After a 2020 ravaged by the pandemic, Major League Baseball is set for a regular season that’s a little more, well, regular. A full 162 games. Fans at ballparks, to varying degrees. No designated hitter in the National League.
Still, questions remain, both on the field and off. For starters: Just how long will the Blue Jays be stuck in Florida?
We don’t have all the answers, but our expert SportsMoney contributors are here to get you up to speed for opening day tomorrow.
American League
The AL East features two of the league’s most talented teams in the Rays and the Yankees. Tampa Bay dealt away its ace for prospects, but the team has plenty of pitching depth and a history that suggests its big bet on a fallen star could pay off. New York is trying to replace three key pieces and is still waiting for Luis Severino to return, but fans can look forward to the professional debut of a prospect already being compared to Mike Trout and Mickey Mantle and seeing his baseball cards skyrocket in value. After an active off-season, the Blue Jays have a glittering lineup that could keep them in playoff contention.
In the AL Central, the Indians look set to tumble after trading Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco for a low-profile crop of prospects in a salary dump that exposes cracks in MLB’s foundation. The team’s payroll is below $40 million even after free-agent signings that bolster the majors’ weakest outfield and bring back a key infielder, but Cleveland can at least count on its pitching factory (and its two Cy Young contenders). The White Sox sent fan expectations sky high with the acquisitions of Lance Lynn and Liam Hendriks, which cemented their status as a contender even if they had to violate conventional contract wisdom to get there. That pitching may separate Chicago from the Twins, although Eloy Jimenez’s injury will test the club’s depth. The Royals will try to get back in the mix behind Adalberto Mondesi while the Tigers, still in a rebuild, look to unlock Nomar Mazara’s potential and capitalize on their roster’s flexibility at the plate and in the field.
The Astros appear to be the team to beat in the AL West, particularly if they can get a big year out of Carlos Correa as he eyes free agency.
National League
The Braves, seeking their first pennant since 1999, are the favorites in the NL East, but they’ll have competition. The Nationals made perhaps the trade of the off-season and shored up their relief corps. The Marlins, under new general manager Kim Ng, want to prove 2020 was no fluke. The Phillies are ready to win after finding help for one of the worst bullpens in history. And while the Mets missed out on Trevor Bauer, that’s no problem for a team entering a new era (finally!) with a new franchise player. One word of caution, though: Dominic Smith isn’t likely to repeat his stellar 2020.
The Brewers could grind out an NL Central win, even if most of the attention is landing on the Cardinals after their blockbuster trade for Nolan Arenado. Still, the deal carries some risk: While the third baseman has All-Star skills, he looks to be in decline at the plate. Tommy Edman could provide a jolt at the top of the lineup, though. The Cubs would love to take advantage of their underdog status but will see their pitching depth tested and need a homegrown surprise or two. The Pirates seem destined for the basement but aren’t listening to the naysayers, with an emerging star, a bargain pitcher and a former All-Star trying to move past two suspensions.
The NL West could be a battle between the Dodgers and the Padres, suddenly baseball’s best rivalry. Trevor Bauer, who tops the list of new faces in new places, makes Los Angeles even tougher to beat (and pushes the payroll way past the luxury-tax threshold). San Diego is suddenly must-see TV after exploiting a new market inefficiency with deals for Yu Darvish and Blake Snell that give the club one of baseball’s best rotations. Don’t overlook Joe Musgrove, either; he’s much better than his 2020 numbers might suggest. And the best news of all: Fernando Tatis Jr. will be around for the long term.
Players To Watch
Corey Seager and Shohei Ohtani are among the MVP favorites and could be in line for huge paydays. Two former MVPs also have a lot riding on this season: Miguel Cabrera is pursuing a couple of statistical milestones, and Jose Altuve is trying to buck the aging trend.
Evan Longoria looks resurgent; meanwhile, Trey Mancini and some big-name pitchers are looking for comebacks of their own. Cavan Biggio is poised for a breakout, and Raisel Iglesias looks like MLB’s top closer. As for baseball’s best pitcher overall, it just might be Brandon Woodruff, although Jacob deGrom is making a push for the Hall of Fame. (Our stats expert also crunched the numbers to come up with MLB’s best changeup, curveball, cutter, sinker, slider and, of course, fastball.)
The overhaul of the minor leagues is shaking up player development, as are a Mariners executive’s comments about top prospect Jarred Kelenic, which trained a spotlight on an old problem. Keep an eye on Wander Franco and these three rookies who starred in the 2020 postseason.
The Last Word
“It was definitely an experience—not one that I ever want to see again.”
Nicole Sherry, the Orioles’ head groundskeeper, was among the few people who attended ballgames without directly participating in them last season. She gives us her perspective on a strange season and all of the moving parts it took for her and her club to make it through the year.
