2024 Pre-Season Profile: Los Angeles Angels

 #16

The Los Angeles Angels have been one of the most disappointing franchises over the last decade.  Now they've lost one of their two generational superstars.  Could they possibly be better without him in 2024?

2023 Predictions

#20 - 4th in AL West

MIH - Anthony Rendon

MIP - Tyler Anderson

PTW - Logan O'Hoppe

FP - Manager Phil Nevin will be fired before the All Star Break.

2023 Results

#24 - 73-89, 4th in AL West

Highest WAR (Position) - Mike Trout

Highest WAR (Pitcher) - Reid Detmers

Highest WAR (Shohei) - Shohei Ohtani

The 2023 season was yet another (and last) opportunity for Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani to lead the Angels to the postseason.  The 2023 season was yet another (and last) opportunity this dynamic duo came up well short.  They made a series of trades at the Trade Deadline to try and make a postseason run, and the team got worse.  They got so bad, they DFA'ed all their acquisitions just to save the money less than a month after acquiring them.  I don't know how Phil Nevin lasted the entire season as manager.  Shohei got hurt and didn't bother to finish the season.  Mike Trout had their second highest WAR despite only playing half the season.  Big budget disappointment Anthony Rendon once again missed more games than he played.  He has yet to play more than 58 games in a season since signing.  Even their promising prospect Logan O'Hoppe got hurt as soon as he started playing well.  The Angels were a dumpster fire in 2023.

Additions / Subtractions

Not only did Shohei leave, but he just moved across town to the mighty Dodgers.  Several other veterans moved on to other teams as well, but no one really noticed once Shohei left.  Added to the roster are some smaller moves, like outfielder Aaron Hicks and professional slugger Miguel Sano.  However, their most important addition is new manager Ron Washington.

Most Important Hitter

Mike Trout

Possibly the most obvious pick I could make, yes, however Mike Trout's greatness is facing a decent amount of skepticism recently all on account of his health.  Trout is entering his age 32 season, and he hasn't played more than 120 games since 2019.  He's aging, and his body is breaking down.  If the Angels are going to have any success this season, they have to have a full season from Mike Trout.

Most Important Pitcher

Reid Detmers

Entering his third full season, Reid Detmers is only entering his age 24 season.  He has shown signs of greatness in the last two seasons, but with Ohtani gone the Angels lack an ace.  The Angels will look to Detmers to take some leaps forward into becoming their ace.

Prospect to Watch

Nolan Schanuel

The Angels are compounding their struggles by putting together the worst farm system in baseball.  They started the season with only one Top 100 prospect, and he has already graduated from the list.  However, he has a chance of being special.  Nolan Schanuel was drafted 11th overall last year in the 2023 draft in mid-July out of FAU.  By mid-August, the 21 year old was in the big leagues.  Now he is off to a solid start as the Angels everyday first baseman and should be one of their better hitters.

2024 Prediction

3rd in AL West

So why do I think the Angels will be better in 2024 without Shohei?  Honestly, it's more of a hunch than anything.  There are many examples of a superstar exiting and the team improving.  The biggest reason I think the Angels will be better is Ron Washington.  Phil Nevin was a mess for the Angels.  Ron Washington is one of the most respected baseball men there are, and it's a shame he took this long to get another opportunity to manage.  His presence instantly makes this team better, with or without Ohtani.

Fearless Prediction

Ron Washington wins AL Manager of the Year in 2024.

Like I said, Rom Washington is the X-factor for the Angels in 2024.  If they sniff .500 without Ohtani, this award will be a unanimous selection.

2024 Pre-Season Profile: Texas Rangers

 #17

The Texas Rangers shocked the baseball world by going all the way and winning the World Series.  Will there be a repeat postseason run in 2024?

2023 Predictions

#16 - 3rd in AL West

MIH - Corey Seager

MIP - Jacob deGrom

PTW - Owen White

FP - The Rangers best starter in 2023 will be Nathan Eovaldi.

2023 Results

#1 - 90-72, 1st in AL West, won World Series

Highest WAR (Position) - Marcus Semien

Highest WAR (Pitcher) - Nathan Eovaldi

I knew the Rangers were on their back to the postseason, but no one saw winning the World Series in 2023.  It truly shows that all it takes is getting into the tournament, then who knows what will happen.  The crazy part is Jacob deGrom, the prize of last off-season, only pitched 6 games.  Nathan Eovaldi, as predicted, was the ace of the staff, even after they went out and traded for a few more starters.  Bruce Bochy is a magician.

Additions / Subtractions

After buy, buy, buy the last few offseasons signing Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, trading for Max Scherzer, the Rangers went very quiet.  The biggest addition they made was starter Tyler Mahle who is starting the season injured.  Relievers David Robertson and Kirby Yates were added.  That's about it.

Most Important Hitter

Marcus Semien

Marcus Semien has definitely been earning the megadeal he signed a few years ago, and in 2023 he was the Rangers best player.  He played in every regular season game and every playoff game.  Now he's entering his age 33 season.  Eventually, the workload and the age are going to catch up with him.  Semien, combined with Corey Seager, have been the anchors of this team since they signed.  Seager is always getting hurt.  They need Semien to remain the stabilizing force he was in 2023 for them to be elite again this season.

Most Important Pitcher

Nathan Eovaldi

The sneaky good signing of last offseason became their best starter (as predicted).  Now, Nathan Eovaldi will be relied on even more with Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer, and Tyler Mahle all starting the season on the IL.  They could have a stellar rotation by the end of the season, but Eovaldi has to be great for the end of the season to matter.

Prospect to Watch

Wyatt Langford

Along with a World Series ring, the Rangers also have the 7th best farm system in baseball.  That's even with several elite pitching prospects falling apart and getting injured.  Of the 4 prospects in the Top 100, they have two outfielders in the Top 10.  One became a household name last postseason when Evan Carter broke out.  Now the prospect getting ready to turn heads is Wyatt Langford.  Taken with the 4th pick in last year's draft, Langford is already in the big leagues and ready to take the league by storm.  All he does is hit, which is why to get him in the lineup, he is a 22 year old full time DH.

2024 Prediction

4th in AL West

For a team that came out of nowhere to win a World Series, a hangover feels very likely the next season.  The pitchers were taxed, the starters are already injured.  They still have a ton of talent, but even Bruce Bochy's Giants teams only made the postseason every other year in their World Series dominance.  I have nothing else but a hunch.  The Rangers will take a step back in 2024.

Fearless Prediction

Marcus Semien and Corey Seager will combine for 162 games played.

They are easily the two most important players on the roster.  Seager is always injured, and Semien is getting old.  With the pitching staff dealing with injuries, the Rangers need to score to win.  If these two go down for any amount of time, scoring could be difficult, which would make winning difficult.

2024 Pre-Season Profile: New York Mets

 #18

The New York Mets went from being the best team money could buy and a legit World Series contender to selling at the Trade Deadline.  Are they ready to climb the mountaintop in 2024?

2023 Predictions

#3 - 1st in NL East, lose in NLCS

MIH - Brandon Nimmo

MIP - Kodai Senga

PTW - Francisco Alvarez

FP - A closer named Diaz will lead the Mets in saves in 2023.

2023 Results

#23 - 75-87, 4th in NL East

Highest WAR (Position) - Francisco Lindor

Highest WAR (Pitcher) - Kodai Senga

The Mets won the award as the most disappointing season in the league.  They had thrown so much money at so many top players trying to put together and All Star roster, and it just didn't work.  The Edwin Diaz injury during the World Baseball Classic didn't help either.  There were some bright spots, as Japanese import Kodai Senga showed he's the real deal.  Phenom catcher Francisco Alvarez showed signs that he could be the star they were hoping he would be in the next couple years.  However, when you have to give up and trade both Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer mid-season to help reset your roster, it's not a good year.

Additions / Subtractions

The most notable change was the replacement of manager Buck Showalter with Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza.  In terms of the roster, no more huge splashes for the Mets, at least not this year.  They signed starters Luis Severino and Sean Manaea to stabilize the rotation.  Center fielder Harrison Bader is another smaller signing to fill a hole.  Then there was last minute addition J.D. Martinez as the team's full time DH.  All of these are solid moves, but when the Mets were printing money the last couple off-seasons, it's a little underwhelming.

Most Important Hitter

Pete Alonso

One of the more interesting storylines of the off-season was the move that wasn't made.  Pete Alonso is entering the final year of club control with the Mets, and he is set to be a free agent at the end of the season.  There was plenty of talk about the Mets either signing Alonso long term or trading him to continue their step back and reset.  Instead, Alonso is playing in a contract year.  Will he sign long term?  Will he be traded mid-season if the Mets are irrelevant?  Anything is possible.

Most Important Pitcher

Edwin Diaz

Losing Edwin Diaz in that freak celebration injury pre-season last year dealt a bigger blow than anyone anticipated.  Not only is he the Mets closer, but he is also a spark plug and source of so much energy.  The Mets also chose to replace him internally instead of trading for another closer.  Now he's back, but is he truly back to being the most dominant closer in baseball?  If he is, the whole bullpen works.  If not, this Mets bullpen gets really thin really fast.

Prospect to Watch

Luisangel Acuna

The Mets sport the 13th best farm system in baseball, thanks almost entirely to their Trade Deadline moves last season.  Three of their four Top 100 Prospects were acquired mid-season last year.  Two of these prospects have a chance to make an impact in 2024, and the most intriguing of those is Luisangel Acuna.  This 22 year old middle infielder is the younger brother of reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuna and was acquired last season in the Max Scherzer trade to the Rangers.  In many ways, he looks like a mini version of his brother.  He doesn't have the same power at just 5'8", but he can definitely still hit.  He is also a strong defender up the middle.  The Mets seem pretty set at second and shortstop with Francisco Lindor and Jeff McNeil, but it will be a big storyline when this phenom makes his debut for more reasons than one.

2024 Prediction

3rd in NL East

When the 2023 roster wasn't working, the Mets knew they needed to take a step back and build a more sustainable winner.  They have done that, but they also knew it meant they were probably sacrificing the 2024 season in the process.  With that said, there is still way too much talent on this roster for them to be bad.  The Mets should be much better this year than last year.  They are also in a very top heavy division with two juggernauts that they hope to join very soon.

Fearless Prediction

Pete Alonso will be traded mid-season, and then sign a free agent deal with the Mets in the off-season.

This may be a wild prediction, but it feels like a very Mets thing to do.  By the Trade Deadline, the Mets may be ready to give up enough on the season to trade their first baseman, especially if he is having a good season and could bring back a good haul of prospects.  So then Pete Alonso becomes a free agent and signs with the highest bidder.  Well, that sounds like it would be the Mets.  So they get the prospect package and the star signed long term.  It doesn't happen often (Yankees pulled it off with Aroldis Chapman a few years back), but it feels like a situation that could play out here.

2024 Pre-Season Profile: Boston Red Sox

 #19

The Boston Red Sox are stuck in a division with four juggernauts.  Will they be able to enter the conversation of the AL East contenders at all in 2024?

2023 Predictions

#23 - 5th in AL East

MIH - Masataka Yoshida

MIP - Chris Sale

PTW - Triston Casas

FP - This is Chris Sale's last season for the Red Sox.

2023 Results

#20 - 78-84, 5th in AL East

Highest WAR (Position) - Rafael Devers

Highest WAR (Pitcher) - Chris Martin

There wasn't really any other result for the Red Sox in 2023.  The other four team in the division are peaking while the Sox are somewhere in between.  Their superstar third baseman keeps doing what he should, but there second best player in terms of WAR was a reliever (that wasn't their closer).  With that said, you could call their season a success simply for getting so close to .500.  It shows that the AL East in 2023 might have been the toughest division in baseball history.

Additions / Subtractions

My prediction came true when the Red Sox traded Chris Sale to the Braves.  They also sent Alex Verdugo, the prize of the Mookie Betts trade, to the hated Yankees.  Justin Turner is gone, Christian Arroyo is gone, Adam Duvall is gone, James Paxton is gone.  Most of these were replaced internally with youngsters.  The main off-season acquisitions were outfielder Tyler O'Neill and starter Lucas Giolito who never got to throw a pitch before blowing out his elbow in Spring Training.

Most Important Hitter

Trevor Story

Trevor Story seemed to be one of those superstars looking for a payday that no one wanted to give him in the 2022 off-season.  Eventually the Red Sox gave him a 6 year deal.  Now, entering the third year of that deal, Story has only played 137 mediocre games in Boston.  The Red Sox need Story to stay healthy and productive if they are to have any chance of being relevant this season.

Most Important Pitcher

Brayan Bello

Chris Sale is gone.  Lucas Giolito is injured.  All of a sudden, 24 year old Brayan Bello is the only one left to anchor this rotation.  They have a lot of faith in the youngster, giving him an extension this off-season following a solid 2023.  With that said, he needs to take some huge strides forward if he is to be a relied upon ace.

Prospect to Watch

Ceddanne Rafaela

There are several options for this spot for the 14th best farm system in baseball, sporting 4 players in the Top 100.  Although Marcelo Mayer might end up being the best rookie in 2024, I'm going with the one that made the Opening Day roster.  Ceddanne Rafaela has been given center field to start the season, and it's easy to see why.  He is an elite defender.  Even though the bat is still developing, his defense will keep him in the lineup and help the team this season.

2024 Prediction

5th in AL East

This division is so tough once again.  The other four teams in the division could easily all make the playoffs.  The Red Sox are kinda stuck.  They are too good to tank and rebuild, but not good enough to contend in this division.  They might be winning the AL Central, but they will once again sit around .500 and ride the cellar all season.

Fearless Prediction

This will be Alex Cora's last season as Red Sox manager.

Manager of the Red Sox right now has to be an impossible job.  You're expected to be one of the elite teams, but you don't have the resources to compete.  You're expected to be a big budget superteam, yet you traded away one of the best players in baseball a few seasons ago.  Fans expect to make the postseason, but your best season might still find the team in the cellar.  Alex Cora could be fired for PR purposes, showing the fans they don't accept mediocrity.  I could also see him stepping away after the season simply for getting away from the pressure of an impossible situation.

2024 Pre-Season Profile: Kansas City Royals

 #20

The Kansas City Royals had a sneaky good off-season.  Does it have them set up to contend in 2024?

2023 Predictions

#25 - 4th in AL Central

MIH - Vinnie Pasquatino

MIP - Daniel Lynch

PTW - Drew Waters

FP - Bobby Witt Jr. will be the starting shortstop for the AL in the All Star Game in 2023.

2023 Results

#29 - 56-106, 5th in AL Central

Highest WAR (Position) - Bobby Witt Jr.

Highest WAR (Pitcher) - Cole Ragans

The Royals struggled in 2023 despite having one of the most dynamic young players in the game.  Their young first base slugger was hurt most of the season, their young pitching stumbled...  It was almost all bad.

Additions / Subtractions

The Royals off-season was defined by a bunch of smaller signings that make you say, "Oh, that's a sneaky good move."  They brought in starters Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha to stabilize their rotation.  They brought in relievers Will Smith, Nick Anderson, and Chris Stratton to stabilize the bullpen.  They brought in veterans Adam Frazier and Hunter Renfroe to stabilize the lineup.  Not one of these moves moves the needle, but the combination of them all is impressive.

Most Important Hitter

Bobby Witt Jr.

I don't know if another team is tying its entire success over the next decade to one player quite like the Royals and Bobby Witt Jr.  Entering his third season, Witt has shown he is everything that his potential promised.  Somehow he didn't make the All Star Team last year, but he did finish 7th in MVP despite being on a 100+ loss team.  He could be in the conversation as one of the best players in baseball in the next year or two.  All the small moves the Royals made only work if Witt stays healthy and continues to play like a budding superstar.

Most Important Pitcher

Cole Ragans

Acquired at the Trade Deadline last season for Aroldis Chapman, Cole Ragans came to the Royals and quickly established himself as the ace of the young staff.  It was success he hadn't seen yet in the big leagues.  Now, with all the veterans on the pitching staff, the Royals are looking to Ragans to continue his dominance he showed at the end of last season and emerge as a true ace.

Prospect to Watch

Nick Loftin

The Royals currently have the 28th best farm system in baseball with only one prospect ranked in the Top 100, and that prospect won't be ready for at least another year.  Their second best prospect, though, started the season on the Opening Day roster.  Nick Loftin was drafted in 2020 as a top shortstop, and now he is entering 2024 as the go to utility man in Kansas City.  It takes a true athlete to thrive in a role like that, and the Royals believe he is that kind of athlete.  He could be yet another sneaky good addition to this roster.

2024 Prediction

2nd in AL Central

I know it would be quite a jump, but the Royals have two things going for them.  First, their roster may have seen more turnover than any other roster in the league, mainly with proven veterans.  Second, the AL Central is the weakest division in baseball ... by a lot.  The Royals are poised to make a leap like this in 2024.  They won't have much of a shot at the Wild Card, but they could make a push for the division crown.

Fearless Prediction

Salvador Perez will be traded before the start of next season.

The one constant in Kansas City over the highs and lows of the last decade has been Salvador Perez behind the plate.  He was on the team before their run in the mid-2010's, and he's the last one left after that run ended.  Now, he is in the last two seasons of his contract, and the Royals have a catcher as their top prospect.  It's not very likely, but there's a chance the Royals decide to finally move on from Sally, see what they can get for him, and move forward with their young prospect next year.  It's probably more likely that Perez is a lifelong Royal, but the possibility is there.

2024 Pre-Season Profile: Cleveland Guardians

 #21

The Cleveland Guardians saw their legendary manager retire at the end of 2023.  Will their rookie manager be ready to lead them to the postseason?

2023 Predictions

#14 - 2nd in AL Central

MIH - Andres Gimenez

MIP - Triston McKenzie

PTW - Bo Naylor

FP - Steven Kwan will win the AL batting title in 2023.

2023 Results

#22 - 76-86, 3rd in AL Central

Highest WAR (Position) - Andres Gimenez

Highest WAR (Pitcher) - Tanner Bibee

The 2023 season for the Guardians was the definition of mediocrity.  They were never bad, but they weren't really relevant either.  Their best players either got injured or had average seasons.  There was little to cheer about, but you couldn't really jeer the season either.

Additions / Subtractions

The biggest change heading into 2024 for the Guardians is the retirement of longtime manager Terry Francona.  He has been replaced by the recently retired player Stephen Vogt.  Very few changes were made to the roster.  Veteran starter Carlos Carrasco is back in Cleveland, and they acquired veteran outfielder Estevan Florial.

Most Important Hitter

Steven Kwan

Steven Kwan had one of the greatest starts to a career you could have in 2022.  Despite cooling off the second half of the season, he still almost hit .300 and sported a 124 OPS+.  In 2023, the sophomore slump set in, as his OPS+ fell to 100 and only hit .268 (far from a batting title).  Perfectly average.  The Guardians have a couple thumpers in the middle of the lineup, but they need someone on base ahead of them.  If Kwan can get back to his 2022 self, this offense might actually be okay.

Most Important Pitcher

Emmanuel Clase

Few bullpens these days are defined by one dominant arm at closer.  Cleveland is one of them.  Emmanuel Clase might be the best closer in baseball, and the Guardians lean heavily on him because of it.  If Clase gets hurt or starts to struggle, it could derail the entire bullpen.  If he stays healthy and dominant, their bullpen works.

Prospect to Watch

Brayan Rocchio

With the 19th ranked farm system in baseball, the Guardians sport 4 players in the Top 100.  One of those is the Opening Day shortstop, Brayan Rocchio.  Ranked #91 overall and 3rd in the system, Rocchio made his debut at the end of 2023, and now the 23 year old switch hitter is ready for the full time gig.  He's a solid hitter and a good base runner, but his best attribute is his defense which could lead to a Gold Glove at some point in his career.

2024 Prediction

3rd in AL Central

The Guardians the last few seasons have felt like a team where their amazing manager willed them into contention every season despite their roster.  Now with Francona gone, I don't know how well they can do.  I'm a fan of new manager Stephen Vogt, but it might take him a little while to make this roster and team his.

Fearless Prediction

Shane Bieber will be traded mid-season.

Simply from the nature of their division, the Guardians might be in contention for awhile this season, but I could also see them realize an opportunity to cash in on one of their best players before he cashes in with another team next season.  Shane Bieber has had moments of being elite in Cleveland, and now he's heading into his final season before free agency.  I don't think the Guardians will re-sign him, which means they will probably trade him.