25 things we learned from the 2024 MLB season

After signing a record-breaking cope with the Dodgers within the offseason, Shohei Ohtani began to earn his wage with a historic 50/50 season offensively whereas he rehabbed his elbow. The Japanese famous person ought to return as a two-way participant subsequent season, however by some means, his 2024 as solely a hitter may turn into his most memorable.

The 2023 Mets had been a basic instance of spending large bucks not resulting in outcomes, and that pattern continued with the Dodgers this 12 months. Whereas LA nonetheless gained the NL West, their end result was a bit disappointing with a failure to win 100 video games over a full season for the primary time since 2018. The Ohtani signing clearly paid off, however different high-profile strikes, just like the additions of Yosinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Joe Kelly, had combined outcomes attributable to accidents.

The Montreal Expos had been the final MLB franchise to be ripped away from its fanbase till 2024, when the Oakland Athletics had the identical destiny. Proprietor Josh Fisher is chasing the cash in Las Vegas, and the momentary plan to maneuver the A’s to a minor league park in Sacramento within the interim starting subsequent 12 months makes the transfer much more painful for followers. The one winner right here is Fisher, whereas MLB and its loyal followers in Oakland in the end lose.

No baseball decision-maker is extra aggressive than Padres GM A.J. Preller, who made main strikes after a disappointing 2023 season. His efforts floundered final season, however they paid off in an enormous approach this 12 months because the workforce added a number of contributors within the Juan Soto commerce, signed Jurickson Profar, and traded for Dylan Stop, Luis Arraez, and a number of different contributors all through the season. The workforce completed with its most common season wins since 1998.

An odd free agent market that noticed a number of groups fail to spend led to many key free brokers holding out till Spring Coaching. For probably the most half, these later signers had dangerous years. The group included Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, and Cody Bellinger. These struggles may make for an fascinating 2025 offseason, with gamers attempting to signal earlier.

Kansas Metropolis misplaced 106 video games final season, and their lack of pitching was an enormous motive. Possession refused to attend, signing Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, and a number of other reduction pitchers that helped spur a whole turnaround and playoff berth.

The Detroit Tigers had been clear sellers on the commerce deadline, transport out Jack Flaherty, Mark Canha, and Andrew Chafin as they’d little hope of creating the playoffs. Surprisingly, the workforce had different concepts with a number of key hitters coming back from damage and a robust bullpen down the stretch. Tarik Skubal’s dominance additionally helped the Tigers do the almost inconceivable, leaping the Twins with a scorching closing two months.

Chris Sale was clearly one in every of baseball’s finest pitchers within the 2010s with the streak of seven seasons from 2012-2018 ending high six in Cy Younger voting. Nevertheless, accidents plagued him for a lot of his early 30’s in Boston, and the lefty was traded to Atlanta final offseason for Vaughn Grissom. Sale efficiently revitalized his profession with a change of surroundings, and may be very prone to win the NL Cy Younger after main the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts. Different veterans like Jameson Taillon, Jack Flaherty, and Carlos Rodon additionally had sturdy rebound seasons.

The Cardinals had been one in every of baseball’s most constant franchises during the last 20 years largely attributable to their capability to draft and develop gamers. That benefit seemingly started to stall in current seasons, and the product on the sector has lastly began to undergo during the last two seasons. Former high prospects Dylan Carlson, Jordan Walker, and Nolan Gorman are simply among the gamers who’ve apparently did not develop underneath the present regime.

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has had a exceptional profession constructing franchises into winners just like the Marlins, Tigers, Crimson Sox, and now Phillies. The large spending of Philadelphia possession and route of Dombrowski has helped the workforce make sturdy playoff runs the final two years, and so they could possibly be on the cusp of a 3rd run after successful the NL East this season.

Cleveland shocked to win the AL Central this season on the energy of their dominant bullpen. Regardless of a shaky beginning rotation, the workforce’s bullpen was greater than a half-run higher than another in MLB and stored the workforce persistently on the high of the division standings. It also needs to come as no shock that the highest six bullpens in ERA this season made the playoffs.

Seattle completed with the bottom rotation ERA in baseball, sporting an unimaginable beginning 5 this season with Luis Castillo, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Bryce Miller, and Bryan Woo. That rotation may have been a terror within the playoffs, however we’ll by no means know as a result of the Mariners completed nicely out of the race attributable to their anemic offense.

Many critics proclaimed the Astros dynasty to be over when the workforce was 10-19 by way of April. Whereas Houston did run into hardships this season, together with a significant leg damage to Kyle Tucker, their pitching ultimately acquired on observe and the workforce simply overcame the Mariners to win the AL West.

Baseball followers have been spoiled in current seasons by rookie hitters bursting onto the scene, however 2024 introduced largely struggles for arriving prospects. Early favorites like Wyatt Langford and Jackson Holliday struggled in MLB for many of the 12 months.

The offseason introduced the surprising transfer of former Brewers supervisor Craig Counsell from Milwaukee to the rival Cubs. Oddsmakers seemed on the Cubs as one of many favorites within the NL Central, however the end result was a disappointing 12 months for Chicago whereas the Brewers overcame the chances to win the division. We noticed an analogous shock in Cleveland, as Stephen Vogt changed the legendary Terry Francona to win the AL Central.

Greater than ever earlier than, high MLB coaches are exhibiting their worth on the sector. The Crimson Sox beginning rotation made terrific progress throughout the road following the hiring of pitching coach Andrew Bailey. Elsewhere, the Guardians made vital hires like subject coordinator Kai Correa that clearly paid off within the workforce’s sturdy protection.

The slide for the White Sox began final season, however few may have predicted how far the workforce would fall in 2024. Chicago set the trendy MLB loss document after their firesale continued within the offseason, and stars like Luis Robert Jr. failed to supply on the sector.

The Rangers shocked to win the 2023 World Sequence, however all of the innings for his or her deep playoff run may need led to a hangover for the veteran squad. Veteran gamers like Marcus Semien, Adolis Garcia, Jonah Heim, Max Scherzer, and Jon Grey had down years, whereas the workforce additionally noticed its fair proportion of accidents. Texas followers can take solace in supervisor Bruce Bochy‘s historical past in San Francisco, the place he bounced again after post-World Sequence disappointment twice to win once more.

Arizona had a wonderful 2023 season exceeding expectations, and tried to capitalize on it by including free agent starters Eduardo Rodriguez and Jordan Montgomery. Rodriguez missed many of the season attributable to a shoulder damage, whereas Montgomery was arguably the workforce’s worst pitcher after signing late in Spring Coaching. Because of this, the rotation remained an enormous concern for the workforce.

The Angels have had a transparent workforce structure underneath proprietor Arte Moreno, signing stars to large contracts however going low cost in different areas. Their refusal to spend money on the farm system and function gamers has clearly harm the workforce on the sector, with a final place end in 2024 whereas nearly of the workforce’s high-priced contracts missed vital time.

The Nationals have had an ongoing firesale since successful the World Sequence in 2019, shedding a number of franchise gamers. The rebuild has been painful, however followers lastly began to see the workforce’s younger stars shine in 2024. The promotion of high prospects James Wood and Dylan Crews could possibly be the beginning of a workforce that is able to compete for a playoff spot quickly.

Coming off the frustration of the 2023 season, the Yankees made a blockbuster commerce for pending free agent Juan Soto. He joined Aaron Judge, and the outfielders met all expectations within the lineup. Sadly, not many different hitters within the lineup reached their profession norms, however the Yankees had been nonetheless the highest offense within the AL because of the consistency of Decide and Soto.

Drafted first general in 2023, Paul Skenes was worthy of the hype with a sub-2.00 ERA en path to doubtless NL Rookie of the Yr. The Pirates additionally noticed a robust rookie season from Jared Jones, together with veterans Mitch Keller and Luis Ortiz. With a number of extra high pitching prospects on the way in which, Pittsburgh has hope of an elite rotation quickly.

Being a Marlins fan generally is a thankless endeavor, with quite a few rebuilds throughout their historical past. After shocking to make the playoffs final 12 months, the workforce is present process one more rebuild with a brand new entrance workplace. Miami struggled as soon as once more in 2024, and people struggles will doubtless proceed after buying and selling a number of key veterans.

The cliche about by no means having sufficient pitching has by no means been more true with the myriad of arm accidents in fashionable baseball. Each season appears to interrupt data for arm surgical procedures, and we noticed no scarcity of high arms injured in 2024. That features high starters like Spencer Strider, Shane Bieber, Kyle Bradish, and Grayson Rodriguez, amongst others.