MLB Preview Roundtable: 2024 sleepers, awards and predictions
A yr in the past this time, practically anybody predicted that the Orioles would win 101 video games, that the Marlins would emerge as a playoff crew or that the season would finish with the Rangers beating the Diamondbacks within the World Series. Even every week in the past, who would have believed that MLB can be investigating numerous betting-related allegations surrounding Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter?
All of which to say, in the midst of 162 video games, a lot of what we expect we learn about baseball can shift. Just if you suppose what’s coming, the game tends to shock – and it’s with that data in thoughts that we ask our Sportsnet baseball writers to look forward.
With Opening Day approaching, we flip to our panel for his or her ideas on the most important storylines forward of the 2024 season plus predictions on who will make the playoffs and which gamers are finest positioned to win main awards.
Let’s get began:
Few predicted which groups can be the final ones standing in 2024. We’re a great distance from the World Series, however what’s one crew that’s not getting sufficient consideration proper now?
Jeff Blair
The Dodgers appeared to signal all people – and the gamers they didn’t signal ended up with the Giants. The Diamondbacks went to the World Series. No one’s speaking concerning the Padres – besides me.
Ben Nicholson-Smith
For me, it’s the Tigers. In a division with no clear favorite, there’s a chance and I believe the Tigers, with their rising younger core and mixture of strong veterans, are poised to grab it. Spencer Torkelson, Riley Greene and Tarik Skubal ought to determine prominently on the Tigers’ subsequent contender whereas veterans like Mark Canha, Kenta Maeda and Gio Urshela would assist deepen any roster. I see 85-win potential, which is to say they may very well be on this till the top.
Shi Davidi
There are numerous candidates right here as a result of it actually does really feel like that is the Dodgers’ world and we’re all simply residing in it, however let’s go along with the San Diego Padres. Yes, even after they traded Juan Soto and Blake Snell left in free company, even with the Dodgers turning into their very own photo voltaic system, even because the Diamondbacks and Giants each beefed up. New supervisor Mike Shildt is altering the vibes there, Bogaerts, Tatis, Cronenworth, Machado and Kim make for a frightening lineup gauntlet, Darvish, whereas Musgrove and King have been a strong place to begin for the rotation after which the relentless A.J. Preller made a sneaky spring deal so as to add Dylan Cease. This Padres crew has a pathway to being extra like what final yr’s hyped group was speculated to be.
Arden Zwelling
The Seattle Mariners are already working out a one-two-three of their rotation nearly as good as any in baseball; if Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo can construct on the promise they demonstrated in 2023, you’ve obtained a harmful post-season crew on pitching alone. This winter’s underrated additions of Jorge Polanco and Mitch Garver additional construct out a strong supporting combine — J.P. Crawford and Cal Raleigh have been practically five-win gamers in 2023 — round MVP candidate Julio Rodriguez. And the bullpen’s succesful sufficient to succeed in the commerce deadline when it may be cheaply strengthened. The Mariners may simply fiddle and win the AL West.
David Singh
I answered the Braves final yr and I’m sticking with them once more. I nonetheless suppose they get overshadowed by the Dodgers within the NL regardless of having a scary, deep lineup that may mash with anyone.
Shohei Ohtani on the Dodgers ought to be fairly compelling. Which gamers (if any) are you extra intrigued to look at in 2024?
Shi Davidi
Only amid the seismic aftershocks from the winter of Ohtani may Juan Soto within the Bronx be comparatively relegated to the sidelines within the baseball order. But Soto batting forward of Aaron Judge and getting on base 40 per cent of the time ought to be must-see stuff, forming one of the crucial intimidating duos in latest recollections, akin to peak David Ortiz/Manny Ramirez.
David Singh
Juan Soto. He’s taking part in for a contract and possesses a character that’s tailored for New York. Add in the truth that he’ll be hitting forward of Aaron Judge and also you’ve obtained a man seemingly destined for a monster MVP marketing campaign.
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Jeff Blair
Shohei Ohtani is the topic of extra official MLB investigations (1) than he’s hit regular-season homers in a Dodgers uniform. Tough to be extra compelling. But should you’re going to insist … I’m truly extra intrigued along with his teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto and his transition to North America. And I believe he’ll even have an even bigger say in how far the Dodgers go in 2024. Oh yeah: I hate to do that to you, Blue Jays followers, however I can’t wait to see Jackson Holliday stand up right here. The Orioles are flat-out enjoyable and – shh! – may even be likable. Oh for the times of Buck Showalter reinventing the sport each different inning and scowling at Gibby and Stro …
Ben Nicholson-Smith
Probably nobody, as a result of even in a yr that he doesn’t pitch I may see Ohtani setting a profession excessive in dwelling runs or stolen bases. But if anybody can come near Ohtani, it’d be a rookie. I may see Wyatt Langford hitting 30 dwelling runs, or Paul Skenes rising as a frontline arm only one yr after being drafted or Jackson Holliday hitting .310 towards big-league pitching. As a fan of the game, any of these storylines can be fairly enjoyable to observe.
Arden Zwelling
The Norfolk Tides — Baltimore’s triple-A crew — must be a reasonably enjoyable watch. Julio Rodriguez may take one other step, go 40-40, and win MVP. Tarik Skubal sat 97 this spring whereas touchdown a number of secondaries for strikes — if he stays wholesome, he’s going to be a beast. And Spencer Strider with a brand new curveball may simply strike out 300.
MLB’s rule modifications have been an enormous success in 2023. What different improvements would profit the game transferring ahead? Or is it time to gradual the tempo of change for a bit?
Jeff Blair
I hate myself for it, however I’ve change into a fan of the in-game problem system for balls and strikes.
Shi Davidi
I noticed the ABS problem system in motion a few occasions final yr and … I believe I prefer it? I don’t love the concept of going totally automated for balls and strikes behind the plate however letting groups query a sketchy name at a pivotal second appears affordable to me. Not certain what the candy spot is for the variety of challenges every crew will get, however I don’t hate the concept of 1 per inning, retained for the body if proper.
Arden Zwelling
Bring us the ABS problem system however as an alternative of three challenges per crew per sport, give every place participant one problem per sport, and every pitcher two per outing with the chance to earn a 3rd by finishing three innings. Get it proper and you keep the problem; get confirmed fallacious and lose it. We don’t want totally automated balls and strikes — however we do want a method to counteract a number of the extra egregiously misjudged calls.
Ben Nicholson-Smith
I perceive this is able to be a tricky promote to homeowners, and I’m not predicting it occurs any time quickly, however there’s a powerful case to be made for shortening the MLB season slightly at any time when the league expands to 32 groups. I imply, should you have been drawing this all up from scratch, it’s arduous to think about you’d select 162, proper? It’s… so many video games. Seeing the journey up shut, typically I’m amazed they really play each single one. But no, not even a Monday evening sport in Kansas City slips by means of the cracks. They simply maintain taking part in.
If the league went again to 154 video games over the identical six-month interval, we’d nonetheless see simply as a lot of Spencer Strider, Zack Wheeler and MLB’s aces, however there can be fewer bullpen video games and fewer days the place your complete crew’s jetlagged and working on Red Bull. Baseball’s a bulk sport and at all times shall be. And it’s nice, let’s be clear on that. I’m simply suggesting a slight pivot towards high quality over amount.
David Singh
Slow the tempo of change for now. I do know numerous informal followers are nonetheless attempting to maintain up with the latest modifications, so let’s give it a while earlier than introducing extra.
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Let’s hear a baseball-related sizzling take you half-believe for 2024.
Ben Nicholson-Smith
MLB ought to implement a draft forcing top-seeded playoff groups to decide on their opponents. Also, MLB ought to construct variability to its schedule so there’s baseball on TV extra recurrently through the day, and fewer Saturdays the place the primary sport begins at 4 p.m. ET. Locally, groups and TV networks would object, however massive image it’d be good for the sport’s progress.
David Singh
Yoshinobu Yamamoto struggles in his first yr, Tyler Glasnow will get injured once more and the Dodgers fail to seize the AL West crown.
Jeff Blair
This is the yr the Tampa Bay Rays run out of the pixie mud they maintain within the secret lab within the basement of the Trop.
Shi Davidi
Not certain how sizzling this take is, however ultimately we’ll hint again nonetheless the subsequent CBA in baseball ends as much as the present tumult throughout the MLBPA. The gamers must get this straightened out stat as a result of the subsequent set of negotiations are the final for commissioner Rob Manfred, whose contract expires in January 2029, and he may very properly go for broke in a legacy-capping deal.
Arden Zwelling
The Kansas City Royals will end above .500 and narrowly miss the postseason.
PLAYOFFS
Arden Zwelling
AL: Orioles, Twins, Mariners, Astros*, Yankees*, Rangers*
NL: Atlanta, Cubs, Dodgers, Phillies*, Giants*, Reds*
World Series: Mariners > Phillies
Jeff Blair
AL: Orioles, Twins, Rangers, Yankees*, Astros* and … Kevin Barker’s Toronto Blue Jays!!*
NL: Atlanta, Cubs, Dodgers, Phillies*, Diamondbacks*, Padres*
World Series: Atlanta > Astros
Shi Davidi
AL: Rays, Twins, Astros, Orioles*, Blue Jays*, Mariners*
NL: Atlanta, Cubs, Dodgers, Phillies*, Padres*, Diamondbacks*
World Series: Atlanta > Rays
Ben Nicholson-Smith
AL: Yankees, Twins, Mariners, Orioles*, Astros*, Blue Jays*
NL: Atlanta, Cubs, Dodgers, Phillies*, Padres*, Giants*
World Series: Atlanta > Yankees
David Singh
AL: Orioles, Twins, Astros, *Mariners, *Rays, *Yankees
NL: Atlanta, Cardinals, Diamondbacks, *Dodgers, *Phillies, *Cubs
World Series: Atlanta > Orioles
AWARDS
Shi Davidi
AL MVP: Juan Soto
AL Cy Young: Kevin Gausman
AL Rookie of the Year: Evan Carter
NL MVP: Mookie Betts
NL Cy Young: Zack Wheeler
NL Rookie of the Year: Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Ben Nicholson-Smith
AL MVP: Julio Rodriguez
AL Cy: Luis Castillo
AL Rookie of the Year: Wyatt Langford
NL MVP: Fernando Tatis Jr.
NL Cy: Spencer Strider
NL Rookie of the Year: Paul Skenes
Arden Zwelling
AL MVP: Kyle Tucker
AL Cy Young: George Kirby
AL Rookie of the Year: Evan Carter
NL MVP: Austin Riley
NL Cy Young: Spencer Strider
NL Rookie of the Year: Yoshinobu Yamamoto
David Singh
AL MVP: Juan Soto
AL Cy Young: Corbin Burnes
AL Rookie of the Year: Jackson Holliday
NL MVP: Ronald Acuña Jr.
NL Cy Young: Spencer Strider
NL Rookie of the Year: Jung Hoo Lee
Jeff Blair
AL MVP: Adley Rutschman
AL Cy Young: Kevin Gausman
AL Rookie of the Year: Evan Carter
NL MVP: Ronald Acuna Jr.
NL Cy Young: Zack Wheeler
NL Rookie of the Year: Jackson Merrill
