J.D. Martinez

Major League Baseball is full of surprises every year, and this season shouldn't be any different.Here are five teams that could stun the baseball world in 2023.Arizona Diamondbacks Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThere are plenty of reasons to be excited about the D-Backs heading into the 2023 campaign, as they look like a team on the rise.Arizona added 22 wins to its 2022 record from the season prior, and the club looks better on paper this campaign thanks to the offseason additions of Lourdes Gurriel Jr, Gabriel Moreno, Evan Longoria, and Kyle Lewis.However, the biggest reasons for optimism about the D-Backs might be the continued development of budding stars Corbin Carroll, Jake McCarthy, and Alek Thomas, who Arizona is entrusting with full-time gigs.Add in a solid-looking rotation led by Zac Gallen, what should be an improved bullpen, and 16 fewer games against the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, and the Snakes are a team that could be one of baseball's biggest surprises.Boston Red Sox Boston Globe / Boston Globe / GettyThe Red Sox offseason may have turned some heads for the wrong reasons, but the squad doesn't look half bad and could be a surprise in the AL East with so much spotlight on everyone else in the division. Offseason addition Masataka Yoshida raked at the World Baseball Classic, Triston Casas looks like the real deal in spring training, and Chris Sale is throwing like his old self again.Boston may have allowed Xander Bogaerts and J.D. Martinez to depart in free agency, but the team is deep with veteran talent and could outperform its projected win totals if it stays healthy. FanGraphs predicts 83 wins for the Red Sox, while PECOTA believes 79 victories is all Boston will muster in 2023.Chicago Cubs Chris Coduto / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Cubs looked like a team on the rise after completing last season with a strong second half in which they finished nine games over .500. The 2023 version of the club looks better.President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer locked up Dansby Swanson long term and added rotation help in Jameson Taillon. He also brought in a number of veterans like Eric Hosmer, Cody Bellinger, and Trey Mancini to assist Ian Happ and Nico Hoerner in fielding a winning product.This team has a lot of offensive potential and looks solid defensively. It wouldn't be surprising to see the Cubbies vying for first place in the NL Central, one of the least-intimidating divisions in baseball.Miami Marlins Jasen Vinlove/Miami Marlins / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Marlins haven't been to the playoffs in 20 years, aside from an appearance during the shortened 2020 campaign. However, there's optimism this year's team could surprise and make a run at the postseason.It'll be a difficult task for Miami because its division is stacked with contenders. But the club has a strong rotation - even after trading Pablo Lopez - and looks significantly better from an offensive standpoint following the additions of two former batting champs in Luis Arraez and Yuli Gurriel, as well as Jean Segura.Projection systems like FanGraphs and PECOTA are thinking much higher of the Marlins this season, each predicting Miami to see an 11- and 10-win increase from its 2022 record, respectively.Texas Rangers Ben Ludeman/Texas Rangers / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Rangers have gone on spending sprees in two consecutive campaigns and look ready to begin their march back toward the top of the AL West.The heart of the Rangers' lineup features one of the league's most impressive double-play combinations in Corey Seager and Marcus Semien, who'll get added protection from the blossoming Nathaniel Lowe and Adolis Garcia.The biggest difference-maker for the club this season is an improved rotation featuring new ace Jacob deGrom, as well as Martin Perez, Nathan Eovaldi, Andrew Heaney, and Jon Gray.Texas may not look as formidable as the Astros, Mariners, or even the Angels on paper, but there are a lot of gifted players on the Rangers. That could lead to a surprising year-end result for them.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the regular season beginning this week, we look at the biggest question facing each National League club early on in 2023.The American League list can be read here. Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyArizona Diamondbacks: Can the youth carry them to success?The D-Backs are in an interesting position, playing in a division with powerhouses like the Dodgers and Padres while fielding a mishmash of veterans and youngsters. If Arizona is to stun the baseball world, its youth will be instrumental in its success. Corbin Carroll, Jake McCarthy, Alek Thomas, and Gabriel Moreno will receive plenty of attention, with Carroll being the most notable after inking an eight-year, $111-million deal. If the four play well, the D-Backs could make a surprising run at the postseason. If they disappoint, last season's win total of 74 doesn't seem realistic.Atlanta Braves: Can Acuna return to glory?Ronald Acuna Jr. was one of baseball's best players through the first four years of his career and was having an MVP-caliber season in 2021 before blowing out his knee. There are a lot of eyes on the Braves outfielder following a disappointing 2022 campaign. If he can stay healthy, Acuna is a 40-40 candidate who gives Atlanta its best chance of winning the competitive NL East.Chicago Cubs: Will a change of scenery benefit Bellinger?Cody Bellinger's fall from grace landed him in the Windy City, which might be exactly what the former NL MVP needs after back-to-back disastrous seasons with the Dodgers. The 27-year-old battled through numerous injuries over the past couple of years, which seemed to drain his power and cause his swing to fall apart. Bellinger claims to be healthy after taking a new approach to the offseason and has shown some pop in spring camp (3 HR, .467 SLG). His lefty swing is also suited well to Wrigley Field, where he owns a career .964 OPS. Bellinger could be the steal of the offseason for the Cubs if he rediscovers his old form, but he's definitely a wild card.Cincinnati Reds: Is this Votto's last hurrah?Joey Votto's tremendous career is winding down, but will 2023 be the last we see of the former NL MVP? The 39-year-old recently said he would retire if he doesn't play up to standards, and he's in the final year of his contract - unless the Reds exercise a $20-million option for next season. The six-time All-Star is also coming off a down year where he posted a career-worst .689 OPS and had offseason shoulder surgery, which could hinder him moving forward. If this is it for Votto, he'll retire as one of the best players in Reds history and is a serious contender for the Hall of Fame.Colorado Rockies: What direction is this team going in?The waters are muddied in Colorado, where the Rockies lack a clear direction. The club hasn't finished better than fourth since 2018 and traded away franchise cornerstone Nolan Arenado in 2021, only to turn around and give a long-term deal to Kris Bryant, who hasn't panned out early on. The Opening Day roster is composed of past-their-prime veterans and a pedestrian rotation that was one of the league's worst last year, yet owner Dick Monfort thinks this team is on the right track and capable of playing .500 ball. Instead of blowing things up and focusing on building a core around prospects like Ezequiel Tovar and Zac Veen, the Rockies continue to aimlessly throw deals at players like Jurickson Profar after handing 37-year-old Daniel Bard a contract extension last July. This organization just doesn't make sense.Los Angeles Dodgers: Is the grip on division finally loosening?The Dodgers have owned the NL West for the past decade, winning the division nine times. However, L.A. finally looks vulnerable despite employing former MVPs Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Clayton Kershaw. The team lost a ton of talent in the offseason, including Trea Turner, Justin Turner, Craig Kimbrel, Andrew Heaney, and Tyler Anderson. The additions of J.D. Martinez, David Peralta, and Noah Syndergaard might not be enough to fend off the loaded Padres. Michael Reaves / Getty Images Sport / GettyMiami Marlins: Is there enough offense to contend?The rotation was solid last year, posting the 12th-best fWAR in baseball. Reigning NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara leads a talented group that also features Edward Cabrera, Jesus Luzardo, and Trevor Rogers. However, how are the Marlins going to score runs? Miami desperately needed to improve its dreadful offense but failed to bring in any middle-of-the-order bats. Luis Arraez, Jean Segura, and Yuli Gurriel are nice pieces but likely won't move the needle in the very tough NL East. FanGraphs currently projects the team to have just two players hit at least 20 homers.Milwaukee Brewers: Will Burnes be traded if they fall out of contention?The relationship between the Brewers and ace Corbin Burnes doesn't appear to be great. The right-hander was upset about his treatment during the arbitration process. He also reportedly hired Scott Boras as his agent, which could mean he has his sights set on free agency after the 2024 campaign. Milwaukee showed last season with Josh Hader that it's not afraid to trade stars with years left of team control. Dealing Burnes might be necessary if the club is out of contention, especially if its chances of re-signing him are low.New York Mets: Will they need to acquire a closer?Edwin Diaz's devastating knee injury at the World Baseball Classic left the Mets with a massive hole in their bullpen. David Robertson, who's turning 38 in early April, owns 157 career saves but will likely have a short leash in such a competitive division that could come down to a game or two. Adam Ottavino, 37, is another option but is better suited as a setup man. It's likely only a matter of time before the club is forced to find an external ninth-inning option to stabilize the bullpen.Philadelphia Phillies: Who will step up with Harper, Hoskins injured?The Phillies' mighty offense looks less intimidating with Bryce Harper out for the first few months of the season following elbow surgery and Rhys Hoskins sidelined for the entire year with an ACL injury. The addition of Trea Turner will certainly help fill the void, but the star shortstop's bat may not be enough. A return to form for Nick Castellanos would be huge. The 2021 All-Star went deep 13 times with a .694 OPS last season after a career-high 34 round-trippers and a .309/.362/.576 slash line two years ago. Alec Bohm will also be counted on more. The 26-year-old is a solid contact hitter but needs to improve his slugging to be impactful.Pittsburgh Pirates: Will Cruz break out? Oneil Cruz is one of the most unique players in baseball. The shortstop has a cannon for an arm and hit the hardest ball in the Statcast era at 122.4 mph last year. But there are holes in Cruz's game, as he struck out in nearly 35% of his 361 plate appearances last season. Despite some inconsistency at the plate, Cruz closed 2022 on a tear, posting an OPS near .900 with six home runs over the final month and change. If Cruz can build on his late-season run, he'll announce his arrival as one of the game's bright stars in 2023. Daniel Shirey / Major League Baseball / GettySan Diego Padres: Will Soto return to form? Juan Soto's talent is so immense that a season with an .853 OPS and 145 wRC+ was disappointing. The 24-year-old admitted he battled some mechanical issues with his swing in 2022, leading to the most uneven offensive year of his brilliant young career. Soto raked at the WBC, indicating he could be primed for a massive 2023. After turning down a $440-million extension offer from the Nationals last spring, Soto will be motivated to produce over the next two years to set himself up for a monstrous payday in free agency at the conclusion of the 2024 campaign.San Francisco Giants: What does Conforto have left?The Giants tried to land a superstar to build around in the offseason but came up short in pursuit of Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa. President of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi pivoted to a handful of veteran acquisitions, hoping to boost his club's floor in 2023. Michael Conforto is the most intriguing pickup. The 30-year-old missed the entirety of the 2022 campaign after undergoing shoulder surgery. After raking to the tune of a 158 wRC+ in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Conforto regressed to a 106 wRC+ in 2021. If he can perform closer to his career 124 wRC+ mark, Conforto could help anchor a lineup sorely in need of an impact bat.St. Louis Cardinals: Is the rotation good enough?The Cardinals enter the season as favorites to repeat as NL Central champions. However, the pitching staff is an area of some concern for president of baseball operations John Mozeliak. Cardinals starters finished the 2022 campaign 16th in ERA (3.92) and 26th in K/9 (6.98). With veteran Adam Wainwright already on the shelf with a groin injury, Cardinals manager Oli Marmol will need the likes of Jack Flaherty and Steven Matz to stay healthy and productive. Mozeliak didn't make any additions to bolster the rotation in the offseason, indicating he's confident the current group can perform better than it did last year. That decision could go a long way in determining what type of year the Cardinals put together.Washington Nationals: Is Meneses for real?Joey Meneses was one of baseball's great stories during the second half of 2022. The slugger finally made his MLB debut after years of bouncing around the minors as well as a stint in Japan. Meneses made the most of his opportunity, hitting .324 with 13 home runs and 34 RBIs over just 56 games. The 30-year-old also had a strong performance for Mexico at the WBC. Meneses is unlikely to post a 156 wRC+ again, but if he can settle in as an above-average offensive performer, he will give the Nationals a valued contributor in 2023.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the regular season opening up this week, we look at the biggest question facing each American League club early in 2023. Diamond Images / Getty ImagesBaltimore Orioles: Are they ready to take the next step?The young Orioles didn't make too many big moves after nearly crashing October last season, meaning that the kids - including Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, and Grayson Rodriguez - will again determine this team's success in 2023. A full season of Rutschman will help immensely, and the likes of Cedric Mullins, Anthony Santander, and Dean Kremer add even more solid homegrown pieces to an already talented group. But young teams also have to take their lumps. Last year, the Orioles had zero pressure and nothing to lose during their surprising run. While nobody's forecasting 100 wins, fans in Baltimore should be expecting a winning record and contention for a wild-card spot right to the end at minimum. That's a lot to ask of this very young squad, even if the talent is capable of getting there.Boston Red Sox: How will all the new faces gel?There was a lot of turnover in Beantown during the winter. Out went Red Sox mainstays Xander Bogaerts, J.D. Martinez, Matt Barnes, and Nathan Eovaldi. Their replacements include veterans Justin Turner, Adam Duvall, Kenley Jansen, and Corey Kluber, plus Japanese star Masataka Yoshida. Top prospect Triston Casas is also set to play a prominent role in the big club, taking over at first base. Rafael Devers, armed with a rich new extension, is the unquestioned clubhouse leader, but that's about the only sure thing.Chicago White Sox: Who gets the ninth inning?With Liam Hendriks sidelined indefinitely, the White Sox closer role is open, although nobody's run away with the job just yet. It's a major conundrum for rookie manager Pedro Grifol. Kendall Graveman and Joe Kelly both have plenty of big-league experience in the bullpen, but they've combined for just 22 saves in the majors. Aaron Bummer's become a staple of the White Sox 'pen, but his extreme splits could pose problems against right-handed hitters in the ninth. Reynaldo Lopez revitalized his career as a reliever and owns a powerful arm, but he has even less experience closing than Graveman and Kelly. If the White Sox go with the closer-by-committee approach, someone is going to have to eventually step up and cement themselves as the ninth-inning guy for Grifol until Hendriks returns.Cleveland Guardians: Can the offense do its part?There's zero questions as to whether the Guardians can pitch. Cleveland's rotation, fronted by former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber and rising star Triston McKenzie, is as formidable of a quintet as any in baseball, while Emmanuel Clase leads a powerful bullpen that can shut down most lineups. But the Guardians can't win every game by a score of 2-1. Cleveland won the AL Central last year in spite of some serious offensive struggles. While the Guardians were the toughest team to strike out in 2022, they hit the second-fewest homers in the league, and their 99 wRC+ was the lowest among all playoff teams. Jose Ramirez is a perennial MVP candidate, but he can't do all the work himself. If the entire Guardians lineup can pull their weight consistently, there's no reason why this team can't waltz to a second straight division title.Detroit Tigers: How much will the kids contribute?It's another rebuilding year in Detroit, and that means even more focus on the many youngsters poised to carry this franchise forward. So much is riding on how this inexperienced group does when it's thrown into the fire. For former first overall pick Spencer Torkelson, it's a particularly big year, as he needs to finally make good on the potential the Tigers saw in him three years ago. Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter are also going to be counted on for production on a daily basis. On the pitching side, Matt Manning and Spencer Turnbull will get chances to show that they can carry the rotation long term. The 2023 Tigers will only go as far as their young stars will carry them.Houston Astros: How much does Abreu have left in the tank?Fresh off another World Series, the Astros kept the pedal to the metal, inking former AL MVP Jose Abreu to a three-year, $58.5-million contract. Abreu should be a huge boost at first base after the Astros struggled to get much production from the position in 2022. Abreu was still productive last season, but at the age of 36, it's always fair to wonder when an age-related drop off might occur. If he can be productive and help the Astros win in 2023, fans will probably be willing to stomach any decline in the second and third years of his contract. The Astros will need Abreu to hit the ground running in his first season to help pick up the slack in the absence of Jose Altuve. Bob Levey / Getty Images Sport / GettyKansas City Royals: Will Witt take the next step towards stardom?Bobby Witt Jr. showed plenty of promise in his highly anticipated rookie campaign, posting a 20-20 season while playing solid defense at two positions. He did enough to show that he can be the face of the Royals for years to come. In 2023, it's time for him to take that next step on an otherwise dismal Kansas City club. Witt should be able to take advantage of the new bigger bases to up his stolen-base totals, while also improving both his OBP and defense. Yes, this is a lot to put on a 22-year-old, but there's no reason to think he can't get there. Witt's one of the few reasons to watch the Royals this season, and he should continue to show fans why that is.Los Angeles Angels: Can they keep Ohtani?This is the biggest question in baseball this season. Angels general manager Perry Minasian aggressively upgraded the roster with proven veterans to provide Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout with more support than they've been afforded over the past few seasons. It seems like a foregone conclusion that Ohtani will test free agency following the season. If the Angels can get to the postseason for the first time since 2014 and make some noise, it could give Ohtani something to think about when making his decision about where to play the remainder of his career.Minnesota Twins: Can they stay healthy?The Twins were a trendy pick to win the AL Central last year before injuries helped derail their season. Health remains the main obstacle for this group in 2023. The injury bug has already reared its head during spring training: Jorge Polanco, Alex Kirilloff, Royce Lewis, and Gilberto Celestino will all start their seasons on the IL. Players who remain had better stay healthy. Byron Buxton, for all of his incredible natural talent, has only played 100 games in a season once during his career and has got to play a full season for the Twins to have any hope of taking the division back. There will also be a microscope on Carlos Correa's ankle all year after his offseason adventure. Pitchers Tyler Mahle and Kenta Maeda will also have to avoid setbacks after injury-plagued 2022 campaigns. If Minnesota's staff has to work overtime to keep these guys healthy, then they have to do it.New York Yankees: How much will Volpe contribute?Yankees top prospect Anthony Volpe opened plenty of eyes with his stellar spring performance. Though he's only played 22 games above Double-A, he did enough to earn his spot on the big-league roster, officially making the team Sunday. Volpe will start at shortstop on Opening Day, which will no doubt please many in the Bronx. But how much can be expected of the 21-year-old out of the gate, despite his talent? The Yankees need Volpe to solidify shortstop in a way that Isiah Kiner-Falefa couldn't last year. There will almost certainly be some struggles as he adjusts to life in New York, which is a far cry from Scranton, Pennsylvania. If Volpe can play up to his potential out of the gate, the Yankees will be in a very good spot.Oakland Athletics: How long will this rebuild last?It's been a tough year or so for Athletics fans. The club has seen franchise pillars Matt Olson, Matt Chapman, Sean Murphy, and Frankie Montas shipped out. The A's have some intriguing prospects in the pipeline but are right in the middle of what could be yet another extended rebuilding period. This might be the reality for the club until there is some clarity about a new stadium. Whether that's in Oakland or another city like Las Vegas, A's fans need to accept the fact that they are going to be watching a lot of losses over the next few years. Steph Chambers / Getty Images Sport / GettySeattle Mariners: Is the offense good enough?After snapping baseball's longest postseason drought last year, expectations are high in Seattle entering 2023. The club acquired two-time Silver Slugger Teoscar Hernandez from the Blue Jays to help bolster an offense that finished 17th in slugging percentage and 18th in runs scored in 2022. The Mariners will need Hernandez and reigning AL Rookie of the Year Julio Rodriguez to anchor the lineup this season. One intriguing wild card to keep an eye on this year is outfielder Jarred Kelenic. The 23-year-old struggled mightily last season and was sent down to Triple-A for the second straight year. Kelenic made some mechanical adjustments to his swing, helping him to an impressive performance during spring training. Kelenic coming closer to reaching his potential could help Seattle's lineup reach another level this season. Tampa Bay Rays: Can they score enough runs to compete?Pitching carried the Rays into the playoffs as the AL's No. 6 seed in 2022. That's because their offense averaged just 4.11 runs per game, ahead of only the lowly Royals, Angels, A's, and Tigers in the American League. Kevin Cash is going to need a lot more from his bats this year in order to guide the Rays back to October inside the rough-and-tumble AL East. Certainly, good health for Wander Franco and Brandon Lowe, who both struggled to stay healthy in 2022, will go a long way towards revitalizing Tampa Bay's offense. Franco and Lowe are offensive lynchpins for this lineup, and their ability to stay off the IL could make or break the team's season.Texas Rangers: Can the rotation stay healthy?Rangers general manager Chris Young entered the offseason knowing his club needed an infusion of talent in the starting rotation. He proceeded to go out and add two-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom as well as proven commodities in Nathan Eovaldi, Andrew Heaney, and Jake Odorizzi. The elephant in the room is the fact that all of these hurlers come with extensive injury histories. Odorizzi is already on the shelf, and deGrom dealt with some side soreness at the outset of spring training. If Young's stable of new pitchers can stay healthy, it could go a long way to helping Texas to its first winning season since 2016.Toronto Blue Jays: Will the back end of the rotation do its part?Toronto's top three of Alek Manoah, Kevin Gausman, and Chris Bassitt can match up with the best of any staff in the AL. It's the final two rotation spots that might make Canadians sweat this summer. Yusei Kikuchi has looked like a new man at times this spring, but while he's given up just two runs, he's also walked nine during 13 innings. And then there's Jose Berrios, who led the AL in both hits and earned runs allowed during his dismal 2022 and has had a very rocky spring training. Berrios has also been hit hard in March despite his low ERA, and added to the question marks by getting shelled for six runs (five earned) in a one-inning WBC start for Puerto Rico. The Blue Jays don't need Kikuchi and Berrios to be All-Stars, but with depth at a premium, getting solid back-end production from both is a must in order for this team to reach its potential.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While other NL powers loaded up during the offseason, the Dodgers had a comparatively quiet winter that focused more on shorter-term contracts. Major League Signings Clayton Kershaw, SP: One year, $20MM Noah Syndergaard, SP: One year, $13MM J.D. Martinez, OF/DH: One year, $10MM David Peralta, OF: One year, $6.5MM Shelby Miller, RP: One year, $1.5MM…

While other NL powers loaded up during the offseason, the Dodgers had a comparatively quiet winter that focused more on shorter-term contracts. Major League Signings Clayton Kershaw, SP: One year, $20MM Noah Syndergaard, SP: One year, $13MM J.D. Martinez, OF/DH: One year, $10MM David Peralta, OF: One year, $6.5MM Shelby Miller, RP: One year, $1.5MM…