2023 Pre-Season Profile: San Francisco Giants

 #19

The San Francisco Giants took a big step back in 2022 after being the surprise winner of the NL West in 2021.  Will 2023 see a return to the postseason in San Francisco?

2022 Predictions

#14 - 3rd in NL West

MIH - Brandon Belt

MIP - Logan Webb

PTW - Heliot Ramos

2022 Results

#15 - 81-81, 3rd in NL West

Highest WAR (Position) - Mike Yastrzemski

Highest WAR (Pitcher) - Carlos Rodon

I don't know if anyone expected the Giants win 107 games again in 2022, especially in this elite division with juggernauts in the Dodgers and Padres.  Finishing the season at .500 and outside the playoff picture may have been a lower fall than anyone was hoping for.  Their pitching was pretty elite, with Carlos Rodon anchoring the staff.  The lineup struggled to hit, with little Yaz finishing 5th on the team in WAR as their best hitter.  As has been the norm for the last decade or so, the Giants remained one of the older teams in the league, with only 3 of their starting 9 playing 2022 under the age of 30.

Additions / Subtractions

This offseason served as a little bit of a reset for the Giants.  Carlos Rodon signed a megadeal with the Yankees.  Veterans Evan Longoria, Tommy La Stella, and Brandon Belt moved on.  The Giants did bring some players in, like starters Sean Manaea and Ross Stripling, reliever Taylor Rogers, and outfielders Michael Conforto and Mitch Haniger.  The biggest story of the Giants offseason who they didn't sign.  The Giants have been trying for the last few years to find a superstar to be their new face of the franchise.  They pushed hard a few years ago for Bryce Harper and lost.  This offseason, for a few hours, they thought they had signed Aaron Judge, then they didn't.  For a few days, they thought they signed Carlos Correa, then they didn't.  Both for different reasons.  Judge wanted to be a Yankee, and Correa's ankle couldn't be cleared by the medical staff.  What's left is a roster with a gaping hole in the star category.  They have a lot of good players, but really no elite players.

Most Important Hitter

Michael Conforto

This spot could just as easily go to Mitch Haniger as they are both in similar situations, but Michael Conforto comes in with a bigger question mark next to his name.  With the lack of the big name signing, the Giants will be leaning on both of these new signings.  What makes them question marks?  Both have struggled to stay healthy.  Haniger has been injured more than healthy in his career, and Conforto didn't play at all in 2022 with an injury.  Both are All Star caliber players at their best.  The question is if they can stay on the field.  If the Giants get 140+ games from both Conforto and Haniger, this lineup is going to be a lot more productive than anyone thinks.

Most Important Pitcher

Sean Manaea

Carlos Rodon left a huge hole in the starting rotation, and one of the pitchers asked to try and help fill that hole is new acquisition Sean Manaea.  He has shown signs of being a very good player when he was in Oakland.  Last year in San Diego, he was not very good at all.  He posted only a 75 ERA+ and a standard ERA just under 5.00.  They are hoping for a bounce back, and San Francisco seems to be a good spot for pitchers to have that bounce back season.

Prospect to Watch

Casey Schmitt

For some reason, the Giants tend to struggle building up a strong farm system.  They are currently league average, which is better than they have been in awhile.  They have two prospects in the Top 100, but the prospect most likely to have an impact in 2023 is their 4th best prospect, Casey Schmitt.  Able to play both shortstop and third base, Schmitt has opened eyes with his bat.  Working his way through 3 levels in 2022, Schmitt hit .293 with 21 homers and 78 RBI's.  With an uneasy situation entering the season at third base, Schmitt could snag that job sooner rather than later.

2023 Prediction

4th in NL West

There are just too many question marks for the Giants this season.  Can Conforto and Haniger stay healthy?  Can Manaea bounce back?  Can Joey Bart start to hit?  How much longer can Brandon Crawford be a productive player?  Even at their best in 2023, they have a ceiling of 3rd in their division.  This is probably their floor (they won't be worse than the Rockies).  Could they compete for a Wild Card spot?  Sure, but everything has to go right.  I don't see it happening.

Fearless Prediction

Gabe Kapler is fired after the 2023 season.

Outside of 2021, Gabe Kapler has been a manager of mediocre team.  Is this all his fault?  Not at all.  Could he be the scapegoat?  Easily.  I've never fully understood Kapler as a manager.  He just rubs me the wrong way.  The Giants are usually very patient with their managers, but if they continue to try and recruit star players, look for Kapler to be fired to show they are ready for a new era.

2023 Pre-Season Profile: Los Angeles Angels

 #20

The Los Angeles Angels continue to squander the primes of two of the best players the sport has ever seen.  Will 2023 bring about an elusive postseason run for Trout and Ohtani?

2022 Predictions

#9 - 1st in AL West, lose in Wild Card Round

MIH - Anthony Rendon

MIP - Noah Syndergaard

PTW - Reid Detmers

2022 Results

#21 - 73-89, 3rd in AL West

Highest WAR (Position ... excluding Ohtani) - Mike Trout

Highest WAR (Pitcher ... excluding Ohtani) - Patrick Sandoval

I feel like it's important to exclude Shohei Ohtani when calculating highest WAR on the team since he technically qualifies in both categories and almost had an unheard-of 10 win season in terms of WAR.  Then you add in Mike Trout's 6 win season in under 120 games.  Yeah, definitely sounds like a team that almost lost 90 games.  That's because that's almost all they had.  Very few other things worked for the Angels.  Even after manager Joe Maddon was fired, the team actually got worse.  The few bright spots for the Angels came from outfielder Taylor Ward, who had a breakout season, and rookie Reid Detmers who threw a no-hitter in May.

Additions / Subtractions

One of the biggest dilemmas every year for the Angels is their rotation.  They never seem to be able to land the star pitcher (outside Ohtani) so they take chances on lesser pitchers.  This year's version is Tyler Anderson, who is coming off a great season for the Dodgers.  He will fill the hole left by departing Michael Lorenzen.  For the lineup, they brought in infielders Gio Urshela and Brandon Drury as well as Mike Trout doppelganger Hunter Renfroe.

Most Important Hitter

Anthony Rendon

Just like last year, the Angels fate will turn once Anthony Rendon is healthy enough to contribute on a consistent basis.  Rendon is entering year 4 of his 7 year megadeal signed after winning a World Series with the Nationals.  In his first 3 seasons, he has played a total of 157 games while hitting 20 homers and 89 RBI's.  Not the type of production you would like out of one season from a $38 million per year player, let alone 3 seasons.  He is now entering his age 33 season and apparently the healthiest he has been since his first season in LA.  If he can return to the form that got him the contract in the first place, then the Angels will be in really good shape offensively.

Most Important Pitcher

Tyler Anderson

Just like last year, the most important pitcher for the Angels is their free agent pitcher signing that they are hoping can be a formidable #2 starter behind Ohtani.  Last year, it was Noah Syndergaard who didn't really work out.  This year, it is Tyler Anderson who is coming off an All Star season with the Dodgers.  It is really feeling like Anderson is having a true career renaissance, but he is also one of the first names brought up as a pitcher who will be hurt by the new rule changes.  He doesn't overpower, he pitches to contact, and without the shift, the career low 2.57 ERA could easily balloon in 2023.  The Angels, after giving him a 3 year contract this offseason, are hoping this is not the case.

Prospect to Watch

Logan O'Hoppe

The Angels boast one of the worst farm systems in baseball.  Despite that, their top prospect, ranked #53 in all of baseball, is ready to break out this season.  Logan O'Hoppe joined the Angels system in 2022 from Philadelphia as part of the Brandon Marsh trade, and the 23 year old catcher should get a good opportunity to show why he was such a desirable player in that trade.  His bat should play, and his defense should be serviceable.  It's always difficult for catchers to make the jump to the big leagues with the added responsibility of managing the pitching staff, but O'Hoppe will most likely be the Angels starting catcher by the end of the season.

2023 Prediction

4th in AL West

I took the bait last year and thought the Angels were ready to break out.  Now, the Angels appear stuck while the rest of the division is either elite or improving rapidly (or are the A's).  Trout appears to be getting close to the end of his prime.  Ohtani is in the last year of his contract.  This season will probably not be successful, and the Angels will have some difficult questions to answer on where they are going moving forward.

Fearless Prediction

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

One of the most peculiar moves the Angels made this offseason was retaining interim manager Phil Nevin.  The Angels were mediocre under Joe Maddon at the start of 2022, but they felt like they needed to do something to spark a change.  So they fired Maddon and hired Nevin as the interim manager.  Under Maddon, they were 2 games under .500.  Under Nevin, they were 16 games under .500.  Apparently that type of regression was what the Angels were looking for.  If the start of this year goes the same way the end of last year went, Nevin won't last long.

2023 Pre-Season Profile: Minnesota Twins

 #21

The Minnesota Twins had a mediocre season in 2022, but followed it up with a curiously fascinating offseason.  Will it lead to a better season in 2023?

2022 Predictions

#17 - 3rd in AL Central

MIH - Byron Buxton

MIP - Chris Paddack

PTW - Joe Ryan

2022 Results

#18 - 78-84, 3rd in AL Central

Highest WAR (Position) - Carlos Correa

Highest WAR (Pitcher) - Jhoan Duran

The Minnesota Twins made a splash leading into 2022 by landing one of the top shortstops in the game in Carlos Correa.  He had an outstanding season for them, while Luis Arraez won the batting title.  However, their pitching struggled to keep pace with their offense.  It led to a lackluster season in a division that wasn't very good.

Additions / Subtractions

The Twins made some interesting waves in the offseason this year.  After Carlos Correa agreed to a contract with the Giants, and then the Mets, he ended up back in Minnesota on a huge deal.  Then they traded their batting champ to Miami for starter Pablo Lopez.  They also traded Gio Urshela to the Angels for a minor leaguer.  They signed catcher Christian Vazquez to be their new backstop replacing Gary Sanchez.  They also took a flier on Joey Gallo as a reclamation project.  Add in the signing of Michael A. Taylor as insurance for Byron Buxton's brittle body, and it was a fascinating offseason.

Most Important Hitter

Byron Buxton

It's going to be true every year until it isn't.  The success of the Twins is tied directly to Byron Buxton's health.  He is entering his 9th season in the big leagues (age 29 season), and only once has he been able to play over 100 games, and that was back in 2017.  He made his first All Star team in 2022, but only played in 92 games.  However, in those 92 games, he hit 28 homers, a 135 OPS+, and had a 4.0 WAR.  The Twins can be good without Buxton, but they won't be great without him.  He might be the biggest X-factor in the league.

Most Important Pitcher

Kenta Maeda

The Twins have been working hard trying to improve their pitching staff for awhile now.  After starting a rookie pitcher on Opening Day in 2022, the Twins traded for starter Tyler Mahle and closer Jorge Lopez mid-season last year.  Then they traded for Pablo Lopez this offseason.  However, the solution to their rotation might simply be getting healthy.  The last time we saw Kenta Maeda for a full season, he almost won the 2020 Cy Young.  He is finally healthy again, but he's also entering his age 35 season.  If Maeda can get back to where he was in 2020, the starting rotation might be better than it has been for awhile.

Prospect to Watch

Simeon Woods Richardson

The Twins have a top 10 farm system with 3 players in the Top 100 Prospects.  With their former #1 overall pick in Royce Lewis recovering from yet another ACL tear, the most likely impact from their deep prospect pool might be Simeon Woods Richardson.  This starting pitcher has found himself the centerpiece of two different blockbuster trades, first going from the Mets to the Blue Jays in the Marcus Stroman deal of 2019, then going from the Blue Jays to the Twins in the Jose Berrios deal in 2021.  Now he is ready to show what he can do at the big league level.  For a starting rotation always looking for extra help, Woods Richardson will definitely get an opportunity at some point this season to show what he can do.  It might also be the longest name ever to have to fit on the back of a jersey.

2023 Prediction

3rd in AL Central

The Twins are kicking off their brand new uniforms with a season where they could really finish anywhere from first to third.  So much of what they do this year depends on health.  Their pitchers have to stay healthy, and their stars have to stay healthy.  Not only is Buxton an injury liability, but Carlos Correa couldn't get a contract from a big market due to possible injury concerns.  Too much can go wrong, and with teams a little less volatile in front of them, this is where I see the Twins ending up.

Fearless Prediction

Byron Buxton plays more games in 2023 than Carlos Correa.

The only way for this whole Carlos Correa saga to end is for him to get hurt this year, right?  Two different organizations wouldn't sign off on his surgically repaired leg and ankle from his minor league days.  The Twins took the leap, but already knew the risk.  Either Correa is a borderline MVP this year or he gets hurt.  There is no in between.  We all know Buxton will be hurt at some point, so if Correa plays less than Buxton, the Twins are having a rough year.

2023 Pre-Season Profile: Milwaukee Brewers

 #22

The Milwaukee Brewers have been consistently one of the top teams in the National League for most of the last decade.  Will this consistency continue in 2023, or are they due for a down year?

2022 Predictions

#5 - 1st in NL Central, lose in NLDS

MIH - Christian Yelich

MIP - Corbin Burnes

PTW - Ethan Small

2022 Results

#13 - 86-76, 2nd in NL Central

Highest WAR (Position) - Willy Adames

Highest WAR (Pitcher) - Corbin Burnes

For the first time since 2017, the Brewers missed the postseason even though they had an 86 win season and finished 2nd in their division.  While still in contention, they traded away their All Star closer (Josh Hader) at the Trade Deadline which made many people scratch their heads.  So they fell short of the playoffs while trying to ride the line of both selling and contending.

Additions / Subtractions

This offseason continued the trend of trying to sell while still contending.  They let outfielder Andrew McCutchen, catcher Omar Narvaez, and reliever Taylor Rogers leave in free agency.  They traded away second baseman Kolten Wong and outfielder Hunter Renfroe.  At the same time, they brought in All Star catcher William Contreras, infielder Abraham Toro, and former All Star outfielder Jesse Winker.

Most Important Hitter

Christian Yelich

Their best hitter the last few seasons may be Willy Adames, but the success of the Brewers ay be tied most directly to Christian Yelich.  Only entering his age 31 season, Yelich feels more like an old man as it's already his 11th season in the big leagues.  With the 2023 season, he will have been a Brewer longer than a Marlin!  After an MVP in 2018 and an MVP runner-up in 2019, injuries quickly seemed to drop him from one of the best players in the game to barely above average.  At his peak in 2018 and 2019, Yelich posted a 164 and 179 OPS+ in those two years.  Since then, his best season at the plate was 2022 with a 111 OPS+, with only a .252 average and 14 homers (he topped out in 2019 at .329 and 44 homers).  At least he played a full season, appearing in 154 games.  The Brewers don't need Yelich to be an MVP again (although they wouldn't argue with it).  They do need him to get back to borderline All Star level if they want their offense to work.

Most Important Pitcher

Devin Williams

The Brewers have one of the stronger one/two punches at the top of their rotation in all of baseball with Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff, however none of that matters unless they have someone that can close out the game.  Enter Devin Williams.  With the trade of Josh Hader last season and the departure of Taylor Rogers in free agency, Williams is now the undeniable closer for the Brewers.  Although he has been dominant ever since he won Rookie of the Year in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, he has never had to be the closer, and those final three outs of the game are always different.  Also, they are now missing someone at the level of Devin Williams to work the 8th inning as they didn't really bring in any other elite relievers.  So more potentially will be needed from Williams than ever as he may be the only reliever they can turn to in crunch time.

Prospect to Watch

Sal Frelick

The strength of the Brewers farm system is the outfield, with the top 4 or 5 players in their system being outfielders (3 of which in the Top 100).  The most intriguing prospect that could impact the 2023 season is Sal Frelick.  He may not be a big guy (5'10" 182lbs.), but the kid knows how to hit.  Ranked at #30 on the top prospects in baseball, Frelick projects to be a gap-hitting leadoff hitter that can wreak havoc on the bases.  He is currently opening eyes on team Italy in the World Baseball Classic.  He could definitely be an exciting player if the opportunity presents itself in 2023.

2023 Prediction

3rd in NL Central

The Milwaukee Brewers might be the biggest casualty of the new balanced schedule in 2023.  The NL Central has been one of, if not the, worst division in baseball over the last few seasons.  Now they will have less games against the likes of the Reds and the Pirates, which means their record will likely not be as strong as it has been the last few seasons.  This may seem a little low for a roster as talented as the Brewers.  The problem is there are about 8-10 teams this year that are in the middle of the pack.  Could they win 90 games?  Maybe.  Could they lose 90 games?  Probably not, but maybe.  With all the changes the Brewers have seen over the last few seasons, and the balanced schedule, I could see them easily being at the bottom of this middle pack.

Fearless Prediction

Corbin Burnes will be traded in the next 12 months.

Corbin Burnes has been one of the best starting pitchers in all of baseball over the last few seasons, so much so that MLB Network named him the top starting pitcher in all of baseball this offseason.  He is also slowly creeping towards free agency and a huge payday.  Several teams asked about him this offseason, but the Brewers weren't ready to consider.  If 2023 is as average as I am predicting, maybe the Brewers start listening as early as the Trade Deadline.  Every contending team will be interested if one of the best pitchers in baseball suddenly becomes available.  If Burnes is on the trade block, someone will give a huge haul to get him.  The Brewers won't be able to say no.

2023 Pre-Season Profile: Boston Red Sox

 #23

The Boston Red Sox went from cellar in 2020 to the ALCS in 2021 back to the cellar in 2022.  Will 2023 see another bounce back?  Or will they stay in the cellar?

2022 Predictions

#11 - 2nd in AL East, WILD CARD, lose in Wild Card Round

MIH - Trevor Story

MIP - Chris Sale

PTW - Jeter Downs

2022 Results

#17 - 78-84, 5th in AL East

Highest WAR (Position) - Xander Bogaerts

Highest WAR (Pitcher) - Michael Wacha

The Red Sox got hurt by being in the best division in baseball in 2022.  Only finishing 6 games under .500, they were still only good for last place in the AL East.  Thanks to more injuries, Chris Sale only pitched 2 games in 2022, bringing his grand total of 11 starts in the last 3 seasons.  Trevor Story had an okay first season in Boston.  The season wasn't bad, but when you are chasing down the rest of that division, it feels like they had a long way to go.

Additions / Subtractions

No fan base is more dejected entering the 2023 season than the Boston Red Sox.  They watched cornerstones Xander Bogaerts and J.D. Martinez leave in free agency.  Tommy Pham and Eric Hosmer moved on after mid-season acquisitions.  Starters Michael Wacha, Rich Hill, and Nathan Eovaldi left in free agency.  Jeter Downs, one of the centerpieces of the prospect haul in the Mookie Betts trade, gets DFA'ed, marking a sign of admitting they lost that trade.  Last offseason's prize signing Trevor Story is out for most of the year.  They did bring in some talent with starter Corey Kluber, closer Kenley Jansen, infielders Justin Turner and Adalberto Mondesi, and outfielders Adam Duvall and Japanese import Masataka Yoshida.  That's some huge turnover!  There was also a lot more star power walking out the door than walking in.  At least they were able to re-sign Rafael Devers to a big extension or else this offseason would have been a colossal failure.  Otherwise he would have been the next Red Sox superstar to be traded or leave in free agency.

Most Important Hitter

Masataka Yoshida

The biggest wild cards on any roster are Japanese imports.  These superstars in the Japanese league are trying to be the next Ichiro or Hideki Matsui or Shohei Ohtani.  Sometimes they become the next Kazuo Matsui, Kosuke Fukudome, or Tsuyoshi Shinjo.  The latest to make the transition is Masataka Yoshida.  He is slated to be the keeper of the Green Monster in leftfield to start the season, but how will he transition?  Looking at the rest of the offseason the Red Sox had, it looks like they are expecting Yoshida to come in and produce immediately to help pick up the massive hole left behind by the likes of Bogaerts and Martinez.  If he hits, the Red Sox are in much better shape than some think.  If he misses, the Red Sox may be in some trouble.

Most Important Pitcher

Chris Sale

Chris Sale is being paid like the ace of the Red Sox.  For the last 3 seasons, he has been cashing the checks with no production.  He is signed on this megadeal for at least the next two seasons.  If he can get on the field, he has the tools to still be one of the best pitchers in baseball ... I think.  Have the injuries aged his body too much?  He is entering his age 34 season.  He is not a young pitcher anymore.  The Red Sox are relying on him being back at the elite level because there is not much depth and top end talent behind him.

Prospect to Watch

Triston Casas

The Red Sox may have 4 prospects in MLB's Top 100 right now, but their system is ranked 19th according to Bleacher Report due to a lack of depth.  One of their top prospects is Triston Casas.  Ranked the 23rd best prospect in baseball and the 2nd best prospect in the Red Sox system, Casas is slated to be the starting first baseman on Opening Day in Boston.  Casas is a big dude with a big bat.  At 6'4" and 252lb, Casas could easily be a 40 homer guy.  Barely staying under the threshold to maintain rookie status, Casas played in 27 in 2022 for the Red Sox and homered 5 times.  He is definitely a bat the Red Sox are hoping will pop in 2023.

2023 Prediction

5th in AL East

I don't really see any other outcome for the Red Sox this season.  They watched too much talent leave and didn't bring in enough to make up for it.  Even with last year's talent, they were in the cellar.  Also, their division is so stacked.  This division had 3 teams in the playoffs in 2022 with the Orioles just missing.  There's really no other option for the Red Sox.  Either something goes drastically wrong in Tampa, Toronto, Baltimore, or the Bronx, or ... the Red Sox finish in the cellar for the third time in 4 seasons.

Fearless Prediction

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

At some point, the Red Sox have to realize they need to stop trying to half compete and just need to sell off and rebuild.  I think that starts with Chris Sale.  If he pitches well this year, he gets traded at the deadline or in the offseason to a contender who thinks they are one arm away.  If he pitches poorly, they might just eat the money and let him go.  Either way, this could be the end of his road in Boston.

2023 Pre-Season Profile: Pittsburgh Pirates

 #24

The Pittsburgh Pirates may have finished with a second straight 100 loss season in 2022, but hopes haven't been higher since their last postseason run in 2015.  Are the Pirates about to turn the corner and break out in 2023?

2022 Predictions

#29 - 5th in NL Central

MIH - Bryan Reynolds

MIP - Mitch Keller

PTW - Oneil Cruz

2022 Results

#28 - 62-100, 4th in NL Central

Highest WAR (Position) - Ke'Bryan Hayes

Highest WAR (Pitcher) - Mitch Keller

There hasn't been a more buzz-worthy 100 loss team in recent memory.  The Pirates were not a good team in 2022, but they were definitely a fun team.  Led by one of the most underrated superstars in Bryan Reynolds and two of the more exciting young phenoms in the sport in Ke'Bryan Hayes and Oneil Cruz, the Pirates turned more heads in 2022 than they have since the days of Starling Marte, Gerrit Cole, and MVP-winning Andrew McCutchen.

Additions / Subtractions

Speaking of Andrew McCutchen, he's back!  He is one of several veterans brought in this offseason to provide leadership as their young core develops.  He is joined by first basemen Carlos Santana and Ji-Man Choi, catcher Austin Hedges, outfielder Connor Joe, and the ageless wonder Rich Hill in the starting rotation.  Moving on are veterans like Michael Chavis, Kevin Newman, and Ben Gamel.  This biggest offseason news for the Pirates heading into the 2023 season is the move that wasn't made.  Bryan Reynolds requested a trade after contract extension talks stalled.  After setting the price for Reynolds extremely high, the Pirates had no takers willing to meet their demands.  So Reynolds is still a Pirate ... for now.

Most Important Hitter

Oneil Cruz

There were a lot of rookies that popped in 2022.  From Rookies of the Year Julio Rodriguez and Michael Harris II, to World Series MVP Jeremy Pena, to budding ace Spencer Strider.  However, no rookie made jaws drop in 2022 quite like Oneil Cruz.  The 6'7" 220lb shortstop is entering his age 24 season, throws in the mid-90's from short to 1st, hits 120mph home run bullets, and is one of the fastest players in the big leagues.  No one has all the measurable traits quite like Cruz.  With all that said, in his 87 games in the majors in 2022, he had a 107 OPS+ with a .233 average, 17 homers, and striking out almost a third of the time.  He is crazy talented, but he needs to develop some discipline at the plate.  His development is one of the most important pieces to the puzzle that could lead to a successful season for the 2023 Pirates.

Most Important Pitcher

Roansy Contreras

With all the promise of their lineup, their pitching has not been near as heralded.  The Pirates have not really had a anywhere near an ace since trading away Gerrit Cole before the 2018 season.  Although Mitch Keller was probably considered their top starter last year (at least after Jose Quintana was traded), rookie Roansy Contreras may have had the most encouraging season.  In 21 games (18 starts), Contreras had a 110 ERA+ with 86 strikeouts in 95 innings.  If Contreras builds off the strong rookie campaign, the Pirates may have finally found their next young ace.

Prospect to Watch

Endy Rodriguez

When you consistently struggle to win like Pittsburgh has, you are bound to build up a strong farm system.  The Pirates currently boast a top 5 farm system in MLB with four prospects in the Top 100 Prospects in baseball.  Their #2 prospect (#55 overall) is Endy Rodriguez.  The 22 year old joined the Pirates organization in 2021 as part of the big Joe Musgrove trade, and ever since he showed up, he has hit.  Spanning three levels of the minors in 2021, the switch-hitter belted 25 home runs and slugged .590.  Naturally a catcher, Rodriguez has also seen time at 2nd base and the outfield.  It doesn't matter what position he plays, expect his bat to impact the Pirate lineup before the end of the season.

2023 Prediction

4th in NL Central

The Pirates won't quite be good yet in 2023, but they might be one of the most improved teams.  Their young talent is dynamic, their veteran newcomers will provide a great model and leadership base, and they will win some games.  Don't be surprised if they flirt with .500 entering the All Star break.

Fearless Prediction

Bryan Reynolds signs a big extension with the Pirates.

The drama surrounding the Pirates and Bryan Reynolds this offseason did not look good for the Pirates.  They have always been a fairly cheap organization going back to the early 90's with the Barry Bonds and Bobby Bonilla era.  Reynolds is not asking for unreasonable money considering how good he is.  If the Pirates improve the way they could this year, maybe they decide to ride the momentum and commit to a budding superstar.