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Bold MLB rankings for all 30 teams heading into 2017

MLB predictions

Tier seven: Is it 2018 yet?

30. Los Angeles Angels

With Mike Trout, the Angels have baseball’s best player. After Trout, though, they have baseball’s worst team. Maybe full-time DH Albert Pujols can put another good season together.

Maybe Kole Calhoun can elevate himself to All-Star level. But even then, the Halos’ pitching is a long way from being mediocre, let alone good.

Prediction: 65-97, fifth place, American League West

29. Cincinnati Reds

There’s some reason to be optimistic about the future in Cincinnati, but the Reds still started their rebuilding project two years too late. Like the Angels, pitching is the issue. Brandon Finnegan needs to show that he can throw strikes. Anthony DeSclafani will open the year on the DL and while Tommy John surgery isn’t on the table yet, it looms as the elephant in the room. Cincinnati is turning a corner, but is still at the very beginning of what will be a long turnaround.

Prediction: 64-98, fifth place, National League Central

28. Minnesota Twins

Like the Reds, the Twins may be beginning to turn the corner. A full season of Max Kepler and an emerging Byron Buxton will help add to the offense. But it’s hard to see how Minnesota will prevent runs from being scored. The starting rotation is simply not Major League caliber. Ervin Santana likely wouldn’t even compete for a No. 5 spot with any of baseball’s 10 best teams, and he’s the No. 1 contender to get the ball on opening day. That’s a problem.

Prediction: 68-94, fifth place, American League Central

27. Miami Marlins

If nothing else, Miami’s games will be entertaining. With Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna, Dee Gordon and Justin Bour, the Marlins have an offense that can score runs. But like Minnesota, we have to wonder how Miami is going to prevent runs. Edinson Volquez is a middle of the rotation guy. Dan Straily is a back end starter. Yet, those two front the Marlins’ rotation. Miami will score a lot of runs but will allow even more.

Prediction: 70-92, fifth place, National League East

26. Arizona Diamondbacks

The good news for Arizona is that a full season from A.J. Pollock will make Arizona slightly better in 2017 than it was in 2016. The bad news? That’s not saying much. The Diamondbacks are the west’s version of the Marlins. The Paul Goldschmidt-led offense will score plenty of runs, but the pitching will allow signifcantly more. Even off of a bad year, we’ll give Zack Greinke the easy edge over Volquez, so Arizona slots in ahead of Miami. But don’t look for many great things in 2017.

Prediction: 72-90, fifth place, National League West


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