Top 25 MLB stories of 2017

Top 25 MLB stories of 2017, from Aaron Judge to Houston Strong

HOUSTON, TX - NOVEMBER 03: Marwin Gonzalez #9 of the Houston Astros and Alex Bregman #2 hold the World Series Trophy during the Houston Astros Victory Parade on November 3, 2017 in Houston, Texas. The Astros defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 in Game 7 to win the 2017 World Series. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

9 of 25

LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 1: Manager A.J. Hinch #14 of the Houston Astros lifts the Commissioner’s Trophy after the Astros defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 7 of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

17. Trust the process

The past three World Series champions — Kansas City Royals, Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros — all made it there after a total rebuild. Tearing a roster down to the studs and building from the bottom up obviously works, and the rest of the league is taking note. The Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Miami Marlins, Detroit Tigers, San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves are all at various stages of their rebuilding processes with very strong farm systems.

The Milwaukee Brewers were in a rebuilding phase entering 2017 and appear to have completed the process. They won 86 games and pushed the Chicago Cubs to the brink in the NL Central and nearly pulled out a Wild Card. Rebuilding obviously works when done right.

The Tampa Bay Rays and Pittsburgh Pirates are the next two teams that will have to decide whether or not a total rebuild is in the cards. As painful as it is to watch a team lose 90-100 games for an extended stretch, this is becoming the only way for small-market clubs to contend with the massive TV money flooding into markets like New York, Los Angeles and Boston.

MLB will enter the 2018 season with 10 potential teams who won’t even be attempting to win. Like it or not, the total rebuild is here to stay in professional sports. The jury is still out on tanking in the NBA, but the process has already minted three champions in baseball.

Home/MLB