Happy Thanksgiving, baseball enthusiasts! As the holiday name suggests, Thursday is a day to be grateful for the good things that have happened and the good things to come. Non-football sports are often secondary on Turkey Day, but baseball is a way of life as much as it is an interest. It’s a companion, there with you every night during the summer.
With the Thanksgiving holiday upon us, here is one thing fans of each MLB team can be thankful for this year. Sit back, loosen up your belt, and take a gander as you digest.
Following a World Series berth with a playoffs-less season is a tough pill to swallow. On the bright side, Corbin Carroll finished 2024 very strong after a brutal start that had to be at least a little worrisome given his long-term contract and importance to the franchise. As late as June 5, Carroll was hitting .192/.278/.279, numbers that get most players sent to the minors. Carroll went 3 for 5 with a double the next day, and hit .256/.348/.522 with 16 doubles, 10 triples, and 20 homers in 98 games the rest of the way. That is the guy who won Rookie of the Year in 2023. Glad to see him show up in 2024, even if it came later than expected.
The Chris Sale trade was my favorite move of last offseason, and it worked out even better than I anticipated. Sale threw 177 ⅔ innings with a 2.38 ERA and 225 strikeouts and finally — finally! — won his first career Cy Young. He had finished in the top five of the Cy Young voting six times previously, the most ever for a pitcher before winning the award. Sale did that while the Red Sox paid his salary and after the Braves gave up blocked prospect Vaughn Grissom in the trade. Atlanta had nowhere to play Grissom, who was hurt much of 2024 and ineffective when he did play. One of the best trades in recent memory. The Braves got a Cy Young winner without giving up anything they missed or paying a dime.
Despite winning 101 games in 2023, the O’s opened 2024 with the fifth-lowest payroll in baseball. The Angelos family did not invest in the roster at a level commensurate with a World Series contender. Fortunately for O’s fans, Baltimore billionaire David Rubenstein bought the team in March and took control of the franchise in August. GM Mike Elias has reportedly been given the thumbs up for shop for a top-of-the-rotation starter this offseason, among other things. The O’s have one of the most talented and highest-upside rosters in the game. Now they have an owner who at least gives fans reason to believe payroll will rise accordingly.
Boston Red Sox: New pitching infrastructure
Let’s not sugarcoat it: The Red Sox had fallen behind the times on vital things like pitch design and pitcher development in recent years. It was the single biggest reason they finished in last place three times in four years from 2020-23. That tide has begun to turn. CBO Craig Breslow and new pitching coach Andrew Bailey, plus a host of behind-the-scenes folks, have brought the Red Sox out of the Stone Age and onto the cutting edge of pitcher development. These things don’t happen overnight, though the BoSox faithful should be encouraged by the steps taken by Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, et al in 2024.
Chicago Cubs: Pete Crow-Armstrong’s glove
The jury is still out on whether center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong will ever be anything more than a bottom-of-the-lineup hitter, but wow can that kid play center field. His glove alone is worth the price of admission. Crow-Armstrong is a gifted defender, one of the very best in the game, and he has a little showboat to him. Not in a bad way — he’s not showing up his opponent — but he will let you know it when he makes a great catch. This is the entertainment business and Crow-Armstrong is a capital-E Entertainer.
It’s sort of remarkable that the White Sox lost a modern-record 121 games in 2024 despite having one of the best pitchers in the game take the mound every fifth day. Garrett Crochet’s move into the rotation was a smashing success. It earned him an All-Star Game berth and the Comeback Player of the Year award (2024 was his first full season since Tommy John surgery), and it will very likely net the ChiSox a nice prospect package when they trade him this winter. Crochet is two years away from free agency and the White Sox are much further away from contention than that. Trading him now when his value is at this highest makes sense. Now it’s on GM Chris Getz to nail the trade.
For my money, Elly De La Cruz is the most exciting player in baseball. He has his flaws, namely the MLB-leading 218 strikeouts, but De La Cruz has power, has speed, has a rocket throwing arm, he plays with overt enthusiasm for the game. Just a delightful player and one of the best all-around threats in the game. Joey Votto was great. He’s a Hall of Famer in my book.
However, it must be said that Votto lacked the captivating presence that De La Cruz effortlessly exudes. The last Red to possess such charisma was likely Eric Davis. Baseball truly needs more players like Elly De La Cruz, who bring so much joy to the game.
Moving on, the Guardians were able to elevate themselves from an 86-win team to a 92-win AL Central title-winning team thanks to their exceptional bullpen. The likes of Emmanuel Clase, Hunter Gaddis, Cade Smith, Tim Herrin, and Pedro Avila were instrumental in their success. It will be a challenge to replicate this level of bullpen performance in the coming seasons, but the Guardians have the right players to make it happen.
Unfortunately, the Rockies have been struggling lately, with two consecutive 100-loss seasons. While there are some bright spots like Ezequiel Tovar, Ryan Feltner, and Michael Toglia, it seems like tough times are ahead for the team. However, fans can take solace in the fact that they get to watch games at the beautiful Coors Field.
In Detroit, Tarik Skubal has emerged as a dominant force, winning the Cy Young unanimously after being ranked third among their pitching prospects just three years earlier. With a talented roster, the Tigers seem poised for a period of sustained success.
Hunter Brown of the Astros faced some struggles early on in 2024 but turned his season around after moving to the bullpen and adding a sinker. His emergence as a key player comes at a crucial time for Houston as they navigate potential roster changes.
Bobby Witt Jr. of the Royals had a historic season, becoming the first shortstop to win a batting title, Gold Glove, and Silver Slugger in the same year. His all-around excellence makes him a standout player in the league.
Despite a tough season for the Angels, José Soriano’s success in transitioning to the rotation was a bright spot for the team. His contributions were valuable for a team in need of wins.
Dodgers fans have plenty to be thankful for, including their World Series title, MVP Shohei Ohtani, and the return of key players like Mookie Betts and Clayton Kershaw. The 2024 championship solidified their place among the elite franchises in baseball.
Miami Marlins: Alcantara’s return in 2025
The Marlins are in the “tear it down to the studs” phase of their rebuild, which means it’s pretty early and there’s a lot of bad baseball ahead. Staff ace and 2022 Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara will be back next season though. He missed the 2024 season with Tommy John surgery, though all indications are is his rehab is going well, and Alcantara should be ready to pitch on Opening Day. He is one of the top pitchers in the game when healthy and a true building-block piece. A building block for the Marlins, or some other team after they trade him? That remains to be seen. Point is, Miami will get its best player back in 2025.
Last December, the Brewers signed outfielder Jackson Chourio to an eight-year, $82 million contract with two club options before he’d even played a single MLB game. Heck, he’d played only six Triple-A games at the time. It was a risky contract for the small market Brewers, no doubt, but fast forward to present day and it looks like a steal. Chourio, who won’t turn 21 until March, slashed .275/.327/.464 with 21 homers, 22 steals, and 3.8 WAR as a rookie in 2024. That earned him a third-place finish in the Rookie of the Year voting. Had the Brewers waited and instead tried to lock up Chourio now, it would probably cost them another $100 million on top of the $82 million they already agreed to pay him. A budding superstar on a wildly team-friendly deal.
The 36.4% strikeout rate means it’s not always pretty, but after coming back up from Triple-A in July, Matt Wallner authored a .282/.386/.559 slash line with 12 home runs in 228 plate appearances. He has massive power — we’re talking some of the best exit velocities in the sport — so the Twins will live with the strikeouts to get the ability to change the game with one swing. The Twins have a lot of really good young hitters and Wallner is as productive as any of them, even if will drive you nuts sometimes with strikeouts. Home runs win ballgames and Wallner has a chance to hit an awful lot of them.
New York Mets: Lindor’s all-around brilliance
There are better hitters in baseball, and there are better defenders and baserunners, but very few players do all three things at as high a level as Francisco Lindor. He’s a brilliant talent. One of the best all-around talents in the sport, plus he’s affable and accountable, two traits you want in a franchise player. It seems crazy now that Lindor heard boos from the Citi Field crowd as recently as this past April. Lindor is everything you want in a face of the franchise. Great player, great in the clubhouse, great in the community. There should be more players like him.
Not since David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez, and maybe not even since further back than that, have we see two hitters this good on the same team. MVP Aaron Judge and top-ranked free agent Juan Soto combined to hit .305/.439/.634 with 99 home runs and 18.7 WAR in 2024. The rest of the Yankees hit .233/.302/.375 with 138 home runs and 11.6 WAR. The 2024 Yankees were the first AL/NL team with two qualified hitters with a 179 OPS+ or better since the Lou Gehrig/Babe Ruth Yankees in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Judge and Soto were a two-man army all summer. Will Soto re-sign with the Yankees and continue with Judge moving forward? It’s only Thanksgiving. Save that one for Santa.
Athletics: Butler’s breakout
It sucks out loud that the A’s are leaving Oakland for a Triple-A ballpark in Sacramento, and that they’re owned by the worst owner in sports. It is a damn shame what is happening to one of the most iconic franchises in baseball. All the off-the-field nonsense makes it easy to overlook the fact the A’s went a respectable 39-37 in their final 76 games this year, and they have some legit talent on the roster (JJ Bleday, Mason Miller, Brent Rooker, etc.). Among them: Lawrence Butler. The 24-year-old hit .179/.281/.275 in his first 41 games and got sent to Triple-A for a reset in May. Butler returned as a new hitter a month later and slashed .291/.330/.565 with 20 homers in 84 games the rest of the way, including two separate three-homer games. The owner is doing his best to sabotage the franchise, but the A’s have some real players, including Butler.
What started as an experiment to get him back in the lineup as soon as possible following Tommy John surgery a year ago has blossomed into a full-blown second phase of his career. Bryce Harper has quickly become a standout defensive first baseman, one good enough to be a Gold Glove finalist this year. He was initially rough around the edges at first base, understandably, and now he looks like a seasoned veteran there. Harper’s move to first allowed the rest of the roster to fall into place (i.e. Kyle Schwarber could DH and not have to play the outfield) and could help extend his career. No longer do Harper and the Phillies have to worry about the wear and tear of running around the outfield. A smashing success, the move to first base has been.
It’s hard to believe that, barely 17 months ago, the Pirates were criticized for taking Skenes with the No. 1 pick over Dylan Crews and Wyatt Langford simply because he’s a pitcher, and pitchers get hurt. A year later, Skenes is the NL Rookie of the Year and a third-place finisher in the Cy Young voting, and already in the conversation for the best pitcher in baseball. Making an impact as a rookie is no easy task, but pitcher Skenes did just that by throwing 133 innings with a 1.96 ERA and 170 strikeouts in his debut season. The Padres made a savvy move by trading Juan Soto to bolster their pitching depth and allow young talents like Jackson Merrill and Jurickson Profar to shine. Despite the front office changes, the Giants found gems in Tyler Fitzgerald and Heliot Ramos, who provided a much-needed offensive boost. The Cardinals are building for the future with shortstop Masyn Winn leading the way. Catcher Cal Raleigh’s stellar performance for the Mariners makes him a valuable asset that Seattle should lock down long-term. The Rays may be facing stadium issues, but they have promising players like Junior Caminero and Shane McClanahan to look forward to. The defending champion Rangers have a healthy Jacob deGrom to anchor their rotation in 2025, giving them a good chance to contend again. The Blue Jays may have struggled in 2024, but the revamped Rogers Centre provides a fresh start for the team and its star player, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The Nationals have a talented young core in CJ Abrams, Dylan Crews, MacKenzie Gore, and James Wood, signaling that they are on the brink of contention and should consider adding veteran free agents to bolster their roster. The Braves and Cubs have shown that it is possible to make a significant turnaround in a single season, going from 90 losses to 90 wins. So, why can’t the Nationals do the same? It’s all about determination, hard work, and strategic planning. With the right mindset and a solid game plan, the Nationals have the potential to achieve the same level of success as the Braves and Cubs. It may not be easy, but it is definitely within reach. The key is to stay focused, stay motivated, and never give up on the goal of turning things around and becoming a winning team.