Grading the 2022 season for every MLB team

Coming off a nightmarish 110-loss season in 2021, the expectations in Arizona have been low. 74 wins was within the vary of viable outcomes, and the staff noticed terrific seasons from Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, and Christian Walker. Extra importantly, a number of of the staff’s kids delivered, together with an thrilling secure of outfielders led by Daulton Varsho, Jake McCarthy, and Corbin Carroll.

After a sluggish begin, the Braves acquired proper and surged to their fifth consecutive NL East title. Sadly, the staff’s season can be remembered for playoff failures, but it surely’s robust to be too rigged after the staff gained 101 video games and confirmed elite efficiency in nearly each aspect. The emergence of Kyle Wright, William Contreras, Michael Harris, Vaughn Grissom, and Spencer Strider ought to make followers much more optimistic in regards to the future.

The O’s had one of many largest turnarounds in latest reminiscence, from 52 wins in 2021 to 83 wins in 2022, and it was a outcome few noticed coming. The development was sweeter contemplating that Baltimore’s younger gamers spurred it, led by catcher Adley Rutschman. The staff nonetheless has a variety of areas to enhance heading into the offseason, however in addition they have an opportunity to be an element within the AL East for years to come back.

The Pink Sox are hardly ever boring, and that assertion was correct once more in 2022. Coming off a 92-win season, Boston had a sorely disappointing 78-win season with one pitching damage after one other. Most of the points have been past their management, like accidents to Chris Sale, Michael Wacha, Nathan Eovaldi, Garrett Whitlock, and Tanner Houck, however the staff additionally had holes created by buying and selling Hunter Renfroe and failing to deal with the bullpen. The entrance workplace has a pivotal offseason forward.

We have been anticipating a foul yr in Chicago after the staff traded a lot of its core in 2021. The 74-win season was even with most expectations, however the franchise did have some optimistic developments on the main league and minor league ranges. The image of the pitching employees appears higher right this moment after robust years from Justin Steele, Hayden Wesneski, and Adrian Sampson, whereas the staff has cause to be bullish about forthcoming prospects Pete Crow-Armstrong and Matt Mervis.

After claiming the AL Central in 2021, expectations have been even increased for the White Sox in 2022. The staff had a sluggish begin and by no means acquired out of their funk, ending at .500 with expensive accidents to key gamers and a disappointing beginning rotation attributable to struggles from Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, and Michael Kopech. The retirement of Tony La Russa on the finish of the season begins one other reboot for the squad, however their window with their present set of gifted younger gamers is closing.

The firesale in Cincinnati continued final offseason and into the common season, with the franchise buying and selling most of its worthwhile veterans. Consequently, it wasn’t a shock that the staff misplaced 100 video games, although the progress was nonetheless missing with many younger gamers like Nick Senzel and Jonathan India, whereas Tyler Stephenson missed many of the yr to accidents. There have been some brilliant spots, led by younger pitchers Nick Lodolo, Hunter Greene, Graham Ashcraft, and Alexis Diaz.

Cleveland returned to the playoffs, exceeding most expectations with wonderful pitching and a lineup that was simply ok. Shane Bieber’s rebound from a shoulder damage and a breakout season from Triston McKenzie have been key, however we additionally should not overlook breakout offensive seasons from Steven Kwan, Josh Naylor, Oscar Gonzalez, and Andre Gimenez. With Jose Ramirez locked up, the long run continues to look brilliant for the Guardians.

One other irritating yr in Colorado, because the Rox suffered their fourth straight shedding season. Free agent signing Kris Bryant was a dud attributable to accidents, and the offense failed to attain 700 runs for the primary time within the franchise’s historical past over a full season. The shortage of beginning pitching continues to be a priority, with German Marquez having a disappointing yr atop the rotation. Sturdy years from C.J. Cron and Daniel Bard have been a number of the solely brilliant spots.

Following a 77-win season, the Tigers lastly spent cash final offseason to take the subsequent step. The additions of Javier Baez and Eduardo Rodriguez have been each disastrous within the first yr, however extra alarming have been the efficiency and accidents to many of the staff’s younger gamers. Huge three younger beginning pitchers Casey Mize, Matt Manning, and Tarik Skubal every suffered arm accidents, whereas Spencer Torkelson was an enormous disappointment at first base. It is no surprise the staff misplaced 96 video games and fired GM Al Avila.

Houston made the playoffs for the sixth consecutive yr, with their fourth 100-plus win season over that timeframe. They then went on to win their second World Collection championship, one which was not shrouded in controversy. The consistency of the staff’s success has been outstanding given the previous dishonest scandal, penalties, and scrutiny the group has confronted during the last three seasons, and the great days are set as much as carry on rolling with a younger core that features Yordan Alvarez, Kyle Tucker, Jeremy Pena, Cristian Javier, and Hunter Brown.

The Royals have dipped their toes within the free-agent market during the last two seasons however can not seem to do a lot proper. GM Dayton Moore’s final try as a rebuild appears like a catastrophe with a 97-loss season, and possession cleaned home consequently. The brilliant aspect is that the staff does have some fascinating younger gamers, together with Bobby Witt Jr., MJ Melendez, Vinnie Pasquantino, and Brady Singer, however the main league ballclub is various additions away from competing once more.

No group in baseball is extra irritating than the Angels, given the superstars on the roster. Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani proceed historic efficiency, but the Angels appear solely to go backward. The Angels did appear to repair a lot of their pitching woes from latest seasons, however the lineup could not make do with a number of black holes. Even the early-season firing of Joe Maddon did little to spur the squad.

The Dodgers NL West dynasty continues, however finally, the group can be judged on championships. Regardless of 9 division titles in 10 years, the Dodgers have just one ring to indicate for it. The 2022 squad was historic with 111 wins regardless of the lack of Trevor Bauer and important accidents to Walker Buehler, Clayton Kershaw, Tony Gonsolin, and Andrew Heaney, but a lot of that success can be forgotten after falling within the NLDS. Now the staff’s large issues flip to retaining free brokers Trea Turner and Kershaw.

The Marlins have failed to achieve 70 wins in every of the final 4 full seasons, and their large free-agent signings backfired in 2022 with Avisail Garcia and Jorge Soler struggling. Miami’s offense was on the backside of the barrel, and so they even noticed their justifiable share of disappointment from the vaunted beginning rotation with struggles from Trevor Rogers and a season-ending damage to prized prospect Max Meyer. The saving grace was a Cy Younger season from Sandy Alcantara and a profession yr from Pablo Lopez.

Milwaukee sported an elite beginning rotation en path to a division title in 2021, however accidents got here for that rotation final season. Freddy Peralta, Adrian Houser, and Aaron Ashby missed important time, and solely Corbin Burnes reached 200 innings pitched. The deep lineup nonetheless lacked sufficient star energy to maintain up with the Cardinals within the NL Central, and the deadline commerce of Josh Hader was doubtless one other short-term setback that prevented Milwaukee from a Wild Card spot. For all the frustration, Milwaukee remains to be effectively arrange for 2023 attributable to their pitching and budding outfield prospects.

A fast begin acquired hopes up in Minnesota, however accidents finally killed the staff. The Twins did not have a beginning pitcher attain 150 innings, and even commerce deadline acquisitions Tyler Mahle and Jorge Lopez could not assist. The Twins did see robust growth from younger gamers Luis Arraez, Jose Miranda, Nick Gordon, and Joe Ryan, however 78 wins have been far beneath what was anticipated.

Proprietor Steve Cohen confirmed he wasn’t messing round when he spent large final offseason to amass Max Scherzer, Starling Marte, and Mark Canha, elevating the stakes in Queens. It is onerous to seek out fault on the floor with 101 common season wins, and but the discuss from followers is of a home on fireplace after the Mets blew the division lead late within the yr and fell early within the playoffs. Accidents to Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom, and Starling Marte definitely performed a big function.

The Steinbrenner household possession has been synonymous with “win all of it or else.” That angle has spanned generations and now bled all the way down to the unrealistic fanbase, who appeared fully unhappy with a 99-win squad that misplaced within the ALCS. The staff’s second-half collapse was understandably irritating, however a number of important accidents (Matt Carpenter, Chad Inexperienced, Michael King, Frankie Montas) have been a giant cause. The staff’s focus now strikes to Aaron Decide’s free company after his record-breaking season.

The firesale began final offseason with the trades of Matt Olson, Matt Chapman, Sean Manaea, and Chris Bassitt, and the buying and selling did not cease throughout the yr. As anticipated, it was an extended yr in Oakland with 102 losses, and it is robust to discover a silver lining with none younger gamers making a big impression.

A sluggish begin triggered the firing of supervisor Joe Girardi, however the Phillies have been in a position to flip issues round and catch the ultimate NL Wild Card spot. An 87-win season was passable, given the numerous time franchise participant Bryce Harper missed attributable to damage, and the long-time bullpen points have been fastened late within the yr. Philly acquired sizzling on the proper time for a run to the World Collection, making a long-awaited thrill for followers despite a third-place end within the NL East.

Nobody ought to be stunned by Pittsburgh’s second consecutive 100-loss season, given their lack of effort to enhance. Nonetheless, there have been some main positives from the season, as Pittsburgh was in a position to get robust return for Jose Quintana on the commerce deadline and noticed younger gamers Mitch Keller, Oneil Cruz, and Roansy Contreras take steps in the appropriate route.

The always-aggressive A.J. Preller struck once more with the acquisitions of Juan Soto, Josh Bell, Brandon Drury, and Josh Hader on the commerce deadline. These strikes helped the Padres safe a Wild Card spot with 89 wins, although the disappointing season from Fernando Tatis Jr. off the sector put a heavy cloud over the group.

We regularly see breakout groups regress the next yr, and that was the case for San Francisco in 2022 after an unbelievable 107-win season. The entrance workplace did hit on a number of of their offseason strikes, most notably the additions of Carlos Rodon, Alex Cobb, and Joc Pederson, however accidents and the retirement of Buster Posey proved to be an excessive amount of.

The drought is over. Seattle returned to the playoffs for the primary time since 2001 after profitable 90 video games, and so they even gained a brief Wild Card collection within the course of. The staff had a dominant beginning rotation and a breakout season from rookie Julio Rodriguez, and the core can be round for some time.

The stunning firing of supervisor Mike Shildt final yr did not have a transparent impression, because the Cardinals powered their strategy to an NL Central division title. Huge seasons from Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, and Albert Pujols thrilled followers, however the staff’s lack of beginning pitcher depth haunted them late within the yr. It is clear St. Louis wants extra upper-echelon pitching to compete with the massive canines within the NL going ahead, however they acquired probably the most out of the 2022 roster.

Irrespective of the circumstances, the Rays simply appear to get it performed underneath supervisor Kevin Money. They made the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, profitable 86 video games despite main accidents throughout the staff. Roster depth from a deep farm system, together with opportunistic in-season strikes saved the day, although the staff ran out of gasoline within the playoffs.

The Rangers have been one of the aggressive groups within the free agent market final yr, including Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, and Jon Grey, amongst others. These additions did not do a lot for Texas, solely profitable eight extra video games than in 2021 due largely to the staff’s lack of depth. Breakout years from Nathaniel Lowe, Martin Perez, and Brock Burke have been positives, however heads rolled with firings within the teaching employees and entrance workplace.

Toronto fell in need of a playoff spot in 2021 regardless of 91 wins however was in a position to win yet one more sport in 2022 to get a Wild Card berth. Even with that success, it felt like they left meat on the bone after disappointing years from Jose Berrios and Yusei Kikuchi. Almost all the roster returns to make one other run subsequent season.

Washington’s World Collection win in 2019 is a distant reminiscence, with an embarrassing 107-loss season in 2022. Within the midst of one other injury-plagued season from Stephen Strasburg and a traditionally unhealthy season from Patrick Corbin, the Nats traded the face of the franchise, Juan Soto, for an epic haul from San Diego. The long-term future appears somewhat brighter with the addition of blue-chip prospects, however that does not do something for the staff’s present state of affairs.