MLB Power Rankings: Where All 30 Teams Stand Post-World Series
With the 2014 World Series in the books and the offseason officially underway, let's put a bow on the 2014 season with one final addition of MLB power rankings.
Each team's spot in the following rankings reflects its overall performance in 2014, so the 10 postseason teams will be at the top, and the further they advanced in the playoffs, the higher they will be ranked.
As for the 20 non-playoff teams, record was not the only factor that went into their placement. How well they finished the season, their performance in key areas and how 2014 affects the franchise moving forward all played a role as well.
Also included on each slide is a look ahead to 2015, with each team ranked based on where I feel it will stand at the start of spring training.
Teams with more complete rosters and little to do this offseason ranked highest, as they are more of a sure thing. However, teams like the Red Sox and Cubs that are expected to be busy this winter also ranked fairly high, based on the roster they will likely have once the offseason wraps.
Fresh versions of these power rankings will be put together throughout the offseason, with teams shifting based on their wheelings and dealings.
On a personal note, I want to say I appreciate all of the reads and comments on these rankings throughout the course of the season. This was my third year authoring our MLB power rankings here at Bleacher Report, and it was definitely another fun season.
30. Arizona Diamondbacks (64-98, Fifth in NL West)
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The Diamondbacks opened the season with a thud, sitting at 9-22 heading into the month of May, and they never turned it around.
Paul Goldschmidt was a stud once again before breaking his hand in early August, and Josh Collmenter quietly enjoyed a breakout season of sorts in the rotation. But overall, the bright spots were few and far between.
Big offseason acquisitions Mark Trumbo, Bronson Arroyo and Addison Reed all failed to live up to expectations, and losing All-Star Patrick Corbin for the season in spring training was a big blow to the rotation.
Early 2015 Ranking: 27
With Tony LaRussa now at the wheel in the front office, this could be a busy offseason in Arizona.
Goldschmidt, Collmenter, Wade Miley, A.J. Pollock and Chris Owings are solid pieces to build around, and prospects Archie Bradley (SP), Andrew Chafin (SP) and Jake Lamb (3B) are on the way.
The Diamondbacks should drastically improve on 2014 if they can just field a healthy starting rotation, but contending in the NL West is another story.
29. Texas Rangers (67-95, Fifth in AL West)
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The Rangers entered the season with lofty expectations after restocking the offense with the offseason additions of Shin-Soo Choo and Prince Fielder.
Then the season started, and they were hit with one devastating injury after another, as they set the record for most players used in a single season in 2014.
Adrian Beltre was once again one of the best hitters in the AL, and Yu Darvish continued to put up ace numbers before suffering an injury of his own, but overall, it was a lost season for the Rangers.
Early 2015 Ranking: 23
It's hard to know what to make of the Rangers heading into 2014, so we'll temper our expectations at this point.
If Choo and Fielder return healthy and the Rangers add another bat to man left field, the offense still has the potential to be one of the best in baseball.
On the pitching side, Derek Holland was lights out down the stretch after missing much of the season with a knee injury, and he's a solid No. 2 behind Darvish. Adding a mid-level arm in the Edinson Volquez/Ervin Santana mold could make the staff a legitimate strength.
There is potential here, but the Rangers were just so bad in 2014. It's hard to rank them any higher than No. 23.
28. Colorado Rockies (66-96, Fourth in NL West)
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New season, same story for the Rockies, as they led the NL in scoring at 4.66 runs per game but ranked last in the majors with a 4.84 team ERA.
At this point, one has to wonder how much has to do with the altitude and Coors Field and how much has to do with the organization's ability to scout and develop pitching talent.
Jorge De La Rosa was wisely re-signed, while young starters Jordan Lyles and Tyler Matzek both showed enough to earn a rotation spot in 2015.
However, a lot will hinge on the continued development of top prospects Jon Gray and Eddie Butler, as they are the future of the staff.
Props to Justin Morneau for winning the NL batting title, but I thought it was weak that he sat out the final two games of the season to do it.
Early 2015 Ranking: 29
The Rockies have hit a point where they simply can't count on a full season out of Troy Tulowitzki or Carlos Gonzalez, and that is unfortunate given the amount of money they have invested in those two.
Luckily they have a good core of young hitters, led by emerging star Nolan Arenado, Corey Dickerson, Charlie Blackmon and DJ LeMahieu.
The offense has never been the question, though, and until they prove they can field a viable five-man rotation, the Rockies will continue to struggle.
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27. Minnesota Twins (70-92, Fifth in AL Central)
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The Twins handed out the two biggest free-agent deals in team history last offseason in an effort to improve a starting rotation that ranked last in the majors with a 5.26 ERA.
Phil Hughes got one of those contracts, a three-year, $24 million deal, and he wound up being one of the best bargains of the offseason.
However, Ricky Nolasco got the other, a four-year, $49 million deal, and he wound up being an absolute disaster, as was the staff. As a whole, its ERA improved marginally to 5.06.
Offensively, the youth movement has begun with Danny Santana (23), Oswaldo Arcia (23), Eduardo Escobar (25) and Kennys Vargas (24) all stepping into significant roles.
Among the veterans, Kurt Suzuki proved to be a nice find, and Brian Dozier turned in a 20/20 season. Joe Mauer continues to be one of the most overpaid players in baseball.
Early 2015 Ranking: 30
The Twins have a wealth of young talent down on the farm, and the future still looks bright for a franchise that does not have much in the way of financial commitments outside of Nolasco and Mauer.
However, unless their rotation can do a complete 180, the 2015 season figures to be another long one in Minnesota. There is help on the way, with young starters Trevor May and Alex Meyer ready to contribute.
However, the staff is still too much of a question mark and the offense is still lacking in star-caliber talent to think this team finishes anywhere but the AL Central cellar in 2015.
26. Boston Red Sox (71-91, Fifth in AL East)
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Not much went right for the reigning champs in 2014, and the past three years in Boston have been an absolute roller coaster, as they went 69-93, 97-65 and 71-91.
They went into full-on fire-sale mode at the deadline but took an interesting approach, acquiring a number of big league pieces instead of prospects, as they had an eye on bouncing back and contending in 2015.
Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts look like core pieces moving forward, and Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo was signed to a huge seven-year, $72.5 million deal in August to join them for the long term.
Early 2015 Ranking: 6
The No. 6 spot may seem like an ambitious ranking for a team coming off of a 91-loss season, but all signs point to a busy offseason reloading the roster for Boston.
Adding a couple front-line starters and upgrading at third base by signing Pablo Sandoval or trading for someone like Josh Donaldson could have the roster looking stout once again.
Clay Buchholz and Joe Kelly are the only two pitchers currently locked into rotation spots, so what the Red Sox do to address the rotation will go a long way in determining how far they go in 2015. My guess is they sign one of the Big Three starters and trade for whichever starter the Reds make available.
The Orioles are in a great position to defend their AL East title, especially if they can re-sign Nelson Cruz, but it's not out of the realm of possibility to think a reloaded Red Sox team could be back on top.
25. Philadelphia Phillies (73-89, Fifth in NL East)
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Refusing to accept the need to rebuild, the Phillies instead got even older last offseason when they signed A.J. Burnett, Marlon Byrd and Roberto Hernandez and re-signed Carlos Ruiz.
Even with those additions, it looked like the best they could hope for in 2014 was a .500 finish, and that didn't even happen, as they finished in the NL East cellar a full eight wins below the even mark.
Cole Hamels was a stud once again, and Chase Utley had a nice season at the plate, but the positives were few and far between. Perhaps the biggest plus was the emergence of rookie reliever Ken Giles, who looks like he has the stuff to be a future closer.
Early 2015 Ranking: 28
The Phillies brass finally appears to have accepted what everyone else has known for years. At least senior adviser and interim CEO Pat Gillick has accepted it, according to Corey Seidman of CSNPhilly.com:
"I think we’re more toward rebuilding than reloading. That’s my opinion. I think it's hard to ask the fans, it's hard to ask the media, it's hard to ask, you know, anyone, to be patient. Patience is kind of thin these days. But I think this is going to be more of a rebuilding, more of a restructuring than a reloading.
"
That may be easier said than done for a team that has a ton of money tied up in a handful of past-their-prime stars, but if they are finally willing to eat some salary, progress could be made.
At this point, everyone outside of Hamels, Giles and Maikel Franco should be available for the right price, as this roster needs a complete teardown.
Provided they do this the right way and employ some patience like the Cubs and Astros, the Phillies are finally heading in the right direction. As far as wins in 2015 are concerned, though, that direction will be down.
24. Houston Astros (70-92, Fourth in AL West)
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A 92-loss season may not look good on the surface, but 2014 was a huge step forward for the rebuilding Astros, who had a 19-win improvement over the 2013 season.
Jose Altuve emerged as a bona fide superstar. He won the batting title, led the AL in stolen bases and broke the franchise single-season hit mark with 225 knocks.
Top prospects George Springer and Jon Singleton arrived on the scene and showed why they are so highly regarded, while former prospect Chris Carter finally delivered on his vast power potential with a 37-homer season.
The biggest surprises were on the pitching side of things, where Dallas Keuchel and Collin McHugh emerged from relative obscurity to both post ERAs under 3.00—one of the better one-two punches in the American League.
Early 2015 Ranking: 24
The 2014 season was a big step forward, but the Astros are still several steps from contending, and that starts on the pitching side of things.
Keuchel and McHugh were both great, and their peripherals were solid, but it's hard to imagine them fronting the rotation of a contender. Top prospects Mark Appel and Mike Foltynewicz could join the rotation at some point in 2015.
It's worth noting that this team has a ton of money to spend, and this could be the offseason it finally starts spending some of it.
The left side of the infield is a major hole, at least until prospects Carlos Correa and Colin Moran arrive, so perhaps the Astros throw some money at someone like Hanley Ramirez or Chase Headley.
23. Chicago White Sox (73-89, Fourth in AL Central)
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Their record may not reflect it, but the White Sox were better than expected this past season, and they have some nice pieces to build around moving forward.
Jose Abreu was an absolute monster after making the jump from Cuba, while young outfielders Adam Eaton and Avisail Garcia also look like long-term pieces.
Alexei Ramirez also enjoyed a strong season at shortstop, a position that has become incredibly thin in the American League.
Chris Sale remained the ace of the staff and had another fantastic season, while Jose Quintana was quietly one of the better left-handed starters in the game and a more-than-capable No. 2 guy.
Early 2015 Ranking: 26
Finally out from under the Adam Dunn contract, and with Paul Konerko riding off into the sunset, the White Sox will be in the market for a power bat to pair with Abreu.
Victor Martinez is their top target, though it appears unlikely the Tigers will let him get away. Other lesser options are out there, and one way or another, the team should be able to add a piece of the offensive puzzle.
The rotation behind their two prized southpaws is still a work in progress, but John Danks and Hector Noesi figure to be back after decent seasons.
Shoring up the bullpen will probably trump the need for another starter, as they have some solid pieces in Zach Putnam and Jake Petricka but are in need of a proven closer.
Considering how weak their farm system was a few years ago, the White Sox have an impressive corps of young talent. They are still a year or two and a handful of pieces from contending, but they're heading in the right direction.
22. Cincinnati Reds (76-86, Fourth in NL Central)
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The Reds entered the season looking like legitimate contenders for the NL Central title, but a rash of injuries on the offensive side of things left them fighting to avoid a last-place finish in the division.
Outside of Devin Mesoraco and Todd Frazier, the lineup was a mess. That included star first baseman Joey Votto, who was limited to just 62 games, and slugger Jay Bruce, who hit .217 with a .654 OPS.
Those struggles undermined a solid rotation, led by Johnny Cueto, who turned in a career year that would have won him the Cy Young were it not for Clayton Kershaw. The bullpen was a weakness, though, as it finished 26th in the league with a 4.11 ERA.
Early 2015 Ranking: 22
The Reds have some big decisions to make this offseason, with Cueto, Mat Latos, Mike Leake and Alfredo Simon all headed for free agency following the 2015 season. Chances are they won't sign both Cueto and Latos, so one of those guys could be dealt this winter.
With Tony Cingrani and top prospect Robert Stephenson waiting in the wings, their rotation should still be a plus moving forward, but they will need to add a few bullpen arms in the offseason.
As for the offense, they have to get more from the high-priced trio of Votto, Bruce and Brandon Phillips. They figure to add a bat in left field, but it will be up to those guys to turn things around.
The window is closing fairly quickly on this Reds team, but it still has the pieces to contend in 2015 if its bats return to pre-2014 form.
21. Chicago Cubs (73-89, Fifth in NL Central)
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The Cubs boosted their win total by seven in 2014, but the season was not about wins or losses, as they continued to rebuild with an eye on taking a big step forward in 2015.
The first wave of prospects arrived on the scene with mixed results, but simply getting some experience under their belts should be big for guys like Javier Baez, Jorge Soler and Arismendy Alcantara moving forward.
On the pitching side of things, Jake Arrieta was a revelation, as he put up some of the best numbers of any starter in baseball and had the peripherals to suggest it is sustainable.
Mid-level prospect Kyle Hendricks also proved better than expected, and it looks like he should be a solid No. 3 guy moving forward.
Outside of Arrieta, the biggest surprise may have been the bullpen, which improved its ERA from 4.04 to 3.61 behind the likes of Neil Ramirez, Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon.
Early 2015 Ranking: 14
Theo Epstein and Co. came into Chicago with a clear plan for rebuilding the franchise from the ground up, and in the process, they have built perhaps the best core group of young players in all of baseball.
The one clear piece the Cubs are still missing is a bona fide ace to lead their staff, and Jon Lester looks to be their top target this offseason. Adding him to the mix, and perhaps signing another value arm in the Scott Feldman/Jason Hammel mold, could make their rotation a strength.
Meanwhile, no team has a better mix of young position-player talent, as Minor League Player of the Year Kris Bryant is set to join Baez, Soler, Alcantara and young All-Stars Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo.
There will be some growing pains, but it's not unreasonable to expect a huge step forward in 2015 and a potential run at a playoff spot, provided Chicago can shore up the rotation.
20. San Diego Padres (77-85, Third in NL West)
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It's not often you see a team finish in the top five in ERA (3.27) but wind up below .500 on the year, but it's not often you see a team as offensively inept as the 2014 Padres.
They finished the year ranked dead last in batting average (.226), OPS (.634) and runs per game (3.30), and outside of Seth Smith (.807 OPS, 12 HR, 48 RBI), it's hard to find a hitter who had an even slightly above-average season.
The pitching, on the other hand, was brilliant, with the rotation led by breakout ace Tyson Ross, Andrew Cashner and rookies Jesse Hahn and Odrisamer Despaigne. The bullpen was also terrific, leading the NL with a 2.73 mark, though the Padres did deal All-Star closer Huston Street at the deadline.
Early 2015 Ranking: 25
It's hard to fathom the Padres offense being as bad as it was last year again, and the fact that they won 77 games speaks to just how good that pitching staff was.
Jedd Gyorko, Yonder Alonso and Yasmani Grandal need to prove why they were viewed as core pieces when they arrived in San Diego, and Carlos Quentin has to stay on the field and earn his contract.
Adding a power bat is an obvious need, and they have been named among the teams pursuing Cuban slugger Yasmany Tomas, according to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com. Shortstop is also a hole after Everth Cabrera took a big step back following his PED suspension.
Until they can consistently score runs, the Padres will hover around .500 regardless of how good their pitching is. Another middle-of-the-pack finish in the NL West seems likely.
19. Atlanta Braves (79-83, Second in NL East)
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A disastrous 7-18 September put an end to any hopes the Braves had of making the playoffs this past year, as a lack of consistent offense finally caught up with them.
Outside of Freddie Freeman and Justin Upton, no one could really be counted on at the plate on a game-by-game basis, and their pitching staff was unable to overcome that.
The Braves did a great job early on piecing together their rotation after three starters opened the season on the disabled list. They added Ervin Santana and Aaron Harang to the mix right at the end of spring training.
Julio Teheran and Alex Wood ended up being the team's best starters, and they both look to have bright futures ahead of them.
Early 2015 Ranking: 19
The Braves offense desperately needs an overhaul, but the team is more or less stuck with the roster it has in place unless it decides to trade Justin Upton or Jason Heyward or can find a way to unload B.J. Upton or Chris Johnson.
The rotation needs to be addressed this offseason, as Santana and Harang are both free agents. It's also risky to rely on anything from Kris Medlen or Brandon Beachy, as they make their way back from second Tommy John surgeries.
With the Marlins and Mets on the rise, and the Nationals looking strong once again, this team is in real danger of slipping to the No. 4 spot in the NL East. There is still a lot of talent on this roster, though, and a bounce-back season is by no means out of the question.
18. Miami Marlins (77-85, Fourth in NL East)
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Even after losing ace Jose Fernandez for the season in May, the Marlins still contended into the second half, just a year removed from a 100-loss season.
Slugger Giancarlo Stanton finally showed what he was capable of when he stays healthy, though he did suffer a gruesome injury when he was hit in the face with a fastball on Sept. 12 that ended his season.
Marcell Ozuna and Christian Yelich joined Stanton to form one of the most productive outfield trios in baseball, while third baseman Casey McGehee returned from his one-year exile in Japan to be one of the biggest surprises of 2014.
The pitching staff did a great job holding things together after Fernandez went down, as Henderson Alvarez stepped into the role of staff ace. Jarred Cosart was also picked up at the deadline, and he could wind up being a key piece of the future as well.
Early 2015 Ranking: 12
If Fernandez comes back healthy at some point in the first half of the season, the sky is the limit for this team, as the Marlins are only going to get better with so many young players filling key roles.
Second base is their only glaring hole heading into free agency, and if they can land someone like Cuban defector Hector Olivera to fill that spot, their offense should be rock-solid top to bottom next season.
A rotation of Fernandez, Alvarez, Cosart, Nathan Eovaldi and Andrew Heaney/Tom Koehler has a chance to be really good for a long time, and the bullpen, led by closer Steve Cishek, was steady once again last year as well.
The Washington Nationals are going to be tough to unseat atop the NL East, but at the very least, this team should be in contention for a wild-card spot.
17. New York Mets (79-83, Second in NL East)
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With a number of prospects on the verge of contributing and Matt Harvey sidelined for the year following Tommy John surgery, the Mets entered 2014 with an eye on contending in 2015.
They wound up finishing just below .500, and there were plenty of positive takeaways.
Lucas Duda finally gave the team an everyday first baseman with a breakout season, Jacob deGrom was a stud after joining the rotation and could win NL Rookie of the Year, and the bullpen duo of Jeurys Familia and Jenrry Mejia showed flashes of brilliance.
There were some negatives as well, though, as David Wright posted a .698 OPS with just eight home runs, and Curtis Granderson did not have the big bounce-back season some were hoping for after he signed a four-year deal.
Early 2015 Ranking: 20
A rotation of Harvey, deGrom, Zack Wheeler, Jon Niese and Bartolo Colon/Dillon Gee looks awfully good heading into next season, and when you throw prospects Noah Syndergaard and Rafael Montero into the mix, the Mets are in an enviable spot on the pitching side of things.
However, they still need another right-handed power source and to decide once and for all if Ruben Tejada or Wilmer Flores is going to be the long-term answer at shortstop.
There is still a lot of work to be done here, but at the very least, the Mets look like a dark horse to contend for a wild-card spot in the upcoming season.
16. Tampa Bay Rays (77-85, Fourth in AL West)
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After a disastrous 24-42 start to the season, the Rays went 53-43 the rest of the way, though that was not enough to climb back into the playoff hunt.
The big move came at the trade deadline when they shipped ace David Price to the Tigers for a package of players that included left-hander Drew Smyly, who would go 3-1 with a 1.70 ERA in seven starts with the Rays.
The offense was sorely lacking in power once again, as Evan Longoria (22) was the only player with more than 15 home runs. Wil Myers was expected to be that second power source, but a fractured wrist limited him to just 87 games.
Early 2015 Ranking: 21
Even with Price gone, the Rays rotation is still a strength.
Alex Cobb, Smyly, Chris Archer, Jeremy Hellickson and Jake Odorizzi are all 27 years old or younger, and they should be rejoined by Matt Moore at some point in the first half after he underwent Tommy John surgery last April.
The pitching will be leaned on heavily, as the offense continues to be far from a strength. Getting Myers healthy and signing someone like Michael Morse or Mark Reynolds to serve as DH would help, but don't expect any drastic overhauls on the position-player side of things.
Their pitching alone gives them a chance to contend. A trendy pick by many (myself included) to win the AL pennant a year ago, the Rays will be coming from the underdog spot once again, and maybe that suits them.
Whom they choose to replace departed manager Joe Maddon will certainly have an impact on where this team is headed in 2015 and beyond.
15. Toronto Blue Jays (83-79, Third in AL East)
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A 21-9 month of May had the Blue Jays looking like the best team in the AL, and they hung around in the AL East until a 9-17 month of August put an end to their hopes of reaching the postseason.
The starting rotation was still shaky, but it was vastly improved from 2013, as they lowered their starter ERA from 4.81 to 3.96. The emergence of rookie Marcus Stroman played a big part in that, while 24-year-old Drew Hutchison also showed flashes.
Jose Bautista finally managed to stay healthy for a full season, but this time around, Edwin Encarnacion missed significant time with a quad injury that cost him 33 games. A bounce-back season from Melky Cabrera gave the offense a boost, but there were still a number of holes.
Early 2015 Ranking: 16
Re-signing Cabrera looks to be priority No. 1 this offseason, as the team is also set to lose center fielder Colby Rasmus to free agency. He will likely be replaced by top prospect Dalton Pompey at some point, with Anthony Gose holding down the fort until he's ready.
Mark Buehrle and R.A. Dickey are both entering the final year of their contracts, so the future of the rotation is in the hands of Stroman, Hutchison and hard-throwing Aaron Sanchez. As for the season ahead, that five-man group along with J.A. Happ has the potential to be very good.
If Bautista, Encarnacion, Brett Lawrie, Jose Reyes and Adam Lind could ever all stay healthy for an entire season, the offense has a chance to be something special. That remains a big "if" at this point, though.
Everyone is chasing the Orioles in the AL East right now, but with good health and a step forward from their young arms, the Blue Jays have a chance to be right there with them.
14. Milwaukee Brewers (82-80, Third in NL Central)
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The Brewers sat atop the NL Central standings for most of the season, only to collapse down the stretch and wind up missing the playoffs altogether.
Jonathan Lucroy and Scooter Gennett both stepped up offensively, and Carlos Gomez was again one of the most dynamic all-around players in the league. Ryan Braun was slowed by a thumb injury for most of the season, though, and Aramis Ramirez missed time to injury.
The pitching staff was the team's biggest strength for most of the year, as the Brewers lacked a legitimate ace but had five plus starters. Their bullpen was also better than expected, thanks to Francisco Rodriguez dominating in the closer's role.
It was simply a perfect storm of regression for their roster over the final month of the season.
Early 2015 Ranking: 15
Once they exercise their options on Yovani Gallardo and Ramirez, the Brewers will essentially be returning the same roster next season, outside of the bullpen where K-Rod and Zach Duke are both free agents.
Upgrading at first base, where a platoon of Mark Reynolds and Lyle Overbay held down the fort last season, would be big for the offense. Adam LaRoche looks like the perfect target, as he gives them a power bat from the left side that would split up their righty-heavy lineup.
Consistency from their starting rotation will again be the key, but this team has the talent to contend in the NL Central and for a wild-card spot this coming season.
13. New York Yankees (84-78, Second in AL East)
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After spending roughly a half-billion dollars last offseason to sign the likes of Masahiro Tanaka, Carlos Beltran, Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann and others, the Yankees failed to reach the postseason for the second straight year.
It would appear that simply throwing money at the market's top free agents is no longer a viable way to build a team, and the Yankees' lack of young, controllable talent has handcuffed them to an aging, underperforming roster.
The Derek Jeter retirement tour was a nice distraction from a mediocre on-field product, but given their payroll, missing the playoffs is completely unacceptable.
Early 2015 Ranking: 18
A healthy starting rotation would be a big step in the right direction for the Yankees. Veteran Hiroki Kuroda was the only starter who managed to stay relatively healthy all season, and there's a good chance he either retires or heads back to Japan.
Tanaka was brilliant before a partially torn UCL landed him on the shelf. He wound up not needing surgery, but it's an injury that could necessitate Tommy John at any point if he further injures his arm, so that's something to keep an eye on.
Re-signing Brandon McCarthy, getting a full season from Michael Pineda and receiving really anything from CC Sabathia could help turn around the pitching staff.
The offense is another story entirely, though, as health will again be the biggest obstacle with so many aging stars. Finding a replacement for Jeter will be no easy task this offseason in a thin market for shortstops.
The Yankees have found a way to at least contend the past two seasons despite their injury woes, but a similar result in 2015 appears to be where they are headed as of now.
12. Cleveland Indians (85-77, Third in AL Central)
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A return trip to the postseason was not in the cards for the Indians, but they were still competitive in the AL Central, and they gave plenty of reason for optimism in the second half.
Corey Kluber took his game to another level, emerging as one of the top 10 pitchers in all of baseball. His peripheral numbers are for real.
It was the rest of the rotation that was a question mark for much of the year, but Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar finished strong and will be looking for big seasons next year.
The offense was led by Michael Brantley, who made the team look brilliant for locking him up with an extension last offseason. The Indians were lacking a second impact bat, though, as guys like Nick Swisher, Carlos Santana and Jason Kipnis all had down seasons.
Early 2015 Ranking: 13
Provided Carrasco and Salazar can duplicate their second-half success, the Indians might be a solid mid-level starter away from having one of the better starting rotations in the American League.
Offensively, the biggest change figures to come at shortstop, where top prospect Francisco Lindor is set to inherit the job at some point in 2015. Bounce-back seasons from Kipnis and a few others would go a long way in helping the team contend once again.
The AL Central is strong at the top, as the Tigers and Royals figure to be in contention once again next season, but this Indians team has the pieces to be right there with them if a few things break right.
11. Seattle Mariners (87-75, Third in AL West)
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The Mariners shocked many when they shelled out a 10-year, $240 million deal to sign Robinson Cano, also adding Fernando Rodney, Corey Hart, Logan Morrison and a handful of others in what was their busiest offseason in a while.
The result was a 16-win improvement over 2013, as they were in contention for a wild-card spot right down to the final day of the season.
Chris Young and Roenis Elias were unexpected contributors to a rotation that was bitten by the injury bug, while the bullpen was absolutely dominant and perhaps the biggest reason for the significant improvement.
However, the offense was still a weakness at 3.91 runs per game, good for 11th in the American League. Austin Jackson was a steal at the deadline, and the duo of Cano and Kyle Seager was great, but the M's are still a bat or two away from legitimately contending.
Early 2015 Ranking: 10
Ideally, they could land an impact right-handed hitter this offseason in the mold of Nelson Cruz, but they may have to settle for someone like Michael Cuddyer. If the Mariners can even rank in the middle of the pack offensively next year, they have the pitching to carry them to the postseason.
James Paxton was a stud once he finally got healthy, and Taijuan Walker still has all the potential in the world. The late-season struggles of Hisashi Iwakuma are a bit troubling, as the team is relying on him to be the No. 2 guy behind Felix Hernandez.
This team is still on the rise, and if a couple unexpected contributors can break through and its bullpen can come close to duplicating its 2014 performance, it should be a playoff team.
10. Oakland Athletics (88-74, Second in AL West)
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General manager Billy Beane went all-in on the 2014 A's and it burned him, as they decimated the farm system at the deadline only to watch the team spiral down the stretch and collapse late in the AL Wild Card Game.
Sonny Gray had a terrific first full season, and Scott Kazmir proved to be one of the better free-agent signings, but those guys stumbled down the stretch, and deadline pickups Jon Lester and Jeff Samardzija were unable to stop the bleeding.
Offensively, they got another big season from Josh Donaldson, but the loss of Yoenis Cespedes hurt, as did a dismal second half from Brandon Moss and Coco Crisp.
Early 2015 Ranking: 17
Even with Lester set to sign elsewhere, they still have a solid starting rotation led by the trio of Gray, Samardzija and Kazmir. The bullpen also returns more or less intact, minus Luke Gregerson, so the pitching staff should be a strength once again.
However, the offense is a different story entirely. The A's have found ways to score runs despite a lack of star-caliber bats in the past, but that seemed to catch up with them down the stretch.
Relying on guys like Moss and Josh Reddick as run producers is a risky proposition, and even Donaldson took a big step back from his 2013 numbers.
The middle infield spots have turned into a black hole for production, and one shouldn't expect the same results out of their catching platoon.
It's hard to bet against the A's, as they continue to find ways to win within their budget constraints. It's also hard to be overly optimistic about this group heading into next season, though.
9. Pittsburgh Pirates (88-74, Second in NL Central)
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2014 Wrapup
After snapping a 20-year playoff drought in 2013, the Pirates showed they were no flash in the pan, as they used a late-season surge to again claim one of the NL wild-card spots. However, a dominant start from Madison Bumgarner (go figure) ended their postseason run before it started.
Andrew McCutchen finally got some help offensively, as Neil Walker had a big season out of the cleanup spot, Starling Marte put up solid numbers, and the versatile Josh Harrison wound up being the out-of-nowhere star of 2014.
Francisco Liriano again pitched like an ace in the second half, and their latest reclamation project Edinson Volquez proved to be a steal at $5 million.
Injuries slowed Gerrit Cole, and the bullpen was not nearly as dominant as it was the previous season, but the boost in offense helped offset that step back from Pittsburgh's pitching staff.
Early 2015 Ranking: 11
With Liriano and Volquez both headed for free agency, the Pirates will need some of their young arms to fill the void this season. They could make another low-cost signing, but the staff belongs to Cole and Charlie Morton now.
Catcher Russell Martin is also a free agent, and it's hard to quantify just what he has meant to the Pirates over the past two years. They will do everything in their power to keep him in Pittsburgh, but there will be a lot of teams interested. It would be a huge blow if he signs elsewhere.
If Martin comes back and one of the team's top prospects, such as Nick Kingham, steps into the rotation, this team should be able to contend once again. However, if Martin leaves and the Pirates can't find a way to fill out the rotation, they could be in for a huge step back in 2015.
8. Detroit Tigers (90-72, First in AL Central)
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2014 Wrapup
After a busy offseason in which the Tigers traded Prince Fielder and Doug Fister, there was some question as to whether their 2014 team was as good as previous seasons'. But in the end, they wound up claiming their fourth straight AL Central title.
Miguel Cabrera had a down season by his standards but was still one of the best around, while Victor Martinez was an absolute beast stepping into the cleanup spot, posting the best numbers of his career.
Justin Verlander continued his descent into mediocrity, and Anibal Sanchez missed time to injury, so the rotation was not as good as expected. Max Scherzer was still a stud, though, and the deadline pickup of David Price certainly shook things up.
Early 2015 Ranking: 7
The bullpen ended up dooming the Tigers in 2014, and it needs a complete overhaul this offseason. Outside of Al Albuquerque and perhaps lefty Blaine Hardy, the Tigers are looking at a complete teardown and rebuild. Look for them to target essentially every viable option on the market.
Re-signing Victor Martinez will also be a priority, as they simply can't replace his production. J.D. Martinez was a great find and is a fantastic complementary piece for Cabrera and V-Mart, but asking him to step into the cleanup role is too much.
Losing Scherzer hurts, but Price will be back to take that spot in the rotation. If someone can step into the No. 5 starter spot and they can somehow find a way to completely retool their bullpen, the Tigers should be contenders once again, but that Royals team is not going anywhere in the AL Central.
7. Washington Nationals (96-66, First in NL East)
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After they missed the playoffs in 2013, the Nationals bounced back with another dominant regular-season performance, posting the best record in the National League and running away with the NL East division.
Pitching was the strength of their team, as the Nationals led all of baseball with a 3.03 team ERA. Doug Fister proved to be a great addition to their already-stacked rotation, and the bullpen was better than expected, thanks to big seasons from Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard.
Offensively, the star was Anthony Rendon, as he enjoyed a breakout performance in his first full season in the majors. Bryce Harper struggled to stay on the field and fell well short of expectations, but they were able to overcome that thanks to their depth.
Early 2015 Ranking: 1
Yes, they have made two early exits from the postseason in three years, and yes, the media loves to hype up this Nationals team, but it's hard not to call them the most complete team looking ahead to 2015.
Outside of signing a second baseman, and perhaps another bullpen arm, their roster is essentially set, and it's an awfully good roster.
They may not have a Clayton Kershaw atop their rotation, but I'll take Strasburg, Zimmermann, Fister, Gonzalez and Roark over any other five-man rotation in baseball.
Look for them to run away with the NL East once again, as they look to avenge their recent postseason struggles.
6. Los Angeles Angels (98-64, First in AL West)
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2014 Wrapup
After spending a ton of money on free agents only to miss the postseason entirely the past two years, the Angels finally broke through in 2014 and wound up with the best record in baseball.
Mike Trout should finally add an AL MVP to his resume in the weeks ahead, but he was not alone in leading the team to the highest-scoring offense in baseball, as the Angels saw contributions up and down the lineup. That included a nice bounce-back season from Albert Pujols.
The starting rotation benefited greatly from the breakout performances of Garrett Richards and Matt Shoemaker, though Richards ended up sidelined with a knee injury. The Angels were swept by the Kansas City Royals in the ALDS, but simply reaching the postseason was a nice first step for this high-priced group.
Early 2015 Ranking: 2
Outside of finding a left-handed reliever and perhaps another starter to fill out the back of the rotation, the Angels roster is more or less set for the 2015 season.
The A's decision to go all-in at the deadline could set them back over the next couple years, and the Mariners are still a piece or two away from legitimately contending for a division title. So, at this point, the Angels still look like the favorites in the AL West.
It will be all about getting Richards healthy and keeping the rotation whole throughout the season, as starting pitching depth remains perhaps the Angels' biggest weakness.
5. Los Angeles Dodgers (94-68, First in NL West)
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2014 Wrapup
The Dodgers offense did not always perform up to expectations this season, but their starting pitching was as good as advertised. Clayton Kershaw is a lock for his third Cy Young award and the favorite to also win NL MVP.
Zack Greinke continued to pitch like a second ace, and there was no sophomore slump for Hyun-Jin Ryu.
It was an up-and-down second season for Yasiel Puig, who slumped badly after a monster first half. Luckily, Matt Kemp turned things around in a big way after the All-Star break and again provided an impact bat in the middle of the order.
A rocky postseason from Kershaw and the lack of a reliable bullpen wound up doing them in come October, as the Dodgers were knocked out by the St. Louis Cardinals once again, this time in the NLDS.
Early 2015 Ranking: 4
Shoring up the bullpen will be priority No. 1 for new GM Andrew Friedman, and it will be interesting to see how he handles having infinitely more financial wiggle room than he did in Tampa Bay.
Hanley Ramirez is also a free agent, and the team will need to decide whether it can afford to let him leave, seeing as his expected replacement Corey Seager is still at least a year away. Perhaps the best-case scenario would be him accepting his qualifying offer.
The outfield logjam will again be an area of focus this offseason, as the team looks to free up a job for Joc Pederson. Moving Andre Ethier will likely be the first step in that process.
As long as they have that devastating trio atop their rotation, the Dodgers are going to be in the hunt for the NL pennant, and who knows what they have up their sleeve this offseason.
4. Baltimore Orioles (96-66, First in AL East)
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The Orioles had to deal with injuries to Matt Wieters and Manny Machado, as well as the suspension of Chris Davis down the stretch, but they still managed to lead all of baseball in home runs.
Unexpected contributions from Steve Pearce, Caleb Joseph and Alejandro De Aza helped offset those losses, but it was the signing of Nelson Cruz to a one-year, $8 million deal that proved to be the difference-maker for the offense.
On the pitching side of things, the rotation was better than expected and could be even better next season with all of the veterans returning and Kevin Gausman looking like a potential breakout candidate.
The bullpen was terrific once Zach Britton moved into the closer's role. It was a legitimate weapon after Andrew Miller was acquired at the trade deadline.
All of that added up to an ALDS sweep of the Detroit Tigers, before they were swept themselves in the ALCS. It was a disappointing finish to what was a wildly successful season for an Orioles team that had not won a division title since 1997.
Early 2015 Ranking: 5
Whether the team re-signs Cruz will be the key to the offseason and to its projections looking ahead to the 2015 season.
Counting on a bounce-back season from Davis and a similar season from Pearce to offset the production of Cruz is a dangerous proposition, and if he doesn't return, the team could have a hard time consistently driving in runs behind Adam Jones.
The pitching should be solid once again, though the bullpen could use another impact lefty setup man to replace Miller if he does end up signing elsewhere.
There are a lot of questions around the AL East, though, so at this point, the O's have to be considered the favorites to repeat in 2015.
3. St. Louis Cardinals (90-72, First in NL Central)
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The Cardinals struggled offensively for much of the season and had to overcome the loss of Michael Wacha for much of the year, but they played their best baseball down the stretch to overtake the Milwaukee Brewers for the NL Central title.
They ranked last in the NL with just 105 home runs during the regular season but enjoyed a power surge in the NLDS to propel them to a series win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
After entering the season viewed by many as the favorite to win it all, falling short of another NL pennant was something of a disappointment. But all in all, it was another prosperous season for the Redbirds, as they continue their run of sustained success.
Early 2015 Ranking: 3
It should be a relatively quiet offseason for the Cardinals, as they don't have any glaring holes to fill like they did with shortstop and the signing of Jhonny Peralta a year ago.
Adding an arm or two to the bullpen will likely be atop their to-do list, especially if Pat Neshek walks in free agency. Trevor Rosenthal was far from a sure thing in the ninth inning, so they could explore the idea of upgrading at closer.
Overall, this team should be in good shape moving forward, especially if young players like Kolten Wong, Matt Adams and Randal Grichuk take another step forward and Wacha comes back with a healthy 2015 season.
R.I.P. OT #18
2. Kansas City Royals (89-73, Second in AL Central)
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Despite a lack of offensive firepower, the Royals were able to ride their speed, defense and dominant relief pitching all the way to the AL pennant in 2014.
The dominant late-inning trio of Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland was the biggest strength of this team, and they helped shorten games for what was a better-than-expected rotation, thanks to the emergence of Yordano Ventura and Danny Duffy.
Offensively, the team still needs to get more out of core pieces like Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas long term, but they stepped up in the postseason. The Royals brought an NL style of play to the American League, manufacturing runs with sacrifice bunts and stolen bases, and it got the job done.
Early 2015 Ranking: 9
The Royals return most of their roster next season, with the notable exception of ace James Shields. The team is expected to make every effort to re-sign him, but there will likely be more money to be had elsewhere.
If the team is comfortable with Ventura and Duffy fronting the staff, it could get by with signing a mid-level arm like Ervin Santana or Francisco Liriano to round out the rotation. If Ventura can continue his rise to ace status, losing Shields might not hurt as much as one would think.
The bullpen is back intact minus deadline pickup Jason Frasor and should again be one of the best in the business. If the Royals can add a bat in right field and a solid second-tier starter, there is no reason to think this team can't be right back in the hunt in 2015.
1. San Francisco Giants (88-74, Second in NL West)
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2014 Wrapup
The Giants probably overcame more this season than in either of their other two recent World Series-winning seasons combined.
They dealt with injuries to their starting rotation, some shuffling at the back of the bullpen and were without one of their most important players in Angel Pagan for the duration of the postseason.
They still managed to come out on top, riding ace Madison Bumgarner to their third World Series title in the past five years, legitimately putting this group in the "dynasty" conversation in the process.
Early 2015 Ranking: 8
The Giants have some big decisions ahead this offseason, starting with whether to retain third baseman Pablo Sandoval. He will be tough to replace if he does end up walking, even if they can land someone like Chase Headley.
They will also need to address the starting rotation, which could potentially be a disaster behind Bumgarner.
Tim Hudson fell off significantly in the second half, Ryan Vogelsong and Jake Peavy are both free agents, Tim Lincecum is bad, and Matt Cain is coming off of elbow and ankle surgery. Yusmeiro Petit could be the No. 2 starter heading into next season.
Key hitters Buster Posey and Hunter Pence are locked up, and the bullpen returns more or less intact minus Sergio Romo, so there is still talent. It's an odd-numbered year, though, so the Giants may be in trouble.
All standard and advanced stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com, unless otherwise noted.
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