Top 6 MLB Teams headed for a Turnaround in 2023

Turnarounds

6) Marlins

2022 record: 69-93

This is the one I am least sure about. There should be some improvement. Jean Segura and Luis Arraez are significant upgrades to the top of the order. Having videogame cover athlete Jazz Chisholm Jr. fully healthy for the entire season will make a huge difference and make the baseball season a lot more enjoyable for all, not just Marlins fans. Even with Pablo Lopez being traded to Minnesota, the pitching should be strong with veteran Johnny Cueto and young stars like Trevor Rogers, Edward Cabrera, and Jesus Luzardo. The problem is the NL East. It has three highly motivated and talented teams New York, Philadelphia, and Atlanta teams. Are the Marlins doing enough to catch them? It’s unlikely. They’ll surpass 69 wins and, with a bit of luck .500 will be possible.

Why The MARLINS Can Be BETTER Than The Mets, Braves, or Phillies In 2023

5) Cubs

2022 record: 74-88

The hope for the Cubs going into 2022 was that they would finish third in the NL Central, and everything would go right to allow them to compete for a playoff berth. While the first part of that statement was actual, the second was quite false. It doesn’t matter what you think about the Cubs’ long-term outlook; it is clear that they are working hard to improve in ’23. Shortstop Dansby Swanson is the essential new player. Still, many new faces exist, including Trey Mancini, Tucker Barnhart, Eric Hosmer, Jameson Taillon, and Cody Bellinger, who is a fascinating question mark. The general theme is still the same as last year: Get third in your division and see if you can run higher. They have many more horses this year to make it happen.

5 Things That NEED To Happen for the Cubs to Make the Playoffs In 2023

4) D-backs

2022 record: 74-88

After three consecutive losing seasons, the D-backs quietly transformed themselves into something new. The key to this is Corbin Carroll, MLB Pipeline’s No. 2 prospect. Corbin Carroll, the No. 2 prospect, is a favorite to win the NL Rookie of the Year Award. It’s not only him. Arizona is home to several young players, including Jake McCarthy (25) and Zac Gallen (27), as well as Carson Kelly (28) and Ketel Marte (29), respectively. Many people didn’t notice that Christian Walker hit 36 homers last season. The Dodgers and Padres are the juggernauts in the NL West. However, the Giants and Rockies haven’t made any progress, while the Giants seem to be stumbling. This year, the stealth playoff pick is the D-backs. They are expected to win 74 games by a large margin.

The Most Underrated MLB team going into 2023 (Arizona Diamondbacks)

3) Texas Rangers

2022 Record: 68-94

The 2023 Texas Rangers have a wider range of possible outcomes than any other team.

They needed to improve a rotation that ranked 25th last season in ERA, 26th WHIP, and 28th in strikeouts-to-walk ratio. So they completely overhauled the team with massive, if often-injured, talent. They also acquired Jacob deGrom (two-time Cy Young Award winner), 2021 All-Star Nathan Eovaldi (2021 All-Star), Jake Odorizzi (2021 All-Star) and Andrew Heaney (resurgent lefty). Heaney ranked second in strikeout percentage among starters who pitched at least 50 innings last season, behind Atlanta’s Spencer Strider.

This crew will join Jon Gray (who accepted the club’s qualifying offer following an All-Star season) to create a revamped team. One that, if healthy, could easily lead a team, even in a category with the Mariners and Astros. That “if” is a lot of work.

DeGrom’s dominance has been overwhelming, but he has never made more than 15 starts per season since 2019. He did, however make 30-plus starts each of the previous three seasons. Eovaldi had not started more than 25 games in a single season since 2015, before 2021. Eovaldi missed last year due to back and shoulder injuries that kept him from playing in 20 games in Boston. Heaney rode his slider to a career-best year in 2022. He struck out 13.6 batters per nine innings for the Dodgers. However, he was plagued by shoulder and home run issues that limited him to 14 starts.

This team was last season a middle-of-the-pack offense, with little to no improvement. If Josh Jung, Jonah Heim, or Leody Taveras make a move, and if Nate Lowe continues his career year and Marcus Semien finds his 2021 form, this group should be more than just a serviceable one.

Why The Texas Rangers Will Be Baseball’s Next Powerhouse

2) Twins

2022 record: 78-84

If they hadn’t signed Carlos Correa, would the Twins have been significantly better than last year? Many people still believe they will win at least 78 games. What about Correa? Is Lopez at the top of that rotation? Joey Gallo and Byron Buxton seem like a great fit. They are looking healthy and ready for action. The Guardians appear to be just as good this year as last year. The White Sox are still trying to recover from last year’s letdown. And the Tigers, Royals, well, they have a long way to go. Correa is back with the Twins, and they have made it clear that they intend to compete for American League Central titles at least for the next half-decade. This might seem like a lot. However, winning more than 78 matches shouldn’t be a big ask.

Minnesota Twins 2023 Preseason Bold Takes

1) Angels

2022 record: 73-89

Do you remember the Angels’ hot start in 2022? It looked like the entire world would be able to see Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout in the playoffs. The Halos had a disappointing season due to a rough June and July. They were an avoid-your-eyes 16-36 in those two months.

If you take a closer look, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic. The Angels’ pitching was better than in previous years. There might have been five solid starters in ’23, and it would be hard to believe that the injuries will be as bad again. Their offseason moves weren’t too extravagant, but they raised their floor with the additions of reliable veterans like Hunter Renfroe and Brandon Drury. This team can make it to the playoffs if the Halos keep Anthony Rendon, Trout, Ohtani and Anthony Rendon on the field at all times and the rest could be in trouble if they do.

The Los Angeles Angels Are Finally Doing It Right This Offseason