MLB 2017 Power Ranking: Pre-Spring Training

Nov 4, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; A general shot of the crowd during the Chicago Cubs World Series victory rally in Grant Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 4, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; A general shot of the crowd during the Chicago Cubs World Series victory rally in Grant Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

The 2017 MLB season is still two months away, and Spring Training camps don’t open for two weeks, but it’s time for the first Power Ranking of the year.

The 2017 MLB season is slated to kick off with a trio of games on Sunday, April 2. After those six clubs get things started, the other 24 teams are scheduled to begin their regular season the following day.

In preparation for the season, Spring Training camps will be opening in both Arizona and Florida approximately two weeks from now.

This initial 2017 Major League Baseball Power Ranking of teams will serve as my baseline. A jumping-off point from which the season will unfold. I will provide the next ranking around Opening Day, and then continue on a weekly basis throughout the season.

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My version of the MLB Power Ranking will include a brief write-up on the Top 10 teams, including any recent highlights. The other 20 clubs will then be ranked numerically.

Since no games have been played, this initial Power Ranking is simply how I see the teams of Major Leaugue Baseball on a 1-30 basis as we enter Spring Training.

As the World Baseball Classic and play in both the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues unfolds, injuries will crop up and players will emerge that are sure to change these rankings before the regular season begins.

The defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs are at the top of these pre-season rankings. That is not solely because you gotta beat the champ to be the champ. It’s because the Cubbies won 103 regular season games a year ago, eight more than anyone else in the game.

MLB PRE-SPRING TRAINING POWER RANKING

Unless some major injury issues crop up during Spring Training, expect the Cubs to still be at the top of this list when that Opening Day ranking is released.

Chicago Cubs

Washington Nationals

Boston Red Sox

Texas Rangers

Houston Astros

Los Angeles Dodgers

Cleveland Indians

MLB
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

San Franciso Giants

New York Mets

St. Louis Cardinals

Baltimore Orioles

Toronto Blue Jays

Colorado Rockies

Detroit Tigers

Seattle Mariners

New York Yankees

Pittsburgh Pirates

Atlanta Braves

Kansas City Royals

Tampa Bay Rays

Miami Marlins

Los Angeles Angels

Arizona Diamondbacks

Milwaukee Brewers

Cincinnati Reds

Chicago White Sox

Oakland Athletics

Philadelphia Phillies

San Diego Padres

Minnesota Twins

Next: Unexpected Pretenders for 2017 MLB Season