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 shall be upon us earlier than we all know it. (Full Opening Day motion is about for March 28). It’s so quickly, actually, that if we need to do a sequence of eight weekly season previews earlier than all 30 groups throw their first pitches, we’ve got to start out proper now. This sequence will break down main storylines from the attitude of all six divisions, and we kick issues off right this moment with a take a look at the staff in every division with probably the most at stake in 2024.
Each baseball season, for every particular person staff, needs to 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 a giant step towards an thrilling future, Yankees and Padres followers (additionally appropriately) noticed their 82 wins as a large disappointment.
All of it is determined by 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 the moment, in our 2024 MLB Season Preview, we take a look at the staff 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 might be the tip of the road for a lot of concerned … and perhaps time to embrace a brand new strategy.
AL East: Yankees2023 file: 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 employees. If 2024 is something in any respect like 2023, which will properly not occur once more.
The Yankees have carried out their half to gear up this offseason, including Marcus Stroman, Alex Verdugo, Trent Grisham and slightly outfielder you may need heard of named Juan Soto. But the staff nonetheless appears prefer it’ll be relying on the well being of Aaron Choose, Giancarlo Stanton and Carlos Rodón, identical to it did final 12 months. 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 must clear this 12 months? 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 driving on this season. If it doesn’t work out, an entire bunch of individuals right here this 12 months might be gone subsequent 12 months … and which will properly embody Soto, a pending free agent. Followers have complained that the Yankees haven’t felt like they’ve been as “all in” in current seasons as they have been prior to now. Properly, that is exactly what “all in” appears like — for higher or worse.
AL Central: Guardians2023 file: 76-86 | 2024 projection: 83-79
I’m sorry to carry this again up, nevertheless it needs to be mentioned: Since Rajai Davis’ breathtaking homer (keep 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. Positive, 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 all the things José Ramírez has carried out 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 successful proportion (.469) since 2012. And now, regardless of a division that appears perpetually winnable, they appear to be they is perhaps operating out of time. There’s younger expertise surrounding Ramírez, however none of it’s confirmed, and whereas the pitching tends to return via for Cleveland, that wasn’t actually the case final 12 months. This staff has little energy exterior Ramírez, and its greatest 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 for the reason that 2016 season, however final 12 months, they lastly fell underneath. What occurs if there’s a repeat in 2024?
AL West: Angels2023 file: 73-89 | 2024 projection: 75-87
After dropping the very best 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, properly, I hope they’ll additionally throw 130 innings with a 3.14 ERA and, oh yeah, perhaps hit 44 homers whereas they’re at it.
The Angels, underneath new supervisor Ron Washington, should not in complete shambles with out Ohtani. Their rotation isn’t half-bad, they’ve obtained some intriguing younger expertise within the lineup and so they have a fellow named Mike Trout who has earned himself some renown within the huge leagues over time. It’s not just like the Angels have given up. However how is a staff that misplaced 89 video games final 12 months imagined to get higher minus Ohtani? Trout has been nothing however loyal to this franchise via eight consecutive dropping 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 might conceivably begin out the season scorching — they might be in first place on Could 5, like they have been in 2023 — and discuss themselves into letting all the things 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 — huge questions will emerge in a short time. Was dropping Ohtani simply the beginning?
NL East: Phillies2023 file: 90-72 | 2024 projection: 84-78
Right here’s the basic query for the Phillies and their followers: Is the 3-2 lead they misplaced to the D-backs in final 12 months’s NLCS going to be forgotten in a 12 months … or one thing that haunts them eternally? (Bear in mind, that they had 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 staff 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 staff is outdated and getting older; it’s going to get more durable earlier than it will get simpler. If the Phillies take a step backward — and there’s nothing apart from a World Collection that isn’t “a step backward” — how a lot are you able to anticipate from this gaggle of 30-somethings transferring ahead? The vibes have been immaculate in Philly final 12 months. In the event that they don’t make the World Collection this 12 months, or if the wheels come off totally, the vibes in 2025 shall be … lower than immaculate.
NL Central: Cardinals2023 file: 71-91 | 2024 projection: 86-76
OK, high quality: A number of issues went sideways on them in 2023. The pitching employees 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 all the things was just a bit bit off from the get-go in 2023 — keep in mind the non permanent removing of Willson Contreras from the catcher function, to not point out the verbal tussle between O’Neill and supervisor Oliver Marmol? — and that is perhaps 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 12 months. 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 can stand for mediocrity. If the Cardinals can’t flip it round in 2024, Marmol might be in deep trouble … and he won’t be the one one.
NL West: Padres2023 file: 82-80 | 2024 projection: 80-82
When the Nationals traded Juan Soto to the Padres through the 2022 season, the very best place gamers that they had remaining on the roster have 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 to be they’re going to break down, and contemplating how a lot unhealthy luck, unhealthy situational hitting and unhealthy normal mojo that they had in 2023, you’ll be able to see actual bounce-back potential right here.
And also you higher. As a result of if this staff has these three stars and might’t get the job carried out — if the D-backs and Giants find yourself passing them completely — it’s important to ask some severe questions on what’s going to occur with this staff and franchise within the wake of the loss of life of proprietor Peter Seidler. Bogaerts and Machado are signed via 2033, and Tatis is signed via 2034. (Don’t overlook Jake Cronenworth is signed via 2030, Joe Musgrove via 2027 and Yu Darvish via 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 have been constructed to win final 12 months. What are they constructed for now?
