2021 Pre-Season Profile: Texas Rangers

 #29

The Texas Rangers had the misfortune of opening a brand new ballpark in the midst of a pandemic, then watching the World Series be played there even though they weren't in it.  The Rangers disappointed in 2020.  Will they bounce back in 2021?

2020 Predictions

#23 - 4th in AL West

MIH - Willie Calhoun

MIP - Corey Kluber

PTW - Nick Solak

FP - Three players on the Rangers' Opening Day roster retire after the 2020 season.

2020 Results

#29 - 22-38, 5th in AL West

Any hope that the shortened 2020 season would be a success went out the window on Opening Day when their big offseason pickup, Corey Kluber, lasted one inning in his only start with the team before injury sidelined him for the rest of the season.  That moment seemed to sum up their season perfectly.  So many things looked like they could have been heading in the right direction, but they all went wrong instead.  Nick Solak did have a strong 2020, playing in almost every game.  Lance Lynn was another standout in 2020, but there wasn't much to be excited about beyond that.  My choice for their Most Important Hitter in 2020, Willie Calhoun, finished the season with an OPS+ of 34...

Additions / Subtractions

The 2020 offseason was about trying to start the new era of Rangers baseball in their new stadium with a bang.  The 2021 offseason was more about setting up the team for a rebuild that will have them successful in the future.  They took advantage of Lance Lynn's strong 2020 by trading him while his stock was high to the White Sox.  They traded closer Rafael Montero to the Mariners.  They signed Japanese import Kohei Arihara to be a part of their rotation.  They took low-risk fliers on injury-riddled players like David Dahl and Mike Foltynewicz.  The most significant transaction they made was trading Elvis Andrus to the A's for OF/DH Khris Davis as the last remnant of the Rangers' World Series runs of the early 2010's was sent off.

Most Important Hitter

Isiah Kiner-Falefa

One of the reasons the Rangers felt comfortable trading away Elvis Andrus is their desire to establish Isiah Kiner-Falefa as their everyday shortstop.  Kiner-Falefa has been a valuable utility player over the last few seasons, with the added versatility of being able to catch.  In 2020, he spent most of his season at third base, and became the best position player on the roster in terms of WAR while winning the Gold Glove at third base.  Now, he is going to be their shortstop.  His glove shouldn't be a problem, but his bat needs to be more impactful to prove to fans that this transition was worth losing a face of the franchise.

Most Important Pitcher

Mike Foltynewicz

The pitching staff of the Rangers for 2021 is piecemealed together for the most part.  However, one player that could have a huge impact that could help the Rangers greatly is Mike Foltynewicz.  In 2018, Folty was an All Star that received Cy Young votes for the Braves.  By the end of 2020, he had fallen so far that the Braves didn't tender him a contract.  Only entering his age 29 season, if he can recapture the magic that made him an All Star, this could be a future ace for the Rangers.

Prospect to Watch

Dane Dunning

Another potential future centerpiece of the Rangers' pitching staff is Dane Dunning.  The top prospect acquired in the Lance Lynn trade, Dunning made his big league debut in 2020 for the White Sox with decent success.  Still considered a top 100 prospect in baseball, look for this rookie to get every opportunity to have a breakout season in 2021.

2021 Prediction

5th in AL West

It seems that 2020 proved to the Rangers that they have a long way to go before they can compete.  Their roster does not look good.  They have a lot of work to do before they can compete again.  They do have some young pieces that will be exciting to watch, but this might be the least interesting roster in the big leagues, not a title you want while welcoming your fans to a new stadium for the first time.

Fearless Prediction

Chris Woodward will be fired mid-season.

Chris Woodward has not really been given a fair shot in his first run as a big league manager.  He really hasn't had much to work with.  However, look for him to be the scapegoat for a franchise trying to prove to their fans that they are trying to win sooner rather than later.

2019 Pre-Season Profile: Atlanta Braves

#18

The Atlanta Braves took a giant leap forward in 2018, winning the division and making the playoffs with their new young core.  Will they continue to progress to one of the elite teams in the league in 2019?

2018 Predictions

2nd in NL East

Ronald Acuna will be the 2018 NL Rookie of the Year.

2018 Results

90-72, 1st in NL East, lost in NLDS

I knew the Braves were heading to something special, but no one saw them being this good this quick.  Everything seemed to align for them, including the division kings, the Nationals, having a down year which allowed them to take the top spot.  Although they did not go far in the playoffs, they showed their tear down from a few years ago was worth it.  They also showed that they have still further to go.

Additions / Subtractions

With most of Atlanta's lineup young and far from free agency, very little was changed in their roster.  Leaving was catcher Kurt Suzuki, and starters Anibal Sanchez and Brandon McCarthy.  Replacing Suzuki is former Brave coming home Brian McCann.  Replacing the starters are some of their super prospects.  However, the biggest move the Braves made this offseason was upgrading at third base by bringing in former MVP Josh Donaldson.

Most Important Hitter

Ozzie Albies

For the first half of the season, Ozzie Albies was possibly the best second baseman in the league as he helped lead the Braves to their huge start.  He feel off pretty impressively in the second half though.  Even though he is only entering his age 22 season, he is being counted on as an anchor of the Braves lineup with other young phenoms like Ronald Acuna.  They need to repeat their production and then some to help the Braves take the next step in 2019.

Most Important Pitcher

Mike Foltynewicz

Mike Foltynewicz emerged last season as the ace of the Braves staff, even making the All Star Team.  He is electric when he is on the mound.  However, the workload over the last few years might be catching up to him.  He is already missing the start of the season with elbow issues (terrible sign).  The Braves will be counting on him to come back and establish himself as the ace once again.  Of the young guns in their rotation, he is the most established.  Although they still have guys like Julio Teheran and Kevin Gausman, Folty is the leader.

Prospect to Watch

Touki Toussaint

You can really take your pick of several pitchers as three of the top four prospects in the Braves system are all starters and have all already made their big league debut last season.  Mike Soroka and Kyle Wright might garner a higher place on their top prospects (all three are in baseball's top 40 prospects), Touki Toussaint is the one slated right now to start the season in the Braves rotation.  The 22 year old righty throws hard with his best pitches being his fastball and curveball.  All three of these guys should have an impact this year, but Touki will be the one people will get to know right away.

2019 Prediction

4th in NL East

This was one of the toughest calls of the whole list.  The Braves have all the promise in the world and are really looking like the new version of what the Astros did a couple years ago.  They tanked to rebuild and came back stronger than ever with some of the most exciting young players in the game.  If you remember, the Astros broke out a year earlier than expected, taking a Wild Card spot in 2015.  Then, they took a giant step back in 2016, finishing in third in their division before busting out to a World Series title in 2017.  I see the Braves on a similar trajectory.  No one expected them to be as good as they were in 2018.  Many times, when a team breaks out big like that, the next year is a bit of a let down.  Combine that with the fact that their division has quickly become one of the most competitive in baseball, and you have a team that will probably be just over .500, but they will finish behind some of the new competitors in town.

Fearless Prediction

Mike Foltynewicz will throw less than 100 innings in 2019.

He is not off to a good start missing the first few weeks of the season.  When someone throws as hard as Folty does, he is bound to have arm issues at some point.  He is starting this season with an arm issue, and I have a feeling it might lead to more issues throughout the season.  Don't be surprised if you hear the words Tommy John thrown out before the end of the season.  Now Folynewicz isn't their only pitcher, but all of the Braves young studs aren't quite ready to take the reins.  Look for everything to align a bit better in 2020.