MLB Power Rankings: Astros overtake Yankees, Red Sox spiraling down
By Tim Boyle
20) MLB Power Rankings: Texas Rangers
Don’t do it, Texas Rangers front office. Do not convince yourself to buy. Sell what you can. Take advantage of Matt Moore becoming an effective left-handed reliever.
The Rangers are ready to win in mind and spirit. On the field, they need some work. The offense is about average with the pitching staff falling well below it. If not for All-Star Martin Perez, things in Texas would be much worse. They need to remember that this was never their year. They are building something in the long term. Take what you can get for your obvious trade chips.
19) MLB Power Rankings: Miami Marlins
Mathematically, the Miami Marlins are far from eliminated. Psychologically, who would buy into them having any chance? The starting pitching might have some of the best arms out there with Sandy Alcantara leading the way. Unfortunately, it’s a team with very little offense to help them out.
The Marlins could very well become a far more serious contender as soon as next season. It’s possible. Anything else. They can learn a ton from the very next team on this list.
18) MLB Power Rankings: Baltimore Orioles
So, the Baltimore Orioles probably aren’t going to go on some amazing run. Whatever. It was a fun streak while it lasted. But let’s not call this season a waste.
The Orioles deserve huge props for even putting themselves into a spot where they could possibly convince the front office to buy at the trade deadline. More likely to lightly sell pieces like Trey Mancini and Jordan Lyles, fans should get excited about this young core and maybe a big free agent splash or two in the offseason. In the meantime, enjoy ruining the season for at least one of the other American League East rivals.
17) MLB Power Rankings: Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a tough team to pin down. They are better than their record says they are. You’re also only whatever your record says you are. So, which is it? Are they good? Should they sell? Most likely, with the division within reach, they gamble and go for it.
That would be the wise decision by the White Sox. A lot has gone wrong for them. In a division where the two teams ahead of them aren’t so superb, they need to take advantage and see how far they can go. They don’t have a ton of big free agents coming off the books anyway so there isn’t even that great of a need to sell in the first place.
16) MLB Power Rankings: Boston Red Sox
Baseball’s other team to get lost in the dryer, the Boston Red Sox are in a downward spiral. Their 28-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays didn’t help them in the MLB Power Rankings. Neither will the number of injuries they keep getting pummeled with. After getting swept over the weekend, they are now 1-9 in their last 10 games.
The Red Sox are no longer looking like a playoff team. The wild card was all they could hope for. With some teams within their own division and a couple of others now ahead of them, Boston has a tough road ahead to get back into the top ten of the MLB Power Rankings.