Report Cards for All 30 MLB Teams' Seasons at the Three-Quarter Mark
It's time for another batch of MLB report cards. This time, we'll be grading each team's season at the three-fourths mark of the 2015 campaign.
Every team is different, so there can't be one universal grading system. But in most cases, grades are directly correlated to preseason expectations.
Teams that were hyped to make noise in 2015 but have failed to do so will receive low marks, while under-the-radar clubs that have surprised the baseball world will earn higher grades.
The Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, Minnesota Twins and New York Mets are just a few organizations that have enjoyed magical 2015 runs thus far, and their grades will reflect that. On the other hand, the San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers can't wait to see their seasons end and will be judged accordingly.
But it's not always about wins and losses. Teams like the Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers and Colorado Rockies may not have the best records, but each of their grades received bumps due to shrewd moves by the front office that have put them in better position for future success.
Make sure to let your voices be heard in the comment section below. How do you feel about your favorite team's grade? Was that F grade too harsh or that A mark too kind? Let us know.
Let's get started with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Arizona Diamondbacks
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Led by MVP candidate Paul Goldschmidt, the Arizona Diamondbacks rank in the top 10 in runs scored in 2015. Goldschmidt (.337/.450/.577) has continued to make his case as the top right-handed bat in baseball.
But the Snakes have also enjoyed breakout seasons from a pair of promising players. A.J. Pollock (.360 OBP, 25 SB) has emerged as one of the best table-setters in the National League, while David Peralta has slugged over .500.
On the other hand, Arizona starters (4.47 ERA) have had trouble giving the club quality innings. In fact, of starters with at least 10 starts, only Robbie Ray has an ERA under 4.00.
Of the team's late-inning options, Brad Ziegler (1.64 ERA), Andrew Chafin (2.51 ERA) and Randall Delgado (2.79 ERA) have been dependable throughout the season. Unfortunately, Addison Reed was relieved of his closing duties and David Hernandez (4.00 ERA) hasn't impressed in his return from Tommy John surgery.
Grade: B-
Considering five of Arizona's top six prospects are pitchers, Arizona's rotation figures to vastly improve before 2016. But the Snakes should be applauded for hovering around .500 with such unreliable starting pitching.
Atlanta Braves
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After the Atlanta Braves jettisoned Jason Heyward, Justin Upton, Evan Gattis and Craig Kimbrel this offseason, expectations were significantly lower than in years prior.
However, under president of baseball operations John Hart, Atlanta has significantly expedited its rebuilding process. Since Hart took over last winter, the organization has acquired 10 of its top 15 prospects via trade. That doesn't even include players like Jace Peterson, Mike Foltynewicz and Matt Wisler, who are already making an impact at the major league level.
As far as the 2015 product, the Braves hung around in the NL East for most of the first half, but have faded after the All-Star break due to a punchless offense and unreliable bullpen.
Offensively, Atlanta has accomplished its goal of reducing its strikeout percentage. The Braves rank 27th in that category, but they're dead last in homers and in the bottom of of the league in runs scored. The bullpen has the seventh-highest ERA in baseball this season.
Grade: C+
Contending in 2017 is Atlanta's plan, and Hart and the rest of the front office have done a fantastic job acquiring young talent and payroll flexibility to make that happen. Because of that, this grade gets a bump despite a lackluster campaign.
Baltimore Orioles
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After winning the American League East in 2014, the Baltimore Orioles have hovered around .500 for most of the season. But the O's are still in position to make a run at the division or a wild-card spot over the next two months.
Baltimore has missed the likes of Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis this season, but the offense is still a formidable unit. A healthy Manny Machado (.301/.366/.523) and a resurgent Chris Davis (30 HR, 82 RBI) have done most of the heavy lifting for Baltimore.
The biggest reason for Baltimore's inconsistency has been a roller-coaster rotation. Wei-Yin Chen and Ubaldo Jimenez both have an ERA under 4.00, but the rest of the staff hasn't gotten the job done. However, Chris Tillman (0.38 second-half ERA) has pitched better of late and Kevin Gausman should be an upgrade over Bud Norris.
Thankfully, the Baltimore bullpen has been able to preserve most of the games in which the starters have pitched well. The Orioles tout the third-lowest reliever ERA in baseball thanks to five late-inning options with a sub-3.50 ERA.
Grade: B-
As the O's continue to play better and rise up the standings, so will this grade. If Tillman and Gausman can solidify the rotation, Baltimore will have a say in how the playoff race shakes out.
Boston Red Sox
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There's no other way to put it—the 2015 edition of the Boston Red Sox has been a disaster.
After making a splash in free agency by signing Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval to long-term deals, the Red Sox lineup figured to be among the league's best.
But both Ramirez and Sandoval (-1.1 and -1.2 WAR, respectively) have been busts in their first seasons in Boston, which could make them expendable—if any team can be convinced—this offseason. Dustin Pedroia (.287 BA) and David Ortiz (.341 OBP) have also endured through subpar seasons by their standards, leaving the lineup without much thump in the middle.
The offense was supposed to carry a makeshift rotation, which has been among MLB's worst this season. Red Sox starters have the third-highest ERA in MLB and have used nine different starters in 2015. Clay Buchholz (3.26 ERA) has been the lone bright spot for Boston.
Grade: F
The Red Sox have significantly underachieved this season and look to have taken on two of the worst contracts in baseball in Ramirez and Sandoval.
The emergence of guys like Xander Bogaerts, Mookie Betts, Brock Holt and Henry Owens is the only silver lining Boston can take from a lost season.
Chicago Cubs
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How would the youthful Chicago Cubs handle the preseason hype that was placed upon them before the 2015 season?
So far, so good. The Cubs currently occupy one of the two NL wild-card spots and have the fourth-best record in baseball.
At the dish, Kris Bryant, Addison Russell, Kyle Schwarber and Jorge Soler have all slid into consistent playing time for the Cubs this season. First baseman Anthony Rizzo (21 HR, .402 OBP) has also continued to develop into one of baseball's premier bats.
While plenty has been made about the club's array of young, talented position players, Chicago's success can be attributed to a standout rotation with the fifth-lowest ERA in baseball. The ace of the staff hasn't been Jon Lester, however, as Jake Arrieta (2.38 ERA) has emerged as one of the game's top right-handers. Jason Hammel and Kyle Hendricks have also provided the Cubbies reliable innings.
Out of the pen, Hector Rondon, Justin Grimm and Pedro Strop have been lights out for manager Joe Maddon.
Grade: A
Before the season, Theo Epstein and the rest of the Cubs brain trust would have gladly taken a wild-card appearance in 2015.
That's likely where the club is headed, barring a collapse over the final two months. If the Cubs reach the postseason without parting with any young talent at the deadline, this grade will end up as an A+.
Chicago White Sox
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After making significant moves this offseason, the Chicago White Sox had the look of a team ready to challenge for a playoff spot in 2015.
But the White Sox have been done in by one of the worst offenses in baseball, as their offense ranks 28th in runs scored. Of the six players who have suited up at least 100 times, only two, Jose Abreu and Adam Eaton, are performing better than replacement-level hitters. Melky Cabrera has only recently started to produce, and the White Sox have received next to nothing offensively from the middle of the infield.
Making matters worse, White Sox starters haven't fared much better. Chris Sale has struck out a whopping 31 percent of the batters he's faced this season, but even he has a 3.47 ERA. And struggles from Jeff Samardzija (4.62 ERA) and rookie Carlos Rodon (5.00 ERA) were unexpected and derailed what looked to be a formidable rotation on paper.
Grade: D-
Chicago played well to begin the second half but has fallen below .500 since. After seemingly improving over the winter, having a losing record at this point in the season has to be a tough pill to swallow for White Sox fans.
Cincinnati Reds
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Add the Cincinnati Reds to an ever-growing list of disappointing teams from the 2015 season.
However, general manager Walt Jocketty was able to salvage something from an underachieving campaign at the trade deadline.
By flipping Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake, Jocketty was able to add five good-looking prospects to bolster the organization's farm system. That haul included hard-throwing left-handers Brandon Finnegan, Cody Reed and John Lamb, as well as right-hander Keury Mella.
While those youngsters figure to be in Cincinnati's future plans, they can't erase an ugly 2015 from the big league club.
Despite a fantastic season from Joey Votto (.432 OBP), the Reds still rank 23rd in runs scored in 2015. Now, with two of their top three pitchers wearing different uniforms, rookie Anthony DeSclafani is the lone starter on the roster with at least 20 starts.
Grade: D+
The trade deadline was always going to be an important obstacle for Jocketty and the Reds to overcome. By acquiring some talent for Cueto and Leake, Cincinnati was able to stay away from an F.
But a team with such talented players shouldn't be 10-plus games under .500. Plain and simple.
Cleveland Indians
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What do you know, another underachieving team! This time it's the Cleveland Indians, who were never able to get going in 2015 despite having one of the nastiest pitching staffs in baseball.
Behind Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar and Trevor Bauer, Cleveland starters lead the majors in strikeouts per nine innings. But due to shoddy defending, the Indians staff still has a plus-4.00 ERA on the year.
Then again, it's hard to win games without scoring runs, no matter how well a pitcher throws.
Cleveland ranks 18th in runs scored, despite Jason Kipnis (.326/.401/.477) and Michael Brantley (.313/.388/.460) putting together two of the best position player seasons of 2015. The extended absence of Yan Gomes, the ineffectiveness of Carlos Santana and the departed Brandon Moss, Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn crippled the Indians offense.
Grade: F
With such a young, talented rotation, it's a shame the Indians haven't been able to reach their potential in 2015. The AL wild-card race is also wide open, which will only make 2015 sting even more for Cleveland.
Colorado Rockies
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It's hard to stay positive about a team that's closing in on 70 losses and just traded its best player at the trade deadline.
But for Troy Tulowitzki, the Colorado Rockies were able to snag multiple impact pitching prospects in Jeff Hoffman, Miguel Castro and Jesus Tinoco. Each hurler has significant upside and could develop into a front-line starter or top-tier closer if all goes well.
And to be honest, Colorado isn't going to win anything without significant upgrades to its major league rotation anyway. The Rockies rank dead last in team ERA in 2015. Some of that can be attributed to Coors Field, but a lot of it is due to heading into the season hoping that a guy like Kyle Kendrick (6.43 ERA) could survive in the Rocky Mountain altitude.
The good news? When Colorado ultimately deals the red-hot Carlos Gonzalez (1.322 OPS in the second half), even more pitching talent will enter the organization. In Hoffman, Castro, Tinoco, Jon Gray, Eddie Butler, Mike Nikorak and Kyle Freeland, the Rockies have a chance to put together a solid starting staff over the coming years.
Grade: D
If Colorado can start to construct some useful rotations, the club can be a threat in the NL West. Nolan Arenado, DJ LeMahieu, Charlie Blackmon and Corey Dickerson make a nice core of young position players.
Despite their record, there's a lot to like about what the Rockies did at the deadline. That's what keeps such a bad team away from an F grade.
Detroit Tigers
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When Max Scherzer left the Detroit Tigers last offseason, it was always going to affect the team's starting rotation.
But nobody could have foreseen such a fall from grace, as the Tigers have the fourth-highest ERA in the major leagues this season. That includes 21 starts with a 2.53 ERA from All-Star David Price, who has since been traded to the Toronto Blue Jays. Justin Verlander has been hurt and Anibal Sanchez (4.82 ERA), Alfredo Simon (4.74 ERA) and Shane Greene (6.72 ERA) have been, well, terrible.
The Tigers were able to hang around because of an elite offense, but the club just hasn't been able to overcome losses of Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez for extended periods of time. However, J.D. Martinez (30 HR), Ian Kinsler (.301 BA) and Jose Iglesias (.305 BA) should each be applauded for the seasons they've put together in 2015.
Grade: F
Since waving the white flag at the deadline by trading Price and Yoenis Cespedes, the Tigers have parted ways with longtime general manager Dave Dombrowski and are brawling in the dugout.
Life after 2015 for Detroit was always going to be up in the air due to Price's impending free agency, but this Tigers team figured to have one more postseason run left. With the future of the organization now in doubt, there's no other way to grade Detroit's season than with a F.
Houston Astros
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After that run of somber slides, let's touch on arguably the best story of 2015: the Houston Astros.
After years of toiling away in the cellar of the NL Central and AL West, Houston has captivated the baseball world by climbing to the top of the division.
Houston is one of the most complete teams in the American League, sporting a solid lineup, rotation and bullpen. Offensively, the Astros rank fourth in baseball in runs scored. They do strike out in bunches, but eight hitters have already reached double digits in homers with Jose Altuve and Hank Conger on the way.
On the mound, Houston has the sixth-lowest ERA in baseball. Dallas Keuchel (2.40 ERA) is an AL Cy Young candidate, while Lance McCullers (3.17 ERA) and Vincent Velasquez (9.00 K/9) have pitched well beyond their years. Add Mike Fiers and Scott Kazmir to the mix and Houston's once suspect back end of the rotation is now extremely reliable.
General manager Jeff Luhnow even aced the trade deadline, picking up Kazmir, Fiers and Carlos Gomez for the stretch run.
Grade: A+
Does it really matter how the rest of the season plays out for the Astros?
Luhnow has assembled a roster that's ready to win now and a farm system that can sustain that momentum for years to come. The Astros have already exceeded expectations, and dropping to a wild-card spot won't change this grade.
Kansas City Royals
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It's only fitting that the Kansas City Royals follow the Houston Astros on this slideshow (and in alphabetical order). After all, Dayton Moore and the Royals laid the blueprint for how to build a small-market team into a World Series contender last season.
Guess what? Kansas City is even better this season. They get on base, play phenomenal defense and lock down games from the sixth inning on. Oh yeah, Moore addressed the team's biggest flaw at the deadline, too.
Who cares if it's just for a few months, as Johnny Cueto takes K.C.'s rotation to the next level. In three starts since the trade, the right-hander has a 2.05 ERA. For a team that ranks 27th in starters' ERA, the impact of snagging one of the top 10 best pitchers alive cannot be overstated.
If the back end of the rotation behind Cueto and Edinson Volquez (3.11 ERA) can start to log quality innings consistently, good luck scoring runs. Kansas City's bullpen ranks second in ERA behind Greg Holland, Wade Davis and Kelvin Herrera. If that's not enough, Ryan Madson and Franklin Morales also have a sub-3.00 ERA.
Offensively, adding Ben Zobrist to a deep, versatile lineup will only make manager Ned Yost's job easier.
Grade: A+
The Royals are the best team in the American League and may be the best team in baseball.
After stranding the tying run on third base in Game 7 of the World Series last season, Moore went out and grabbed two impact pieces at the deadline. There's no guarantee they'll get back there, but so far Kansas City has aced 2015.
Los Angeles Angels
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The Los Angeles Angels may have been slow out of the gates to start 2015, but Mike Trout and Albert Pujols have led the team back to serious playoff contention.
It's said regularly, but Trout is amazing. He's hit 33 homers and is getting on base at a near .400 clip. Add Pujols—who continues to age like a fine wine—and his 30 round-trippers, and the Halos have one of the most dangerous one-two offensive punches in baseball.
However, L.A. still ranks 16th in runs scored even with Trout and Pujols having monster seasons. Acquiring the trio of Shane Victorino, David Murphy and David DeJesus should help, but guys like David Freese (11 HR) and C.J. Cron (seven HR) must continue to produce when teams choose to pitch around L.A.'s dynamic duo.
It's easy to get distracted by Trout's excellence, but the Angles have actually pitched really well in 2015.
Los Angeles ranks 11th in baseball in team ERA. Garrett Richards (3.51 ERA), Hector Santiago (2.78 ERA) and Andrew Heaney (2.45 ERA in eight starts) are young, but have proven to be competent major leaguers. If Matt Shoemaker and Jered Weaver can pitch like they did in 2014, the Angels have the makings of an underrated rotation.
Grade: B
After winning more games than any other team in baseball last season, the Angels had a hangover to begin 2015.
But the Halos have closed the gap between them and the division-leading Astros and currently hold one of the two AL wild-card spots. How the rest of the season plays out will dictate how high or low their current grade will go.
Los Angeles Dodgers
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After a sweep by the Pittsburgh Pirates over the weekend, you would think the sky was falling for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Sure, the Dodgers have some glaring concerns, but first place is first place. And right now, L.A. is in a great position to reach the postseason once again.
If they do, no team has a better front-line combination than Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke. Yeah, yeah, they've endured through their playoff struggles. But every team in baseball would be thrilled to give the ball to Greinke (1.71 ERA) and Kershaw (11.51 K/9, 2.51 ERA) in a playoff-shortened series.
Now, questions concerning the back end of the rotation are valid. Alex Wood (3.72 ERA) and Mat Latos (4.67 ERA) are fine hurlers, but can they adjust to their new surroundings in time to give the Dodgers quality starts?
And if they do, who in the world is going to get the ball to Kenley Jansen in the ninth inning?
Grade: B+
Those are valid concerns and will need to be addressed by Los Angeles over the coming months.
But with Kershaw, Greinke and an offense capable of putting up a crooked number at any time, the Dodgers are still the favorites to win the NL West. However, L.A.'s final grade will be based solely on clinching a trip to the World Series.
Miami Marlins
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The Miami Marlins are an extremely tough team to grade.
The Fish entered the season with high expectations after closing 2014 in impressive fashion and were pegged to contend for an NL wild-card spot at the very least.
Looking at the standings, obviously that hasn't happened. Miami is in last place in the National League East, trailing even the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves, two teams the club figured to jump in the division this season.
Going off of hype, it's safe to say Miami failed in 2015. But the Fish have been decimated by injuries and haven't had a chance to play with any stability. Of course, when two of those injuries are to Jose Fernandez and Giancarlo Stanton, it stings just a tad more.
Just how important is Stanton to the Marlins? Since Stanton hit the DL in June, Miami has fallen to dead last in runs scored. Fernandez? In just seven starts, the right-hander leads Miami starters in WAR.
Injuries to Christian Yelich, Dee Gordon and Henderson Alvarez also crushed Miami's morale and ultimately its playoff aspirations.
Grade: D
Because of the injuries, we'll never know exactly how much better or worse the Marlins would have played with Dan Jennings as manager as opposed to Mike Redmond.
But after entering the season with such high hopes, Miami is in last place and will likely be looking for a new manager in the offseason. Injuries give the Marlins a crutch (that's a pretty lame pun, but give me a little bit of credit), but 2015 will go down as a season the club will be glad to see come to an end.
Milwaukee Brewers
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The Milwaukee Brewers are another team that has suffered through a horrid 2015 but whose grade has improved because of shrewd moves at the trade deadline.
Milwaukee began the season 3-13 and was never able to recover. Axing Ron Roenicke had to happen, but the Brewers never stood a chance with one of the worst rotations in baseball. Milwaukee starters have the fifth-highest ERA in MLB. The biggest culprits were the two veteran hurlers the Brewers were relying on the most: Matt Garza (5.16 ERA) and Kyle Lohse (6.31 ERA).
Offensively, most of the key cogs have been traded. But Ryan Braun (19 HR, 63 RBI) has quietly had a nice season. Considering what the Brewers still owe him, getting Braun back on track moving forward will be a big part of the team's rebuild.
Milwaukee's silver lining of 2015 could end up being Doug Melvin's final act as general manager at the deadline. The Brewers flipped Carlos Gomez, Mike Fiers, Gerardo Parra and Aramis Ramirez for six prospects, including two gems in Brett Phillips and Domingo Santana. With super shortstop Orlando Arcia speeding through the minors, I re-ranked them as the 13th-best farm system after the deadline, which was a far cry from where they were before making any deals.
Grade: D
Unfortunately, Milwaukee may be in for a similar fate in 2016. The Brewers will start the season with a new manager and general manager, which will likely alter the entire culture of the organization.
But a successful deadline is a step in the right direction. It may be a long road back, but July 2015 could be looked back at as the point when everything changed for the Brew Crew.
Minnesota Twins
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Although the Houston Astros will take home first place in the feel-good story category for 2015, the Minnesota Twins won't be far behind.
Raise your hand if you had the Twins just four games out of a playoff spot at this point in the season? Even the most loyal fan couldn't have foreseen just how good of a job manager Paul Molitor would do in his first year in charge.
The Twins have enjoyed success this season without a real star. Minnesota ranks 14th in runs and 25th in team ERA. The team has sputtered in recent weeks, but Minnesota has used 2015 to continue to develop its core group of players.
Brian Dozier (24 HR) is one of baseball's top second basemen, top prospect Miguel Sano (.383 OBP) has impressed since his promotion and former first-round pick Aaron Hicks (.285, 6 HR, 9 SB in 60 games) has flashed glimpses of putting together his five-tool skill set. Heck, even top overall prospect Byron Buxton earned some big-league run this season, although an argument can be made that it was premature.
On the mound, Kyle Gibson (3.78 ERA) and Trevor May (4.09 ERA, 8.08 K/9) have taken their bumps but have dished them back out as well.
Grade: B+
Nobody can doubt that the Twins are probably the most flawed contender in MLB. The lineup is suspect and the pitching staff lacks depth.
But Minnesota is arguably two years ahead of schedule. They have the third-best farm system in baseball with six players in MLB.com's top 100. Buxton, Sano, Jose Berrios, Tyler Jay, Jorge Polanco, Nick Gordon, Max Kepler, Kohl Stewart, Alex Meyer. That mixture of depth and high-upside talent bodes well for the future.
Twins fans will be disappointed if their team misses out on the playoffs, as they should be. But 2015 can be seen as nothing but a success for an up-and-coming franchise.
New York Mets
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The New York Mets. First place in the NL East.
Deep into 2015 those words are true. The Mets have passed the Washington Nationals behind a dominant, young starting rotation.
New York ranks fourth in starters' ERA this season. Matt Harvey (2.76 ERA), Jacob deGrom (2.13 ERA) and Noah Syndergaard (3.01 ERA) have received plenty of headlines, but such a collection of top-tier young starters in a rotation really is a pleasure to watch. Don't forget Jon Niese (3.46 ERA), who has pitched admirably in the shadow of his younger counterparts.
As good as New York's rotation has been is how bad the club's offense has looked in 2015. The Mets rank 29th in runs scored, which will happen when players like John Mayberry Jr., Eric Campbell and Kirk Nieuwenhuis are getting consistent at-bats.
But much-maligned general manager Sandy Alderson did what he needed to do at the deadline, acquiring Yoenis Cespedes, Kelly Johnson and Juan Uribe to add some offensive thump for the stretch run.
Grade: B+
With highly touted prospect Michael Conforto up and David Wright possibly returning, the Mets could have enough offensively to hold off the Nats for good.
Regardless, the Mets are relevant again—and that's good for baseball. Alderson and manager Terry Collins deserve a pat on the back for getting the club back among baseball's best.
New York Yankees
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It's been a good year for baseball in the Big Apple, as the New York Yankees are also in first place in their division.
The Yankees have blasted their way to the top of the AL East behind one of the game's top offenses. Mark Teixeira (30 HR, 77 RBI) and Alex Rodriguez (24 HR) have turned back the clock to lead a lineup that ranks second in runs scored. Brett Gardner (.368 OBP, 73 R) is arguably New York's most important player, while Brian McCann (18 HR) and Chris Young (.486 SLG) have chipped in with productive seasons of their own.
Although the lineup is loaded, manager Joe Girardi's biggest weapon may be his lights-out bullpen. Behind the indispensable Dellin Betances (51 G, 1.26 ERA) and nasty Andrew Miller (1.42 ERA), Yankees relievers lead baseball in WAR.
The rotation could end up being New York's bugaboo, as an injury to Michael Pineda has left the staff suddenly barren. If top prospect Luis Severino can live up to his hype down the stretch, it would go a long way toward locking down the division.
Grade: B+
This is the Yankees we're talking about, so allowing the red-hot Toronto Blue Jays to overtake them in the AL East won't go over well.
But so far, the Yankees have navigated 2015 without much drama. Winning a division they have led for most of the season will push this grade to an A.
Oakland A's
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The Oakland A's came into the season with a vastly different roster than the one that played in the AL Wild Card Game last season, but there was still enough talent to expect the club to compete.
But the A's never seemed to get over losing Josh Donaldson this offseason and are sitting in last place in the AL West.
It's not easy to pinpoint why Oakland has fallen off in 2015. The offense ranks 15th in runs, and the team's ERA is the fifth-best mark in the big leagues.
But upon closer examination, the A's are 13-26 in one-run games this season. Oakland's third-worst bullpen has played a big part in that record, as general manager Billy Beane traded away the club's only late-inning option with 20-plus appearances and a sub-3.00 ERA in Tyler Clippard.
Grade: D
If the ball had bounced Oakland's way in just a few of those close games, we'd likely be having a much different conversation.
But the A's failed to capitalize on those winnable contests and have since traded three key components in Clippard, Scott Kazmir and Ben Zobrist. From the playoffs in 2014 to last place in 2015 isn't pretty no matter which way you slice it.
Philadelphia Phillies
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The 2015 Philadelphia Phillies can't be graded on wins and losses. With a lack of talent up and down the roster, the club had very little chance of competing this season.
Instead, the Phillies were always going to be judged on how they handled the trade deadline. Finding the right package for Cole Hamels in particular was a task that general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. had to ace.
And boy did he. Amaro finally pulled the trigger on a Hamels blockbuster days before the deadline, acquiring Jake Thompson, Jorge Alfaro and Nick Williams from the Texas Rangers. Those three top-100 players slid right into Philadelphia's best five prospects, which significantly improved the future outlook of the team.
In terms of positives regarding the product on the field, rookies Maikel Franco (.277, 13 HR) and Aaron Nola (3.65 ERA) debuted and look like productive major leaguers. In the bullpen, Ken Giles (1.80 ERA) has been one of the top relievers in baseball and figures to be the team's closer of the future.
Grade: C-
The Phillies haven't been very good, and they didn't expect to be.
But 2015 will go down as a big year for the club nonetheless. Trading Hamels and Jonathan Papelbon not only replenished the farm system but allowed the organization to begin to truly rebuild.
Pittsburgh Pirates
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The record may not indicate it, but the Pittsburgh Pirates could be the best team in baseball.
Despite the St. Louis Cardinals setting a torrid pace in the NL Central, the Pirates have managed to remain in striking position and should be a lock for a wild-card spot at the very least.
A huge reason for Pittsburgh's success has been a standout pitching staff that boasts the third-best team ERA in MLB. In terms of starters, Gerrit Cole (2.39 ERA), Francisco Liriano (3.13 ERA) and A.J. Burnett (3.06 ERA) have given the Buccos a chance to win every night. With Mark Melancon (35 SV, 1.56 ERA) leading the way, Pittsburgh's bullpen has shut down games on the back end.
Offensively, the Pirates are middle of the road in runs. But Andrew McCutchen (17 HR, .398 OBP) and Starling Marte (13 HR, 22 SB) are two of the most dynamic players in the game. Injuries to Jordy Mercer and Josh Harrison are concerning, but rookie Jung Ho Kang (.293/.368/.453) has been a lifesaver due to his bat and defensive versatility.
Grade: A
The Pirates are a fantastic club with few flaws and may still be able to catch the Cardinals in the NL Central with a strong finish to the season.
But even if Pittsburgh is resigned to a wild-card appearance, the season has to be viewed as a success. One thing is for sure—the Pirates are a team nobody wants to see come October.
San Diego Padres
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Yikes.
Of all the underachieving teams in MLB this season, the San Diego Padres may be the most disappointing. Despite winning the winter World Series, the Padres are well under .500 and are on their last playoff-hope gasp.
General manager A.J. Preller acquired Matt Kemp, Justin Upton, James Shields, Craig Kimbrel and Wil Myers among others this offseason. In the process, Preller depleted the farm system in hopes of winning right away.
Preller can't be criticized for adding talented players, but a lack of a true center fielder and any semblance of a shortstop really hurt San Diego. The Padres also have a right-handed-dominant lineup, which has led to matchup problems against better pitching staffs.
But going for it and coming up short isn't the problem. If anything, Preller should be commended for having the courage to do so.
The issue is Preller's decision to stand pat at the deadline. The Padres weren't winning anything in 2015 and had an opportunity to recoup some of the value they lost in last winter's trading frenzy.
Instead, the Padres are stuck with a flawed roster, barren farm system, unfavorable payroll situation and no long-term answer at shortstop.
Grade: F
Is there such thing as an F-?
The Padres never lived up the hype a busy offseason placed on their shoulders. Couple that with Preller's botching of a chance to fix some of his mistakes at the deadline, and there's literally nothing positive that can be taken from San Diego's 2015.
San Francisco Giants
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Has there been a weirder team in 2015 than the defending World Series champions?
At times, the San Francisco Giants have looked even better than the squad that raised the game's ultimate prize last season. At others, San Fran has played like a team unworthy of a playoff spot.
That inconsistency has reared its ugly head, especially in the starting rotation. Aside from the performances of Madison Bumgarner (3.28 ERA) and rookie Chris Heston (3.48 ERA), the showings of Giants starters have been a crapshoot. Acquiring Mike Leake with limited valuable prospects was a fantastic move, but he's already suffered a hamstring injury since moving out west.
If the Giants can get better outings from a few of their veteran hurlers, the club's position players have their part covered. San Francisco hitters lead MLB in WAR. Buster Posey (.332, 75 RBI) and Brandon Crawford (.493 SLG) have been the best players at their positions in 2015, while Joe Panik, Matt Duffy and Brandon Belt have put together 3.0 WAR seasons.
Grade: B-
With all that that being said, guess who is just 2.5 games back of the Dodgers in the NL West? Yep, the Giants, and the rest of MLB is well aware of what the Giants can do once in October.
If the back end of the rotation can improve, San Francisco is all but assured a chance to defend its crown. But because of the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde nature of the club this season, a B- is the grade for now.
Seattle Mariners
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Adding Nelson Cruz this winter seemed like grabbing the missing piece for a Seattle Mariners team that fell just one game short of appearing in the AL Wild Card Game in 2014.
Cruz (.324, 33 HR) has produced at an elite level, but Seattle's offense has actually taken a step back this season. A big factor in Seattle's offensive drop-off is a subpar year from Robinson Cano. He figured to benefit from Cruz's protection, but the 32-year-old is currently posting career lows in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
An underachieving pitching staff has only compounded the problem.
After recording the second-lowest team ERA in MLB last season, Seattle sits 19th in that category in 2015. Felix Hernandez (3.11 ERA) has had a down year by his standards, 2014 breakouts James Paxton and Hisashi Iwakuma haven't been able to stay on the field and top prospect Taijuan Walker (4.67 ERA) has been shelled in his first full season in the bigs.
Grade: F
Obviously, a team that can't hit or pitch won't win. That pretty much sums up Seattle's season—feeble offense and unreliable starting pitching.
Considering how 2014 ended and the hype that accompanied the team into the season, 2015 can only be considered a disaster for the Mariners.
St. Louis Cardinals
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It seems like we're showering the St. Louis Cardinals with compliments every season, but there's been no better team in 2015 than the Redbirds.
St. Louis' success can be attributed to one thing: elite pitching. The Cardinals have the lowest team ERA in the majors and it's not even close. Even without ace Adam Wainwright, all four St. Louis starters with at least 20 starts have an ERA under 3.00.
Come on, that's ridiculous.
For opposing hitters hoping for a drop-off once they reach the bullpen, think again. Trevor Rosenthal (1.57 ERA, 33 SV) has been arguably the best closer in baseball, while Kevin Siegrist (1.57 ERA, 11.15 K/9) has dominated in a league-leading 57 appearances.
Without Matt Adams and Matt Holliday, there are concerns facing the St. Louis offense heading into October. The Cardinals rank just 20th in runs scored, but Matt Carpenter (17 HR), Jason Heyward (3.4 WAR), Jhonny Peralta (.447 SLG) and rookie Randal Grichuk (.569 SLG) have enjoyed solid seasons.
Grade: A+
What else could the grade be?
Again, St. Louis' offense could have issues against the better pitching that the postseason brings. But this team is going to pitch well from inning one to inning nine, which gives it a fantastic chance to reach the World Series.
Tampa Bay Rays
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The Tampa Bay Rays rarely get the attention they deserve, but manager Kevin Cash has his team in the hunt well into the 2015 season.
Tampa Bay's season has been marred by injuries, especially in its starting rotation. Drew Smyly has missed most of the season and is just now making rehab starts, while Alex Cobb underwent Tommy John surgery earlier this year.
Despite those injuries, the Rays have trotted out quality starters every night. Chris Archer (2.62 ERA) has established himself as the best pitcher you've never heard of, while Jake Odorizzi (2.77 ERA), Nate Karns (3.52 ERA) and Erasmo Ramirez (3.83 ERA) have made up for the losses of Smyly and Cobb.
Unfortunately, run support for the staff has been few and far between. Tampa Bay ranks 27th in MLB in runs scored, despite a career year from second baseman Logan Forsythe (.363 OBP).
Grade: C+
An average grade for an average team. Tampa Bay has the pitching to push for a wild-card spot, but will the offense be able to score?
Still, the Rays continue to surprise MLB year in and year out and have done so again this season. A September run into the AL Wild Card Game is unlikely, but isn't out of the question and would significantly improve this grade.
Texas Rangers
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When ace Yu Darvish was lost for the season with an elbow injury, the Texas Rangers figured to struggle to find capable starters every fifth day.
That has proven to be the case, as Texas starters have the seventh-highest ERA in baseball. Yovani Gallardo (3.47 ERA) has pitched well for the Rangers, but the remainder of the rotation has been filled with inconsistent veterans and inexperienced youngsters.
General manager Jon Daniels addressed his team's biggest flaw at the trade deadline, acquiring perennial ace Cole Hamels. While the southpaw will obviously help in 2015, the trade was made with a long-term vision in mind.
At the dish, the Rangers have to be pleased to see the resurgence of Prince Fielder (.325, 17 HR). Mitch Moreland (16 HR) and Rougned Odor (.469 SLG) have also chipped in offensively.
Grade: B
The Rangers' 2015 playoff hopes aren't dead yet, which seemed improbable after the Darvish news.
Now with Hamels on board, can Texas make a run at the second AL wild-card spot? It's possible. Regardless, Daniels and manager Jeff Banister have positioned the Rangers to contend in 2015 while also loading up for 2016. That's a job well done.
Toronto Blue Jays
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No team's stock is rising faster than the Toronto Blue Jays'.
General manager Alex Anthopoulos gave his club a vote of confidence by aggressively pursuing two of the top players on the trade market in Troy Tulowitzki and David Price. Since the deadline, his team has responded with a blazing stretch to begin August and is breathing down the Yankees' necks in the AL East.
Tulowitzki has joined baseball's best offense. Led by MVP candidate Josh Donaldson (31 HR, 83 RBI), Jose Bautista (.512 SLG) and Russell Martin (15 HR), the Blue Jays have blasted opposing pitchers throughout 2015.
While Tulowitzki is a fantastic player, the addition of Price was much more important. Adding one of the top pitchers in baseball to a rotation with a plus-4.00 ERA will pay dividends down the stretch. Anthopoulos also turned a sketchy bullpen into a formidable unit with the additions of LaTroy Hawkins and Mark Lowe.
Grade: B
For most of 2015, Toronto looked capable of big things but never really made a run at the division.
But with the additions of Price and Tulowitzki, Anthopoulos has re-energized his club. Toronto still has work to do to overtake the Yankees, but it's hitting on all cylinders at the right time, and that's a scary thought for the rest of the AL.
Washington Nationals
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All season, we've waited for the Washington Nationals to take a stranglehold of the NL East. Sure, the Mets figured to cause problems with their talented young staff, but they couldn't be considered legitimate threats in the NL East.
Right?
Well, it's August and we're still waiting on the Nats to play like the team many thought was World Series-bound before the season. It's now getting to the point where it's worth asking if it's going to happen at all.
Of course, Washington has been decimated by injuries all season. Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman, Anthony Rendon, Denard Span and Stephen Strasburg have all missed time with significant injuries this season.
But come on, this is a team loaded with talent. This is a squad that could potentially claim the NL MVP (Bryce Harper) and NL Cy Young (Max Scherzer) at season's end.
Harper has been baseball's undisputed best hitter in 2015, but he can't do it alone. Of the Washington hitters who have played in 90 or more games, only Harper and Yunel Escobar have performed at a replacement level or better.
Grade: D
The returns of Rendon and Zimmerman should help spark the offense, but the Nats have already given the Mets the belief that they can win the division.
With all the preseason hype, missing the postseason would be a huge disappointment and would likely cost manager Matt Williams his job. The good news is that the Nats still have time to reclaim the top spot in the NL East.
But we've been waiting on the Nats all season. Why should we believe they're about to flip the switch now?
Stats courtesy of FanGraphs and accurate as of Aug. 11.
