The 2023 MLB season was fun, exciting, and at times, surprising. There were a few teams that missed the playoffs that have made some moves this offseason.
The MLB offseason, whether it is free agency or trades, has seen a few big moves. Shohei Ohtani signed a record contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Juan Soto was a part of blockbuster trade to the New York Yankees, and there are still plenty of more big names yet to sign. However, there are a few teams that have made some moves already, and those moves will go a long way towards improving on their 2023 season. Five non-playoff teams in particular have made their rosters into threats to make a run to the playoffs in the 2024 season. With that, here they are.
5 Non-Playoff Teams Poised to Improve in 2024
1. St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals had a very disappointing season in 2023. They finished 71-91, putting them last in the NL Central division. Nobody expected this, as their lineup actually looked pretty good, but their pitching let them down. St. Louis, as a team, finished with the seventh-worst ERA, fourth-worst WHIP, and second-highest opponent batting average.
Michael Girsch, the Cardinals general manager, recognized their need to fix the pitching staff this offseason. He did so through free agency. The Cardinals signed Sonny Gray to a three-year contract for their biggest move. However, they also gave Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn one-year contracts. These pitchers give the Cardinals an immediate upgrade to their starting rotation that they desperately needed.
Gray and Gibson combined to go 23-17 with a 3.78 ERA over 55 starts in 2023. The numbers are good, but what is even better for St. Louis is the health. Gray and Gibson were both healthy for the season, and that is what the Cardinals need out of them in 2024. These two pitchers paired with Lynn, Miles Mikolas, and a fifth starter can make for a very tough rotation to beat.
As for their bats, not much has changed. St. Louis decided to send Tyler O’Neill to the Boston Red Sox for a pair of pitchers, one of whom can start 2024 in the big league bullpen. However, the Cardinals still have Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt, and Nolan Gorman as a big three. Other role players include Jordan Walker, Lars Nootbaar, and Willson Contreras. There are a few that have not been named, but that shows how deep the Cardinals are offensively. This offense is going to have a good season in 2024 if they stay healthy.
The Cardinals are not done making moves this offseason, but their team has gotten significantly better. Expect them to have a much better season in 2024, and make a run to the MLB playoffs.
2. Kansas City Royals
The Royals are not a team you would expect to see on this list. However, they have been active this offseason. Kansas City really needed to address their offensive woes from the last several seasons. However, the only move they have really made in this regard is signing Hunter Renfroe. Renfroe will be a welcome addition to the lineup, though. He has the ability to hit for power, and he plays solid defense. Garrett Hampson was their other addition, but he will be more of a platoon player who can provide off the bench by hitting for average.
Do not forget about who the Royals already have. Bobby Witt Jr. is going to be good for a long time for Kansas City. Maikel Garcia, MJ Melendez, Salvador Perez, Freddy Fermin are all good players too. The Royals are full of young talent (besides Perez who is a veteran), and now that they have all gotten a whiff of the big leagues, they should be much better.
“[Bobby Witt Jr. is] the face of our future.”@Royals general manager J.J. Picollo gives insight on Kansas City’s goals for the offseason and their superstar shortstop. #MLBNHotStove pic.twitter.com/Mhd9LlWFoi
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 4, 2023
Kansas City really addressed their pitching problem. Nick Anderson was acquired from the Atlanta Braves along with Kyle Wright (who will miss the 2024 season). Will Smith, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Chris Stratton, and Ryan Brady were all acquired this offseason, as well. The Royals’ pitching staff has gotten significantly better, and they should be able to make some noise in 2024, especially because they still have Brady Singer and Cole Ragans.
These moves are probably not enough to go deep in the playoffs. However, the Royals play in a very weak AL Central, so they have a great chance to compete for a division title in 2024 with their current roster.
3. New York Yankees
Putting the Yankees on this list feels like cheating. They play in a very strong AL East division, but there are three Wild Card spots for a reason. As mentioned earlier, the Yankees made a massive splash by trading for Juan Soto. Trent Grisham was also a part of that deal. However, one move that might fly under the radar is the trade they made for Alex Verdugo. With all the injuries the Yankees face, especially with Giancarlo Stanton, adding Verdugo is huge. New York has a crowded outfield, but it is going to be one of the best outfields in the MLB in 2024.
New York has not made many moves for their pitching staff, but they do not necessarily have to. Gerrit Cole just won his first Cy Young Award while Nestor Cortes and Carlos Rodon should be a solid two and three in the rotation. New York has also met with superstar free agent, Yoshinobu Yamamoto… twice.
The Yankees could definitely use some more pitching help, but their offensive moves should be a huge help toward making the playoffs in the 2024 season.
4. Detroit Tigers
Yes, there are two AL Central teams on this list. It helps that the AL Central is not a strong division. With the Minnesota Twins losing players, rather than adding, the division has become wide open. Detroit was a surprise team last season, finishing 78-84, so they were on the cusp of turning the corner.
First, the pitching staff. The Tigers will get Casey Mize back in 2024, although it might come with some inning restrictions. To go along with that, the Tigers have signed Kenta Maeda to a two-year deal, and Jack Flaherty to a one-year contract. Maeda showed flashes of being excellent in 2023, but you could not tell by his numbers. However, he did strike out more than 10 batters per nine innings. Flaherty has a career 3.75 ERA and should be a workhorse in the Tigers rotation. Andrew Chafin is also making a return to the 313 after signing a one-year deal with Detroit.
After already adding Kenta Maeda, the Tigers grab another veteran starter. 👀 https://t.co/W9brmp3WMK pic.twitter.com/QNevOqxipb
— theScore (@theScore) December 15, 2023
The Tigers have plenty of young talent in their lineup as well. Spencer Torkelson revived his career with a strong second half in 2023 while Riley Greene is hopefully going to be healthy in 2024. The Tigers could use some more offensive help, but if they play to their potential, there is a lot of room to grow.
As mentioned, the Tigers play in a very weak division. With their additions and the talent they already have, it would not be surprising to see the Tigers finish around the .500 mark.
5. New York Mets
The Mets were one of the more disappointing teams in 2023, but Steve Cohen is determined to make them a playoff team in 2024. The Mets have a few needs to fill this offseason, and one of those needs is pitching. Luckily, New York has been making some moves on that front.
Luis Severino signed with the Mets for one year while Jorge Lopez, Trevor Gott (re-sign), Michael Tonklin, and Austin Adams have all inked deals to be in Queens. Those four relievers may not be big names, but they are good enough to give the Mets bullpen depth. Do not forget, New York has one of the best closers in Edwin Diaz returning to the mound in 2024.
Joey Wendle is their only offensive move this offseason. However, it is a good one. Wendle has a career .263 average in 649 games played. The Mets do still have Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, and Starling Marte. Their offense should get the job done in the 2024 season.
New York would love to add another starting pitcher, and maybe a reliever this offseason. With what they have now, though, they should be able to sneak into a Wild Card spot.
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