By Dimitrios Kontagiannis, Sports Editor
MLB opening day is fast approaching. The Chicago Cubs will face off against the Miami Marlins first among other games on March 29, the earliest opening day in MLB history.
What will the standings look like? What happened in the off-season? And most importantly, who will go to the World Series this year?
This MLB offseason has had a lot of activity. Critics are complaining teams purposefully aren’t signing players to tank or because next year’s free agent market is way better. If they consider this offseason an uneventful one, imagine an eventful one.
The biggest news this offseason was the New York Yankees acquiring National League MVP Giancarlo Stanton from the Miami Marlins in a trade. The Marlins also traded left fielder Marcell Ozuna, center fielder Christian Yelich, and second baseman Dee Gordon in a huge hall pointing to the direction of a total tank for a Miami Marlins fan base that is already fed up. The Pittsburgh Pirates also made some noise dealing away veteran outfielder Andrew McCutchen and pitcher Gerrit Cole. Cole, more importantly, was traded to the defending World Series champs Houston Astros, and will build up there already phenomenal starting rotation. Among other major trades, the Padres dealt second baseman Yangervis Solarte, the Rays traded away veteran second baseman Evan Longoria, and even the Braves got in the trade market trading veteran left fielder Matt Kemp. All these teams traded away central pieces of their team for young, untested talents who teams hope will become new central pieces in a few years.
Free agency was eventful, but not as much as in years past. As of Feb. 22, 2018, free agency top dogs like Jake Arrieta and Mike Moustakas are still available. The best free agent hasn’t even have any MLB experience. Twenty-three-year-old pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Otani was a star in his homeland Japan, and the youngster signed with the Los Angeles Angels, and is expected to have an immediate impact alongside two-time American League MVP Mike Trout.
Outfielder J.D. Martinez signed with the Boston Red Sox, giving them the power bat that they need to perhaps win the American League East. The Cubs get another big money pitcher in Yu Darvish, looking to get back into the World Series race. First baseman Carlos Santana signed with the Phillies, while outfielder Lorenzo Cain signed a five-year deal with the Brewers. Some found first baseman Eric Hosmer going to the San Diego Padres in an unbelievable eight-year deal pretty puzzling, since San Diego is in the middle of a rebuild and really doesn’t have any other pieces to put around him.
So who will win their respective divisions, make the playoffs, and win the World Series? Here’s what I think.
AL East – New York Yankees
AL Central – Cleveland Indians
AL West – Houston Astros
NL East – Washington Nationals
NL Central – Chicago Cubs
NL West – Los Angeles Dodgers
NL Wildcard – Colorado Rockies
NL St. Louis Cardinals
AL Wildcard Boston Red Sox
AL Minnesota Twins
In the end, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees have the most talent. They will face off in the World Series again, with the Yankees taking it in seven, and none other than Giancarlo Stanton winning World Series MVP honors.