19.Los Angeles Angels – Another year, another waste of the best player in baseball’s prime. The Angels have failed to build a successful team around Mike Trout, and have seen their playoff chances diminish each year because of it. This year, however, Garrett Richards is back, Matt Shoemaker is ready to build off of a strong finish last season, and Tyler Skaggs is fully healed from Tommy John surgery. The Angels have a good team, but their success is relying on their ability to stay healthy. Something that is easier said than done for most.
18. Detroit Tigers – It feels like the Tigers have been one of the best teams in baseball for years now, yet they haven’t done anything with it. Last year they rode on the backs of Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera down the stretch but failed to make the playoffs for the second straight season. Their playoff chances in 2017 will rely on the success of their two biggest free agent signings last offseason, Justin Upton and Jordan Zimmerman.
17. Colorado Rockies – Had it not been for a recent slew of injuries, I may have considered the Rockies surprise contenders. With Ian Desmond, David Dahl, and Tom Murphy expected to miss an undisclosed amount of time, I don’t see them competing in the NL West just yet. With Arenado, Story, Blackmon, and Gonzalez leading a stacked offense, who knows? The Rockies may still manage to surprise people.
16. Kansas City Royals – The 2015 World Champs have got to be the hardest team to place on this list. They have the talent to make it to the World Series for the third time in four years. They also have the uncertainty that could land them in the cellar of the AL Central. They didn’t do much to improve their team this offseason, and the loss of Yordano Ventura will loom large, but the Royals still remain a middle of the pack team entering the season.
15. New York Yankees – I’m a full believer of the next dynasty. The prospects that Cashman has brought in are not far off, and ready to ignite some excitement on this team for years to come. However, for 2017, the Yankees sit in the middle of the pack. They have the talent to be a Wild Card contender, but health is a huge issue in all areas of the roster. Tanaka’s elbow, CC’s knee, Ellsbury’s, well, everything, you name it. The risks are always there, but if everyone can stay healthy, the Yankees may be competing in the AL East sooner than most expect.
14. Baltimore Orioles – Chicks dig the long ball, and the Orioles have been hitting homers at historic rates the past couple of seasons. Unfortunately, that’s about all they’ve been doing. Their bullpen is superb, but they lack the starting pitching to go deep into games. However, when you’re hitting the ball out of the park the way they do, it’s hard not to at least win some games.
13. Toronto Blue Jays – The shift in dynamic came out of nowhere for the Jays. A team known for their stacked offense and non-existent starting pitching is now one of the most well-rounded teams in baseball. They lost Encarnacion, but Bautista and Donaldson will surely carry the offense. Aaron Sanchez, Marcus Stroman, and J.A. Happ headline a very good starting rotation, with Roberto Osuna finishing games off in the ninth.
12. Seattle Mariners – What haven’t the Mariners done this offseason? After missing the playoffs by just three games last year, the front office has been the most active this offseason, noticeably improving an already impressive team. Jean Segura joins Cano, Cruz, and Seager on offense, while Drew Smyly helps bolster the rotation. On top of their stacked lineup, the Mariners also have huge breakout potential in James Paxton and Mitch Haniger. If King Felix and Iwakuma can put together bounce back seasons, the Mariners could be a very interesting team in 2017.
11. St. Louis Cardinals – Per usual, the Cardinals enter the season as one of the best teams in baseball. However, their rotation depth took a big hit with the loss of Alex Reyes for the entire season. No one knows what they’re going to get with Michael Wacha, and the Adam Wainwright of old appears to be long gone. They’re a team with a ton of question marks, but until everything hits the fan, the Cardinals should still be able to compete in the NL West.