While the Los Angeles Dodgers are already making themselves favorites to repeat as Major League champions, other teams are threatening enough to dethrone them coming into this season. That includes two teams you didn't see play in October last season. A series of offseason transactions involving critical departures and new arrivals is expected to change the course of this Major League season. Trades and signings to keep these teams in the World Series forecast or bring them to it.
Los Angeles Dodgers
There hasn't been a repeat World Series champion since 2000 when the New York Yankees did a three-peat. The Los Angeles Dodgers were the last team to play in the World Series in consecutive seasons from 2017 through 2018, with the signing of two-time CY Young Award winner Blake Snell to team up with two other hot-hand pitchers in Tyler Glasnow and Shohei Ohtani. The Dodgers have a killer rotation for opposing batters. Other veterans like Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and Teoscar Hernandez still have some left in the tank to keep the Dodgers in shape for a possible repeat.
Together, the defending world champions have abundant wisdom with heavy artillery they can rely on for another run through another season quest to earn another World Series title. They come into this season as the most talent-rich roster in Major League Baseball. They could be much more dangerous than last year when Ohtani was batting and pitching again. The best player in Major League Baseball is set to return to the mound and take names while he's on it.
New York Mets
Watching them make an appearance at the NLCS last year and forcing the mighty Dodgers to go six games with them was stunning after being expected not to be seen in the postseason last year. Bringing on board megastar Juan Soto, along with other superb signings like Clay Holmes and Jose Siri, only boosts their World Series stock close to the clouds, along with their mixture of aging veterans and young budding stars, giving this Mets team a blend of excitement and experience.
Their shocking playoff knockouts of the Phillies and the Braves and the upgrade offseason transactions are clear signs that they can beat the best teams in the National League. They will try to prove that again with one of the biggest baseball superstars this time, Juan Soto. This World Series experienced hero can contribute to this ballclub the same way he did for the Nationals, Padres, and Yankees.
Philadelphia Phillies
Who is the most talented team in the MLB that isn't named the Dodgers? Your answer is correct if you responded with the Phillies. A future Hall of Fame batter in, Bryce Harper, with other stars like shortstop Trea Turner, designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, right fielder Nick Castellanos, and catcher J.T. Realmuto following his lead. Also, they may have arguably the best pitcher in the National League, Zack Wheeler. The addition of ex-Minnesota Twin Max Kepler adds an extra bat to a team that hits the baseball better than nearly every other team in the Majors—one of the few teams in baseball that can deliver homers at will. The only thing that holds them back from making a deep playoff run is stopping home runs from happening against them.
As solid as Zack Wheeler is, he can't complete that task by himself. I would look at their situation this way. They are what the Dodgers used to be a couple of years ago. There is so much postseason disappointment to endure despite being the most talent-stacked in all of baseball every year. After all the frustration, they persevered and finally won it all in 2020 and then again last year. That's all the Phillies need to do: just keep playing baseball the best way they always have, but a little better than before. Something's always got to give.
Atlanta Braves
During the past few seasons, the Braves, dating back to their World Series banner year of 2021, have shown that they can play ball with the best of them, with or without their key players. Ronald Acuna or no Ronald Acuna, they are still the Atlanta Braves. Numerous times last season, I have watched them finish games in championship style with superb pitching and tremendous on-base prevention. Their roster shares speed, strength, tenacity, and resilience. A combination that will always sustain them as one of the most dangerous teams in baseball.
Their competitive nature and ability to adjust through tough times keep them in the race for the trophy. With Chris Sale projected to deliver another Cy Young-worthy season, Ozzie Albies continuing to be one of the most dynamic second basemen in the game, and Ronald Acuna Jr. is scheduled to return by May. The Braves are more likely to approach this season with a slow and steady mindset that helped the tortoise beat the hare.
Arizona Diamondbacks
It's not just the acquisition of Cy Young Award-winning pitcher Corbin Burnes that has brought the Diamondbacks back to World Series contention. Also, the acquisition of all-star first baseman Josh Naylor from the Guardians adds to an already powerful batting lineup. That same lineup is headed by one of the game's youngest and brightest stars, Corbin Carroll. Like Baltimore's Gunnar Henderson and Pittsburgh's Paul Skenes, Carroll is among the best of the best on the Major League's all-under-25 team if they were to have one. He, Naylor, and Ketel Marte are expected to become one of the most dominant hitting trios in the Major League this season.
That, with veteran pitchers Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Kevin Ginkel, A.J. Puk, and Justin Martinez to help relieve Burnes, should sustain Arizona's dominant pitching. What hurts their chance of a possible shot at the World Series this season is them sharing the same league and division with the Dodgers and Padres. But after all, this is the same squad that won it all just two seasons ago that now has a few upgrades while keeping the same 2021 formula.
Boston Red Sox
You may already know from mentioning this team in this article that my pick is to take the top spot in the American League East division by the end of this regular season. This is undoubtedly considered an upset prediction and, to most, a longshot pick over the Yankees and Orioles. But, after beefing up their pitching rotation and signing Alex Bregman to boost their offense. The Red Sox are perfectly built to leapfrog New York and Baltimore for the AL East title.
The Blue Jays can also make noise in the East after a hardworking offseason. But the Red Sox now have a solid defense to fend off any opposing offense in baseball, including Toronto's fun offense. It's a loaded pitching unit with new members that include Aroldis Chapman, Walker Buehler, Garrett Crochet, Patrick Sandoval, Justin Wilson, and Cam Booser. The hitting duo of Alex Bregman and Rafael Devers should be one of the most efficient duos in all of baseball this season and maybe beyond.
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