Now that Bryce Harper has a team, it’s time to unveil 2019 spring training MLB power rankings. There are still more notable free agents yet to sign—like Craig Kimbrel and Dallas Keuchel—but this is currently where each team stands with less than a month to go until the start of the season. I’ll have another set of power rankings before Opening Day on March 28.
1. Boston Red Sox
The defending champs didn’t make a bunch of offseason additions, but they were able to re-sign Nathan Eovaldi to help keep together one of the deepest starting pitching staffs in baseball. The lineup is excellent both offensively and defensively, and the bullpen is the lone question mark for the team. Perhaps they’ll swing back around and re-sign Craig Kimbrel to bolster the pen, but it doesn’t seem likely.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers
Adding centerfielder A.J. Pollock and reliever Joe Kelly (formerly of the Red Sox) were key moves that clearly improved the Dodgers for 2019. They weren’t able to convince Bryce Harper to sign on a short-term deal, but LA still looks like the obvious favorites in the National League after making the World Series the last two seasons. The Dodgers will drop in the rankings before the season if Clayton Kershaw isn’t healthy by then.
3. New York Yankees
The Yankees were never seriously in on either of the top two free agents, which was a bit of a surprise—they might be waiting for Mike Trout to become a free agent in two years, but I wouldn’t count on him going anywhere but Philadelphia if he leaves LA. As is the case with all 30 teams, the Bronx Bombers must stay healthy this spring, as they have a roster that’s been injury-prone in the past.
4. Houston Astros
Especially with Lance McCuller’s Jr. out for the year because of Tommy John, the Astros would be more formidable if they were to re-sign Dallas Kuechel. The lineup and defense did improve this offseason, as Michael Brantley was one of the most undervalued additions in the last several months. Houston should be one of the AL favorites when the regular season begins.
5. Chicago Cubs
It doesn’t seem like anyone is talking about the Cubs this spring, which would probably be good if it stays that way entering the regular season. Yu Darvish, who might be the biggest wild-card in the majors, having a solid spring to avoid criticism would go a long way in keeping Chicago under-the-radar.
6. Philadelphia Phillies
After adding Bryce Harper, the Phillies are not going to be able to stay out of the headlines, but the roster should be able to handle it. On paper, there isn’t a team that’s improved more this offseason: Harper, J.T. Realmuto, Jean Segura, Andrew McCutchen, David Robertson. They’re apparently the first team in MLB history to add three All-Stars from the previous season, and that doesn’t include a former NL MVP in McCutchen.
7. Washington Nationals
While it might be a stretch to say they are better without Harper, the Nationals should remain very competitive in 2019. The Nats beat the Phillies in the bidding war for lefty starter Patrick Corbin, who helps give Washington an elite trio with Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg.
8. Milwaukee Brewers
Some believe the Brewers’ red-hot end to the season and deep postseason run in 2018 was a fluke, but they are a very good all-around team that’ll remain in the mix in 2019. A big thing the Brewers have going for them is that they’re a tight clubhouse, so this new roster—which added Yasmani Grandal—will look to rebuild that camaraderie this spring.
9. Atlanta Braves
It happened early in free agency, so the move can be forgotten about easily, but Atlanta’s signing of former AL MVP Josh Donaldson was huge. The powerful third baseman clearly strengthens the middle of the Braves lineup while also lengthening it.
10. St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals made a big addition of their own, acquiring Paul Goldschmidt from the Diamondbacks—it’s a move that works for a conservative franchise because Goldschmidt is a steady producer. Acquiring nasty left-handed reliever Andrew Miller in free agency was also huge. Dexter Fowler’s position switch from center field to right field is something to watch this spring.
11. Oakland Athletics
Jurickson Profar popped 20 homers for the Rangers last season, and acquiring him as a shrewd move by Billy Beane to keep second base shored up after parting ways with Jed Lowrie. It’s good for Oakland to hear that Khris Davis (133 homers the last three seasons) wants to remain with the team for years.
12. Cleveland Indians
With an excellent starting pitching staff and a couple of superstars in Jose Ramirez and Francisco Lindor in the lineup, this might be too low for the Indians. However, the team lost Michael Brantley and Andrew Miller, so more guys must step up this spring. Getting Carlos Santana back after he spent last season in Philadelphia was a nice move.
13. Colorado Rockies
Getting Nolan Arenado locked up for eight more seasons is awesome for the Rockies, and they might take the good feelings of retaining their franchise player through the spring and into the start of the season. Ian Desmond is back in center field, allowing new addition Daniel Murphy to play first base—I like the move, as Desmond still has the speed and arm to play really well out there at 33 years old.
14. Los Angeles Angels
If Shohei Ohtani was 100% and able to be on the mound after a stellar rookie year before his injury, the Angels might be in the top ten of the power rankings. Obviously, the starting pitching staff is the huge question mark for the Angels this spring leading up to March 28.
15. Tampa Bay Rays
While unconventional with the starting pitching and the use of “openers,” Kevin Cash did an outstanding job with the Rays last season. I understand some might not believe they’ll repeat with another 90-win season, but the team’s pitching improved by adding Charlie Morton to the staff.
16. New York Mets
The top four teams in the NL East improved this offseason, and the Mets might’ve made the safest moves of the bunch. They’d be higher in the rankings if their division didn’t look so tough, as they look like the clear fourth-best team after Philadelphia added Harper.
17. Minnesota Twins
The Twins took a step back last season, but they battled to a respectable 78-84 record. The retirement of franchise great Joe Mauer could really hurt the clubhouse, and new manager Rocco Baldelli will look to make his mark on the guys. Minnesota is an interesting team this spring.
18. San Diego Padres
Defensively, there might not be a better infield in the majors than the Padres after they added Manny Machado. The former Oriole and Dodger will be more important at the plate for San Diego, though, as they need to make major strides offensively after they finished 27th in runs scored in 2018.
19. Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh has a nice lineup and one of the best managers in baseball in Clint Hurdle, but the pitching staff is the big question mark. There are many options though, so the spring will give guys the opportunity to compete and carve out roles entering the season.
20. San Francisco Giants
The Giants were one of the three finalists for Bryce Harper, and his presence would’ve been a huge boost for a team looking to get back to competing in October. Madison Bumgarner delivered the quote of the offseason (via text) when he told manager Bruce Bochy, “If you’re using an opener in my game, I’m walking right out of the ballpark.”
21. Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks are clearly in a rebuild after trading Paul Goldschmidt to the Cardinals, but it won’t be a huge surprise if they surprise people. The pitching staff led by Zack Greinke, for as long as he remains in Arizona, must carry the team.
22. Cincinnati Reds
The Reds lineup became more potent after bringing over Yaisel Puig and Matt Kemp in a trade with the Dodgers, and the team also made good additions to the pitching staff including Sonny Gray and Tanner Roark. If he’s not traded, I expect Kemp will become close to an every-day player for the start of the season.
23. Texas Rangers
No Adrian Beltre is a big loss for the Rangers and the sport, and it’s difficult to see Texas making the playoffs in a tough American League. The Rangers might have to outslug people, but the re-made pitching staff is intriguing.
24. Seattle Mariners
Yusei Kikuchi isn’t getting a ton of hype up in the Northwest with the Mariners, but he appears to be adjusting well to the MLB thus far in spring training. Seattle mixed the roster up after they fell apart in the second half of 2018, but the team won 89 games last season.
25. Detroit Tigers
Miguel Cabrera just homered in spring training (his first home run since last April), and it’s good to see him healthy and back on the field. It’s unlikely Cabrera can carry the Tigers after they were close to 100 losses in 2018.
26. Kansas City Royals
The Royals finished last season on a 17-13 stretch, so maybe they’ll carry some of that momentum into this season. They have a great manager in Ned Yost, but catcher Salvador Perez looks like he’ll be out for the year with Tommy John likely.
27. Chicago White Sox
The White Sox dabbled in the Machado sweepstakes, but they weren’t willing to go as high as the Padres did with $300 million. The future is still bright for the team as they get their farm system up into the big leagues, so the development of young players in the organization is key this spring.
28. Toronto Blue Jays
Playing in a division with the Red Sox and Yankees makes things tougher on the Blue Jays, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will be fun to watch all spring before he’s sent back down to the minors for a few weeks to open the regular season.
29. Miami Marlins
The Marlins exceeded expectations last season, but they aren’t likely to take any big step forward in 2019, especially after trading their best player (J.T. Realmuto) to the division-rival Phillies.
30. Baltimore Orioles
After losing 115 games last season, the Orioles aren’t going to win many games this season either. The power rankings end with a plea for some organization to sign Adam Jones, even if it’s a return to a poor Orioles team.
Bryce will become a winner with the Phillies. Smart move!
Nope.