Congratulations, you’ve made it to 2024. Baseball is that uncommon skilled sport that takes place solely in a single calendar yr. So, in case you had been sad with how 2023 went to your group, that’s all up to now. And in case you had been blissful … properly, now you get to cheer to your group to go do it once more.
What higher option to flip the calendar web page than with our first Energy Rankings of 2024. There are many strikes nonetheless left to be made earlier than Spring Coaching, however the largest names, these two Japanese superstars, have signed with, in fact, the identical group. However simply because the Dodgers have added Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow doesn’t make them No. 1 atop these rankings.
Listed here are the inaugural 2024 MLB.com Energy Rankings. We now all get to start out another time.
1) Braves Nevertheless excited you might or might not be in regards to the additions of Chris Sale from the Purple Sox and Jarred Kelenic from the Mariners, our voters didn’t overcomplicate issues: The group with the perfect file (by far) in 2023 tops the Energy Rankings to kick off 2024. And why not? They nonetheless have the MVP in Ronald Acuña Jr. They nonetheless have Matt Olson, Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies following him within the order. They nonetheless have a terrific rotation they usually nonetheless have, properly, they nonetheless have nearly all people again from a group that gained 104 video games in 2023. This can be a group that’s constructed to win proper now. And win, with out query, is one thing they may do very a lot of in 2024.
2) DodgersThere is a way, each inside baseball and out, that the Dodgers are by some means indestructible now that they’ve signed the perfect baseball participant on the earth and introduced in two top-shelf beginning pitchers. However that is nonetheless a group, for all its success, that has gained as many World Collection within the final 35 years because the Reds, Royals, Nationals and D-backs. The Dodgers should not have titles as some form of birthright. The group’s urgency to win a Collection that didn’t happen within the truncated 2020 season is without doubt one of the main causes they’ve been so aggressive this offseason. This group desires to win a World Collection as badly as its latest celebrity Ohtani does. They’ve spent a whole bunch of thousands and thousands of {dollars} to attempt to get one. However as dozens of different groups in baseball historical past can inform you, that ensures completely nothing.
3) RangersAnd right here we discover the defending champs, not solely nestling in at No. 3 within the rankings, however No. 1 within the American League. Does this imply the Rangers are favorites to return to the World Collection? Studying that Max Scherzer gained’t be again till midseason was a setback, but when the Rangers can keep afloat till then, they’ll not solely have him, they’ll have Jacob deGrom, too. And staying afloat shouldn’t be an excessive amount of of an issue: Corey Seager appears primed for an MVP-caliber season. With Ohtani within the different league, is Seager the early favourite for 2024 AL MVP? They usually’ll get a full season from postseason hero Evan Carter who, amazingly, continues to be solely 21 years previous (he gained’t flip 22 till August). The Rangers will get to hoist their first World Collection banner on Opening Day this yr. However there can be loads of 2024 highlights apart from that one to return.
4) OriolesThe common consensus was that the Orioles could be in on a minimum of a number of the prime beginning pitchers in the marketplace this offseason, however then once more, that was the overall consensus on the Commerce Deadline, too, and it didn’t prove that means. Craig Kimbrel stays the one main addition for the Orioles, and whereas there’s nonetheless time left for the range to stay sizzling, it definitely doesn’t really feel just like the Orioles are about to make an enormous transfer. That could be irritating to Orioles followers, however that is the place we remind you that this group gained 101 video games final yr and is about to herald Jackson Holliday, the consensus favourite for AL Rookie of the 12 months. The Orioles may nonetheless use some pitching, we expect. However even when they don’t add any, they is perhaps even higher than they had been of their breakthrough 2023 season.
5) PhilliesThere continues to be a bit of a part of us that may’t imagine the Phillies didn’t make the World Collection final yr. It was all arrange for them: It felt like a fait accompli. Alas, two ugly losses to the D-backs ended all that, so now the Phillies are loading again up on veterans, getting the band again collectively and making one other run at it. They haven’t added anybody, however not dropping Aaron Nola counts as an enormous win by itself. It seems like a bullpen arm or two are coming, and you recognize they’re lurking on the perimeters of a number of free-agent signings. This group received so shut final yr. It’s clear they’re as motivated as anybody on this record to get again there once more in 2024.
The remainder of the sector of 30:
6. Astros7. Rays8. Yankees9. D-backs10. Blue Jays11. Mariners12. Mets13. Cubs14. Brewers15. Reds16. Padres17. Twins18. Cardinals19. Purple Sox20. Tigers21. Marlins22. Giants23. Guardians24. Angels25. Royals26. Pirates27. White Sox28. Nationals29. Rockies30. A’s
Voters: Will Leitch, Alyson Footer, Anthony Castrovince, Paul Casella, Mark Feinsand, Nathalie Alonso, Arturo Pardavila, Andrew Simon, David Venn, Sweeny Murti, Travis Miller
