10.) Altuve. Bregman. Correa
They are the stars of what is probably still the world's best team. Altuve the $150mm man from last year, Bregman the newly mited $100mm man, and Correa, the guy in maybe the most interesting position. Altuve and Correa were both visibly hampered late last season, particularly Correa who hit terribly after coming back from a back injury midseason. Correa is in his age 24 season (ridiculous), he should be a monster, he can be a monster. Altuve himself should have his bat-speed back. Bregman is a superstar. This has a chance to be the best 2B-SS-3B trio of all time when it is all said and done. We'll have this trio for at least three more seasons, after which Correa becomes a free agent. Hopefully we can enjoy it for longer.
9.) Yankees vs. Red Sox
Last year was the first time ever both teams won 100+ games. This can easily be the second such season. The arms race was such a fixture of my youth, but having it back has been fun to a degree. Especially since prior to them winning the World Series, the Red Sox fanbase seemed fully terrified at the prospect of the Yankees future, with the ability to add money to their trove of prospects. That still all might be true, but the Yankees have now struck out on adding big FAs, placing even more importance on their prospects. It's weird how the two teams have switched approaches to some degree. Dombrowski traded a bunch of prospects for stars, paid them and other FAs, and it pad off with a World Series coupled with one of the worst farm systems. Both teams are very good, but it will be interesting to see if the Yankees more sustainable approach pays off.
8.) The Padres Rise
First it was the Royals, then it became the Cubs, then the Astros. A series of drafts and trades and selective tanking paying off all at once. Now, it is the Padres turn, with their near-unanimous, hilariously stuffed farm system. Some guys are still a bit away, but they have five top-50 prospects per Keith Law, with already having graduated a few prospects last year. Maybe it isn't 2019, but 2020 or 2021, but with adding Manny Machado to the mix, it is sooner rather than later for the Padres. For a team that has been so non-descriptly boring, it will be great to watch them surprise. And just like the Cubs or Astros, sometimes it comes sooner than people expect.
7.) The NL Central trying to Clown the Cubs
The Cubs were supposed to be a dynasty. They were supposed to change the game. They were so damn good in 2016. Three years later, they are still a good team, but there is no changing the game. In many ways, it has started to fall down. They were built on mega-prospects supplemented by a few interesting FA signings. Now, the prospects have either graduated or been revealed to be terrible people (Addison Russell); adn they're building more and more on overpriced, older veterans. The rest of the division passed them yesterday - something thought to be impossible prior. Seeing how the rest of the division has caught them has been so interesting. The Brewers specifically (up in a few steps) never tanked, never outspent, just outsmarted. In the end, maybe Theo Epstein isn't the genius we all thought him to be.
6.) The A's vs. the Rays in pitiable greatness
Both these teams could be good - in most cases both should be good. But in a larger context, both should not be here. Both are in unteneble situations in their home market - something has to give. But while local community governments try to fight off losing or keeping them, the teams themselves just continue to play above their head. The Rays nicely snapped up Charlie Morton, extended Blake Snell and look to be able to contend with the Yankees and Red Sox. For the A's, there is a sense that they peaked lat year with their 97-wins. They're already having injury issues after an 0-2 start in Japan. I hope I'm wrong. I hope one day, if the A's get their beautiful new ballpark, and the Rays move, these can be franchises whose means can match their mighty brains.
5.) The Brewers trying to Game the System
The Brewers were a few runs away from making the world series last year. It's well documented how they bult this contender despite never really tanking which is great. They didn't really do anything in the offseason other than re-signing Mike Moustakas. What they have done though is move some of their trove of relievers into some potential nice starters. The Brewers have been a step ahead on this revolution, be it the relievers - having their best one explicitly not be their closer - and short starters, and all the rest. I love how well this team is put together and it will be amazing to have them keep it going. These teams that build organically usually have fairly short life-spans (look at the 2010-2012 Reds, or 2013-2015 Pirates as examples), so this could easily be the last year of Milwaukee magic.
4.) Clayton Kershaw trying to Regain Himself
Clayton Kershaw was supposed to be one of the huge free agent fishes in 2019. Instead, a second year of back issues, his worst season in a decade (2.73 ERA it should be said) made it an easy choice for him to quietly re-up with the Dodgers. I'm glad he's not leaving LA, but saddened to see the diminished Kershaw last year. Again, for him, 'diminished' is very relative - he's still an excellent pitcher capable of excellent performances but if the best of Kershaw is gone, it will be amazing to watch him try to match his previous greatness. Can he do it at 90 mph instead of 93, can he do it developing a change-up for the first time. Can he do it with that incredible command and delivery. Can he go back to what made him one of the greatest pitchers ever.
3.) Mike Trout - a GOAT Candidate
Speaking of one of the greatest ever. Mike Trout had the best first seven seasons of all time. He's on track to have an all-time career. He definitely has an all-time contract. I don't know if 'pressure' will actually matter to Trout, but it will be interesting to see how he's covered and how he plays with the weight of that $430mm price tag to his name. Of course, nothing happened what that person was A-Rod, he was rather good on that $252mm deal back in 2001. Trout's team is actually decent this year with a potential to surprise, especially offensively. For Trout, he also gets a challenge he hasn't faced before, not being the league's reigning best player. For the first time (or second, depending on which WAR you use for 2015) Trout was not the best player in the AL for a season he was healthy throughout. Mookie Betts was. Trout has accepted every challenge with ridiculous success - you have to think he'll take this one also.
2.) The Impending Legal Drama
I'm writing this on March 23rd. The season starts the end of next week. Dallas Keuchel is still a free agent. Craig Kimbrel is still a free agent. A bunch of signed free agents got quite a bit less than was expected. A bunch of players signed early extensions, maybe with the thought of avoiding getting underpaid and squeezed in free agency. Baseball financial system seems more broken than it has been in a long time - and because there is too much money and the owners don't want to give it to the players. Some of it is sensical - teams shouldn't be handing out $150mm+ contracts to 30+ year old players. However, the flip side is pre-arb and arb salaries are still constricted. Owner are trying to have it both ways. There will be legal drama hanging over each of the next two seasons - hopefully not any longer as baseball tries to avoid ending a long extended period of labor peace.
1.) The Astros Fight for Reclaiming the Throne
I'll just leave this here...
