By JP Hefft | Sports Editor
February 28, 2020
Now that the spring season is upon us, Major League Baseball is just around the corner. As always, the players and coaches of all 29 teams traveled to either Arizona or Florida for spring training. Although it is early and teams are still making crucial decisions about their opening day rosters, the front runners for the World series, Division champions, MVP, and Cy Young awards have their sights on winning big, both as individuals and as a team.
The off-season free agency market has had a huge impact on the likelihood of certain teams winning the World Series. After an unbelievable season, the Washington Nationals, the 2019 World Series champions, lost their superstar third baseman Anthony Rendon when the Anaheim Angels signed him to a seven-year, $245 million contract. After this, the Nationals have plummeted on the lists for front runner to win the 2020 World Series, behind the New York Yankees, Houston Astros, and Los Angeles Dodgers.
“The Dodgers are going to win it all,” San Clemente High School senior Trenton Brail said. “They have too many elite pitchers to be taken out by any American League team.”
As of February 4, 2020, the Dodgers acquired 2018 MVP award winner Mookie Betts and elite veteran pitcher David Price, pushing many baseball fans to believe that the Dodgers are going to bring home a championship to LA.
All of the divisions, in both respective leagues, are stacking up to be very exciting and competitive. Starting in the American League, the AL West’s front runner is still the Houston Astros, with intriguing candidates to take the division in the Texas Rangers and Anaheim Angels. In the AL Central, the Minnesota Twins are looking like they will take the the division again with the off season acquisition of third baseman Josh Donaldson. Although the Twins are the best team on paper, the Cleveland Indians are always very competitive with a veteran pitching staff and lineup. On the other side of the country, the AL East should be a sure thing for the New York Yankees, after their signing of Cy Young candidate Gerrit Cole.
“My favorite team is the Angels,” SCHS senior Gavin Peterson said. “I really hope they make a run into the playoffs so we can watch Mike Trout on the biggest stage of baseball”. Trout, one of the MVP candidates every year, has only played in the playoffs once in his career.
In the NL West, the Los Angeles Dodgers are the clear front runner to take that division, being one of the teams that have good odds of winning the World Series. Going to the NL Central, the Milwaukee Brewers have the best chances of winning the division on the back of superstar MVP candidate Christian Yelich. Although the Brewers have the best chances, the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds will give them a run for their money with their young and exciting players. Finally, the NL East is starting to present itself as the most competitive division in the entire MLB. The Mets, Phillies, Nationals, and Braves have very talented and young players, all fighting for that playoff berth.
For MVP, the candidates to take this honor are Mike Trout, DJ LeMahieu, and Alex Bregman for the American League. In the other league, the candidates are Cody Bellinger, Christian Yelich, and Ronald Acuna Jr. This year should prove to be a very competitive year in the MVP race, as young stars are beginning to emerge.
Overall, this MLB season is going to be entertaining, and even non-baseball fans should be keeping an eye on the MLB, especially as the playoffs near in October.
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