Bold Predictions for R.A. Dickey in the American League After Reported Trade

According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the trade between the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Mets which will send R.A. Dickey to Toronto, is agreed upon, pending Dickey signing an extension with the team.

This move would practically finish off a complete overhaul of the Blue Jays, which began with their blockbuster trade that took place with the Miami Marlins earlier this offseason.

The Blue Jays seem fully committed to take advantage of what most believe to be a weakened American League East division. Their latest move has to make them the favorite to win the division, and some are already calling for a Toronto Blue Jays and Anaheim Angels ALCS.

Only time will tell how the blockbuster trades will play out, but it looks as if baseball is going to be exciting again north of the border.

The big question is: How will Dickey adapt to pitching his knuckleball in the American League environment?

Can he make the adjustment?

Not only will he make the adjustment, but he will excel in his new home. Here are three bold predictions for R.A. Dickey should he go to the American League.

3. Dickey Will Start for the American League in the All-Star Game

Dickey got the snub as the starting pitcher for the 2012 All-Star Game for the National League. Many argued that Dickey was the most deserving, but in the end, Matt Cain got the nod.

Dickey will ultimately get the last laugh as he starts the 2013 All-Star Game. What a great story it will be as the 2013 All-Star Game takes place in none other than Citi Field, the place where Dickey has called home the past few years.

Dickey will walk off the field after one inning of work to the roaring New York City crowd, just the way he walked off the field after his 20th victory in 2012. 

2. Dickey Will Win 25 Games in 2013

R.A. Dickey won 20 games in 2012. That was good for 27 percent of the Mets' victories.

While the Mets did average over four runs per game while Dickey was on the mound, the question in New York toward the end of the year became: How many games could Dickey have won if the Mets scored more runs for him?

With the new-and-improved Blue Jays lineup, Dickey should get more run support than he can ever imagine up in Toronto. Sure, that doesn't guarantee he will win the 25 games as predicted. But it won't hurt either. 

If you figure the Blue Jays will have to win about 95 games to win the AL East in 2013, and Dickey is the winning pitcher in 26 percent of those games, it will give Dickey 25 wins for the year.

1. Dickey Will Win the American League Cy Young in 2013

Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martínez, Gaylord Perry and Roy Halladay—those are the names of the pitchers who have won the Cy Young Award in both the National and American Leagues.

Dickey is now switching over to the American League at the top of his game, which means he has a chance to join that short list of great pitchers.

The road will get tougher for Dickey, as there wasn't a designated hitter to face when he was pitching in the National League. But he also has an added advantage in the fact that the American League hasn't faced a knuckleballer since the likes of Tim Wakefield.

Hey, give me some credit, it doesn't get much bolder than this.