One storyline to follow for every MLB team for the 2024 season

Arizona advanced to the World Series last season in spite of a thin starting rotation. Now Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly are set to have more help with the addition of veteran Eduardo Rodriguez, along with Brandon Pfaadt’s late-season improvement. The deeper rotation could help Arizona make more noise in October.

Atlanta got a scare in early March when defending MVP Acuna suffered a meniscus injury in his knee. The injury is considered minor but worth eyeing after the superstar tore his ACL in 2021. The team has high hopes for 2024, but Acuna’s missing significant time could put those hopes on ice.

Holliday is widely considered the best hitting prospect in the game and has a chance to break camp as Baltimore’s starting second baseman. It’s quite a two-year development for a player who was drafted out of high school less than two years ago, yet he could help the Orioles lineup become elite.

Red Sox fans aren’t thrilled about their offseason, but the outfield does look strong. Former 30 home run hitter Tyler O’Neill has upside if he can stay healthy, Jarren Duran had a breakout 2023 season, and youngsters Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu have huge upsides. That’s not to mention Masataka Yoshida, who is likely to split time between left field and DH. Boston’s roster has some holes, but the outfield could be as good as any in the game.

The Cubs had a big offseason, but their biggest move was hiring Counsell from the rival Brewers. The manager routinely overachieved in nine seasons with Milwaukee and has the roster to make noise in the NL.

The White Sox have lost significant talent over the last year after sporting an underachieving roster, and there could be more moves to come. Stars like Dylan Cease, Luis Robert Jr., and Eloy Jimenez would seem to be prime trade candidates if the team falls out of contention early in the season.

The Reds roster is loaded with young talent, but they ran out of pitching last season. The team addressed their pitching needs by signing Frankie Montas, Nick Martinez, Emilio Pagan, and Brent Suter, but there remain questions about whether it’s enough. It will be key for young starters Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Graham Ashcraft, and Andrew Abbott to remain healthy.

Cleveland struggled to find offense last season, particularly in the outfield. The team added Estevan Florial to battle Myles Straw in center field, while top prospect Chase DeLauter isn’t far away. That duo has a chance to add energy that has been greatly lacking.

Bryant has been unable to stay on the field since signing a seven-year, $182 million contract in 2022. The hope is that a move to first base this season will help end his lower body injuries, but the situation has appeared dire. The Rockies greatly need Bryant to stay on the field to have any chance of competing.

Tarik Skubal was arguably the best pitcher in the AL after returning from injury at midseason in 2023, and the Tigers have several other intriguing arms behind him in their rotation. Former top prospects Casey Mize, Reese Olson, and Matt Manning enter the year healthy, while fellow top prospects Jackson Jobe, Ty Madden, and Wilmer Flores could also make an impact in 2024. After also adding veterans Kenta Maeda and Jack Flaherty, Tigers fans have reason for optimism.

Verlander was brought back to Houston at last year’s trade deadline but is already looking doubtful for Opening Day due to an arm injury. Injuries come with the territory for a 41-year-old pitcher, but the Astros need their former ace healthy to win the AL West again.

The Royals were active in the offseason, revamping their pitching with Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, and Will Smith while also adding Hunter Renfroe to the lineup. There’s no doubt KC would like to compete after another disastrous regular season in 2023, and the emergence of Cole Ragans late in the year fuels their optimism.

The Angels are known for making splashes in free agency, but weren’t able to retain Shohei Ohtani. The team’s star power remains, led by Mike Trout, and new manager Ron Washington is saying all the right things during Spring Training. Still, it could be a tall task for the team to compete in the AL West.

The Dodgers have perhaps the most impactful offseason in MLB history with the additions of Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow, among others. Joining a star-studded roster and with former aces Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler expected to return later in the season, LA has a clear objective to win the World Series.

Miami is likely to miss Sandy Alcantara for the entire year following Tommy John surgery. The good news is they’ve built depth behind him, with young pitchers like Jesus Luzardo, Eury Perez, and Braxton Garrett. The Marlins were one of the surprise teams in 2023, and have enough pitching to compete again.

Frelick added energy to the Brewers lineup when he was promoted in the second half, and the natural outfielder’s effort to learn the infield gives the team more options. The outfield is crowded with top prospect Jackson Chourio set to join Christian Yelich, Garrett Mitchell, and Joey Wiemer, so the possibility of playing Frelick at third or second is welcome.

The oft-injured Buxton struggled with a knee issue again last season and didn’t appear on the field. He feels better this spring and is set to take over center field again, though his injury history—only one 100-game season in the majors since 2015—should lead to some anxiety. Certainly, the Twins lineup and defense will be much improved if Buxton can stay on the field.

After trading Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander last season, newly crowned ace Kodai Senga suffered a shoulder injury in Spring Training that could keep him sidelined for much of 2024. The Mets are now counting on free-agent additions Sean Manaea and Luis Severino to calm the storm, but there isn’t nearly as much hoopla over this year’s roster.

Rodon appeared to be a free-agent bust in the first year of his six-year contract, missing significant time with elbow and back issues and posting a 6.85 ERA. He appears healthier this spring, though the radar gun hasn’t reflected that healthy early. The Yankees lineup appears stacked after adding Juan Soto, but they need Rodon to deliver behind Gerrit Cole.

Oakland remains a long way from competing after stripping down its roster over the last two seasons, but it is beginning to develop more identifiable players. Zack Gelof made headlines as the starting second baseman last season after his promotion, showing himself as a capable hitter with an .840 OPS and 14 home runs in 69 games. The hope is that he will continue to develop this year.

Pittsburgh got off to a fast start last season before floundering. They face long odds this year after a quiet offseason, though a deep farm system does give the team hope. In particular, fans are excited about 2023 first-round pick Paul Skenes, who has flashed triple-digit velocity during Spring Training and could be the future. MLB pieces Oneil Cruz, Liover Peguero, Henry Davis, and Roansy Contreras could also help the team surprise.

The Padres have had a very quiet offseason as they slashed payroll, trading Juan Soto while also allowing pitchers Blake Snell and Josh Hader to walk in free agency. Early in the offseason, the outfield appeared to be weak beyond Fernando Tatis Jr., with the team hoping veteran Jurickson Profar and top prospect Jackson Merrill could emerge. There’s still time for the Padres to address their outfield holes in free agency, but the lack of urgency should leave fans concerned.

The Giants often play second fiddle to the rival Dodgers, and that included this offseason when their big spending on Jordan Hicks, Jorge Soler, Jung Hoo Lee, and Matt Chapman was overlooked. Some big holes remain on the roster, including the starting rotation, but the team could jump back into contention.

Seattle has one of the most impressive starting rotations in baseball, but it remains to be seen if they did enough to address their offensive issues. The Mariners added Mitch Garver, Jorge Polanco, and Luke Raley to superstar Julio Rodriguez, though the lineup doesn’t stack up to Texas or Houston on paper.

While most teams are making efforts to get younger, the Cardinals went the opposite direction after a disappointing 2023 season. Sonny Gray, Lance Lynn, and Kyle Gibson were added to the starting rotation, while the team also added seasoned veterans Matt Carpenter and Brandon Crawford to the bench. It’s a risk for a team whose stars, Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado, are also in their 30’s.

No organization does more with less than the Rays, and that effort continues in 2024 while the Rays wait for Shane Baz, Jeffrey Springs, Drew Rasmussen, and Shane McClanahan to get healthy in the starting rotation. The rotation still looks capable, led by Zach Eflin, but it remains to be seen if they have enough to remain competitive in the AL East.

The Rangers probably wouldn’t have won the World Series without the contribution from Evan Carter. In addition to a full season of Carter, fans are very excited about the eventual arrival of 2023 first-round Wyatt Langford. With a strong Spring Training, Langford could arrive sooner than expected.

While they’ve made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, few teams have been bigger recent disappointments than the Jays. The young group of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and company haven’t gotten Toronto even close to a World Series, and time is running out before the team has to pay their stars. Despite a quiet offseason, this team has everything it needs.

The Nats have been bottom feeders since winning the World Series in 2019, and their lack of pitching development is disturbing. Washington is still optimistic about MacKenzie Gore and Josiah Gray, with top prospects Cade Cavalli, Jackson Rutledge, DJ Herz, and Cole Henry right behind them. The development of those pitchers will be key to Washington getting back to contention.