff help out, and the Twins challenge the Indians for the AL Central title.

Worst-case scenario: The team can’t match performances that made the Twins’ 2017 year special. Hot prospect: Left-hander Tyler Jay moved his way up to Double-A by the end of last season.

3.KC Royals

Last year: 80-82, third place

Key losses: Alcides Escobar, Mike Moustakas, Jason Vargas, Trevor Cahill, Eric Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain, Melky Cabrera, Joakim Soria, Scott Alexander, Brandon Moss

Key newcomers: Trevor Oaks, Jesse Hahn

Best-case scenario: The mass exodus helps the progression of players such as Whit Merrifield.

Worst-case scenario: Losing the likes of Moustakas, Vargas, Hosmer and Cain dampens the spirit of the club, and the Royals finish last in the AL Central. Hot prospect: Eric Skoglund made his Major League debut in 2017 and could add depth to the rotation.

4.ChicagoWhiteSox

Last year: 67-95, fourth place

Key losses: Jake Petricka, Mike Pelfrey

Key newcomers: Luis Avilan, Miguel Gonzalez, Welington Castillo

Best-case scenario: Yoan Moncada, Reynaldo Lopez, Lucas Giolito and the rest of Chicago’s top prospects take a leap forward.

Worst-case scenario: Lopez and Giolito regress, Carlos Rodon has injury issues, and the massive rebuild shows signs of cracks.

Hot prospect: The White Sox have a stacked farm system, but with Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert potentially waiting in the wings, right-hander Michael Kopech should be the next man up.

5.DetroitTigers

Last year: 64-98, fifth place

Key losses: Bruce Rondon, Ian Kinsler, Anibal Sanchez

Key newcomers: Leonys Martin, Mike Fiers

Best-case scenario: The Tigers deal for young talent at the trade deadline, using the veteran pieces remaining on the roster.

Worst-case scenario: The Tigers can’t find value on the open market and are forced to ride of the rest of the year as currently constructed.

Hot prospect: Franklin Perez, one of the key pieces of last season’s Justin Verlander trade, is the gem of the Tigers’ future.

1.BostonRedSox

Last year: 93-69, first place (lost to Astros in the ALDS)

Key losses: Addison Reed, Chris Young, Doug Fister

Key newcomer: J.D. Martinez

Best-case scenario: Martinez brings his power display to Fenway Park, adding to a lineup that includes Andrew Benintendi, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts, and a healthy David Price pairs with Chris Sale to create a lethal 1-2 punch of left-handers.

Worst-case scenario: Even with the surge in the total number of home runs, the Red Sox again fall near the bottom.

Hot prospect: Jay Groome is already the team’s top prospect according to Baseball America, despite struggling in his first full pro season, posting a 5.69 ERA across two levels.