Spring training is closing in on baseball fans as the Cubs and Yankees play the first game on Feb. 20. Opening day starts in South Korea as the Cubs and Dodgers face off in a two game series on March 18 and March 19. Most teams, however, start on March 27 with the Brewers and Yankees facing off first.
Teams like the Red Sox, Mets, Dodgers, and Yankees have very high expectations going into the new year. They all went all in during free agency and will have to hope that each signing will help the team out.
The team with the most on the line is the Dodgers. It feels like they are signing every free agent at this point. They are World Series or bust and that could be concerning considering how powerful the NL is this year.
“The Dodgers may have just built a dynasty for the years to come,” freshman Aaron Rekowski said.
Teams like the Mets, Braves, Phillies, Brewers, Cubs, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, and Padres are all going to be fighting for playoff spots in the NL. Teams like the Giants and the Reds could surprise everyone and sneak into the playoffs.
“The NL has become a gauntlet and it will be fun to see how these good teams stand against each other,” sophomore Jakup Ademi said.
In the AL East, there are four teams that will be fighting for the division crown, the improved Yankees, all out Red Sox, young Orioles, and last chance Blue Jays. The Blue Jays could not get a deal done with star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and he will most likely leave after this season. So this will be the last chance for this team to get to the postseason.
“It will be interesting to see where Guerrero goes after this season and how much he will get paid,” Ademi said.
Teams like the Yankees, Orioles, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Twins, Guardians, Royals, Tigers, Astros, Mariners, and Rangers are all going to be fighting for playoff spots in the AL. Although there are more teams fighting in the AL, most feel that the NL possesses the best teams.
“There are endless ways that the AL could end and it will depend on how these teams do head to head,” Rekowski said.
