Future Power Rankings: Where Every MLB Team Will Stand 3 Years from Now

Chris Szagola/Associated Press

Anyone who has sat through an HGTV marathon is familiar with the term "good bones" in the context of a house. It's used in regards to a fixer-upper that needs some work but has a good foundation to build around.

That's the basic concept behind our future power rankings.

Ahead, we've put together projected lineups and pitching staffs for all 30 MLB teams based on how their rosters would look three years from now if they were unable to retain any of their upcoming free agents.

Included is a look at where each team fell in our latest farm system rankings, a rundown of the notable free agents each team stands to lose between now and 2022 and a few key notes to consider.

Here's how the projected rosters were assembled:

• Players Under Contract: The obvious starting point was to pencil in the players who are under contract through the 2022 season.

• Arbitration-Eligible Players: Next up were players who will have not yet reached free agency when 2022 rolls around but have already established themselves as everyday big leaguers.

• Top Prospects: From there, the rest of the roster was filled in with top prospects from the farm system. These players are the toughest to project, as they have yet to prove anything at the big league level, but homegrown talent is key to building a winner.

• Free Agents: Free agency plays a major role in reshaping the MLB landscape, but for the sake of this exercise, we made no assumptions as to where players would sign once they hit the open market.

• Player/Club/Vesting Options: While no assumptions were made when it came to free agents, we did take the liberty of predicting whether contract options would be exercised or not. Since those players are technically under team control, it made sense to include them as part of the projected roster when applicable.

• Financial Flexibility: While free-agent signing predictions were not made, a team's expected financial flexibility did ultimately factor into its spot in our rankings.

With all of that in mind, a combination of each team's projected roster, overall quality of young talent and financial freedom factored into its final ranking.

Let's get started.

Adley RutschmanNick Wass/Associated Press

Roster Outlook

2022 Lineup	2022 Pitching Staff
CF Yusniel Diaz	SP Grayson Rodriguez
C Adley Rutschman	SP DL Hall (L)
1B Ryan Mountcastle	SP John Means (L)
LF Trey Mancini	SP Dean Kremer
DH Renato Nunez	SP Zac Lowther (L)
RF Anthony Santander	CL Zach Pop
C Chance Sisco
2B Adam Hall
SS Cadyn Grenier

Farm System Rank: No. 12

Notable Free Agents

• 2019-20: DH Mark Trumbo
  
• 2020-21: IF Jonathan Villar
• 2021-22: SP Dylan Bundy, SP Alex Cobb, RP Mychal Givens
  

Notes

• The Orioles have four elite-level prospects in catcher Adley Rutschman, first baseman Ryan Mountcastle, right-hander Grayson Rodriguez and left-hander DL Hall. That foursome, along with breakout slugger Trey Mancini and 2019 All-Star John Means, make up the long-term core.

• The final two spots on the starting staff could wind up going to any combination of Dean Kremer, Zac Lowther, Michael Baumann, Blaine Knight, Keegan Akin, Cody Sedlock, Brenan Hanifee, Alex Wells or a number of other quality arms in the system. There's a lot of pitching depth here.

• Technically, the Orioles will still owe Chris Davis a whopping $21.1 million in 2022, but it's hard to see him still being part of the team. Whether he's released, traded or simply retires, it's a safe bet that the two sides will part ways at some point in the next three years.

Joey GalloBrace Hemmelgarn/Getty Images

Roster Outlook

2022 Lineup	2022 Pitching Staff
CF Leody Taveras	SP Hans Crouse
SS Elvis Andrus	SP Joe Palumbo (L)
RF Joey Gallo	SP Ariel Jurado
DH Willie Calhoun	SP Brock Burke (L)
3B Josh Jung	SP Kolby Allard (L)
C Sam Huff	CL Jose Leclerc
1B Sherten Apostel
LF Nick Solak
2B Rougned Odor

Farm System Rank: No. 21

Notable Free Agents

• 2019-20: OF Hunter Pence, IF Logan Forsythe
• 2020-21: SP Mike Minor, DH Shin-Soo Choo, C Jeff Mathis, RP Jesse Chavez, RP Shawn Kelley
• 2021-22: SP Lance Lynn, RF Nomar Mazara, UT Danny Santana, OF Delino DeShields, RP Nate Jones
  

Notes

• Starting pitching has seemingly always been the biggest question mark for the Rangers, and that remains the case looking ahead to 2022. That said, with a 70-grade fastball and a wipeout slider, Hans Crouse has a chance to be an impact starter.

• While his prospect stock has fallen a bit, Leody Taveras is still only 20 years old. He's hitting .282 with a .351 on-base percentage and 32 steals while playing stellar defense in center field and still looks like a potential table-setter.

• The Rangers acquired high-floor lefty Kolby Allard and infielder/outfielder Nick Solak in a pair of under-the-radar deadline deals that sent veteran reliever Chris Martin and minor league reliever Peter Fairbanks the other way. Both newcomers have a chance to be a big part of the long-term picture in Texas.

Charlie Blackmon and Nolan ArenadoDustin Bradford/Getty Images

Roster Outlook

2022 Lineup	2022 Pitching Staff
RF Charlie Blackmon	SP German Marquez
SS Brendan Rodgers	SP Kyle Freeland (L)
3B Nolan Arenado	SP Peter Lambert
LF David Dahl	SP Ryan Rolison (L)
1B Colton Welker	SP Antonio Senzatela
CF Raimel Tapia	CL Ben Bowden (L)
2B Ryan McMahon
C Dom Nunez

Farm System Rank: No. 24

Notable Free Agents

• 2019-20: 1B Yonder Alonso
  
• 2020-21: C Chris Iannetta, SP Chad Bettis, RP Chris Rusin, RP Jake McGee ($9M option)
  
• 2021-22: SS Trevor Story, SP Jon Gray, RP Scott Oberg, IF Daniel Murphy, RP Wade Davis, RP Bryan Shaw, SP Tyler Anderson, UT Ian Desmond ($15M option)
  

Notes

• With Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon locked up long-term and All-Star David Dahl under team control through 2023, the Rockies can fill out their offense around that standout trio.

• Colorado has had such a hard time drafting and developing pitching talent over the years, it might be worth considering an extension for Jon Gray. The No. 3 pick in the 2013 draft has been worth 5.0 WAR this season, which is good for fourth among National League pitchers.

• The Rockies have an abundance of corner infield talent in the minor league ranks. With Arenado at third base, Colton Welker, Grant Lavigne, Tyler Nevin, Ryan Vilade, and 2019 draft picks Michael Toglia and Aaron Schunk could all be battling for the first base job.

Sixto SanchezBrace Hemmelgarn/Getty Images

Roster Outlook

2022 Lineup	2022 Pitching Staff
CF Monte Harrison	SP Sixto Sanchez
3B Brian Anderson	SP Caleb Smith (L)
RF Jesus Sanchez	SP Sandy Alcantara
LF JJ Bleday	SP Braxton Garrett (L)
2B Isan Diaz	SP Pablo Lopez
1B Lewin Diaz	CL Edward Cabrera
SS Jazz Chisholm
C Jorge Alfaro

Farm System Rank: No. 10

Notable Free Agents

• 2019-20: IF Neil Walker, IF Martin Prado, OF Curtis Granderson, SP Hector Noesi, 2B Starlin Castro ($15M option)
• 2020-21: IF Miguel Rojas
• 2021-22: SP Jose Urena, SP Wei-Yin Chen, RP Adam Conley

Notes

• Of the 14 players listed above, only Brian Anderson (3rd round, 2014), Braxton Garrett (1st round, 2016), Edward Cabrera (AFA, 2016) and JJ Bleday (1st round, 2018) began their pro careers in the Marlins organization.

• The starting rotation could go in a lot of different directions going forward. Trevor Rogers, Nick Neidert, Jordan Holloway and hard-throwing Jorge Guzman are also viable candidates to be part of the future staff, and that depth could allow them to address other areas of need via trade.

• The Marlins have no contracts on the books beyond 2021 when they will finally be out from under the ill-advised Wei-Yin Chen deal. They could be major players in free agency in the not-too-distant future. They could also continue to operate like a business rather than a baseball team and not spend at all.

Casey MizeMark Cunningham/Getty Images

Roster Outlook

2022 Lineup	2022 Pitching Staff
SS Willi Castro	SP Casey Mize
3B Jeimer Candelario	SP Matthew Boyd (L)
DH Miguel Cabrera	SP Matt Manning
LF Christin Stewart	SP Tarik Skubal (L)
RF Daz Cameron	SP Spencer Turnbull
2B Isaac Paredes	CL Joe Jimenez
C Jake Rogers
1B Niko Goodrum
CF JaCoby Jones

Farm System Rank: No. 13

Notable Free Agents

• 2019-20: SS Jordy Mercer, SP Tyson Ross, SP Matt Moore
  
• 2020-21: SP Jordan Zimmermann
• 2021-22: SP Daniel Norris, RP Blaine Hardy
  

Notes

• The Tigers are in excellent shape from a pitching standpoint. Casey Mize and Matt Manning are among the top pitching prospects in baseball, while others such as Tarik Skubal, Franklin Perez, Alex Faedo, Joey Wentz and Beau Burrows will face off with incumbents Matthew Boyd and Spencer Turnbull to round out the rotation.

• The offense is a different story. The continued development of big leaguers such as Jeimer Candelario and Christin Stewart, as well as prospects such as Daz Cameron and Isaac Paredes, will be key.

• Future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera is still owed $124 million over the next four years, including $32 million in 2022 and 2023. With 2,789 hits and 474 home runs to his credit, he has some major milestones on the horizon.

Josh BellJim McIsaac/Getty Images

Roster Outlook

2022 Lineup	2022 Pitching Staff
2B Kevin Newman	SP Mitch Keller
3B Ke'Bryan Hayes	SP Jameson Taillon
LF Bryan Reynolds	SP Joe Musgrove
1B Josh Bell	SP Trevor Williams
RF Gregory Polanco	SP Colton Bolton
CF Travis Swaggerty	CL Felipe Vazquez (L)
SS Oneil Cruz
C Elias Diaz

Farm System Rank: No. 18

Notable Free Agents

• 2019-20: C Francisco Cervelli, RP Francisco Liriano, OF Melky Cabrera, OF Lonnie Chisenhall
  
• 2020-21: RP Keone Kela, RP Tom Koehler
  
• 2021-22: CF Starling Marte, SP Chris Archer, RP Michael Feliz
  

Notes

• The Pirates have an abundance of middle infield talent with Adam Frazier, Kevin Newman, Oneil Cruz, Kevin Kramer, Ji-Hwan Bae and Rodolfo Castro in the mix for future playing time. Frazier has thrived in a super-utility role in the past, so don't discount his being part of the long-term plans despite not being listed above.

• Josh Bell (.946 OPS, 31 HR, 98 RBI) and Bryan Reynolds (.326 BA, .921 OPS, 41 XBH) are having breakout seasons, and they will lead the offense going forward. Third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes is capable of joining them if he delivers on his potential.

• The health of Jameson Taillon is a big question mark after he underwent a second Tommy John surgery earlier this month. The 27-year-old looked like a budding ace last season, but he has a long road ahead and will likely miss the 2020 season.

Whit Merrifield and Hunter DozierSarah Stier/Getty Images

Roster Outlook

2022 Lineup	2022 Pitching Staff
2B Adalberto Mondesi	SP Brady Singer
3B Whit Merrifield	SP Jackson Kowar
SS Bobby Witt Jr.	SP Daniel Lynch (L)
DH Hunter Dozier	SP Brad Keller
CF Khalil Lee	SP Kris Bubic (L)
1B Nick Pratto	CL Scott Barlow
RF Seuly Matias
LF Kyle Isbel
C MJ Melendez

Farm System Rank: No. 11

Notable Free Agents

• 2019-20: LF Alex Gordon ($23M mutual option)
• 2020-21: RP Ian Kennedy
• 2021-22: C Salvador Perez, OF Jorge Soler, SP Danny Duffy, SP Mike Montgomery, IF Cheslor Cuthbert
  

Notes

• The emergence of Hunter Dozier has given the Royals a legitimate building block. The 27-year-old took time to live up to the expectations that came with going No. 8 overall in the 2013 draft. He has a 140 OPS+ with 23 doubles and 22 home runs and he's raised his walk rate from 6.2 to 10.8 percent.

• Will Bobby Witt Jr. be ready by 2022 after going No. 2 overall in this year's draft out of high school? The five-tool shortstop earns praise for his makeup and baseball IQ, so don't be surprised if he moves quickly.

• The 2018 draft haul of Brady Singer (No. 18 overall), Jackson Kowar (33), Daniel Lynch (34) and Kris Bubic (40) has completely transformed the long-term outlook of the starting rotation. All four college hurlers are off to impressive starts to their pro careers and look like future MLB starters.

Evan WhiteChristian Petersen/Getty Images

Roster Outlook

2022 Lineup	2022 Pitching Staff
CF Jarred Kelenic	SP Logan Gilbert
RF Mitch Haniger	SP Marco Gonzales (L)
LF Julio Rodriguez	SP Justin Dunn
DH Dan Vogelbach	SP Yusei Kikuchi (L)
1B Evan White	SP George Kirby
SS J.P. Crawford	CL Joey Gerber
2B Shed Long
3B Joe Rizzo
C Cal Raleigh

Farm System Rank: No. 9

Notable Free Agents

• 2019-20: SP Felix Hernandez, RP Arodys Vizcaino, RP Cory Gearrin, SP Tommy Milone, SP Wade LeBlanc ($5M option)
  
• 2020-21: RP Anthony Bass, IF Tim Beckham
• 2021-22: OF Domingo Santana, 2B Dee Gordon, 3B Kyle Seager ($15M option)

Notes

• From the above projected lineup, Jarred Kelenic, J.P. Crawford, Shed Long and Justin Dunn were all added in trades this past offseason, while Yusei Kikuchi was signed in free agency and George Kirby was selected No. 20 overall in the 2019 draft. That's a ton of talent added to the mix in a short period of time.

• Current catcher Omar Narvaez will be 30 years old and in his final year of arbitration in 2022. It will be interesting to see how long he can hold off prospect Cal Raleigh. The 2018 third-round pick has an .809 OPS with 22 doubles and 25 home runs between High-A and Triple-A this year.

• Starting pitching is the biggest question mark for the Mariners going forward, as it has been for quite some time. Logan Gilbert has flashed frontline potential this season with a 1.95 ERA and 154 strikeouts in 124.2 innings over three levels, and his continued development will be key.

Pete AlonsoCarmen Mandato/Getty Images

Roster Outlook

2022 Lineup	2022 Pitching Staff
LF Jeff McNeil	SP Jacob deGrom
RF Brandon Nimmo	SP David Peterson (L)
1B Pete Alonso	SP Thomas Szapucki (L)
3B Mark Vientos	SP Kevin Smith (L)
SS Ronny Mauricio	SP Franklyn Kilome
CF Amed Rosario	CL Edwin Diaz
2B Andres Gimenez
C Tomas Nido

Farm System Rank: No. 22

Notable Free Agents

• 2019-20: SP Zack Wheeler, 3B Todd Frazier, RP Luis Avilan, OF Juan Lagares ($9.5M option)
  
• 2020-21: SP Marcus Stroman, LF Yoenis Cespedes, IF Jed Lowrie, RP Justin Wilson
  
• 2021-22: OF Michael Conforto, SP Noah Syndergaard, SP Steven Matz, RP Jeurys Familia, C Wilson Ramos
  

Notes

• Will the Mets front office pursue extensions for Zack Wheeler or Noah Syndergaard? Pitching has been a focal point of the team for the past several seasons—what will the starting rotation look like in 2022?

• The Mets found a good one in Ronny Mauricio, who was signed to a $2.1 million bonus as part of the 2017 international free-agent class. The 18-year-old is hitting .273 with 28 extra-base hits and strong glove work at Single-A.

• Catching prospect Francisco Alvarez is enjoying a great season with a .328/.423/.500 line and 14 extra-base hits in 35 games. However, he's still just 17 years old, and the Mets won't rush him to the majors. Expect a stopgap catcher to be on the shopping list for the 2021-22 offseason.

Zac GallenDustin Bradford/Getty Images

Roster Outlook

2022 Lineup	2022 Pitching Staff
LF Alek Thomas	SP Zac Gallen
CF Ketel Marte	SP Jon Duplantier
RF Kristian Robinson	SP Corbin Martin
1B Seth Beer	SP Levi Kelly
3B Kevin Cron	SP Merrill Kelly
2B Joshua Rojas	CL J.B. Bukauskas
C Carson Kelly
SS Geraldo Perdomo

Farm System Rank: No. 3

Notable Free Agents

• 2019-20: OF Adam Jones, OF Jarrod Dyson, C Alex Avila, IF Wilmer Flores ($6M option)
  
• 2020-21: SP Robbie Ray, OF David Peralta, SS Nick Ahmed, SP Taijuan Walker, SP Mike Leake, OF Steven Souza, 1B Jake Lamb, RP Andrew Chafin
  
• 2021-22: 3B Eduardo Escobar, RP Archie Bradley
  

Notes

• The Diamondbacks acquired Seth Beer, Corbin Martin, J.B. Bukauskas and Joshua Rojas in the deal that sent Zack Greinke to Houston at the trade deadline. All four could wind up being long-term pieces, especially if Martin can get healthy and Bukauskas can refine his command.

• Kristian Robinson (57 G, .876 OPS, 23 XBH, 16 SB) and Alek Thomas (103 G, .303/.384/.462, 15 SB) are 18 and 19 years old, respectively. However, both players have polished games relative to their age, and Robinson has one of the highest ceilings in minor league baseball.

• There are some intriguing under-the-radar prospects to watch in this system as well. Shortstop Geraldo Perdomo is hitting .282 with more walks (63) than strikeouts (62) as a 19-year-old in a full season between Single-A and High-A, and right-hander Levi Kelly has racked up 122 strikeouts in 93.1 innings with a 2.12 ERA as a 20-year-old at Single-A.

Brandon WoodruffQuinn Harris/Getty Images

Roster Outlook

2022 Lineup	2022 Pitching Staff
3B Brice Turang	SP Brandon Woodruff
2B Keston Hiura	SP Aaron Ashby (L)
1B Christian Yelich	SP Drew Rasmussen
RF Tristen Lutz	SP Ethan Small (L)
CF Lorenzo Cain	SP Trey Supak
LF Trent Grisham	CL Josh Hader (L)
C Mario Feliciano
SS Orlando Arcia

Farm System Rank: No. 29

Notable Free Agents

• 2019-20: SP Jhoulys Chacin, SP Gio Gonzalez, SP Jordan Lyles, RP Matt Albers, RP Drew Pomeranz, C Yasmani Grandal ($16M mutual option), 3B Mike Moustakas ($11M mutual option)
  
• 2020-21: SP Jimmy Nelson, RP Jeremy Jeffress, 1B/OF Eric Thames, UT Hernan Perez, LF Ryan Braun ($15M mutual option)
  
• 2021-22: SP Chase Anderson, SP Zach Davies, RP Corey Knebel, RP Alex Claudio, 3B Travis Shaw, IF Tyler Saladino, C Manny Pina
  

Notes

• The Brewers owe Christian Yelich just $41.5 million over the next three seasons, including a $15 million club option for 2022. That might be the most team-friendly contract in baseball.

• Shortstop Brice Turang is hitting .260 with a .363 on-base percentage and 27 steals between Single-A and High-A this season, and he's well on his way to reaching the majors before 2022. With Keston Hiura and Orlando Arcia locked into the middle infield spots, someone could wind up sliding over to the hot corner.

• Aside from the five starting pitchers listed above, guys like Devin Williams and Zack Brown also have a chance to be long-term rotation pieces, while Corbin Burnes and Freddy Peralta could get more cracks at starting.

Jo AdellPatrick McDermott/Getty Images

Roster Outlook

2022 Lineup	2022 Pitching Staff
3B David Fletcher	SP Shohei Ohtani
CF Mike Trout	SP Griffin Canning
LF Jo Adell	SP Jose Suarez (L)
DH Justin Upton	SP Chris Rodriguez
RF Brandon Marsh	SP Jose Soriano
1B Matt Thaiss	CL Keynan Middleton
2B Will Wilson
SS Luis Rengifo
C Jack Kruger

Farm System Rank: No. 27

Notable Free Agents

• 2019-20: SP Trevor Cahill, 1B Justin Bour
  
• 2020-21: SS Andrelton Simmons, RF Kole Calhoun, IF Tommy La Stella, IF Zack Cozart, RP Hansel Robles, RP Luis Garcia
  
• 2021-22: DH Albert Pujols, SP Andrew Heaney, RP Cam Bedrosian, SP J.C. Ramirez, SP Nick Tropeano
  

Notes

• The Angels' future could rest on the impact Shohei Ohtani makes on the mound. He had a 3.31 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with 63 strikeouts in 51.2 innings over 10 starts as a rookie, and he'll be counted on to fill the staff ace role.

• While the Angels farm system is not one of the game's best, the franchise has quietly assembled a solid collection of middle infield talent with Will Wilson, Luis Rengifo, Jeremiah Jackson, Kyren Paris, Jahmai Jones and Livan Soto. That could give Los Angeles some pull on the trade market.

• Keep an eye on what role Jared Walsh fills going forward. He hit .328/.434/.686 with 31 home runs at Triple-A while also posting a 2.25 ERA in 12 appearances out of the bullpen.

Shane BieberDavid Maxwell/Getty Images

Roster Outlook

2022 Lineup	2022 Pitching Staff
SS Tyler Freeman	SP Shane Bieber
3B Nolan Jones	SP Mike Clevinger
2B Jose Ramirez	SP Carlos Carrasco
DH Franmil Reyes	SP Triston McKenzie
1B Bobby Bradley	SP Logan Allen (L)
LF Oscar Mercado	CL Nick Wittgren
CF Bradley Zimmer
RF Tyler Naquin
C Roberto Perez

Farm System Rank: No. 16

Notable Free Agents

• 2019-20: OF Yasiel Puig, RP Tyler Clippard, 2B Jason Kipnis ($16.5M option), RP Dan Otero ($1.5M option)
  
• 2020-21: RP Oliver Perez, SP Danny Salazar
  
• 2021-22: SS Francisco Lindor, SP Corey Kluber, 1B Carlos Santana, RP Brad Hand
  

Notes

• When asked during the offseason what he would say to fans worried about Francisco Lindor's future in Cleveland, Indians chairman Paul Dolan told Zack Meisel of The Athletic: "Enjoy him. We control him for three more years. Enjoy him, and then we'll see what happens." Not exactly comforting words. He'll likely be suiting up elsewhere in 2022.

• The emergence of Shane Bieber as one of baseball's best starters helped open the door for the Trevor Bauer trade, and there's a good chance Corey Kluber will also be on the move before he reaches free agency. High-ceiling righty Triston McKenzie and high-floor lefty Logan Allen are the top two pitching prospects in the system.

• Nick Wittgren does not have traditional closer stuff with a fastball that averages 92.6 mph, but he's emerged as a lights-out relief option. The 28-year-old has a 2.77 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 44 appearances, tallying 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings while lowering his walk rate from 4.0 to 1.8 per nine.

Joey BartRoss D. Franklin/Associated Press

Roster Outlook

2022 Lineup	2022 Pitching Staff
LF Alexander Canario	SP Logan Webb
SS Marco Luciano	SP Sean Hjelle
RF Heliot Ramos	SP Seth Corry (L)
C Joey Bart	SP Tyler Beede
CF Hunter Bishop	SP Shaun Anderson
1B Logan Wyatt	CL Melvin Adon
3B Evan Longoria
2B Mauricio Dubon

Farm System Rank: No. 14

Notable Free Agents

• 2019-20: SP Madison Bumgarner, RP Will Smith, 2B Scooter Gennett, C Stephen Vogt
• 2020-21: SP Jeff Samardzija, CF Kevin Pillar, RP Tony Watson, IF Pablo Sandoval
  
• 2021-22: 1B Brandon Belt, SS Brandon Crawford, IF Donovan Solano, C Buster Posey ($22M option), SP Johnny Cueto ($22M option)

Notes

• Assuming the Giants decline their options on Buster Posey and Johnny Cueto, they will have roughly $75 million coming off the books going into the 2021-22 offseason. That financial flexibility coupled with a farm system on the rise gives them an intriguing long-term outlook.

• Rising prospect Marco Luciano is still just 17 years old and has yet to make his full-season debut, but he has already shown superstar upside. He's hitting .299/.416/.559 with 24 extra-base hits in 46 games, and he's the type of elite-level raw talent who could debut before his 21st birthday.

• Logan Webb, Sean Hjelle and Seth Corry are all having terrific 2019 seasons, and they are now the clear-cut top three arms in the system. Corry, 20, has taken a huge step forward with his command, posting a 1.74 ERA with a 155-to-52 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 108.1 innings at Single-A.

Matt ChapmanLachlan Cunningham/Getty Images

Roster Outlook

2022 Lineup	2022 Pitching Staff
LF Jorge Mateo	SP Jesus Luzardo (L)
CF Ramon Laureano	SP A.J. Puk (L)
3B Matt Chapman	SP Frankie Montas
1B Matt Olson	SP Sean Manaea (L)
DH Stephen Piscotty	SP Chris Bassitt
2B Sheldon Neuse	CL Lou Trivino
C Sean Murphy
RF Austin Beck
SS Nick Allen

Farm System Rank: No. 17

Notable Free Agents

• 2019-20: SP Homer Bailey, SP Tanner Roark, SP Brett Anderson, SP Marco Estrada, RP Jake Diekman ($5.8M option)
  
• 2020-21: SS Marcus Semien, SP Mike Fiers, RP Liam Hendriks, RP Blake Treinen, RP Joakim Soria, RP Yusmeiro Petit, OF Robbie Grossman, UT Jurickson Profar, C Josh Phegley
  
• 2021-22: DH Khris Davis, OF Mark Canha, RP Ryan Buchter
  

Notes

• The Athletics have developed a dynamic homegrown duo in third baseman Matt Chapman and first baseman Matt Olson. Both players offer power production and standout defense, and they will be counted on to lead the club for the foreseeable future.

• A lot hinges on the development of Jesus Luzardo and A.J. Puk as the future leaders of the starting rotation. Both lefties have swing-and-miss stuff, but they have also had injuries since starting their pro careers. They will need to be healthy and productive for the A's to succeed.

• While shortstop Marcus Semien is a candidate to be signed long-term, the slick-fielding Nick Allen could convince the front office to move on if he continues to show enough of a hit tool to warrant everyday playing time. The 20-year-old is hitting .292/.363/.434 with 30 extra-base hits at High-A.

Juan SotoScott Taetsch/Getty Images

Roster Outlook

2022 Lineup	2022 Pitching Staff
SS Trea Turner	SP Patrick Corbin (L)
CF Victor Robles	SP Stephen Strasburg
RF Juan Soto	SP Jackson Rutledge
1B Drew Mendoza	SP Wil Crowe
2B Carter Kieboom	SP Tim Cate (L)
3B Luis Garcia	CL Matt Cronin (L)
LF Gage Canning
C Israel Pineda

Farm System Rank: No. 26

Notable Free Agents

• 2019-20: 3B Anthony Rendon, 2B Brian Dozier, RP Fernando Rodney, IF Howie Kendrick, SP Jeremy Hellickson, RP Daniel Hudson, OF Gerardo Parra, IF Asdrubal Cabrera, 1B Ryan Zimmerman ($18M option), C Yan Gomes ($9M option)
  
• 2020-21: RP Sean Doolittle, C Kurt Suzuki, OF Michael Taylor, 1B Matt Adams
  
• 2021-22: SP Max Scherzer, SP Anibal Sanchez, OF Adam Eaton, RP Hunter Strickland, RP Roenis Elias, SP Joe Ross
  

Notes

• Will the Nationals come to terms on a new contract with third baseman Anthony Rendon? The two sides were discussing an extension as recently as July, according to Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com, but he won't come cheap as one of the top available players in this year's class.

• The Nationals farm system has a pair of high-ceiling pitching prospects in Jackson Rutledge and Mason Denaburg and high-floor pitching prospects in Wil Crowe and Tim Cate. Those four will seemingly compete with Erick Fedde for the three spots in the rotation behind Patrick Corbin and Stephen Strasburg.

• Drew Mendoza shifted across the diamond to first base after he was picked in the third round of the 2019 draft, and he has the raw power to develop the necessary offensive profile to be the long-term answer at the position. The 21-year-old could move quickly toward the majors.

Luis CastilloAndy Lyons/Getty Images

Roster Outlook

2022 Lineup	2022 Pitching Staff
LF Jesse Winker	SP Luis Castillo
1B Joey Votto	SP Sonny Gray
3B Eugenio Suarez	SP Nick Lodolo (L)
RF Aristides Aquino	SP Tony Santillan
CF Nick Senzel	SP Lyon Richardson
2B Jonathan India	CL Amir Garrett (L)
C Tyler Stephenson
SS Jose Israel Garcia

Farm System Rank: No. 19

Notable Free Agents

• 2019-20: SP Alex Wood, SS Jose Iglesias, IF Freddy Galvis ($5.5M option)
  
• 2020-21: SP Trevor Bauer, SP Anthony DeSclafani, 2B Derek Dietrich, SP Kevin Gausman,
  
• 2021-22: RP Raisel Iglesias, RP/OF Michael Lorenzen, C Tucker Barnhart ($7.5M option)
  

Notes

• The outfield of Jesse Winker, Nick Senzel and Aristides Aquino has a chance to be one of the most productive in baseball in 2022. The 25-year-old Aquino has exploded onto the scene, and while his 50 percent home run-to-fly ball rate is not sustainable, his power is for real.

• While the Reds have had a tough time developing pitchers in recent years, Luis Castillo is a bona fide ace, and locking up Sonny Gray after acquiring him in an offseason trade looks like a stroke of genius. If high-floor college starter Nick Lodolo and the hard-throwing Tony Santillan develop as hoped, the starting rotation could be a strength.

• Third baseman Eugenio Suarez is owed $42.9 million over the next four years in one of the most team-friendly contracts in baseball. The 28-year-old has already tied his career high with 34 home runs this season.

Yordan AlvarezWill Newton/Getty Images

Roster Outlook

2022 Lineup	2022 Pitching Staff
2B Jose Altuve	SP Forrest Whitley
3B Alex Bregman	SP Bryan Abreu
1B Yordan Alvarez	SP Josh James
RF Kyle Tucker	SP Tyler Ivey
DH Abraham Toro	SP Cristian Javier
LF Taylor Jones	CL Ryan Pressly
SS Jeremy Pena
C Garrett Stubbs
CF Myles Straw

Farm System Rank: No. 25

Notable Free Agents

• 2019-20: SP Gerrit Cole, SP Wade Miley, RP Will Harris, RP Collin McHugh, RP Hector Rondon, C Robinson Chirinos, RP Joe Smith, C Martin Maldonado
  
• 2020-21: CF George Springer, LF Michael Brantley, RF Josh Reddick, 1B Yuli Gurriel, SP Aaron Sanchez, SP Brad Peacock, OF Jake Marisnick
  
• 2021-22: SS Carlos Correa, SP Justin Verlander, SP Zack Greinke, RP Roberto Osuna, SP Lance McCullers Jr., RP Chris Devenski
  

Notes

• With Gerrit Cole potentially departing in free agency and Justin Verlander, 36, and Zack Greinke, 35, coming down the homestretches of their careers, the Astros rotation will have a distinctly different look in 2022. That makes the development of Forrest Whitley perhaps the biggest X-factor in their long-term outlook.

• There's a good chance the Astros will extend at least one of George Springer and Carlos Correa. Both players have dealt with injury issues, and both have performed at MVP-caliber levels when healthy, so there will be a good amount of risk-reward involved in any long-term deal.

• Shortstop Jeremy Pena (.305 BA, .834 OPS, 32 XBH) is having a strong season between Single-A and High-A and was pegged as the "top defender among shortstops in the Houston system" by MLB.com at the start of the season. The 21-year-old looks like an under-the-radar prospect to know, especially if Correa walks.

Willson ContrerasDylan Buell/Getty Images

Roster Outlook

2022 Lineup	2022 Pitching Staff
LF Brennen Davis	SP Kyle Hendricks
SS Nico Hoerner	SP Yu Darvish
RF Jason Heyward	SP Brailyn Marquez (L)
C Willson Contreras	SP Riley Thompson
3B David Bote	SP Cory Abbott
1B Ian Happ	CL Craig Kimbrel
2B Chase Strumpf
CF Albert Almora Jr.

Farm System Rank: No. 28

Notable Free Agents

• 2019-20: SP Cole Hamels, 2B Ben Zobrist, RF Nicholas Castellanos, RP Steve Cishek, RP Pedro Strop, RP Brandon Kintzler, C Jonathan Lucroy, RP Brandon Morrow ($12M option), Derek Holland ($7M option), RP Tony Barnette ($3M option)
  
• 2020-21: SP Jose Quintana, RP Tyler Chatwood, RP David Phelps, IF Daniel Descalso ($3.5M option)
  
• 2021-22: SS Javier Baez, 3B Kris Bryant, 1B Anthony Rizzo, SP Jon Lester, LF Kyle Schwarber, IF Addison Russell

Notes

• Surely, the Cubs won't let Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Javier Baez all walk after the 2021 season. There's a good chance Rizzo will play out his career in a Cubs uniform given how entrenched he is in the community, and it's reasonable to expect at least one of Bryant and Baez to stick around. That guesswork is not part of this exercise, though, and if nothing else, it shows the fragile nature of Chicago's window of contention.

• The Cubs front office has shown a knack for identifying and developing hitters, and Nico Hoerner could be the next impact bat to reach the majors. The same can't be said for the pitching side of things, though. Hard-throwing lefty Brailyn Marquez looks like a keeper, but the rest of the farm system is a crapshoot when it comes to hurlers.

• The biggest question might be president of baseball operations Theo Epstein's future. He signed a five-year extension just before the team's World Series win in 2016, so he'll be a free agent after the 2021 season as well.

Xander Bogaerts and Rafael DeversGregory Shamus/Getty Images

Roster Outlook

2022 Lineup	2022 Pitching Staff
LF Jarren Duran	SP Chris Sale (L)
3B Rafael Devers	SP David Price (L)
SS Xander Bogaerts	SP Bryan Mata
DH J.D. Martinez	SP Tanner Houck
CF Andrew Benintendi	SP Thad Ward
1B Bobby Dalbec	CL Darwinzon Hernandez (L)
2B Michael Chavis
RF Nick Decker
C Christian Vazquez

Farm System Rank: No. 30

Notable Free Agents

• 2019-20: SP Rick Porcello, 1B Mitch Moreland, UT Brock Holt, 1B/OF Steve Pearce, SP Andrew Cashner ($10M option)
  
• 2020-21: RF Mookie Betts, CF Jackie Bradley Jr., RP Brandon Workman, C Sandy Leon, RP Steven Wright
  
• 2021-22: 2B Dustin Pedroia, SP Eduardo Rodriguez, RP Matt Barnes, RP Heath Hembree
  

Notes

• The Mookie Betts question continues to hang over the Red Sox's future. The 2018 American League MVP will be a free agent after the 2020 season and mentioned during the offseason that he doesn't expect anything to happen until he reaches free agency.

• Outfielder Jarren Duran has been one of the breakout prospects of 2019. The 22-year-old is hitting .315/.378/.420 with 34 extra-base hits and 43 steals between High-A and Double-A this year, and he looks like a future table-setter.

• The Red Sox have to figure out how Bobby Dalbec, Triston Casas and Michael Chavis fit into the long-term plan. The 19-year-old Casas might not be ready for the big leagues by 2022, but he has the highest ceiling of the players who make up that group.

Jack FlahertyJamie Squire/Getty Images

Roster Outlook

2022 Lineup	2022 Pitching Staff
CF Harrison Bader	SP Jack Flaherty
RF Dylan Carlson	SP Carlos Martinez
1B Paul Goldschmidt	SP Miles Mikolas
3B Nolan Gorman	SP Dakota Hudson
SS Paul DeJong	SP Johan Oviedo
LF Tyler O'Neill	CL Jordan Hicks
C Andrew Knizner
2B Tommy Edman

Farm System Rank: No. 23

Notable Free Agents

• 2019-20: LF Marcell Ozuna, SP Michael Wacha, SP Adam Wainwright, RP Tony Cingrani, C Matt Wieters
  
• 2020-21: C Yadier Molina, RP Brett Cecil
  
• 2021-22: 2B Kolten Wong, OF Dexter Fowler, RP Andrew Miller, RP Dominic Leone, 3B Matt Carpenter ($18.5M vesting option)
  

Notes

• The Cardinals locked up Paul Goldschmidt and Miles Mikolas during the offseason, and they will still have Carlos Martinez and Paul DeJong under contract as well in 2022. For a team that relies heavily on the draft-and-develop mentality, it has a good amount of money on the books. That said, St. Louis still has plenty to spend and figures to be active once again this offseason.

• Tyler O'Neill has a chance to be an impact run producer, and Harrison Bader has a chance to be a Gold Glove center fielder and a table-setter. But will they be? Those are among the biggest questions facing an inconsistent offense. The emergence of Dylan Carlson as a top-tier prospect has been a nice development.

• Will the 2020 season be the end of the line for Yadier Molina? His replacement is already in place in the form of Andrew Knizner, but that would still be a major changing of the guard.

Max Kepler and Eddie RosarioStephen Brashear/Getty Images

Roster Outlook

2022 Lineup	2022 Pitching Staff
SS Royce Lewis	SP Jose Berrios
LF Trevor Larnach	SP Brusdar Graterol
RF Max Kepler	SP Jordan Balazovic
1B Alex Kirilloff	SP Jhoan Duran
DH Brent Rooker	SP Lewis Thorpe (L)
2B Jorge Polanco	CL Taylor Rogers (L)
C Mitch Garver
3B Travis Blankenhorn
CF Byron Buxton

Farm System Rank: No. 5

Notable Free Agents

• 2019-20: SP Jake Odorizzi, SP Kyle Gibson, SP Michael Pineda, C Jason Castro, 2B Jonathan Schoop, RP Sergio Romo
  
• 2020-21: DH Nelson Cruz, UT Marwin Gonzalez, SP Martin Perez, 1B C.J. Cron, RP Trevor May, RP Sam Dyson, IF Ehire Adrianza
  
• 2021-22: LF Eddie Rosario, 3B Miguel Sano
  

Notes

• With Jake Odorizzi, Kyle Gibson and Michael Pineda all headed for free agency, change is coming to the Twins starting rotation. Brusdar Graterol and Jordan Balazovic are consensus top-100 prospects and will be counted on to help pick up the slack.

• The Twins roster is already loaded with homegrown position-player talent, and more is on the way—led by first-round picks Alex Kirilloff (2016), Royce Lewis (2017) and Trevor Larnach (2018).

• Rebuilding the bullpen looks like the biggest short-term need, and there are a number of intriguing arms behind Graterol and Balazovic who could emerge as impact relief options. Left-hander Taylor Rogers has stepped into the closer's role, and he'll be in his final year of arbitration in 2022.

Bryce HarperHunter Martin/Getty Images

Roster Outlook

2022 Lineup	2022 Pitching Staff
SS Jean Segura	SP Aaron Nola
RF Bryce Harper	SP Spencer Howard
3B Alec Bohm	SP Adonis Medina
1B Rhys Hoskins	SP Zach Eflin
CF Scott Kingery	SP Erik Miller (L)
LF Adam Haseley	CL Seranthony Dominguez
SS Bryson Stott
C Rafael Marchan

Farm System Rank: No. 15

Notable Free Agents

• 2019-20: OF Corey Dickerson, RP Tommy Hunter, RP Juan Nicasio, RP Nick Vincent, SP Drew Smyly, SP Jason Vargas ($8M option), RP Pat Neshek ($7M option)
  
• 2020-21: C J.T. Realmuto, 2B Cesar Hernandez, OF Jay Bruce, RP Blake Parker, SP Jake Arrieta ($20M option), RP David Robertson ($12M option)
  
• 2021-22: RP Hector Neris, RP Adam Morgan, SP Vincent Velasquez, 3B Maikel Franco, SP Jared Eickhoff, RF Andrew McCutchen ($15M option), CF Odubel Herrera ($12.5M option)
  

Notes

• After spending big last offseason, the Phillies will be counting on some of their top prospects to emerge as key contributors to help balance the payroll. Slugger Alec Bohm and right-hander Spencer Howard are the headliners in the system and could debut in 2020.

• The offense appears to be in excellent shape for the long haul, and don't count out 2016 No. 1 overall pick Mickey Moniak as a potential future contributor. Still just 21 years old, he's hitting .261/.315/.455 with 50 extra-base hits and 15 steals at Double-A.

• Aaron Nola needs to stay healthy and continue pitching at a frontline level with so many question marks behind him in the rotation. Francisco Morales, Enyel De Los Santos, JoJo Romero, David Parkinson and 2019 breakout lefty Damon Jones are among the other long-term rotation candidates.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo BichetteMark Blinch/Getty Images

Roster Outlook

2022 Lineup	2022 Pitching Staff
SS Bo Bichette	SP Nate Pearson
3B Jordan Groshans	SP Alek Manoah
LF Lourdes Gurriel Jr.	SP Anthony Kay (L)
1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.	SP Trent Thornton
RF Griffin Conine	SP Sean Reid-Foley
2B Cavan Biggio	CL Hector Perez
DH Randal Grichuk
C Danny Jansen
CF Chavez Young

Farm System Rank: No. 6

Notable Free Agents

• 2019-20: 1B Justin Smoak, SP Clay Buchholz, SP Clayton Richard
  
• 2020-21: RP Ken Giles, SP Matt Shoemaker
  
• 2021-22: RP Ryan Tepera, 2B Devon Travis
  

Notes

• The Blue Jays have welcomed Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (93 G, .809 OPS, 37 XBH), Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (79 G, .879 OPS, 39 XBH), Cavan Biggio (69 G, .706 OPS, 20 XBH) and Bo Bichette (20 G, 1.027 OPS, 17 XBH) into prominent roles this season, and all four look like long-term pieces.

• The hard-throwing Nate Pearson has emerged as one of the best pitching prospects in baseball. With a triple-digits fastball and a wipeout slider highlighting a polished four-pitch repertoire, he's posted a 2.15 ERA with 104 strikeouts in 83.2 innings while reaching Double-A this year. The 23-year-old has ace potential.

• Slugger Griffin Conine could be one of the steals of the 2018 draft as the 52nd pick. He's hitting .278/.353/.574 with 14 doubles and 20 home runs at Single-A. His development as well as the progression of the team's other top pitching prospects behind Pearson could determine how quickly the rebuild moves.

Eloy JimenezAlex Gallardo/Associated Press

Roster Outlook

2022 Lineup	2022 Pitching Staff
2B Nick Madrigal	SP Lucas Giolito
3B Yoan Moncada	SP Michael Kopech
RF Luis Robert	SP Dylan Cease
LF Eloy Jimenez	SP Reynaldo Lopez
1B Andrew Vaughn	SP Dane Dunning
SS Tim Anderson	CL Ian Hamilton
C Zack Collins
DH Jake Burger
CF Steele Walker

Farm System Rank: No. 7

Notable Free Agents

• 2019-20: 1B Jose Abreu, SP Ivan Nova, OF Jon Jay, C Welington Castillo ($8M option)
  
• 2020-21: RP Alex Colome, C James McCann, OF Leury Garcia, IF Ryan Goins, RP Kelvin Herrera ($10M option)
  
• 2021-22: SP Carlos Rodon, IF Yolmer Sanchez
  

Notes

• With Yoan Moncada turning in a breakout season, Eloy Jimenez just scratching the surface of his vast potential and Luis Robert knocking on the door with a huge season in the minors, the White Sox have the makings of a dynamic offensive core. Throw in first-round picks Nick Madrigal (2018) and Andrew Vaughn (2019), and this team could pile up runs.

• Everyone in the projected rotation was acquired via trade. After a trying 2018 season, Giolito has taken a huge step forward with a 3.41 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 182 strikeouts in 142.2 innings.

• Can Jake Burger get healthy? Can Zack Collins handle catching duties? Can the team's other young starters take Giolito-esque steps forward? Will the front office make another aggressive push in free agency like it did for Manny Machado? Those are among the questions that still need to be answered by the South Siders.

MacKenzie GoreHector Vivas/Getty Images

Roster Outlook

2022 Lineup	2022 Pitching Staff
CF Taylor Trammell	SP MacKenzie Gore (L)
SS Fernando Tatis Jr.	SP Chris Paddack
3B Manny Machado	SP Luis Patino
1B Eric Hosmer	SP Cal Quantrill
RF Hunter Renfroe	SP Joey Lucchesi (L)
LF Wil Myers	CL Andres Munoz
C Francisco Mejia
2B Luis Urias

Farm System Rank: No. 1

Notable Free Agents

• 2019-20: RP Craig Stammen, RP Adam Warren ($2.5M option), RP Aaron Loup ($2M option)
  
• 2020-21: RP Kirby Yates, RP Robbie Erlin, SP Garrett Richards, 2B Ian Kinsler ($3.5M option)
  
• 2021-22: OF Travis Jankowski, IF Greg Garcia
  

Notes

• Guys like outfielder Josh Naylor, middle infielder Xavier Edwards and catcher Luis Campusano are all top-100 prospect talents who will be ready for everyday roles by 2022. That could make the Padres major players on the trade market.

• Likewise, the projected rotation does not include Adrian Morejon, Ryan Weathers, Eric Lauer or Dinelson Lamet. Quality starting pitching depth is a necessity in today's game, but they should be able to dip into that crop of arms to pull off a major trade as well.

• Eric Hosmer ($21 million) and Wil Myers ($22.5 million) will be in the final guaranteed year of their contracts when the 2022 season arrives. Aside from Manny Machado's, those are the only contracts on the books beyond 2020.

Aaron JudgeMike Stobe/Getty Images

Roster Outlook

2022 Lineup	2022 Pitching Staff
CF Aaron Hicks	SP Luis Severino
RF Aaron Judge	SP Domingo German
DH Giancarlo Stanton	SP Deivi Garcia
C Gary Sanchez	SP Clarke Schmidt
1B Luke Voit	SP Roansy Contreras
SS Gleyber Torres	CL Luis Gil
3B Miguel Andujar
2B Gio Urshela
LF Mike Tauchman

Farm System Rank: No. 20

Notable Free Agents

• 2019-20: SS Didi Gregorius, SP CC Sabathia, RP Dellin Betances, OF Brett Gardner, OF Cameron Maybin, C Austin Romine
  
• 2020-21: SP Masahiro Tanaka, SP James Paxton, IF DJ LeMahieu, DH Edwin Encarnacion, OF Jacoby Ellsbury ($21M option)
  
• 2021-22: RP Aroldis Chapman, SP J.A. Happ, RP Adam Ottavino, RP Tommy Kahnle, RP Zack Britton ($14M option)
  

Notes

• Who would have guessed that Gio Urshela and Mike Tauchman would emerge as long-term pieces? There are certainly regression questions for both players, but it's fair to assume they are more than just flashes in the pan.

• Absent from the above roster is Clint Frazier, despite his team control through the 2023 season. A breakout season by Tauchman and the return of Aaron Hicks will again leave him without an everyday spot in the outfield. He seems destined to suit up elsewhere.

• The Yankees system is loaded with high-ceiling arms, and while Deivi Garcia has separated himself from the pack this year, there are a number of young pitchers capable of emerging as impact starters in the years to come.

Wander FrancoJason Miller/Getty Images

Roster Outlook

2022 Lineup	2022 Pitching Staff
2B Vidal Brujan	SP Tyler Glasnow
RF Austin Meadows	SP Blake Snell (L)
3B Wander Franco	SP Brendan McKay (L)
1B Nate Lowe	SP Yonny Chirinos
DH Yandy Diaz	SP Shane McClanahan (L)
LF Brandon Lowe	CL Emilio Pagan
C Ronaldo Hernandez
CF Kevin Kiermaier
SS Willy Adames

Farm System Rank: No. 2

Notable Free Agents

• 2019-20: IF Eric Sogard, OF Avisail Garcia, C Travis d'Arnaud
  
• 2020-21: C Mike Zunino, IF Matt Duffy
  
• 2021-22: SP Charlie Morton, OF Tommy Pham, RP Chaz Roe
  

Notes

• Will Wander Franco be the next uberprospect to arrive on the scene before his 20th birthday? He won't turn 19 until March, and he's already playing at High-A with a .322/.394/.487 line and 42 extra-base hits in 107 games over two levels. He's going to be special.

• With Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell and Brendan McKay seemingly locked in to rotation spots and prospects such as Shane McClanahan, Matthew Liberatore and Shane Baz rising, the days of Tampa Bay's regularly using an opener could be numbered.

• Brandon Lowe was locked up long-term during the offseason, so how will all the pieces fit? Franco, Vidal Brujan and Willy Adames could be in the mix for starting infield jobs by 2022, which could push Lowe to left field, where he spent some time in 2018.

Walker BuehlerMichael Reaves/Getty Images

Roster Outlook

2022 Lineup	2022 Pitching Staff
LF Alex Verdugo	SP Walker Buehler
SS Gavin Lux	SP Dustin May
RF Cody Bellinger	SP Julio Urias (L)
2B Max Muncy	SP Kenta Maeda
3B Will Smith	SP Josiah Gray
1B Kody Hoese	CL Mitchell White
CF A.J. Pollock
C Keibert Ruiz

Farm System Rank: No. 8

Notable Free Agents

• 2019-20: SP Hyun-Jin Ryu, SP Rich Hill, IF David Freese, C Russell Martin, IF Jedd Gyorko ($13M option)
  
• 2020-21: 3B Justin Turner, OF Joc Pederson, RP Pedro Baez
  
• 2021-22: SP Clayton Kershaw, SS Corey Seager, RP Kenley Jansen, UT Chris Taylor, RP Joe Kelly ($12M option)
  

Notes

• Not many teams could be slated to lose the likes of Clayton Kershaw, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Justin Turner, Corey Seager, Joc Pederson and Kenley Jansen and still have such a bright outlook. The Dodgers have done a terrific job in both the draft and on the international free-agent market to build a strong foundation.

• The biggest X-factor might be Dustin May. While Walker Buehler looks like the ace of the staff going forward, someone will need to step into that No. 2 starter role, especially if Kershaw decides to call it quits or signs elsewhere after the 2021 season.

• The answer to the Will Smith vs. Keibert Ruiz debate might wind up being "both." Smith can serve as the primary catcher until Ruiz is ready to take over and then move into a super-utility role before replacing Justin Turner at the hot corner after the 2020 season. There's a reason the Dodgers place such a high value on versatility.

Ronald Acuna Jr.Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

Roster Outlook

2022 Lineup	2022 Pitching Staff
LF Drew Waters	SP Mike Soroka
CF Cristian Pache	SP Ian Anderson
RF Ronald Acuna Jr.	SP Max Fried (L)
3B Austin Riley	SP Kyle Wright
2B Ozzie Albies	SP Kyle Muller (L)
1B Greyson Jenista	CL Touki Toussaint
SS Dansby Swanson
C William Contreras

Farm System Rank: No. 4

Notable Free Agents

• 2019-20: 3B Josh Donaldson, SP Dallas Keuchel, C Brian McCann, OF Matt Joyce, RP Josh Tomlin, RP Chris Martin, RP Anthony Swarzak, RP Jerry Blevins, RP Darren O'Day
  
• 2020-21: SP Julio Teheran, RF Nick Markakis, C Tyler Flowers, RP Shane Greene, RP Mark Melancon
  
• 2021-22: 1B Freddie Freeman, SP Mike Foltynewicz, IF Charlie Culberson, OF Adam Duvall, CF Ender Inciarte ($9M option)
  

Notes

• With so many young, cost-controlled players filling major roles, the Braves have a ton of money to spend. That makes it a safe bet that Freddie Freeman will be around beyond the 2021 season when his contract expires, but again, we're not making any assumptions.

• William Contreras looked like the clear-cut catcher of the future before the team drafted Baylor standout Shea Langeliers with the ninth pick in this year's draft. That will be something to monitor in the upcoming years. Atlanta will also still have slugger Alex Jackson as an option behind the dish.

• Mike Soroka was the first pitcher to emerge from a loaded farm system to establish himself as a rotation staple. Who will join him? Ian Anderson, Kyle Wright and Kyle Muller are top-tier options still down on the farm, while others like Bryse Wilson and Touki Toussaint are trying to break through. It's a good problem to have.

All stats accurate through Monday and courtesy of Baseball Reference and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted.