With the 2020 season potentially being soon amid this COVID-19 pandemic, teams are gearing up for a winning season. With the MLB being as filled with talent as ever, there are a lot of pretty good teams but who would be top 10 in the MLB right now? There are a lot of potential teams who could be up here, but here’s my crack at it:
10. New York Mets
While I don’t know if this team is legit, this team does have the talent of a top 10 team. Top 10 in overall pitching and top 10 in offense in terms of talent, they can do very well in 2020, unless there is even a bit of underperforming then this team could unravel, quick. With Jacob deGrom leading the pitching and Jeff McNeil being their best position player, the Mets have the right tools, it’s just a matter of it finally coming together, though the starting pitching cannot regress at all, looking at you Marcus Stroman.
9. St. Louis Cardinals
While I believe they will win the NL Central, it won’t be because they’re an incredible squad. They will see a better season from Paul Goldschmidt but losing Marcell Ozuna is a big loss for the offensive side of the ball. They still tout a great defensive squad with Kolten Wong and Paul DeJong in the middle infield. Their pitching will be solid but not outstanding, and this team will somehow will it’s way into October through the mediocre NL Central.
8. Minnesota Twins
Another team that will benefit severely from a division with no real powerhouse squad. While this team won 103 games and added 3B Josh Donaldson to the fold, this team benefitted a lot from their weak opponents in the Royals, White Sox, and Tigers, and were stomped by the Yankees in three lopsided affairs. Their high-powered offense and good pitching is great but could’ve been inflated by what was a cakewalk of a division. Don’t fall in love with this team as they might not be as great as their inflated record will show. This team is pretty good, but not as great as the teams ahead of them.
7. Washington Nationals
Yes, these are the defending World Series Champions, but this team lost megastar Anthony Rendon and unlike with Bryce Harper didn’t add Patrick Corbin and Howie Kendrick, with Victor Robles playing a full season. This team is very good don’t get me wrong, but to win the World Series again? I don’t know if this team is as good as the 2019 edition of this squad, but this team still has postseason written all over it in 2020.
6. Atlanta Braves
This team lost Josh Donalson but added Marcell Ozuna and added to their bullpen. With Max Fried, Mike Soroka, Mike Foltynewicz, and Cole Hamels leading that staff they look to be a nightmare for lineups. Their offense is looking to implement youngster Austin Riley in Donaldson’s absence, and with their team basically being all here, they’re poised to win the NL East again. This team was great in 2019, and with a better bullpen and starting staff, they’ll get even better.
5. Oakland Athletics
This team is a very good squad, extremely talented in all aspects of the word talent. They won 96 games but had the misfortune of having to play the amazing Rays, who almost knocked off the AL winning Astros in the ALDS. Their offense and defense is loaded with Matt Olson and Matt Chapman leading both sides of the ball, as they are premier players at each position. Pitching wise? This team boasts Sean Manaea, A.J Puk, Frankie Montas, and Jesus Lúzardo for their starting staff, with Liam Hendricks, Lou Trivino, Jake Diekman, and Joakim Soria all being great bullpen arms. This team is talented, and they will be one of the best teams in MLB.
4. Tampa Bay Rays
One spot ahead of the A’s is the other small-market team with insane talent. A pitching staff led by Charlie Morton, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Yonny Chirinos sports 3 Cy young caliber pitchers, and a really good #4 arm. Ryan Yarbrough is a great long reliever/ #5 starter and Brendan McKay will also get innings as well. That bullpen is also great, with an exuberant amount of talent in the ‘pen. This team will be baseball’s best pitching squad and they have a solid offensive lineup, but their pitching will lead them to glory.
3. Houston Astros
Talk about their sign-stealing all you want, this team still has Justin Verlander and Zack Greinke will get Lance McCullers Jr. back, has a really good offense, and won 107 games in 2019. The Astros are a stud team, and they will win their division and in my opinion, be in the ALCS at least. Don’t be surprised if the Astros win the World Series, even without their cheating they are a really good baseball team. This team will win 100 games and the division, no doubt in my mind.
2. New York Yankees
Adding Gerrit Cole after winning 103 games in spite of the worst season in terms of injury is always a great move. They have one of baseball’s best pitching staffs with Gerrit Cole, James Paxton, and Masahiro Tanaka leading the way. Their bullpen is always going to be fearsome, and their lineup is the second-best in the MLB. This team is my favorite to win the American League, but they aren’t the best team in baseball on paper, this next team just edges them out.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
They finally did it and made a big trade, and this will pay off if we have a season. Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger in the same lineup with Max Muncy, Corey Seager, Justin Turner, Will Smith, and Joc Pederson, this is a team with all well beyond good hitters. This team also sports a great starting staff, with Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw leading the way with Alex Wood added in there. The bullpen added a question mark in Blake Treinen, but this bullpen will still be solid. The Dodgers are in that superteam class of teams and are the best team in the MLB right now.