NL West

Los Angeles Dodgers

Projected Finish: 1st in division

Coming off a first-place NL West finish and a NLCS loss to the Cubs, the Dodgers look to repeat and improve in the 2017 season. Their pitching will remain strong as they’ve added Sergio Romo and Josh Fields and resigned Kenley Jansen.

San Francisco Giants

Projected Finish: 2nd in division

Last season, the Giants’ bullpen fell apart. With many injuries and inconsistencies, it prevented them from getting deep in the playoffs. However, a healthy bullpen that added an elite closer in Mark Melancon and resigned Will Smith and Eduardo Nunez looks to eliminate last season’s bullpen woes.

Colorado Rockies

Projected Finish: 3rd in division

After a big improvement in last season, the Colorado Rockies could be a surprise team this year. They’ve resigned key players Nolan Arenado, Charlie Blackmon, and Jake McGee, and added Mike Dunn, Greg Holland, and Ian Desmond. The Rockies have always had star players who put up great numbers, but this could be the year they finally put the puzzle together.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Projected Finish: 4th in division

The Diamondbacks had a quiet offseason in signing Fernando Rodney and resigning Shelby Miller. After a disappointing season last year, the D-Backs won’t be able to do much better in this season. They have been plagued with bad trades and general management which has put them in the bottom of the barrel in the MLB.

San Diego Padres

Projected Finish: 5th in division

Last season, the Padres offense was Wil Myers, and unfortunately for the Padres, that will remain the same this season. The Padres enhanced their pitching by adding Jered Weaver and Trevor Cahill and resigning Brad Hand, but that won’t go far if they can’t improve their offense.

NL Central

Chicago Cubs

Projected Finish: 1st in division

The Cubs are stacked: they’ve added Koji Uehara and Wade Davis, and resigned Pedro Strop, Jake Arrieta, and Hector Rondon. Every aspect of the Cubs organization is thriving, and they hope to repeat with another World Series win this season.

St. Louis Cardinals

Projected Finish: 2nd in division

The Cardinals have been a very consistently good team over the last few years, but since their World Series win in 2011, they’ve always fallen short. It will be hard to win in a division with the Cubs and Pirates, but with the additions of Dexter Fowler and Brett Cecil and the resigning of Michael Wacha, Kevin Siegrist, and Trevor Rosenthal, the Cardinals look to pass their aspirations and make it deep into the playoffs.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Projected Finish: 3rd in division

The Pirates have a similar situation to the Cardinals: they’ve been consistently good, but never great in recent times. This year, they’ve resigned Juan Nicasio, Jordy Mercer, Gerrit Cole, and Ivan Nova. The Pirates will try to improve from last season and make the transition from good to great.

Milwaukee Brewers

Projected Finish: 4th in division

Being a bottom team in an extremely competitive division is tough for the Brewers, and it won’t get any easier for them this season. Only adding Neftali Feliz and Travis Shaw won’t do much for the Brewers as they’re easily outclassed by the Cubs, Cardinals, and Pirates rosters.

Cincinnati Reds

Projected Finish: 5th in division

After adding Scott Feldman and resigning Zack Cosart and Billy Hamilton, the Reds will still have a very tough time succeeding in the NL Central. Similar to the Brewers, the Reds roster is totally outmatched by the Cubs, Cardinals, and Pirates, so it will tough for the Reds to do anything this year.

NL East

Washington Nationals

Projected Finish: 2nd in division

The Nationals had a great season last year, and with some solid acquisitions this offseason, they hope to repeat. Acquiring Joe Blanton, Adam Lind, and Matt Wieters, and resigning Bryce Harper, Gio Gonzalez, Anthony Rendon, and Tanner Roark will help the Nationals do so in this 2017 season.

New York Mets

Projected Finish: 1st in division

The Mets did a lot this offseason: resigning Matt Harvey, Jacob Degrom, Travis D’Arnaud, Addison Reed, Wilmer Flores, Jay Bruce, Jose Reyes, Yoenis Cespedes, Lucas Duda, Zack Wheeler, Jerry Blevins, and Jeurys Familia. The Mets look to make it back to the top of the MLB this season. If they stay healthy, then they could be very successful.

Miami Marlins

Projected Finish: 4th in division

The Marlins were a surprisingly good team last year, and they have all the tools to do the same this year. After adding Brad Ziegler and Dan Straily and resigning Marcell Ozuna, Adeiny Hechavarria, A.J. Ramos, and Derek Dietrich, the Marlins could very well have another solid season.

Philadelphia Phillies

Projected Finish: 3rd in division

The Phillies had a strong start to the 2016 season, and this season they will look to continue that strength throughout the entire year. They’ve added Pat Neshek, Joaquin Benoit, Clay Buchholz, Michael Saunders, and Pat Venditte, and resigned Freddy Galvis, Odubel Herrera, and Jeanmar Gomez, who will try to help them in a solid NL East Division.

Atlanta Braves

Projected Finish: 5th in division

In 2016, the Braves were awful, but had potential to be good. However, this season could very well be the same. Nevertheless, they’ve acquired Bartolo Colon, Sean Rodriguez, R.A. Dickey, and Jaime Garcia, and resigned Ender Inciarte and Ian Krol to help them compete this year.

AL East

Boston Red Sox

Projected Finish: 1st in division

The Red Sox were sent packing early from last year’s playoffs, which they will certainly not want to do again this year. After acquiring All-Star pitcher Chris Sale, Gold Glove 1B Mitch Moreland, as well as some other small moves, this team is bulking up to be a real contender for a World Series this year.

Toronto Blue Jays

Projected Finish: 2nd in division

The Blue Jays, fresh from a Wild Card berth and a decent postseason, have lost a lot of the pieces that they had last year. Most notably the loss of Edwin Encarnacion will sting them, and hurt their offense tremendously. This Toronto team is stuck in between rebuilding and trying to win now, and it is going to cost them big time.

Baltimore Orioles

Projected Finish: 4th in division

The Orioles are coming off a Wild Card loss in the playoffs, and besides keeping their players and acquiring some prospects, the team looks relatively the same. This team is one that will be an offensive team that has to hope the pitching can do something. They didn’t get worse this offseason, but they missed out on picking up a pitcher that could help them out.

New York Yankees

Projected Finish: 3rd in division

The Yankees were a team that couldn’t decide whether to rebuild or not, then they went full rebuild, and started to win. Now they are trying to win with the rookies that showed up last year for them. Along with signing Aroldis Chapman to the team, on a very questionable contract. The Yankees have loads of prospects now and should be able to sustain some very good seasons.

Tampa Bay Rays

Projected Finish: 5th in division

The Rays didn’t have a very good season last year, however, they’re looking to turn that around. With the pitching rotation lacking a bit, the Rays didn’t fill the need, but they did get offensive pieces like Colby Rasmus and Wilson Ramos, certainly filling some needs. With so many great teams fighting in the AL East, there is just simply not enough room for holes in a lineup like the Rays have, but they are still rebuilding and looking for their future star.

AL Central

Cleveland Indians

Projected Finish: 1st in division

After reaching the World Series, and blowing a 3-1 lead to the Chicago Cubs the Indians will look to get back to the World Series and finish as the victors. The Indians made a splash by upgrading with 1B Edwin Encarnacion. This will surely improve the team, along with the entire starting rotation being healthy.

Detroit Tigers:

Projected Finish: 3rd in division

The Tigers had a decent season despite not making the playoffs last year. There was a big plus when SP Michael Fulmer won Rookie of the Year with them. Also, they had a good pitching rotation as a whole. The Tigers this offseason have been relatively quiet, but they did acquire more prospects, leaving more room for the future ahead.  

Kansas City Royals

Projected Finish: 2nd in division

The Royals struggled last year after a World Series win in 2015. However, this offseason they got busy by acquiring Jorge Soler for Wade Davis, and trading for some other prospects. They also signed SP Jason Hammel, who will help out their starting rotation. The Royals have a lot of young talent hitting their primes, and should try very hard not to waste them.

Chicago White Sox

Projected Finish: 5th in division

The White Sox made lots of moves this offseason acquiring top prospects Yoan Moncada, Michael Kopech, and Lucas Giolito, as well as others, in trades that sent away Adam Eaton and Chris Sale. This team is in a full out fire-sale, and with these trades, the White Sox have the best farm system in baseball, and will be surefire contenders down the road, but right now winning should not be expected.

Minnesota Twins

Projected Finish: 4th in division

The Twins are in a rebuilding phase right now, and unlike the White Sox, they have not sent away their stars for top prospects. This could really hurt the Twins’ chances of competing in the future, and with a team that has some star talent, but a lot of glaring weaknesses, this team is going to struggle in the near future, unless they make moves for a great prospect.

AL West

Texas Rangers

Projected Finish: 2nd in division

The Rangers came off an incredible season, but they did lose some of the pieces that got them there. Most notably Ian Desmond, who they didn’t give enough of an effort to retain, even though he was outstanding for them. It remains to be seen, but with solid pitching this team should still be in the hunt for the playoffs.

Houston Astros

Projected Finish: 1st in division

The Houston Astros underwhelmed last year, but they are not going to let that be the case again. They added Carlos Beltran, Josh Reddick, and Brian McCann to an already star studded lineup. This offense will surely be a force to be reckoned with this coming season. The pitching was lacking a little last year, but the Astros hope for great seasons from all their pitchers including ace Dallas Keuchel. This team has the pieces to fight for a spot in a division that is always very close like the AL West.

Seattle Mariners

Projected Finish: 4th in division

The Mariners had a solid offense last year and a good rotation on paper, but they just didn’t perform when it mattered. Now with added pitching help thanks to Drew Smyly, the team is looking to compete with the rest of them in a division, as said, that is pretty wide open, and really anyone’s game at this point.

Los Angeles Angels

Projected Finish: 3rd in division

The Angels had a relatively quiet offseason this year. The only big move they made was acquiring Cameron Maybin. This team is really centered around Mike Trout, but as of late, winning had been hard for them to come by. As a result, they are wasting Mike Trout’s prime. The Angels need to make more moves to build a solid rotation, but right now the playoffs seem a long ways away.

Oakland Athletics

Projected Finish: 5th in division

The Oakland A’s are the MLB’s biggest conundrum. With their “Moneyball” tactics they have sent off some of the game’s best, and have nothing to show for it. Adding Trevor Plouffe and Santiago Casilla doesn’t hurt, but it is really confusing to figure out if this team really thinks they can win now, or are rebuilding.