Arena: MLB Is Back
MLB.com
Major League Baseball is officially back. After months of back and forth between team owners and MLBPA over the conditions of a new collective bargaining agreement, professional baseball returns once again. Here are some of the top stories to follow this year.
SNNOW.com
Toronto Blue Jays World Series Aspirations
The Toronto Blue Jays were one of the best teams in baseball last season. They had a great offense that ranked second in team batting average and knocked the most balls out of the park with 262 home runs. A large portion of those long balls hit came from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Marcus Semien, who both put up MVP worthy seasons. Guerrero Jr. became the star we always knew he was capable of posting .311/.401/.601 while mashing 48 homers. Semien finished third in MVP voting last season and for good reason. The veteran infielder hit the most home runs ever by a second baseman in history with 45. Starting pitcher Robbie Ray had an incredible year where he led the American League in strikeouts, innings pitched, and had the best ERA to win the Cy Young. Despite their efforts, they missed the playoffs in an extremely competitive AL East division that saw four teams win over 90 games. With a chip on their shoulder and greater exceptions from last year, the Blue Jays aren’t planning on just making the postseason but making a legitimate World Series run.
Although Semien and Ray opted for greener pastures in free agency, the Jays are still loaded with talent. Guerrero Jr. is poised to have another stellar season and should be in the MVP conversation by year's end once again. Shortstop Bo Bichette will look to be named an All-Star once again after his 2021 breakout year. Outfielders George Springer and Teoscar Hernandez are both expected to have quality seasons at the plate. Even without Ray, the Blue Jays have a great set of arms with Jose Berrios, Kevin Gausman, and Hyun-Jin Ryu who will look to bounce back after a down season. Also worth mentioning is the acquisition of All-Star Matt Chapman who was brought in via trade from the Oakland A’s. They have the ingredients to be a great team, but their mettle will be tested in October.
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
LA Dodgers Reload With Freddie Freeman
The Los Angeles Dodgers won the 2020 World Series with an amazing collection of talent that included a plethora of All-Stars and former MVP and Cy Young winners. They looked to defend their title in 2021 but ultimately fell short in the NLCS to the eventual champion Atlanta Braves. It was a disappointment no doubt, especially considering how all-in the Dodgers were last year at the trade deadline acquiring Max Scherzer and Trae Turner. Entering 2022, The Boys in Blue are on a mission to win the World Series again, this time with a little help from a recent world champion.
The Dodgers won free agency in their pursuit for another title by acquiring one of the biggest fish out on the market, Freddie Freeman. After playing for the Braves for 12 seasons and winning the World Series last year, Freeman signed a six-year, $162 million contract with LA. He brings another veteran and MVP presence to the clubhouse and that experience will go a long way in the postseason.
Steph Chambers-Getty Images
Julio Rodriguez Could Be MLB’s Next Star
MLB’s crop of young talent has spoiled many fans and teams around the league. Young stars like Fernando Tatis Jr., Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Juan Soto have become some of the top players in MLB before the age of 25. A potential addition to that list is Seattle Mariners outfielderJulio Rodriguez. The Mariners’ top prospect is as talented as anyone to make into the show. In the minors, Rodriguez showed to be a great hitter with a batting average of .331 over three seasons. Rodriguez is also a terrific athlete that can move well for his 6’4” frame. In the field, he’s able to run effortlessly to different spaces in the outfield and gets a good break on long balls.
Last season in the minors Rodriguez dominated the competition. He put up video game-like splits with .347/.441/.560 across 74 games. The Mariners were so impressed by his performance they called him up for spring training despite not making an appearance in Triple A. Spring training gave us a preview of what to expect from J-Rod in the majors, including leaping catches and crushing home runs. Rodriguez makes his major league debut this year at 21 for a revamped Mariners squad that has its sights set on a playoff berth. Come October Rodriguez could be the star piece Seattle needs to make a postseason run.
Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Can The Angels Make The Playoffs?
Last year was an injury-riddled season for the Los Angeles Angels. Former MVP Mike Trout and All-Star Anthony Rendon both missed over 100 games for a club that was expected to be competitive in the AL West. While a mostly disappointing season for fans that saw their team finish 4th in the division, a silver lining was Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani had a historic year in baseball crushing 46 home runs and racking 100 RBIs as a hitter. On the mound, Ohtani recorded 189 strikeouts and led the AL in WAR with 9. He was named unanimous MVP and made his case for best baseballer in MLB. It’s not inconceivable to think that if Trout and Rendon stayed healthy the Angels could’ve gone on a playoff run with Ohtani, making this year even more heavily anticipated.
In the off-season, the Angels spent $58.75 million on arms to add to their bullpen. Noah Syndergaard and Michael Lorenzen will join Ohtani in the starting rotation while Aaron Loup and Ryan Tepera will close out later innings. The halos will be expecting good seasons out of their
young prospects Jo Adell and Brandon Marsh who had solid outings in spring training. The Angels are sure to be in the mix for a postseason berth...if they stay healthy.
