MLB Power Rankings: The best-case scenario for all 30 MLB teams this season
By Tim Boyle
25) MLB Power Rankings: San Francisco Giants spoil someone’s season
What a disastrous yet bullet-dodgy offseason for the San Francisco Giants. Sure they would end up with at least one of the major free agents, they instead got Mitch Haniger and Michael Conforto. Two good hitters who have suffered through some big injuries in recent seasons, it’s not exactly Aaron Judge or Carlos Correa. Their best-case scenario in these MLB Power Rankings will be to spoil someone’s season. The two targets: Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. A late-season sweep of either because Gabe Kapler over-managed his bullpen would be sweet.
24) MLB Power Rankings: Boston Red Sox start a successful one-year rebuild
Yes, the Boston Red Sox saved their offseason by extending Rafael Devers. It doesn’t mean they’re going to be very good this season. Fifth place has their name written all over it. A best-case scenario for them includes a successful one-year rebuild. They’ve done it before in recent history. The 2012 team won 69 games. The 2013 season ended with a World Series win.
23) MLB Power Rankings: Washington Nationals begin to benefit from the Juan Soto trade
The Washington Nationals are unlikely to see one of the players they acquired in last summer’s Juan Soto trade to become the same type of star. That wasn’t the point of the trade. They needed to get something back for him while they could. This is a year where we need to see someone like CJ Abrams look like the next great player. If the Nationals can already begin to reap the benefits of that blockbuster, it’s a huge win.
22) MLB Power Rankings: Pittsburgh Pirates trade Andrew McCutchen for another future star
The Pittsburgh Pirates traded Andrew McCutchen several years ago to the San Francisco Giants. One of the players they got back was Bryan Reynolds. Talk about a savvy deal for the sellers. McCutchen’s price tag is far less but finding a sleeper prospect to acquire in exchange for one of the great Pirates of all-time would be a fitting ending to his association with the team. This might be his last MLB season.
21) MLB Power Rankings: Los Angeles Angels are sold after-all
In an absolutely stunning turn of events, Arte Moreno changes his mind and does explore the sale of the Los Angeles Angels again. The former New York Mets owners got cold feet the first time Steve Cohen tried to buy a majority share. Moreno selling the Angels would have a trickle effect and possibly change the future of Shohei Ohtani.