With the Dodgers and Padres taking part in the two-game Seoul Collection in South Korea on March 20-21, the 2024 MLB common season can be upon us earlier than we all know it. (Full Opening Day motion is about for March 28). It’s so quickly, in reality, that if we wish to do a sequence of eight weekly season previews earlier than all 30 groups throw their first pitches, we now have to start out proper now. This sequence will break down main storylines from the angle of all six divisions, and we kick issues off right now with a have a look at the workforce in every division with probably the most at stake in 2024.
Each baseball season, for every particular person workforce, must be taken in context. The Reds gained as many video games in 2023 (82) because the Yankees and the Padres, however whereas Reds followers (appropriately) noticed their 82 wins as an enormous step towards an thrilling future, Yankees and Padres followers (additionally appropriately) noticed their 82 wins as an enormous disappointment.
All of it depends upon the stakes and expectations heading into the season. And people stakes and expectations could make or break not only a season, however a complete group.
At this time, in our 2024 MLB Season Preview, we have a look at the workforce in every division that’s dealing with probably the most pivotal season. If these golf equipment win, it’ll be a vindication for the entrance workplace and roster. And in the event that they lose, it could possibly be the top of the road for a lot of concerned … and possibly time to embrace a brand new method.
AL East: Yankees
2023 report: 82-80 | 2024 projection: 94-68
Regardless of “a catastrophe” of a 2023 season (within the phrases of Brian Cashman), the Yankees introduced again their head of baseball operations, their supervisor and most of their entrance workplace workers. If 2024 is something in any respect like 2023, that will nicely not occur once more.
The Yankees have executed their half to gear up this offseason, including Marcus Stroman, Alex Verdugo, Trent Grisham and slightly outfielder you might need heard of named Juan Soto. But the workforce nonetheless seems prefer it’ll be relying on the well being of Aaron Choose, Giancarlo Stanton and Carlos Rodón, similar to it did final yr. Oh, and the Orioles now have a brand new ace, Corbin Burnes, to go along with their proficient younger lineup.
What bar do the Yankees should clear this yr? Clearly, they should make the playoffs. Do they should win the division? Do they should attain the World Collection? The Yankees are good, however they’re additionally comparatively outdated. They’ve a lot using on this season. If it doesn’t work out, a complete bunch of individuals right here this yr could possibly be gone subsequent yr … and that will nicely embrace Soto, a pending free agent. Followers have complained that the Yankees haven’t felt like they’ve been as “all in” in latest seasons as they had been prior to now. Properly, that is exactly what “all in” seems like — for higher or worse.
AL Central: Guardians
2023 report: 76-86 | 2024 projection: 83-79
I’m sorry to convey this again up, however it must be stated: Since Rajai Davis’ breathtaking homer (bear in mind how excited LeBron James was?) off Aroldis Chapman in Recreation 7 of the 2016 World Collection, issues have gone downhill for this franchise. Certain, there have been loads of optimistic moments, from that thrilling comeback, walk-off win over the Yankees in Recreation 3 of the 2022 AL Division Collection to simply about every part José Ramírez has executed in that point.
However the Guardians, regardless of three division championships since that 2016 World Collection look, are 0-for-4 in postseason sequence since 2017. They bottomed out in 2023, ending with their lowest profitable proportion (.469) since 2012. And now, regardless of a division that appears perpetually winnable, they appear like they could be operating out of time. There’s younger expertise surrounding Ramírez, however none of it’s confirmed, and whereas the pitching tends to come back by way of for Cleveland, that wasn’t actually the case final yr. This workforce has little energy exterior Ramírez, and its largest addition this offseason has been veteran backup catcher Austin Hedges.
The Twins are the default favourite right here, however the Tigers are bulking up, and the Royals have been aggressive this winter. The Guardians have tried merely to maintain their heads above water because the 2016 season, however final yr, they lastly fell below. What occurs if there’s a repeat in 2024?
AL West: Angels
2023 report: 73-89 | 2024 projection: 75-87
After shedding the most effective participant on the planet to their Southern California neighbors on an earth-shaking contract, the Angels moved to fill the void left by Shohei Ohtani by signing … a bunch of bullpen arms! There are some good pitchers right here — Robert Stephenson, Matt Moore, Luis Garcia, Adam Cimber—however, nicely, I hope they’ll additionally throw 130 innings with a 3.14 ERA and, oh yeah, possibly hit 44 homers whereas they’re at it.
The Angels, below new supervisor Ron Washington, usually are not in complete shambles with out Ohtani. Their rotation isn’t half-bad, they’ve received some intriguing younger expertise within the lineup they usually have a fellow named Mike Trout who has earned himself some renown within the large leagues over time. It’s not just like the Angels have given up. However how is a workforce that misplaced 89 video games final yr presupposed to get higher minus Ohtani? Trout has been nothing however loyal to this franchise by way of eight consecutive shedding seasons — and, famously, no postseason victories — however all it takes is one “Hey, it positive can be good to make the playoffs sometime” quote from him at any level to show this whole franchise the other way up.
The Angels may conceivably begin out the season sizzling — they could possibly be in first place on Could 5, like they had been in 2023 — and speak themselves into letting every part trip. But when they get off to a depressing begin — in the event that they play April and Could like they did final August and September — large questions will emerge in a short time. Was shedding Ohtani simply the beginning?
NL East: Phillies
2023 report: 90-72 | 2024 projection: 84-78
Right here’s the elemental query for the Phillies and their followers: Is the 3-2 lead they misplaced to the D-backs in final yr’s NLCS going to be forgotten in a yr … or one thing that haunts them ceaselessly? (Keep in mind, they’d that lead going into Video games 6 and seven in entrance of a raucous, deafening Residents Financial institution Park crowd pleading to ship them to a second consecutive World Collection.)
As veteran of a workforce because the Phillies are, as well-constructed as they’ve been, one-win-away-from-the-World-Collection alternatives don’t come round all that usually. The Phillies share a division with the juggernaut that’s the Braves and share a league with the titanic Dodgers, who’re much more determined to get again to the World Collection.
This workforce is outdated and getting older; it’s going to get harder earlier than it will get simpler. If the Phillies take a step backward — and there’s nothing aside from a World Collection that isn’t “a step backward” — how a lot are you able to count on from this gaggle of 30-somethings shifting ahead? The vibes had been immaculate in Philly final yr. In the event that they don’t make the World Collection this yr, or if the wheels come off completely, the vibes in 2025 can be … lower than immaculate.
NL Central: Cardinals
2023 report: 71-91 | 2024 projection: 86-76
OK, positive: Numerous issues went sideways on them in 2023. The pitching workers imploded, some veterans regressed and a few younger gamers didn’t make the leap the way in which the Cardinals had hoped. A final-place season, the primary for this franchise since 1990, has many fathers.
The Cardinals imagine they solved their main concern, pitching, with the additions of Sonny Grey, Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn to the rotation and Andrew Kittredge, Keynan Middleton and Nick Robertson to the bullpen. (They didn’t add anybody to their lineup, although they did subtract Tyler O’Neill.) However every part was just a bit bit off from the get-go in 2023 — bear in mind the non permanent removing of Willson Contreras from the catcher position, to not point out the verbal tussle between O’Neill and supervisor Oliver Marmol? — and that could be what wants fixing probably the most in St. Louis.
This entrance workplace has been in place for basically twenty years, and it has thrived by hardly ever making radical adjustments, as a substitute tweaking on the edges and staying prudent. However it has by no means seen something like final yr. That is nonetheless a winnable division, and there are nonetheless two stars in Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt to construct round. However this isn’t a fanbase that may stand for mediocrity. If the Cardinals can’t flip it round in 2024, Marmol could possibly be in deep trouble … and he won’t be the one one.
NL West: Padres
2023 report: 82-80 | 2024 projection: 80-82
When the Nationals traded Juan Soto to the Padres through the 2022 season, the most effective place gamers they’d remaining on the roster had been Victor Robles and Lane Thomas. The Padres, after buying and selling Soto to the Yankees this offseason, nonetheless get to have a look at Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Xander Bogaerts within the dugout. In order that helps. That’s to say, the Padres don’t appear like they’re going to break down, and contemplating how a lot dangerous luck, dangerous situational hitting and dangerous basic mojo they’d in 2023, you’ll be able to see actual bounce-back potential right here.
And also you higher. As a result of if this workforce has these three stars and may’t get the job executed — if the D-backs and Giants find yourself passing them completely — it’s a must to ask some critical questions on what will occur with this workforce and franchise within the wake of the demise of proprietor Peter Seidler. Bogaerts and Machado are signed by way of 2033, and Tatis is signed by way of 2034. (Don’t overlook Jake Cronenworth is signed by way of 2030, Joe Musgrove by way of 2027 and Yu Darvish by way of 2028.) Are the Padres going to have the abdomen to hold on to all these guys, and all that payroll, in the event that they fall even additional in 2024? The Padres had been constructed to win final yr. What are they constructed for now?