Yankees open season as favorites • Dodgers, Rays, Astros also top contenders
How do you improve on a 103-win season? For the New York Yankees, the answer was simple: sign one of the best pitchers in a game.
Seeking their long-awaited 28th title, the Yankees signed Gerrit Cole to a record-breaking nine-year, $324 million deal, giving the team the ace it has desperately craved. The Yankees haven’t won – or even reached – the World Series since 2009, losing to the Houston Astros in the 2019 American League Championship Series.
Though the Los Angeles Dodgers were the clear favorites in our 2020 predictions – three of six picked Los Angeles to win the World Series – it’s the Bronx Bombers who start the season atop our power rankings, with the Yankees opening the Major League Baseball season on Thursday night against the World Series Champion Washington Nationals.
1. New York Yankees
Zack Britton expected to get save opportunities with Aroldis Chapman sidelined.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers
60 games with Mookie Betts is better than no games with Mookie Betts.
3. Tampa Bay Rays
Possibly the deepest team in baseball, but have been hit hard by COVID-19.
4. Houston Astros
Lance McCullers Jr. back after Tommy John surgery cost him 2019 season.
5. Minnesota Twins
In case you forgot, the Twins signed Josh Donaldson.
6. Oakland Athletics
Frankie Montas was 9-2 with a 2.63 ERA in 16 starts before suspension in 2019.
7. Atlanta Braves
Freddie Freeman returns to team after battle with COVID-19.
8. Washington Nationals
Champs begin life without Anthony Rendon.
9. St. Louis Cardinals
Tommy Edman hit .304 while playing five positions as a rookie in 2019.
10. New York Mets
Can closer Edwin Diaz rebound in 2020?
11. Arizona Diamondbacks
With one of baseball’s better rotations, Arizona could push for a wild-card spot.
12. Milwaukee Brewers
Second baseman Keston Hiura had 19 HR, 49 RBI and a .938 OPS in 84 games as a rookie.
13. Philadelphia Phillies
Andrew McCutchen back atop the order after ACL injury ended 2019 season.
14. Cleveland Indians
Second baseman Cesar Hernandez (.357
OBP since 2016) was a sneaky-good signing.
15. Cincinnati Reds
Rotation relies heavily on Trevor Bauer (6.39 ERA in 10 starts with Cincinnati in 2019).
16. Boston Red Sox
Closer Brandon Workman had 104 strikeouts in 712/3 innings last season.
17. Los Angeles Angels
Albert Pujols’s contract runs through 2021.
18. Chicago Cubs
Rookie manager David Ross needs closer Craig Kimbrel to be at his best.
19 San Diego Padres
Fernando Tatis Jr. only has to stay healthy for 60 games this season.
20. Chicago White Sox
We had to wait a few months, but Luis Robert’s time is finally upon us.
21. Texas Rangers
Corey Kluber looking to regain his form with a new team.
22. Toronto Blue Jays
How long until top prospect Nate Pearson gets his shot in the majors?
23. Colorado Rockies
Wade Davis enters 2020 as closer despite 8.65 ERA in 2019.
24. San Francisco Giants
Mike Yastremski (21 HR, .852 OPS in 371 AB) out to prove 2019 was no fluke.
25. Seattle Mariners
Outfielder Kyle Lewis had 6 HR and 13 RBI in 18 games as a rookie.
26. Pittsburgh Pirates
Kevin Newman, Bryan Reynolds can build on strong rookie campaigns.
27. Miami Marlins
Sandy Alcantara, 24, gets the opening start.
28. Kansas City Royals
Catcher Salvador Perez missed 2019 season after Tommy John surgery.
29. Baltimore Orioles
They’re without Trey Mancini (35 HR, 97 RBI), who underwent colon cancer surgery in March.
30. Detroit Tigers
Miguel Cabrera (477 HR) will almost certainly have to wait until 2021 to reach 500. (USA Today/TNS)