The MLB offseason is just starting to get into full swing with the Winter Meetings starting, meaning teams will be making moves and signing free agents in order to improve their chances at winning the World Series in 2018. However, a pair of teams have already made major moves with the Los Angeles Angels signing Shohei Ohtani and the New York Yankees acquiring Giancarlo Stanton in a trade with the Miami Marlins.
How have those moves, and others, changed the landscape of the league for next season? Here's our early 2018 MLB Power Rankings:
30) Detroit Tigers
Detroit started a long-term rebuild at the trade deadline last season and will continue to shed their best players in search of prospects and other assets. It's going to be a rough few years for the Tigers.
29) Miami Marlins
Speaking of rebuilding, the Marlins are doing it again and have already shipped off Stanton and Dee Gordon. More players should follow suit in the coming months.
28) San Diego Padres
The Padres were much better in the second half of 2017 than they were in the first, but they were still eight games under .500. Their farm system has given them hope for the future...but that's still in the future.
27) Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati got great seasons from Joey Votto, Scooter Gennett, and Eugenio Suarez, among others, just still went 68-94 because of terrible pitching that hasn't improved.
26) Philadelphia Phillies
The rebuild is still ongoing in Philly, and while they'll still struggle in 2018, they're starting to come out on the other side of this thing. Watching Rhys Hoskins for a full year will be fun.
25) Chicago White Sox
The White Sox are a little bit further along in their rebuild than Philadelphia but need to find more consistency outside of Jose Abreu, Avisail Garcia, and Yoan Moncada.
24) Atlanta Braves
Atlanta won't be a contender again in 2018 yet will be much better if they can get quality outings from their young pitching staff.
23) Kansas City Royals
The Royals appear as though they're going to try to rebuild while continuing to stay somewhat relevant. They project to have an extremely young roster anchored by All-Star catcher Salvador Perez.
22) San Francisco Giants
San Francisco simply has too much talent to repeat last season's disaster. That said, that disaster happened for a reason - we'll see what they do this offseason to improve.
21) Oakland A's
The other team in the Bay Area, Oakland has several promising young players headlined by Matt Olsen and Matt Chapman. Will their rotation prove to be reliable?
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20) Seattle Mariners
Things would be different for Seattle had they found a way to land Ohtani, yet it really feels like this aging team has hit their peak - especially with other teams in the division getting stronger.
19) Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays still believe they're a contender after last year's disastrous offensive season. The biggest thing for them will be avoiding the terrible start that sunk them before last season even got started.
18) Texas Rangers
Texas' reliance on home runs has given their offense a boom-or-bust quality. However, they won't go anywhere unless their pitching improves. They ranked last in the majors in strikeout rate last season.
17) Minnesota Twins
The Twins were one of the biggest surprises in baseball by earning a wild card spot last season. However, that season seemed to have been a bit of a fluke.
16) Colorado Rockies
Colorado cooled off after a red-hot start to last season but return a number of young players who overachieved last year and have depth on their pitching staff. Can they repeat last season's success?
15) Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates really underachieved last season but still have the talent to be a player in the National League. I don't see them making the playoffs but could finish around .500.
14) Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore's place on this list is totally dependent upon what they do with Manny Machado and Zach Britton. If they hold onto both, this feels about right for them. However, if they deal both stars, the Orioles would fall to the bottom 10.
13) Tampa Bay Rays
Did you expect Tampa Bay to be competing for a wild card spot last season? That came thanks to a surprising power surge that is expected to continue and they have a quality pitching staff, led by Chris Archer. They should compete for a wild card spot again.
12) New York Mets
The Mets still have all the pieces of an extremely successful team, starting with their starting rotation. Will they be able to avoid the injuries that sunk them last year?
11) Milwaukee Brewers
It felt like Milwaukee maxed out what they got from their roster last year, yet won 86 games and missed out on the playoffs. They'll need to made some additions this offseason if they're going to take their team to the next level.
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10) St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis feels like they're one big acquisition away from being a legit contender. They went all-in on Stanton before striking out. Will they be able to sign that guy?
9) Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks will have one of the best starting rotations in the majors again...but their offense will take a major step back if they are unable to re-sign J.D. Martinez.
8) Chicago Cubs (75-63)
Yes, the Cubs will be good again with one of the best lineups in baseball but have to find replacements for Jake Arrieta and John Lackey in the rotation - and add another reliever. Do that and they'll be serious World Series threats again.
7) Boston Red Sox
Boston had all the pieces to make a World Series run last season if they played consistent baseball. They didn't - but all of those pieces will be back. Can they find that consistently (particularly with their pitching) in 2018?
6) Los Angeles Angels
The Angels are in excellent shape after re-signing Justin Upton and landing Ohtani, giving them plenty of star power next to Mike Trout. If they can add another quality pitcher, look out.
5) Washington Nationals
Everyone other than manager Dusty Baker will be back for a Nationals team that has routinely come up short in the playoffs despite having all the tools necessary for a deep run. They'll win the division again - the verdict on this team won't be issued until the postseason.
4) Cleveland Indians
Cleveland is keeping almost all of their key pieces in place (Carlos Santana and Jay Bruce are likely gone), meaning this team should win over 100 games again. Their pitching staff continues to be elite.
3) Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers were so close to being champions but came up one game short. Everyone important is back and the National League will run through LA once again. Will they make a big splash to bolster their roster even more?
2) Houston Astros
Houston has the pieces to win multiple championships and be at the top of the league for a long time. You shouldn't need me to explain why the World Series champs are this high - except for maybe why they aren't in the top spot.
1) New York Yankees
Why are the Yankees ahead of the Astros? They nearly knocked off Houston in the ALCS and got considerably better with the addition of Stanton. The Evil Empire is back. Now, it's everyone else's move.
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