MLB Power Rankings: Where All 30 Teams Stand Post-World Series
With the 2015 World Series in the books and the offseason officially underway, let's put a bow on the 2015 season with one final edition of MLB power rankings.
Each team's spot in the following rankings reflects its overall performance in 2015, 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 2016, with each team ranked based on where it is expected to 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, what a team is expected to do this offseason in terms of free-agent and trade additions also factored into the projected rankings.
We'll put together fresh versions of these power rankings 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 fourth year authoring our MLB power rankings here at Bleacher Report, and it was definitely another fun season.
30. Philadelphia Phillies (63-99, Fifth in NL East)
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Rebuilding efforts are officially underway for the Philadelphia Phillies, and they have a few core pieces to build around already in starters Aaron Nola and Jerad Eickhoff, closer Ken Giles and third baseman Maikel Franco.
The Phillies have traded Cole Hamels, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Ben Revere, Marlon Byrd, Jonathan Papelbon, Antonio Bastardo and Jake Diekman since the beginning of last offseason, bolstering the farm system as a result.
There is still a ton of work to do, though.
They'll have the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft, so that should give them a good chance to add another significant piece for the future.
Early 2016 Ranking: 30
The Phillies could look to add a veteran starting pitcher or two to eat some innings, and right field also looks like a hole to address, but don't expect them to spend much in free agency.
The 2016 season will be another year of evaluating the in-house talent and getting experience for the young core.
Seeing prospects such as Nick Williams, J.P. Crawford, Jorge Alfaro and Jake Thompson debut will give the fanbase a glimpse of the future, but expect another run at the worst record in baseball in 2016.
29. Atlanta Braves (67-95, Fourth in NL East)
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The Atlanta Braves sold aggressively last season in an effort to restock a depleted farm system, trading away Jason Heyward, Justin Upton, Evan Gattis and Craig Kimbrel.
As a result, an offense that was already one of the worst in baseball quickly became the worst, as they scored an MLB-low 573 runs (3.54 runs per game).
Freddie Freeman led the team in home runs (18) and RBI (66) despite playing in just 118 games.
Meanwhile, the starting rotation gave young arms such as Matt Wisler, Mike Foltynewicz and Williams Perez a long look alongside the duo of Julio Teheran and Shelby Miller, and the patchwork bullpen performed better than expected.
Early 2016 Ranking: 27
The Braves are clearly rebuilding at this point, but they did a nice job of adding a wealth of young talent to the farm system in the past calendar year.
With the Braves set to move into their new stadium at the start of the 2017 season, there could be some pressure to try to rush the rebuilding efforts, but they'd be wise to be patient and do things the right way.
Hector Olivera, who was acquired at the trade deadline from the Dodgers, will be the player to watch in 2016, as he's expected to step into the everyday third base job and perhaps the cleanup spot in the lineup.
The team likely won't do much in free agency, and it will almost certainly be another long season in Atlanta. According to ESPN's Buster Olney, there have been plenty of rumors tying them to catcher Matt Wieters already this offseason, though, so that's worth keeping an eye on.
28. Cincinnati Reds (64-98, Fifth in NL Central)
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After they won 90 games and reached the postseason as the second wild card in 2013, things went south quickly for the Cincinnati Reds, as they went 76-86 in 2014 and followed that up with a 64-98 record and a last-place finish this past season.
They moved Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake and Marlon Byrd at the trade deadline, and more trades seem likely this offseason with closer Aroldis Chapman among the most likely star-caliber pieces to be moved on any team.
The team leaned heavily on young arms this past season with Anthony DeSclafani, Michael Lorenzen, Raisel Iglesias, Keyvius Sampson and John Lamb all 25 years old or younger and making at least 10 starts.
Offensively, the team got a huge bounce-back season from Joey Votto (.314 BA, 1.000 OPS, 29 HR, 80 RBI) and another solid year from Todd Frazier (.806 OPS, 35 HR, 89 RBI), but Cincinnati still ranked as one of the lowest-scoring teams in baseball at 3.95 runs per game.
Early 2016 Ranking: 26
The Reds will almost certainly move Chapman this offseason, as a rebuilding club has little use for a closer who is making north of $10 million.
The question is how aggressively they'll sell beyond that, as Frazier, Jay Bruce, Brandon Phillips and one of their shortstops could be moved as well.
There is some good young talent on the verge of reaching the majors, led by left fielder Jesse Winker and starter Robert Stephenson, and overall the Reds look to be in a good position to rebuild relatively quickly.
Look for them to at least improve on last year's record and to avoid another last-place finish.
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27. Colorado Rockies (68-94, Fifth in NL West)
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Stop me if you've heard this one before.
The Colorado Rockies had one of the best offenses in baseball this past season, leading the National League with 4.55 runs per game, but that was undermined by the worst pitching staff in baseball as they had an MLB-worst 5.04 ERA as a club.
The front office finally pulled the trigger on dealing Troy Tulowitzki at the deadline, adding some quality arms headlined by Jeff Hoffman and Miguel Castro in the process.
In Tulo's absence, third baseman Nolan Arenado appears ready to step into the role of face of the franchise. He was already an elite defender but took his offensive game to another level with 43 doubles, 42 home runs and 130 RBI. He should finish in the top 10 in NL MVP voting.
Jorge de la Rosa and Chad Bettis were a solid duo in the rotation, and prospects Jon Gray and Eddie Butler got some valuable experience, but the pitching staff still has a long way to go.
Early 2016 Ranking: 29
As always, luring front-line pitching to Colorado in free agency is no easy task, so the Rockies will likely enter the 2016 season with the pitching staff ranking as a glaring weakness once again.
One option they could explore is flipping Carlos Gonzalez for a major league-ready arm, as his bounce-back performance (40 HR, 97 RBI) left his remaining two years and $37 million on his contract as more of an asset than a hindrance at this point.
The farm system is loaded, earning the No. 5 spot in our end-of-year rankings, so that should give some reason for optimism going forward. Don't expect a contender in 2016, though.
26. Oakland Athletics (68-94, Fifth in AL West)
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The Oakland Athletics aggressively retooled the roster last offseason, trading away Josh Donaldson, Brandon Moss, Derek Norris and Jeff Samardzija, and the results were not pretty.
The Donaldson trade looked like a mistake from the start, and now the fanbase will have to watch as he likely claims AL MVP honors after a fantastic first season with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Bright spots were few and far between, but Sonny Gray did take the next step to emerge as one of the best pitchers in the American League, going 14-7 with a 2.73 ERA, 1.082 WHIP and 169 strikeouts in 208 innings.
The waiver claim of Danny Valencia, who posted an .886 OPS with 11 home runs and 37 RBI in 30 games with the team, may have been the highlight of the season.
Early 2016 Ranking: 23
One way or another, the A's figure to be relatively busy once again this offseason as they look to put a disappointing 2015 in the rearview.
You'd like to think Gray is untouchable, but most people probably would have said the same thing about Donaldson at this point a year ago, so who knows if the team would consider flipping him.
The A's desperately need to overhaul the bullpen, and there has been some talk of a potential extension for Josh Reddick, per the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser, so they won't just sit on their hands.
However, at this point it's hard to see how this won't be one of the worst teams in the American League once again in 2016.
25. Milwaukee Brewers (68-94, Fourth in NL Central)
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After a late-season collapse that cost the Milwaukee Brewers a postseason berth in 2014, the downward spiral continued this past season, as the 94 losses were the most for the franchise since 2004.
Milwaukee traded Carlos Gomez at the deadline, leaving the trio of Ryan Braun, Adam Lind and Khris Davis as the team's offensive leaders this past season.
Jonathan Lucroy was one of the biggest disappointments in the league after his fantastic 2014 season, and while the team could shop him this offseason, it would potentially be selling incredibly low.
On the pitching side of things, Taylor Jungmann (21 GS, 9-8, 3.77 ERA) and Jimmy Nelson (30 GS, 11-13, 4.11 ERA) emerged as the team's two best starters in a rotation full of young arms getting their first taste of the big leagues.
Early 2016 Ranking: 28
With Kyle Lohse gone and Matt Garza potentially on the outs as well, the Brewers will pick from a crop of six or seven young arms to follow Nelson, Jungmann and Wily Peralta in the rotation.
Outfielder Domingo Santana and shortstop Orlando Arcia also figure to establish themselves as everyday players at some point in 2016, and more talent will be on the way from the minors on both sides of the ball.
While all of that youth is nice from a long-term standpoint, and the team has done a nice job o adding controllable talent, in the short term this could be a team that challenges for the worst record in baseball while playing in a tough NL Central.
24. Miami Marlins (71-91, Third in NL East)
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Following the monster extension of Giancarlo Stanton, the Miami Marlins set to work trying to build a contender around him last offseason with the additions of Mat Latos, Dee Gordon, Martin Prado, Michael Morse and Dan Haren.
Instead, they wound up losing six more games than they did the previous season, as Stanton once again missed significant time to injury and all of those additions outside of Gordon were varying levels of disappointing.
Jose Fernandez returned strong from Tommy John surgery, but it was too little, too late, as the rotation was a mess for most of the season with only Tom Koehler (11-14, 4.08 ERA, 187.1 IP) throwing more than 130 innings.
Early 2016 Ranking: 24
While the pitching staff struggled, that did open the door for Adam Conley (11 GS, 3.76 ERA) and Justin Nicolino (12 GS, 4.01 ERA) to both see extended time in the rotation. They figure to compete for spots behind Fernandez and Koehler this spring.
According to Joe Frisaro of MLB.com, the team is said to be exploring extensions for both Gordon and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, as they appear to be core pieces going forward.
Meanwhile, Marcell Ozuna could be on the trade block after a disappointing season that included a demotion to the minors that he did not take well, and the Indians are one team with interest, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
There are a lot of moving parts here with a new manager in Don Mattingly and a new front office in place, and the Marlins have their work cut out for them if they hope to take a step forward in 2016.
23. Detroit Tigers (74-87, Fifth in AL Central)
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After four straight AL Central titles, the Detroit Tigers slid to the bottom of the division standings this past season.
Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez both dealt with injury-plagued seasons, and V-Mart finished with horrible numbers (440 AB, .245/.301/.366, 11 HR) after his MVP-caliber performance the previous year.
The team shipped out upcoming free agents David Price, Yoenis Cespedes and Joakim Soria at the trade deadline and did some work in restocking the farm system as a result, but it's still among the weakest in baseball.
On the positive side, James McCann emerged as the catcher of the future, Nick Castellanos showed some signs of improvement, and Justin Verlander went 4-4 with a 2.12 ERA over his final 11 starts to once again look like an ace.
Early 2016 Ranking: 17
With a ton of money tied up in the likes of Cabrera, Martinez, Verlander, Ian Kinsler and Anibal Sanchez—$104.8 million to be exact—this is not a team that can really take the rebuilding route, so expect it to make a push back toward contention.
New general manager Al Avila pointed to a pair of starters and the bullpen in general as areas of focus for the offseason, according to Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press.
An extension for J.D. Martinez is also a possibility after he posted an .879 OPS with 33 doubles, 38 home runs and 102 RBI as the team's offensive leader this past season.
At the end of the day, the pitchers the Tigers add in free agency and the performance of young arms such as Michael Fulmer and Daniel Norris will likely determine whether or not they can rebound.
22. Chicago White Sox (76-86, Fourth in AL Central)
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Few teams were as busy as the Chicago White Sox last offseason, and that made their three-win improvement over the previous year hugely disappointing.
They added Jeff Samardzija, Melky Cabrera, David Robertson, Adam LaRoche, Zach Duke and Emilio Bonifacio to a roster that already had some solid pieces in place, but things never really clicked.
Chris Sale and Jose Quintana were solid once again, and rookie Carlos Rodon showed why he's viewed as a future ace, but Samardzija was a flop, and the offense finished last in the American League with 3.84 runs per game.
Early 2016 Ranking: 25
A rotation of Sale, Quintana and Rodon and an offense anchored by Jose Abreu, Adam Eaton and Avisail Garcia give the White Sox some quality pieces to build around.
However, there are glaring needs at catcher, second base, third base, at the back of the rotation and in the bullpen. Shortstop could also be added to that list depending on what the team decides to do with its $10 million option on Alexei Ramirez, but either way he'll likely be gone after next year.
The team could turn to top prospect Frankie Montas to replace Samardzija as the right-hander in the rotation, so expect catcher and third base to be the two biggest priorities of the offseason.
This roster has upside, but there are also too many holes not to view the Sox as one of the American League bottom feeders as things currently stand.
21. Seattle Mariners (76-86, Fourth in AL West)
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After coming one win from reaching the playoffs in 2014, the Seattle Mariners were a trendy pick to make a run at a World Series title this past year after they added a desperately needed power bat in the form of Nelson Cruz last offseason.
Cruz didn't disappoint, posting a .936 OPS with 44 home runs and 93 RBI, but the rest of the offense struggled. The Mariners finished 13th in the AL with 4.05 runs per game.
Things did not go according to plan on the pitching side of things either, as James Paxton missed time with injury, Taijuan Walker struggled early, and the bullpen went from the best in baseball to a liability.
All of that added up to 11 fewer wins than the previous season and made the Mariners the biggest disappointment in the American League.
Early 2016 Ranking: 18
So what's next for the Mariners?
With big-time money tied up in guys such as Robinson Cano, Felix Hernandez, Kyle Seager and Cruz, they will be looking to contend once again, and shoring up the bullpen figures to be the top priority.
All signs point to their re-signing right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma, but they could also look to add another quality starter to the mix as well.
Deciding what to do behind the plate, where Mike Zunino has been in over his head for the past several years, will be one of the biggest decisions of the offseason.
New manager Scott Servais has a lot of talent to work with, but Seattle has to fill some clear holes this winter.
20. Boston Red Sox (78-84, Fifth in AL East)
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Signing Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval to create an offensive juggernaut and then hoping Rick Porcello would emerge as a legitimate ace didn't work so well for the Boston Red Sox.
Ramirez and Sandoval were arguably the two biggest free-agent busts of the year, and the lack of a bona fide ace was a glaring hole all season long.
Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts both broke out as stars on the offensive side of things, though, and rookie starter Eduardo Rodriguez was flat-out dominant at times.
Early 2016 Ranking: 10
Assuming the Red Sox get their ace, which it's hard to imagine them not doing one way or another after missing out last winter, this could be the most improved team in baseball next year.
For as bad as the pitching staff was for much of the year, Porcello (11 GS, 4-6, 3.53 ERA) and Joe Kelly (11 GS, 8-1, 3.77 ERA) both quietly pitched well in the second half.
The important thing will be to put as much emphasis on improving the bullpen as they do on the starting rotation, as it was arguably a bigger weakness this past season.
Everyone will be chasing the Toronto Blue Jays, assuming they can re-sign David Price or an equivalent starter, but the Red Sox should have a real chance at returning to the postseason if their offseason goes according to plan.
19. San Diego Padres (74-88, Fourth in NL West)
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The San Diego Padres underwent a complete offensive overhaul last winter with the additions of Justin Upton, Matt Kemp, Wil Myers, Derek Norris, Will Middlebrooks and Clint Barmes.
They also added James Shields to the rotation and Craig Kimbrel to the back of the bullpen, and all of that had them poised to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
With so much emphasis on improving the offense, the team wound up being a disaster defensively, and at the end of the day it still ranked 23rd in the league with 4.01 runs scored per game.
Now with Justin Upton and Ian Kennedy hitting free agency and a number of guys (Kimbrel, Shields, Tyson Ross) expected to be on the trade block, it's unclear what direction the team is headed.
Early 2016 Ranking: 21
The Padres decimated their farm system in the process of adding all of those players last offseason, so they could opt to take a step back and restock some young talent by trading off the aforementioned trio.
However, that doesn't strike me as the style of general manager A.J. Preller.
That doesn't mean some or all of those guys won't be dealt, but don't be surprised if it's for comparable big league talent with an eye on improving the team in 2016.
Until we see exactly how the offseason plays out, though, it's hard to place the Padres among the ranks of the potential contenders.
18. Tampa Bay Rays (80-82, Fourth in AL East)
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With Drew Smyly, Alex Cobb and Jake Odorizzi all missing time due to injury and Matt Moore struggling upon his return from Tommy John surgery, the pitching staff that was expected to be a significant strength for the Tampa Bay Rays was instead a revolving door of sorts.
Chris Archer emerged as a bona fide ace, and unheralded starters such as Nate Karns and Erasmo Ramirez more than held their own, but there was never really a point where the Rays looked like legitimate contenders.
The offense remains a weakness the pitching staff is forced to try to overcome, as Evan Longoria led the team in doubles (35), home runs (21) and RBI (73) in a down year.
However, center fielder Kevin Kiermaier emerged as a superstar defensively (42 DRS, 40.7 UZR/150) and held his own at the plate with a .263/.298/.420 line that included 25 doubles, 12 triples and 10 home runs on his way to a 7.3 WAR, per Baseball-Reference.com.
Early 2016 Ranking: 20
As usual, the Rays are not expected to spend much money this offseason.
They could look for a low-cost upgrade at the catcher position and will likely add a bullpen arm or two to support the duo of Jake McGee and Brad Boxberger.
However, it will likely be up to the starting rotation to shoulder the load once again if the Rays are going to have a chance of contending.
Archer, Smyly and Odorizzi give the team a rock-solid trio, and Minor League Player of the Year Blake Snell (15-4, 1.41 ERA, 1.022 WHIP, 163 K, 134 IP) should join them early in 2016.
It may not look like a contender on paper, but the Rays have won more with less in the past.
17. Arizona Diamondbacks (79-83, Third in NL West)
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The Arizona Diamondbacks may not have reached the playoffs, but they were undoubtedly one of the most improved teams in baseball this past season.
After posting an MLB-worst 64-98 record in 2014, they improved their win total by 15 in their first season under new manager Chip Hale.
Paul Goldschmidt was once again a monster offensively, and he was joined in leading the offense by breakout star A.J. Pollock, who hit .315/.367/.498 with 39 doubles, 20 home runs, 76 RBI and 39 steals.
The weakness was the pitching staff, which ranked 17th in the league with a 4.04 ERA. That included a 4.37 ERA from the starting rotation, good for 23rd in the majors.
Early 2016 Ranking: 15
Finding a legitimate front-line starter to lead a rotation that has plenty of starting options but lacks a truly elite arm will be the deciding factor in whether or not the Diamondbacks can take the next step in 2016.
Robbie Ray, Patrick Corbin, Chase Anderson, Jeremy Hellickson and Rubby De La Rosa are all passable big league starters or better, and Archie Bradley still has as much upside as any pitching prospect in the game, but that's not a rotation that a team can contend with.
There is also a clear need for a lights-out closer, as Brad Ziegler more than held his own stepping into the closer's role after Addison Reed faltered, but he's still best suited to be an eighth-inning guy.
If there's one team that could surprise people with its offseason wheelings and dealings, it's the Diamondbacks, as the front-office tandem of Dave Stewart and Tony La Russa has already taken this team a long way in a short period of time.
16. Baltimore Orioles (81-81, Third in AL East)
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The Baltimore Orioles ran away with the AL East title in 2014, winning the division by 12 games, but they didn't come close to repeating this past year.
An inconsistent starting rotation was perhaps the biggest issue, as their starter's ERA climbed from 3.61 (12th in MLB) to 4.53 (25th in MLB) despite running out essentially the same group as the year before.
Offensively, the team lost Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis in free agency but more than made up for those departures with a big bounce-back season from Chris Davis (.923 OPS, 47 HR, 117 RBI) and a breakout performance from Manny Machado (.861 OPS, 35 HR, 86 RBI).
Now they'll be faced with another busy offseason of impending free agents, and how aggressive they are in either re-signing those guys or replacing them will determine whether or not they have a shot in the AL East.
Early 2016 Ranking: 22
Chris Davis, Wei-Yin Chen, Darren O'Day, Matt Wieters, Gerardo Parra and Steve Pearce are all free agents, so we're talking about the best hitter, starting pitcher and bullpen arm the team had this past season.
The last time the Orioles spent big on a starter, it was Ubaldo Jimenez, so they may not be quick to add another big-money arm, but they desperately need to do something about the pitching staff.
It's also hard to see them shelling out the $100 million-plus it will cost to keep Davis around, and losing his bat in the lineup would be a tough void to fill.
Unless the ownership group decides to open its wallet, the Orioles figure to lose more than they gain before the offseason is over.
15. Cleveland Indians (81-80, Third in AL Central)
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The Cleveland Indians closed out the 2014 season by going 32-22 over the final two months to climb back into wild-card contention, and that was enough to make them a popular pick to surprise out of the American League in 2015.
The trio of Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar in the rotation proved to be a major strength once again, but the team simply did not have the offensive firepower to reach its full potential.
The Indians' 141 home runs ranked 13th in the AL, and their 4.16 runs per game put them below the league average.
Jason Kipnis enjoyed a nice bounce-back season, Michael Brantley was terrific once again (albeit with less power), and shortstop Francisco Lindor quickly showed why he was such a highly touted prospect.
That wasn't enough for Cleveland to contend, though.
Early 2016 Ranking: 14
The Indians generally don't spend big in free agency, but they could be significant players on the trade market this winter.
They dangled Carrasco and Salazar at the trade deadline in the search for a bat, and the preference this offseason is to continue shopping Salazar, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.
The team also has a glaring need for a left-handed reliever, and a run at Antonio Bastardo could wind up being its big move on the free-agent market.
The Indians will be in the AL conversation once again heading into spring training, but for now they still look like fringe contenders until they find an impact bat.
14. Washington Nationals (83-79, Second in NL East)
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A case can certainly be made for teams like the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres, but it's hard to say any team was more disappointing in 2015 than the Washington Nationals.
A mix of injuries to key players, a rotation that did not perform up to lofty expectations and a manager in Matt Williams who simply didn't fit the team all added up to the team that many picked to win the World Series watching from home when the playoffs began.
Stephen Strasburg and Anthony Rendon were probably the two biggest disappointments on an individual basis, though injuries certainly played a role. On the flip side, Bryce Harper finally lived up to the hype, and he'll no doubt be rewarded with NL MVP honors.
Early 2016 Ranking: 12
Jordan Zimmermann, Ian Desmond, Denard Span, Doug Fister and Matt Thornton are all headed for free agency, and yet the Nationals still look like potential contenders for the upcoming season.
Shortstop Trea Turner and center fielder Michael Taylor are expected to step into key roles offensively, while Joe Ross and Lucas Giolito appear to be the future of the starting rotation.
A healthy season from Rendon would be as big an addition as any the team could make in free agency, and sorting out the Drew Storen and Jonathan Papelbon mess should help the clubhouse.
This won't be as dynamic of a team on paper, but it wouldn't be at all surprising to see the Nationals post a better record in 2016.
They'll be chasing the Mets now, though, and that's not a team that is going to simply go away.
13. San Francisco Giants (84-78, Second in NL West)
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What did you expect? After all, it was an odd-numbered year.
The San Francisco Giants pitching staff was the strength of their three World Series-winning teams, and it was the glaring weakness that held them back in 2015.
Madison Bumgarner is a horse at the top, and Chris Heston was a pleasant surprise as a rookie, but the rest of the staff combined to go 35-39 with a 4.36 ERA in 99 starts.
Offensively, the team got a big season from the homegrown infield of Brandon Belt, Joe Panik, Brandon Crawford and Matt Duffy. Buster Posey put up MVP-caliber numbers once again, but the Giants sorely missed Hunter Pence, who played just 52 games.
Early 2016 Ranking: 13
If the Giants are going to have any chance of keeping their even-numbered streak alive, they will have to address the starting rotation.
Bumgarner, Heston and Jake Peavy will fill three of the spots, but look for them to add two starters in free agency, and there's a good chance one of them will be one of the elite arms on the market.
A rotation of Bumgarner, Jordan Zimmermann, Peavy, Mike Leake and Heston, for example, would have a chance to make them contenders, assuming the aging bullpen core can keep it together for another season.
There's not a glaring weakness to address offensively; it will simply be a matter of staying healthy because there's not a ton of depth aside from the outfield.
The Dodgers are still the team to beat in the NL West, even with a big offseason ahead of them, but the Giants can narrow that gap significantly if their winter plans come to fruition.
12. Minnesota Twins (83-79, Second in AL Central)
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It's fair to say the Minnesota Twins were the biggest surprise of the 2015 season.
Their wealth of young talent in the minor leagues was no surprise, and the future looked bright for the organization, but Minnesota made a legitimate run at a playoff spot probably two or three years before anyone expected it to.
The starting rotation is still a weakness, but thanks to the unheralded trio of Kyle Gibson, Tommy Milone and Tyler Duffey, the pitching was at least passable.
Offensively, the team got a huge boost from the rookie duo of Miguel Sano and Eddie Rosario, while Brian Dozier and Trevor Plouffe again had strong seasons well under the radar.
Early 2016 Ranking: 19
While the final win-loss record was great relative to expectations, it's not out of line to say the Twins played over their heads in 2015.
After a red-hot 30-19 start to the year, they went 53-60 over the final four-plus months, and that may be a better indication of where the team is at right now.
The obvious area of need is the starting rotation, which ranked 16th in the league with a 4.14 starter's ERA.
However, it's hard to see where the Twins fit another starter into the current makeup of the team.
Ervin Santana, Phil Hughes and Ricky Nolasco are all owed big money, while the aforementioned trio has earned a place in the team's 2016 plans. That's not to mention top prospect Jose Berrios, whom many feel should have been called up for the final month this past season.
In the end, signing a left-handed reliever to bolster the bullpen and looking for some form of veteran leadership may be the extent of what the Twins do this winter, and that could make it tough to contend.
11. Los Angeles Angels (85-77, Third in AL West)
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After the Los Angeles Angels led the majors in runs scored and won an MLB-best 98 games in 2014, it was the offense that held them back this past season.
Their offensive output dropped from 4.77 runs per game to 4.08 runs per game, and the team struggled to find consistent offensive production outside of Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Kole Calhoun.
Meanwhile, the starting pitching depth proved to be a strength after checking in as one of their biggest weaknesses the previous season.
They disappointed for much of the year. A 20-11 finish to the season was not enough to vault them into the postseason, and they wound up falling one game short of the second wild-card spot.
Early 2016 Ranking: 11
The Angels have to find a left-handed bat of some sort this winter, as they hit a meager .236/.289/.356 with 42 home runs from the left side this past season, and the bulk of that production came from Calhoun.
There will be holes to fill at third base and in left field, and they could also stand to upgrade at second base. Daniel Murphy looks like the perfect offseason target, though it remains to be seen who they will pursue.
The trade market could also be in play, as they have an abundance of starting pitching.
Jered Weaver, C.J. Wilson, Garrett Richards, Hector Santiago, Andrew Heaney, Matt Shoemaker, Nick Tropeano and eventually Tyler Skaggs will all be in the mix for rotation spots.
Santiago appears to be the most likely to be dealt, given his salary, remaining years of team control and the fact that the team would be selling high.
With Trout, the best player in the world anchoring the middle of the lineup, the Angels have to find a way to contend.
10. New York Yankees (87-75, Second in AL East)
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Despite questions surrounding their starting rotation and the durability of their lineup, the New York Yankees managed to exceed expectations in 2015 and claim a wild-card spot.
The Houston Astros ousted them in the Wild Card Round, but it was a positive season nonetheless after they inexplicably missed the postseason the previous two years.
The addition of Andrew Miller to the bullpen made the relief corps a major strength, and a return to relevance for both Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira provided a serious shot in the arm offensively.
How much longer can the lineup stay productive and healthy, though? And do they have the starting pitching to contend without adding an impact starter?
Early 2016 Ranking: 16
With a rotation in place of Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda, Luis Severino, Nathan Eovaldi and then someone from the group of Ivan Nova, CC Sabathia, Adam Warren, Chase Whitley and Bryan Mitchell, the Yankees likely won't be looking to spend big on a starter.
Instead, finding a right-handed reliever to help shoulder some of the load that has been heaped on Dellin Betances the past two seasons looks like a more pressing need.
While they have no clear openings offensively, trading Brett Gardner is a possibility in an effort to add a more power-oriented corner outfielder.
Adding some versatility also makes sense given the numerous injury risks, so a run at Ben Zobrist would be reasonable.
The Yankees will be active this offseason, and they have some good young pieces on the way, but they could take a step back if the Red Sox and Rays improve this winter.
9. Pittsburgh Pirates (98-64, Second in NL Central)
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2015 Wrapup
Despite posing the second-best record in baseball, the Pittsburgh Pirates found themselves hosting the Wild Card Game for the third consecutive season. Jake Arrieta and the Chicago Cubs shut them out to end their postseason run before it even started.
That being said, the future remains bright in Pittsburgh, as the Pirates have built this team to be a perennial contender for the foreseeable future.
The outfield of Andrew McCutchen, Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco should continue to lead the team offensively, along with surprise rookie standout Jung-ho Kang, who was perhaps the best bargain free-agent signing of last offseason.
On the pitching side of things, Gerrit Cole took the next step to emerge as an elite starter, and he'll soon be joined by uber-prospect Tyler Glasnow in fronting the staff. Lefties Francisco Liriano and Jeff Locke are still around as well.
All signs point to 2015 being repeatable for the Pirates, as they should again challenge the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs for NL Central supremacy.
Early 2016 Ranking: 5
As good as their long-term outlook is, the Pirates have some questions to answer.
Neil Walker ($10.7 million projected) and Pedro Alvarez ($8.1 million projected) are both due big money in arbitration and could be trade candidates as a result. A.J. Burnett is retiring, and both Joakim Soria and Antonio Bastardo will be gone from the league's best bullpen.
Adding a starting pitcher, first baseman and a bullpen arm or two will be the focus of the offseason, but at the same time they won't want to block prospects such as Glasnow, Josh Bell and others once they are deemed ready.
For now, call the Pirates 1A or 1B alongside the Cardinals and Cubs in the NL Central.
8. Houston Astros (86-76, Second in AL West)
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2015 Wrapup
The Houston Astros showed significant progress from 2013 to 2014 when they improved their record by 19 wins, and they tacked another 16 wins onto that total this past season to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2005.
That rise to relevance came at least one year sooner than expected, and an all-or-nothing approach at the plate made them awfully fun to watch.
They wound up leading the AL in strikeouts (1,392) and stolen bases (121) while trailing only the Toronto Blue Jays in home runs (230).
Carlos Correa was promoted in June and immediately became the team's No. 3 hitter and arguably the best shortstop in all of baseball at the age of 20.
Dallas Keuchel proved his 2014 breakout was no fluke with a Cy Young-worthy season, while Collin McHugh and Lance McCullers were a solid one-two punch behind him.
However, the biggest change came in the bullpen, where they went from 30th (4.80) in reliever's ERA to sixth (3.27) after adding Luke Gregerson, Pat Neshek and Will Harris to the mix.
Early 2016 Ranking: 9
The Astros are here to stay as contenders, and with plenty more young talent on the way, the best is yet to come from this group.
However, they have some significant needs to address if they are going to make a return trip to the postseason in 2016.
The starting rotation needs another proven arm alongside Keuchel and McHugh—the role that Scott Kazmir filled down the stretch.
The bullpen also still needs work, as despite the significant improvement it still tallied 30 losses and 19 blown saves.
With the Rangers and Angels both expected to contend, the Astros will have to battle to reach October once again this coming season.
7. Los Angeles Dodgers (92-70, First in NL West)
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2015 Wrapup
With a payroll just north of $314 million, according to Spotrac.com, anything short of a World Series title for the Los Angeles Dodgers ranks as a disappointment these days.
That qualified the 2015 season as a disappointment then, as they exited the postseason in the division series for the second consecutive season.
Zack Greinke (19-3, 1.66 ERA, 200 K) and Clayton Kershaw (16-7, 2.13 ERA, 301 K) made up as good a one-two punch as you'll ever see atop the rotation, and Brett Anderson proved to be worth the one-year, $10 million investment, but the back of the rotation was a mess.
Offensively, Adrian Gonzalez and Justin Turner both had strong seasons, and Andre Ethier provided more than expected, but as a whole the lineup fell short of expectations.
All of that added up to 92 wins and another NL West title, but until the Dodgers are hoisting a World Series trophy, their payroll is tough to justify.
Early 2016 Ranking: 4
The Dodgers have a lot to do this offseason.
Re-signing Greinke or replacing him with another front-line arm will be the No. 1 priority, but they will also be in the market for at least one more quality starter, a bullpen arm or two and perhaps a second baseman.
They may also consider trading Yasiel Puig, who found himself riding the pine during the postseason after a disappointing and injury-shortened season.
Corey Seager figures to step into a prominent role offensively, and the team will be banking on Joc Pederson figuring some things out, but the big question will be how the starting rotation shapes up in 2016.
Assuming the free-spending ways continue and the Dodgers add a few major pieces, they'll enter 2016 as one of the favorites to win it all once again.
6. Texas Rangers (88-74, First in AL West)
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2015 Wrapup
After being decimated by injuries in 2014, the Texas Rangers were dealt their first big blow of 2015 before the season even started when they lost ace Yu Darvish for the year to Tommy John surgery.
Despite that injury and a handful of others, they managed to stay afloat for much of the season, before catching fire down the stretch and going 38-22 over their final 60 games to win the AL West title.
They jumped out to a surprising 2-0 lead in their American League Division Series matchup with the Toronto Blue Jays, but they were unable to close out the series and were eliminated with a 6-3 loss in Game 5.
Bounce-back seasons from Prince Fielder and Shin-Soo Choo sparked the offense, and Rule 5 pick Delino DeShields emerged as a difference-maker atop the lineup.
The starting rotation was bolstered by the huge addition of Cole Hamels at the trade deadline, while the bullpen thrived behind the unheralded trio of Sam Dyson, Keone Kela and Shawn Tolleson.
Early 2016 Ranking: 7
A rotation of Darvish, Hamels, Derek Holland, Martin Perez and whoever the team decides to sign to be the No. 5 starter should make the Rangers one of the favorites in the American League heading into 2016.
The offense returns completely intact, and an offseason of rest and recovery from Adrian Beltre could make the Rangers even better if his power returns.
In terms of glaring offseason needs, they may be the most complete team in the American League, as they could conceivably contend without adding a single piece this offseason.
That said, expect them to add a starting pitcher and a bullpen arm or two, and that could be enough to push them over the top.
5. St. Louis Cardinals (100-62, First in NL Central)
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2015 Wrapup
The St. Louis Cardinals just know how to win.
Significant injuries to Adam Wainwright, Matt Holliday, Matt Adams and Jordan Walden and both Yadier Molina and Carlos Martinez down the stretch, along with a number of other smaller injuries throughout the course of the season, still didn't stop them from winning 100 games.
In the wake of those injuries, guys such as Stephen Piscotty and Randal Grichuk emerged as impact players, as the next-man-up philosophy continued to show off the team's organizational depth.
Even without Wainwright for all but four starts, the Cardinals finished with a phenomenal 2.99 ERA from their starting rotation with John Lackey, Michael Wacha, Carlos Martinez and Jaime Garcia leading the way.
The season culminated in a meeting with the rival Chicago Cubs in the National League Division Series, the first time the two teams had ever met in the postseason, and the upstart Cubs came out on top in four games to end the Cardinals' season.
Early 2016 Ranking: 2
Re-signing Jason Heyward is really the only pressing issue on the table for the Cardinals this winter, but it's a big one as he represents a potential franchise cornerstone the team desperately needs with an aging core of position players currently in place.
St. Louis will likely also look for a couple of bullpen pieces and an upgrade at the utility infield spot, but for the most part, expect the same Cardinals team you saw in 2015.
The X-factor could be top prospect Alex Reyes, who dominated in reaching Double-A as a 20-year-old and could arrive at some point in 2016.
The Cardinals have reached the postseason 12 times in the past 16 years, and it would be a surprise if they weren't there again in 2016.
4. Chicago Cubs (97-65, Third in NL Central)
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2015 Wrapup
Most had the 2016 season circled as the year the Chicago Cubs could expect to make a push toward contention, and a winning record in 2015 and some marked improvement from the young core would have made for a successful year.
Instead, the young position players made a huge impact right of the box as Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber led the offense alongside Anthony Rizzo and Addison Russell immediately showed why he could turn into the best all-around shortstop in the game.
On the mound, Jake Arrieta built off of his strong 2014 season with the greatest second half pitching performance in MLB history, as he went 12-1 with a 0.75 ERA in 15 starts.
They came up short in the NLCS against the New York Mets, getting swept in four games and outscored 21-8 , but the 2015 season was still a huge success overall for the North Siders and they're just scratching the surface.
Early 2016 Ranking: 1
The hype train has already left the station for the 2016 Chicago Cubs, and it's only going to pick up steam as the offseason rolls on.
Before you call bias in giving them the No. 1 spot, let me point out that the Cubs are also favored in Vegas with 11/1 odds to put them just ahead of the Royals, Mets, Dodgers, Cardinals, Blue Jays and Nationals who were all 12/1.
With another year of development from their young offensive core and another quality arm to join Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester at the top of the rotation, it's hard to argue that this team wouldn't have the look of a serious contender.
Don't underestimate the potential loss of Dexter Fowler, though, as he set the tone atop the lineup.
Re-signing him or finding a suitable replacement might be more important than chasing a front-line arm, though the Cubs do need to add a starter regardless.
Theo Epstein has implemented his rebuilding plans to perfection, and the Cubs are now set up to contend for the foreseeable future.
3. Toronto Blue Jays (93-69, First in AL East)
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2015 Wrapup
The Toronto Blue Jays already had one of the best offenses in baseball heading into last offseason, and the acquisition of Josh Donaldson elevated them to the level of juggernaut.
They wound up scoring 891 runs on the year, a full 127 runs more than the New York Yankees, who ranked second in that category, and along the way they added Troy Tulowitzki and Ben Revere to the mix, who will both be back next year.
The question was the starting rotation, and that was answered with the deadline acquisition of David Price, who went 9-1 with a 2.30 ERA in 11 starts after joining the team to help secure the AL East title.
Price struggled in October, though, and the Blue Jays were eventually ousted by the Kansas City Royals in a thrilling six-game American League Championship Series matchup.
The offense will be back intact this coming season, so the offseason focus will be on improving the pitching staff and trying to retain Price, who is a free agent for the first time in his career.
Early 2016 Ranking: 3
A full season of Marcus Stroman will be a huge addition to the Blue Jays in 2016, but either way they need another front-line arm if they are going to make another run at the World Series.
Re-signing Price appears to be the preferred route, but they need to be prepared with a Plan B if he winds up elsewhere.
R.A. Dickey is the only other pitcher locked into a 2016 rotation spot, as Marco Estrada is also a free agent and Mark Buehrle is set to retire. The team will likely move Aaron Sanchez back to the rotation at some point, but that then opens up a hole in the bullpen.
The Blue Jays seem to be all-in on this current group of guys, so expect them to be aggressive this winter. It's just a question of who they wind up signing to fill out the staff.
2. New York Mets (90-72, First in NL East)
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2015 Wrapup
The New York Mets were completely transformed by their deadline addition of Yoenis Cespedes, as they were two games back in the NL East standings at the time of the trade and went on to finish the year 37-22 and run away with the division title.
From there, the starting pitching and a red-hot postseason from Daniel Murphy carried them to their first World Series appearance since 2000.
They would fall to the Kansas City Royals in five games, but it was still a wildly successful season for the team.
The rotation of Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz will be back next season, along with most of the offense, with the two major exceptions being Cespedes and Murphy.
That leaves some doubt about how the team stacks up heading into 2016.
Early 2016 Ranking: 8
It sounds more and more like the Mets won't be re-signing Cespedes this offseason, according to a report from Adam Rubin of ESPN.com.
Without him and Murphy, who is also a free agent, they run the risk of regressing back to the anemic offensive team they were leading up to the trade deadline.
Pitching wins championships, and the pitching staff alone will make the Mets favorites in the NL East, but unless they can find a way to add an impact bat to the middle of the lineup, it's hard to see them being as good as the team we saw over the final two months of 2016.
A healthy David Wright and a step forward from Michael Conforto would certainly help, but the offensive outlook of this team will ultimately determine whether or not New York is a legitimate title contender.
1. Kansas City Royals (95-67, First in AL Central)
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2015 Wrapup
Full disclosure: On Mar. 27 I wrote an article making my final win-loss predictions for all 30 MLB teams. In that article, I picked the Royals to finish fourth in the AL Central and go 79-83 on the year.
This is what I had to say about the outlook of the team:
"Then we have the reigning AL champion Kansas City Royals, who caught lightning in a bottle last season on the strength of defense, base-stealing and a dominant bullpen.
Those three areas will again be a strength in 2015, but the offense is still lacking in punch and the rotation will undoubtedly feel the loss of James Shields. There is plenty of talent on the roster, but other teams around them seem to have passed them by.
"
Suffice to say the Royals proved me wrong, and it was fun to watch them do it, so congratulations to the 2015 Kansas City Royals and all of their fans on a well-deserved World Series title.
Speed, defense and relief pitching were the three biggest strengths once again, but it was their never-quit attitude that separated them from the pack and proved to be the difference come October.
Early 2016 Ranking: 6
I've learned my lesson about doubting the Royals, but that doesn't mean they don't have some significant things to address this offseason.
Chief among them is the free agency of Alex Gordon, who will likely command a contract north of $100 million and may well sign elsewhere.
In fact, Kansas City will need to address both corner outfield spots, and the same goes for the starting rotation, where Yordano Ventura and Edinson Volquez look to be the only sure things.
The Royals may have a bit more money to work with than years past thanks to their recent postseason success, but this is still not a major-market team.
They'll be the favorites in the AL Central and serious contenders once again, but repeating as World Series winners hasn't happened since 1999 and 2000 for a reason. It's really tough to do.
All standard statistics and WAR totals courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com, while defensive metrics like DRS and UZR/150 are from FanGraphs. Projected arbitration salaries come from MLB Trade Rumors.
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