MLB Season Preview
Spring has sprung! For Major League Baseball that is.
After a thrilling offseason, the MLB is primed for another amazing year. Headlining the multitude of different signings was the New York Mets, as they, along with star outfielder Juan Soto, reset the market for all players with a 15 yr./$765MM contract. This deal exceeded Shohei Ohtani’s 10 yr/$700MM contract last offseason with the Los Angeles Dodgers, becoming the richest in MLB history.
Speaking of the teams with the two largest contracts, expect both to be among the National League’s best, especially since the Mets were able to bring back Pete Alonso.
Challenging them are teams like the Atlanta Braves, the Philadelphia Phillies, and the San Diego Padres. The Braves, despite losing starter Max Fried to the New York Yankees, are still led by a strong offense led by Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies, Michael Harris II, and Ronald Acuna Jr. The Phillies, spearheaded by Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, J.T. Realmuto, Zack Wheeler, and Aaron Nola certainly can take down the Soto-led Mets. The Padres, led by Dylan Cease, Luis Arraez, Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Xander Bogaerts, and Jackson Merrill, are widely expected to be the main challengers to Los Angeles and the Mets.
As for the American League, there is the aforementioned Yankees led by Aaron Judge, as well as newcomers such as Fried, Cody Bellinger, and Devin Williams, who expect to return to the top of the American League. They will be challenged by teams such as the Cleveland Guardians, spearheaded by Shane Bieber, Emmanuel Clase, Jose Ramirez, and Steven Kwan. Breakout teams such as the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals are also worth watching out of the junior circuit. The Red Sox, who acquired Alex Bregman in free agency and Garrett Crochet from the dismal Chicago White Sox could finally break through and return to the Postseason to take on their archrivals and the rest of the AL.
