MLB power rankings as spring training begins

richard suter

Sat, Feb 17, 2024, 9:00 AM·5 min read

Back on the diamond...

The 162-plus-game grind in the MLB begins with the anticipated engine warming of spring training.

Cracks of the bat. The pop of the leather. The nameless jerseys and obscure numbers that seem to multiply at each half-inning — wait, there are five guys wearing No. 71?!

Yep, baseball is back. And so are the power rankings, which begin with a massively early pick ’em.

With the understanding there will be numerous moves between now and the next day and so on, here is the current MLB hierarchy…

30. Oakland Athletics

The A’s are 30th in the power rankings, but No. 1 in “where will this team be” list.

29. Chicago White Sox

Another team that doesn’t have much relevance as the cracks of the bat begin — but those schematics of the new proposed ballpark? Very nice.

28. Colorado Rockies

There are no humidors that alleviate playing in the NL West.

27. Pittsburgh Pirates

There’s a handful of exciting prospects for the Pirates who are adding an element of intrigue to this organization — just not in 2024.

Still a great ballpark, though.

26. Washington Nationals

There are plenty of veteran names to keep the Nationals’ Spring training in focus, which also creates positivity as first pitches near.

That’s about it for now.

25. Kansas City Royals

Another team that has quickly become more exciting for a possible new complex than anything fans will see a step in between the lines this season.

24. Los Angeles Angels

Mike Trout still plays for this team. That’s exiting and oddly somber at the same time.

23. Detroit Tigers

Finishing second in the AL Central in 2023 wasn’t really a franchise-progressing feat, but with Javier Baez on the roster in 2024, perhaps AJ Hinch can create a surprising run.

22. San Francisco Giants

How many of these “reported” moves will the Giants make — and land?

21. Milwaukee Brewers

It’s Pat Murphy’s show now — which version of Christian Yelich will headline?

20. Boston Red Sox

While there are a few young prospects, this is another team that looks to be more interesting in the years ahead.

If the rotation somehow solidifies in the next two weeks… that thought might shift a tad.

19. Miami Marlins

Marlins fans: you get to watch Luis Arraez hit.

That’s a win.

18. San Diego Padres

So many 10-year-plus, big-dollar deals that you forget this team is actually pretty meh.

17. New York Mets

The Mets always seem to deliver the punchline, but all jokes aside (for now), Francisco Lindor is still electric, and there’s something to be said about Edwin Díaz throwing to batters.

16. Cleveland Guardians

One of the AL Central teams will win the division. Let’s start with that.

15. St. Louis Cardinals

It was a very un-Cardinals 2023 — will Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado bring the veteran leadership to shift the trend in 2024?

14. Tampa Bay Rays

Can Kevin Cash shock the naysayers again?

13. Minnesota Twins

Carlos Correa—who didn’t require offseason surgery on his foot—and the Twins—who need some mending—are the top team in the AL Central.

12. Chicago Cubs

Craig Counsell. Craig Counsell. Craig Counsell. And so on.

11. Seattle Mariners

The Northwest team has an exciting group hitting the spring training diamonds, but how that stacks up against the Astros and Rangers during the season is a different script.

10. Arizona Diamondbacks

Back-to-back World Series trips? (Back-to-back World Series trips?)

9. Cincinnati Reds

This team needs more 3-point shooters.

Kidding. The Reds are a fun bunch, even without Joey Votto.

8. Toronto Blue Jays

Out of all the teams, the Blue Jays seem like a real possibility to play spoiler on the expectancies of 2024.

What’s the 2024 Encore going to look like in Dallas? The team hasn’t added any major pieces (not that they needed to), which highlights one area starring from the proverbial window at the Rangers’ front office: the Luxury Tax.

6. Houston Astros

Make 2024 count, Astros; strike while Alex Bregman is still manning the hot corner.

5. New York Yankees

Marcus Stroman and Juan Soto have set the spring training scene — for us to note that the team hasn’t appeared in a World Series since 2009.

4. Philadelphia Phillies

It’s Whit Merrifield’s team now.

3. Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles are an exciting team, and because so many fans out there can’t stand the Red Sox and Yankees, the Birds have become the unsung heroes of the MLB.