We have finally made it to the Final 5 of my MLB Power Rankings. Its been a fun road and the season is about to start. So here it is. Leading things off at-
#5) Miami Marlins
This team is full of young talent and a few of them are here for the long run. Recently signing Stanton and Yelich to long term deals will give them some good pop in the line-up for years to come.
Adding Mat Latos, Dee Gordon, Martin Prado and Michael Morse to what was arguably the best young core of pitching and position-player talent in the league gives the Marlins one of the most complete rosters in baseball top to bottom, and it will only get better once Jose Fernandez returns around midseason.
This team has come a long way from the 100 loss season in 2013. This team is filled with young talent from top to bottom.
Projected 2015 Lineup Projected 2015 Rotation
2B- Dee Gordon SP- Henderson Alverez
LF- Christian Yelich SP- Mat Latos
RF- Giancarlo Stanton SP- Jarred Cosart
1B- Michael Morse SP- Tom Koehler
CF- Marcell Ozuna SP- Dan Haren
3B- Martin Prado
C- Jarrod Saltalamacchia MR- Brad Hand
SS- Adeiny Hechavarria MR- Bryan Morris
Pitcher MR- Aaron Crow
– MR- Mike Dunn
– SU- A.J. Ramos
– CL- Steve Cishek
#4) Los Angeles Dodgers
Being stopped by the Cardinals over the past few seasons, the Dodgers needed to make some changes. With Matt Kemp, Dee Gordon and Hanley Ramirez gone from the lineup, the Dodgers are banking on Yasiel Puig finding some consistency at the plate and adding Jimmy Rollins and Howie Kendrick to the middle of the infield has helped bolster up the line-up.
If the back end of this rotation can step up and do their job, this team can be the dominate ones to take them all the way in 2015. Cause we all know that Kershaw will be himself and lead this team to victory like most years.
Projected 2015 Lineup Projected 2015 Rotation
SS- Jimmy Rollins SP- Clayton Kershaw
LF- Carl Crawford SP- Zack Greinke
RF Yasiel Puig SP Hyun-Jin Ryu
1B- Adrian Gonzalaz SP- Brandon McCarthy
2B Howie Kendrick SP- Brett Anderson
C Yasmani Grandal
CF Joc Pederson MR- Joel Peralta
3B Juan Uribe MR- Brandon League
Pitcher MR- Chris Hatcher
– MR- Pedro Baez
– SU- J.P. Howell
– CL- Kenley Jansen
#3) Washington Nationals
This team had a ton of question marks going into Spring Training, but they made some big moves to make them better than what they were last season and they were pretty darn good in 2014.
Signing Max Scherzer to a record deal and bringing in Yunel Escobar to play second base, bolstered up that amazing rotation and help improve the infield too.
With Jason Werth still out, it will have a big problem in the outfield and hurting them in the middle of the line-up. Michael Taylor will be getting the majority playing time until Werth is back and healthy.
Projected 2015 Lineup Projected 2015 Rotation
LF Michael Taylor SP- Max Scherzer
3B Yunel Escobar SP- Stephen Strasburg
LF Bryce Harper SP- Jordan Zimmerman
1B Ryan Zimmerman SP- Gio Gonzalez
SS Ian Desmond SP- Doug Fister
C Wilson Ramos
2B Danny Espinosa MR- Taylor Jordan
CF Matt den Decker MR- Aaron Barrett
Pitcher MR- Erik Davis
– MR- Matt Thornton
– SU- Craig Stammen
– CL- Drew Storen
#2) Los Angeles Angels
Winning a season best of 98 wins in 2014, the Angels weren’t going into the offseason to make some big noise, but they did make some moves that could effect them in the long run. Trading Howie Kendrick to the Dodgers for Andrew Heaney. Will help the rotation a good amount, cause we don’t know how Garrett Richards will be after Knee surgery. Adding Josh Rutledge in a trade with Colorado could be a little upside at second base.
The most important thing the Angels needs when the season begins, is that the bullpen needs to step up and play ball for the club. That is really the only down side of this team.
Acquiring Matt Joyce this offseason will help with the Josh Hamilton situation. Weather or not that Hamilton will be suspended, they will have Matt Joyce to play in the outfield and could have up and comer C.J. Cron DH for the club.
Projected 2015 Lineup Projected 2015 Rotation
RF Kole Calhoun SP- Jered Weaver
LF Matt Joyce SP- Garrett Richards
CF Mike Trout SP C.J. Wilson
1B Albert Pujols SP- Matt Shoemaker
DH C.J. Cron SP- Andrew Heaney
3B David Freese
SS Erick Aybar MR- Hector Santiago
2B Josh Rutledge MR- Vinnie Pestano
C Chris Iannetta MR- Brian Moran
– MR- Fernando Salas
– SU- Joe Smith
– CL- Huston Street
#1) St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals just know how to win, it’s as simple as that. They have reached the postseason consecutively in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, and 11 of the past 15, And it looks like they will heading to the playoffs once again, after some moves in the offseason. Adding Jason Heyward, Jordan Walden, Matt Belisle and Mark Reynolds to the mix will boost the line-up and rotation. A healthy Michael Wacha will be the big sign to the rotation and make them as dominate as they have been for the past 15 years.
This line-up is not lacking in power. Holliday, Hayward, Reynolds, Peralta and Adams could possibly total up a good 200 home runs for this team.
Projected 2015 Lineup Projected 2015 Rotation
3B Matt Carpenter SP- Adam Wainwright
RF Jason Heyward SP- Lance Lynn
LF Matt Holliday SP John Lackey
1B Matt Adams SP- Michael Wacha
C Yadier Molina SP- Carlos Martinez
SS Jhonny Peralta
CF Jon Jay MR- Kevin Siegrist
2B Kolten Wong MR- Seth Maness
Pitcher MR- Randy Choate
– MR- Matt Belisle
– SU- Jordan Walden
– CL- Trevor Rosenthal
There we have it. The top 5 Power Rankings for the MLB!!!
- Baseball was, is and always will be to me the best game in the world. -Babe Ruth
