Fansided

Top 10 MLB sleeper teams for 2017

By Joshua Sadlock

Sep 19, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) fields the ball in the sixth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 19, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) fields the ball in the sixth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 11, 2017; Dunedin, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Vince Velasquez (28) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2017; Dunedin, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Vince Velasquez (28) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies are in a very similar position to the Braves. Both teams have been rebuilding for a number of years, but the Phillies have been at it a little longer and had more trade chips to auction off. They were able to get outstanding returns for Cole Hamels and Ken Giles. The Braves have built their entire farm system around starting pitching, but the Phillies already have three budding aces in their rotation.

Vince Velasquez, Aaron Nola, and Jerad Eickhoff were great at times last year. The Phillies were careful in handling injuries to Velasquez and Nola. This year’s rotation could be much better with the addition of Clay Buchholz.

Offensively, the Phillies were painful to watch at times last year. They finished 14th in the league in each of the triple-slash categories, and had the worst OPS. Adding Michael Saunders and Howie Kendrick will provide some stability. Odubel Herrera is emerging as a star, and Maikel Franco should benefit from more protection in the lineup. The Phillies are also finally out from under the Ryan Howard contract, and will get to see if Tommy Joseph is for real. He hit 21 home runs in only 315 at-bats last season.

Philadelphia was a .500 team for the first two months of last season. The wheels fell off in June, and they never recovered. There is a lot to like about this young team, and they could become the next team to make the jump from rebuilding to contending.

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