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The 2024 MLB common season is within the books, crammed with record-breaking performances — each good and dangerous. Listed here are 25 issues we discovered alongside the best way.
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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 celebrity ought to return as a two-way participant subsequent season, however in some way, his 2024 as solely a hitter may develop into his most memorable.
2 of 25
Spending large cash continues to be dangerous
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The 2023 Mets have been a traditional instance of spending large bucks not resulting in outcomes, and that development continued with the Dodgers this yr. Whereas LA nonetheless received 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 blended outcomes because of accidents.
3 of 25
Greed will not be good
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The Montreal Expos have 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 non permanent plan to maneuver the A’s to a minor league park in Sacramento within the interim starting subsequent yr makes the transfer much more painful for followers. The one winner right here is Fisher, whereas MLB and its loyal followers in Oakland finally lose.
4 of 25
Entrance workplace aggressiveness pays dividends
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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 yr because the group 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 group completed with its most common season wins since 1998.
5 of 25
Ready in free company doesn’t repay
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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.
6 of 25
Spending cash could make sense for groups just like the Royals
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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 several other aid pitchers that helped spur an entire turnaround and playoff berth.
7 of 25
Promoting on the commerce deadline isn’t a demise sentence
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The Detroit Tigers have been clear sellers on the commerce deadline, transport out Jack Flaherty, Mark Canha, and Andrew Chafin as they’d little hope of constructing the playoffs. Surprisingly, the group had different concepts with a number of key hitters getting back from damage and a powerful bullpen down the stretch. Tarik Skubal’s dominance additionally helped the Tigers do the almost not possible, leaping the Twins with a scorching remaining two months.
8 of 25
Don’t quit on nice pitchers
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Chris Sale was clearly certainly one 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 more likely 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.
9 of 25
Participant growth stays king in MLB
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The Cardinals have been certainly one of baseball’s most constant franchises during the last twenty years largely because of their capability to draft and develop gamers. That benefit seemingly started to stall in current seasons, and the product on the sphere 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 didn’t develop underneath the present regime.
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Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has had a outstanding profession constructing franchises into winners just like the Marlins, Tigers, Pink Sox, and now Phillies. The massive spending of Philadelphia possession and route of Dombrowski has helped the group make sturdy playoff runs the final two years, and so they may very well be on the cusp of a 3rd run after profitable the NL East this season.
11 of 25
Bullpens are extra necessary than ever
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Cleveland shocked to win the AL Central this season on the energy of their dominant bullpen. Regardless of a shaky beginning rotation, the group’s bullpen was greater than a half-run higher than every other in MLB and saved the group constantly 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.
12 of 25
Beginning rotations can’t do the whole lot
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Seattle completed with the bottom rotation ERA in baseball, sporting an unbelievable 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 properly out of the race because of their anemic offense.
13 of 25
Don’t panic because of a sluggish begin
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Many critics proclaimed the Astros dynasty to be over when the group was 10-19 via April. Whereas Houston did run into hardships this season, together with a serious leg damage to Kyle Tucker, their pitching finally obtained on observe and the group simply overcame the Mariners to win the AL West.
14 of 25
Hitting isn’t straightforward for younger gamers
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Baseball followers have been spoiled in current seasons by rookie hitters bursting onto the scene, however 2024 introduced principally struggles for arriving prospects. Early favorites like Wyatt Langford and Jackson Holliday struggled in MLB for a lot of the yr.
15 of 25
Managers can solely accomplish that a lot
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The offseason introduced the surprising transfer of former Brewers supervisor Craig Counsell from Milwaukee to the rival Cubs. Oddsmakers regarded on the Cubs as one of many favorites within the NL Central, however the end result was a disappointing yr for Chicago whereas the Brewers overcame the chances to win the division. We noticed an identical shock in Cleveland, as Stephen Vogt changed the legendary Terry Francona to win the AL Central.
16 of 25
Teaching issues
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Greater than ever earlier than, high MLB coaches are exhibiting their worth on the sphere. The Pink Sox beginning rotation made terrific progress throughout the road following the hiring of pitching coach Andrew Bailey. Elsewhere, the Guardians made essential hires like area coordinator Kai Correa that clearly paid off within the group’s sturdy protection.
17 of 25
There’s no backside for the White Sox
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The slide for the White Sox began final season, however few may have predicted how far the group would fall in 2024. Chicago set the trendy MLB loss file after their firesale continued within the offseason, and stars like Luis Robert Jr. failed to provide on the sphere.
18 of 25
A deep playoff run can have penalties
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The Rangers shocked to win the 2023 World Sequence, however all of the innings for his or her deep playoff run might 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 group 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.
19 of 25
Pitcher additions don’t all the time work as designed
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Arizona had a superb 2023 season exceeding expectations, and tried to capitalize on it by including free agent starters Eduardo Rodriguez and Jordan Montgomery. Rodriguez missed a lot of the season because of a shoulder damage, whereas Montgomery was arguably the group’s worst pitcher after signing late in Spring Coaching. In consequence, the rotation remained an enormous situation for the group.
20 of 25
Reducing corners doesn’t work for the Angels
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The Angels have had a transparent group 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 group on the sphere, with a final place end in 2024 whereas virtually of the group’s high-priced contracts missed vital time.
21 of 25
Washington’s rebuild is heading in the right direction
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The Nationals have had an ongoing firesale since profitable the World Sequence in 2019, shedding a number of franchise gamers. The rebuild has been painful, however followers lastly began to see the group’s younger stars shine in 2024. The promotion of high prospects James Wooden and Dylan Crews may very well be the beginning of a group that’s able to compete for a playoff spot quickly.
22 of 25
Two stars is sufficient for the Yankees lineup
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Coming off the frustration of the 2023 season, the Yankees made a blockbuster commerce for pending free agent Juan Soto. He joined Aaron Choose, and the outfielders met all expectations within the lineup. Sadly, not many different hitters within the lineup reached their profession norms, however the Yankees have been nonetheless the highest offense within the AL due to the consistency of Choose and Soto.
23 of 25
Pirates may very well be the following dominant pitching employees
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Drafted first general in 2023, Paul Skenes was worthy of the hype with a sub-2.00 ERA en path to probably NL Rookie of the 12 months. The Pirates additionally noticed a powerful rookie season from Jared Jones, together with veterans Mitch Keller and Luis Ortiz. With a number of extra high pitching prospects on the best way, Pittsburgh has hope of an elite rotation quickly.
24 of 25
Repeated rebuilds are painful
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Being a Marlins fan is usually a thankless endeavor, with quite a few rebuilds throughout their historical past. After shocking to make the playoffs final yr, the group 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 probably proceed after buying and selling a number of key veterans.
25 of 25
You possibly can by no means have sufficient pitching
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The cliche about by no means having sufficient pitching has by no means been more true with the myriad of arm accidents in trendy baseball. Each season appears to interrupt information 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.
Seth Trachtman is a sportswriter, digital marketer, and fantasy sports activities professional based mostly in St. Louis, Missouri. He’s a two-time winner of the Tout Wars Fantasy Baseball Knowledgeable’s League, and his work has appeared in tons of of fantasy baseball and fantasy soccer newsstand and on-line publications. He’s a College of Missouri alum and long-suffering turned spoiled Kansas Metropolis Chiefs fan. Seth doesn’t usually Tweet, however when he does, you will discover him on Twitter/X @sethroto.
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