MLB Cancels Season? - Winners and Losers

The MLB is looking to reopen the league as soon as COVID-19 will allow. Many teams are itching to get on the diamond, but others might be so eager to usher in Opening Day. Who would the winners and losers of a shortened/cancelled 2020 season be?

Winners:

Boston Red Sox: In 2018, the Red Sox won 108 regular season games and the World Series. Two years later, they lost Mookie Betts (61 HRs, 160 RBIs 246 Rs over the past two seasons) and David Price (who started showing promise after a largely disappointing stint with Boston) in free agency to Los Angeles. To make things worse, LHP Chris Sale underwent Tommy John surgery this offseason after a disappointing 2019 (6-11, 4.40 ERA). That would have left LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (19-6, 3.81 ERA) to carry an otherwise lackluster rotation, so this season could be what the Red Sox needed to regroup and get into playoff contention again.

Chicago White Sox: The White Sox got busy this offseason, landing C Yasmani Grandal, DH Edwin Encarnacion and LHP Gio Gonzalez in free agency. This team, which already boasts SS Tim Anderson, 2B Yoan Moncada and 1B Jose Abreu, would have been poised to challenge Minnesota and Cleveland for the AL Central crown and earn their first playoff berth since 2008. Even though Encarnacion and Gonzalez were only signed to one-year deals and could be major losses should they walk in 2021, the Whtie Sox can use this year to rest and be ready to challenge for the playoffs in 2021.

Houston Astros: Leave no doubt, the Astros will face in-game vengeance from other teams for their egregious sign-stealing practices from 2017-2019. But at least this punishment could be delayed, and by then Commissioner Rob Manfred could create a plan to discourage teams from carrying out their own retribution on the Astros.

Losers:

Los Angeles Dodgers: The Dodgers sought to exorcise their playoff demons by adding LHP David Price and RF Mookie Betts from Boston. With a roster that already contains superstars such as LHP Clayton Kershaw, OF Cody Bellinger and 3B Justin Turner, the Dodgers would have been the team to beat in the NL. However, Los Angeles might never get to utilize Betts, since they only signed him for one year and Betts will undoubtedly search for a contract similar to 3B Manny Machado’s (10 years, $300 Million) and OF Bryce Harper’s (13 years, $335 Million) in 2021.

Gerrit Cole: What did the Yankees do in the off-season after winning the division and earning their second ALCS berth in three years? They sign RHP Gerrit Cole to a record-setting 9-year, $324 million contract, who is arguably the best pitcher in the game away from the Astros, thus crippling your main competition’s rotation. But who knows what shape Cole will be in come 2021? The Yankees gambled their future success largely on the young flame-thrower, who will now have to perform under added duress in the pressure-cooker that is the Big Apple.

Minnesota Twins: The reigning AL Central champs bolstered their bullpen with Kenta Maeda and Sergio Romo and added play-maker and do-it-all 3B Josh Donaldson in the off-season. However, the Twins will be handcuffed by the upcoming draft which was shortened form 40 rounds to five due to financial implications caused by COVID-19. Only four of the 161 eligible picks currently belong to Minnesota, which will affect their ability to build for the future and maintain their recent success.

Author - John Simmons