MLB Power Rankings: Where Red Sox stand ahead of Opening Day
We've finally made it. The 2022 MLB season is set to begin Thursday after a long offseason that was marred by a labor dispute between the league and players association.Those tough times thankfully are behind us, which means it's time to focus on the fun stuff. We saw plenty of player movement over the last few months with a number of star free agents landing with new organizations. Some of the already-rich teams got richer, but a few of the under-the-radar clubs could make some noise this year after adding some intriguing talent.So, how do the 30 MLB teams stack up ahead of Opening Day? Let's take a look in our first batch of 2022 MLB Power Rankings...
2022 projected record: 63-99
The A's made it clear they have no intention of competing this season as they sold off pretty much all of their premier talent. Let the rebuild begin in Oakland.
Tomase: How Red Sox can surprise us again and compete for AL East title
2022 projected record: 64-98
Cedric Mullins, Ryan Mountcastle, Trey Mancini and John Means are worth your attention, but the O's are destined to be cellar dwellers yet again in 2022.
2022 projected record: 67-95
Signing Ketel Marte to a contract extension was the right move, but are we sure it wasn't just to make him more tradeable when the deadline comes around? The D'Backs tied the Orioles for the worst record last season and could compete for that title for the second straight year.
2022 projected record: 64-98
Keeping top prospect Oneil Cruz down in Triple-A says about all you need to know about the Pirates. When Cruz eventually is promoted to the big leagues, he'll make Pittsburgh worth watching.
2022 projected record: 71-91
Juan Soto is your 2022 NL MVP. Mark it down.
That'll be one of the only intriguing storylines in Washington as its rebuild continues. Nelson Cruz joining Soto in the lineup should make for some fun moments too.
2022 projected record: 73-89
The Reds seem torn between a rebuild and attempting to compete in 2022. They traded sluggers Jesse Winkler and Eugenio Suarez to Seattle but signed outfielder Tommy Pham in free agency. The photo above is a live look at Joey Votto trying to figure out what in the world this franchise is doing.
2022 projected record: 76-86
Kris Bryant should be a blast to watch at Coors Field. He joins a pretty solid Rockies lineup, but this isn't a team built to compete in the top-heavy National League West.
2022 projected record: 74-88
Yes, the return of Zack Greinke makes for a fun storyline, but this Royals team still desperately needs pitching. They won't make any noise in the American League Central until they address that need.
2022 projected record: 76-86
Cleveland locked up star third baseman Jose Ramirez on a five-year, $124 million contract extension amid rumblings of a potential trade. He can't vault the Guardians into playoff contention by himself, though.
2022 projected record: 79-83
The Twins shocked everyone by signing star shortstop Carlos Correa in free agency, but that big splash won't help their dire pitching situation. Until they improve in that department, it's hard to imagine much of a bounce-back after last year's dismal campaign.
2022 projected record: 77-85
Despite losing franchise cornerstones Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, and Javy Baez over the last year, the Cubs are still making an honest effort. They acquired Japanese slugger Seiya Suzuki this offseason as well as one of the top free-agent pitchers on the market, Marcus Stroman.
2022 projected record: 78-84
The Marlins have one of the most exciting young rotations in baseball. The lineup improved over the offseason with the additions of Avisail Garcia and Jorge Soler. That doesn't necessarily make them National League East contenders, but Miami certainly is a sleeper candidate for 2022.
2022 projected record: 77-85
The Rangers spent a boatload of money on sluggers Marcus Semien and Corey Seager in free agency. That'll help them score a ton of runs, but that won't matter much when their pitching can't hold up its end of the bargain. While the addition of Jon Gray will help, this pitching staff remains a major concern.
2022 projected record: 81-81
The Tigers have my attention. They bolstered the rotation by signing ex-Red Sox southpaw Eduardo Rodriguez, added one of the star infielders on the market in Javy Baez, and recently traded for Rays slugger Austin Meadows. Top prospect Spencer Torkelson also will be in the mix as he made the Opening Day roster. Mark Detroit down as another sleeper club.
2022 projected record: 86-76
The Cardinals' worrisome pitching situation only got worse when it was announced Jack Flaherty will miss time to begin the season. Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt make for one of the best duos in the league, but they can only do so much.
2022 projected record: 83-79
Top prospect Julio Rodriguez making the Opening Day roster is great news for Mariners fans and baseball fans as a whole. Look out for Seattle this season as it looks to duplicate its surprising 2021 success.
2022 projected record: 85-77
With a healthy Mike Trout and reigning MVP Shohei Ohtani, there's no shortage of talent in Anaheim. The issue has been a lack of quality pitching, which the Angels addressed by signing Noah Syndergaard and shoring up the back of their bullpen. Let's see if those moves pay off.
2022 projected record: 87-75
The additions of Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos assure the Phillies will have one of the best offenses and worst defenses in baseball. It'll be fascinating to see how that plays out.
2022 projected record: 86-76
Fernando Tatis Jr. will miss the first few months of the season with a fractured wrist he suffered in a motorcycle accident. On the bright side, we should see plenty of top prospect C.J. Abrams.
2022 projected record: 90-72
The Yankees didn't sign any of the top free-agent talent this offseason, which was pretty strange. They did, however, acquire Josh Donaldson and Isiah Kiner-Falefa in a deal that sent Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela to the Twins. Probably not the blockbuster Yankees fans had in mind.
Regardless, the lineup will continue to mash while most of the concern lies in the pitching staff. Gerrit Cole again should battle for an AL Cy Young award, but the rest of the rotation is filled with question marks.
2022 projected record: 91-71
The Red Sox outperformed everyone's expectations with a 92-70 record in 2021. They're out to prove it was no fluke, and they helped their chances by adding slugging shortstop Trevor Story in free agency.
The lineup should pick up where it left off as one of the best in the bigs. As for the rotation, it'll all depend on whether Nathan Eovaldi can repeat his sensational 2021 efforts and if Chaim Bloom's offseason acquisitions of Michael Wacha and Rich Hill pay off. Chris Sale again is set to miss significant time due to injury.
The bullpen comes with its own set of concerns as it remains to be seen if Matt Barnes can regain early-2021 form. If he looks more like late-2021 Matt Barnes, Boston may have to pivot to Garrett Whitlock as the closer.
Tomase: Sox facing loss of key FAs all over roster, not just Devers and Bogaerts
2022 projected record: 91-71
The Giants shocked the world last season by winning 107 games and edging out the Dodgers in the National League West. You'd be foolish to bet on that happening again, but it's still a team that can compete for a playoff spot after acquiring southpaw Carlos Rodon and outfielder Joc Pederson in free agency.
2022 projected record: 88-74
Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer in the same rotation is unfair, but will they even be healthy? Both aces are banged up to start the year as deGrom will miss time with a shoulder injury and Scherzer has been dealing with a hamstring issue. Not a great omen for Mets fans.
2022 projected record: 93-69
The Brewers have three Cy Young-caliber pitchers in their rotation in Corbin Burnes (last year's winner), Brandon Woodruff, and Freddy Peralta. If Milwaukee's lineup is half-decent -- and it should be following the additions of Hunter Renfroe and Andrew McCutchen -- Milwaukee should have no problem repeating as NL Central champs.
2022 projected record: 93-69
Losing Carlos Correa hurts, but the Astros still have the talent and experience to be considered favorites in the American League. They'll also get future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander back in the rotation, though it remains to be seen how he'll hold up in his return from Tommy John surgery.
2022 projected record: 95-67
A White Sox team that dealt with a litany of injuries last season already has the injury bug again in 2022. Veteran right-hander Lance Lynn will begin the season sidelined with a knee injury and reliever Garrett Crochet will undergo Tommy John surgery. Not the best start to the campaign, but Chicago showed it could overcome injuries last year and will look to do the same with a talented roster this time too.
2022 projected record: 94-68
Wander Franco is going to be a thorn in every AL East opponent's side for a long, long time. With help from the second-year shortstop, the Rays should be in the mix for a division title again in 2022.
2022 projected record: 91-71
The defending champs losing Freddie Freeman in free agency was a shocker, but they rebounded by trading for A's first baseman Matt Olson. The rest of the roster looks almost identical to last season, and longtime Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen is now at the back end of Atlanta's bullpen. This group is primed to win another NL East title and make a postseason run again -- hopefully with Ronald Acuña Jr. this time -- in 2022.
2022 projected record: 96-66
The Blue Jays' lineup remains terrifying even with Marcus Semien leaving for Texas. With Matt Chapman now in the mix and George Springer healthy, this team should score even more runs in 2022. The starting pitching should improve too even with Robbie Ray headed to Seattle. Inking Jose Berrios to a long-term extension was a major move, as was the addition of 2021 NL Cy Young candidate Kevin Gausman.
2022 projected record: 100-62
Stop us if you've heard this one before: The Dodgers' roster is loaded. Adding Freddie Freeman to the mix helps L.A. enter 2022 as the clear World Series favorites.
