The offense has to improve and it will, starting with Brandon Lowe and Wander Franco, who combined for just 148 games and 14 home runs. And many of those were key injuries.įor starters, they'll add Tyler Glasnow, who returned in September from Tommy John surgery, to a rotation of Shane McClanahan, Drew Rasmussen and Jeffrey Springs - and those three quietly combined for a 2.61 ERA (although former top prospect Shane Baz will miss 2023 after his own Tommy John surgery). but also because of this little factoid: According to the Rays had the fourth-most missed games by injured players (behind the Reds, Nationals and Cubs). ![]() So why are they ranked so high here? Yes, pitching, pitching and more pitching. They won 86 games (tied for 12th in the majors), they struggled to score runs all season and then scored just one run in 24 innings in the wild-card series loss to Cleveland. But if Soto and Tatis play to what we've seen in the past? Watch out. ![]() Yes, there are concerns: Soto didn't hit for much power after the trade, Tatis' wrist needs to be healthy and the 40-man position player depth is thin. They should have about $20 million to spend to add a starter and/or a first baseman. Josh Hader, Robert Suarez, Luis Garcia and Nick Martinez are all back to anchor the bullpen, although maybe Martinez shifts to the rotation. They have elite defenders up the middle in center fielder Trent Grisham and shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, which could push Tatis to the outfield. They have three MVP-caliber talents in Manny Machado, Juan Soto and Fernando Tatis Jr., with Tatis now set to return from his PED suspension on April 20. This might be a little ambitious since the Padres have some holes to fill in the rotation and at first base, but consider: Shortstop Dansby Swanson heads into free agency after his best season, and if he doesn't return, maybe the Braves turn to Vaughn Grissom, who impressed playing second base down the stretch.īottom line: With Austin Riley, Matt Olson, Acuna and now Harris and Strider all signed well into the future, the Braves are going to compete for National League pennants for a long time. completely healthy again if he rediscovers his power stroke - he hit just 15 home runs in 119 games this season - after 2021's knee surgery. Now picture a lineup with Ronald Acuna Jr. The emergence of center fielder Michael Harris II and starters Spencer Strider and Kyle Wright raised this team to another level. The Astros weren't quite a slam dunk for the top spot, however, as the Braves dominated the final four months of the regular season to capture their fifth straight division title. Ģ022 record: 101-61 (first in the NL East) You know, perhaps even a certain New York Yankees outfielder. Given that Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman are free agents after 2024, maybe they'll be looking for a long-term power bat. The Astros even have some flexibility in the payroll to make a big addition. and Hunter Brown, who copied Verlander's delivery while growing up in Michigan, ready to step into a significant role. Justin Verlander does have a $25 million player option, and even if he opts out and signs elsewhere, the Astros will still have the best pitching depth in the majors - especially with a full season from Lance McCullers Jr. They allowed the fewest runs in a full season in the American League in the DH era (since 1973). With nearly the entire roster coming back for 2023, Houston's incredible pitching depth makes the Astros a pretty easy call here. ![]() Let's take stock of where all 30 teams stand right now as we head into what should be an exciting and intriguing free agency - I mean, I hope a dude who hit 62 home runs and is a free agent gets you excited about this offseason.Ģ022 record: 106-56 (first in the AL West) What do the next few months have in store for the victors of the Fall Classic? The 2022 season came to an end on Saturday night in Houston, as the Astros won their second World Series title since 2017 after defeating the Phillies in Game 6. It's time for the offseason! Which means it's time for our annual way-too-early 2023 power rankings.
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