Soon, another season of baseball will arrive. As teams prepare for Spring Training, new faces and seasoned veterans will get to showcase what they have to offer. Plus, some, if not many, players will have a chance to find their footing in the recent changes of scenery. With all the buzz and moves made, these players have made their marks in 2018.
Let’s take a look at some topics for 2019.
(Photo Courtesy: Call To The Pen)
This offseason, like others before it, has seen huge trades, involving several players calling new places homes.
For instance, the Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers were in a colossal trade where several familiar names finding themselves in new colors. These include Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp and Alex Wood all now Reds. The Dodgers found themselves in the NLCS round in the past three seasons, with Puig and Wood on board. Manager Dave Roberts will have to do without these two on his mission to end the Dodgers’ now 31-year World Series drought. The Reds, meanwhile, will have new, but seasoned, names to work with. Hopefully, Cincinnati can make these big roster changes a well-oiled machine and reverse the fortunes of last season.
The Seattle Mariners had a massive roster shakeup in this postseason. Robinson Cano, Jean Segura and Nelson Cruz, along with others, have found new homes. Some still find it odd that the Mariners went through the idea of a rebuild, when the roster they had a solid shot at the playoffs.
Cano will rock 2019 with the New York Mets, where two teams now split his huge bill. Meanwhile, Nelson Cruz now is calling Target Field his new home with the Minnesota Twins, and Jean Segura is among many names now with Philadelphia. As for Seattle, the search for new players to step and lead the team will not be a quick one. Hopefully, this decision of a fire sale pays off.
The 2018 season was a year of prolific breakout seasons and performances. Not to mention, their respective teams have benefited from their career-defining outings. But now comes the pressures of replicating, if not exceeding, those numbers next season.
Milwaukee Brewers’ Christian Yelich has been flying high this season (AP Photo/Aaron Gash).
Usually, it takes two or so seasons for one to warm to a new environment. But outfielder, Christian Yelich, never heard of this idea it seems. Yelich had the season of his baseball tenure, hitting 36 home runs and 110 RBIs. He also posted a career-high .326 batting average and a .598 slugging percentage. Not only did he win himself the NL MVP Award, but his season also gave Milwaukee that final push into October after missing out narrowly in 2017. Now in 2019, Yelich will need to find more formulas and approaches to keep those numbers high.
The Colorado Rockies put their best foot forward last season. Much of their success in 2018 came from the emergence of Kyle Freeland and Trevor Story. One hand, Freeland cashed in a 17-7 record from the mound, along with a 2.85 ERA. On the other hand, Story erupted from the batter’s box, tallying 37 home runs and 108 RBIs.
Both only in their mid-20’s, they could be household names in Coors Field for years to come. Unfortunately, they will have to go the journey without their closer, Adam Ottavino. The latter recently signed a three-year deal with the New York Yankees.
Arguably one of the biggest breakouts of all 2018 players in Tampa Bay ace, Blake Snell. 25 years old at the time, Snell took the league out to town, going 21-5 as a starter, plus a 1.89 ERA. Not only did he won the AL Cy Young Award, but he led all of baseball in wins. The Rays fans will have high expectations for the young ace in 2019.
Adam Ottavino was only the latest of Yankees acquisitions this offseason. Several big names players now in Pinstripes includes James Paxton (formally with Seattle) and Troy Tulowitzki (formally with Toronto). The Yankees are fixing weaknesses that got exposed last season, especially their bullpen depth. However, with careful watch and enough time to adjust, the Yankees will be well on their way to their 28th World Series Ring.
Featured image courtesy of statliners.com
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