MLB Power Rankings: Where All 30 Teams Stack Up Entering 2015
The new year is officially here, but we are still a couple months away from the start of the 2015 MLB season. If the offseason to this point is any indication, there will be plenty more action between now and that magical day when pitchers and catchers report to spring training.
Decisions from Max Scherzer and James Shields will undoubtedly shake things up, but for now, let's take a look at how all 30 teams stand at the beginning of 2015.
As with all offseason power rankings, these are not necessarily meant to be a prediction for the year ahead.
Instead, they are a look at how teams would stack up with the rosters they currently have if the season were to start today. Just something worth keeping in mind when considering where your favorite team falls in the following rankings.
30. Colorado Rockies (Previous: 30)
1 of 30
2015 Outlook
The Colorado Rockies have yet to make a significant addition this offseason, and after finishing the 2014 season at 66-96, this is not a team that can simply stay the course and hope to have a legitimate shot at contending.
Healthy seasons from Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez would certainly help, but offense was not the issue last year when they led the NL in scoring. Like every year, it will come down to whether the Rockies can pitch well enough to back that offense.
If they are out of it by midseason, this could be a club headed for a fire sale, with Tulowitzki, Gonzalez, Justin Morneau and others potentially on the move. Look for incumbent catcher Wilin Rosario to potentially be on the move before the offseason is over now that Nick Hundley has been signed to a two-year deal, per Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Dec. 31)
CF Charlie Blackmon
3B Nolan Arenado
LF Carlos Gonzalez
SS Troy Tulowitzki
1B Justin Morneau
RF Corey Dickerson
C Wilin Rosario
2B DJ LeMahieu
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Dec. 31)
SP Jorge De La Rosa
SP Tyler Matzek
SP Jordan Lyles
SP Jhoulys Chacin
SP Eddie Butler
SU Rex Brothers
SU Adam Ottavino
CL LaTroy Hawkins
29. Philadelphia Phillies (Previous: 29)
2 of 30
2015 Outlook
The future of the Philadelphia Phillies, and their 2015 season in general, hinges on what the team decides to do with ace Cole Hamels this offseason.
The team's asking price is high, but not unreasonable given his status as one of the best pitchers in the game. If the Phillies can find a team willing to meet their demands to acquire the left-hander, the return package could kick their rebuild into high gear.
Jimmy Rollins, Antonio Bastardo and Marlon Byrd have already been moved this offseason, and it remains to be seen how many other pieces the Phillies can legitimately expect to unload. But it looks like the rebuild has officially begun.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Dec. 31)
CF Ben Revere
RF Grady Sizemore
2B Chase Utley
1B Ryan Howard
LF Domonic Brown
C Carlos Ruiz
3B Cody Asche
SS Freddy Galvis
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Dec. 31)
SP Cole Hamels
SP Cliff Lee
SP Jerome Williams
SP David Buchanan
SP Miguel Gonzalez
SU Jake Diekman
SU Ken Giles
CL Jonathan Papelbon
28. Texas Rangers (Previous: 27)
3 of 30
2015 Outlook
Still searching for a left fielder and a solid No. 3 starter, the Texas Rangers have some work to do if they hope to bounce back and contend after an injury-plagued 2014 season that saw them finish with 95 losses.
A healthy season from Derek Holland, Prince Fielder and Shin-Soo Choo would be as significant as any free-agent or trade additions they wind up making, as those three all missed significant time in 2014.
The AL West will be a dogfight once again this season, and at this point, the Rangers don't look to have the pitching to legitimately contend, even with the terrific one-two punch of Yu Darvish and Holland. The farm system is stocked, so they have the pieces if they decide to make a big move.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Dec. 31)
RF Shin-Soo Choo
SS Elvis Andrus
1B Prince Fielder
3B Adrian Beltre
CF Leonys Martin
DH Mitch Moreland
LF Jake Smolinski
C Robinson Chirinos
2B Rougned Odor
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Dec. 31)
SP Yu Darvish
SP Derek Holland
SP Colby Lewis
SP Ross Detwiler
SP Nick Tepesch
SU Kyuji Fujikawa
SU Shawn Tolleson
CL Neftali Feliz
27. Minnesota Twins (Previous: 28)
4 of 30
2015 Outlook
How soon before top prospects Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano arrive on the scene?
After both dealt with injuries in 2014, a September call-up may be the extent of their exposure at the big-league level this coming season, but they remain the future of the Minnesota Twins.
Meanwhile, this team has quietly built a solid offensive core while it awaits the arrival of its top young talents, as Brian Dozier, Trevor Plouffe, Danny Santana, Kennys Vargas and Kurt Suzuki are all coming off of some level of breakout season.
It's hard to imagine this team pitching as poorly as it has the past two years, both of which saw the Twins post starters' ERAs over 5.00, and the addition of Ervin Santana should help. That said, it's still hard to see them finishing anywhere but the cellar in the AL Central.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Dec. 31)
CF Danny Santana
2B Brian Dozier
1B Joe Mauer
DH Kennys Vargas
RF Torii Hunter
3B Trevor Plouffe
LF Oswaldo Arcia
C Kurt Suzuki
SS Eduardo Escobar
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Dec. 31)
SP Phil Hughes
SP Ervin Santana
SP Ricky Nolasco
SP Kyle Gibson
SP Tommy Milone
SU Tim Stauffer
SU Casey Fien
CL Glen Perkins
26. Tampa Bay Rays (Previous: 24)
5 of 30
2015 Outlook
The Tampa Bay Rays already made a splash when they decided to ship outfielder Wil Myers to the San Diego Padres in a three-team, 10-player deal, and the versatile Ben Zobrist could be the next big piece moved by the small-market club.
The signing of Asdrubal Cabrera certainly seems like a precursor to Zobrist being dealt, and with his defensive flexibility, offensive skill and reasonable $7.5 million salary, there isn't a team in the league that would not love to add him to its roster.
Scoring runs could be a legitimate issue in 2015, but this team looks to once again have one of the best starting rotations in the American League, especially if Alex Colome can emerge as a plus arm out of the No. 5 starter spot.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Dec. 31)
CF Desmond Jennings
RF Ben Zobrist
3B Evan Longoria
1B James Loney
LF Steven Souza
2B Asdrubal Cabrera
SS Yunel Escobar
DH David DeJesus
C Rene Rivera
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Dec. 31)
SP Alex Cobb
SP Drew Smyly
SP Chris Archer
SP Jake Odorizzi
SP Alex Colome
SU Kevin Jepsen
SU Brad Boxberger
CL Jake McGee
25. Arizona Diamondbacks (Previous: 26)
6 of 30
2015 Outlook
There will be no shortage of intriguing storylines to follow when the Arizona Diamondbacks kick off spring training this season, and the new front office duo of Dave Stewart and Tony La Russa will be chief among them.
The player to watch will be Cuban defector Yasmany Tomas, who will look to follow in the footsteps of fellow countryman Jose Abreu and make an immediate impact at the plate. He'll get every chance to win the third base job, though most viewed him more as a corner outfielder.
The starting rotation will also take some sorting out, with Josh Collmenter, Jeremy Hellickson, Chase Anderson, Trevor Cahill, Allen Webster, Rubby De La Rosa, Vidal Nuno and Robbie Ray all legitimately in the running for the five spots and Patrick Corbin also set to return at some point in the first half.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Dec. 31)
CF A.J. Pollock
LF David Peralta
1B Paul Goldschmidt
RF Mark Trumbo
3B Yasmany Tomas
2B Aaron Hill
SS Chris Owings
C Tuffy Gosewisch
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Dec. 31)
SP Josh Collmenter
SP Jeremy Hellickson
SP Chase Anderson
SP Trevor Cahill
SP Allen Webster
SU Oliver Perez
SU Brad Ziegler
CL Addison Reed
24. Houston Astros (Previous: 25)
7 of 30
2015 Outlook
The Houston Astros took a big step forward in 2014 with a 19-win improvement over the previous season, but they are still a long way from contending for a playoff spot out of a competitive AL West division.
After posting an .804 OPS with 20 home runs in 295 at-bats, outfielder George Springer could be headed for stardom in 2015 if he can stay healthy. The top prospects will continue to trickle onto the big league scene, but he has the potential to be a centerpiece of the team's future plans.
The No. 5 starter job looks to be up for grabs heading into camp, with hard-throwing rookie Mike Foltynewicz perhaps the front-runner to win the job after making 16 appearances out of the bullpen down the stretch last season.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Dec. 31)
LF Robbie Grossman
2B Jose Altuve
CF Dexter Fowler
DH Chris Carter
RF George Springer
C Jason Castro
SS Jed Lowrie
1B Jon Singleton
3B Matt Dominguez
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Dec. 31)
SP Dallas Keuchel
SP Collin McHugh
SP Scott Feldman
SP Brett Oberholtzer
SP Mike Foltynewicz
SU Pat Neshek
SU Luke Gregerson
CL Chad Qualls
23. Atlanta Braves (Previous: 21)
8 of 30
2015 Outlook
Rebuilding while trying to remain competitive—it's a dangerous gray area for a team to be trapped in, and it appears to be where the Atlanta Braves are headed in 2015.
After trading Jason Heyward and Justin Upton, an offense that was a serious weakness last season looks like it could have a hard time scoring runs once again, even with the additions of Nick Markakis and Alberto Callaspo.
Best-case scenario, catching prospect Christian Bethancourt would establish himself as the everyday backstop, the young rotation would prove to be a strength and the team would be one year closer to being rid of B.J. Upton once the upcoming season comes to a close.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Dec. 31)
RF Nick Markakis
2B Alberto Callaspo
1B Freddie Freeman
LF Evan Gattis
3B Chris Johnson
SS Andrelton Simmons
CF B.J. Upton
C Christian Bethancourt
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Dec. 31)
SP Julio Teheran
SP Alex Wood
SP Shelby Miller
SP Mike Minor
SP David Hale
SU David Carpenter
SU Jason Grilli
CL Craig Kimbrel
22. Oakland Athletics (Previous: 19)
9 of 30
2015 Outlook
It's a tough offseason to swallow for the fanbase when four All-Stars from the previous season are traded away, but general manager Billy Beane has done this sort of thing before and seen it work out, so it's hard to fault his strategy for the small-market team.
Prior to the 2012 season, the team dealt Trevor Cahill, Gio Gonzalez, Andrew Bailey and a handful of others and went on to surprise the baseball world by winning 94 games and the AL West title.
Brett Lawrie could be the key to keeping this team competitive, as he has the potential to be as good or better than Josh Donaldson if he can stay healthy, and he is still just 24 years old. All of that said, it's still hard not to think this team takes a step back during the upcoming season.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Dec. 31)
CF Coco Crisp
LF Stephen Vogt
RF Josh Reddick
DH Billy Butler
1B Ike Davis
3B Brett Lawrie
C John Jaso
SS Marcus Semien
2B Eric Sogard
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Dec. 31)
SP Sonny Gray
SP Scott Kazmir
SP Jesse Chavez
SP Drew Pomeranz
SP Jesse Hahn
SU Fernando Abad
SU Ryan Cook
CL Sean Doolittle
21. New York Yankees (Previous: 20)
10 of 30
2015 Outlook
For better or worse, the New York Yankees look to be finished adding pieces on the position player side of things, and the second base battle this spring will be one of the more intriguing races to watch around the league.
The rotation could still stand to add at least one more arm, as the team would be leaning heavily on the trio of Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda and CC Sabathia if the season were to start today—three guys with significant injury questions heading into the season.
Dellin Betances stepping into the closer's role will also be something to keep an eye on, as he was spectacular in a setup role last year and has lights-out stuff, but he has essentially no closing experience and there's no real safety net as far as another closer option on the roster.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Dec. 31)
LF Brett Gardner
3B Chase Headley
CF Jacoby Ellsbury
1B Mark Teixeira
C Brian McCann
RF Carlos Beltran
DH Garrett Jones
SS Didi Gregorius
2B Rob Refsnyder
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Dec. 31)
SP Masahiro Tanaka
SP Michael Pineda
SP CC Sabathia
SP Nathan Eovaldi
SP Chris Capuano
SU Adam Warren
SU Andrew Miller
CL Dellin Betances
20. Cincinnati Reds (Previous: 23)
11 of 30
2015 Outlook
After moving Mat Latos and Alfredo Simon during the winter meetings, the Cincinnati Reds finally added a piece to the puzzle with the acquisition of Marlon Byrd to fill the void in left field.
All the pieces are still there for this team to make another run at contention, but the Reds will need the back end of the rotation to fall into place, and they have yet to make a significant addition to a bullpen that ranked 26th in the league with a 4.11 ERA last year.
The Reds have quietly assembled one of the better minor league systems around, so selling on some veteran pieces and retooling the roster may not be the worst thing for the franchise. But for now, it looks like the team has every intention of pushing for a playoff spot once again in 2015.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Dec. 31)
CF Billy Hamilton
3B Todd Frazier
1B Joey Votto
C Devin Mesoraco
RF Jay Bruce
2B Brandon Phillips
LF Marlon Byrd
SS Zack Cozart
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Dec. 31)
SP Johnny Cueto
SP Homer Bailey
SP Mike Leake
SP Tony Cingrani
SP Anthony DeSclafani
SU Manny Parra
SU Sam LeCure
CL Aroldis Chapman
19. Cleveland Indians (Previous: 18)
12 of 30
2015 Outlook
Still in need of a proven No. 2 starter and a trade partner for Nick Swisher, the Cleveland Indians have some work left to do this winter if they hope to keep pace in a steadily improving AL Central division.
Keeping Jason Kipnis healthy alongside breakout star Michael Brantley could be the key to the offense, and all eyes will be on the shortstop position as the fanbase awaits the arrival of one of the top prospects in all of baseball in Francisco Lindor.
The surprise postseason team of 2013 and a surprise contender down the stretch last year, Cleveland has been continually underrated of late, and if the starting rotation can fall into place like it did in the second half last year, the Indians could be right in the thick of things once again.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Dec. 31)
CF Michael Bourn
2B Jason Kipnis
LF Michael Brantley
1B Carlos Santana
RF Brandon Moss
C Yan Gomes
DH Nick Swisher
SS Jose Ramirez
3B Lonnie Chisenhall
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Dec. 31)
SP Corey Kluber
SP Carlos Carrasco
SP Danny Salazar
SP Trevor Bauer
SP Gavin Floyd
SU Scott Atchison
SU Bryan Shaw
CL Cody Allen
18. San Diego Padres (Previous: 22)
13 of 30
2015 Outlook
The worst offense in baseball by a landslide last season, the San Diego Padres have completely overhauled their lineup with the additions of Justin Upton, Matt Kemp, Wil Myers and Derek Norris.
Perhaps the most impressive part of it all is they were able to do it without parting with one of their top three starters or any of their marquee prospects, as they do not appear to have weakened any other area of the team while improving the offense.
If the Padres can pitch at anywhere near the level they did last season, when their 3.27 team ERA ranked fourth in all of baseball, this team has a legitimate shot at contending for at least a wild-card spot.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Dec. 31)
3B Yangervis Solarte
CF Wil Myers
RF Matt Kemp
LF Justin Upton
1B Yonder Alonso
2B Jedd Gyorko
C Derek Norris
SS Alexi Amarista
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Dec. 31)
SP Tyson Ross
SP Andrew Cashner
SP Ian Kennedy
SP Odrisamer Despaigne
SP Brandon Morrow
SU Dale Thayer
SU Kevin Quackenbush
CL Joaquin Benoit
17. San Francisco Giants (Previous: 17)
14 of 30
2015 Outlook
A lot broke right in order for the San Francisco Giants to be crowned champions in 2014, there is no denying that. And they will have their work cut out for them if they have any shot at repeating.
Replacing Pablo Sandoval and Michael Morse with Casey McGehee and no one is undoubtedly a step back for the offense, though a breakout season from sophomore Joe Panik and a healthy one from table setter Angel Pagan could go a long way in evening that out.
The bigger question looks to be the starting rotation, where Jake Peavy was re-signed to join 39-year-old Tim Hudson (4.73 ERA in second half), Matt Cain (returning from shoulder surgery) and Tim Lincecum (4.76 ERA since 2012) behind ace Madison Bumgarner. That's a fragile group and one that could really hold this team back.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Dec. 31)
CF Angel Pagan
2B Joe Panik
C Buster Posey
1B Brandon Belt
RF Hunter Pence
3B Casey McGehee
SS Brandon Crawford
LF Gregor Blanco
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Dec. 31)
SP Madison Bumgarner
SP Tim Hudson
SP Matt Cain
SP Jake Peavy
SP Tim Lincecum
SU Sergio Romo
SU Jeremy Affeldt
CL Santiago Casilla
16. New York Mets (Previous: 16)
15 of 30
2015 Outlook
The return of Matt Harvey does not make the New York Mets instant contenders in the National League, but it certainly helps, and with a lucky break or two, they could certainly be in the hunt for a postseason spot this upcoming year.
Moving at least one starter from the trio of Jon Niese, Bartolo Colon and Dillon Gee is still on the offseason to-do list, as the Mets have an enviable amount of starting pitching depth and more on the way in the form of prospects Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz.
Keeping newcomer Michael Cuddyer healthy and getting star David Wright back on track are the biggest keys to the offense, while shortstop Wilmer Flores will undoubtedly be under a microscope after the team again decided to forgo upgrading the position and will turn things over to him on an everyday basis.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Dec. 31)
CF Juan Lagares
2B Daniel Murphy
3B David Wright
1B Lucas Duda
RF Michael Cuddyer
LF Curtis Granderson
C Travis d'Arnaud
SS Wilmer Flores
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Dec. 31)
SP Matt Harvey
SP Jon Niese
SP Jacob deGrom
SP Zack Wheeler
SP Bartolo Colon
SU Josh Edgin
SU Jeurys Familia
CL Jenrry Mejia
15. Kansas City Royals (Previous: 14)
16 of 30
2015 Outlook
Stuck with the task of replacing James Shields, Billy Butler and Nori Aoki from last year's roster, the Kansas City Royals signed Edinson Volquez, Kendrys Morales and Alex Rios in free agency as they look to defender their AL pennant.
This is still a roster built on speed, defense and dominant relief pitching, but some added pop this season would be nice to see after the team managed just 95 home runs in 2014. The Royals did have 11 in 15 games during the playoffs, though, and there is power potential on the roster.
The real question will be just how good the rotation is without Shields leading the way. Another season of progression from Yordano Ventura could give the Royals a quick replacement at the top of the staff, but there is little to no depth here, so injuries could be a dagger.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Dec. 31)
SS Alcides Escobar
LF Alex Gordon
CF Lorenzo Cain
1B Eric Hosmer
C Salvador Perez
DH Kendrys Morales
RF Alex Rios
3B Mike Moustakas
2B Omar Infante
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Dec. 31)
SP Yordano Ventura
SP Jason Vargas
SP Jeremy Guthrie
SP Edinson Volquez
SP Danny Duffy
SU Kelvin Herrera
SU Wade Davis
CL Greg Holland
14. Milwaukee Brewers (Previous: 12)
17 of 30
2015 Outlook
Outside of trading for Adam Lind to replace the platoon of Mark Reynolds and Lyle Overbay at first base, the Milwaukee Brewers have had a quiet offseason. But they really didn't lose much of significance from a team that led the NL Central for most of the 2014 season.
A trio of relievers in Francisco Rodriguez, Zach Duke and Tom Gorzelanny were the Brewers' only notable free agents, and with Jonathan Broxton around, they may not even look to add a closer to the mix to replace K-Rod.
Expect them to do everything they can to win in 2015, with Yovani Gallardo, Kyle Lohse and Aramis Ramirez all headed for free agency at the end of the season. And should the Brewers happen to fall out of things early, those guys could be significant trade chips come July.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Dec. 31)
CF Carlos Gomez
2B Scooter Gennett
C Jonathan Lucroy
3B Aramis Ramirez
1B Adam Lind
RF Ryan Braun
LF Khris Davis
SS Jean Segura
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Dec. 31)
SP Yovani Gallardo
SP Matt Garza
SP Kyle Lohse
SP Wily Peralta
SP Mike Fiers
SU Will Smith
SU Jim Henderson
CL Jonathan Broxton
13. Boston Red Sox (Previous: 15)
18 of 30
2015 Outlook
They are still looking for a bona fide staff ace, but there is no denying that the Boston Red Sox have made every effort to turn things around this upcoming season after a disappointing attempt at defending their World Series title in 2014.
There are no shortage of questions.
How will Hanley Ramirez adjust to left field? How will Pablo Sandoval hold up over the length of his contract? Will Justin Masterson bounce back? Where does Mookie Betts fit into the 2015 plans?
Still, there is a lot of talent here, and the Red Sox have a real shot at contending for what looks to be a suddenly wide-open AL East division. Adding a front-line arm to the mix before the offseason is over certainly wouldn't hurt those odds, though.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Dec. 31)
RF Shane Victorino
2B Dustin Pedroia
DH David Ortiz
LF Hanley Ramirez
3B Pablo Sandoval
1B Mike Napoli
SS Xander Bogaerts
CF Rusney Castillo
C Christian Vazquez
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Dec. 31)
SP Rick Porcello
SP Wade Miley
SP Clay Buchholz
SP Justin Masterson
SP Joe Kelly
SU Edward Mujica
SU Junichi Tazawa
CL Koji Uehara
12. Chicago Cubs (Previous: 11)
19 of 30
2015 Outlook
There are going to be some growing pains with such a young roster, but it's hard not to be optimistic about the Chicago Cubs looking ahead to the upcoming season.
There's a good chance the 2013 Houston Astros' record of 1,535 strikeouts as a team is shattered by the 2015 Cubs, but the continued progression of guys like Javier Baez, Jorge Soler and uber-prospect Kris Bryant could also give Chicago the most potent offense in baseball in the not-too-distant future.
The big win of the offseason was adding Jon Lester to the front of the rotation, and if the incumbent duo of Jake Arrieta and Kyle Hendricks can approach their 2013 performance, the starting rotation could be a legitimate strength.
World Series contention is probably still not in the cards, but if everything breaks right, there could be October baseball on the North Side for the first time since 2008.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Dec. 31)
LF Chris Coghlan
2B Javier Baez
1B Anthony Rizzo
SS Starlin Castro
C Miguel Montero
RF Jorge Soler
3B Luis Valbuena
CF Arismendy Alcantara
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Dec. 31)
SP Jon Lester
SP Jake Arrieta
SP Travis Wood
SP Kyle Hendricks
SP Jason Hammel
SU Neil Ramirez
SU Pedro Strop
CL Hector Rondon
11. Baltimore Orioles (Previous: 9)
20 of 30
2015 Outlook
After running away with the AL East title this past season, the Baltimore Orioles have watched as the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays have both improved significantly this offseason, while the O's waved goodbye to Nelson Cruz, Nick Markakis and Andrew Miller.
If Manny Machado and Matt Wieters can return strong from injury, and Chris Davis can find some sort of middle ground between his monster 2013 numbers and his disastrous 2014 performance, the offense could still be a strength.
The X-factor will be right-hander Kevin Gausman, who came on strong down the stretch last season and has the stuff to emerge as a legitimate ace atop the staff now that he has finally settled in at the big-league level.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Dec. 31)
LF Alejandro De Aza
3B Manny Machado
CF Adam Jones
DH Chris Davis
RF Steve Pearce
C Matt Wieters
SS J.J. Hardy
1B Christian Walker
2B Jonathan Schoop
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Dec. 31)
SP Chris Tillman
SP Wei-Yin Chen
SP Bud Norris
SP Miguel Gonzalez
SP Kevin Gausman
SU Brian Matusz
SU Darren O'Day
CL Zach Britton
10. Pittsburgh Pirates (Previous: 10)
21 of 30
2015 Outlook
Losing catcher Russell Martin is a huge blow for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but it by no means signals the end of their recent run of success, as their core talent is still enough for them to be viewed as legitimate contenders.
The move to re-sign Francisco Liriano to a three-year, $39 million deal prior to Jon Lester signing with the Cubs and the pitching market exploding may wind up being the best move of the offseason. It's hard not to think the Pirates got a bargain when you look at what Ervin Santana (four years, $55 million) and Brandon McCarthy (four years, $48 million) wound up signing for.
Another step forward from Gerrit Cole and a breakout season from Gregory Polanco seem to be in the cards, and while the NL Central as a whole may be the deepest division in baseball, the Pirates are in good shape to make it three straight playoff appearances.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Dec. 31)
3B Josh Harrison
RF Gregory Polanco
CF Andrew McCutchen
2B Neil Walker
LF Starling Marte
1B Pedro Alvarez
SS Jordy Mercer
C Francisco Cervelli
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Dec. 31)
SP Francisco Liriano
SP Gerrit Cole
SP A.J. Burnett
SP Jeff Locke
SP Vance Worley
SU Jared Hughes
SU Tony Watson
CL Mark Melancon
9. Chicago White Sox (Previous: 13)
22 of 30
2015 Outlook
All things considered, the Chicago White Sox look like the most improved team in baseball heading into the 2015 season. The question is, will it be enough for them to step forward as legitimate contenders?
Adam LaRoche and Melky Cabrera were added to an offense that averaged a solid 4.07 runs per game last season, as the team now has a legitimate No. 2 hitter and a cleanup hitter to provide protection for Jose Abreu.
Jeff Samardzija gives the White Sox the front-line right-hander they needed to break up the lefty duo of Chris Sale and Jose Quintana, and that may quietly be the best Nos. 1-3 rotation trio in the American League. Anchoring the bullpen with Zach Duke and David Robertson, after the relief corps posted a less-than-stellar 4.38 ERA last year, shores up what was perhaps the biggest weakness of all.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Dec. 31)
CF Adam Eaton
LF Melky Cabrera
1B Jose Abreu
DH Adam LaRoche
RF Avisail Garcia
SS Alexei Ramirez
3B Conor Gillaspie
C Tyler Flowers
2B Carlos Sanchez
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Dec. 31)
SP Chris Sale
SP Jeff Samardzija
SP Jose Quintana
SP Hector Noesi
SP John Danks
SU Zach Duke
SU Zach Putnam
CL David Robertson
8. Detroit Tigers (Previous: 8)
23 of 30
2015 Outlook
"The Tigers and David Price have had no conversations on a long-term contract this offseason, source says. So the Tigers—for now, at least—have retained the ability to sign Max Scherzer and trade David Price."
A pair of tweets from Jon Morosi of Fox Sports perfectly summed up why the Detroit Tigers may be the team to watch between now and the start of spring training, as something has to give in regards to their current pitching situation.
As it stands, a rotation backed by Alfredo Simon and Shane Greene is a significant downgrade from last year, and the Tigers have yet to address their disaster of a bullpen. There is too much talent on the roster for this team not to contend, but the AL Central gap has undoubtedly been closed.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Dec. 31)
2B Ian Kinsler
CF Anthony Gose
1B Miguel Cabrera
DH Victor Martinez
RF J.D. Martinez
LF Yoenis Cespedes
3B Nick Castellanos
C Alex Avila
SS Jose Iglesias
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Dec. 31)
SP David Price
SP Anibal Sanchez
SP Justin Verlander
SP Alfredo Simon
SP Shane Greene
SU Al Alburquerque
SU Joakim Soria
CL Joe Nathan
7. Toronto Blue Jays (Previous: 5)
24 of 30
2015 Outlook
Sensing that the Baltimore Orioles have lost talent and the AL East as a whole could be up for grabs, the Toronto Blue Jays appear to be all-in on the 2015 season following the additions of Josh Donaldson and Russell Martin, among others.
Second base is still a black hole as far as offensive production is concerned, but given the firepower the Jays have at other positions, plugging in the slick-fielding Ryan Goins could be good enough. The team is said to be interested in Japanese infielder Takashi Toritani, per Brendan Kennedy of the Toronto Star, so he's a name to keep an eye on.
Rookie hurlers Aaron Sanchez and Daniel Norris could wind up being the X-factors for this team. If they can make an impact similar to what Marcus Stroman did in his debut last season, this team could be awfully dangerous.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Dec. 31)
SS Jose Reyes
C Russell Martin
RF Jose Bautista
1B Edwin Encarnacion
3B Josh Donaldson
DH Dioner Navarro
LF Michael Saunders
2B Ryan Goins
CF Dalton Pompey
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Dec. 31)
SP Mark Buehrle
SP R.A. Dickey
SP Marcus Stroman
SP Drew Hutchison
SP Daniel Norris
SU Steve Delabar
SU Brett Cecil
CL Aaron Sanchez
6. Miami Marlins (Previous: 6)
25 of 30
2015 Outlook
The Miami Marlins made a $325 million commitment to superstar slugger Giancarlo Stanton at the beginning of the offseason, and they have since gotten to work building a viable contender around him for the upcoming season.
Adding Mat Latos, Dee Gordon, Martin Prado and Michael Morse to what was arguably the best young core of pitching and position-player talent in the league gives the Marlins one of the most complete rosters in baseball top to bottom, and it will only get better once Jose Fernandez returns around midseason.
The Marlins have come a long way from the team that lost 100 games in 2013, and while it may be hard to view them as serious title contenders until they prove themselves, there is a lot to like about this team in 2015 and beyond.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Dec. 31)
2B Dee Gordon
LF Christian Yelich
RF Giancarlo Stanton
1B Michael Morse
CF Marcell Ozuna
3B Martin Prado
C Jarrod Saltalamacchia
SS Adeiny Hechavarria
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Dec. 31)
SP Henderson Alvarez
SP Mat Latos
SP Jarred Cosart
SP Tom Koehler
SP David Phelps
SU Mike Dunn
SU A.J. Ramos
CL Steve Cishek
5. Seattle Mariners (Previous: 7)
26 of 30
2015 Outlook
There may not be as much buzz surrounding the Seattle Mariners this offseason as there was last winter when they landed Robinson Cano, but after missing the playoffs by one game in 2014, they look to be gearing up for a serious run this coming year.
The offense finally has the right-handed power threat the Mariners have been searching for in Nelson Cruz, and the right field platoon of Seth Smith and Justin Ruggiano should be a significant upgrade over the parade of players that manned the position last year.
Undoubtedly a good team, the Mariners have a chance to be legitimately great if James Paxton and Taijuan Walker take the next step forward behind the terrific duo of Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma. The rotation will also once again be backed by what was the best bullpen in baseball last year.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Dec. 31)
CF Austin Jackson
RF Seth Smith
2B Robinson Cano
DH Nelson Cruz
3B Kyle Seager
1B Logan Morrison
C Mike Zunino
LF Dustin Ackley
SS Brad Miller
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Dec. 31)
SP Felix Hernandez
SP Hisashi Iwakuma
SP James Paxton
SP Taijuan Walker
SP J.A. Happ
SU Danny Farquhar
SU Yoervis Medina
CL Fernando Rodney
4. Los Angeles Dodgers (Previous: 4)
27 of 30
2015 Outlook
Ousted by the St. Louis Cardinals the past two postseasons, something needed to change for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and new president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has wasted little time shaking things up.
With Matt Kemp, Dee Gordon and Hanley Ramirez gone from the lineup, the Dodgers are banking on Yasiel Puig finding some consistency at the plate and top prospect Joc Pederson living up to his lofty billing. The new middle infield duo of Howie Kendrick and Jimmy Rollins also has the potential to be a strength.
It's the back of the rotation that could really push this team over the top, though.
Brandon McCarthy and Brett Anderson have both proved capable of pitching like top-of-the-rotation starters when healthy, and if they can both make 30-plus starts, this team will have an absolutely dominant staff.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Dec. 31)
SS Jimmy Rollins
LF Carl Crawford
RF Yasiel Puig
1B Adrian Gonzalez
2B Howie Kendrick
C Yasmani Grandal
CF Joc Pederson
3B Juan Uribe
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Dec. 31)
SP Clayton Kershaw
SP Zack Greinke
SP Hyun-Jin Ryu
SP Brandon McCarthy
SP Brett Anderson
SU Joel Peralta
SU J.P. Howell
CL Kenley Jansen
3. Washington Nationals (Previous: 1)
28 of 30
2015 Outlook
Inactivity and a lack of resolution to the situation involving upcoming free agents Jordan Zimmermann, Doug Fister and Ian Desmond bumps the Washington Nationals from the top spot, but they still look like one of the best teams in the game.
Provided Zimmermann and Fister are both still around when spring training kicks off, the Nationals should again have a rotation that stacks up to any in the league. And one has to think we have yet to see the best Stephen Strasburg has to offer.
Offensively, the team still needs to figure out who is going to play second base, as it's been made abundantly clear the past couple years that Danny Espinosa is not the answer. The Nationals could still challenge for the No. 1 spot on Opening Day, but there are enough question marks to slide them down for now.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Dec. 31)
CF Denard Span
3B Anthony Rendon
RF Jayson Werth
LF Bryce Harper
1B Ryan Zimmerman
SS Ian Desmond
C Wilson Ramos
2B Danny Espinosa
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Dec. 31)
SP Jordan Zimmermann
SP Stephen Strasburg
SP Doug Fister
SP Gio Gonzalez
SP Tanner Roark
SU Matt Thornton
SU Tyler Clippard
CL Drew Storen
2. Los Angeles Angels (Previous: 3)
29 of 30
2015 Outlook
After winning an MLB-best 98 games this past regular season, the Los Angeles Angels did not have any glaring needs heading into the offseason. But that has not stepped them from making a handful of significant moves.
Second base will be the position battle to watch after Howie Kendrick was shipped to the Los Angeles Dodgers. While losing him is a blow, the pitcher the Angels picked up in the deal, Andrew Heaney, has a chance to be awfully good.
A left-handed reliever is still on the shopping list, and the recovery of Garrett Richards from knee surgery will be a closely monitored situation this spring. But at this point, the Angels appear to be the most complete team in the American League.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Dec. 31)
RF Kole Calhoun
DH Matt Joyce
CF Mike Trout
1B Albert Pujols
LF Josh Hamilton
3B David Freese
SS Erick Aybar
2B Josh Rutledge
C Chris Iannetta
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Dec. 31)
SP Jered Weaver
SP Matt Shoemaker
SP Hector Santiago
SP C.J. Wilson
SP Andrew Heaney
SU Fernando Salas
SU Joe Smith
CL Huston Street
1. St. Louis Cardinals (Previous: 2)
30 of 30
2015 Outlook
The St. Louis Cardinals just know how to win—it's as simple as that. They have reached the postseason in each of the past four years, and 11 of the past 15, and all signs point to them suiting up in October once again in 2015.
Adding Jason Heyward, Jordan Walden, Matt Belisle and Mark Reynolds to the mix addressed all of the Cardinals' offseason needs, and nailing down an extension for Heyward and right-hander Lance Lynn would be a perfect way to close out the winter.
A healthy Michael Wacha could be the X-factor that makes them the team to beat. While others teams have made more significant improvements this offseason, the Cardinals still look like the best team in baseball as we begin 2015.
Projected 2015 Lineup (as of Dec. 31)
3B Matt Carpenter
RF Jason Heyward
LF Matt Holliday
1B Matt Adams
C Yadier Molina
SS Jhonny Peralta
CF Jon Jay
2B Kolten Wong
Pitcher
Projected 2015 Rotation (as of Dec. 31)
SP Adam Wainwright
SP Lance Lynn
SP John Lackey
SP Michael Wacha
SP Carlos Martinez
SU Matt Belisle
SU Jordan Walden
CL Trevor Rosenthal
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference, unless otherwise noted.
