MLB Power Rankings: Where Red Sox stand entering spring training
As players get ready to report for spring training this week, it's time to check in on where all 30 MLB teams stand entering the 2021 MLB season.All eyes are on the National League West with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres expected to be powerhouses, but who will join them as World Series favorites? Which teams could surprise people in the new campaign? And what should Boston fans expect out of a Red Sox team looking to rebound after a disastrous 2020?We cover all of that and much more in our preseason MLB Power Rankings.
The Pirates remain the worst team on paper following a 19-41 season. With Josh Bell and Joe Musgrove gone, right-hander Mitch Keller and third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes are the players to watch in Pittsburgh.
The Rockies arguably already were the worst team in the National League West prior to trading Nolan Arenado to the Cardinals. Now, there's little doubt that's the case. All-Star shortstop Trevor Story is a prime candidate to be traded before the deadline.
The O's should continue to be the American League East's cellar dwellers for at least the next season or two. They'll be worth keeping an eye on once catching prospect Adley Rutschman is called up. Trey Mancini's return after battling colon cancer is an amazing story.
The Tigers have plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the future, but it's going to take at least another year for it all to come to fruition. Top pitching prospects Casey Mize and Tarik Skubal, plus 2020 No. 1 overall pick Spencer Torkelson, make Detroit an intriguing team to keep tabs on.
It'll be strange to watch a Rangers team without Elvis Andrus after the shortstop was dealt to the Athletics for Khris Davis. The Davis/Joey Gallo combo could be fun to watch, but overall there just isn't much to be excited about with the ballclub.
Not a team that will be competitive in 2021, but beware of Seattle once their young talent develops. Top outfield prospects Jarred Kelanic and Taylor Trammell are on their way, along with some solid pitching prospects in the pipeline. James Paxton will look to return to form as a top-of-the-rotation arm for the team he thrived with from 2013-18.
That Madison Bumgarner contract isn't looking so great right about now. The only thing the D'Backs have going for them entering 2021 is the Rockies possibly overtaking them as the worst team in the division. Arizona has a couple of interesting young players in catcher/outfielder Daulton Varsho and right-hander Zac Gallen, and Ketel Marte is one of the most underrated players in the game.
The Marlins were the surprise of 2020, somehow working their way into the playoffs after entering the season with the lowest of expectations. As fun as that run was, they are bound to regress in a 162-game campaign. Sandy Alcantara, Pablo Lòpez and Sixto Sánchez will provide some dazzling pitching performances, but this lineup isn't going to hold up its end of the bargain.
The Royals quietly made some solid additions to their roster this offseason including ex-Red Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi, Carlos Santana, Mike Minor, Wade Davis, and Greg Holland. They won't compete for an American League Central title, but they won't be doormats either.
Tommy La Stella was a great signing that helps to make San Francisco's lineup not so bad on paper. The rotation still leaves plenty to be desired, but don't be surprised if the Giants add a solid arm to the mix before Opening Day.
The Reds had the talent to make a run last season, but they fell short and now appear to be headed toward another rebuild. The rotation is solid but clearly worse without 2020 NL Cy Young award winner Trevor Bauer. The bullpen likely will be even shakier without Raisel Iglesias, and no pop was added to a lineup that greatly underperformed last year.
There isn't a whole lot of excitement surrounding the Red Sox entering the new season, and it isn't difficult to understand why. The offseason additions of Kiké Hernandez, Marwin Gonzalez, Adam Ottavino, Garrett Richards, Hunter Renfroe, Matt Andriese, Hirokazu Sawamura, and Franchy Cordero are interesting, but they don't do enough to get the bitter taste of last year out of Boston fans' mouths.
That being said, those acquisitions should provide much-needed depth to a team that will be led by Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers, J.D. Martinez, and Alex Verdugo. If the pitching staff takes a leap forward (can it possibly get worse?) with the return of Eduardo Rodriguez and potentially Chris Sale, the Red Sox could surprise some people in 2021.
The Brewers offense was a major letdown in 2020, former NL MVP Christian Yelich included. Somehow, they still earned a spot in the Wild Card series. With names like Yelich, Keston Hiura, Lorenzo Cain, Brandon Woodruff and Josh Hader, this is a pretty talented club that can battle for the top spot in the league's worst division.
The Angels still desperately need an ace in the rotation. Until that happens, it's difficult to get caught up in all of the preseason hype.
Still, this is a team that should be better in 2021. The lineup will do its part as long as Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon and Shohei Ohtani are healthy. Alex Cobb and Jose Quintana were decent additions to the pitching staff, and reliever Raisel Iglesias was a really nice pickup. Perhaps this is the year we'll finally get to watch Trout perform in the postseason.
The Cubs traded ace Yu Darvish to the Padres and let veteran starter Jon Lester go in free agency to the Nationals. They also lost slugger Kyle Schwarber, who joins Lester in Washington.
There's a real chance Kris Bryant and Willson Contreras are traded in the coming months. If that's the case, expect Chicago to freefall in these rankings.
It's a tough time to be an Indians fan. All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor was shipped to the Mets along with veteran right-hander Carlos Carrasco this offseason, leaving Shane Bieber and Jose Ramirez as the only real stars in town. The top of the rotation is still solid with Bieber, Zach Plesac and Triston McKenzie, but it could be a rough year in Cleveland.
Last year marked yet another disappointing season for the Phillies as they finished under .500 and failed to clinch a playoff spot. Bringing All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto back is huge, but the bullpen is where the real concern lies. Philadelphia's offseason additions of Jose Alvarado and Archie Bradley should provide some help in that department.
The Rays lost ace Blake Snell and Charlie Morton this offseason and will replace them with Rich Hill and Collin McHugh. That's a significant downgrade to a rotation that could struggle mightily in 2021. Of course, Tampa Bay usually finds a way to surprise people, so we wouldn't be shocked to see them competing for a playoff spot come September.
The A's still have plenty of talent despite losing closer Liam Hendricks and shortstop Marcus Semien in free agency. Matt Chapman, Matt Olson, and Ramon Laureano are bonafide studs in the lineup, and there's plenty to be excited about when it comes to the pitching staff. Jesus Luzardo will lead a young rotation that could be really fun to watch if Frankie Montas returns to 2019 form and A.J. Puk stays healthy.
With the NL Central expected to be the weakest division by far in 2021, the Cardinals are seizing the moment. They traded for star third baseman Nolan Arenado, adding him to a potent lineup that already includes Paul Goldschmidt, Paul DeJong, and Dylan Carlson. The major question mark is the rotation outside of ace Jack Flaherty.
After experiencing a World Series hangover in 2020, the Nats should be competitive again in 2021. They filled some major holes up and down the roster by adding Kyle Schwarber, Josh Bell, Jon Lester, and Brad Hand. The Max Scherzer/Stephen Strasburg/Patrick Corbin trio in the rotation is terrifying, and Juan Soto is a perennial NL MVP candidate.
Losing George Springer will hurt, but there's still plenty of pop in this lineup with Alex Bregman, Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and Yordan Alvarez. Pitching could be an issue, especially with Justin Verlander out due to Tommy John surgery.
The Blue Jays are one of the most intriguing clubs heading into the 2021 season and should not be slept on as an AL East contender. Young guns Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Cavan Biggio should take another step forward in their development, and they'll be joined in the lineup by George Springer and Marcus Semien.
That offense is going to be fun to watch, but Toronto will need to add some pitching behind Hyun-jin Ryu to make any sort of playoff run.
If you enjoy watching defensive highlights, you should keep tabs on the Twins this season. With shortstop Andrelton Simmons added to the mix, this club is going to be making web gems all over the diamond.
The lineup once again looks solid as well with Max Kepler, Nelson Cruz, Josh Donaldson, and Miguel Sano. As for the rotation, Jose Berrios and Kenta Maeda will be counted on to carry the load.
Sure, missing out on Trevor Bauer hurts, but there's still plenty for Mets fans to look forward to in 2021. Obviously, the acquisition of star shortstop Francisco Lindor tops the list. Adding catcher James McCann and right-hander Carlos Carrasco should provide a significant boost as well. If Noah Syndergaard returns at full strength, look out.
The White Sox have officially overtaken the Cubs as the baseball team to watch in Chicago. This club is stacked with young talent from former Red Sox prospect Yoan Moncada to Luis Robert and Eloy Jimenez. They also have 2020 AL MVP Jose Abreu and one of the most exciting players in the game with shortstop Tim Anderson.
Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, Dallas Keuchel is a really solid 1-2-3 in the rotation, and Liam Hendricks was a huge pickup for the bullpen. This team has World Series potential.
Pitching was the Yankees' No. 1 priority this offseason, as well as re-signing star infielder DJ LeMahieu. They checked both of those boxes by bringing LeMahieu back while signing veteran Corey Kluber and trading for Jameson Taillon. If this team can stay healthy -- and that's proven to be a major if -- they'll be one of the best in the league.
The Braves return one of the best lineups in baseball with Ronald Acuña, Freddie Freeman, Marcell Ozuna, and Ozzie Albies. The pitching staff has great potential as well with the addition of veteran Charlie Morton, who joins youngsters Max Fried, Mike Soroka, and Ian Anderson. Atlanta enters the new season as the clear NL East favorite.
"Slam" Diego might be even more fun to watch in 2021 than it was last year, which is really saying something. The Padres made a statement this offseason by adding Blake Snell, Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove to the rotation. Offensively, they should still be appointment viewing with Fernando Tatis Jr and Manny Machado leading the way.
The rich just keep getting richer. The defending World Series champions already had unquestionably the most talented roster in baseball, and they added to it by signing 2020 NL Cy Young award winner Trevor Bauer. The lineup remains lethal with Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager, Max Muncy, and that Mookie Betts guy Red Sox fans might recognize. Veteran third baseman Justin Turner re-signed in free agency as well as L.A. looks to run it back in 2021.
