ESPN.com writer Keith Law, a former Blue Jays executive, talks Red Sox, Cubs and which teams had the best and worst offseasons with The Post’s Justin Terranova.
Q: Who are the favorites in the AL East?
A: If I had to pick, I’d lean toward the Red Sox, but the Orioles are right there. The Red Sox could use some pitching help, but they have some pitching that is really close to the major leagues. Their offense is substantially better and it’s going to look a lot like the classic Red Sox lineups — patience, power — which is going to be a real grind for an opposing starting pitcher to turn that lineup over three times. I don’t love Pablo Sandoval in terms of five years, but it makes them a much better club this year.
Q: Have the Cubs made the jump to playoff team?
A: They will make a jump; I don’t know if it’s to the playoffs. I thought they somehow needed to add two top-flight starters and they added one in [Jon] Lester. … If you say Cubs win 90-plus, you are banking on an unbelievable amount of production from the young position players, many of whom haven’t even made it to the big leagues yet.
Q: Do you envision a scenario where the Rockies would trade Carlos Gonzalez or Troy Tulowitzki?
A: Gonzalez, not Tulowitzki. Gonzalez’s contract plus his health issues really diminished his value. This is a player who really didn’t do much in the big leagues until he got to Colorado, so I think there are plenty of executives who wonder if that will translate outside of there. No one really has those doubts about Tulowitzki.
Q: Which team is most improved?
A: The Padres really overhauled the whole offense. I don’t know if I understand the entire philosophy: it seems like they punted on defense up the middle and the team is extremely right-handed, but they are probably up 150 runs from what they were last year. That was probably the worst offense we’ve seen since the 1962 Mets. I don’t think they are close to the Dodgers, but they are certainly much better and they managed to do it without giving up any of their top three prospects.
Q: Which team took the biggest step back?
A: The Braves, but that’s by design. The Braves front office did a really good job of accepting where they are and realizing they have to turn this over to be a contending team when the new stadium opens. They went about 90 percent of the way. I would have traded Craig Kimbrel, maybe I am nitpicking. They made their major-league team worse, but their farm system went from bottom-10 to top-10 in one offseason.