The Sporting News preseason Power Rankings are out:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
The shrewd (and expensive) moves made by new owership are paying major dividends now in L.A.
2. Texas Rangers
The offseason additions of premier free-agents Prince Fielder and Shin-Soo Choo instantly make the Rangers big-time World Series contenders.
3. Detroit Tigers
Despite the loss of big bopper Prince Fielder, there’s still enough balance in Detroit for the Tigers to repeat as division champs.
4. St. Louis Cardinals
Execution and winning are getting downright commonplace under young third-year manager Mike Matheny in St. Louis.
5. Boston Red Sox
Can the defending champs’ incredible team chemistry overcome the loss of offensive catalyst Jacoby Ellsbury?
6. Washington Nationals
With perhaps the most talented pitching staff in baseball, the Nats believe they’re only one healthy season away from a World Series.
7. San Francisco Giants
For a team built around pitching, San Francisco is betting huge that the Big Four in its rotation will return to form and make the 2013 season an aberration.
8. New York Yankees
Coming off their fewest wins since 1995, the Yankees went back to their big-spending basics by bringing in four high-profile prizes in free agency.
9. Pittsburgh Pirates
Time to start a new streak of seasons with a winning record. A full season of Gerrit Cole will help.
10. Kansas City Royals
By boosting the offense with shrewd additions like Norichika Aoki and Omar Infante, the pitching-rich Royals may end their long playoff drought this year.
11. Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays have been the most consistent team in the division over the last four seasons. For it to continue, they’re going to have to do what they do best.
12. Oakland A’s
Despite the loss of key starters Bartolo Colon and Brett Anderson, the A’s still possess enough quality pitchers to win another AL West title.
13. Cleveland Indians
It’s asking a lot for Terry Francona to work his managerial magic again with this group of Indians who overachieved their way into last year’s playoffs.
14. Atlanta Braves
Even with a bullpen bordering on superhuman, can the Braves sustain the loss of cornerstones Brian McCann and Tim Hudson with so many underachieving regulars?
15. Cincinnati Reds
The free-agent defection of leadoff-man extraordinaire and on-base machine Shin-Soo Choo is a run-production dilemma in Cincinnati.
16. Los Angeles Angels
Hoping for bounce-back years from several high-paid stars, starting with Albert Pujols.
17. Baltimore Orioles
The defense is stellar, the offense has productive stars, and the manager is proven, but are the O's good enough to match up with the elite teams in their division?
18. Seattle Mariners
Rebuilt the hopes of their fans with the signing of Robinson Cano, but did they do enough to contend in the rugged West?
19. New York Mets
With a rotation gaining ground and the addition of impact free agent Curtis Granderson, the Mets should end their streak of losing seasons.
20. San Diego Padres
The Padres finished outside of the top 20 in every run-producing category last year. That’s got to get better — and fast.
21. Milwaukee Brewers
It seems the Brewers’ days as NL Central contenders are gone — as fleeting as a negative PED test for Ryan Braun.
22. Minnesota Twins
The Twins are hoping a move to first base by All-Star catcher Joe Mauer can keep his hits coming.
23. Colorado Rockies
The Rockies are going to need healthy years from players like Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez and new pitcher Brett Anderson if they hope to be a factor in the NL West.
24. Miami Marlins
A young and talented pitching staff gives the Marlins a real shot at going from ‘laughingstock’ to ‘somewhat respectable’ this season.
25. Arizona Diamondbacks
Had a busy winter, but do moves mean actual improvement from last year's 81-81 team?
26. Chicago White Sox
In between rebuilding and reloading, the White Sox are hoping a Cuban phenom can speed up their target.
27. Toronto Blue Jays
Last year at this time the rebuilt Jays appeared to be one of the most promising teams in baseball. What happened?
28. Philadelphia Phillies
While most of the old gang from the 2008 world champs is still around, the Phils are going to make one last run at things before the rebuilding begins in earnest.
29. Chicago Cubs
It could be a long season at Wrigley Field as a team filled with holes looks past 2014 and to the future.
30. Houston Astros
Still very much rebuilding. Not finishing with the worst record in baseball again is a modest goal, yes, but a good one to strive for.
