Yadier Molina

It’s been largely quiet from the Cardinals since the team inked longtime division rival Willson Contreras to a five-year contract, officially tabbing him as the heir to franchise icon Yadier Molina. Filling the void left by Molina was clearly the top priority for the Cards this winter, though they were also loosely tied to the…

It’s been largely quiet from the Cardinals since the team inked longtime division rival Willson Contreras to a five-year contract, officially tabbing him as the heir to franchise icon Yadier Molina. Filling the void left by Molina was clearly the top priority for the Cards this winter, though they were also loosely tied to the…

Welcome to the second edition of theScore's MLB Power Rankings for the offseason. We take stock of each team's winter with a little more than a month to go before pitchers and catchers report to spring training. 1. Houston AstrosIt's good to be the champs. The Astros took care of a little in-house business, bringing back reliever Rafael Montero and veteran outfielder Michael Brantley. Even without a full-time general manager in the wake of James Click's strange departure, Houston still made a big splash early in free agency, signing former AL MVP Jose Abreu to a three-year deal. The 35-year-old showed some signs of aging in 2022 but should still provide a nice boost to an already formidable lineup for manager Dusty Baker.2. Atlanta BravesAlex Anthopoulos continues to accumulate talented players and sign them to long-term commitments. The executive made another savvy move by acquiring Sean Murphy and inking him to a team-friendly extension despite already employing a strong catching duo. The Braves now have an All-Star-caliber catcher locked up for years to add to a very impressive core. Atlanta's lineup should also receive a major boost by getting a full season from a healthy Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies, while the rotation will also get Mike Soroka back after his career was derailed by multiple Achilles injuries.3. New York MetsThe Mets' offseason went from great to good after Carlos Correa agreed to return to the Twins in the latest twist in what's been a dramatic and unpredictable offseason for the star shortstop. It'll be interesting to see how owner Steve Cohen responds after losing out on a player he thought was the final piece of the puzzle. Without Correa, the front office merely replaced many subtractions with equal additions. Are Justin Verlander, Kodai Senga, and Jose Quintana better than Jacob deGrom, Chris Bassitt, and Taijuan Walker? It's kind of a wash. The club is still very talented and should be one of the best in baseball next season, but the Correa situation could be a big "what-if."4. San Diego PadresThe Padres tried to throw money at every star position player on the open market until they reeled in Xander Bogaerts. The addition of the five-time Silver Slugger gives the team arguably the best top of the order in the majors with Bogaerts, Fernando Tatis Jr. (when he returns from suspension), Juan Soto, and Manny Machado. San Diego's title window is 2023 as an opt-out decision looms for Machado after the upcoming season and Soto's potential free agency following the 2024 campaign. The additions of Matt Carpenter and Nelson Cruz for a combined $7.5 million could pay off in a big way. 5. Los Angeles DodgersIn an offseason filled with fireworks and monster contracts being handed out, the Dodgers have been eerily quiet. Los Angeles bolstered its lineup and rotation with the signings of veterans J.D. Martinez and Noah Syndergaard. However, the moves have lacked the same level of impact as other National League contenders. It appears the Dodgers might be gearing up for a run at Shohei Ohtani next offseason. Los Angeles is also on the hook for $22.5 million to Trevor Bauer after the club decided to cut ties with the pitcher, taking up considerable payroll as the team aims to get under the luxury tax. New York Yankees / Getty Images Sport / Getty6. New York YankeesAlthough it led to some stressful moments, the Yankees found a way to keep Aaron Judge on a monstrous nine-year, $360-million deal. General manager Brian Cashman deserves some criticism for how he handled the Judge situation over the past 12 months, but the Yankees will enter 2023 as favorites in the always-challenging AL East. The addition of left-hander Carlos Rodon gives manager Aaron Boone one of baseball's deepest and most talented rotations - albeit with injury concerns. The Yankees still have to find a way to conquer the Astros - which have eliminated them from the postseason four times since 2015. 7. Philadelphia PhilliesDave Dombrowski clearly didn't rest on his laurels after the Phillies made it to the World Series as a low-seeded wild-card team. Philadelphia added star shortstop Trea Turner to a great lineup that already features Bryce Harper (who'll likely miss the first half of the season following Tommy John surgery), J.T. Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber, Rhys Hoskins, and Nick Castellanos. The bullpen also got a nice jolt with Craig Kimbrel, Matt Strahm, and Gregory Soto. The Phillies look ready to brawl in what should be a war of attrition in the heavyweight-filled NL East.8. Toronto Blue JaysThe Blue Jays are getting serious about winning - on the field and in the clubhouse. The club's front office replaced fan favorites Teoscar Hernandez and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. with hard-nosed players like Daulton Varsho and Kevin Kiermaier. The addition of Bassitt, another no-nonsense player, raises the floor of a rotation that could be one of the best in baseball if Jose Berrios bounces back to his career norms. Brandon Belt adds a potent left-handed bat off the bench and also allows them to use Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as the designated hitter more often to keep him off his feet.9. Seattle MarinersThe Mariners have put together a nice offseason thus far, bringing in Hernandez in a trade with the Blue Jays, acquiring infielder Kolten Wong from the Milwaukee Brewers, and signing free-agent outfielder AJ Pollock to a one-year, $7-million contract. The rotation projects as one of the best in baseball, but Seattle is still at least one offensive piece away from applying pressure to the Astros in the AL West. Michael Reaves / Getty Images Sport / Getty10. St. Louis CardinalsWillson Contreras has some big shoes to fill. The Cardinals signed the All-Star backstop to replace franchise legend and future Hall of Famer Yadier Molina. Outside of the Contreras splash, which is a big upgrade behind the plate, the offseason has been mellow for a club that was bounced out of the playoffs in the wild-card round. St. Louis is still the best team in a weak NL Central, thanks to perennial MVP contenders Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado. However, it remains to be seen whether the Cards are closer to winning a championship.11. Cleveland GuardiansThe Guardians look poised to make a run at repeating as AL Central champions. Cleveland didn't lose any significant pieces and added former All-Stars Josh Bell and Mike Zunino to an offense that doesn't have a lot of big-time pop outside of Jose Ramirez. The team is also bringing back a strong pitching staff led by one of the top bullpens in baseball. However, the new balanced schedule will likely result in fewer wins.12. Tampa Bay RaysThe rotation of Shane McClanahan, Drew Rasmussen, Jeffrey Springs, newcomer Zach Eflin, and a now-healthy Tyler Glasnow will be a major problem for opposing hitters. The Rays signed Eflin to be a starter after he impressed with the Phillies down the stretch, posting a 1.17 ERA and 0.52 WHIP as a reliever. Tampa Bay's offense will need Wander Franco and Brandon Lowe to stay on the field to be successful in 2023. The duo missed a combined 176 games last year due to injuries. 13. Milwaukee BrewersThe Brewers have been in relative disarray since they dealt Josh Hader to the Padres at last season's trade deadline. Although they haven't spent much in free agency so far this offseason, Milwaukee general manager Matt Arnold made out very nicely in the Sean Murphy three-team trade, acquiring talented young catcher William Contreras from the Braves while also adding Jesse Winker in a deal with Seattle. The Brewers still boast a strong rotation and decent bullpen, which should allow them to be competitive in a relatively soft NL Central in 2023.14. Chicago White SoxThe White Sox have had a bit of an odd winter after a bitterly disappointing 81-81 season. The club hired first-time manager Pedro Grifol and also handed out the largest contract in franchise history - a five-year, $75-million agreement with outfielder Andrew Benintendi. White Sox fans will have to get used to seeing the lineup without Abreu for the first time since 2013. Chicago is also betting on a return to form for right-hander Mike Clevinger - who they signed to a one-year, $12-million deal. Star closer Liam Hendriks is stepping away indefinitely to undergo treatment for Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. David Berding / Getty Images Sport / Getty15. Minnesota TwinsMinnesota closed the 2022 campaign on a sour note, but things look promising again thanks to an unexpected reunion with Correa. The Twins are also betting on a rebound season from Joey Gallo, who'll look to settle into a less intense environment than the one he encountered as a member of the Yankees and Dodgers. Minnesota was looking for a more consistent option at catcher and found its man with the dependable Christian Vazquez. President of baseball operations Derek Falvey still needs to find a way to improve a rotation that has question marks in Kenta Maeda and Bailey Ober.16. Baltimore OriolesThe Orioles were the most surprising club of 2022. Baltimore finished 83-79 and appears to have some real momentum entering 2023. Although the O's are loaded with homegrown talent, the moves made by general manager Mike Elias leave something to be desired at this stage of the offseason. Adam Frazier is a capable player on both sides of the ball but hasn't been able to replicate the form he showcased during his 2021 All-Star campaign. Kyle Gibson is a capable innings eater, but the Orioles still appear to be lacking a headline in their starting rotation. Reuniting with right-hander Mychal Givens is a solid move to bolster a very strong bullpen.17. Texas RangersThe Rangers desperately needed to address their starting pitching and did so in a big way. The five-year contract handed to deGrom carries a great deal of risk but gives Texas a legitimate ace to build around for the first time in years. The additions of Andrew Heaney and Nathan Eovaldi will provide new manager Bruce Bochy with upside, but both also come with injury concerns. Texas is still a few notches below the Astros and Mariners but could surprise if its new-look rotation finds a way to stay healthy for the majority of the season.18. Chicago CubsThe front office certainly raised the floor after the Cubs won 74 games last year in a subpar division. However, the ceiling still isn't very high, and there'll be more games played outside of the NL Central with the balanced schedule being implemented. Dansby Swanson brings a solid bat, great glove, and championship pedigree to Chicago but will have much less protection around him in the lineup in comparison to the Braves. Cody Bellinger is intriguing due to his age and resume but has been a mess at the plate for years now. Jameson Taillon is also a quality arm, though the rotation is still missing front-end talent.19. Los Angeles AngelsThe Angels had a sneaky good offseason in their quest to insulate Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout with some depth in the lineup. Hunter Renfroe, Brandon Drury, and Gio Urshela are quality everyday players that help offensively and defensively. The rotation also got better with the addition of All-Star left-hander Tyler Anderson, while the bullpen potentially has a new closer in Carlos Estevez. All eyes will be on Ohtani around the trade deadline if the offseason moves aren't enough to help Los Angeles contend for a playoff spot.20. San Francisco GiantsOnce again, the Giants came up painfully short in their quest to add a superstar to lead them into the future. San Francisco almost landed Judge before he ended up reuniting with the Yankees. After that fell through, it looked like Farhan Zaidi landed Correa. That ultimately fell apart. Zaidi did manage to add some impact players on both sides of the ball by bringing in Mitch Haniger, Michael Conforto, Sean Manaea, Ross Stripling, Luke Jackson, and Taylor Rogers. Those moves would have more impact if they were in addition to a superstar. Alas, Zaidi will have to wait a little while longer to land the big fish he's been seeking. Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox / Getty Images Sport / Getty21. Boston Red SoxChaim Bloom restored some faith in the direction of the Red Sox by extending Rafael Devers in what was otherwise a tough offseason in Boston. The team said goodbye to longtime stars Bogaerts and Martinez while welcoming Justin Turner, Masataka Yoshida, Corey Kluber, Kenley Jansen, Chris Martin, and Joely Rodriguez. The bullpen looks improved, but there isn't enough depth or talent in the lineup - especially with Trevor Story set to miss extended time following elbow surgery - and rotation to compete in the loaded AL East.22. Arizona DiamondbacksThe D-Backs quietly put together a great core of top prospects that are MLB-ready or close to contributing in the majors. Gabriel Moreno, who was acquired in the Varsho deal, Corbin Carroll, Alek Thomas, and Jake McCarthy could become stars in the next year or two, while Jordan Lawlar may make his debut in 2023. The veteran additions of Evan Longoria and Gurriel will also help a young club on the rise. Another name to watch for is former Mariners outfielder Kyle Lewis. The 2020 AL Rookie of the Year logged a combined 54 games over the last two years due to multiple injuries but is only 27.23. Miami Marlins The Marlins made a serious push to sign Abreu and Justin Turner but ultimately came up short. The addition of Jean Segura on a two-year deal was a heady one by general manager Kim Ng. Even with Segura in the fold, Miami still looks lean offensively after finishing 28th in runs scored last season. Unless Ng finds a way to bolster the lineup, the Marlins are going to have to rely on their deep pitching rotation, which now includes the veteran Johnny Cueto, to carry them to wins in 2023. Don't be surprised if the club trades one of its starting pitchers for offensive help.24. Colorado Rockies After shocking baseball last year with their signing of Kris Bryant, the Rockies haven't done all that much so far this offseason. This still feels like a club without much of an identity, both on the field and in the front office. With the Dodgers and Padres ruling the NL West, the Rockies need to take some steps to establish a solid plan moving forward. Receiving some solid production from a healthy Bryant in 2023 would be a nice place to start. Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty25. Pittsburgh Pirates Although not the flashiest moves, the Pirates have made some nice pickups this offseason. Veterans Ji-Man Choi, Carlos Santana, Vince Velasquez, and Rich Hill are still capable of producing and should provide strong leadership for some of the club's developing young talent. The next big question Pirates general manager Ben Cherington has to answer is the future of All-Star outfielder Bryan Reynolds. Pittsburgh reportedly offered Reynolds an extension, but it's hard to see any outcome other than a trade at some point in the near future. 26. Kansas City RoyalsThe Royals head into 2023 with a new skipper and general manager looking to revive a stalled rebuild. Kansas City hasn't finished .500 or better since 2016, and things don't look promising this year after only adding starting pitchers Jordan Lyles and Ryan Yarbrough to a club that lost 97 games last season. The team will need youngsters such as Vinnie Pasquantino, MJ Melendez, and Bobby Witt Jr. to take a step forward in their development.27. Cincinnati RedsIt's been an uneventful offseason for the Reds outside of the Wil Myers signing. The 2013 AL Rookie of the Year and former All-Star owns a career .771 OPS over 10 years in the majors and should provide Cincinnati with a potential trade chip to flip for a prospect or two. The club is likely headed for another long season amid a rebuild focused on youngsters such as Jonathan India, Hunter Greene, and Nick Lodolo.28. Detroit Tigers At this time last year, the Tigers were one of the teams people were circling as a sneaky contender in the AL Central. Oh, how things have changed in just 12 months. Fresh on the heels of an injury-riddled, disappointing 66-96 record, Detroit has a new general manager and already dealt two key bullpen pieces this offseason. The club needs Javier Baez to put last season's disastrous performance behind him and play closer to the form he's showcased for large stretches of his career. The additions of Matthew Boyd and Michael Lorenzen will help stabilize a rotation that'll be without the services of Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize for most, if not all, of the 2023 season.29. Washington NationalsThe Nationals have some young and controllable players in place after trading away Trea Turner, Soto, and Max Scherzer over the last two seasons. MacKenzie Gore and Josiah Grey have the potential to put up some big strikeout numbers, while CJ Abrams and Keibert Ruiz are two key position players that will be counted on for growth. Washington also added inexpensive veterans with some upside, like Jeimer Candelario, Corey Dickerson, Trevor Williams, and Dominic Smith.30. Oakland AthleticsFor a second straight offseason, the A's were taken to the cleaners in a trade with the Braves. The Matt Olson deal already looks like a loss for the franchise, and it wouldn't be much of a surprise if Oakland's decision to ship Murphy to Atlanta ends up following suit. The A's are hoping Esteury Ruiz can emerge as an above-average outfielder, but there are concerns with his ability to produce enough offensively. The bottom line: Oakland is a ways away from being relevant again.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.