By Vinny Masocol
Hope springs eternal is what they say, and everyone starts out 0-0 blah blah blah… You are not here to hear that; you are here to see if your team can cut it and make it to the playoffs.
Top 5 teams coming out of MLB Spring Training and why they deserve their spots:
5. Houston Astros:
I know they may not have been the best team in their division, but they have won over 90+ games since 2017 with the exception of the 2020 pandemic year. To the resistance of Yankees fans, we must move on from their 2017 loss. That being said, the Astros still present their legendary lineup with their designated hitter; Yordan Alvarez. Framber Valdez plans to take another step into being a true number one and even with the Justin Verlander Injury to start 2024 , the Astros should be able to win enough games to make the playoffs and potentially make a deep run. The problem they do face is their need to win at Home 39-42 and whether or not that is going to be enough for them going forward.
4. New York Yankees:
As a big fan of the New York Yankees, I waffled back and forth on how I felt about their chances this season. Now, I know what you are thinking, oh boy it’s another Yankees fan giving his two cents even so I am not too convinced that the Yankees are better than any other team out there. If I’m being honest this really all depends on the health of the team. Too many “what ifs” to be higher on this ranking, but the talent is there. with the addition of left fielder; Juan Soto to the lineup with Aaron Judge, a trimmed down Giancarlo Stanton, Healthy DJ LeMahieu and Anthony Rizzo, and the return of Jasson Dominguez, but again health is the key. The rotation is even more questionable, but I think they will have enough players with Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Marcus Stroman, Nestor Cortes and whoever ends up in the number five position will lead them into the playoffs. It seems like Rodon and Cortes are going to take a bounce back this year along with a pretty good lineup on their way into the playoffs in order to make a serious run at the World Series. I still prefer the Yankees to the many other teams I’ve witnessed this preseason, which have led me to question the Yankees way more than to believe in their potential to win the World Serries this time around. World series maybe playoffs should be a definite, again IF healthy.
3. Baltimore Orioles:
The addition of Corbin Burnes gives them something they did not have last year, a chance. With Burns on their roster, the hitting will be there, and the pitching will fall in line. They would have been Higher on my list, if Kyle Bradish hadn’t gotten hurt. They may go out and get Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery, but I’m not sure if they would be willing to spend the money it would take for these two clients of Sports agent, Scott Boras. Maybe a decrease in pricing will turn into a one-year deal which would be way more affordable. Either way they are the class of the AL EAST, and this is me, saying this as a Yankees fan. Also, with the number of prospects on the farm, Baltimore is best suited to grab whoever the best player is once they reach their deadline.
2. Atlanta Braves:
The Atlanta Braves have added Jarred Kelenic and Chris Sale to their roster. There is a huge risk with Sale, but he can be what the Braves were missing in their rotation, that is if he is able to avoid the DL this season. Even if he doesn’t avoid the dangers of the DL and Jarred Kelenic didn’t have the opportunity to be the player he needs to be, especially since at one point he was one of the best prospects in baseball Atlanta has more than enough to challenge the Dodgers for the NL in 2024.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers:
So, what can I say about the Los Angeles Dodgers… Well for one thing, they are a team that every other team should be imitating when you want to go all-in. Even without Shohei Ohtani pitching this year, he can provide the Dodgers a lineup with three possible MVP Candidates. The rotation with Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and potentially the combo of James Paxton and Walker Buehler will give this rotation the depth Los Angeles needs until Clayton Kershaw returns. Now this doesn’t mean they are on track to win the World Series; They have been disappointing in the playoffs before, but with their talents and aggressive mindset, this makes them very dangerous at the trade deadline and puts them on smack dab at the top of this power rankings for 2024.
The rest… up to 10
- Texas Rangers – Too many issues early in the season. But World Series Champs till someone knocks them off.
- Tampa Bay Rays – Can never count this team out, but not a top five team.
- Seattle Mariners – The pitching rotation keeps them in the top 10.
- Cincinnati Reds – I know this is my surprise hot take, I love Elly de La Cruz and the young team, could be the Diamondbacks 2024.
- The Arizona Diamondbacks – Still good enough to make it to the world series cannot keep them out.
The Banner Newspaper 