We are getting a 162 game season after all. Despite the offseason drama, baseball is settling back into normalcy. The new CBA is in place and medical science is catching up with the pandemic, allowing baseball to continue uninterrupted. The offseason lockout meant the free agent and trade markets were condensed. This created a buzz around certain teams. Were these off season moves enough to bring them a World Series championship? Time will tell. 

American League East

Easily the toughest division in baseball. At least one of the Wild Card teams will come out of the American League East. Besides the Orioles, the other four teams all have a legitimate chance at the Postseason. Is there a more talented team than the Blue Jays? Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is a legitimate MVP candidate for the next decade. Bo Bichette, Cavan Biggio, and George Springer with the additions of Hyun Jin-Ryu, Matt Chapman, and Raimel Tapia add the firepower that could bring the World Series back to Canada. The American League East runs through Toronto. Only a fool would count out the Rays. Tampa Bay always finds a way to win on a budget. The Rays have Wander Franco under contract for the next decade. Can they attract talent at the Major League level, not just what they have stockpiled in the Minors? As always the expectations are sky high for the Yankees. The free spending days of George Steinbrenner are gone. Aaron Judge remains unsigned long term. He is the logical face of the franchise moving forward. Will Brian Cashman lock up Judge or face the wrath of the fanbase that is eager to make a serious run at a World Series? The other questions in the Bronx is can the pitching staff and Giancarlo Stanton stay healthy? The Red Sox added Trevor Story, moving him to Second Base as insurance if Xander Bogaerts leaves in free agency. Chris Sale is out with a stress fracture in his ribs. As great as Boston could be, they are in baseball’s toughest division. The expanded Postseason could help them reach October in a deep AL East, but we doubt it. Can the Orioles be eliminated before Opening Day? 

American League Central

The White Sox did not mutiny against Tony La Russa last season. Perhaps the clash of old and new school was overblown. Chicago returns all of their stars including Jose Abreu and Tim Anderson. You can have all the style you want when you are winning, and the White Sox will do plenty of that. The Tigers have a chance to make a World Series push with Miguel Cabrera. The signing of Javy Baez and trading for Austin Meadows. The pieces are there. The question is can Detroit rise to its potential? The Twins look to bounce back from a last place finish. They added Carlos Correa and Chris Paddack, with the hopes of Byron Buxton staying healthy. Some pieces are in place, but climbing to the top of the Central is getting tougher. New name, but Cleveland will be a sad place to watch baseball in 2022. The Guardians have little to offer their fans beyond Jose Ramierez and Shane Bieber. This was not the beginning of the Guardians’ name Cleveland wanted. Kansas City has the old and the young. Zack Grienke is back and Salvador Perez never left. Bobby Witt Jr. is the next great Royal, it is assumed. Whit Merrifield continues to be quietly great. Things are turning around in Kansas City, but there is a long way to go.  

American League West

Have the Astros finally come to the end of their incredible, but controversial, run. George Springer, Carlos Correa, and Zack Greinke are gone. Only Jose Altuve remains. Justin Verlander is back and Kyle Tucker continues to impress. Despite the departures, Houston is still in the hunt for the AL West crown. The Angels are the most difficult team to win team MVP. If Mike Trout stays healthy, he and Shohei Ohtani could be first and second for the American League MVP. The biggest question in Anaheim is can these two talents propel the Angels to the Postseason. 90 wins was not enough for the second Wild Card last season. Despite Seattle’s disappointment and Kyle Seager’s retirement, the young team gained valuable experience. Top prospect Julio Rodriguez will begin the season in Seattle. The Mariners traded for Adam Frazier, Eugenio Suarez, and Jesse Winker. The reigning American League Cy Young winner, Robbie Ray, signed with Seattle. Put these newcomers together with the core already in place and the Postseason drought could finally end. Texas has a beautiful new ballpark and a brand new Double Play combination in Marcus Semien and Corey Seager. The Rangers are still missing almost everything else to be a contender. Texas will be better this season, but will not even contend in the division. The foundation has been laid. Ranger fans need patience, winning will come soon. The Athletics are barely a Major League team. Can you actually name a player left in Oakland? 

National League East

The Braves will try to repeat after losing Freddie Freeman to the Dodgers. Losing the face of the franchise usually kills any World Series hopes. However, the return of Ronald Acuna Jr, and the best infield in baseball of Ozzie Albies, Dansby Swanson, and Austin Riley should help Matt Olson settle in as Atlanta attempts to defend. The City of Brotherly Love is ready to win. The additions of Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos creates a high powered Phillies offense. They already have a good rotation. If all the pieces click, Philadelphia will be a serious contender. If they do not, it could be a long, ugly season. The Mets are gonna Mets. Despite having Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer as baseball’s best one two starting pitching punch, the summer boils down to the health of the two aces. Scherzer has a small tweak, while deGrom could miss several months. The season is already hanging in the balance. Derek Jeter is gone. It seems like he walked away after it became clear Miami was not trying to win. The Marlins have their annual roster of good, young players. Year after year Miami has future stars, and this year is no different. The question is will this group, including Sandy Alcantara, mesh together before they are all traded away. The Nationals are rebuilding. They sold off almost everything for prospects. The biggest question in Washington is can the Nationals rebuild fast enough to convince Juan Soto to stay long term. 

National League Central

The National League Central is the weakest division in baseball. The Pirates, Cubs, and Reds are all rebuilding. The Cardinals are about to begin rebuilding. Only the Brewers are set up for success now and long term. Andrew McCutchen continues playing at a high level and adds more fire power to the Brewers lineup. Milwaukee has the best pitching staff from the rotation through the bullpen in baseball. If Christian Yelich bounces back there may not be a National League team that can stop the Brewers. Cardinals fans have one last season with Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina, and Adam Wainwright. It is more than a goodbye tour. St. Louis can contend for the National League Central crown and make a deep run in October. In baseball’s weakest division, the Reds can still contend. Cincinnati gutted itself. Eugenio Suarez, Jesse Winker, Sonny Gray, Tucker Barnhardt, and Amir Garrett are all gone. Spring Training for Joey Votto was full of new faces, like he was traded to a new team. He has been stuck on bad team after bad team, yet continues to build a possible Hall of Fame resume. The Cubs are at ground zero of their rebuild. The hope of keeping one or two of their championship pieces in Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, and Javy Baez is dead. They are all gone. The biggest draw on the northside of Chicago will be Wrigley Field. The Cubs are hoping it does not take 108 years to win their next World Series. Maybe the Pirates are rebuilding, but rebuilding means trying to win. 

National League West

The Dodgers are the George Steinbrenner Yankees without the outspoken owner. They are willing to spend big money to win. They have been one of the best teams over the last several seasons before signing Freddie Freeman. They replaced Kenley Jansen with Craig Kimbrel. Los Angeles is an early World Series favorite for sure. San Diego is easily the team with the most talent in the National League. Fernando Tatis Jr. should be in the MVP conversation every year. Manny Machado is a veteran but has plenty of great years ahead of him. Last season the Padres wilted under the pressure. Can they play with the best teams this season or will they wilt again? Carlos Rodon adds more firepower to the Giants rotation that outpaced the Dodgers in the Regular Season in 2021. Buster Posey’s retirement and Kris Bryant’s departure in free agency hurts, but San Francisco remains dangerous. The New York and now California rivalry is as hot as ever. Kris Bryant should sell tickets. The Rockies are hoping his draw lasts all season, as there is little hope for October in Colorado this season. Rocktober is the shortest month of the year, but it will not happen this year. The puzzling moves by the Rockies Front Office continue. If only Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story still played at Coors Field. Improving is relative in Arizona. If the Diamondbacks can avoid 100 losses in 2022 the season should be considered a success. They locked up Ketel Marte long term, but the Diamondbacks need much more to even reach .500. 

Postseason

The Postseason is the Wild West. The expanded Wild Card means a team can play average all season and then get hot in the last month of the Regular Season. They then carry that hot streak through October to the World Series parade. The beauty of October baseball is its unpredictability. Chaos reigns supreme. 

American League Wild Card

National League Wild Card

American League Divisional Series

National League Divisional Series

American League Championship Series

National League Championship Series

World Series

Congratulations to your 2022 World Series champions, the Chicago White Sox. We are for sure wrong with these predictions. Sure we nailed the Braves winning the 2021 World Series, but that was luck. Time will tell if our luck holds out in 2022. 

Happy Baseball. 

DJ, JJ, JB, BL, and KB