With Spring Training less than a month away, anticipation for the 2019 season is escalating by the day. The offseason has been smoother for some teams than others. But there is still time to make moves before it’s time to hit the diamond. With the finishing touches soon to commence, soon the fields will reveal if those moves made have paid off.
Here is what baseball fans have to look forward to in the 2019 season.
May 16, 2018; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel (46) prepares to deliver a pitch during the ninth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports (also courtesy of NESN.com)
If you’re already tired of hearing about Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, pull through just a little longer. The two biggest free agents have yet to find new stomping grounds for the upcoming season.
With a lot of suitors in the hunt, some teams will have better luck in snagging at least one of these two. If they want a signing for 2019, either teams will have to clear room in the budget or Harper’s and Machado’s asking prices will have to decrease.
Several big names still remain unsigned. Craig Kimbrel, the best relief pitcher of the current scene, is coming off of a World Series winning season with the Boston Red Sox.
LHP Dallas Kuechel was a huge element in the Houston Astros’ dominant pitching crew. Not to mention it helped produce the franchise’s first World Series title ever.
It will be interesting to see who manages to pick up any of these names for the new campaign. Fans will also hope if the shifts and changes made will pay off moving forward.
It will be a bittersweet moment celebrating the next class of the Hall of Fame.
Image Courtesy of the New York Times
On one hand, fans will see Mariano Rivera taking his place in baseball immortality. Not only is he baseball’s greatest closing pitcher, but he is also the only person to be unanimously voted into Cooperstown. On top of that, he was the last MLB player to wear the historic number 42.
Seattle Mariners fans will get to rejoice as well, as they get to see Edgar Martinez giving his speech as well. The long-time Mariners DH boasted seven All-Stars, Five Silver-Sluggers, and two batting titles during his career. He also won the Roberto Clemente Award in 2004. The Mariners organization have retired his jersey number 11.
However, the ceremonies will not get to witness Roy Halladay step up to the podium. The former pitcher passed away in a plane accident on November 7th, 2017. The eight-time All-Star and two-time Cy Young winner was only 40 years old at the time of his passing. The Toronto Blue Jays retired Halladay’s jersey number 32.
Like any other baseball season, some teams have had seasons they’d like to forget. For such teams, the 2019 season will provide an opportunity to rebound from the dismal 2018 outing.
The Miami Marlins (63-98 in 2018), however, are rebuilding (for the billionth time it seems) and still working in its new ownership. Remarkably enough, Miami did not break 100 defeats as many experts predicted. They came awfully close, mind you.
Meanwhile, Kansas City and Baltimore are doing their absolute best to forget about 2018. The Kansas City Royals, who won the World Series just three years ago, sunk to the bottom the AL Central, with the Chicago White Sox just one game better. The Baltimore Orioles has the worst season in baseball (47-115). Not to mention they are without manager Buck Showalter and household outfielder, Adam Jones. Baltimore will have a lot of work to do to avoid painful history from repeating itself.
For teams such as these, it will be an uphill battle to regain relevancy, as well as good fortune. Any moves made or in the works may bring these struggling ball clubs up a notch. Hopefully, 2019 will bring a much brighter turn up for them.
Featured image courtesy of The Big Lead
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