In the Bud Selig era, Major League Baseball has had a parity that is underrated and overlooked. In fact baseball can brag that it’s competitive balance is far greater than the celebrated and overrated NFL. Just this past year the Kansas City Royals emerged as the surprise American League champions. There are four teams that could become the new surprises of baseball in 2015 and keep that run of parity alive. Let’s take a look at the top potential new blood playoff teams of 2015.
San Diego Padres
No team has been more productive in the offseason than the San Diego Padres as they have not just remade their roster but also their expectations and image.
First year general manager AJ Preller has wasted no time making a much needed mark on a bland Padre franchise that has operated in anonymity for most of the past decade. While San Diego has long had quality pitching their lack of offense not only prevented success but made for plenty of empty seats at Petco Park. The additions of Matt Kemp, Wil Myers, Derek Norris, Will Middlebrooks and Justin Upton prove that the Padres have aggressively addressed their lack of punch and that they will be among the most interesting, if not exciting teams in the game to watch.
San Diego has a solid shot to make the playoffs for the first time since 2006 but a National League West that includes the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers won’t make it easy.
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners were a near miss for the playoffs last year as they missed the post season by a single game to extend their streak without a playoff berth to 13 seasons. But Seattle and their fans are eagerly anticipating the 2015 campaign after the Mariners improved by 15 wins in 2014.
Much like the Padres, the Mariners have suffered from a lack of pop on offense. Baltimore slugger Nelson Cruz has arrived to supply much needed power. Cruz led MLB with 40 home runs last year and will put much needed right had power behind Robinson Cano.
Austin Jackson was acquired from the Detroit Tigers last July and will now have a full season to prove that he is Seattle’s center field solution. Also joining the M’s with added offensive punch will be Seth Smith and Justin Ruggiano.
Seattle had the top ERA in the American League last year so just a few more runs could get them over the hump and into the playoffs.
Chicago Cubs
It begins with the best manager on the planet, Joe Maddon, arriving to give the Chicago Cubs instant credibility in the dugout with the most brilliant mind in the game. But when you add Jon Lester to the starting rotation and the renovations of Wrigley Field you have a new look Cubs team that has fans buzzing with anticipation for the upcoming season.
Also joining the Cubs with Lester will be former St. Louis Cardinals closer Jason Motte, who adds a veteran clubhouse presence. Jason Hammel has returned as well to further add to the Cubs pitching depth.
Young Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro are the cornerstones of a team with plenty of upside and have their best years ahead of them. It all adds up to the Cubs being the team of the future, if not present, in the National League Central.
Maddon speaks for all of Cubs Nation by not backing off and embracing the new expectations, “We’re going to set our mark high and I’m going to talk playoffs and World Series this year and I’m going to believe it.”
Chicago White Sox
A few miles south of Wrigley Field, the Chicago White Sox and their fans were every bit as excited about their prospects for the upcoming season. Free agents Zach Duke, Adam LaRoche, Melky Cabrera and David Robertson to go with trades for Jeff Samardzija and Dan Jennings have made the White Sox into instant contenders in the improved American League Central Division.
General Manager Rick Hahn said that the White Sox brass had the goal “to put ourselves in a position to contend as quickly as possible, but also in a way we felt was going to be sustainable. We’ve been able to put ourselves back in a position where White Sox fans can be proud of where we are.”
