MLB Preseason Preview 2024 Part 2

 

Part 1

Lindy’s picked the Yankees and the Dodgers in the World Series.  The Mariners would win the AL West, with the Tigers being the surprising Central pick.  The Orioles, Blue Jays (?) and Rangers would be Wildcards.  In the NL, the Phillies would upset the Braves in the East.  The Reds would take the Central.  The Braves, Diamondbacks, and Marlins (?) would be the Wildcards. 

 

I have my doubts on these picks.  In fairness, there were before several moves made after the magazine was published.  It’s been a slow free agent season, even after Shohei Ohtani signed.  There was some alleged collusion by the owners, particularly against “super” agent Scott Boras clients.  One of his bigger clients, World Series winner Jordan Montgomery, is still unsigned as of me writing this.  [Pre-post edit: He just signed with the Diamondbacks.]  Of course, the players are also colluding a bit, in that the Players’ Union always tells its members to go for the money and don’t settle.  However, it may the economy in general that’s depressing the market, which no one is admitting to. 

 

AL East

Yankees: These guys were sitting in the catbird seat after picking up Juan Soto.  On the one hand, he’s only there on a one-year contract.  On the other, this means it’s a contract year for him and he should over-perform.  Then Gerrit Cole got injured in Spring Training.  Suddenly, the Pinstripes’ rotation doesn’t look so good.  I’m not convinced Aaron Judge is going to stay healthy either.  They’ll probably be good enough to be a wildcard.

 

Orioles: These guys were sitting in the catbird seat . . . wait . . . I just said that.  The sudden injury to our distinguished Aggie alum, Kyle Bradish, may take him out for a couple of months to over a year.  It’s a good thing they picked up Corbin Burnes.  They also got Craig Kimbrel to fill in for Felix Bautista.  In addition to their great young core of stars, the O’s are also getting the MLB’s number one prospect, Jackson Holliday, into the lineup.  I’m picking the Black Birds to take the East again.    

  

Blue Jays: I’m done predicting these guys are going to do anything worthwhile.  They have tried to significantly improve the team, but failed.

 

Rays: They lost Wander Franco and Tyler Glasnow—their best position player and best pitcher.  Is this the year the Rays are finally exposed?  Probably not.  I’ve learned to not bet against the Flying Fish being good.  They do have top prospect, Junior Caminero, coming to hit for them.  They’re getting a new stadium in a deal so filled with graft and corruption and with so little chance of increasing attendance.  At least the Yankee fans in Tampa will have a nice, new place to cheer for their team.

 

Red Sox: Who cares?  Apparently even Boston fans don’t.  The fall of the Sox and the Patriots have crushed New Englander’s spirits. 

   

 

AL Central

Royals: They signed Bobby Witt Jr. to a long-term contract and picked up a whole handful of mediocre free agents.  They’re trying to improve the team to a competitive level in order to get a new downtown stadium.  Why didn’t they push for the new stadium when the team went to back-to-back World Series?  I do see them being competitive this season, I really do.

 

Tigers: This team should have been good last season.  Let’s try it again this season.  They have the pieces there and a good manager.  However, I don’t know how the team is improved by losing Eduardo Rodriguez, probably their best pitcher. 

 

Twins: I don’t know.  Just don’t know.  They’re an enigma.  Maybe they’ll be good, since they broke their playoff winless curse.  Maybe they’ll collapse.  I’m reluctantly picking them to take the Central.

 

White Sox: Let’s move on.

 

Cleveland: Change your name back to the Indians and I’ll start covering you again.

 

 

AL West

Mariners: Great starting rotation and some great relievers (all right-handed, weird).  They’ve got a couple of good offensive players, but not much otherwise.  This could work for them, but there’s no margin for error or injury.  I think they’ll get in as a wildcard.

 

Rangers: Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom will probably be rejoining the team off injury.  Those will be significant reinforcements.  The question is how well will they pitch and where will the team be when they come back.  At least the offense will still be very good.  They’re easy to like with a full season of Evan Carter and possibly prospect Wyatt Langford coming up.  The World Champs might have done more in free agency, but were hobbled by their uncertain local TV deal.  I see them as a wildcard team. 

 

Astros: These guys are still good.  They are going to collapse in the near future, but not this year.  They did extend Jose Altuve and pick up Josh Hader.  I’ll pick them to win the division this season for the final time, without some serious retooling.  

 

Angels: There’s only one question—when do they trade Mike Trout?  If he bounces back this season, he’s gone by the trade deadline.

 

A’s:  There’s a proposal to move this team to Las Vegas and a new stadium.  I don’t know if there’s a plan on how to get them there and how to get it built, much less putting a good team on the field any time in the near future. 

 

NL East

Braves:  Probably the most complete team in the MLB.  They even picked up Chris Sale as a reclamation and that may work out for them.  They’re my pick for this division.  Recent history has shown they only have one weakness.     

 

Phillies:  And the name of that weakness is the Phillies.  The guys in the red pinstripes have had their number in the playoffs apparently.  They’ve extended Zach Wheeler, so they’re basically bringing back the same team.  Why mess with a good thing?  They’re in as a wildcard.      

 

Marlins: They’re incomplete as a team, but they have talent.  Unfortunately, they’re in a division with two great teams.  I’ll like them next year when they get Sandy Alcantara back. 

 

Mets:  I don’t understand what went wrong.  They spent the most money.  They should have won.  Right?  (The Yankees, Dodgers, and Padres are all nodding their heads.  Meanwhile, the Rangers are grinning.)  They’re resetting their strategy this season.

 

Nationals: I could see them somehow arriving a year ahead of schedule and being competitive this season.  Keep an eye on them.     

 

NL Central

Cubs: They spent big money on a new manager, Craig Counsel.  Oh, wait.  We need players, too?  Shoot.  Quick, resign Cody Bellinger, so we don’t look completely like idiots!

 

Cardinals: They brought in some experienced pitchers and Paul Goldschmidt is heading into free agency next season, which could mean a career year.  The Cards could be good enough to take a weak division, but I’m not seeing it.

 

Brewers: All that talent over the years wasted.  And they want a new stadium.  Good luck.

 

Reds: They’re young, hungry, and have talent.  Elly de la Cruz might be the most exciting player in the MLB.  I’ll pick them to take the Central. 

 

Pirates: I’m actually looking for a bounce-back this season.  Oneil Cruz will be back playing this season and fighting Elly for being the best “Cruz” in the division.  Top pitching prospect in the MLB, Paul Skenes, will be debuting.  (And, yes, I’m still hoping Aggie Nick Gonzales makes it back up and becomes awesome.)

 

NL West

Dodgers: They signed Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow.   Shohei was $700M, with much of it deferred, and he won’t even pitch until next season.  Yoshi was a relative bargain at $325M.  After committing over $1B to the team this season, you can bet fans of 29 other teams will celebrate them not winning a World Series.  This team is so loaded, they’re even fielding a second baseman with the Yips, Gavin Lux.  (Gee, if only there was a position in the lineup where you could insert a good hitter who was defensively weak, except that’s where Shohei will be playing all season.) 

 

As much as I’d like someone else take it, the Dodgers may stroll away with this potent division.  However, ominous signs are already appearing for the team.  The opening series in Korea has exposed Yoshi as needing more work and Shohei just lost his interpreter.  We’re hoping this scandal doesn’t end up exposing Shohei as having some relationship to his interpreter’s illegal bookies.      

 

Giants:  This franchise has been seriously trying to be competitive, but have had trouble sealing the deal with some star players.  No screwing around this offseason.  They’ve picked up new manager Bob Melvin (and good-f-ing bye to kneeler, Gabe Kapler), Korean star, Jung Hoo Lee, Matt Chapman, Jorge Soler, and a late pickup of Cy Young-winner, Blake Snell.  Will this all constitute a good team, though?  I think they’ll be a wildcard.       

 

Padres: This is another team with TV broadcast issues, which has caused revenue uncertainty.  They were also bumping against the cap.  GM AJ Preller managed to flip a one-year rental of Juan Soto to the Yankees for some good pitching prospects, which may help with losing Snell.  He also made a good late trade for Dylan Cease.  Preller is trying to keep his job with the new ownership.  The franchise is also bringing up their top prospect, Jackson Merrill.  Though this team has outfield issues, don’t be surprised if this team performs well with Soto and Melvin gone.  I’m not saying they were the problem with last year’s underperformance, but we’ll see.  (They’re my alternate wildcard, if somebody stumbles.) 

 

Rockies: Doomed.

 

Diamondbacks: It’d be easy to write them off as a fluke World Series contender last season, but I think Corbin Carroll has a strong enough back and will to carry this team into the playoffs again.  Resigning Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and picking up Eduardo Rodriguez should keep this team very competitive.  They’re in as a wildcard.  [Pre-post edit: After signing Jordan Montgomery on a one-year deal, if the Dodgers stumble, D-Backs win the division.]  

 

So how does this all end?  In the NL, smart money has the Braves and the Dodgers in the league championship.  I think it’ll be the D-Backs and the Phillies.  They’ll do it on sheer grit.  For the AL (this’ll probably be a mistake), it’ll be the Mariners (great pitching and a mid-season deal for batting) versus the Orioles (so much young talent).  (I’m really swinging for the fences there.)  Your World Series will be the Phillies over the Orioles.  Take note of this.  This pick is either going to be prescient or psychotic.

 

Or Taylor Swift dumps Travis Kelce and starts dating Aaron Judge, and the Yankees miraculously end up in the World Series with Tay and Aaron kissing on the field.