On March 20, 2024, the 2024 MLB season would have kicked off with a two-game series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres in Seoul, South Korea. Opening Day in North America was slated to occur on March 28. For baseball fans, another 162 game season is on its way and the storylines are intriguing to say the least. Here are five that I will personally be keeping an eye on.
An Opportunity Missed
My heart tells me the Toronto Blue Jays still have the ingredients to win a World Series this season. The pitching staff has gotten stronger with the addition of Yariel Rodriguez, while Alek Manoah (not being hot garbage) would make the starting rotation the best in baseball. However, my head tells me the window might have already shut. The Jays lost Matt Chapman and did not replace him. Bo Bichette is approaching the end of his cost-controlled years and will be justifiably awarded a $300 million contract. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is likely to remain consistently inconsistent while also demanding a huge contract. George Springer turns another year older and Danny Jansen is already injured prior to the start of the season. It seems the ceiling this season is to lose in the Wild Card round for the third straight season.
The Ruins of the Evil Empire Glow
The reason why I did not say the Evil Empire had risen is because the New York Yankees have not shown a consistent pillaging of the giving free agents like in years passed. However, trading for Juan Soto with the intention of giving him a contract that approaches Mike Trout’s $426 million is as big of a splash as any big spender could consider. As a lefty bat, Soto will abuse the short porch in Yankees Stadium. Add to that Aaron Judge and a healthy Giancarlo Stanton and the Yankees lineup is as potent as ever. Signing Marcus Stroman to anchor the rotation along with Gerrit Cole isn’t too shabby either. Now do you see why I think the Jays missed their window?
Is Scott Boras Washed?
Sometimes we make mistakes. For example: I accidentally knocked a cup of water on my MacBook this summer and screamed in horror as I tried to get the water off the keyboard. Luckily, I was able to minimize the damage and the laptop has been functioning properly since. But what if I had spilt the water on my MacBook six more times after the original incident? Is it a mistake at that point or would I be negligent? Scott Boras is baseball’s super-agent: known for getting top dollar for his clients, but to the chagrin of fans and owners. Matt Chapman was offered a $120 million contract by the Jays at the start of last season, but held out for over $150 million. He signed for the San Francisco Giants for three-years, $54 million with an opt-out clause. Cody Bellinger held out for over $200 million and ended up re-signing with the Chicago Cubs for three-years, $80 million with an opt-out clause. The reigning NL Cy Young winner Blake Snell signed with the Giants for two-years, $62 million with an opt-out clause. He had turned down a $150 million deal offered by the Yankees. JD Martinez and Jordan Montgomery remain unsigned. Boras, what are you up to?
Protests, Possums and Pain
The Oakland Athletics will play the 2024 season in Oakland. The team got MLB approval for relocation to Las Vegas, but the date has not been settled. The Athletics ownership group have been busy getting renders of a beautiful new stadium near Las Vegas Boulevard. Of course in typical American billionaire fashion, the taxpayer is expected to hand out about $400 million to build the ballpark. John Fisher is the principal owner of the team and did the hard work of being born to acquire his ownership right to the Athletics and the Gap. Maintaining the stadium and keeping it free from a possum infestation was not on the list of duties. Gaslighting fans and sucking taxpayer resources clearly is. Athletics fans have essentially boycotted the team and are protesting outside of games, but the decision has already been made. As if Vegas needed another sports team.
The Stars Shine in Los Angeles
Shohei Ohtani shocked the baseball world by essentially declaring he would be volunteering as the ace and power hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers. His $2 million per year payroll hit allowed the Dodgers to bring in Japanese pitching sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto. With Mookie Betts proving his ability to play a number of positions ranging from water boy to shortstops, and Freddie Freeman primed to have another MVP-caliber season, the Dodgers look like baseball’s new villain. But for me, it really is hard to hate them. I know Ohtani did the Dodgers a huge favour by taking the discount and I know the Dodgers splash the cash, but they are truly serious about winning. Plus, the more money the Dodgers spend may mean that Chelsea degrades to an even worse state. That is a solid benefit for potentially ruining the league.