MLB Divisional Power Rankings After Wave of Offseason Movement
Winter may still be in full force (especially on the East Coast) and the offseason still not complete, but baseball season is closer than we realize, with less than a month to go before pitchers and catchers report to spring training.
It seems as if we spend an inordinate amount of time each winter breaking down, debating and ranking which players and teams are the biggest winners and losers of the hot stove league, but what about divisions?
Sure, there's still one big-name free agent left (James Shields) and some high-profile talent that could still be traded, shifting power and changing a division's profile, but by and large, what we see is what we're going to get when St. Louis and Chicago get the season underway April 5.
What better time to take a broad look at the comings and goings within each of baseball's six divisions and rank them? Perhaps the more important question to ask is how do we rank them?
These rankings put more emphasis on the good rather than the bad. For example, a highly competitive division with multiple contenders is going to come in higher on our list than one that has an overwhelming favorite and a bunch of mediocre clubs.
Let's get to it.
6. National League East
1 of 6
Welcome to the NL East, home of the biggest contract in history (Miami's $325 million extension with Giancarlo Stanton), the largest free-agent pitcher contract ever awarded (Washington's $210 million deal with Max Scherzer) and the deepest pool of starting pitching in the game.
It starts at the top with the reigning division champions, Washington. The Nationals were the only team in the division to post a winning record and finish in the top half of baseball when it came to scoring runs in 2014, and with Scherzer on board, they now boast what could be a historically dominant rotation.
The starting five in both Miami and New York could be dominant as well, as young aces Jose Fernandez and Matt Harvey, respectively, return from Tommy John surgery, and those rotations will keep them in the playoff picture.
But the Marlins did far more to address their lineup than the Mets did, adding the versatile Martin Prado, streaky slugger Mike Morse and the speedy Dee Gordon to a group that features perhaps the game's most prolific slugger, Giancarlo Stanton.
The Mets are counting on newcomer Michael Cuddyer to provide a boost to a lineup that scored as many runs as the 92-loss Houston Astros a year ago, but the 14-year veteran will be 36 on Opening Day and hasn't played in more than 130 games since 2010.
Atlanta and Philadelphia both made moves with an eye toward the future, but that does little for their chances—or for the division's rank—in 2015.
The Braves are trying to retool an underproducing lineup on the fly, replacing Evan Gattis, Jason Heyward and Justin Upton with Jonny Gomes, Nick Markakis and A.J. Pierzynski. But that may not be enough to keep the team relevant, despite a talented rotation that added Shelby Miller to its ranks.
Philadelphia finally began to break up its aging core, trading Jimmy Rollins to the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the rebuilding process can't truly get underway until the team finally trades away ace Cole Hamels, whose uncertain future will be a topic of discussion all season long.
5. National League West
2 of 6
Being able to call the defending World Series champions your own is a great place for the NL West to start, but it's not nearly enough to send the division soaring up our rankings.
If we've learned anything about San Francisco over the past few years, it's that the team is at its best in even-numbered years, having won it all in 2010, 2012 and, of course, 2014. Recent history, coupled with Pablo Sandoval's free-agent defection, could make defending that title difficult.
So too will challenges from improved clubs in Los Angeles and San Diego, where new front office regimes wasted little time in remaking their respective rosters.
Andrew Friedman and Farhad Zaidi bolstered the Dodgers up the middle, with Howie Kendrick and Jimmy Rollins forming their new double-play combination, while Yasmani Grandal takes over behind the plate. The Dodgers also cleared a spot for top prospect Joc Pederson in center field, trading Matt Kemp to San Diego.
Adding Kemp was only the beginning for A.J. Preller, who also added All-Stars Derek Norris and Justin Upton, along with 2013 AL Rookie of the Year Wil Myers, to bolster his team's inept lineup, which crossed home plate an embarrassingly low 535 times in 2014.
Scoring runs has never been an issue in Colorado, where new general manager Jeff Bridich brings back essentially the same roster that lost 96 games. A lack of quality pitching will continue to limit the Rockies, as will the health of Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki, who simply can't stay on the field.
In an attempt to clean up the mess left by former GM Kevin Towers, Dave Stewart rebuilt Arizona's rotation, which ranked 27th in quality starts with 75, per ESPN, trading for hard-throwing youngsters Rubby De La Rosa and Allen Webster, along with 2011 AL Rookie of the Year Jeremy Hellickson,
The D-Backs also signed 21-year-old right-hander Yoan Lopez out of Cuba, a player Stewart believes can contend for a spot in the rotation in spring training, as he told The Arizona Republic's Nick Piecoro. Lopez was Arizona's second foray into Cuba this winter, adding slugger Yasmany Tomas earlier in the offseason.
While Arizona and Colorado could be entertaining to watch, the gap between their rosters and those of the three teams ahead of them in the division keep the NL West near the bottom of the list.
4. American League West
3 of 6
While no division in baseball saw more All-Star-caliber talent leave its ranks this winter than the American League West, it's still home to four formidable teams, all capable of playing meaningful baseball in October.
The exodus of talent emanated from Oakland, which lost ace Jon Lester as a free agent and traded away the likes of Josh Donaldson, Brandon Moss, Derek Norris and Jeff Samardzija for younger, more controllable pieces. But contrary to popular opinion, GM Billy Beane wasn't punting on 2015.
“Billy is about as good as it gets as far as being able to handle that balance, keeping us competitive currently and looking down the road for the future,” A’s manager Bob Melvin told the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser shortly after the team dealt Moss to the Cleveland Indians.
While youngsters like Brett Lawrie and Marcus Semien may still experience growing pains as they try and find their way in the big leagues, veteran additions Billy Butler, Ben Zobrist and yes, even the enigmatic Ike Davis figure to keep the club hanging around the outskirts of the playoff picture, at the very least.
Seattle finally landed the big bat it was searching for to complement Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager in Nelson Cruz, who not only brings power, but some balance to a lineup that is stocked with left-handed batters. With Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma at the top of the rotation and baseball's best bullpen waiting in the wings, the team's 13-year playoff drought could finally come to an end.
We can't look past the Los Angeles Angels of course, the defending division champions and a team that still features the game's best player, Mike Trout. Adding highly rated pitching prospect Andrew Heaney adds depth and talent to a thin rotation, but the loss of longtime second baseman Howie Kendrick could have a bigger impact than anyone wants to admit.
Kendrick, while not a superstar, has been one of baseball's most consistently underrated players for years. The same can't be said about his replacement, Josh Rutledge.
The Texas Rangers bolstered their rotation with the additions of Ross Detwiler and former All-Star Yovani Gallardo, but it's a return to health for last year's big-ticket additions, Shin-Soo Choo and Prince Fielder, that will ultimately put the Rangers back into contention.
Lest we forget that it was injuries—not a lack of talent—that doomed the club to a 95-loss season in 2014.
Houston shored up the left side of its infield, signing Jed Lowrie and trading for Luis Valbuena, took a flier on Colby Rasmus and bolstered its bullpen by adding veterans Luke Gregerson and Pat Neshek. While those moves might be enough for the club to avoid its fifth consecutive season with at least 90 losses, the Astros will still be spectators come October.
.png?w=256)
3. American League East
4 of 6
Long touted as baseball's best division—or at least its most high-profile one—the AL East remains wide open for the taking, despite an influx of big-ticket talent this winter.
Toronto added to an already formidable lineup, signing Russell Martin and trading for Josh Donaldson. But it's that duo's defensive ability—and Martin's track record of improving pitching staffs—that figures to make a bigger impact than their productive bats.
Not to be outdone, Boston went out and signed the top two free-agent bats available, Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval. While it missed out on a reunion with former ace Jon Lester, the additions of Justin Masterson, Wade Miley and Rick Porcello solidify a rotation that was in crisis.
Of course, Boston still has the talent and financial wherewithal to swing a trade for a top-end starter, whether it be Philadelphia's Cole Hamels, Washington's Jordan Zimmermann or another big-time arm who suddenly becomes available.
After years of spending lavishly in free agency, the New York Yankees opted instead to focus on getting younger, more athletic and less expensive. Only Chase Headley and Andrew Miller received free-agent deals worth more than $10 million, with the club more focused on improving through trades.
The team swung deals to improve the rotation (Nathan Eovaldi) and the bullpen (David Carpenter, Chasen Shreve and Justin Wilson) and found Derek Jeter's replacement at shortstop, Didi Gregorius. While the rotation remains dangerously thin, the Bronx Bombers have enough returning talent to contend.
So too do the defending division champion Baltimore Orioles, though few teams did less this winter. Two key members of the lineup, Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis, took their talents elsewhere, and the Orioles did nothing—absolutely nothing—to replace their production in the lineup.
That said, the Orioles, who led baseball in home runs in each of the past two seasons, have enough to make another run at the division, especially if Manny Machado and Matt Wieters return to form after injury-shortened seasons and Chris Davis bounces back from a dreadful campaign.
While Tampa Bay might still have the division's most talented rotation, the Rays are a team in flux, having lost general manager Andrew Friedman and manager Joe Maddon in the span of a few weeks early in the offseason.
Gone are Wil Myers and Ben Zobrist, replaced by prospect Steven Souza and veteran Asdrubal Cabrera, who, along with newcomers John Jaso and Rene Rivera and holdovers Desmond Jennings and Evan Longoria, should keep Tampa Bay somewhat competitive but likely at the bottom of the division.
2. American League Central
5 of 6
Losing a pair of aces in Max Scherzer and James Shields knocks the AL Central down a peg, but when it comes to parity, it remains in the thick of the discussion as baseball's most competitive division.
No matter what advanced metrics and convoluted formula you want to use, Shane Greene and Alfredo Simon do not equal Scherzer, much less Scherzer and Rick Porcello. Not today, not tomorrow, not five years from now.
But Detroit still has David Price and Justin Verlander atop its rotation, and the four-time defending division champs still have Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez to pace the lineup, one that should be bolstered by the addition of slugger Yoenis Cespedes. A fifth consecutive division crown isn't out of the question, but the division is as competitive—on paper, at least—as it's ever been.
Last year's playoff darlings, the Kansas City Royals, failed to capitalize on their postseason success, allowing Shields, Nori Aoki and Billy Butler to depart as free agents.
Edinson Volquez is sure to give Royals fans heart palpitations whenever he steps on the mound, but the core of the team remains intact, and veteran additions Kendrys Morales and Alex Rios are more than capable of replacing, if not surpassing, the production provided by Aoki and Butler a year ago.
Chicago GM Rick Hahn continues to prove that he's a master of the offseason, filling holes as adeptly as any of his counterparts.
With Jeff Samardzija joining Chris Sale and the criminally underrated Jose Quintana in the starting rotation, the White Sox have one of the best trios that any team in baseball can trot out on consecutive days.
The bullpen was bolstered by the addition of All-Star relievers Zach Duke and David Robertson, while the offense added needed reinforcements in the form of Melky Cabrera and Adam LaRoche, both seasoned veterans capable of putting up All-Star-caliber numbers.
Cleveland added All-Star slugger Brandon Moss and former White Sox hurler Gavin Floyd to the fold but was relatively quiet this winter, returning the bulk of a club that missed out on the playoffs by only three games a year ago.
A return to health for Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher will certainly help the Indians' efforts in 2015, as will the eventual arrival of top prospect Francisco Lindor.
Health is the one thing holding Minnesota back from rejoining the conversation as contenders for the division, with top prospects Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano both having their development (and arrivals) stalled by injury a year ago.
Torii Hunter isn't as dynamic a player as he was during his first tour of duty with the Twins, but the aging outfielder is still a capable hitter, one who will help solidify a lineup that ranked seventh in runs scored.
Adding Ervin Santana to a rotation that saw Phil Hughes emerge as an ace and that should get a markedly better performance from Ricky Nolasco (he can't do any worse than his 5.38 ERA or 1.52 WHIP) might not be enough to get the Twins out of the basement, but a fifth straight 90-loss season seems unlikely.
1. National League Central
6 of 6
While the addition of a perennial Cy Young Award contender in Jon Lester isn't enough to vault the NL Central past the NL East in terms of starting pitching talent, there is no more competitive—or talented—division in the game.
That the NL Central sits atop our rankings should come as no surprise to anyone, especially when you consider this from C. Trent Rosecrans of The Cincinnati Enquirer:
"Even taking away the job Epstein has done building the Cubs' farm system, the division has claimed the most postseason spots over the last five years. In the three years that baseball has had two wild cards, the NL Central has occupied four of the six spots in the National League, while the American League has had an equitable two teams from each of the three divisions in the league in their one-game playoff games.
"
We'll start in Chicago, where Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer have kicked the rebuilding process into high gear by adding Lester and Jason Hammel to the rotation, Dexter Fowler in center field and two-time All-Star Miguel Montero behind the plate.
Oh, did we mention that they also landed one of the game's best managers in Joe Maddon?
Talk of ending the curse of the billy goat may be premature, as Bleacher Report's Anthony Witrado recently pointed out, but nobody can argue that the Cubs aren't contenders to bring home their first division crown since 2008.
Of course, they'll have to get past St. Louis, the two-time defending champs, to do just that. The Cardinals have made four consecutive appearances in the National League Championship Series and look primed to make it five in a row.
Jason Heyward, baseball's best defensive outfielder, could finally reach his offensive potential in a Cardinals lineup where he won't be asked to bat leadoff or be a focal point of the offense.
Mark Reynolds' steady glove and big-time power can only help coming off the bench (or in a platoon with Matt Adams at first base), while veteran relievers Matt Belisle and Jordan Walden bolster an already solid bullpen.
We can't count the Cardinals out of the running for Shields, as CBS Sports' Jon Heyman notes, an addition that would shore up a rotation that has some injury concerns.
Losing Russell Martin in free agency was a tough blow for Pittsburgh to absorb, but the Pirates did well in acquiring his former understudy in New York, Francisco Cervelli, as a replacement.
A.J. Burnett effectively replaces Edinson Volquez in the rotation, which managed to retain Francisco Liriano, and while Burnett was awful for Philadelphia in 2014, he was terrific for the Pirates in 2012 and 2013 under the watchful eye of manager Clint Hurdle and pitching coach Ray Searage.
Cincinnati and Milwaukee both appear to have taken a step back on paper, especially when it comes to their respective rotations. The Reds dealt away Mat Latos and Alfredo Simon, while the Brewers parted ways with Yovani Gallardo.
But both clubs have enough pitching to remain competitive, and their fortunes in 2015 will be directly tied to the health of their returning stars. Ryan Braun was a shell of his former self in Milwaukee due to a wrist injury, while leg issues limited both Jay Bruce and Joey Votto in Cincinnati.
If those three can regain their prior form, we could be in store for a legitimate five-team race for the division.
Unless otherwise linked/noted, all statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference and FanGraphs.
Hit me up on Twitter to talk all things baseball: @RickWeinerBR
.png?w=480)
