The powerhouses
Last year’s MLB preview highlighted the New York Mets and San Diego Padres spending big to construct super-teams, which the Dodgers took to new levels this year. It’s better than not spending at all, but it’s no guarantee of a trophy, either. Just ask the 2004 Yankees.
The path to victory in the National League West won’t be easy, even for the Dodgers. Other than the also-ran Rockies, the rest of the division is fairly stacked. The San Francisco Giants will have an uphill battle trying to topple the Dodgers and Padres, but they’re certainly making the effort. On Monday, they agreed to a two-year, $62 million deal with Blake Snell; the reigning NL Cy Young can opt-out after the first year. He’ll join a Giants rotation that already boasts last year’s Cy Young runner-up, Logan Webb.
Other than the Juan Soto trade, the Padres had a fairly quiet offseason before acquiring Dylan Cease from the White Sox last week. They did, however, manage to convince Xander Bogaerts to do something the Red Sox never could: move from shortstop to second base.
The Padres will also be playing with higher purpose this year. Winning their first-ever World Series would be a heartwarming story and fitting way to honor their beloved longtime owner, Peter Seidler, who passed away last November.
It’s not often that the reigning pennantwinners seem like an afterthought, but that’s how strong the NL West division looks. Don’t sleep on the Diamondbacks, though; they may not have had the flashiest offseason, but Mike Hazen made some savvy moves to improve an already-talented roster, including adding Eduardo Rodriguez to the rotation.
Over in the American League West, the two teams from Texas will be duking it out for top spot. The Rangers spent themselves into something of a corner to win their firstever World Series, but the areas of weakness are beginning to show. Jordan Montgomery became a free agent, and Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom, and Tyler Mahle are all working their way back from various surgeries. The lineup looks stacked, but Corey Seager and Josh Jung may not be ready for Opening Day, and Nathaniel Lowe will miss at least the first two weeks of the season due to an oblique strain.
If the Rangers don’t manage to repeat next fall, they can take comfort in knowing that no one ever does anymore; the last club to win back-to-back World Series was the Yankees, who won three straight from 1998-2000.
Back on the east coast, the Phillies show no sign of slowing down their spending. They extended Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler, ensuring that their elite starting pitching pairing is locked in for the foreseeable future. Baseball’s oldest same-name, same-city franchise is doing everything they can to win that elusive third championship, and they’ve upset some formidable foes over the past two postseasons. Will this finally be the year they make it happen?
They’ll have to get past the Braves, who are so talented and consistent that it’s almost boring by now. (As if a player as electric as Ronald Acuña Jr. could ever be boring.)
But as seems to be the case every year, the Braves are a clear choice to win it all. Their lineup is loaded with young talent, and their pitching is strong. If Chris Sale can stay healthy and finally put together that comeback season he’s been fighting for, they’ll have one of the game’s most fiery competitors in their arsenal, too.