When Spring arrives, so does a new Major League Baseball season. The anticipation of which teams will rise to the occasion and contend for the coveted World Series title builds excitement throughout the baseball community. In this analysis, we pick five MLB franchises poised to win a World Series crown, alongside five teams that definitely will be missing out.
Los Angeles Dodgers – Will Win A World Series
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – APRIL 21: A detail of a Los Angeles Dodgers logo against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on April 21, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The Dodgers made a big offseason splash in free agency by signing superstar Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani joins a roster with the likes of Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. Other free agent signings include 25-year-old pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto who boasts a 70-29 record with a 1.82 ERA while pitching in the Nippon Professional Baseball League in Japan. The spending did not stop there as the Dodgers also signed 2021 All-Star outfielder Teoscar Hernandez to a 1 year $23.5 million dollar contract. But wait, there is more.
The Dodgers also traded for pitcher Tyler Glasnow from the Tampa Bay Rays and promptly signed him to a 5 year $136.5 million contract extension. The Dodgers clearly are not afraid to spend the cash if it means another World Series ring and with this roster and farm system it is hard not to envision multiple rings during the next 10 years
Oakland Athletics – Definitely Won’t Win A World Series
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JUNE 02: A patch honoring Lou Gehrig Day is seen on the jersey of Matt Chapman #26 of the Oakland Athletics during the third inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on June 02, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
No team was more excited for the 2023 MLB season to end than the Oakland A’s. After finishing the season with the worst record in baseball, the A’s focus will be more geared toward their relocation to Las Vegas than fielding a competitive baseball team. Not only does Oakland lack the major league talent to compete, but their prospect pipeline currently only has 1 player in the top 100 per mlb.com. Don’t expect the A’s to spend money as they are consistently in the bottom third of the league in payroll.
The years of Billy Beane’s moneyball concept are long gone and the few fans left in Oakland are left with very little optimism. While there is speculation on where the A’s will play until their stadium is finished, the A’s are still years away from a World Series ring.
Atlanta Braves – Will Win A World Series
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 08: An up close view of the World Series Champions patch on the sleeve of the jersey of Austin Riley #27 of the Atlanta Braves prior to the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Truist Park on April 08, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
No team has done a better job of securing a long-term roster than the Atlanta Braves. Superstars such as Ozzie Albies, Ronald Acuna Jr, Spencer Strider, Matt Olson, and Austin Riley are all under contract until at least the 2028 MLB season. The Braves are looking at a 7th straight NL East division title. Atlanta will be getting back from injury Max Fried, Sean Murphy, Charlie Morton, and Travis D’Arnuad as well as adding 7-time all-star pitcher Chris Sale.
Fresh off back-to-back 100-win seasons, the Braves have the roster, arguably the best pitching rotation, and depth to build on their 2021 World Series title and add more hardware to their already prestigious collection.
Pittsburgh Pirates – Definitely Won’t Win A World Series
PITTSBURGH, PA – JUNE 2: A detailed view of a jersey of Rodolfo Castro #14 of the Pittsburgh Pirates honoring Lou Gehrig Day during the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park on June 2, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
The Pirates have had a losing season in 7 out of the last 8 years and have not had a taste of postseason baseball since 2015. However, unlike their counterpart Oakland A’s in this series, they do have some fundamental pieces to build around including SS O’Neil Cruz, 2021 first overall selection C Henry Davis, and pitcher Paul Skenes who was the first overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft.
However, Pittsburgh has to prove that they will stick with their talent as they have a propensity to trade away players including Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole, Tyler Glasnow, Joe Musgrove, and Josh Bell just to name a few. At least, Pittsburgh has one of the best stadiums in baseball that fans can enjoy because a World Series ring is not in the Pirates’ future.
Houston Astros – Will Win A World Series
HOUSTON, TEXAS – MAY 31: A Memorial Day decal is seen on the jersey of Kyle Tucker #30 of the Houston Astros during the fourth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Minute Maid Park on May 31, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
A staple in the postseason for nearly the past decade has been the Houston Astros. During that time, Houston has gone to 4 World Series while winning 2 of them. The Astros have shown they are not afraid to spend money when needed as well as grow their talent through their farm system.
The Astros roster has young talent including Yordan Alvarez, Kyle Tucker, Jeremy Pena, Yainer Diaz, Christian Javier, and Hunter Brown who all are under the age of 28 as well as veterans such as Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, and Josh Hader. Love them or hate them, Houston always finds a way year in and year out to reach the postseason and once it’s postseason baseball it’s anyone’s game.
Washington Nationals – Definitely Won’t Win A World Series
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 02: A Childhood Cancer Awareness Day ribbon is seen on the jersey of Joey Meneses #45 of the Washington Nationals during the first inning of the game between the Washington Nationals and the New York Mets at Citi Field on September 02, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
Being optimistic is all that Nationals fans have to be excited about, especially when Washington has finished in last place each of the past four seasons. Since their 2019 World Series championship, the Nationals have lost most of that World Series roster via trade or free agency including Trea Turner, Anthony Rendon, Juan Soto, and Max Scherzer.
Baltimore Orioles – Will Win A World Series
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – JUNE 02: A patch and wristband logo honoring ALS Lou Gehrig Day is shown on the jersey of Cedric Mullins #31 of the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning against the Minnesota Twinsat Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 02, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
It’s been a long time for someone to say they are an Orioles fan and be able to say that with pride. Arguably, no team has done a better job of assembling talent than Baltimore. Baltimore has a farm system that makes teams envious with players such as Adley Rutschman, Colton Cowser, Gunner Henderson, Anthony Santander, Grayson Rodriguez, and Heston Kjerstad looking to be solid prospects. That is not even mentioning the 2022 first-overall selection, Jackson Holliday.
But the wealth of talent does not stop there with Baltimore trading for 2021 Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes to a team that is coming off a 101-win season that eventually ended at the hands of the future World Series champion Texas Rangers. Fear not though Orioles fans, this is just the beginning of success for Baltimore as they are primed to compete for years to come.
Colorado Rockies – Definitely Won’t Win A World Series
MIAMI, FL – JULY 21: A detail shot of a dirty jersey worn by Randal Grichuk #15 of the Colorado Rockies during the third inning of a game against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park on July 21, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
There is no easy way to put this, the future of the Colorado Rockies looks bleak. Rockies fans are unphased and unsurprised as their team missed the postseason for the fifth year in a row. In fairness to the fans, their emotions are valid as the Rockies have never finished higher than second in their division and finished 2023 with a franchise-worst 103 losses
Ownership is also to blame for the downfall of the Rockies. The Monfort family has owned the team since 2005. The Monfort’s have worked hand in hand with his General Managers ever since taking ownership of the team including being heavily involved in trading superstar Nolan Arenado. Rockies’ success will come when Monfort steps away from the team operations but that does not appear to be something happening any time soon.
New York Yankees – Will Win A World Series
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 02: Detail of a jersey patch worn by DJ LeMahieu #26 of the New York Yankees for Lou Gehrig Day during the first inning of Game Two of a doubleheader against the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium on June 02, 2022 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
The Yankees are coming off a disappointing 2023 season missing the postseason for the first time since 2016. Disappointment is something that isn’t tolerated with the Yankees franchise. New York spent the offseason trading for 3 time all-star Juan Soto and landing pitcher Marcus Strowman to bolster their pitching rotation.
It is hard to imagine a franchise that has 27 World Series titles to its name not being in contention to win another. There are no excuses for New York. They have the superstars and two potential MVP candidates (Aaron Judge and Juan Soto) to win a World Series and now it’s on the players to finish the job.
Chicago White Sox – Definitely Won’t Win A World Series
ANAHEIM, CA – AUGUST 17: Chicago White Sox pitcher Hector Santiago (53) has a patch on his jersey for Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs (45) during a MLB game between the Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on August 17, 2019 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The White Sox are a terrible baseball team currently finishing their 2023 MLB season with a 61-101 record which is their lowest win total in a full season since 1970. The White Sox did not really add much talent in the offseason to improve that roster with their signings of Erick Fedde, Paul DeJong, and Martin Maldonado.
Like many other ball clubs on this list, management is another problem. White Sox fans have been begging for owner Jerry Reinsdorf to sell the team as he has not shown a commitment to winning. Manager Pedro Grifol seems in over his head. Hopefully, new GM Chris Getz can turn around this franchise.
